Ukraine

[Vrede too]

Even so, Ike was probably the best post-WW2 Repug POTUS. Nixon did a few progressive things, but wrecked his legacy over an election he was destined to win, regardless.

Ike was pretty much the backbone of everything we have wrong.
Industry over people
War at every turn
Destruction of democracies
All Ike had was a rhyming slogan for a name and a history using the slogan rather than admitting the harm he caused.

I set a low bar. Which post-WW2 Repug do you think was better than Ike?

Ford. And Nixon was probably better than Ike. Sure he prolonged a war, but it was like who started it.

I forgot about Ford. He's very forgettable. One can make a strong case for Nixon - China, EPA, Clean Air and Water Acts, etc - but he was such a detestable person and ego and paranoia-driven asshole that few will ever think positively of him.

Technically, Truman started the War when he reneged on FDR's promise of an independent Vietnam and allowed the French to re-colonize. Everything after that was the fruit of HST's poisoned tree, a Harry-Dick continuum.

[billy.pilgrim]

Even so, Ike was probably the best post-WW2 Repug POTUS. Nixon did a few progressive things, but wrecked his legacy over an election he was destined to win, regardless.

Ike was pretty much the backbone of everything we have wrong.
Industry over people
War at every turn
Destruction of democracies
All Ike had was a rhyming slogan for a name and a history using the slogan rather than admitting the harm he caused.

I set a low bar. Which post-WW2 Repug do you think was better than Ike?

Ford. And Nixon was probably better than Ike. Sure he prolonged a war, but it was like who started it.

I forgot about Ford. He's very forgettable. One can make a strong case for Nixon - China, EPA, Clean Air and Water Acts, etc - but he was such a detestable person and ego and paranoia-driven asshole that few will ever think positively of him.

Technically, Truman started the War when he reneged on FDR's promise of an independent Vietnam and allowed the French to re-colonize. Everything after that was the fruit of HST's poisoned tree, a Harry-Dick continuum.

Don't forget that Ike talked the South out of honoring the 1954 treaty calling for free and fair election to reunite Vietnam. Ike, too stupid to accept democracies anywhere he found them, worked the asshole ditator in the South to renege on the treaty, thereby starting the American War in Vietnam - killing 2 to 3 million people.
Fuck Ike

[O Really]

Sorry to keep on about interstates on the Ukraine thread, but I had one other thought. You can imagine no interstates, and somewhat experience it, by looking at what was there before. Before I-40, there was US66. Before I-10, there was US90, and before there was I-5, there was US395 and US101. Before I-95, there was US1. There are many others, as well as some still-existing state roads. These do generally go through the towns/cities, although there are a lot of by-passes built. And of course, a by-pass can do as much damage to a town as an interstate.

I'm thinking that even without a broad-based interstate plan, that over time the US highways would mostly get upgraded, more by-passes would be built and we'd be in a similar situation, but with more intersections and route disruptions.

[GoCubsGo]

And our rail system would be in much better shape.

[O Really]

Semi-serious question: Why would the ICC bother to issue arrest warrant for Putin when they know (and he knows) that they've got no jurisdiction over or within non-signatory countries. Doesn't that make them look a bit toothless?

[GoCubsGo]

Semi-serious question: Why would the ICC bother to issue arrest warrant for Putin when they know (and he knows) that they've got no jurisdiction over or within non-signatory countries. Doesn't that make them look a bit toothless?

There's no reason to expect the symbolism and to draw attention to the crimes, and that's ok.

We're talking about it.

[Vrede too]

Semi-serious question: Why would the ICC bother to issue arrest warrant for Putin when they know (and he knows) that they've got no jurisdiction over or within non-signatory countries. Doesn't that make them look a bit toothless?

viewtopic.php?p=181776#p181776

Well, at least now Trump will want to have a much bigger, most fabulous, most attended arrest warrant than Putin.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/ic ... r-AA18KVs4

Not that it's likely to amount to anything, but it's ridiculous that Putin's warrant came first before everything Trump has done. Sometimes a prosecutor has to grow some nuts and do his/her job.

The article does not do a deep dive into the full rationale, but:

... A potential trial of any Russians at the ICC is a long way off, especially as Moscow doesn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction, and won’t extradite its nationals. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed that position earlier this week.

Ukraine is also not a member of the court, but it has granted the ICC jurisdiction over its territory and ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has visited four times since starting an investigation a year ago....

In theory, a deposed Putin could be tried in Ukraine, Russia, elsewhere or delivered to The Hague. He can also be currently arrested by any nation he visits. The ICC does not have its own ability to arrest - "a bit toothless" - but 3rd party nations often step up to enforce international or domestic law. For example, Spain has been especially active in prosecuting Latin American brutality.

There's no reason to expect the symbolism and to draw attention to the crimes, and that's ok.

We're talking about it.

Might even cause some Russian shame or even help incite resistance . . . maybe.

[Vrede too]

I admittedly only select Ukraine-positive items in what has become bloody and horrendous trench warfare. That said:

Russian cruise missiles destroyed in rail yard; plus update on 'liquidated' torturer








(long series of posts on this topic at the link)

... An update on the head of the Russian torture center who was the target of a partisan car bomb. Looks like his career has come to an abrupt halt.




... Like fish in a barrel.

BMPs are infantry fighting vehicles. More tweets and text at the link.

[Vrede too]

Moment Ukrainian Kamikaze drone crashes into Russian tank blowing it to pieces

Ukrainian forces blow up Russian tank by dropping bomb into open hatch

Great shot!

Ukrainian forces blow up Russian ammunition truck in HUGE blast near Bakhmut

Wait for it . . .

Kamikaze drone displays destruction of a Russian tank

[GoCubsGo]

Is drone warfare making tanks obsolete?

[Vrede too]

Is drone warfare making tanks obsolete?

It does seem to be making open hatches obsolete . I wonder how big and costly a drone and bomb/missile have to be to take out a tank with closed hatches. I assume that there are effective armoring and/or counter measures since Ukraine asked for and NATO is sending Abrams and Leopard tanks.

[GoCubsGo]

Is drone warfare making tanks obsolete?

It does seem to be making open hatches obsolete . I wonder how big and costly a drone and bomb/missile have to be to take out a tank with closed hatches. I assume that there are effective armoring and/or counter measures since Ukraine asked for and NATO is sending Abrams and Leopard tanks.

Doesn't seem like it's too tough to take out it's tracks rendering it immobile.

[Vrede too]

Doesn't seem like it's too tough to take out it's tracks rendering it immobile.

Tracks have to be pretty hearty just to survive normal operation. It's not like derailing a bicycle.

I searched "battle tank track vulnerability" until I got bored, without success. I did find this, Countermeasures. It discusses surviving missiles and drones in general.

[Vrede too]

Is drone warfare making tanks obsolete?

ATMs, too?

A large convoy of Russian armored vehicles attacking in the direction of Donetsk is fired upon

Each Javelin fired is a goal. Slava Ukraini from Brazil

Note to self: Dug in, well layered infantry, in an advantageously structured field of battle, with a good supply of Javelins, negate near 100% of enemy armor. Pity the orc battle slaves.

Slava Ukraine

Every day a T55 wakes up and knows that it will have to run faster than a javelin

It's like shooting fish in a barrel, except they're stupid fish

Ukrainian Marines destroy Russian armoured vehicles with Javelin missiles in Donetsk

Ukrainian forces blow up Russian tank with a Javelin missile

Ukrainian forces blow up Russian trucks and ammunition with aerial attacks

[Vrede too]

Russia's President Vladimir Putin could be a 'dead man walking,' a former CIA counterintelligence chief told an interviewer

... Olson concluded that if Putin were to be ousted from power by some uprising, that would end the war. He would not discount the most dramatic option in this possibility, saying, "I think Putin will be taken out. I would not rule out assassination."

Olson believes Putin's generals are "disgusted" by the futility and the carnage of the fighting in Ukraine. According to a brief from the Center for Strategic & International Studies published in February, between 60,000 and 70,000 Russian soldiers have died on the battlefield in Ukraine since the war began....

Fingers crossed. Slava Ukraini.

Caveat: This may be a sincere assessment. Otoh, it could be fake news designed to incite opposition and make Putin paranoid. Olson was CIA, after all.

[O Really]

Caveat: This may be a sincere assessment. Otoh, it could be fake news designed to incite opposition and make Putin paranoid. Olson was CIA, after all.

"When they're really out to get you, paranoid is a survival skill"

[Vrede too]

Caveat: This may be a sincere assessment. Otoh, it could be fake news designed to incite opposition and make Putin paranoid. Olson was CIA, after all.

"When they're really out to get you, paranoid is a survival skill"

and make Putin more paranoid.

[Vrede too]

Russian armored personnel carrier with fighters in it was targeted by a kamikaze drone

Moment Ukraine artillery destroys Russian tanks and sends soldiers running

With GPS or drone siting and smart shells are artillery barrages a thing of the past?

Ukrainian troops blow up two Russian tanks in MASSIVE explosions

Moment Russian tank hit by two landmines and a missile - but crew survive

Ukrainian troops shot down Russians’ 33rd Ka-52 combat helicopter worth $32m

Ukrainian forces destroy Russian self-propelled gun near Bakhmut after hunting it down for days

[Vrede too]

Kamikaze drone struck a moving armored vehicle with 3 Russians on it

Ukrainian Artillery Brigade destroys Russian BMP fighting vehicle near Bakhmut

Kazak fighters disable Russian radar station worth $6 million

Dozens of Russian Tanks Destroyed with Javelin Missiles in Donetsk

Slava Ukraini.

[Vrede too]

Ukrainian attack drone destroys Russian tank along with ammo

The open hatches are like a dare or invitation.

Kamaz, which brought the Russians into battle, fell into a mine planted by Ukrainian fighters

KAMAZ ... is a Russian manufacturer of trucks....