War in Ukraine

That was my thought as well. Targeting a residential building did not seem consistent with Ukraine's usual targeting. I assumed there was someone or something of high value to strike there.

If the purpose was just to give the Russian civilian population something to think about before they go to bed at night, I think something in Moscow would be far more effective for that.

Got to admit watching those videos brought back memories of 9/11.

 

Russia is providing North Korean soldiers with Russian identity documents, but letting the soldiers sign the documents in Korean. Not smart.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/23/europe/north-korean-soldiers-fake-id-russia-intl-hnk/index.html

 

Ukraine has pushed back the airfields that glide bombers can operate from (by targeting them with longer-range missiles), which limits the range of the bombers. Having a presence in Kursk probably also limits how far into Ukraine that the glide bombs can reach. I have not read much recently about Russia's glide bombs impacting the battlefield.

 

getting some good intel to target these facilities

Warehouse with US$16m worth of Shaheds parts burned down in Russia – intelligence

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has reported that a warehouse containing parts for Shaheds used by the Russian military to attack Ukraine has burned down in the Russian special economic zone Alabuga.

On the morning of 2 April 2024, drones struck two businesses, Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk, in Tatarstan. Local authorities stated that there was no serious damage, and the technological processes of the companies were not disrupted. An Ukrainska Pravda source in DIU said it was a special operation by Ukrainian intelligence. Drones attacked a plant that assembles Iranian Shahed drones and labels them Geran-2 (Geranium-2).

 

No need for an extension. Putin meant 20 December, 2025. Or 2026.

 

With the current state of technological capability for North Korea's citizenry, couldn't he keep them in line with a Curtis H-12 airplane or a Sopwith Camel?

 

An interesting article on the history of Russia's recovery from their last economic collapse. The U.S. was advising Russia on their economic recovery, and there was an issue of emphasis on promoting democracy or free markets. Clinton's team had emphasized the free markets over democracy. One manager at the embassy, Wayne Merry, disagreed with this, but couldn't get anyone to listen to him. After the failure in Vietnam of the U.S. government to listen to its own intelligence officers on the ground, a new communications channel called the "dissent channel" was created, but rarely used as it was known to stop one's career in its tracks. Merry was bothered that the economic advisors came across as arrogant, and never asked Russians what they needed or what they thought. Russians did not like the idea that their country was being used as a social-economic laboratory. Too many of the old industries were torn down instead of overhauled, creating upheaval and frustration. The State Department believed that the process of de-politicizing the economy was essentially complete, while Merry knew it was not. Merry believed that this failure would lead to Russia returning to an adversarial relationship with the world. He sent the memo on the dissent channel in 1994.

Boris Yeltsin had entrusted Yegor Gaidar with managing the market reforms, which he did in a heavy-handed manner, although he was generally successful with developing new companies. At some point, he was up for election for Prime Minister. Clinton was sure he would win, so he sent Al Gore over to congratulate him on his upcoming victory, even though Merry claimed he would lose. He lost. In a phone call with Clinton on the line, the State Department discussed whether they should tell Yeltsin to cancel the election or not. Merry was moved out of Moscow when his three-year assignment was up, and was blocked from working in the Pentagon in a Russian policy office.

It is not necessarily because of this failure that future dictator Vladimir Putin came to be the president of Russia, but it was likely a factor.

A few lessons to be drawn from this:

1) Arrogance is almost never the best approach in dealing with a foreign people.

2) Listen to your people on the ground.

3) Don't be a simple-minded know-it-all (like Trump). Sometimes the issues are complicated and require extensive research and understanding. (Trump requires all memos to be boiled down to one page.)

4) Don't assume that people in other countries will think like Americans.

A Newly Declassified Document Suggests Things With Russia Could Have Turned Out Very Differently

Just remember that if a supposedly intelligent president like Clinton could screw this up, imagine what Donald Trump could do with it. He may be faced with a similar situation if Russia's economy collapses in the next four years.

Have a Merry Christmas.

 

Clinton always thought with his little head, thus the nickname Slick Willie. Married a woman who wanted power so much that she allowed his many dalliances, and then went after the women he bedded.

 

Russia sinks another ship, this one a cargo ship in the Mediterranean. The ship was on its way to pick up weapons from Russia's bases in Syria, possibly to use in Ukraine, when the engine room had an explosion. Hopefully, the Syrians can seize those weapons before Russia can send another ship. Maybe Biden could incentivize the Syrians by offering food or other resources in exchange for the weapons.

In other news, around 1,100-3,000 North Koreans are casualties in the Ukraine War. It did not take very long for Ukraine to decimate the Dear Leader's troops. That should give you an idea of the rate of Russian casualties in this war. The Russians are probably more aware of the hazards of modern warfare (drones, etc.), but are on average less well-trained and conditioned compared to the "elite" North Korean troops.

Ukraine-Russia latest: Moscow cargo ship with Syria ties sinks as North Korean troop casualties ‘exceed 3,000’

 

There are literally no women or bedding in this story. Try to pay attention.

But now that you mention it, your Clinton story reminds me of another lifelong democrat rapist (who converted to republican because the unwashed masses were less educated and more gullible) who became president and was known for not being able to understand complicated issues. His name was Donald something-or-other. He became famous as a reality show clown with orange face-paint pretending to be a capable businessman.

 

LMAO!

The world was at peace on Trump's watch. Russia invaded b4 (on Barry's watch), and after, on Doh! Biden's watch.

TDS infected brainiacs: "...woe is me! Everybody let's all shit our britches, bc the guy under whom we enjoyed world peace, is finna get back in power!!!!"

 

speaking of watches, wait, wrong thread

 

You would have to be almost as ignorant as Trump to believe that the world was at peace during Trump's four years in office. Even Trump doesn't believe that. Many thanks to our resident right winger for demonstrating the fact that the average republican today is gullible. Right on cue, like a trained seal.

 

Wars can be laborious when your adversaries have many places to hide and you don’t simply Israel your enemies from the sky …

 

Trump hasn't even taken office yet and every world leader outside of Moscow and Pyongyang hates his guts.

Signed.

Mexico
Canada
Panama
Greenland

 

According to a certain porn star, Trump added new meaning to the phrase "little head."

 

Our local attorney is now obsessed with Trumps package

 

As much as Trump is obsessed with Arnold Palmer's package?

 

Oh how cute are fake Republicans sticking up for his favorite Libby