Let's talk about it. Where are we at with the Ukraine/Russia/NATO/US war?

 I've been helter skelter on the blog but its time to talk about it again.

Where are we at with the Ukraine/Russia/NATO/US war?

Yeah.  I named the parties correctly.  If you believe that Ukraine alone would have handled Russia then you're smoking crack (despite the inexplicable tactical decision made).

So where are we?

Not at a good place.  Russia just canceled the agreement that had grain shipments heading out of Ukraine.  What does that mean?

That means 2023 is gonna suck worse for the developing world than 2022 did.  We only delayed the hunger crisis.  Its back on full force now.  I also expect Russia to start targeting those grain silos and ships heading out of Odessa.

Which means we're heading toward another shatterpoint.

Will NATO start escorting grain?  What will Turkey do?

This thing is gonna get sticky just on the economic front much less militarily.

But forget all that.  What do you guys think?

China’s Four-Engine ‘Scorpion D’ Cargo Drone

Story here

SuperAV Land 8x8.

Video from @IVECO Defence Vehicles, showcasing the SuperAV Land 8x8. According to Iveco the platform is able to use an RWS mounting weapons up to 40mm in calibre. Will be interesting to see what other armament will be installed and what countries will show interest. pic.twitter.com/E8FXoY7YoZ

— A-129 Mangusta (@NichoConcu) October 16, 2022

A long range drone launching suicide drones

New kamikaze drone 'ALPAGUT' unveiled (launched from an Akinci UAV). pic.twitter.com/32o5L7jZmI

— Felix Woessner (@FeWoessner) October 26, 2022

The Hero Ukraine needs says its about to be on!

 

Yeah. It's real.

Yeah. It's about to be on.

Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/yoX8ITwtdj

— Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (@SarahAshtonLV) October 26, 2022

It’s amazing how well this Malcolm X clip ages

It’s amazing how well this Malcolm X clip ages pic.twitter.com/Nm9cv9xb0V

— An0maly (@LegendaryEnergy) October 27, 2022

I say this as gently as possible.

I wonder if Dr King wasn't the first person used to push DESIGNED societal change?  Let me be clear.  If you look at the civil rights movement, you'll see that change was coming.  Dr King was able to personalize it, put a face on it and move it forward more quickly.

I believe his cause was just.  I believe it was true and necessary.

But I wonder if he wasn't being pushed into the leadership role by individuals behind the scenes.

There were many individuals with as storied a past, as eloquent and suffered greater oppression/physical violence that would have made fine leaders of the movement.

But back on task.

Malcolm X was a deep thinker.  His thinking evolved and I think his views need to be more closely examined in light of current events.

Yun 20 arriving at the Zhuhai Air Show

 

抵达珠海航展的运20 pic.twitter.com/WaPZVDXrDN

— lqy🇨🇳 (@lqy99021608) October 28, 2022

Force Design 2030 is Marine Corps wide because the Chinese Navy is going global?

In the context of a WESTPAC war, it's important to look at the PLA's system destruction warfare doctrine and how the PLA means to employ it in the fight against the USN beyond the 1st island chain. A 🧵

— PLAOps (@PLAOpsOSINT) October 29, 2022

I keep chewing on this Twitter post and keep coming up with new thoughts.

HQMC has been saying that FD2030 is focused on the Pacific and won't be going Marine Corps wide.

I knew that was a lie when I saw 2ndMARDIV implementing many of the concepts found in FD2030.

So why is it going Marine Corps wide?

Because its been unsaid but the Chinese Navy is becoming (if it isn't already), a true BLUE WATER Navy.

The US Navy is dazed and confused and facing a threat...a true threat...that it hasn't truly faced since the beginning of WW2 (with a greatly diminished ship building capacity).

Why Force Design 2030?

Because the Navy isn't ready and won't be ready for awhile.

So the Marine Corps changes to save a Navy that isn't up to the challenge.

More to come as I continue to ponder this thing....

Open Comment Post. 30 Oct 22

Air Launched Ballistic Missile

Air-Launched Ballistic Missile.
A C-5 drop tests a Minuteman ICBM. The missile then ignites whilst it falls. This was part of the Air Mobility Feasibility Tests conducted by USAF in the seventies. pic.twitter.com/bMKR0jf6Sr

— Gavin Price (@pilliarscreatio) October 30, 2022