Mercenary

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From the Internet web sit "Russia Beyond" and thanks to same.

Consider Wagner PMC hardly the first use of foreign mercenaries in Russia. 

Think rather a very long and proud tradition of the foreign mercenary in Russian service.

1. "Foreign troops that fought for the Russian Empire"

HISTORY | APR 02 2021 | BORIS EGOROV.

2. "7 most famous foreign mercenaries in Russian service"

HISTORY | OCT 09 2023 | article by BORIS EGOROV.

3. "Mercenaries in Russia: How Westerners shaped the army"

HISTORY | OCT 16 2017 | article by ALEXEY TIMOFEYCHEV.

4. "5 foreign military commanders that brought glory to Russia"

HISTORY | OCT 12 2020 | BORIS EGOROV.

Also within the context of the Ukraine Conflict consider the case of Cuban citizens as enticed to enlist in the Russian army. Things just aren't as they were in the olden days.

coolbert.

L9015.

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Dixmude not a hospital ship as that term normally understood. A helicopter landing warship modified to function as a medical facility.

"French Warship [LHD Dixmude] Docks in Egypt, Could Treat Gaza Children This Week - Minister"

From https://www.usnews.com |  the article by John Irish.

"PARIS (Reuters) - The French helicopter carrier Dixmude has docked in Egypt and could start treating wounded children from Gaza later this week, Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday, as Western powers look to ramp up efforts to aid the enclave."

"It is the first Western military ship to dock in Egypt since the conflict started and moored on Monday at al-Arish 50 km (31 miles) west of Gaza, now a hub for international aid for Gaza."

Sick bay the Dixmude. As was functioning during the Covid virus epidemic. A posed image? I note no obligatory masks worn.

"The Dixmude's medical capacities have been adapted to create a military-civilian medical force, notably in pediatrics. With two operating theatres and 40 beds, it could treat those with light injuries before they are moved to hospitals on the ground."

Primary mission will be to treat wounded children, stabilize their condition prior to transport to another land-based and fully functioning hospital.

coolbert.

Transgressions.

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Gaza means "strong". Referring to battlements and fortifications.

As it was four-thousand years ago as it is now!

See the You Tube video:

"Gaza in Jewish History"

 Oct 9, 2023

"A brief overview of Gaza in Jewish history, from the Bronze Age to the present day."

The various lectures [many of them] courtesy Professor Henry Abramson most impressive. I recommend highly without qualification or reservation. Animosity and conflict between the Gazan and the Hebrews at least a three-thousand year old ongoing affair.

“For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom. So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour her strongholds” - Amos 1:6–7.

Gaza more than familiar with war and the ravages of war. From the Bronze Age unto the modern era. Bows and arrows in olden times, JDAM bomb today!

coolbert.

Gaza War.

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See these You Tube shorts the Gaza War.

All shorts courtesy mapsinanutshell!

Comments:

* Manpower numbers alone do not tell the tale. Think heavy weaponry armor and artillery almost 100 % totally in favor of the Israeli and for which Hamas has few counters. Troop strengths as shown ground force components only not counting Israeli Air Force [IAF]?

* Air power again 100 % totally to the advantage of the Israeli. That amount of ordnance the IAF able to drop on the Palestinian equal according to the quick and dirty QJM calculation of Trevor Dupuy equal about to an additional 100,000 man force complementing the ground combat units.

coolbert.

Willy.

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Free Willy Russian style!

Terrible storm the Black Sea! Russian naval commando dolphins released from their "holding" pens as a consequence.

"Free Willy: Russian Navy Trained Dolphins Hit By Storm"

From http://www.hisutton.com | 28 November 2023 | the article by H I Sutton.

"A massive storm battered Crimea on the November 27. Preliminary analysis of the damage done to Russian defenses reveals that the dolphin pens in Sevastopol harbor are gone as a result. They may have been sunk or washed away. It is plausible that some or all of the trained dolphins have been freed."

Trained aquatic mammals highly intelligent teachable and relatively docile a huge investment I might think. Trained to perform military tasks at depths in the ocean too dangerous for a human diver!

Outcome of release from captivity however might be dire!

"It should be remembered that if the dolphins are indeed free they have been raised in captivity. It can be expected that they were reliant on their human trainers for food and may be unable to fend for themselves. Escape may thus be a death warrant."

Willy come home! Now! And thank you H. I. Sutton.

coolbert.

Agitprop II.

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"the agitator, whose primary medium is speech, seizes on the emotional aspects of these issues to arouse his audience to indignation or action"

Strong beating up the weak! Israel versus Hamas. See previous blog entry the contrast of the opposing forces with regard to military strength most obvious.

Think that the war will be won on the evening news television broadcasts and the Internet monitors of the world?

That image the strong [USA & Israel] beating up the weak [Gaza]. Little if any commentary on my part needed. See these You Tube Shorts:

These video can be correctly categorized as Agitprop. Agitation and propaganda of a simple and basic idea quite effective and geared for the common masses, easy to understand, hopefully arousing an intense response of a charged nature. The Israeli bully mistreating the Palestinian, aided and abetted by the USA.

Consider that the perception of reality even more important than reality itself!

coolbert.

Nonsense.

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Calumny the US Naval lady aviators!

"calumny: noun - A false statement maliciously made to injure another's reputation. The utterance of maliciously false statements; slander."

"Enough With The ‘All-Female Crew Caused The P-8 Crash’ Nonsense"

https://theaviationist.comNovember 27, 2023 | the article by DAVID CENCIOTTI.

"Although the investigation about the recent P-8 mishap in Hawaii has just begun, the social media people have already issued a verdict: the cause of the incident was an all-female crew."

"On Nov. 20, 2023, a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft 169561 YD-561, belonging to the VP-4 'Skinny Dragons' based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, ended in [the] water after overshooting the runway during landing at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The crew, safely evacuated the aircraft after the mishap without immediate injuries."

"If it weren’t for the images of the Poseidon surrounded by water some 50 yards [meters] offshore circulating online, some of which were used for memes and jokes, it would ultimately be an accident like many others."

Vilification and defamation the lady pilots of the P-8. Women are just NOT up to the task it will be said. As if aircraft and warplanes in particular NEVER crash or are damaged with a man at the controls.

coolbert.

Creep.

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Originally conceived expendable but then further envisioned as not so expendable!

"Losing one drone for one submarine was a good exchange rate"

From https://www.isegoria.net | November 27th, 2023.

"In the late 1950s, David Hambling notes (in Swarm Troopers), the latest sonar could detect a submarine more than twenty miles away, but the best anti-submarine weapons only had a range of a few miles"

"The US Navy wanted to bridge the gap with a Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter or DASH. This was a small helicopter capable of carrying a single weapon and dropping it at the required spot, guided by a controller back on board ship."

"The DASH was based on a one-man helicopter . . . This had two rotor blades rotating in opposite directions for lift, and a propeller for forward motion. The drone version was the size of a small car and weighed just over a ton. By 1963, the US Navy had eighty of them."

[…]

"DASH was designed to be expendable; when it dropped a Mk57 nuclear depth charge it would be within the lethal radius of the resulting explosion. The powerful warhead, from five to twenty kilotons, guaranteed that the sub would be destroyed, and losing one drone for one submarine was a good exchange rate. The idea that DASH should carry a non-nuclear homing torpedo and come back afterwards was a case of mission creep; according to the original design it was only supposed to make one flight."

Mission creep: "Mission creep is the gradual or incremental expansion of an intervention, project or mission, beyond its original scope, focus or goals, a ratchet effect spawned by initial success"

Mission creep for the DASH drone to include projects such as:

* SNOOPY * NITE PANTHER * BLOW LOW * NITE GAZELLE * GUN SHIP * ATTACK DRONE 

Read further details of all mission creep applications DASH!

coolbert.

Frankman USA.

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"I voluntarily separated from the Army due to lost opportunities and the consequences I faced for refusing the COVID vaccine.

I realized that my religious exemption was most likely going to get denied and that I would risk facing a general discharge for serious offense instead of an honorable discharge. A general discharge, which is what about 80% of those discharged received, means one doesn’t maintain all of their VA benefits, including the GI Bill, to go to school. Furthermore, I left because I lost out on so many career opportunities, and getting my career back on trajectory was impossible." - John Frankman.

"FORMER GREEN BERET GIVES SCATHING RESPONSE TO ​BIDEN REGIME FOR TRYING TO BRING BACK ABUSED UNVAXXED SOLDIERS (VIDEO)"

From https://defconnews.com

"The U.S. Army sent a letter to former service members dismissed for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, stating that they can request corrections to their discharge records. This comes as the military continues to grapple with recruitment challenges, with numbers falling short of expectations."

See within context the previous blog entry, the US Army recruiting dilemma.

Devoted readers to the blog additionally will want to view the entire John Frankman video.

Comments:

* Officers can resign their commissions. Not so an enlisted man. Enlisted are discharged. Those refusing the VAXX shot receiving a LESS THAN honorable discharge.

* A career Special Forces officer resigning his commission can only be seen as an indication of something very wrong. Those Green Beret troops personnel of the highest possible quality. Losing a team leader such as John Frankman not something to be taken lightly.

coolbert.

Disparity.

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As extracted from the Internet web site of the esteemed Israeli military historian/theoretician Professor Martin van Creveld with thanks to same.

"Lest the Pattern be Repeated"

POSTED ON NOVEMBER 23, 2023 BY MARTIN VAN CREVELD.

"To anyone who has been following the conflict in Gaza so far, the gap between the opposing forces is astonishing. So much so, indeed, that almost the only way to describe it is by using superlatives. On one hand we see what can only be described as a juggernaut. One armed with the most modern, most powerful weapons and weapon systems in the world today; including artillery barrels, armored personnel carriers, and tanks (the latest Israeli tank, known as Merkava IV, is literally the heaviest, best-protected, in the world today); and covered from the air by what is widely believed to be the best air force in the world today. All defended from above by the most advanced anti-missile systems in the world today; all preceded by huge bulldozers fully capable of reducing anything in front of them to rubble; and all linked by inconceivably complicated, if largely hidden, networks of computers and communications produced by one of the digitally most advanced societies in the world today." [all superlatives as from the M. van Creveld article]

Israeli military steamroller terribly arrayed as against an opposition [Hamas] of what is basically light infantry armed in the main WITHOUT any sort of heavy weaponry. Armor/air defense/indirect fire weaponry either totally lacking or having minimal battlefield significance.

YET the Israeli campaign to ERADICATE Hamas militants continues EVEN after weeks of sustained aerial bombardment by the Israeli Air Force. 

Such inequality of resources and assets might ordinarily mean an end to the Gaza War with Israeli victory quick and accomplished in a leisurely manner, a snap-of-a finger type of combat - all done!

"Snap-of-a-finger: Adverb - Very easily, with little effort."

BUT THIS HAS NOT BEEN SO!

Devoted readers to the blog and those merely perusing in much more casual manner are strongly encouraged without qualification or reservation to read the entire Professor van Creveld article.

Aspects, considerations and considerations of the apparent Israeli inability to instantly eliminate Hamas all discussed in detail with remarkable commentary and clarification. 

coolbert.

Trudeau.

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The Gaza War, the Canadian connection? 

"GUNTER: Hamas slaughter warrants Israeli actions"

From  https://torontosun.com | Lorne Gunter | Nov 25, 2023.

"Former federal NDP candidate Yavar Hameed, a human rights lawyer from Ottawa, is threatening to bring a private prosecution against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Hameed claims Israel is committing war crimes against Palestinians, and since Trudeau is supporting Israel, the PM is abetting war crimes."

"Private prosecutions almost never get anywhere in Canada. Courts dismiss them out of hand."

"dismiss (someone or something) out of hand: idiom - 1. To reject, deny, or refuse to listen to someone or something right away, without due discussion or consideration."

Within the context of Anglo-Saxon jurisprudence a LACK of action is not a reason to charge a person with aiding and abetting. Justin Trudeau his utterances alone cannot have aided and abetted. Action is needed. 

Consider rather such a "private prosecution" to fall under the category of Lawfare?

"Lawfare is the use of legal systems and institutions to damage or delegitimize an opponent, or to deter an individual's usage of their legal rights."

"The term may refer to the use of legal systems and principles against an enemy, such as by damaging or delegitimizing them, wasting their time and money (e.g. SLAPP suits), or winning a public relations victory."

Nice try Mr. Yavar, but ain't gonna work!

coolbert.

Bar IAF.

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Stern warning the Israeli directed at the Yemeni!

"Israel Air Force [IAF] commander threatens to bomb Arab countries"

From https://www.middleeastmonitor.com | November 18, 2023. That tip from Lorenzo.

"Israeli Air Force [IAF] Commander Tomer Bar has stated that Tel Aviv had [has] plans to launch attacks in Yemen."

"Bar shared that the Air Force, as a strategic arm of Tel Aviv, is ready and acting across the Middle East in every required arena and place, according to what the official Israel Broadcasting Authority reported."

"The Israeli military official’s statements came days after the Yemeni armed forces affiliated with the Houthi Ansar Allah group announced on Tuesday evening the launch of a batch of ballistic missiles at various Israeli targets, including sensitive targets in the Eilat region."

Drone, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles launched by the Houthi [allegedly] at Israeli targets warranting a military response by the IAF. The Gaza War becoming a widening and regional war as a consequence. Continued Houthi attack warranting an Israeli response.

Threat also to the choke point of Bab al Mandab and the danger as posed to Israeli flagged ship also a consideration.

See previous blog entries Yemeni participation the Gaza War:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/11/burkan.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/11/jeremiads.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/11/yemen-uav.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/10/ddg-64.html

coolbert.

Unabated.

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"Moreover, 139,000 housing units were subjected to minor to moderate damage"

 "Gaza: 42% of housing units destroyed or damaged in Israeli attacks, UN says"

"OCHA stressed that Israel's attacks have continued 'unabated' at a time when the cumulative death toll has reached over 4,385 Palestinians, of whom 62 percent are children and women."

From https://www.newarab.com MENA | Sally Ibrahim - Gaza | 22 October, 2023.

"At least 42 percent of all housing units in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or damaged as a result of Israel's continuous strikes, the UN humanitarian office said."

"'About 15,100 housing units were destroyed, and 10,656 housing units were rendered uninhabitable,' the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a press statement sent to The New Arab.

Edited image accompanying this blog entry courtesy [Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu/Getty].

42 % of all housing damaged to some degree. Some no longer habitable. Some habitable but without many basic amenities.

See previous blog entries as applicable here, here and here. That map of Germany as in an edited prior blog entry the strategic bombing of Germany WW2 seems to suggest that the saturation bombing and destruction of Gaza corresponds quite well to the damage as done to German cities such as Berlin or Hamburg.

coolbert.

Recruitment III.

 This is coolbert:

USA Army desperate to regain discharged military personnel?

Army troops those refusing the mandated/obligatory Covid-10 immunization and let go from their enlistment contract now can rejoin? 

Comments:

* I am not sure if this is a genuine Army recruiting poster or a photo-shopped extracted/edited and "cobbled" images.

* Military police and vehicle mechanic only two MOS [military occupation specialty] that are instantly transferrable to the civilian sector.

* Persons prior service but discharged as a result of refusing the Covid-19 vaccine I am wondering if will receive: 1. Rank. 2. Back pay with interest. 3. Credit for time lost counting for retirement. 4. An expunging of any record 201 file of less than honorable behavior. 

coolbert.

Truce.

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First swap of hostages/prisoners complete, the Gaza War.

"13 Israeli Hostages, 12 Thai Nationals Freed As Gaza Sees First Day Without Fighting In Seven Weeks"

From https://www.zerohedge.com | article by TYLER DURDEN  | NOV 24, 2023.

"After going into effect Friday morning, the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas has held throughout the day, leading to the release of 25 total hostages from Hamas captivity."

"Among the 25 are 12 Thai hostages and 13 Israeli hostages. They were handed over to the Red Cross where they were taken into Egypt and are en route to Israel. A Hamas source has been quoted as saying"

Thai nationals presumably contract agricultural workers being taken hostage by Hamas almost half of those release! Does it surprise anyone to find Thai nationals living and working in Israel?

Delivery of critical humanitarian aid of a basic and very essential nature for the residents of Gaza also done as part of the hostage/prisoner exchange?

coolbert:

Polina.

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Go to black! Russian style. No humor intended!

"Watch: Actress's Last Moments Singing For Russian Marines Hit By Ukraine Missiles"

From https://www.zerohedge.com | the article by TYLER DURDEN | NOV 24, 2023.

"Cell phone video captured the last moments of a Russian actress's life, as she sang to a theater full of Russian marines targeted by Ukrainian missiles in a what a Ukrainian commander called a 'revenge' attack." 

"Video from the event circulating on social media shows 40-year-old Russian actress Polina Menshikh singing and playing guitar. The theater shakes from an explosion, debris falls from the ceiling and the video suddenly goes black while Marines can be heard yelling." 

Among the casualties the Russian actress/songstress/director/choreographer Polina Menshikh:

"The St. Petersburg Portal theater confirms that an artillery strike on Nov. 19 killed actress Polina Menshikh during a live performance for Russian troops in Ukraine’s occupied Donetsk region. A video captured her final moments. Two dozen soldiers were also reportedly killed."

coolbert.

Type 071.

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The latest from our good friend Hal Turner.

"China's Most Advanced Warship ABLAZE"

From  https://halturnerradioshow.com |  WORLD   |   HAL TURNER  |  21 NOVEMBER 2023.

"China's Most Advanced Warship ABLAZE"

"China's People's Liberation Army - Navy ship 'Longushan' is reportedly ablaze just off the coast of China tonight.   The vessel is reported to be 'China's most advanced warship.'"

"No OFFICIAL word on what caused the fire.  (There ARE rumors . . . .)"

"All mention of this is being rapidly scrubbed from China social media networks, and no official information is coming out of Beijing."

"The vessel bears Hull Number 980 and is described as a Type 071 landing ship."

Can't be now like in was in the days of the old Soviet Union. During the time of the Soviets planes never fell out of the skies, trains never ran into one another, ships never sank. Hard to hid such disaster now.

Also, THERE ARE ALWAYS RUMORS.

coolbert.

Buster.

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As extracted from the web site isegoria.net and thanks to same.

The bunker busting bomb. Being used right now by Israeli combat aviation missions the Gaza War?

"Drop a howitzer on them"

From https://www.isegoria.net | November 22 2023.

"The GBU-28 is a 5,000-pound laser-guided 'bunker busting' bomb"

"It was designed, manufactured, and deployed in less than three weeks due to an urgent need during Operation Desert Storm to penetrate hardened Iraqi command centers located deep underground."

See the wiki entry https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-28

"The initial batch of GBU-28s was built from modified 8 inch/203 mm artillery barrels (principally from deactivated M110 howitzers), but later examples are purpose-built with the BLU-113 bomb body made by National Forge of Irvine, Pennsylvania. They weigh 5,000 pounds (2,268 kg) and contain 630 pounds (286 kg) of Tritonal explosive."

Ratio of the explosive bang-stuff to the overall weight of the bomb rather low. Slightly greater than 10 % only! A bunker-buster bomb obviously needs a casing armor-piercing very heavy and of stout manufacture. 

Three weeks only from design to deployment? Just shows the USA military can do what it wants if it decides to do so, project not impeded by red-tape or excessive bureaucracy!

coolbert.

Pause.

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I would like to believe this is a sign of good! But for some reason I am skeptical.

"Israeli Government Approves Deal: 4-Day Pause for 50 Hostages"

From Breitbart ^ 11/21/2023. The tip from Freeper.

"The Israeli government approved a deal Tuesday night that will see the Palestinian Hamas terror group release at least 50 female, child, and elderly hostages over four days, in return for a pause in the fighting in the Gaza Strip."

ISRAELI WOMEN, CHILDREN, ELDERLY, SICK OR INFIRM! ALL TO BE RELEASED.

"In return, Israel will release a greater number of convicted Palestinians — though none who have been convicted of murder. Israel will resume the fight as soon as the hostages are delivered and the four-day period is over, as it works to destroy Hamas."

Four-day respite from hostilities. During that period hostages are to be exchanged for imprisoned Palestinians. Humanitarian aid I assume will enter into Gaza. Food, water, medical supplies, etc.

And then everything will return to normal? Fighting of an intense nature will resume?

Better than nothing I suppose.

coolbert.

 

Rattled.

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 "'There's this gigantic funnel that sits over the table in the Situation Room. And all the problems in the world end up coming through that funnel to the same eight or 10 people. There's a limit to the bandwidth those eight or 10 people can have.'"

TOO MUCH FOR TOO FEW!

"rattled: adjective   informal - Anxious and worried"

"Behind the Curtain: Rattled U.S. government fears wars could spread"

From https://www.axios.com | /2023/10/20.

"Never before have we talked to so many top government officials who, in private, are so worried about so many overseas conflicts at once."

"Why it matters: We don't like to sound dire. But to sound a siren of clinical, clear-eyed realism: U.S. officials say this confluence of crises poses epic concern and historic danger."

[....]

"Former Defense Secretary Bob Gates — who ran the Pentagon under presidents of both parties, George W. Bush and Barack Obama — tells us America is facing the most crises since World War II ended 78 years ago."

FIVE CRISIS ALL OCCURRING MORE OR LESS SIMULTANEOUSLY. DANGER THAT THE OVERLOAD WILL CREATE AN URGENCY OF DECISION MAKING THAT WILL BECOME [IF NOT ALREADY OCCURRING] UNMANAGEABLE.

As to what those five crisis are with further elucidation each situation and confrontation the devoted reader to the blog will just have to read for themselves.

coolbert.

Kamchatka.

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"'Putin has approved the idea and the icebreaker will carry the name Stalingrad' . . . 'The initiative is important for the preservation of the memory of the bravery of protectors of Stalingrad during the Great Patriotic War'"

"In chilly return to past, Putin names new icebreaker 'Stalingrad'"

From  https://thebarentsobserver.com | the article Atle Staalesen  |November 20, 2023.

"The state leader [Putin] reportedly approves a proposal to name the super-powerful Arctic vessel after the Communist dictator and mass-murderer.
"The projected nuclear-powered icebreaker was originally to be named Kamchatka. But the Kremlin now appears to have intervened and renamed the powerful ship Stalingrad."

Idea to change the name of the Kamchata to Stalingrad DID NOT originate in the Kremlin. But HAS been approved by the Kremlin.

Understand full the name change not honoring Joseph Stalin but rather the Russians that fought and died defending Stalingrad during the Second World War.  The city now called [and has been called for some time now]  Volgograd.

coolbert.

Administrative.

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Preventative detention Israeli style. Persons rounded-up and imprisoned in what is called "administrative detention".

All in the aftermath of events as occurred on 7 October.

Individuals deemed a possible threat rounded-up and locked up without charges being filed.  

"'Over 2,200 administrative prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons'"

From https://english.almayadeen.net | Al Mayadeen English.

"The Palestinian Prisoners Information Office reports that this number is recorded for the first time since the establishment of the Captive Movement."

What the Captive Movement refers to I cannot say.

"On Monday, the Palestinian Prisoners Information Office reported that the number of administrative prisoners has surpassed 2,200 prisoners, marking the highest count since the establishment of the Captive Movement."

[. . . .]

"He added that the number of arrests has surpassed 3,000, pointing out that the occupation has put a significant number of arrestees in administrative detention without any charges filed."

To a certain extent action of the Israeli reminiscent of the incarceration of suspected subversives USA as occurred as a consequence of American entry into World War Two. Persons having not committed a crime but the suspicion of dis-loyalty perceived nonetheless. 

coolbert.

Look-out.

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What does a woman know? That sort of thing?

"Female IDF Soldiers Blame ‘Sexism’ For Early Warning of Hamas Activity Being 'Ignored'"

"Ever since Hamas triggered an escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine by breaching the Israeli border and abducting approximately 200 people on 7 October, the surprise attack has been blamed on everything from intelligence lapses to operational and logistical weaknesses of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)."

"Israel’s female surveillance soldiers at the border had warned of heightened Hamas activity before the 7 October attack, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported. However, their alert was allegedly ignored by the upper chain of command."

"In what has been described as a blatant display of sexism, senior commanders refused to heed the warnings because they had come from women operating the surveillance cameras, sources were cited as saying."

"The unit of soldiers in the Border Defense Corps who spend hours seated in front of surveillance camera screens monitoring any undue activity on the other side is comprised entirely of women. Known in Hebrew as tatzpitaniyot - derived from the word tatzpit, or look-out. These vigilant troops are often the first line of defense."

Women better than men in performing duty of a boring nature, drudgery. Also so better with attention to detail. Surveillance camera apparatus disabled at the very beginning of the Hamas attack. Remote operators unable to "see" what was actually occurring at the border fence, their communications knocked-out almost instantly and with Hamas carefully done premeditation.

WARNINGS IGNORED! AN OVERALL PATTERN OF INCREASED BORDER-FENCE ACTIVITY BY HAMAS WAS OBSERVED BY THE LOOK-OUTS BUT GIVEN SHORT SHRIFT IT SEEMS!

coolbert.

Ultimate.

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Satan-2 test launch designed to scare? And scare observers with good reason?

Five minutes to Armageddon and thank you Vlad!

"Putin plans to fly world's biggest nuclear missile - Satan 2 - over the South Pole in test launch' says Russian state media - before report is censored"

From https://www.dailymail.co.uk  |  the article by WILL STEWART | 20 November 2023 | again the tip from Freeper.

"The supposedly 'unstoppable' missile is as tall as a 14-storey tower block"

"Putin views it as his ultimate weapon against the West in the event of nuclear war"

"The hypersonic missile is designed to strike the West by flying over the North or South Poles, making it impossible to strike down with current air defenses."

ATTACK FROM ABOVE THE SOUTH POLE ENABLING THE RUSSIAN TO FOIL AMERICAN BALLISTIC EARLY WARNING RADARS. REACTION TIME OF AMERICAN DECISION MAKERS AND THE MILITARY SEVERELY COMPROMISED.

See previous relevant blog entries the topic:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/10/destabilize-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2015/09/sarmat.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/12/fobs.html

coolbert.

Malfunction.

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Almost a tremendous disaster. Only the actions of a single on-the-ball officer prevented a major naval catastrophe. So as reported.

"Royal Navy nuclear submarine equipped with Trident missiles 'suffered huge malfunction that sent the vessel into an endless dive - with engineers saving the 140 crew members moments before they faced being crushed by underwater pressure'"

From https://www.dailymail.co.uk | the article by EIRIAN JANE PROSSER  and RORY TINGLE | 19 November 2023 | the tip from Freeper.

"A Royal Navy nuclear submarine equipped with Trident missiles suffered a huge malfunction that sent it into an endless dive before the vessel was righted moments before the crew faced being crushed by underwater pressure, it was claimed today."

"The Vanguard class sub had been carrying 140 crew when its depth gauge suddenly failed while on a mission in the Atlantic." 

"It caused a frantic scrabble with engineers managing to stop the submarine and its nuclear reactor from plunging further just moments before disaster struck."

All this as a result of a SINGLE depth gauge failure? And none of the crew or the conn had an inkling the vessel was slowly settling to the abysmal depths?

I can well imagine that such a loss would be the entire question of British nuclear deterrent into question. No need it will be said for another class of ballistic-missile firing submarine to replace the now-aging Vanguard class.

coolbert.

Enthusiasts.

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Boyish enthusiasm or something other. Perhaps even an indication of bad to come?

Israeli troops Gaza their behavior and demeanor less than adequate? 

IDF = Israeli Defense Force.

"IDF generals warn: Israeli soldiers' conduct in Gaza endangers forces"

From The Jerusalem Post ^ | NOVEMBER 18, 2023 | article by AMIR BOHBOT/WALLA! The tip from Freeper.

"Reserve officers in the IDF sounded the alarm over a collection of reports recently accumulated on disciplinary issues among Israeli soldiers in Gaza, which may lead to 'serious incidents' in the Gaza Strip and endanger Israeli forces in the face of Hamas threats, they argued. Among the alarming reports, a testimony of a tank commander claimed he observed soldiers playing soccer, swimming in the waters of Gazan beaches, spraying graffiti inscriptions on the walls of Palestinian houses, and planting trees brought from Israel. Also, some unusual political statements by soldiers were recorded on social networks"

INSUFFICIENT AND INADEQUATE ATTENTION TO THE MISSION, A LACKADAISICAL ATTITUDE CAN LEAD TO DISASTER.

As to unusual "political statements" I can easily understand comments very negative toward Hamas, Palestinians and Arabs in general!

coolbert.

Scandalous.

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“'We are working hard to address audit findings as well as recommendations from the Government Accountability Office,' . . . 'The Components are making good progress resulting in meaningful benefits, but we must do more.'”

"Pentagon fails sixth audit in a row"

NOT JUST SIX TIMES IN A ROW! HAS NEVER PASSED!

From https://responsiblestatecraft.org/pentagon-audit/  |   the article by CONNOR ECHOLS |  NOV 16, 2023.

"On Wednesday, Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord revealed that the Department of Defense had failed its sixth audit in a row, with no significant improvements over the last year."

[....]

"The Pentagon remains the only federal agency to have never passed an audit. Its failure to make significant progress has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers"

“'The recent failure of the Pentagon's 6TH audit couldn't make it clearer that we need accountability & transparency,' Paul [Senator Rand Paul] posted on X. 'No institution is above scrutiny, especially the DoD [with] the largest budget of ANY [federal] agency.'”

This Mike McCord ought to be ashamed. Just knows how to speak government gobblydegook for purposes of dissimulation. Shame and scandal!

coolbert.

Interactive.

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NOT a whole lot of comment needed on my part for this blog entry!

"Satellite images show destruction from Israel's assault on Gaza"

"INTERACTIVE Gaza before after."

From  https://www.aljazeera.com (Al Jazeera) |  By AJLabs  |  26 Oct 2023.

"The Israeli military has destroyed nearly 200,000 housing units, either completely or partially, since the start of its latest assault on the Gaza Strip following Hamas's surprise attack on October 7."

[....]

"According to the UN's humanitarian office, at least 45 percent of all housing units in the enclave have been damaged or destroyed in the Israeli attacks."

Go to the images. Move the slider from right to left and then from left to right at will. You can view damage before and after!

According to my quick and dirty calculations that Israeli aerial bombardment of Gaza in the first six days alone equal to the explosive power of four one-kiloton nuclear detonations. And since that time a bombardment the likes which is hardly normal how much high-power bang stuff has been expended?

The Israeli Air Force [IAF] has taken a cue from the controversial British policy of World War Two to make German cities uninhabitable by long-range saturation strategic bombing the civilian populace a primary target?

To place within context, that amount of high-explosive bang-stuff dropped on Gaza about equal to the amount of bomb tonnage dropped by TWO thousand plane raids of the Second World War!! I am assuming the raid consisting of B-17 bombers carrying a typical 4,000 pound bomb load!

coolbert.

Toowoomba.

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“The divers … sustained minor injuries likely due to being subjected to the sonar pulses from the Chinese destroyer,” 

"Australia Claims Navy Divers Injured by ‘Sonar Pulses’ From Chinese Destroyer"

From BREITBART LONDON 18 Nov 2023.

"BEIJING (AP) – Australia on Saturday accused the Chinese navy of likely causing minor injuries to Australian naval divers by operating its sonar while they were trying to clear fishing nets from their ship’s propellers."

"The Australian government has expressed its serious concerns to the Chinese government over what it called the unsafe and unprofessional conduct earlier this week, Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement on his official website."

[....]

"The HMAS Toowoomba stopped in international waters on Tuesday in Japan’s exclusive economic zone [EEZ] after fishing nets became entangled in its propellers, the defense minister’s statement said. The naval frigate had been helping to enforce U.N. sanctions in the region."

"As diving operations were underway, a Chinese destroyer moved toward the Australian ship and was detected operating its hull-mounted sonar in a way that posed a risk to the divers and forced them to get out of the water, the statement said."

Not just "unsafe and unprofessional conduct". Malicious and deliberate and without question so.

As to minor injuries consider my prior blog entry:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/11/discharges.html

coolbert.

Detained!

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"The [soldiers'] conduct that emerges from these scenes is grave and inconsistent with the values [Purity of Arms] of the IDF. The incidents are under investigation. The IDF commanders will hold talks with all the soldiers on the front. One soldier has been dismissed from reserve service."

IDF = Israeli Defense Forces. See from the wiki a discussion of the Israeli concept Purity of Arms. 

Residents of Gaza as working in Israel under permit detained and subjected to abusive behavior. So it is alleged!

During a time of war emotion clouds reason! People behave in a manner they ordinarily would not do. Especially soldiers angry and frustrated. 

"The [soldiers'] conduct that emerges from these scenes is grave and inconsistent with the values of the IDF."

From France 24 https://www.france24.com | 04/11/2023.

"The incidents are under investigation. The IDF commanders will hold talks with all the soldiers on the front. One soldier has been dismissed from reserve service."

FRANCE 24

"Palestinian workers from Gaza who were detained in Israel and the occupied West Bank after the October 7 Hamas attack and deported back to the besieged enclave on Friday say they were tortured and humiliated by Israeli soldiers in custody. FRANCE 24’s Observers records harrowing testimonies a day after their release. The Israeli military said the soldiers' conduct was 'grave' and is investigating the incidents. WARNING: This report includes images some viewers may find disturbing."

Go see the video. Those 18,000 Gazan detainee now deported!

coolbert.

Balearics.

This is coolbert:

One more a You Tube Short. A demonstration of the sling as a weapon of war. Peltists as they are referred to an important factor of ancient warfare.

"The Balearic Slingers — The Fearsome Snipers of Antiquity"

"The Balearic slingers were [highly] sought after mercenaries"

From https://short-history.com | the article by Peter Preskar | Nov 18, 2021.      

"The Balearic slingers launched bullets that had a speed of 160 kilometers per hour (one hundred miles per hour). They could hit their opponents at a distance of 400 meters (1,300 feet) but were deadliest at a distance of 120 meters (400 feet)."

"An experienced slinger could make seven shots per minute."

The most able and proficient of all peltists found among those inhabitants of the Balearic Islands.

See a most complete article the peltist their war-making potential and deadliness in combat fully appreciated.

coolbert.

Al-Asef.

This is coolbert:

Hamas does have naval commando combat swimmer units with a fairly sophisticated weapons inventory to include an underwater combat drone.

"First Details Of Hamas’ New Submarine Drone Weapon"

From H I Sutton | 01 Nov 2023 |  courtesy the article as seen at           https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news

"Underwater drones are increasingly a feature of modern warfare. Now footage of Hamas' own take on these vehicles, a form of limited scope torpedo, has emerged"

See the You Tube video the Al-Asef underwater combat drone:

"Hamas has shown a promotional video of its ‘Al-Asef’ guided ‘torpedo’. The locally produced weapon has reportedly been used against multiple Israeli targets. This gives us our first look at this type of weapon in service with Hamas"

Israeli YALTAM unit presumably on the look-out to recover an intact and operational Al-Asef drone. Examine closely in an effort to devise possible Israeli counter-measures.

That value of asymmetric warfare as waged by naval commando personnel cannot be over-estimated. In particular I am thinking of the USS Card, the Second Indo-China War, 1964.

"In 1964, while operating as an aircraft ferry, [USS] Card was sunk with explosives planted by two Viet Cong commandos in the Harbor of Saigon, South Vietnam. She was refloated 17 days later and returned to service after extensive repairs."

coolbert.

Alpine.

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"The Alpinist Unit . . . is a special mountain infantry reserve unit of the Israel Defense Forces, under the command of the Israeli Northern Command . . . "

"The Alpinists are proficient in many aspects of cold-weather and mountain warfare, among them shooting and attacking while sliding on skis and custom-made Snowcats, and defensive tactics. The unit was established in 1983"

The Israeli military sure does possess a lot of elite special operation units. To include surprisingly so [?] an alpine unit. Trained in mountain and cold-weather warfare.

Alpinists the formation of which obviously a reaction to events that transpired on Mount Hermon the Yom Kippur/Ramadan War of 1973. The First Battle of Mount Hermon in particular. A debacle.

The Israeli vital listening post, observation and monitoring site Mount Hermon when attacked by Syrian soldiers in 1973. The comportment and battlefield behavior of the Israeli troops manning and defending their position much less than desirable. 

SPECIAL troops trained for a SPECIAL mission and these are the Israeli Alpinists. A repetition of events that occurred in 1973 not permissible.

coolbert.

YALTAM.

This is coolbert:

Hamas naval commando unit their infiltration mission 7 Oct. thwarted!

Hamas surprisingly [?] their underwater combat swimmers possessing rather advanced SCUBA gear. 

FIRST from the Internet web site of H. I. Sutton:

1. "OSINT: Hamas Diving Gear Identification"

From http://www.hisutton.com  |  by H I Sutton | 26 October 2023.

"The rebreather type diving gear seen in images released by Hamas appear to match the Italian Gravity Zero MK II rebreather. Rebreathers are often preferred by military divers because they do not produce bubbles like typical civilian 'open circuit' scuba gear. However they are also available commercially. If the diving gear is from Gravity I would not rush to conclusions as to how Hamas acquired it."

"Based on the Gravity Zero website they retail for around €3,000". About $ 3,300 USD.

SECONDLY that Israeli underwater swimmer unit [YALTAM] now picking up the pieces of the failed Hamas naval commando attack. 

2. "IDF scuba forces find, destroy weapons left on seabed by Hamas divers trying to infiltrate"

From https://www.timesofisrael.com  | article by EMANUEL FABIAN | 13 November 2023.        

"The Israel Defense Forces releases footage of the Navy’s underwater missions unit — known by its Hebrew acronym YALTAM — recovering weapons left behind by Hamas terrorists in the sea from the October 7 onslaught and other attacks since."

"Unit YALTAM – defensive divers unit tasked with mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal and salvage and recovery."

ONE if by land and TWO if by sea. 

coolbert.

Nervous.

This is coolbert:

They ought to be. The Ukrainian now having trepidation their cause will become back-burner, relegated to second-fiddle as they say.

All attention now on the Middle East. Not will become. Has become!

1. "Ukrainian Soldiers ‘Extremely Nervous’ That U.S. Focus on Mideast Will Lose the War Against Putin"

From the Daily Beast ^ | November 13, 2023 | the article by Anna Conkling | the tip from Freeper.

"Russia’s war in Ukraine has dominated the world’s attention since it began on Feb. 24, 2022. Western governments and journalists alike provided a constant flow of information and updates as the war unfolded, documenting every war crime, military gain, and loss. Leaders kept alive the unwavering support for Kyiv’s fight for its freedom. That all changed on Oct. 7 when Hamas launched its brutal attack on Israel."

AND CHANGED DRAMATICALLY 100 % AND WITHOUT QUESTION!

2. "Zelensky Tells Britain: ‘World Not Focused’ on Ukraine Any More, ‘Divided’ by Middle East"

From Breitbart ^ | 11/16/2023 | the article by OLIVER JJ LANE. Once more the tip from Freeper.

"Volodymyr Zelensky leader gave particularly keen thanks to the new British foreign secretary as he visited Kyiv on Thursday morning as he lamented 'the help of the world' had been divided by events in the Middle East, meaning the focus is no longer on Ukraine."

More than anything else the Ukraine Conflict in some circles is seen as a carve-up, without resolution. A stalemate where only negotiations can provide any sort of possible cessation of hostilities. Ukraine Conflict additionally seen as the bottomless pit among those in the know!

coolbert.

Freelancers.

This is coolbert:

So there is a degree of truth in the allegations? 

"NY Times, CNN, Reuters and AP Had Contract Reporters Embedded with Hamas Terrorists Taking Photos During Their Mass Slaughter of 1,400 Jews"

From https://www.thegatewaypundit.com | article by Jim Hoft | Nov. 9, 2023.

See at the linked gatewaypundit.com web site some of the images as attributed to the journalists/reporters/photographers as present at the events as transpired 7 Oct. Journalists/reporters/photographers having BEEN TIPPED OFF BY HAMAS in advance!

"The latest ghoulish development following the slaughter of 1,400 Jews in the Oct. 7 Israeli attack on Israel is quite a shocker."

"The AP, CNN, Reuters, and The New York Times used footage and photos from reporters embedded with Hamas terrorists during their slaughter of hundreds of Jews."

MEDIA OUTLETS NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL AND AP QUITE WILLING AND ABLE TO POST IMAGES AS TAKEN BY INDIVIDUALS TO JOHNNY-SPOT-ON-THE-SCENE.

These various individuals, journalists/reporters/photographers understand not full-fledged employees as that term commonly, ordinarily and generally understood of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or AP. Rather freelancers under a contractual agreement to be sure however.

"freelance: adjective - of or relating to work conducted by a person who sells their services by the hour, day, job, etc., rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer"

See previous blog entries this very topic:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/11/this-is-coolbert-i-write-to-you-with.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/11/rantisi-ii.html

coolbert.

Carpet.

This is coolbert:

More computer generated images [CGI] of combat aviation carpet bombing courtesy You Tube Shorts.

It appears to be too easy, doesn't it?

To the video and again, thanks to You Tube Shorts:

A fistful of American F-35 Lightning in formation and with precision dropping internally carried ordnance in unison. 

War over, nice and easy, human casualties minimal, military targets only struck! Correct?

See previous blog entry, CGI aviation:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/11/cgi.html

coolbert.

Olives.

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"'You must remember what Amalek has done to you' . . . 'Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.'" - Deuteronomy 25:1.

As it was during the time of Amalek so as it is now in the time of Gaza?

"No olive branch of peace as Israeli soldiers DESTROY Gaza’s olive harvest, farmers say"

 From https://www.naturalnews.com | 11/12/2023 // Ethan Huff // 

"One of the most beautiful and special times of the year in Gaza is olive harvest season, a celebratory event for the Palestinian people that traditionally occurs during the months of October and November – right now, in other words. This year is different though, because of the war."

Israeli army combat engineers ripping up and destroying in entirety and irrevocably the olive groves of Gaza. The scorched-earth type of warfare as resembling the campaign of Scipio Africanus against the Carthaginian over two-thousand years ago! Behavior of the Israeli punitive in the extreme. Can be seen as malicious retribution.

See this article the symbolism of the olive tree in the Levant area. MORE than just a tree to be sure. A symbol in many ways, to include being able to rejuvenate from the roots. When appearing to be dead, almost in a miraculous manner begins to sprout and grow again. Immortal like.

coolbert.

Ticks.

This is coolbert:

Unlikely source = local spies per the criteria of Sun Tzu.

 "Israeli Forces Are Reportedly Getting Crucial Intelligence From an Unlikely Source"

From Townhall ^ | 11/13/2023 | article by Matt Vespa that tip from Freeper.

"Israeli forces have cut the Gaza Strip in two, surrounded Gaza City, and are tightening the noose around the reported nerve center of Hamas. Before the ground invasion began on October 28, Israel pounded the strip with artillery and air strikes, killing scores of terrorists and their leaders. Many have hidden in the matrix of tunnels, which has been an operational concern for the IDF. They’re booby-trapped. It’s nearly impossible to see, and some tunnels are 250+ feet underground. So far, Israel has been able to make inroads, but some 30-40,000 Hamas terrorists remain embedded in the strip like ticks...."

The great master Sun Tzu having identified five "classes" of spies:

"(1) Local spies; (2) inward spies; (3) converted spies; (4) doomed spies; (5) surviving spies."

Local spies = "Having local spies means employing the services of the inhabitants of a district."

Palestinian Arabs, residents of Gaza, willing for a variety of reasons to spy and provide intelligence for the Israeli. Identification of Hamas tunnel entrances/exits, strong-points, fighting positions. Etc.

coolbert.

SOAR.

This is coolbert:

SOAR = Special Operations Aviation Regiment. USA.

Routine training mission the Mediterranean vicinity the Levant during a time of crisis my intuition tells me much more than a routine training mission.

1. "5 US Army Special Ops soldiers killed in crash off Cyprus"

"'My prayers are with the patriots we have lost,' the defense secretary [Austin] said."

From https://abcnews.go.com  | article by Luis Martinez and Matt Seyler | November 13, 2023.

"Five American service members were killed in a crash late Friday after their helicopter had a 'mishap' during a training exercise and went into the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the military said Sunday."

2. "Secret mission of the 'Night Stalkers' in Gaza? MH-60 Black Hawk crash with five special forces men off Cyprus - Turks: 'It was shot down'"

From https://warnews247-gr.translate.goog | 13/11/2023.

"The Turks are talking about a demonstration - Were they looking for hostels in Gaza?"

Cyprus not a member of NATO. Think rather the British SBA of Akrotiri and Dhekelia officially the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA). SOAR operating classified missions in furtherance of American interests the Gaza War and using British military facilities to do so?

coolbert.

Rantisi II.

This is coolbert:

See previous blog entry, Rantisi hospital # 1.

Now for the rest of the story? Thanks to the twitter thread of Muhammad Shehada.

* Muhammad Shehada 

@muhammadshehad2

Nov 13 •  

"Not a Borat Sketch! The IDF Spokesman points to a random calendar at the Rantisi hospital as "evidence" of a "hostage keepers' list" with "terrorists' names".

But the ONLY thing on that 'list' is literally the days of the week (Saturday-Friday)."

No tunnels, no weapon stash...🧵

-----------------------------------------

This also the allegation that reporters and camera crews of various international media embedded with Hamas and having foreknowledge of events as transpired 7 Oct:

* Muhammad Shehada

@muhammadshehad2

Nov 9 • 

🚨Extremely dangerous🚨

"Since yesterday, there has been an unprecedented coordinated push by Israeli top gov officials, diplomats, journalists, lobbying groups & propagandists to FALSELY claim that Gazan journalists knew in advance about Hamas' attack & were embedded with them"🧵

"'Among the calamities of war may be jointly numbered the diminution of the love of truth, by the falsehoods which interest dictates and credulity encourages.'" - Samuel Johnson.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

coolbert.

Rantisi I.

This is coolbert:

"'I just got back from Gaza, where I joined an operation inside the Rantisi Children's Hospital,' . . . 'I went to the hospital with a video camera and personally documented more concrete evidence. The concrete evidence proves that Hamas uses hospitals as an instrument of war.'" - Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Children's hospital Gaza used by Hamas fighters as a sanctuary? Proof?

"IDF reveals how Hamas turned children's hospital into terror base"

From https://www.israelnationalnews.com | Nov 13, 2023.

"Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari delivers statement to media on terror infrastructure found at Rantisi Hospital.

See the You Tube video:

"Underneath the hospital, in the basement, we found a Hamas command and control center, suicide bomb vests, grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, explosive devices, RPGs, and other weapons, computers, money, etc," 

"Admiral Hagari said that the IDF found signs that Hamas held hostages at the hospital and that while the IDF is investigating the matter, 'we also have intelligence that verifies it.'"

Irrefutable evidence undeniable. Hamas fights dirty and hides behind small children to do so? Such is the message. I assume forensics can confirm the presence of hostages from DNA analysis.

coolbert.

Unworthy.

This is coolbert:

"‘The reaction to the image convinced me that I had missed something profound, and divisive, and I regret that.’" - David Shipley.

Cartoon of war. The adversary portrayed as a beast, an animal, a soulless creature bereft of all humanity. The hostile opponent in a time of war only deserving to have their very persons eradicated from the planet Earth!

"Is it racist to make fun of Hamas?"

"The Washington Post’s deletion of an anti-Hamas cartoon has exposed the moral depravity of the left."

From https://www.spiked-online.com | the article by JENNY HOLLAND | 13th November 2023.

"Last week, the Washington Post published a cartoon which featured senior Hamas member Ghazi Hamad with women and children tied to his body as human shields. The cartoon featured a speech bubble, in which Hamad says: ‘How dare Israel attack civilians.’"

That stereotypical caricature image of the Arab militant terrorist, hook-nosed and ugly, with babies and children tied to him for protection. In this case presumably Israeli babies and children tied to the Hamas leader.

And NO, this editor David Shipley did not err in his approving the cartoon. His intent was to portray Hamas as human monsters no longer worthy of life.

coolbert.

Talent.

This is coolbert:

I doubt this is going to fly.

Even if the new policy does increase the number of recruits, that number going to be a mere tiny fraction of the entire force.

"Air Force Raises Age Limit for Recruits to 42"

From https://www.airandspaceforces.com ^ | Oct. 27, 2023 | By David Roza. Thanks to Freeper for the tip.

"The Department of the Air Force expects to add about 50 more recruits per year after lifting its maximum age limit for initial accession from 39 years old to 42 on Oct. 24, the latest in a long series of efforts to expand the talent pool in the midst of an ongoing recruiting shortage."

Maximum age for initial enlistment the U.S. Army age 32. War is a "game" for young men. The physical effort too great for older men and additionally young men having far few attachments such as a wife and children.

This is U.S. Air force so I can assume we are speaking of potential recruits that have certain HIGHLY DESIRABLE technical skills of an extremely arcane and esoteric nature. 

By CURRENT standards enlisted personnel the USA military the mandatory retirement age is 62 years. A 42 year-old man or woman their initial enlistment will be at that absolute maximum age to serve the twenty years to receive a full pension.

coolbert.

Ramp-up.

This is coolbert:

I think any reasonable person will find none of this to be surprising!

"EU struggles to produce and send the ammunition it promised to Ukraine"

From ABC News ^ | November 14, 2023 | RAF CASERT | the tip thanks to Freeper.

"European Union nations acknowledged on Tuesday that they risk failing to provide Ukraine with the ammunition they pledged to help Kyiv stave off the Russian invasion and win back its territory. Early this year, EU leaders promised to provide 1 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine's front line by spring next year in what would have amounted to a serious ramp-up of production. But the 27-nation bloc, for over half a century steeped in a 'peace, not war' message and sheltering under a U.S. military umbrella, is finding it tough to come up with the goods"

I am assuming this is 155 mm artillery ammo as deemed so essential to the Ukrainian war effort. Increase production difficult and expensive. A long-term proposition and not something going to be accomplished overnight.

As I always recommend devoted readers to the blog need to refer to "The Shell Crisis of 1915" from the era of the Great War. Extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary effort. Sadly I fear words alone are not going to be enough, the WILL is lacking. 

David Lloyd George where are you?

coolbert.

CVN-69.

This is coolbert:

CVN-69 the American aircraft carrier Eisenhower now in the Gulf of Aden. Targets in case of a regional war the Middle East obviously the Iranian and their Yemeni Houthi proxies. 

"Aircraft Carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Now in Gulf of Oman"

From USNI News ^ 11/13/2023. That tip from Freeper.

"Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and its escorts are operating in the Gulf of Oman after leaving the Red Sea earlier this weekend, USNI News learned. Ike and its escorts were operating off the coast of Oman as of Monday, according to the USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker, based on publicly available satellite imagery. The carrier passed through the Suez Canal on Nov. 4 and sailed through the Red Sea and past the Bab el Mandeb through the Gulf of Aden to its current location."

Sounds like a sound operational plan. Lots more room open ocean to maneuver and hide. Within range of targets of potential interest and not needing to intrude into airspace of other nations disinterested parties to a regional Middle East conflict. You can ask the question quite reasonable: will there be any local disinterested parties to a regional Middle East conflict.

coolbert.