Joker.

This is coolbert:

Feces - Dung -Excrement - Poop - Ordure - BM.   

Mierda - Merde -Scheiße -Merda -(pòu pòu) -(kuso) -(pae) -Хуй -تبر -חרא .

North Korea moves. A bowel movement moves.

"US troops received warning about North Korean poop balloons"

From https://taskandpurpose.com | BY JEFF SCHOGOL |  MAY 30, 2024.

"US troops received an air raid warning about balloons that North Korea floated into South Korea carrying bags of human waste and other garbage."

AIR RAID WARNING KOREA!  https://tinyurl.com/m88zzem7

"U.S. troops and their families assigned to South Korea received an air raid message warning earlier this week that may have sounded like the beginning of World War III."

"The warning was to let them know that North Korea had sent hundreds of balloons carrying human waste and other foul things across the 38th Parallel."

"The poop attack was an apparent act of retaliation against South Korean activists, who sent 20 balloons into the hermit kingdom earlier this month that carried anti-North Korean leaflets and USB sticks containing South Korean pop music and music videos."

OH, that Comrade Kim of Pyongyang is such a joker. Perhaps among heads of state unsurpassed in this area of expertise.

"joker: noun - One who tells or plays jokes. An insolent person who seeks to make a show of cleverness. (Informal) An annoying or inept person."

Decades ago a tour of duty [13 months] for an American soldier was strictly an UNACCOMPANIED hardship assignment. No wife or children period. Such was felt to be the peril.

coolbert.

 

Friendly.

 This is coolbert:

Sergeant Murphys Laws of Combat Operations: Murphys Laws of Combat – Page 2 - 1. Friendly fire – isn’t.

"IDF Wounded-to-Killed Ratios" [IDF the Gazan War]

Christopher A. Lawrence |  May 30, 2024 |  https://www.dupuyinstitute.org/blog/

AS IN ALL WARS IT SEEMS A PORTION OF THE WOUNDED OR KILLED DUE TO FRIENDLY FIRE!

"Of the deceased some were killed by Israeli airstrikes, shrapnel from their own explosives, being run over by Israeli armored vehicles, and mistakenly identified and hit with tank fire, shelling and/or guns. These numbers do not take into account injuries resulting from friendly fire, but the IDF has indicated that they have had reports of those."

Troops perishing in vehicle accidents or run over by a tank during a period of darkness counting as friendly fire!

C. How about friendly fire?   Gazan War Israeli killed.

Percent killed by friendly fire in Gaza Strip: About 7 %.

See the wiki entry dedicated to Israeli military forces [IDF] those deaths attributed to friendly fire.  https://tinyurl.com/3a82u5s8

As to American friendly fire deaths the Vietnam War I have seen estimates of about 8,000 killed. A 13 % portion of USA dead the Second Indo-China War by military fratricide as supposed.

"Note, the percent of expected friendly fire casualties has never been firmly established. Traditionally the figure from WWII was 1 or 2%. Many people considered these estimates low. It was clearly higher than that in Vietnam (1965-1973), but no one has assembled any systematic data"

My perspective of  American Vietnam War friendly fire deaths the reason:

* Excessive use of excessive firepower. * Hugging tactics of the enemy. * Injudicious and blatant radio insecurity.

coolbert.

Memorialize II.

This is coolbert: 

Continuing and concluding. 

This one too! Poem by the American Herman Mellville in the aftermath of the Battle of Shiloh.  https://tinyurl.com/4fp9n6bh

"Requiem" by Herman Melville:

"requiem: noun - A mass for a deceased person. A musical composition for such a mass. A hymn, composition, or service for the dead."

"Skimming lightly, wheeling still,

The swallows fly low

Over the field in clouded days,

The forest-field of Shiloh—

Over the field where April rain

Solaced the parched ones stretched in pain

Through the pause of night

That followed the Sunday fight

Around the church of Shiloh—

The church so lone, the log-built one,

That echoed to many a parting groan

And natural prayer

Of dying foemen mingled there—

Foemen at morn, but friends at eve—

Fame or country least their care:

(What like a bullet can undeceive!)

But now they lie low,

While over them the swallows skim,

And all is hushed at Shiloh."

See further from the wiki an entry, the collection of poems as written by Melville the American Civil War:

"Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War is the first book of poetry of the American author Herman Melville . . . is dedicated 'To the Memory of the Three Hundred Thousand Who in the War For the Maintenance of the Union Fell Devotedly Under the Flag of Their Fathers' and its 72 poems deal with the battles and personalities of the American Civil War and their aftermath"  https://tinyurl.com/2suedzxk

coolbert.

Memorialize I.

This is coolbert:

"There will always be war and rumors of war"

And commemorative poetry of events that occurred.

War poetry. An item that has an inherent contradiction?

First a poem by the distinguished American poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. commemorating Russia’s support of the Union during the American Civil War:

       [Title Unknown]

"Shadowed so long by the storm-cloud of danger,

Thou whom the prayers of an empire defend,

Welcome, thrice welcome! but not as a stranger,

Come to the nation that calls thee its friend!

Bleak are our shores with the blasts of December,

Fettered and chill is the rivulet’s flow;

Throbbing and warm are the hearts that remember

Who was our friend when the world was our foe.

Look on the lips that are smiling to greet thee,

See the fresh flowers that a people has strewn

Count them thy sisters and brothers that meet thee;

Guest of the Nation, her heart is thine own!

Fires of the North, in eternal communion,

Blend your broad flashes with evening’s bright star!

God bless the Empire that loves the Great Union;

Strength to her people! Long life to the Czar!"

Russians to the right and left of us. Russians to the front and rear of us. Swarming multitudes of Russians. And we were happy!

Read from https://www.rbth.com/ several articles the contribution of Imperial Russia to the Union cause during the American Civil War:

https://tinyurl.com/55wwx4my

https://tinyurl.com/phutz7k6

Read to prior blog entries Russian involvement [indirect] in the American Civil War:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/03/cm-clay.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2017/05/tsar-alex.html

coolbert.

Bastion.

This is coolbert:

Came across this one quite by accident.

Shame and embarrassment allied forces Afghan.

Not aware of this one. And believe me I am attentive to such things. For some reason it all was missed.

Taliban special operations ranger/commando/sapper troops doing big time aggravation to an American USMC air field.

Sappers: "Sappers were a type of special forces unit that originated in the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong (VC). They were trained to conduct guerrilla warfare, sabotage, and raids, and were known for their expertise in explosives, booby traps, and tunnel warfare."

The VC/NVA had them. And the Taliban did too!

"September 2012 raid on Camp Bastion"

Reminds me of episodes from the era of American involvement the Second Indo-China War.

"The September 2012 raid on Camp Bastion was a Taliban raid on Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province on the night of 14 September 2012. The base hosted British, American, Danish and Tongan military personnel at the time of the attack. The Taliban fighters killed two U.S. Marines and destroyed or severely damaged eight U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers [jump jet] and a United States Air Force C-130 [transport]."

Aftermath:

"The attack was described as 'the worst loss of U.S. airpower in a single incident since the Vietnam War'; the attack caused $200 million USD in damages. Together, the six destroyed and two damaged Harriers constituted six percent of the USMC's inventory. Normal attrition of the USMC's Harrier jets is around two airframes a year. To replace the aircraft lost in the attack, the USMC deployed 14 Harriers to Afghanistan within 36 hours of the raid. [The] entire raiding force was killed or captured."

See various Internet web sites as applicable to the topic:

https://tinyurl.com/yrx5u4ys

https://tinyurl.com/2phrzxe2

https://tinyurl.com/24ef7zvs

coolbert.

Thanh Hoa.

This is coolbert:

“At long last, after seven years, 871 sorties, tremendous expenditure in lives, 11 lost aircraft, and a bewildering array of expended munitions, the Dragon’s Jaw was finally broken.” - Walter Boyne

Speaking of the aerial bombing campaign [siege] to destroy the Thanh Hoa bridge. An episode from the Second Indo-China War.

And as an article from the Internet web site isegoria.net |  https://tinyurl.com/3jar5zmf

"One modern laser-guided bomb [2,000 pounder] was as effective against a point target as thirty Vietnam-era F-4 Phantoms dropping their entire load of bombs"

From https://www.isegoria.net | May 15th, 2024 |  

Thanh Hoa bridge damaged by repeated aerial assault for a period of SEVEN YEARS of conventional bombing damaged but never destroyed. Only the use of modern precision guided munitions [PGM] was the bridge put out-of-action.

When thinking of Thanh Hoa bridge think not so much the use of PGM but rather the protracted aerial assault a microcosm of American failure the Second Indo-China War?

From my perspective consider allied and American combat actions the Second Indo-China War other examples [to include Thanh Hoa] representative of a war effort ultimately ending in USA futility:        

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ap_Bac

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ia_Drang

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanh_H%C3%B3a_Bridge

coolbert.

Unwinnable.

This is coolbert:

“War is at best barbarism. . . . . Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, more vengeance, more desolation. War is hell.” - W. T. Sherman.

I highly recommend without reservation or qualification this You Tube video.  https://tinyurl.com/y82uzuc9

"A former PLA soldier hired by Russians gives a reality check on Russia-Ukraine war"

"Li Jianwei is a former PLA soldier and a Chinese mercenary hired by Russia. He talks about his experiences in the Russia-Ukraine war on Chinese social media. In this video, he described the high [casualty rate] of the Ukraine war and gave first-hand account of the Russian military operations and challenges.  He called Putin's war in Ukraine 'unwinnable' at the end."

Comments:

* Wearing a white arm band to distinguish between friend and foe bad from the Chinese cultural perspective. White associated with a funeral.

* Chinese soldier "fighting  spirit" # 2 among the various military forces of the world. At least based on the rating scheme of the famous/infamous Japanese Colonel Tsuji.

* That "soundless" mortar a Polish LMP-2017 spigot-type mortar. You do not hear until a round explodes near you.

coolbert.

1653 MAWS.

This is coolbert:

 Yet one more attack, Russian missile-detection early-warning-radar. Long-range Ukrainian drones active once more.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces [UAF] attempted to attack another strategic radar station in the Orenburg region"

"Recently, the terrorist state of Ukraine, probably fulfilling the assignment of the 'peace-loving' NATO bloc, tried [to] disable one of the radars (object 1653) of the Russian missile attack warning system (MAWS) in Kuban using several kamikaze UAVs".

From https://en.topcor.ru | 26 May 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/8c5hmw8e

"After that it was done assumption that the West, through the hands of Kyiv, will continue to attack such objects with strike drones that are of strategic importance for the security of the Russian Federation."

"On May 26, media in the Orenburg region reported that an enemy drone had fallen near Orsk. No injuries or material damage were recorded."

No damage done. No casualties. But the attempt was made!

See previous blog entries the topic the attack on Russian early-warning radar of the MAWS type:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/05/trigger.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/05/armavir.html

coolbert.

Cyclone.

This is coolbert:

"Overall, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has faced significant challenges and losses in Ukraine, with many of its warships being destroyed or damaged. Ukraine’s use of drones and missile systems has been particularly effective in targeting Russian naval assets." - AI generated.

The anger of Vlad waxes exceedingly hot! More bad news!

"SHIP SUNK Huge blow for Putin as Russia’s only remaining missile cruiser in Black Sea ‘The Zyklon’ is destroyed by Ukraine"

 From https://www.thesun.co.uk |  Paul Sims | 24 May 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/nhzdt97k

"The cruiser's sinking is part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign targeting the Russian Black Sea Fleet"

"PUTIN’S newest and only remaining missile cruiser in the Black Sea was destroyed by Ukraine forces in a huge blow to his naval forces."

"The 'Zyklon' was destroyed alongside the 266-M minesweeper, Kovrovets, in a devastating strike at the weekend." Read further the attack on the Kovrovets.   https://tinyurl.com/rayx244n

Attack by American ATACMS a possible. Long-range rocket artillery.

ZYKLON DID NOT EVEN MAKE IT A YEAR AFTER BEING COMMISSIONED AND DEEMED OPERATIONALLY READY! 

coolbert.

Wicked.

This is coolbert:

“There is just something, I think, incredibly reassuring to Canadians when the Canadian Armed Forces show up and men and women in uniform are out in their communities and they’re sandbagging and helping people evacuate and get to safety,” - Blair, Canadian Minister of Defense.

Forest fires Canada often rage on a Biblical scale, in rugged and difficult terrain. Hard to fight unless means available.

"Canadian military's ability to battle forest fires will be limited this year, top general warns"

"Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre called the use of military personnel in fighting wildfires in Canada, in some instances, 'wickedly wasteful,'"

From https://nationalpost.com | David Pugliese  •  Ottawa Citizen | May 27, 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/mrwbx7uv

"The Canadian military’s ability to help battle forest fires will be limited this year because of reduced readiness and the need to send troops to Latvia, warns the country’s top general."

Canadians have committed the NATO mission to the Baltic nations about 2,000 troops. That is slightly less than a regiment of soldiers, fully manned and at TO & E strength readiness.

May I remind you that during the Second World War the Canadian [Canada at the time had a much smaller and less wealthier population] were able to place an Army sized contingent into the field. Consisting of multiple Corps. 

I would not deny that fighting a forest fire is a good team building experience for a military unit of whatever type. But given the world crisis as it now exists give emphasis to where emphasis is most needed.

That major mission of the military at all times to break things and kill people! This must not be forgotten!

coolbert.

Trigger.

This is coolbert:

It is not that I don't believe this. It is more that I don't want to believe any of this!

Herewith extracts from several Internet web sites to include https://tinyurl.com/3vae2k28 

That Ukrainian drone attack disabling the Russian Armavir radar early warning site a provocation more than serious than thought? And if directly/indirectly done by American connivance even a more deliberate threating action!  

See: https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/05/armavir.html

"Washington [?] Attacks Key Element of Russia’s Nuclear Umbrella Threatening Entire Global Nuclear Security Architecture"

https://www.unz.com | MIKE WHITNEY • MAY 26, 2024 •  

"According to Russian nuclear doctrine, any attack on Russia’s essential nuclear first-alert system provides a justification for nuclear retaliation."

To be precise:

"'The conditions specifying the possibility of nuclear weapons use by the Russian Federation' include any 'attack by [an] adversary against critical governmental or military sites of the Russian Federation, disruption of which would undermine nuclear forces response actions,'"

As enunciated, the Russians considers the Armavir attack and the damage done to the strategic early warning radar site an action that can provoke a military response entailing atomic weaponry retaliation.

Not small potatoes! And everyone knows this and has been warned. Take heed!

"The idiom 'no small potatoes' is a common English expression that means something is significant, important, or substantial"

coolbert.

RAILS.

This is coolbert:

Item # 1 material from last year. The remainder of this blog entry up-to-date.

Sycophants/lackeys of President Putin beware. You are targeted and in the sights of the FSB. House-cleaning [purge] of the type that occurred in the old Soviet Union during the rule of J. Stalin now being repeated in response to perceived Russian failure the Ukraine Conflict.

The SCAPEGOAT must be found and will be!!

1. "OFF THE RAILS Inside paranoid Putin’s armored ‘ghost train’ with ‘mobile hospital to treat his cancer’ as he races between bunkers"

The meaning of GO OFF THE RAILS is to lose control and start to behave in a way that is not normal or acceptable.

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk | Sarah Hooper | 6 Jul 2023 |  https://tinyurl.com/khh83ck4

"LEAKED photos have revealed the interior of Vladimir Putin’s luxury armored 'ghost' train - complete with an onboard mobile hospital."

"The paranoid dictator, who is thought to be moving from bunker to bunker, is travelling more and more by rail during his war against Ukraine due to fears of assassination."

2. "SICK MAN OF RUSSIA Paranoid & sickly Putin has 4 doctors & 111 security guards permanently on alert at his palace, leaked docs claim"

https://www.thesun.co.uk | Georgie English & Will Stewart | 25 May 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/y3szdtjv

A PARANOID and sickly Vladimir Putin is kept under surveillance by four doctors at all times, claim shocking leaked documents.

3. "RED RIGHT HAND Putin ‘to arrest DOZENS of military top brass in sweeping Stalin-esque purge to pin blame on them for Ukraine failure’"

"The UK Ministry of Defense released a warning regarding the potential of anymore arrests coming soon"

https://www.the-sun.com | Georgie English | May 26 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/33kzchf3

"VLADIMIR Putin is set to cause a sweeping storm within Russia by arresting dozens of military top brass, say sources close to the Kremlin."

"The despot is believed to be looking to pin his own failures to defeat Ukraine on a number of men as he looks to unleash his brutal Federal Security Service (FSB) agents to hunt them down."

Take a TENNER and serve time used to be the same as being given a death sentence. Ten years in prison not survivable under normal Soviet work camp conditions.

coolbert.

Bubbles.

This is coolbert: 

More research needed. OH good. We are saved. And if so existing technology will suffice.

"US nuclear submarine weak spot in bubble trail: Chinese scientists"

From https://www.scmp.com | Stephen Chen in Beijing | 14 Aug 2023.  https://tinyurl.com/ye25p3pt

"Extremely low frequency electromagnetic signal produced by speeding subs can be picked up by available devices, researchers say"

"The almost imperceptible bubbles could give away the position of most advanced submarines, but more research is needed"

"A study published in one of China’s most respected peer-reviewed journals suggests that advanced submarines could be detected by existing technology, a development that would threaten US dominance of the oceans."

Comments:

* That the normally very security conscious Chinese would allow any of this public surprising?

* Weak spot American submarines [if indeed this be true] also a weak spot for the Chinese?

And Sir Walter! Nice pearl earring!

coolbert.

GLSDB.

This is coolbert:

Not working according to the desired standard! Latest and greatest American weapon the Ukraine Conflict deficient. Now removed [?] from service.

1. "New US-made longer-range bomb expected to arrive as soon as Wednesday in Ukraine"

From https://www.politico.com | By LEE HUDSON, LARA SELIGMAN and PAUL MCLEARY  | 01/30/2024 | https://tinyurl.com/5exfywe2

"The Pentagon has successfully tested a new long-range precision bomb for Ukraine that is expected to arrive on the battlefield as soon as Wednesday, according to two U.S. officials and two other people with knowledge of the talks."

"Ukraine will receive its first batch of Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs [GLSDB], a brand new long-range weapon made by Boeing that even the U.S. doesn’t have in its inventory, according to the four people, all of whom were granted anonymity to discuss matters ahead of an announcement."

Air-to-ground glide-bomb as fired in a ground-to-ground mode. Compatible with HIMARS and ATACMS launcher. 

NOT EVEN IN THE AMERICAN MILITARY WEAPON ARSENAL!

2. "Another US precision-guided weapon falls prey to Russian electronic warfare, US says"

 From https://www.defenseone.com | SAM SKOVE | APRIL 28, 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/2mmzbnc9

"A U.S. defense official would not provide specifics, but is likely referring to Boeing’s Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb." 

GLSDB not working! Russian electronic warfare apparatus able to INTERFERE with the GPS guidance system, weapon inaccurate! The Ukrainian not satisfied with performance, abandoned [?] further use.

See previous blog entry the Russian equivalent system:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/03/enhanced.html

coolbert.

Retrieval.

This is coolbert:

A minor glitch I hope. It seems the expert who predicted trouble for the JLOTS Gaza was correct.  https://tinyurl.com/587r7949

"US Army Finally has 'Boots on the Ground' in Gaza in the Most Humiliating Way Possible"

From https://redstate.com | By streiff | 12:22 PM on May 25, 2024 | https://tinyurl.com/mr3pc72p

"The US floating pier allegedly used to provide relief supplies to Gaza civilians has partially washed away, and two boats used to service it have been washed ashore. According to reports, the Army was temporarily relocating the floating pier to the Israeli port of Ashdod because of heavy wave action. During the move, a segment of the pier came free, and the boats sent to retrieve it went aground."

IMHO the JLOTS pier Gaza a gimmick more than anything else. Even at peak capacity the pier would be able to handle only enough food to feed each resident of Gaza one meal per person per day! JLOTS making however good cosmetics for media consumption at the international level.

See additionally the aid as delivered not being collected and distributed to the needy and those in distress:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/05/hampered.html

coolbert.

Armavir.

This is coolbert:

As is usually the case, excessively alarmist headlines from the Internet web site of the noted provocateur Hal Turner.

Russian ballistic missile early warning radar out of action. Ukrainian drone action!

 "*** FLASH *** URGENT*** Russia Early-Warning (Nuclear) Missile Radar ATTACKED"

From https://halturnerradioshow.com | HAL TURNER | WORLD | MAY 24, 2024 | https://tinyurl.com/2avepw2x

"One of Russia's absolutely key over-the-horizon, nuclear-early-warning radar sites has been hit by drone attack, BLINDING Russia from missiles launched at them from . . .  the Middle East."

"The 818th Separate Radio-Technical Unit at the Armavir Radar Station located in Krasnodar Krai, Russia is now knocked-out."

Click on image to see an enlarged view. That area colored yellow of particular concern. Radar coverage of missile launch not detectable now!

"With the damage to the two radar stations at the Armavir Radar Station, there is now a GAPING HOLE in Russia's early-warning system against nuclear attack." 

"Russia is now a sitting Duck for a nuclear first strike, not only against their Strategic Nuclear missile silos, but also against all the major population centers inside Russia."

Both the Russian and Iranian need to be concerned about this? Such does Hal speculate.

coolbert.

C-RAM Gaza.

This is coolbert:

Once more, no boots on the ground Gaza. The DALEKS arrive however.

"U.S. Forced to Take Action As Hamas Continues Attacking Gaza Pier"

American C-RAM unit now in place, guarding the JLOTS floating pier Gaza against attack by rocket or mortar rounds fired by a bad actor.

 From Spencer Brown | U.S. Army via AP | May 24, 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/5h4fyrzz

"The U.S.-built temporary 'humanitarian pier' on Gaza's Mediterranean coast — announced by President Joe Biden in his March State of the Union address and completed last week — has quickly turned into a chaotic, dangerous place."

[. . . .]

"Even worse, the pier has been the target of attacks by terrorists in Gaza — and now defensive U.S. weapons are being activated to protect the floating aid delivery platform."

Truck-mounted C-RAM firing unit NOT having gone ashore. JLOTS now having an organic defense capability.

"C-RAM is a system used to detect and/or destroy incoming rockets, artillery, and mortars before they hit their targets, or provide early warning. The system is designed to protect critical resources, deployed forces, and key installations against the threat posed by indirect fires."

Again, no boots on the ground and we can all be thankful for that!

coolbert.

Killer.

 This is coolbert:

He who controls the micro-electronic semi-conductor industry controls the world?

Currently 80 % of advanced micro-electronic semi-conductor originate from Taiwan fabrication facilities. 

Capturing intact those semi-conductor assembly and production lines presumably a major goal for Chinese communist military units in case of invasion Taiwan.

"Top Chipmakers Have 'Kill Switch' if China Invades Taiwan"

From Yahoo Tech News ^ | 05/24/2024 | Huileng Tan | the tip from Freeper  https://tinyurl.com/4cf9zaju

"* Chipmakers ASML and TSMC can disable advanced chipmaking machines remotely, Bloomberg reports. * The move addresses growing fears of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a key semiconductor producer. * A China-Taiwan conflict could severely impact the global economy. Two of the world's most important chip companies can flip a 'kill switch' remotely on their most advanced chipmaking machines should China invade Taiwan, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday"

Problem recognized! Precautions now taken!

See previous blog entries the Taiwanese semi-conductor issue:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/10/fabs.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/10/on-shoring.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/08/asml.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/10/benefits.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2021/04/embargo.html

coolbert.

Explain.

This is coolbert:

So this is what it was all about! Russian hankie-pankie and shenanigans made manifest for all to see!

Redraw the borders between the Russian Federation and a NATO nation and do so unilaterally! 

"EU's Borrell asks Russia for 'explanation' after Estonian border river incident"

Please clarify and not at your leisure! See within context the prior blog entry:  https://tinyurl.com/4phu4ky2

From Euronews ^ | 24/05/2024  | Mared Gwyn Jones | the tip from Freeper.   https://tinyurl.com/3p2wfbrf

"The removal of the navigation buoys is part of a 'broader pattern of provocative behavior' by the Kremlin, the EU's chief diplomat says. The EU's foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, has asked Moscow for an 'explanation' after buoys on the Narva River demarcating Estonia's border with Russia were removed in the early hours of Thursday. According to Estonian border guards, their Russian counterparts confiscated 24 of 50 buoys intended to mark sailing routes on the border waterway"

Russians attempting to re-designate that exact location of what is referred to as the thalweg?

"Under international law, a thalweg is instead taken to be the middle of the primary navigable channel of a waterway that is the default legal presumption for the boundary between entities such as states"

Russian skullduggery and subterfuge abandoned in mid-stream almost literally in this case? Testing the waters action so to speak!

coolbert.

Chechens USA.

This is coolbert: 

“'Two Chechen men who spoke broken English were found near the [Colonel’s] home' and one of them, 35-year-old Ramzan Daraev, was allegedly taking photos of the Colonel’s children, according to FOX News"

The Chechen boys arrive USA? A recce mission! Intimidation the goal? Hot off the presses.

"U.S. Army Colonel Reportedly Shoots Alleged Chechen Intruder Dead"

https://www.breitbart.com | AWR HAWKINS | 24 May 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/46msx7uu

"A U.S. Army Colonel reportedly shot and killed an alleged Chechen intruder outside the Colonel’s residence just north of Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, in North Carolina."

"The incident occurred May 3, 2024, but the details of the shooting were reported May 22 and 23, 2024."

"The Colonel confronted Daraev [the now departed], an altercation ensued, and Daraev was shot multiple times."

[. . . .]

"CBS17 noted the Colonel who shot Daraev is a member of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command."

In truth this all sounds very peculiar to me. What person wanders around a military facility taking pictures of the children of a high ranking American military office? Fort Liberty [Bragg] as far as I know an open post too. People can enter the grounds of the facility and roam rather freely without normally being challenged

OH my brother! I am looking right at you OH my brother!

coolbert.

Problematic.

This is coolbert:

Even Winslow Homer!  Forbidden! Banned! Anathem!

"Why Did Google Ban Winslow Homer?"

"The artist's sketches of Confederate soldiers aren't 'dangerous or derogatory content'—they're historical evidence."  

From https://www.thefp.com | By Suzy Weiss | May 22, 2024 | The Free Press |  https://tinyurl.com/mtz68sas

"Claudia Strauss-Schulson has been running Schulson Autographs, which sells historical documents like letters signed by presidents or a doodle by Marlon Brando, for around 15 years. Strauss-Schulson, speaking to me from Millburn, New Jersey, tells me she was 'flabbergasted' when she got an alert that Google—her site is optimized for the search engine, meaning would-be buyers are shown her products in their results—had flagged a small sketch of a Confederate soldier by the artist Winslow Homer as [problematic] 'dangerous or derogatory content.'” 

OH, I get it. A wartime sketch art of a captured Confederate soldier might suggest to some an approval of the secessionists during the American Civil War. Absurd! Image has been red-flagged.

Devoted readers to the blog need to read the entire article for themselves. Draw you own conclusion.

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT MR. WINSLOW HOMER DURING AN EPISODE OF TIME TRAVEL WOULD EVEN HAVE THE SLIGHTEST CLUE AS TO WHAT THE BROUHAHA IS ALL ABOUT!

See previous blog entries devoted to military sketch art:

 https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/11/sketch_7997.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2012/05/sketch-artist.html

coolbert.

Stróżyk.

This is coolbert:

Intervention to save our oppressed Russian brothers Latvia? 

Push the door. See if there is entry. Test the resolve of NATO?

1. "Head of Polish intelligence: Putin ready for mini-operation against NATO, but observes Western reaction"

From https://www.pravda.com.ua |  KHRYSTYNA BONDARIEVA |  7 MAY 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/2td482s2

"The head of Poland's military counterintelligence service, Jarosław Stróżyk, suggests that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is already prepared for a small-scale military operation against a NATO country."

THAT NATO NATION LATVIA. THE TARGET THE CITY OF NARVA. POPULATION 90 % RUSSIAN SPEAKERS. 

A MINI-OPERATION THE OBJECT TO GAUGE THE NATO REACTION!

2. "Russia deletes draft proposal to change Baltic Sea border"

From https://www.reuters.com | By Guy Faulconbridge and Stine Jacobsen | May 22, 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/2ttdnaex

Summary:

* "Russia's defence ministry proposes change in draft decree"

* "Unclear how the Baltic Sea border would change"

* "Draft decree is deleted without explanation"

* "Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia investigate"

PROPOSALS AS UNILATERAL WITHOUT NEGOTIATIONS OR CONSULTATION.

3. "Russia mysteriously deletes threat to redraw Baltic Sea border"

From https://www.politico.eu | BY EVA HARTOG | MAY 22, 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/mhf4n23

"Defense ministry plan had sparked alarm among NATO allies."

"Russia alarmed NATO allies by proposing to unilaterally redraw its border in the Baltic Sea, before withdrawing the bombshell text without offering an explanation."

The ruminations of Stróżyk appear to be spot-on. Thankfully on this occasion push did come to shove or worse.

"All men are brothers, like the seas throughout the world; So why do winds and waves clash so fiercely everywhere?" - Hirohito.

coolbert.

Martin CG.

This is coolbert:

The madness continues?

Transfer of essential war-making stuff from British stockpiles to the Ukrainian continues!

 "I saw a film today oh boy The English Army had just won the war"

British army not going to be able to win a war without the basic armaments. You can't make bricks without straw. You can't shoot the enemy unless you have ammunition.

1. "Great Britain transferred 80 air defense missiles, 1 million rounds of ammunition and 20 amphibians to Ukraine"

From https://www-kommersant-ru | 05/19/2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/3m3namdh

"British Defense Minister Grant Shapps announced the shipment to Ukraine of 80 air defense missiles, 1 million rounds of ammunition and 20 BvS 10 Viking amphibious armored all-terrain vehicles. The British supply also included drones, body armor and equipment needed for mine clearance."

“'That’s exactly what the UK did today,' the defense minister wrote on his account X, attaching a picture with information about the supplies. The data covers three weeks since the UK increased its financial assistance to Ukraine to £3 billion ($3.8 billion).

"The diagram indicates that the UK intends to send another 20 air defense missiles to Ukraine by the end of May, thereby bringing the number of missiles to 100. London transferred 20 mine clearance systems, 4 thousand reconnaissance drones, spare parts for equipment and military ammunition to Kiev."

2. "General Martin: The British Army has lost the ability to fight on its own"

From https://en.topcor.ru | 19 May 2024 |  https://tinyurl.com/2fbaceck

British army for many decades I fear not having the ability to fight alone against a peer adversary such as the Russian for a considerable number of years now! Class A-1 + soldier material without the wherewithal to conduct sustained conventional combat of say the WW2 variety.

"Britain may not be fully prepared to fight a full-scale war alone. The commander of the 18rd Division of the British Army, Major General James Rowland Martin, who was awarded the Military Cross in 3 'for valiant and distinguished service in Afghanistan,' told the British edition of the Telegraph on May 2011."

"The military chief said the army is trying to 'get back on track' after years of focusing on counterinsurgency, leaving it 'in the process of losing the skills' to carry out a full-scale campaign. Decades of fighting irregular forces in the wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have focused attention on these campaigns rather than on larger interstate conflicts."

This MG Martin correct! After decades of fighting insurgency the Middle East and before that the period of the Troubles, Northern Ireland the British army NOW needs to refresh itself and prepare for WW2 attritional-style combat against a formidable adversary [presumably the Russian]. A lot of remedial training needs to be done now!'

And again, what portion of badly needed war-making munitions bang stuff already been given to the Ukrainian. I would venture too much!

coolbert.

Cables.

This is coolbert:

If you can REPAIR an undersea cable carrying Internet traffic, you can DAMAGE one just as easy. Simple as that.

"Fears Mount Of Undersea Cable Sabotage By Chinese Repair Ships, Report Says"

From https://www.zerohedge.com | BY TYLER DURDEN | MAY 19, 2024.  https://tinyurl.com/mr328x4n

State Department officials told a team of Wall Street Journal reporters about the increasing risks that undersea telecommunications cables could be susceptible to espionage. 

Not could be. Are! Breakage common even without human interference!

The officials became concerned when a state-controlled Chinese firm that repairs undersea cables, SB Submarine Systems, unexplainably and repeatedly concealed the location data of its ship from radio and satellite tracking services. They said the ship's concealment of its position 'defied easy explanation'"

No! Not defying easy explanation. They were up to something nefarious.

"The warnings about potential espionage or even sabotage of undersea cables come nearly three months after underwater telecommunications cables linking Europe and Asia were 'damaged' in the Red Sea between Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Djibouti in East Africa."

See previous blog entry as relevant the fleet of vessels of various nations on constant mission to repair undersea cables where ever they occur and when damaged.  https://tinyurl.com/y2kc7v7s

NOR can you preclude the possibility of bad actors intercepting fiber optic Internet communications [without destroying the cable] for intelligence gathering purposes. "Fiber tapping uses a network tap method that extracts signal from an optical fiber without breaking the connection."

coolbert.

Alpha.

This is coolbert:

You must crawl before you can walk and you must walk before you can run! 

Sounds to me that this is DACT style combat training, practicing for aerial dog-fighting the skies over Ukraine.

"Ukrainian Pilots Currently Training On French Air Force Alpha Jet Trainers"

From https://theaviationist.com | by Parth Satam | May 21, 2024 | https://tinyurl.com/47nms72t

"Ukrainian pilots are being imparted the basics of aerial combat as part of the training in anticipation of the arrival of the F-16 in Ukraine. But it will take some time before they will be able to fly and fight in a 'Viper'." 

"The run-up to the declared arrival of F-16s in Ukraine is seeing considerable preparation. Ukrainian pilots, with different degree of background and flying experience, are at various stages of training, both in the U.S. and in Europe."

I cannot help but notice that the Dornier German version of the Alpha jet trainer has an ORGANIC on demand combat load. Can fight as ground attack warplane if called upon for such a mission.  https://tinyurl.com/3u6j356r

Handling of the Alpha jet similar to the F-16 Viper? I cannot say. "Multi-role capabilities: The F-16 Viper can perform air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, and reconnaissance missions."

Good luck Ukrainian aviators!

coolbert.

Rappers.

This is coolbert:

"Incitement to genocide is a crime under international law which prohibits inciting (encouraging) the commission of genocide. An extreme form of hate speech, incitement to genocide is an inchoate offense and is theoretically subject to prosecution even if genocide does not occur"

"INCHOATE is being only partly in existence or operation : incipient; especially : imperfectly formed or formulated : formless, incoherent." 

See prior blog entry in some quarters Israeli rap music as believed to be a possible as an INCITEMENT to genocide.  https://tinyurl.com/3bemht8m

Ness and Stilla their very persons now banned in USA. Too controversial. 

"Report: Israeli Rappers Banned from U.S. Over Anti-Terror Song"

https://www.breitbart.com | JOEL B. POLLAK | 20 May 2024 | 

"The Israeli rap duo 'Ness and Stilla' has reportedly been denied a visa to perform in Miami, Florida, over false accusations that their hit song, 'Harbu Darbu,' promotes “genocide” by backing Israel’s war against terror."

"The song, as Breitbart News reported in November, was written in reaction to the terror attack of October 7, and expresses the spirit of a nation mobilized for war. It calls out Hamas and Hezbollah — and celebrities who back them."

Persons with a more than average knowledge of the Nuremberg Trials subsequent to the end of the Second World War can recall the death sentence as handed down to the noted instigator Julius Streicher.  https://tinyurl.com/2js2ber7

See the entire video with translations! https://tinyurl.com/2uuvvk7j

coolbert.

Go-Pro.

This is coolbert:

The worst nightmare of the Israeli military has come to pass. Female soldiers of the IDF captured and abused by Hamas fighters. An edited version only at this point of the video released for public consumption.

"The video, captured by the body cameras of Hamas terrorists on October 7th, spans 03:10 minutes and has been edited and censored to exclude the most disturbing scenes"    

It is no wonder that young Israeli female military conscripts since events of 10/7 are refusing duty as observers manning remoted monitors of the Israeli border. https://tinyurl.com/bde2u88t    

 "Video shows Hamas abduction of female IDF spotters on Oct. 7"

“'The footage reveals the violent, humiliating, and traumatizing treatment the girls endured on the day of their abduction, their eyes filled with raw terror.'”

https://www.israeltoday.co.il | By Israel Today Staff | May 22, 2024 | https://tinyurl.com/2mw6dujy

"The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced on Wednesday morning that they would be releasing a video later in the evening of Hamas terrorists abducting female Israel Defense Forces spotters on Oct. 7."

"Footage taken by body cameras of the terrorists reveals the violence and trauma experienced by five of the seven spotters captured alive from the Nahal Oz base. Another 15 field observers serving at the base were murdered during the attack."

coolbert.

Hampered.

This is coolbert:

Bad news Gaza! Gaza of course for a goodly number of months now bad news! Unmitigated!

"Pentagon: Aid has not been successfully delivered to Gazans in need"

"Distribution efforts have been severely hampered by crowds of desperate Palestinians intercepting the trucks once they leave the loading area"

Food aid for Gaza via the JLOTS pier received Gaza, but distribution not working. Those most in need not getting the desired amount of aid.

From https://www.i24news.tv | i24NEWS | May 22, 2024 | https://tinyurl.com/yteaazsx

"The Pentagon has confirmed that none of the 569 tons of humanitarian aid that recently arrived at a U.S.-built pier in the Gaza Strip has been formally distributed."

"According to a Defense Department spokesperson, although some of the aid has been transported to warehouses, the distribution efforts have been severely hampered by crowds of desperate Palestinians intercepting the trucks once they leave the loading area."

Indeed, this is what I was afraid of all along. Like with the parachute drops of food aid, a mob scene and a atmosphere of every-man-for-himself prevailing. No organized collection and equitable distribution.

Evidently planning with local Gazan residents scant to none! Surely this bodes very poorly on all parties involved. American, Israeli, Gaza authority to whatever exists if any! All have fallen down.

Bad! Very bad! I am sure this could have been easily anticipated but was not evidently!

coolbert.

Barbieri USMC.

This is coolbert:

$140 million USD saved and all they give the man is a medal?

"Marine corporal earns prestigious medal for saving military $140M"

https://www.yahoo.com | Irene Loewenson | May 16, 2024.   https://tinyurl.com/yc73fwym

"A Marine truck mechanic received a medal typically awarded to more senior service members for saving the Defense Department more than $140 million through work he began as a teenage lance corporal."

"Cpl. Gage Barbieri, now 21, received the Meritorious Service Medal on Friday from Col. Damon Burrows, commanding officer of 2nd Marine Division’s Headquarters Battalion. Barbieri is only the second Marine corporal to receive the Meritorious Service Medal since at least 2008"

"While serving as the Marine Corps’ representative to Oshkosh Defense as it revised its technical manuals for the joint light tactical vehicle, Barbieri pointed out flaws in the manuals, including one issue that could lead to rollovers."

"Barbieri’s engineering acumen would save more than 900,000 person-hours of maintenance production time and more than $140 million throughout the entire life cycle of the platform, the Corps calculated."

Corporal Barbieri has reward for a job well-done rather meager and sparse. The man deserves much more. Financial compensation of some sort his due? Similar to the "whistleblower reward" as deemed. No criminality here involved but nonetheless some sort of appreciation well merited.

 "Whistleblowers can receive up to 30% of the recovered funds.

 Whistleblowers can receive up to 15% to 30% of the recovered funds."

GOOD JOB CORPORAL!

coolbert.

Grounded.

This is coolbert:

One thing, two thing, a whole bunch of thing. F-35 delivery of the latest and greatest block Lightning warplanes DELAYED for at least a year.

"Alarming news for F-35 users: unforeseen one-year delay looms ahead"

https://bulgarianmilitary.com | By Alexey Lenkov | May 20, 2024.  https://tinyurl.com/bwabh4t4

"The delivery of F-35 fighter jets is on hold and may take up to a year to resume, according to a recent Government Accountability Office [GAO] report. Lockheed Martin has about 80 F-35 jets ready for delivery since last fall. These jets have the new Tech Refresh 3 [TR-3] computer upgrade, which is still being tested. Because of this, the government hasn’t accepted any jets yet, and they remain parked. For security reasons, the number and location of these jets are not disclosed."

Parked but not parked without movement from time to time I would like to believe. Otherwise the aircraft tires going to go flat on the first landing!

Devoted readers to the blog please be aware I am not able to post hyperlinks with color code in the usual manner. Until Blogger comes up with a fix this will regrettably continue.

coolbert.

3+ Дети.

This is coolbert:

From Freeper and thanks to same.

Personnel shortfall the Russian army self-evident? None of this would be occurring otherwise?

"In reversal, Russia moves to draft fathers of 3+ children"

From the tweet by Igor Sushko:

@igorsushko

"Russia: State Duma Committee on Defense recommends the nullification of the previously passed law which exempted from mobilization fathers of at least three children."

"Terminology is important."

"Mobilization has nothing to do with draft.

Russia has universal draft. Draftees serve 1 year, all of which is training. At the end of the year they can re-enlist for a longer term (this is called contract soldier, what we call lifers) or they can say no, don’t want to re-enlist. They are then moved to the Reserves and sent home.

The word Mobilization is activation of Reservists. It is not a draft process. The headline does not make sense. However, mobilizing fathers of 3+ makes pretty good sense demographically."

Igor 100 % correct. A person mobilized is an ex-serviceman having previously completed military training and duty of some sort. An individual on the roles of the RESERVES active or inactive.

A conscript a recruit generally a man of much younger age having NEVER seen military service in any capacity. 

The Russian and Red army in the past always noted for an inexhaustible manpower reserve. Troop strength and numbers almost overwhelming, and used quite often in a profligate often callous manner. No longer so?

See all previous blog entries Russian mobilization the Ukraine Conflict:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/04/dodger.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/03/alternatives.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/01/deferments.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2022/09/bones.html

coolbert.

Considering.

This is coolbert:

Gonna go over like the lead balloon I am afraid.

Peacekeeping mission Gaza. Grand strategy considerations Gaza. But CONDITIONAL!

Lead balloon idiom:  "The “lead balloon” idiom is a common English expression that means something fails or is extremely badly received. It is often used to describe a situation where an idea, proposal, or attempt is met with strong disapproval or rejection"

"US wants Arab states to join peacekeeping force in Gaza"

"US Pres. Biden won't send American troops into Gaza - but wants Arab states to do so for him, Financial Times report says. Arab states condition agreement on US recognition of 'Palestine.'"

From https://www.israelnationalnews.com  | Miriam Alster/Flash90 | May 15, 2024.

"The Biden administration is urging Arab states to join a 'peacekeeping' force which would control Gaza once the war ends, the Financial Times reported."

"The initiative aims to fill the vacuum which would be created in Gaza once Hamas is toppled and until a 'credible Palestinian security apparatus' could be established."

"Among the countries the US has been discussing its plans with are Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco, all of which are 'considering' the initiative. The US has also spoken to Saudi Arabia about the plan, but the Saudis are unwilling to deploy their own forces to the area, for fear of being seen as Israel's allies, or drawn into an insurgency in Gaza."

Saudi too occupied with their own troubles in Yemen. The Hootie-Tootie a stone in the shoe.

Consider this another pie-in-the-sky proposal that sounds good on paper but nothing more than that.

"pie in the sky: noun - A fanciful notion; ludicrous concept; the illusory promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen."

With regard to Grand Strategy considerations, the American senior military man General Marshall had three full years to prepare for the aftermath of the WW2 prior to final German surrender May 1945.

See also from this prior blog entry the Israeli Grand Strategy plan Gaza:

coolbert.

Range 68.

This is coolbert:

“'For the last two decades, what we see is that this tactic has indeed become more popular with non-state actors,' . . . 'It is spreading as a global security threat, from theater to theater'.” - Richemond-Barak.

"The Army has stepped up its training for tunnel warfare, a dangerous — and growing — form of combat"

WUNC | By Jay Price | May 14, 2024. 

"After seven months of war in Gaza, Israel has still probed little of what's believed to be hundreds of miles of tunnels — an underground network that Hamas uses for refuge, to hide hostages, to move around undetected — and to pop out unexpectedly and fight."

"Tunnel warfare is becoming a common tactic on modern battlefields, and it's one of most dangerous forms of combat, especially for the attackers."

"That is why groups like Hamas, ISIS, Hezbollah, and al-Qaeda have built underground facilities, seeking to blunt the advantages of the militaries hunting them"

"Geopolitical foes of the United States, such as China, North Korea, Iran and Russia, also are pushing more of their military and nuclear facilities underground, prompting the U.S. to increase its focus on tunnel warfare."

Fort Liberty [Bragg] Range 68 the tunnel constructed to train American troops for future military operations against a determined enemy occupying the "low-ground". No claustrophobic persons apply.

See merely with regard to the Gazan War previous blog entries the tunnels of Gaza: 

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/12/seawater_20.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2023/12/seawater.html

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

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

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

coolbert.

Trolls.

This is coolbert:

American army the NATO far north. Trolls beware!

 "The exercise was the first time in decades that a major Army maneuver unit had traveled so far in Europe."

"10th Mountain Division rolls more than 500 miles across Finland, Sweden and Norway"

"The exercise was the first convoy operation in the heart of the newest NATO members, Sweden and Finland."

From https://taskandpurpose.com | BY PATTY NIEBERG | MAY 13, 2024.

"Soldiers with the 10th Mountain Division recently completed an unprecedented 550-mile [nearly 900 kilometers] road trip across Norway, Sweden and Finland in which troops dealt with long-distance logistics, local laws and infrastructure regulations. It also meant keeping a sharp eye out for local wildlife."

[. . . .]

"Over the course of five days in late April, the Army’s 10th Mountain Division moved a convoy of 400 soldiers, 165 vehicles, and thousands of tons of equipment through small Scandinavian towns, around fjords, and across three different countries on a 550-mile[nearly 900 kilometers] road march."

See From Independent Barents Observer an article presumably as applicable to the road march. Vehicles and supplies being pre-positioned the far Arctic north to be used by the American 10th Mountain Division in case of war between Russia and NATO. Gear as delivered by RoRo vessels.

coolbert.

Purging.

This is coolbert:

Like in the old Soviet Union but on a much lesser scale. Persons out-of-favor by the big boss previously on top now at the bottom.

Kuznetsov off to the off to the Gulag or the modern day equivalent.

1. "Head of Main Personnel Directorate of Russia’s Defense Ministry Yuri Kuznetsov detained"

"A search was conducted at both Kuznetsov's job and his home, other specifics about the criminal case have not been revealed, law enforcement agencies told TASS"

From https://tass.com | © Sergei Bobylev/TASS.

"MOSCOW, May 14. /TASS/. Head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, was detained, law enforcement agencies told TASS."

"Lieutenant General General Kuznetsov was detained as a suspect in a criminal offense."

2. "Russian general Yuri Kuznetsov dragged out bed at 5am by cops as three more defense chiefs resign after Shoigu sacked"

"Lt-Gen Yuri Kuznetsov was arrested  'on suspicion of criminal activity' just after Putin dismissed his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu"

From https://www.thesun.co.uk | Aliki KraterouWill Stewart | 14 May 2024.

"A RUSSIAN general was dragged out of his bed at 5am to be taken into detention facing 'criminal charges over state secrets' in Vladimir Putin's latest purge."

"Lt-Gen Yuri Kuznetsov, 55, was arrested by heavily armed cops in balaclavas who smashed their way into his home using crowbars."

Yuri I strongly suspect whisked off for rigorous interrogation regarding his activities during the Ukraine Conflict. Vlad wanting to make examples of a few [maybe more than a few] high ranking personalities, military and civilian.

Sign the statement now! It will be for your own good.

coolbert.

Belousov.

This is coolbert:

"'The key task, of course, remains achieving victory. Ensuring the achievement of the military-political goals of the special military operation, set by the president. At the same time - I want to specifically emphasize this - with minimal human losses'" 

The new man speaks. The first utterances of Belousov as Russian Minister of Defense.

"Belousov says Russia must win in Ukraine while minimizing casualties"

From https://www.reuters.com | By Guy Faulconbridge and Mark Trevelyan | May 14, 2024.

* "Putin nominee stresses need to minimize human losses"

* "Belousov says military sector needs innovation, efficiency"

* "He takes over a ministry embroiled in corruption scandal"

"MOSCOW, May 14 (Reuters) - Russia's main task is to achieve victory on the battlefield in Ukraine with the minimal loss of troops, incoming defense minister Andrei Belousov said on Tuesday."

"Belousov, an economist whom President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly nominated on Sunday to replace Sergei Shoigu, said the military sector needed more efficiency and innovation in order to achieve its goals."

For some strange reason this Andrei reminds me greatly of the American Robert S. McNamara from the era of the Cold/Vietnam War era.

The genius [both were economists] experts at metrics, efficiency, goals. Neither having experience as a professional military man [McNamara did see uniformed service during the Second World as an operational research analyst] but chosen as perceived accomplished individuals of gravitas that can  "shake things up".

Andrei in particular with his background more able to organize and mobilize the entire Russian society in a more efficient and needed approach for the Ukraine Conflict. A practitioner of Grand Strategy. All being done in a more HUMANE style and method. If you assume war can be waged in a HUMANE manner.

coolbert.

Harba Darbu.

This is coolbert:

From a source that will go unnamed for all eternity.

Israeli rap song # 1 on the charts. Musical response to the Gazan War. If you are so bold to refer to rap as music.

“'Harbu Darbu' is a rap song in Hebrew written in the wake of October 7th that reached No. 1 on the Israeli charts. A rough translation of the opening:

"A bunch of fucker rats getting out of the tunnel

Acting like thugs you idiots I swear there will be no forgiveness

Who do you think you’re coming here to yell 'Palestine for free' at?!

Ptui, you sons of Amalek!

Hop, Bomb Squad!

Left right left, how the whole country is in uniform from the Galilee to Eilat

Fighters, Duvdevan and Magav, Qaraqal, Bardelas

We’ve brought the whole army and I swear there will be no forgiveness

(Mekha)bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, Mia Khalifa

Every dog gets what he deserves in the end

All IDF units are coming to do Harbu Darbu on their head"

Need I make comments or further elucidation? I think not.

coolbert.

AFTER.

 

This is coolbert

The day AFTER in wartime usually referring to plans formulated and to be implemented with a cessation of hostilities. Grand strategy as normally understood.

Combat action Gaza once again hot-and-heavy. Area of the northern part of the Gaza Strip as previously declared "secure" by the Israel army seemingly not so!

"As defense chiefs confront Netanyahu over Gaza's 'day after,' three IDF divisions back in Gaza"

"The IDF said it had attacked over 150 targets on Saturday-Sunday, including using a wide range of air and artillery power, a heavy increase in the use of more destructive Israeli war machines."

From https://www.jpost.com | By YONAH JEREMY BOB, JERUSALEM POST STAFF | MAY 12, 2024.

[. . . . ]

"While the high point of the invasion in October-November had five divisions in Gaza, there was only one division, the 162nd, still there by April 7, and even that division was no longer at full strength."

"Total strength at this exact juncture three DIVISIONAL sized elements FULL strength."

"This means that the IDF is about halfway back to its full strength point in Gaza earlier in the war and signals the failure to prevent Hamas from quickly returning to power after seven months of war"

ETERNAL insurgency! The insurgent wins by outlasting the opponent. I imagine those Hamas personnel surviving deep underground in the tunnels and hardened bunkers waiting for that moment to emerge and create a lot of aggravation of the IDF. And ARE doing so.

From a comment to the article:

xx9100

"I don't understand this war. Israel takes land, clear it out and leaves. Hamas moves back in. Israel returns and clears again. Rinse and repeat. 

Normally when the army takes land they stay there until the war is completely over. What game is at play"

From my perspective that as experience of the American army during the Second Indo-China War.

coolbert.

Sergei.

This is coolbert:

The new man the Ukraine Conflict. Russian. How many times has this occurred? 

Russian Defense Minister replaced but not banished!

"The man leading Russia's war in Ukraine is out in a surprise shake-up hinting at Putin’s true focus"

"Coming in to replace Shoigu is a figure established in Kremlin circles but largely unfamiliar to wider audiences, especially in the West."

https://www.nbcnews.com | By Yuliya Talmazan, Keir Simmons and Natasha Lebedeva | May 13, 2024.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed removing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu from his post. Putin nominated First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov for the role."

"The man [Shoigu] leading Vladimir Putin‘s war in Ukraine was looking relaxed just last week as he appeared in uniform at the Russian leader’s fifth inauguration ceremony and then at Moscow’s annual Victory Day parade."

"But on Sunday he was removed as defense minister, the post he had held on to for more than a decade despite a rebel mutiny, a corruption scandal and a calamitous start to the full-scale invasion of Russia’s neighbor."

Consider this to be a significant development? Sergei a long-time friend and personal confidant of President Vlad Putin. That Sergei was replaced [again not banished or exiled] says something of importance and consequence.

Much [?] has been made that Sergei was a man WITHOUT real military experience. The NEW man likewise.

Vlad at this point in most concerned not so much with strategy/operations/tactics but grand strategy? Harness the economic structure of Russia totally to the Conflict and perhaps even things to follow?

coolbert.

Lingerie.

This is coolbert:

“'These pictures enter a different realm,' . . . 'where one’s most intimate relations and private thoughts, feelings, and desires have been penetrated, looted, picked apart, and turned into jokes.'” - Nina Berman.

"‘The most moral army in the world’ is posing with Palestinian women’s underwear in Gaza"

"How should we understand a proliferation of photos of IDF soldiers mocking Palestinian women’s lingerie?"

From https://forward.com |  Nora Berman | March 29, 2024.

Here with an opinion by photo journalist Berman as seen at the Forward.

"There are many parallel battles being fought simultaneously in the Israel-Hamas war: a war of narratives, a war of regional actors and a war of history."

"Perhaps the most insidious and disturbing area of conflict, however, is the war of sex."

"Both Palestinians and Israelis have made allegations of sexual violence against the other during the course of war: Israelis on Oct. 7 and as hostages in captivity, and Palestinians during the Israeli invasion of Gaza." 

Sexual violence in the literal term as perpetrated on Israeli women by Hamas personnel. Figurative sexual violence as perpetrated by Israeli troops on female refugees of Gaza.

Israeli looting of homes Gaza also occurring on a rather widespread basis? Homes as abandoned by Gazan refugees systematically [?] searched for valuables.

Again all this an instance of Israeli triumphalism! We shit on you but you cannot shit on us. We [Israeli]are the master and you the Palestinian are the dog!

See previous blog entries viral video of Israeli troops behaving badly 
Gaza:

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/02/viral.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/01/levi-i.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/01/levi-ii.html

https://militaryanalysis.blogspot.com/2024/02/triumphalism_19.html

coolbert.