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DirkDiggler

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Posts posted by DirkDiggler

    Russian Ukraine shenanigans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, uhhello said:

    Almost 1800 arrests country wide.  We'll see how long the protest will persists. 

    It’s pretty unusual for Russia.  Russia’s security services are unfortunately brutally efficient in suppressing that sort of thing though so not holding out hope that it’ll force any course corrections on Putin’s part.

    • Upvote 1

    Russian Ukraine shenanigans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    12 hours ago, herkbier said:

    All I’ve got to go on is open source intel; from that information I sorta agree. It makes me wonder if our intel on Russian (and probably Chinese) capes are a bit over optimistic. They might have some neat toys, but if the motivation and training isn’t there.. who knows. I really hope our intel community is able to capture all the trons from this war and do some good analysis.

    Could be this.  Could be the Ukrainians are putting up a tougher fight than Russia expected.  Unfortunately could also just be sequenced phases in the Russian operational plan.

    Interesting open source speculation about the motivation/morale or lack thereof of some Russian units involved in the attack.  My Estonian buddy is sharing lots of videos of large anti-war protests in Russia; hopefully that continues.

    Russian Ukraine shenanigans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    13 hours ago, Prozac said:

    I’m sure a lot of us will be watching in fascinated horror if this thing turns hot. As interesting as it would be, I wouldn’t wish that kind of hell on the Ukrainian population, their service members, or anyone really (including the poor Russian grunts who will be digging foxholes in the Chernobyl contaminated zone). I hope the only concrete takeaway is how to de-escalate a potential modern conflict of developed nations. 

    I would agree with most of what you wrote above with the following exception.  If the Russian Federation (really Putin) decides to go high order with an invasion of the Ukraine, I sincerely hope that the Ukrainians stack up as many Russian bodies as they possibly can before they're either overrun or are forced into some shitty settlement.  And I don't care if some Russian private inhales radioactive dust and gets cancer 20 years from now due to a completely avoidable nuclear disaster and war of their own choosing. 

    • Like 2

    VA Loans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'd like to give another shout out to Jon and the team at Trident.  He got me a 2.25% lock outside of 60 days on a VA non-jumbo with only 5% down; the loan application and closing process was seamless, even with a remote signing and POA involved.  Would highly recommend Trident to anyone in the market for a mortgage.  

    Russian Ukraine shenanigans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    34 minutes ago, waveshaper said:

    The State Department sure has some screwed up/ass-backward priorities that will complicate/slow the emergency ground evac of US Citizen trying to get the heck out of Dodge (Press Release/Source=State Department/US Embassy in Ukraine). 

    'Message to U.S. Citizens: Poland/Ukraine Border Open to U.S. Citizens:'

    'U.S. citizens must present proof of COVID-19 vaccination.  Travelers are also encouraged to present a negative test result from a PCR or antigen COVID-19 test, which will facilitate entry into Poland.' etc, etc, etc.

    Message to U.S. Citizens: Poland/Ukraine Border Open to U.S. Citizens - U.S. Embassy in Ukraine (usembassy.gov)

     

     

    Its not a US State Department requirement; the US (especially the US Ukrainian embassy) cannot dictate another country's COVID-19 entrance requirements.  It's a Polish requirement for travelers arriving in Poland from other than the EU/Schengen area.  See link below:

    https://www.gov.pl/web/coronavirus/outside-the-european-union-schengen-area

      Per the Polish website, a traveler (or in this case refugee ) wouldn't necessarily get denied entry to Poland without a negative COVID test, they'd be put in quarantine for 7 days. 

    • Upvote 4

    F35 navy crash rumor?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    16 minutes ago, brabus said:

    Is that screenshot from the Onion?

    It's from a totally legit website called avia-pro.net.  Some of the other latest news stories on there include:

    1. American mercenaries raised the US flag on the outskirts of Donetsk

    2. Latvian AN-2 aircraft opened S-400 air defense areas, violating Belarusian border

    3. Russian warships stationed in Syria sent NATO a serious warning

      Lots of Cyrillic on there.  Honestly kinda aligns with the overall tilt of this thread.

    • Upvote 1

    The Congressman is back yo

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    3 hours ago, brickhistory said:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/03/rnc-cheney-trump/

     

    The Republican National Committee voted overwhelmingly to censure Reps Kinzinger and Cheney.

    Despite his vociferous words that he speaks "truth to power," he doesn't get to run roughshod over his political party and the institutions of the House.

    Speaker Pelosi set up the Jan 6 committee.  She asked the Republicans to name the members who would be joining said committee.

    The Minority Leader, McCarthy, named the members he wanted on the committee.

    Pelosi rejected them.  That is not her call on who the opposition puts on bipartisan committees.  The Republicans then said no Republicans would be on the committee in that case.

    So she specifically invited Kinzinger and Cheney to be on the committee, despite the Republican leadership and party A) naming the desired members to said committee and B) boycotting the committee when named members were refused a seat.

    Hate Trump all you want, but don't expect kudos from your party (and funding) when you give them a middle finger.

    Kinzinger got gerrymandered out his seat.  I still expect a talking skull gig for him - any time you need a "Republican" to say how bad they are, he's on the speed dial.

    Cheney is likely to lose her primary and this censure clears the way for the RNC to put funds towards her primary challengers.  She'll resume being a Beltway Bandit as she's been her entire adult life.

    Preach

     

    giuliani.gif

    Russian Ukraine shenanigans

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Clark Griswold said:

    Read these two articles from WOR related to your point on Europe / Germany specifically:

    A MILLENNIAL CONSIDERS THE NEW GERMAN PROBLEM AFTER 30 YEARS OF PEACE

    WHY GERMANY BEHAVES THE WAY IT DOES

     

    Those were both very good reads, thanks for posting.  

      It's interesting (in a sad sort of way) to see the long term impacts of what I view as a pretty relentless drive post WWII to tamp down German nationalism.  Even considering Adenauer and Brandt's focus on German unity and anti-communist stances, the generational echoes of Germany's actions in WWII and the resulting rejection of any sense of national pride and/or pride in the military are seriously impacting Germany's current actions.  

    • Like 1

    AF Light Air Support Aircraft

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    8 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

     

    New rules that I am guessing a lot of folks don't understand.  This is an OTA so the government can do what it wants after the initial down-select and there is no opportunity for protest....they can even go outside the Tier 1 requirements.  FYSA MC-145 misses SEVERAL Tier 1 requirements.  That being said Congress can certainly review the outcome.  You might review the last NDAA where Congress specifically called out the program and delayed funding allocation until the completion of an OSD/CAPE study that should be complete next month.

    "Dear Congress, AFSOC here, remember that plane we bought a few years ago then DIVESTED most of them, well we would like to purchase 75 more...yes we are aware it would require restarting a now discontinued production line in a foreign country because there are not enough existing platforms to convert for this program.  Also, yes we fully understand the logistical train will be completely dependent on the whims of a foreign nation.  Yes there is plan to do final assembly in the U.S. but 80% of the production, touch labor and highly skilled jobs will be done in a foreign country."

    For the record - 100% of the AT-802 would be built in the U.S....mainly Oklahoma... home of the ranking member of the SASC and a key member of the HASC.

    Didn't know that about no protests regarding OTA, learn something new everyday.  That said, I'll stick with my $5 on the -145, not for any rationale reasons on AFSOC's part mind you, but really for the previous emotional reasons listed above.  I'll be happy to be wrong about that if it gets our guys a more capable platform. 

    AF Light Air Support Aircraft

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'd put $5 on the MC-145 being the winner, at least initially (before what sounds like an inevitable dispute by another bidder). 

      Has actual austere landing capability, cargo ramp/door if you want to carry things, AFSOC already has previous experience with the platform.  And perhaps most importantly....drum roll....it's the platform that LOOKS closet to a -130, which unfortunately carries a lot of sway with important people on the third floor.

    Caveat: I'm in no way involved or associated with AO.  

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 1
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