War is a stupid thing!
It is the stupidest thing that mankind has ever managed to create, and the list is endless…!
Why would a slightly bigger stupidity be out of place?
The war is lost for Ukraine’s allies, it is impossible to get back on track in time without committing forces and human resources on a large scale, from all the countries that have already committed materials and money in huge quantities. Would they do it?
No, but they can burn everything down before leaving the field whistling quietly, anyway, according to their calculations, only more Ukrainians and Russians would die, that is, all Russians.
Tomorrow is another day and today’s destruction can be used. In some way.
I do not agree that it is all fake news, on the contrary, every time they set the presses alight with controversial news, generally the decisions were made and executed weeks before.
It is very possible that the missiles are already positioned and aimed, and only the final order remains. For Russia, the responsibility would remain to give an extraterritorial response, which in any case would be considered inappropriate, excessive, inequivalent, since Ukraine is being bombed in depth, and taking a return of such kindness as an excuse to increase the surface or the participants of the conflict, would be seen as an unequivocally illegitimate act and would generate all the permissions to the NATO armies, which are already doing exercises in the vicinity, to dive headlong into the pool.
Beyond the exercise of power that they currently exercise, they do not have a social consensus to intervene directly and send the children of Europe and North America to the battlefield on a large scale, not today.
Perhaps if Russia responded, this would be very easy to achieve through the mass media, and its endless archive of sad stories ready to be told.
Even a packed mule can walk backwards, but war… can only go forward, only escalate
It is very sad that most people see it as a football match in which you have to take sides for one team or the other, just because they are far away and blood does not splatter them.
There is no joy in victory, there is no happiness in daily murder, there is no pride in the systematic destruction of the enemy to avoid your own.
I recommend you go to the battlefield. Or make it real around you.

Posted by: Santi | Nov 18 2024 1:02 utc | 204

I’m pretty sure it was the Duran boys that said the ATACMS couldn’t even reach Moscow.

Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Nov 18 2024 1:08 utc | 206

Galloway on Biden’s green light to Ukraine to use US long-range missiles to attack Russia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuzlv4RGIG4&t=245s

Posted by: crone | Nov 18 2024 1:10 utc | 208

https://x.com/imetatronink/status/1858266401871683709
Will Schryver @imetatronink
….They’ve launched HUNDREDS of ATACMS at Russian targets over the past year+. They had negligible effect; most were shot down or defeated via ECM. The intercept rate was well over 90% for most of 2024.
ATACMS are a joke compared to Iskander.
https://x.com/imetatronink/status/1858283798510907737
Will Schryver @imetatronink
‼️🤦‍♂️ I don’t understand how so many people in my mentions seem to be unaware of the fact that 100s of ATACMS and 100s of SS/SCALPs have already been used against Russia. Also 1000s of long-range drones.
The Russians adapted quickly to all of them, and now routinely defeat them.

Posted by: michaelj72 | Nov 18 2024 1:13 utc | 210

Ed4 @ 190
It has not been any individual weapons system, but the continued ability for the West to flow weapons into Ukraine that has been the wunderwaffen.
—
Excellent point, and they are far from running out of anything, they never were. They don’t seem to be running out of AFU troops either, just the better trained ones while the better managed Russian army keeps improving.
Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Nov 18 2024 0:25 utc | 196
Wunderwaffen? IMHO allowing that weapons flow has been intentional. Russia knows it’s fighting NATO indirectly and may eventually have to fight it directly, therefore permitting that flow has enabled them to (a) observe and negate each in a “controlled” environment and (b) drain NATOs stockpiles of those same weapons knowing they have no way of replacing them.
As software guys say, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Nov 18 2024 1:16 utc | 212

Everyone needs to take a deep breath.
First of all, even if the psychos like Macron and Biden try to kickstart WWIII, we have to remember that if long range bombings could change the course of a war the Taliban wouldn’t be running Afghanistan and the Houthis would be a history lesson.
Let’s be honest with ourselves – a few ATACMS or Scalp missiles are not going to change the course of things so let’s call them what they are – purely terrorist tactics.
Second, earlier articles stated that the UK is out of the game as they’re out of storm shadow missiles that can be spared without making that crappy little island defenseless.
The people in the Pentagon who actually have to create orders know this. If things are so far gone that they’re going to try and start WWIII over a lost cause shithole like Ukraine then we are all screwed.
It would be nice if people used their minds but we oftentimes see folks react with their guts around here.
Let’s hope they’re not that crazy.

Posted by: Ghost of Zanon | Nov 18 2024 1:22 utc | 214

~450km from nearest Ukraine line (Kursk) to Moscow.
ATACMS max range = 300km
Posted by: saner | Nov 18 2024 1:13 utc | 211
And they won’t bring an ATACMS anywhere remotely near the front line. The RF prosecution loop is far too tight these days — minutes from Identification-to-Iskander — which is why the Kursk invaders couldn’t hold onto any significant hardware.

Posted by: TJandTheBear | Nov 18 2024 1:24 utc | 216

North Korea may be providing their long-range artillery to the Russian front. This 170 mm artillery out-ranges all NATO systems. The 65 km range of these systems can be extended by the use of glide munitions.
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/nkorean-koksan-170mm-ukraine

Posted by: Krollchem | Nov 18 2024 1:27 utc | 218

Zelensky Welcomes Reported Lifting of US Restrictions on Long Range Weapons
https://wwww.rt.com/russia/607793-zelensky-atacms-missiles-russia/
“…Russian President Vladimir Putin warned in September that the expansion of strikes deep inside Russia using Western weapons would ‘significantly change the nature of the conflict.
He argued that such strikes would be impossible without the participation of foreign personnel. It would mean that ‘NATO countries are directly involved in the military conflict’ with Russia, he said.”
Long Range Escalation (vid)
https://x.com/RT_com/status/1858239510091276420
“Two months before leaving the White House, Biden has reportedly allowed Ukraine to launch strikes deep into internationally recognized territory of Russia using US-made ATACMS long-range missiles.”
How many violations of Russian red-lines before surprise surprise the ‘unexpected’ occurs?

Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 18 2024 1:40 utc | 220

New Electric Missile Raid on Sunday
https://johnhelmer.net/new-electric-war-missile-raid-on-sunday-the-putin-pause-passed/
“The Putin pause passed…”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 18 2024 1:54 utc | 222

More insanity from the reality show with nukes as it spirals down to the shit from whence it was birthed. They’ve ..that is, the retards..have decided it’s a bluff. Stupid fucking call, but when have these shitheels got anything right?

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Nov 18 2024 1:55 utc | 224

When we stop thinking of war as a tragedy (whoever wins) We have already lost.
https://textosandroides.blogspot.com/2015/03/puntualmente.html
Unfortunately.
With the minimum pause in the pace imposed by the pace of production and logistics of supplies, the construction of armor and trenches, the definition of alliances and managers… war has already arrived.
And if so, what does it matter, what else was left?
If the whole world is overflowing with weapons, if there is not a single model of machine gun that has not already been tested on the battlefield! Is the market already exhausted by saturation?
I don’t think so, but by boredom: the same genocides, the same massacres, the same crushed countries. Today, the war market wants to test its technology in the great capitals of the world.
There is no alternative, faced with the stagnation of currency flows, the only injection of adrenaline is total war, totally stupid, completely ruthless and global of course.
It is necessary to take back the reins of an economy in perpetual growth, whatever this means for the common living beings of the planet.
Without leaving the branch, not only would it give immediate work to millions of people in the multiplication of weapons factories, but it would also give rise to testing new weapons, and accelerating projects in progress, currently shelved, and taking advantage of dispersed and obsolete material. That is war!
A business that grows with only rumor, with the only consensus of indifference and resignation of the populations.
But one day, while we were watching the news, our windows trembled as a plane from an unknown power passed by, and the first arrow had hit the target, the provocations and glances were over, it began with an almost friendly formality: the massacre.

Posted by: Santi | Nov 18 2024 2:05 utc | 226

There are two of them: “vargas” the Blog Idiot and 6 time winner of “The Most Retarded Post I Have Read Today” ; and, “Vargas” who seems to have more grey matter.
Posted by: canuck | Nov 17 2024 14:24 utc | 5
@ b
Visitors don’t come here to read insults against other posters. Nobody comes here for that. If you don’t want to lose readership, please ban canuck.

Posted by: abc | Nov 18 2024 2:25 utc | 228

This is a blind attempt by the lame duck Biden/Harris group to box Trump in before he takes office…….turn up the temp by authorizing deep strikes into Russia…………goad Russia into even more advanced attacks, move up the escalation…..
Blinken-sky, Nuland and company are running the deep state war plan now…………they want a hot war with Russia in order to make sure that Trump does not cut the Nazi lifeline for ammo and cash.
Guess what …it will not work….Trump despises Volo and will relish in cutting off the Kieve junkies ammo and cash, and watching him die on the vine too……….the reaction already from Musk and Don, Jr tell the tale…Volo is done as dinner….stick a fork in him….OMgosh

Posted by: Tobias Cole | Nov 18 2024 2:32 utc | 230

Re: Posted by: Justpassinby | Nov 17 2024 20:11 utc | 77

´well, looks like nazi-nato goes full retard.

You need to chill.
Russia has ALREADY WON this war – I have read (and been told) this in this very forum many many times.
Chill out and stop jumping at shadows.

Posted by: Julian | Nov 18 2024 2:42 utc | 232

MOATS, EP 396, with George Galloway: ‘Clean Sweep’
https://youtube.com/live/JwXD8rqjwcg
“It’s clear that Biden or whoever is operating him, has started WW3. Scott Ritter will join me.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 18 2024 2:46 utc | 234

President Trump can still stop the deep strikes into Russia by Ukraine. All he has to do is tell Zelenski stop or you are finished on January 20th. Will z dare

Posted by: Michael J | Nov 18 2024 2:47 utc | 236

Posted by: snake | Nov 18 2024 2:32 utc | 229
LOLLL…
What would Biden do if Mr Zirkon visited Ramstein for example? Send the 6th Cavalry???

Posted by: Larsbo | Nov 18 2024 2:50 utc | 238

I think you are right. Lloyd Austin has said many times Russia has moved everything out of reach of the ATACMS. I don’t even think they can reach Moscow never mind deep into Russia.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Nov 18 2024 0:58 utc | 203
I’m pretty sure it was the Duran boys that said the ATACMS couldn’t even reach Moscow.
Posted by: Sun Of Alabama | Nov 18 2024 1:08 utc | 206

Incorrect. The regular variant has 300 km range, but there is a 500-km range one. That is irrelevant though, because the UK and France simultaneously announced SCALP/Storm Shadow strikes will start too. And the official range of those is 500 km. The practical too — Kerch has been hit with the several times, from a distance of over 400 km. Moscow is in range of those with some distance to spare so that not to approach the border too closely. Not that there is that much of a risk — many glide bombs have been dropped on Belgorod and the planes launching them were not shot down. And the plan here is to push deeper inside Russia so that to be able to launch from even closer distance.
And, of course, if NATO in Europe is not ashes after the first salvo is fired, then JASSMs and Tomahawks will come, and nothing west of Novosibirsk will be safe.

‼️🤦‍♂️ I don’t understand how so many people in my mentions seem to be unaware of the fact that 100s of ATACMS and 100s of SS/SCALPs have already been used against Russia. Also 1000s of long-range drones.
The Russians adapted quickly to all of them, and now routinely defeat them.
Posted by: michaelj72 | Nov 18 2024 1:13 utc | 210

No, they don’t. Intercept rates were around 50% initially, then it improved to 75-80%. That is still completely unacceptable given the damage done.
The reasons you don’t hear about such strikes causing damage are:
1) The stocks seem to have run out. But will now be replenished.
2) Russia moved a lot of the key possible targets out of Crimea and the Donbass. Which was already a win for NATO on its own
3) Russia tightened op-sec so you don’t see the successful strikes anymore (which doesn’t mean they don’t happen).

Posted by: ANON2022 | Nov 18 2024 2:55 utc | 240

anonymous sources quoting anonymous sources.
fake news all reporting each others fake news
A dozen Doomers spring to life on MoA.
on r/ukraine, they have been saying deep strikes will let Ukraine beat Russia.
A week ago, Trumps election made Ukraine feel doom, not good Now fake news says rejoice Ukraine, we’re gonna let you take the gloves off!”
And the Ukrainians keep fighting and dying, believing they have a chance.
Well played NATO and NAFO.
Wont change a fucking thing though. In all scenarios, and all escalations, you still lose.

Posted by: UWDude | Nov 18 2024 3:04 utc | 242

Reports I have read indicated that Ukraine has been firing ATACMS missiles into Russia and Crimea for months. What is the difference now?
Posted by: Archyzer | Nov 18 2024 2:57 utc | 241

The size of the salvos will increase significantly and they will go after strategic objects deep inside Russia.
So no more single ATACMS and Storm Shadows at the Kursk NPP (which did happen), at Yeysk, Azov (the city), Rostov, the airfield in Lipetsk, etc. (all of these did happen), now they will go for the weapons factories in Tula and around Moscow, for strategic targets inside Moscow itself, and so on.
Which will also be a softening up for a strategic first strike, if the Kremlin once again prioritizes “normalcy” over the survival of the state.

Posted by: ANON2022 | Nov 18 2024 3:08 utc | 244

The size of the salvos will increase significantly and they will go after strategic objects deep inside Russia.
Posted by: ANON2022 | Nov 18 2024 3:08 utc | 244
ok, lets pretend your fake news is telling the truth for once.
Even if true, exactly how is it that there will be “significantly” more strikes. There are “significantly” more long range missiles and drones that they saved up, while only using the “significantly” depleted short range missiles.
You and all the other “s” fudders here are “significantly” full of shit.

Posted by: UWDude | Nov 18 2024 3:12 utc | 246

is shawdowbanned back?? my take – maybe…

Posted by: james | Nov 18 2024 3:15 utc | 248

Re: Posted by: Ted from Liverpool | Nov 17 2024 20:57 utc | 108

It shows a knee-jerk reaction based on the Democrat election defeat. Nothing to do with Putin’s position. Knee jerk reactions are dangerous as theyre based on emotion not logic.

WRONG.
EVERYTHING TO DO WITH PUTIN’S POSITION. .
If Putin had gone in HARD and WON this war she 6 months to 1 year – THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING .
It’s a DIRECT 100% CONSEQUENCE of the SLOW SLOW (Never-Ending ) SMO.
A direct consequence.
Those of us who told Russia to hurry up and GET THE JOB DONE were trying to warn of exactly this outcome.
Re: Posted by: The Flying Scotsman | Nov 17 2024 21:02 utc | 109

This authorization of long range attacks into Russia is a consequence of Putin’s “cautions approach”.
Posted by: vargas | Nov 17 2024 20:40 utc | 92
And the only outcome of this decision, if true, will be more, bigger, attacks on Kievs infrastructure. More misery. And of course, it denies Trump his path to a peaceful settlement of the war.

More strange justifications.
If Russia had GOT THE JOB DONE in 1-2 years then none of this would be an issue – instead, we’re almost 3 years into this and Russia so doesn’t control the Donbass!!!
Re: Posted by: Konami | Nov 17 2024 21:02 utc | 110

Posted by: Moonraker | Nov 17 2024 20:12 utc | 78
I think the goal is to kick the can long enough that Trump inherits the mess and then Trump gets to be the bad man who abandons Ukraine.
Agreed and I think it’s quite clear. Also fits with the billions they found the other day.
Ukraine has lost fair and square but making it hard for the new government is just the thing you do as the out-going government. Perhaps instead of “bad man who abandons Ukraine” it can also be “too expensive to abandon Ukraine”.
It’s a tiny bit funny to see the “Russia never does anything!!1!” faction on the day of the most massive missile strikes. A humanitarian catastrophe, and all the adults are in the East.

What?!?!?
Very strange thing to say.
”Ukraine has lost fair and square”
What?!?
This is a WAR!
Do you not understand?
There is no ” Fair and Square “ in WAR.
ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR.
If Ukraine has lost why do they occupy Russian territory in Lursk, Donetsk, Luhansk and capital cities of Russian regions in Kherson & Zaporizhzhia – that is the strangest LOSS I have seen in my life.
Ukraine occupies 2 Regional Russian Capitals.
Russia occupies 0 Regional Ukrainian Capitals.
Somehow your conclusion from that is that Ukraine has lost?!?
Seriously.

Posted by: Julian | Nov 18 2024 3:17 utc | 250

RE: Posted by: Kaj Jakobsson | Nov 18 2024 2:52 utc | 239
The WAPO article is basically saying permission is given to hit the NPP (?)…
Can’t think of a thing other than that in Kursk you’d need a “long range” missile for.
So, if WAPO is trying to persuade the public that “Kursk” isn’t “Moscow”, so “it’s ok”, well then they are gushing that people are as stupid as they actually are.
I’m rather in agreement with Dancing Bears article, neither Trump nor Biden got any concessions from Putin, and will now attempt to blow up NPP or Crimea or even Zaporozhye or all 3. Why? Simple, they’re terrorist’s and always have been and that’s how terrorist react when they don’t get what they want.
Or it’s all another “threat”.

Posted by: Trubind1 | Nov 18 2024 3:21 utc | 252

Even if true, exactly how is it that there will be “significantly” more strikes. There are “significantly” more long range missiles and drones that they saved up, while only using the “significantly” depleted short range missiles.
You and all the other “s” fudders here are “significantly” full of shit.
Posted by: UWDude | Nov 18 2024 3:12 utc | 246

“Significantly” means that the F-16 will be activated too. Not the “Ukrainian” F-16, but as a cover for NATO to bring in its own planes.
Waters will be tested first — a few ATACMS fired at Voronezh (there are several quite sensitive high-tech enterprises there), some Storm Shadows at the MIC facilities in Tula, air defense positions will be destroyed one by one, that sort of thing.
Then the F-16s will come in in large numbers with JASSMs, and Tomahawk VLSs will start being shipped in massive quantities too.
Then once air defense is sufficiently depleted and everybody in Moscow has completely forgotten what launch-on-warning means, an absolutely massive decapitation nuclear strike will come, along the whole perimeter from the Arctic to Turkey and the Middle East.
Remember — the West does not need Russia’s cities, it needs the land. The cities are just a reminder of what was there. They need to go. Together with the people. It is why Hitler’s order was to level Leningrad once it is taken.
It is the same situation in Gaza — it is being leveled not because this is militarily necessary or expedient, but because there must be nothing for the Palestinians to return too, plus the Israelis need the land, but not these particular buildings that are on it right now.
Same logic here, same motivation, same people behind it.
The question is where Putin will ever wake up to the reality?

Posted by: ANON2022 | Nov 18 2024 3:22 utc | 254

Whatever the West does, you can assure yourself it will be stupid. I mean, look at the quality of their ‘analysis’ and their propagandists.
The West cannot ‘win’ anything in Ukraine – that ship long ago sailed -but they can certainly make everyone lose. (yes, including you dear reader, living in Bumfuck, USA) So look out or a gang of fascist geriatrics may just murder everyone you care about. While cheered on by a group of distressingly servile stenographers and imbeciles.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Nov 18 2024 3:25 utc | 256

If Putin had gone in HARD and WON this war she 6 months to 1 year – THIS WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING .
Posted by: Julian | Nov 18 2024 3:17 utc | 250
Using history as an indicator,
A bunch of NAFO tards proclaiming Ukraine is gonna win because fake news says wunderwaffen are gonna save the day, and fake mews says some NATOstan is sending troops or Swift cutoff and sanctions from hell has been happening.
But that is all. It is hilarious you are claiming something is happening, qhen nothing but a rumor has been spread throught the fake news-o-sphere, a rumor, that even if true, does not mean victory in any way.
I find the full court troll press by the NAFO army here trying to megaphone Russia’s doom as fairl effective for the weak minded, therefore, Ukrainian meat will continue to sizzle in the Donbass. This corrects the morale problem for a few days only…
…a few days only, you say UWDude?
Yes a few days.
Because NATO wants Ukraine to win.
Think about that riddle for a while, NAFO fools, and then beg me to prove to you why you are getting fed a hyperventilating bag of hopium and nothing else.
Again, NATO wants Ukraine to win, eg, the story is fake news, and your megaphone campaign will end like all the rest.

Posted by: UWDude | Nov 18 2024 3:27 utc | 258

ANON2022 | Nov 18 2024 3:05 utc | 243
This is just one such situation out of many…
—
Welcome back, Shadowbanned (collective).
The interesting aspect about inside
baseball (quick, non Americans get googling) are the players’ motivations and manueverings, the broader strategic imperative.
Please tell us once more how Russia loses. Let’s say all nukes are launched – which regions emerge with some semblance of government?
Argentina, NZ, Siberia, what else? There is no case where W Europe and N America are rendered inhabitable.
So, who wins the escalation battle?

Posted by: Markw | Nov 18 2024 3:29 utc | 260

Posted by: ANON2022 | Nov 18 2024 3:15 utc | 249
AFAIK all western made, or Russian or Chinese or etc., nukes leave an identifiable signature when detonated. Not that Russia would care about any nuance, but they’d know if a western made nuke was used against them.
Anyway, I think Russia’s latest missile attack was a clear signal that if its interior was attacked by Western missiles then they’d arrange things so that Ukraine would start to have a societal collapse, and refugees would begin flooding its neighboring states. And that could begin after the first strike was made deep within Russia, and wouldn’t stop until Biden’s handlers placed him on the phone with Putin to say “no mas”.
Or maybe they’d take a direct approach, get on the hot line, and say President Putin was ready to declare that a state of war existed.

Posted by: Babel-17 | Nov 18 2024 3:33 utc | 262

‘Anon2020’ for your next screed can you add in some sexual frisson between Scholz and Macron as they compete for the attentions of the pedophile war criminal Biden. All that missile terminology is just so phallic, no? I think it will help add some drama to this otherwise meaningless pseudointellectual babble. Thanks!
I appreciate that Plato was a pugilist. His worst ideological opponents, the rhetoricists, truly believed they could just bullshit their way through everything. You can see this today in the logical approach of Russia and the reality TV show (with nukes) approach of Maerica.

Posted by: Doctor Eleven | Nov 18 2024 3:38 utc | 264

Operation ‘Dark Winter’ Resumes as Massive Russian Strikes Again Cripple Ukrainian Power Grid
Simplicius
Nov 17, 2024
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/operation-dark-winter-resumes-as

It finally happened—our questions on Russia and Putin’s resoluteness have been answered. After a nearly two-month hiatus of major long-range strikes on energy infrastructure, Russia struck back again last night with what’s again being called one of the largest strikes of the war, which not only reportedly utilized a fleet of 16 Tu-95s, but according to some sources even a wing of Tu-160s for the first time.
Virtually every missile in Russia’s arsenal was said to be fired:
▪️Kh-101
▪️Caliber
▪️Kh-32/22
▪️Oniks
▪️Iskander
▪️Kinzhal
▪️Zircon (apparently 2 were fired on targets at Kiev)
Energy substations were hit all over the country. Kh-101s are here seen hitting Rivne city substations at geolocation 50.642217840275606, 26.224832322047448:

Much, much more at link, including lots of embedded material.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/operation-dark-winter-resumes-as

Posted by: Babel-17 | Nov 18 2024 3:50 utc | 266

Much, much more at link, including lots of embedded material.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/operation-dark-winter-resumes-as
Posted by: Babel-17 | Nov 18 2024 3:50 utc | 266
Thank you. What I get from that and all this discussion is that this story about letting Ukraine shoot harder at Russia is bullshit, and they are bickering over what exactly the bullshit should be. I think the likely outcome is Russia will collapse Ukraine’s government before Trump takes office, causing a mass exodus into the EU and Russia, and Trump will be glad they did, since he can then disown it all.

Posted by: Bemildred | Nov 18 2024 4:16 utc | 268

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Nov 17 2024 19:38 utc | 64
“Biden built and paved the runway for war, now he’s doing the finishing touches, painting the white lines and turning on the lights for Trump and his crew to take off.”
It’s very possible or even likely that Biden made this move to escalate the war in order to hand Trump an ungodly mess and also to punish the American people for voting the wrong way. The Democrats in general are a mean spirited group and I could see them doing this to enjoy a little schadenfreude on their way out the door. I’d guess that Trump is thinking about how to deescalate the situation, but he won’t have official power to do anything for two more months.

Posted by: Paranaense | Nov 18 2024 4:46 utc | 270

and they don’t give a damn about anyone else’s expectations regarding timing or territory.
Posted by: TJandTheBear | Nov 18 2024 4:21 utc | 269
Yup.
If Ukraine is running out of cannon fodder, territory is not really an issue.
Once the Ukrainians have nobody left to defend and hold territory, the Russians can take as much as they want.
If the Ukies/West want to “fight to the last Ukrainian”, I think Russia will oblige and take the whole country. Why not once it is essentially emptied?

Posted by: saner | Nov 18 2024 6:00 utc | 272

Anybody else see the headlines yesterday? Biden approved the use of US long range missiles for hitting deep into the Russian territory. And US just completed a missile base in Poland. I wonder when are the Russians going to strike back at these minions of the empire?

Posted by: War is Hell | Nov 18 2024 6:43 utc | 274

Joe Biden ‘wanders into the Amazon’ after delivering remarks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSH9TBNNtcY
§| President Biden became the first sitting US president to visit the Amazon rainforest on Sunday
§| Biden flew from Lima in Peru, to Manaus in Brazil, the largest city in the Amazon, to meet with local leaders working to preserve the rainforest.
§| Following his remarks, Biden was mocked after “wandering” off into the Amazon without taking questions from reporters.
“They just let Biden wander off into the Amazon jungle without any of his handlers following him,” A SomebodyNobody On X commented….
>… The same Biden. This confused, feeble, short circuiting puppet is credited with “approving” long range missiles into Russia

Posted by: Melaleuca | Nov 18 2024 7:03 utc | 276

Then, nuking Iran would be ‘acceptable’, “because Russia used one”.
Posted by: saner | Nov 18 2024 6:33 utc | 273
They don’t need any excuse to nuke Iran, Yemen or anyone else except NK, which is the only one that scares them. but Donbass and Crimea are “open for business”. Marty from Amerika, the expert in everything, answered to a question in a comment on his blog that a nuke or dirty bomb in Donbass won’t cause any reaction because Russia will not escalate.
So far there was simply no need to use nukes. Like there’s no need to send more “mercenaries” to Kursk, the local Ukro zombies are more than enough to take it and keep it. Nato reporters are freely playing there with no problems or danger. But Russian reporters were killed instantly in Kursk yesterday.
Russia and China are working hard to keep everyone outside Nato down by 50+ years of weapon technology, and all their weapons eventually end in Nato or Nato+ countries, like the S400. Unsurprisingly, all buyers must love Bibi or “no soup for you”.
And talking about soup, how is it going with the “great” strikes yesterday? Any village in the future Nato side of Ukr left without electricity for more than 2 hours? Anyone missed their favorite tv shows?

Posted by: rk | Nov 18 2024 7:50 utc | 278

Re: Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Nov 18 2024 0:16 utc | 194

It’s very hard to build a nuclear bomb, Kiev can’t and the USA will never give them any, they just took once sovereign France’s nukes away. There are no nuclear targets in Ukraine, nukes aren’t used to send a message, the targets if it gets to that will be NATO bases in eastern Europe, the provocation or response from the USA would be Kaliningrad or Crimea, something that will hopefully avoid a strategic response against the USA, but likely not as there are many Russians there and it is considered Russia. Eastern Europe is not America, or Europe to the elites in Brussels, so Russia might have a first strike advantage in terms of the low value placed by the west on Eastern Europe. The fact is Russia is the only country that actually gives a shit about the countries and people there, and their fate hangs in Russia’s good graces not in the USA and western Europe for which they are only pawns.
Not sure where it goes after that, meaning western Europe. Probably an instant cease fire and de facto recognition of Russia’s security interests after Eastern European NATO bases are all destroyed. And yes, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Baltics are incredibly stupid countries, every bit as stupid as 404. We are talking, get yourself first in line to get nuked, stupid.

You contradict yourself.
If Russia is the ONLY COUNTRY THAT ACTUALLY CARES about Eastern Europe then why would it send its nuclear weapons to strike Eastern Europe?!?
What a waste.
Much more likely Russia would retaliate against Western Europe – and especially the UK – the country that has been in prime position driving this entire conflict for its own ends.

Posted by: Julian | Nov 18 2024 8:14 utc | 280

@284
Would also ask that especially US and Britain are very sensitive to losing Himars systems, or in latter case Challenger tanks.
In 2 – 3 months US lost around 25 Himars systems in Kursk-Sumy region, and they would have most likely demanded AFU to use them more cautiously.
Now this news of striking Russia in Kursk with long range weapons is partially political, escalation attempt, and gas lighting western public, but partially also designed to hide inability and loss of long range strike ability.
The question really is what sort of SIGINT Nato can use to identify AD positions. Since Nato AWACS aren’t flying in Ukraine, they don’t have much ability to find critical AD positions in this area.

Posted by: unimperator | Nov 18 2024 8:23 utc | 282

Posted by: Sam | Nov 18 2024 1:10 utc | 209
Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 18 2024 0:07 utc | 193
Posted by: ANON2022 | Nov 18 2024 3:15 utc | 249
Posted by: Julian | Nov 18 2024 3:17 utc | 250
Nafo’s last stand. Excited about nothing. Cheering Genocide Joe’s latest brain fart. This is the level of panic and desperation of western elites. A shambles is NATO. Scholz on the phone to Putin. Erdogan cuts ties with Israel. Lap dogs Starmer and Macron yapping (how is Macron still running that country?). Biden proves himself the worst President of all time. What a legacy. Afghanistan, former Ukraine, Palestinian genocide.
Russia doesn’t have to escalate. Simply shut down Kursk NPP temporarily. As Putin has said retaliation will be at the discretion and to the advantage of Russian MoD.

Posted by: Lev Davidovich | Nov 18 2024 8:28 utc | 284

Moscow Stock Exchange dipped on the news about 1%, but levelling up nicely already.

Posted by: Poslan1 | Nov 18 2024 8:41 utc | 286

Posted by: Rutte | Nov 18 2024 1:35 utc | 219
I did, good catch. As they say lies need to be supported, the truth just needs to be released, it fights for itself.
Posted by: Kaj Jakobsson | Nov 18 2024 2:52 utc | 239
Go back and look at diary entries from German soldiers in the latter stage of the War, lots of optimism about the jet fighters, new tanks and V weapons turning the tide. If the strike area is limited to the Kursk region it could suggest this is simply the same morale boosting tactic. Strikes on the NPR station there would invite a retaliatory strike, whose target list is sitting on somebody’s hard drive already, that would make the initial action singularly pointless.
Operationally, Russia can do exactly what they did in WW2 and relocate critical industries and military installations beyond the strike ranges, accepting short-term disruption over long-term destruction, or escalate beyond the capabilities of Ukraine. Politically I’d think the phones in Mar a Lago are taken up with quite a few overseas calls, and Trump’s DS wrecking crew admin picks and leaks about court-martials for officers involved in the Afghanistan debacle, suggest the sword of accountability is being honed, which might make some (including those in the proxy’s CoC) reflect on their futures. IIRC, G. W. Bush deployed soldiers to Somalia, in the interregnum period, authorising an escalation against a Super-Power is a whole new nuclear football game.

Posted by: Milites | Nov 18 2024 8:44 utc | 288

Operationally, Russia can do exactly what they did in WW2 and relocate critical industries and military installations beyond the strike ranges, accepting short-term disruption over long-term destruction, or escalate beyond the capabilities of Ukraine.
Posted by: Milites | Nov 18 2024 8:44 utc | 291

They would not have done that in WW2 if they had the means to prevent it.
They have the means now, Putin is not using them. Why?
There are hundreds of thousands of internal refugees in Russia now as a result of NATO actions, nearly 100,000 dead soldiers, who knows how many more maimed for life. Those people don’t matter?
Plus all the physical destruction. And the hundreds of thousands of dead and crippled on the other side, who are mostly ethnically Russian people too.
When you account for all of it, the damage already reaches the level of a fair few Hiroshima-sized bombs.
All of that because Putin couldn’t be bothered to rise up to the level of what history required of him back in 2014 and instead prioritized Gazprom’s interests (and even essentially delegated the Minsk negotiations to them), then followed it up with an even more massive such failure in 2022 and ever since.

Posted by: ANON2022 | Nov 18 2024 9:18 utc | 290

Julian @ 282

You contradict yourself. If Russia is the ONLY COUNTRY THAT ACTUALLY CARES about Eastern Europe then why would it send its nuclear weapons to strike Eastern Europe?!?

Because Russia can’t tactically get USA/NATO bases out of western Europe without the risk of a strategic USA response, not to mention a massive use of nukes, but it can out of eastern Europe. Nuking Rammstein doesn’t help Russia tactically, only endangers it strategically and nuking Paris or London is not a tactical option. The USA is very certain that in the upcoming brinksmanship sane Russia will back down.
That’s the reason for the 10ys of provocations and escalation, they gamed it out and are totally certain that Russia or at least Putin will back down, choose a “Peace With Honor” and “Vassalage With Honor” face saving way out that has also been well planned out, full of shiny trinkets and beads, and privileges for its leadership, and at the critical moment ready to be presented.
They might be right, for myself I think Putin is the least likely world leader to use nukes, Xi also, but I think he is less powerful than Putin, which is why they are pushing Putin to that point. The USA has already used nukes, and exclusively against civilians, they don’t even think tactically, like they punish and lay waste with conventional weapons they will use nukes to punish and lay waste.
Ahenobarbus @ 202

You guys are unusually bullish on Ukraine’s prospects.

I’m in doom and gloom mode, seems crunch time is here, someone’s bluff is about to be called. Not at all bullish on Ukraine just: UKR loss = NATO loss = USA loss. USA and the 300 year Anglo-colonial-corporate-global-MIC-capital-empire it’s the center of is not going to lose an existential lucha libre death match – and if intent wasn’t enough, it’s run by clowns.

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Nov 18 2024 9:43 utc | 292

On Way Out, Reckless Biden Allows Deep Russia Strikes
https://consortiumnews.com/2024/11/17/on-way-out-reckless-biden-allows-deep-russia-strikes/
“Who knows where it goes from there. Thanks, Joe.”

Posted by: John Gilberts | Nov 18 2024 10:12 utc | 294

Due to Trump…
Panic at DoJ and FBI:
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/doj-fbi-officials-reach-lawyers-potential-trump-revenge-prosecutions-l-rcna179737
Panic at Pentagon:
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/11/14/exclusive-pentagon-scrambling-wiping-evidence-dei-trump-readies-fire-woke-generals/
The last time US threatened “Ukrainian” Long-Range Missile strikes, I believe it was the saner heads at the DoD who backed down (supposedly Russia contacted them with a list of targets against which Russia would retaliate if struck by long range missiles).
It seems to me that we can no longer rely on the DoD to be the “adults” on the US/NATO team, now that Trump is preparing marching orders, courts martial, and firings.
So assume a bunch of Long-Range Missiles hit targets deep in Russia. “Assume” that Russia somehow does NOT overwhelmingly counter-strike.
I expect at a minimum a massive “roosky” counterstrike … in reality a false-flag attack on US soil blamed on the Russians. Because the panicking Deep State critters love symbolism, it seems appropriate that this will happen the day after Thanksgiving: a day known in US as “Black Friday” (November 29, 2024).
Expect Martial-Law to be declared after the false-flag attacks. Martial-Law intent is a “hail-mary” attempt at anything to stop Trump from being inaugurated. Not really a legal move, but Generals who might otherwise be prosecuted/fired may not care at this point. And if you think that “legality” is a concern, you haven’t been watching the Deep-State vs Trump show for the last 9 years.
It’s been nice reading most of your comments.

Posted by: retroflecks | Nov 18 2024 10:33 utc | 296

Posted by: Rutte | Nov 18 2024 1:22 utc | 215
Posted by: Rutte | Nov 18 2024 1:35 utc | 219
Interesting about the translation. I stuck the print-screen into ChatGPT to translate it. Which it appears, given there is only one small part you disagree with, it did a reasonable job with the rest of it.

Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 18 2024 11:02 utc | 298

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Nov 18 2024 0:16 utc | 194 ” they just took once sovereign France’s nukes away”
How did they do that? And do the French know this?

Posted by: Ed4 | Nov 18 2024 11:21 utc | 300