Invasion of Ukraine by Russia and War

[Titan]

Nice, a few months ago when there was a lot of talk about Ireland investing
a lot more in their forces, was this the plane they were talking about being suitable
for a country like Ireland?

[Cold]

While I think Ireland has plenty of other problems to deal with, there is really nothing like having an Air Force and watching these bad boys fly out in formation over the Baltic. There's going to be a lot of that over the next few days.

[hi-rev]

Nice, a few months ago when there was a lot of talk about Ireland investing
a lot more in their forces, was this the plane they were talking about being suitable
for a country like Ireland?

Good, fast air superiority fighters with lots of anti ship armaments. Just what you need for a coastal or island nation.
Plus, it is (was!) from a neutral country, which was good politically.

[Cold]

I’m not exactly sure why but Saab is very positive towards NATO membership. It must take out some sales friction. Perhaps they feel they can make the point that if Sweden will lead the defence of the Baltics then integration with Swedish capabilities is important and maybe Sweden will put in some conditions in the application. I’m sure there is a money element in all of this.

[hi-rev]

I guess its because being in NATO allows the various companies to use NATO integrated data links, which allows for better sales within NATO.
It probably has no bearing in actual fact, but one of the reason why US gear has found so many recipients inside NATO is/was that it was made to follow the NATO instruments, weapon systems, comms etc. standards.
At least the argument that was floated whenever an eastern European country bought F16s instead of Grippens was "but it fits NATO standard weapons"

[Cold]

I never got the impression it’s a technical issue, more around the overall package nudge nudge wink wink that the US can offer. Eg when the going gets tough, wouldn’t it be nice if we had a nice smooth relationship so we’ll prioritise you with assistance? And we’ll look into those visa issues you were mentioning etc.

[markcro]

Renault has sold its Moscow plant that made Lada to Russia

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61463874

It seems they didn't get much choice in the matter, taking a 2.2 Billion hit
in the process.
They have up to six years to buy it back though, I presume only if Russia stops
invading countries in the meantime.

Edit: MaccyD's are also selling up and bugging out of there.

I wonder did they keep any of the Renault tech? From the end of this year, the plan was that new Ladas would be rebadged Dacias.

[Ming]

Thinks keep going well for Russia on day is it 82? of Mr. Putin's three day war:

American howitzers at work:

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status...w-mSmAbCZ9ZKCg

And having earned the NATO salesman of the year award for getting Sweden and Finland to apply to join, and now having effectively had to accept that he can do nothing at all about it, he may, hilariously, also achieve the awkwardly combined hubris and pathos ridden achievement of getting Switzerland to join:

https://www.reuters.com/news/picture...-idUSKCN2N106F

Napoleon and Hitler possibly made strategic decisions as disastrous as his. They were invading someone bigger though.

[Cold]

A semi interesting thing that’s happening is that pro war commentators in Russia have started to talk about that disastrous river crossing that wiped out like a thousand Russians and all their equipment. This is the first time actual failings have been highlighted. I wonder if this is Putin’s way out: it’s not my fault, my strategy was sound, but look at what I have to work with.

[Ming]

And this is interesting also, first mainstream how we f***ed up and why it is inevitably going to get worse analysis on TV in Russia:

https://twitter.com/PhillipsPOBrien/...w-mSmAbCZ9ZKCg

[miller]

I wonder did they keep any of the Renault tech? From the end of this year, the plan was that new Ladas would be rebadged Dacias.

Id say they may be glad to be rid of the Renault tech

[hi-rev]

So apparently, the disastrous river crossing was Putin's own fault.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...ling-hdpjhh0bz

..that's not going to go down well in Russia if the consequences of it have first been revealed in the Russian media, and then the Russians get wind of it being directed by Putin.

There had already been a shift in Russian propaganda from "we will take all of Ukraine" in early March to now Putin talking of Stalingrad and Leningrad battles (both protracted, bloody defensive battles). Perhaps the war will soon be moved slowly into the background in order to hide and forget it, when the inevitable defeat comes.

[Ming]

Brace for impact: In Russia, permission has been granted to make cars without airbags, ABS and ESP after all foreign manufacturers quit the market


https://twitter.com/jason_corcoran/s...w-mSmAbCZ9ZKCg

Would you take an internal flight in Russia?

[injeejay]

Interesting video Ming (the one with the military analyst). You’d have to feel that the time for Putin to deescalate the situation and claim some kind of “mission accomplished” is rapidly running out. I think it is now “NATO not NATO” who has pushed the bayonet in and found more mush than steel. The initial fears of being drawn into a large scale war seem to be diminishing given the dialing up of arms support and rhetoric, and new members. You would have to imagine that their intelligence is telling them Russia has zero appetite for NATO confrontation and is possibly looking for some way out before Ukraine kicks them out. Peace talks with NATO has a better ring to it than peace talks with Ukraine.

[Titan]

And this is interesting also, first mainstream how we f***ed up and why it is inevitably going to get worse analysis on TV in Russia:

https://twitter.com/PhillipsPOBrien/...w-mSmAbCZ9ZKCg

Now that's something I didnt think I'd see or was even possible considering the climate of fear that Putin has brought in.

I dont know who that man was but will he be the first to put a small crack in Putins walls of lies and start bringing a bit of reality to the Russian people?

Isn't that one of the most popular and highest rating propaganda talk shows in Russia?
The presenter is on a lot of sanction lists as well so she is well in with pushing Putins lies.