TheOldGuy @TheOldGuy@qoto.org
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian Z fascist invaders.
I am a 73 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2992. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
What does kamikaze literally mean?
Divine, Wind 💨
The name, Kamikaze, means Heavenly, or Divine, Wind.
The name was resurrected from Japanese history stemming from the 16th Century tale of a Mongol emperor whose fleet was sunk or turned by "the gods" who sent a heavenly wind.
A suicide bombing tactic used by the Empire of Japan during World War II, in which a pilot would deliberately crash an explosives-laden plane into an enemy warship.
Now we have these amazing un manned massive Kamikaze drones.
Ukraine has in recent months demonstrated a remarkable capacity to manufacture drones, particularly first-person-view (FPV) variants, which are guided by a user wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset. Such munitions are used to devastating effect in frontline combat, often compensating for Ukraine’s near-constant shortfall in conventional artillery ammunition.
From January to February 2024, the Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries claimed that FPV production totalled a staggering 200,000. To avoid targeting by Russian strikes, a small army of dispersed volunteers, supported through online resources such as Telegram channels and even instructional courses on Zoom, is producing drones from small and discreet warehouses, converted barns, cellars, or even their living rooms.
🇺🇦@ukraine_report 🇺🇦🔱 Liz
World's Richest Politician Putin Is Worth $200 Billion, he owns A $700 Million Jet.
Updated: January 21, 2024
Even though Vladimir Putin officially claims an annual salary of $140,000, the Russian President's reported net worth and lifestyle tell a different tale.
While Putin acknowledges ownership of an 800-square-foot apartment, a trailer, and three cars, persistent rumours suggest a more extravagant reality. Reports suggest that Putin's personal wealth stood at a staggering $200 billion. Such claims, originating from a major investor in Russia during the 1990s, continue to circulate and add layers to the mystery surrounding Putin's finances.
The most iconic symbol of Putin's alleged wealth is the Black Sea mansion, often dubbed "Putin's Country Cottage." Despite conflicting statements, the property, perched atop a cliff, is said to boast a marble swimming pool adorned with statues of Greek gods, an amphitheater, a state-of-the-art ice hockey rink, a Vegas-style casino, and even a nightclub.
The mansion's luxurious interior includes dining room furniture valued at $500,000, a bar table worth $54,000, and decked-out bathrooms featuring Italian toilet brushes priced at $850 and toilet paper holders at $1,250. Maintaining this grandeur requires an annual expenditure of $2 million by a 40-person staff, according to Fortune.
Adding to the list of Putin's extravagances are reports of 19 other houses, 700 cars, 58 aircraft and helicopters, and a $716 million plane humorously named "The Flying Kremlin."
The president's alleged ownership of a mega yacht named Scheherazade, worth a staggering $700 million, further fuels speculation about the extent of his wealth.
Putin's collection of luxury watches, including the Patek Philippe Perpetual
Calendar valued at $60,000 and a $500,000 A. Lange & Sohne Tourbograph, adds another layer of extravagance to his reported lifestyle.
These watches alone cost six times his officially declared annual salary.
Source
🇺🇦@ukraine_report 🇺🇦🔱
US to open a plant in Australia to produce long-range guided missiles for HIMARS for Ukraine's needs — Wall Street Journal.
Lockheed Martin reportedly plans to hire six Australian engineers to prepare and launch production. The decision was made because the US defense industry cannot meet both its own demand and quickly replenish missiles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"Rapid consumption of ammunition in Ukraine and the Middle East has undermined the ability of the US industrial base to meet demand and replenish depleted stockpiles. The Biden administration is trying to establish several production lines in allied countries for critical weapons, though it is not easy," the WSJ writes.
Australian officials note that the first batch of 12 GMLRS missiles is scheduled to be tested in late 2025, and by 2030 the country expects to produce thousands of munitions annually. The plan may be hampered by a lack of personnel, transportation difficulties, and a shortage of components needed for production.
The missiles are to be manufactured at a military base on the outskirts of Sydney. The publication emphasizes that this is the first plant for the production of such weapons opened outside the United States.
Lockheed Martin's GMLRS missiles are equipped with a satellite guidance system and can hit targets up to 80 km away.
From "The Analyst":
NUKES IN BELARUS, FRENCH IN ODESA, LIBERATION FORCES IN RUSSIA
President Putin’s upcoming automated re-election has inspired a great deal of external tinkering. The liberation brigades once again are making a huge splash in the border zones, which the Russians are far from containing even though they eventually will force a withdrawal that we all know is already planned. The mayhem it causes while it’s happening is entirely the point of the operation.
France has approved the security agreement with Ukraine and is now seriously talking of sending troops to Odesa within a year. The point of this is to internationalise the port to allow grain exports to continue by sea without the relentless attacks by Russian drones - many nations - most of them in Africa depend on that grain and it’s about securing that export chain.
It also has another point. Moldovan politicians are either pro Russian or pro western and Russian interference in the country has been relentless.
This has been largely due to its previous interference and effective occupation of the slither of territory known as Transnistria. Their troops are still there, mostly garrisoning a huge weapons depot that sits right on the Ukraine border.
They have been stuck there since the war began unable to leave or be rotated. Moldovan opposition leaders have recently been to Moscow begging for help. There have even been rumours that Russia would mount an airborne assault on Moldova from Crimea - but that’s verging on the ludicrous - Moldova is under constant NATO AWACS surveillance and NATO air forces patrol very close by. And the Ukrainians would know and they wouldn’t stand by and let it happen.
Besides which the Russian VDV is not what it was! And the Air Force is hardly in a position to mount such an operation.
Putin’s growing frustrations over military failings to advance at the pace he expected, despite almost unlimited resources but also at huge cost, the stepping up of European leadership to the point where France especially is prepared to act it seems, has thrown him off balance. This was not expected.
Add to that the massive NATO exercise in Scandinavia and the Baltic, in the middle of which Sweden joins the NATO alliance having been neutral for over 200 years - all because of him and what he’s done - and the pressure has clearly gotten to him.
He faces a set of challenges he has never predicted. Europe has seen the light. And it’s not backing down despite the disinformation campaigns. If anything it’s in spite of them. Equal and opposite reactions come to mind.
So what does he do? He orders tactical nuclear weapons into Belarus in full view. More nuclear threats.
Because that’s all he has left.
Now don’t get me wrong, if pushed way too far he would use them. But he’s nowhere near at that point yet and he knows the consequences would be severe, if not crippling. Even the Chinese and certainly India would be racing for the exits. In many ways the threats over nuclear use exacerbate the facts over how weak Russian conventional forces outside of Ukraine are. Everything is tied up in this war, there’s nothing left to fight anyone except perhaps at sea.
Nuclear threats are a weakness, a
‘Tell’ that no poker player should give out so easily.
When you invade someone and get it wrong and you then dig in thinking time is on your side, you have to be ironclad in your resolve, making silly nuclear threats every other week shows you lack confidence. It shows that you think your enemies think you have become weak and you need to remind them you have a means of reaching them anywhere. Well they can reach you too. And don’t you forget it. Which is why your threats can be ignored. Nothing has happened to justify nuclear use, not even in Russian terms, though some undoubtedly think otherwise in the Kremlin’s darker depths.
Putin put himself in this position.
Putin can get himself out of it. If not, the collective west will do its best to assist him out of Ukraine’s land.
Because clearly that’s the only solution - his own failure will bring him down.
Jack Smith had a close encounter with Trump.
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/jack-smiths-close-encounter/55032/
From now onward, when I think of North Carolina, I am going to be hearing banjo music in my mind.
I https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/its-a-pandemic-of-lunacy/55026/
Zelenskyi's evening speech
--
Today, I had the opportunity to thank the employees of our defense industry - people who have dedicated their lives to the Ukrainian army. They make our weapons that prove themselves at the front, at sea, in air strikes against the Russian system of war. Thank you for Ukrainian shells, guns, drones, our missiles, our electronic warfare systems - for everything that helps our soldiers fight and saves lives of Ukraine and Ukrainians.
There will be even more of our weapons, shells, drones, and electronic warfare systems. Today I met with employees of one of these defense companies. We don't talk about this officially. Now, in times of war, we cannot openly show everything we can really do. After the war, of course, we will express our gratitude openly. These are people who have found a way to make our state stronger. Significantly. And every day we accumulate more and more of this strength. Such a necessary force - such a long-range force of ours. 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦
🔥 "The three facilities hit by Ukrainian drones in the past two days account for about 10% of Russia’s oil-processing capacity" - Bloomberg
The strike on Rosneft’s refinery in Ryazan about 200 km (124 miles) southeast of Moscow was on a facility that has a capacity of 17.1 million tons a year, or around 340,000 barrels/day.
It is a major supplier of motor fuels for Russian regions around the capital. It’s the second casualty of Ukrainian strikes that have damaged facilities accounting for more than 10% of Russia’s oil-processing capacity in the past two days.
Later on Wednesday, the independent Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia’s southern Rostov region halted operations after a drone strike, regional governor Golubev said, while giving no details of any damage. The facility has a capacity of 5.6 million tons per year, or around 112,000 barrels a day.
The latest wave of attacks that started Tuesday damaged a unit of Lukoil PJSC’s Norsi refinery in Nizhny Novgorod and hit an oil depot in the Oryol region.
Ukrainian drones also repeatedly targeted Surgutneftegas PJSC’s major export-focused Kinef refinery in Kirishi, on the Baltic coast, according to Leningrad region Governor Drozdenko.
The strikes on oil facilities aim to disrupt Russia’s exports and fuel supplies to the Russian army on the front lines.
“We are fighting everything that finances Russia’s army and the war,” Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy’s chief of staff said, after Russian air strikes killed and injured civilians in three cities overnight. “Russia is fighting civilians and apartment blocks.”
Oil prices rose more than 2% on Wednesday amid signs of tightening supply, including declining US inventories and continued drone attacks on Russian refineries.
“Not only are crude oil prices rising, but [the attacks] will also curtail Russian diesel exports and perhaps turn them into a gasoline importer. Russian customers need to seek alternative supplies, and Russia needs to buy from the world market,” said Andy Lipow of Lipow Oil Associates on Wednesday.
US House minority leader Jeffries pressures Johnson to bring up Ukraine aid for vote next week
“The clock is ticking, and we have to get the bipartisan national security bill over the finish line before we leave town next Friday, March 22 — before we leave town,” Jeffries said Wednesday during a press briefing in the Capitol. “It’s reckless to do otherwise.”
Several prominent GOP committee heads have also stressed the importance of providing more military help to Kyiv amid recent Russian advances.
And on Tuesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda met with congressional leaders, including Johnson, to deliver warnings that a Russian victory in Ukraine would put Poland in the crosshairs next.
Jeffries on Wednesday was quick to highlight Duda’s message, warning that a Russian invasion of a NATO ally would likely accelerate U.S. involvement, putting American troops in harm’s way.
“We cannot allow Ukraine to be overrun by Russia, because what will happen is that American lives are likely to be on the line — unless we were to believe that if Putin wins in Ukraine, he stops there, when he didn’t stop in Georgia, and he didn’t stop in Crimea,” Jeffries said.
In an attempt to break the deadlock, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) this week launched a discharge petition designed to force a vote on the Senate Ukraine bill over the objections of Johnson and his leadership team.
The discharge petition was launched on Tuesday and Jeffries noted that it has already attracted almost 180 signatures, of 218 needed.
Democrats struggle to get all 213 of their members to sign the petition given progressives' opposition to Israel aid.
"I'm not going to sign a discharge petition with Israel aid, that's my problem," Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told Axios.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), asked whether she will sign on, told Axios, "I don't believe so right now."
TOP NEWS TODAY 🇺🇦🦅
🔥 Ukraine attacked three oil refineries with drones: in Ryazan, Kstovo and Kirishi.
🦅 At night, UAVs attack Voronezh, Kursk, Leningrad, Belgorod and Bryansk regions.
💥 UAVs attacked the Russian Air Force airbase in Buturlinovka and military airfield in Voronezh.
🇺🇸 The new assistance package also includes shorter-range ATACMS missiles, - WSJ
⚡ "We will inflict losses on Russia, they will feel the losses", - Zelensky
🇫🇷 On Thursday, Macron will address the nation and touch on the situation in Ukraine.
🇺🇦 Ukraine plans to mobilize 500.000 people, 330.000 will replace military on the front line.
😮 Legion "Freedom of Russia" intends to eventually march on Moscow, - Newsweek
🚀 Ukraine has been pushing the Pentagon to provide long-range ATACMS (180 miles), - WSJ
✅ EU ambassadors give green light to a 5 billion euro top up for arms purchases for Ukraine.
Goodbye Peter. Won't miss you
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/goodbye-peter-navarro/55037/
LLC "Ukrainian Armored Technology" has successfully completed testing of the 10-seater specialized armored vehicle "Novator" equipped with the domestically produced combat remote-controlled module "TAVRIA-14.5".
The "TAVRIA-14.5" combat remote-controlled uninhabited turret features a 14.5 mm caliber machine gun (KPVT) with a 200-round ammunition capacity. It utilizes the latest and unique weapon control system, including a high-quality stabilization system, enabling target acquisition, tracking, and precise firing at moving enemy targets. Equipped with an optical-electronic module, the "TAVRIA-14.5" can detect targets at distances exceeding 5 kilometers, both day and night.
The armor protection level meets NATO standards — STANAG 1, ensuring adequate protection for the body, optical-electronic module, and weapon control system blocks.
☠️ Joint appeal of the Russian Volunteer Corps, the Russian Freedom Legion and the Siberian Battalion to the governors of Kursk and Belgorod regions Roman Starovoit and Vyacheslav Gladkov.
The liberation of the Russian regions from the Kremlin terrorist regime continues in these minutes. Massive strikes are now being launched against Putin's forces in the Belgorod and Kursk regions.
We call on the authorized persons of these regions, first of all the governor of Kursk region Roman Starovoit and the governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov, to immediately announce evacuation from the entire territory of the aforementioned regions and evacuate civilians without delay.
Civilians should not suffer from the war, and any casualties in the process of fighting will be on the conscience of Starovoit and Gladkov.
We demand from the governors to stop following the criminal orders of the Kremlin regime and not to prevent the evacuation of civilians from the combat zone, who themselves have already decided to leave their homes and save the lives of their families.
The operation to liberate the Kursk and Belgorod regions will continue until all the set goals are achieved. Victory will be ours!
The races where we can make a difference
Judge Cannon shot down Trump because she had no choice
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/judge-aileen-cannon-just-shot-down-donald-trump-big-time/55024/
I am a Democrat who supports Ukraine in their battle against The Russian Z fascist invaders.
I am a 73 year old Covid hermit who
lives on 10 acres in a sparsely populated area of the Ozarks. I heat with wood that is leftover by the lumber industry. When cutting oak for lumber only the trunk is used.
The largest town is population 2992. The county is 13k people scattered over 713 square miles.
Joined Dec 2022
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