Posted on 08/29/2022 4:54:22 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111
The Russian defense industry has some struggles ahead. Despite claims of self-sufficiency, it turns out that Russian industry needs Western components and Western support. One of the most autarkic industries in one of the world’s most autarkic economies is suffering from supply shortages because of sanctions. Does this mean that autarky in the defense sphere becomes impossible? If so, what does that mean for the pursuit of security for modern states?
Theoretically, states should carefully guard the chains that supply their defense industrial bases with goods, as a loss of access to global markets (or even to specific suppliers) could prove catastrophic in times of war. Most variants of realism suggest that a state will, if it can, reduce vulnerability by internalizing as much of its defense industry as possible. Of course this is not possible for every state; some must rely in part or in whole on the defense industry that it can borrow or buy. But great powers especially should try to be as autonomous as possible in defense.
(Excerpt) Read more at 19fortyfive.com ...
A Good Explanation...
... of one of the reasons for a severe butt-hurt of the West—it cannot fight Russia because its best proxy in history, armed and C4ISRed by allegedly “finest fighting force in history” got its ass handed to it.
https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com/2022/08/a-good-explanation.html?m=1
They know it, and all those people cannot take it. Can you imagine Ben Hodges or Keane with Petraeus commanding formations which will be cut off largely from communications, will be under constant fire impact, sustaining constant heavy losses even in the operational depth, and having virtually no ISR? I can not. They don’t know how to do it—it is a whole generation of “leaders” who can fight only some third world military formations, and even there it cannot win.
Take a look at these screenshots of Tim Bakken’s book:
[screen captures at link]
Officer candidates who have academic abilities lower than those required from the lowest category for... enlisted? I am on record for more than 10 years—the danger of the US is not in her military, grossly exaggerated, might but in its increasing military weakness.
P.S. Per satellites. Russia can take out pretty much whole US intel satellite constellation and jam GPS entirely, but physical annihilation of the satellites is an act of war. So, for now at least, it is not an option.
Russia’s stockpiles are immense. They are fielding 10 to 50 to 1 advantages in aircraft, missiles, and artillery, for example, and lots of inventory still to go.
So far the “allies’” weapons supplies’ quantities to Ukraine have been pathetic. 16 HIMARS launchers to date? 160 would be more like it. NO aircraft. Freaking unbelievable.
Our officers and soldiers in the field generally do very well against their opponents, if not encumbered by ridiculous ROE, etc. It is the upper echelons and even more so our political leadership that loses us wars.
That was true in the past. Not now.
Now, the military embraces “woke” values far above merit.
Today’s “woke-trans-LGBTQ+” 2nd LT did not earn a commission on “xis or xir” merit. And today’s most woke LTs will be early-promoted to become the field grade officers of tomorrow, and then our general officers.
Meanwhile, the hard-charging White heterosexual male officer candidate must sit through anti-white “struggle sessions.” No wonder the military can’t recruit them. What White traditional male wants to endure that abuse, and also stand last on every promotion list, based on his skin color, etc?
So now the military is commissioning OFFICERS who are as dumb as the dumbest quartile of eligible ENLISTED recruits.
God help us if we get into a real shooting war against a peer enemy, and not a drone war vs sandal-wearing goat-effers, where we control the air and the electronic spectrum 100%.
I’ve got to wonder how many MiG and Su aircraft are mothballed at the boneyard?
When were the soldiers faced with anyone capable to adjust a sight on the rifle last time?
A Category IV seems to be the %tile of 10-30. That is basically a score for the retarded.
In 1997, the ASVAB was reengineered to to allow less educated and dumber applicants to be accepted. The resulting scores were about 5% lower between the 1980 baseline and the new 1997 scorings but the armed forces could then lower the qualifications claiming recruiting levels were not met. The new 1997 test questions came with adjustments to the scoring calculations, which are a complex set of weighted stat equations and not a direct percentage scoring of right answers.
The goal of the 1997 ASVAB reengineering was to social engineer blacks and Hispanics (their own words) to pass the ASVAB. The new test questions included phrasing questions in such a way as to allow those lesser educated demographics to understand the questions. The scoring calculations were also adjusted to weight those questions differently.
The academies also suffered under this new scoring. I turned down the USAFA in 1983 because I thought the school was a second rate education. I was wrong. It was third rate. I'm not sure the academy even expels poor performing students. I know students carrying a C- GPA (and that's with grade inflation) who are not bounced out. I know professors there that wish they could flunk out students but they cannot.
If you want to know all the math and science behind the 1997 ASVAB changes from the 1980 standards, download the PDF.
Maybe Russia can't produce computer chips or other high tech items that can compete with those made in places like Taiwan in times of peace, but if they have to produce acceptable computer chips, etc. in times of war for themselves then that's all they need to do.
*MAGA First/Anti-War/Anti-Globalist Ping*
If you want on or off this list, please let me know.
Oh really?
Let me know when the Ukrainians, the EU, NATO, and the US, for that matter, can drop 60,000-70,000 artillery shells in 24 hours and do it for 6 days straight?
K? Thx.
Oh wait, my bad. Correction: let me know when the West/UK/EU/US/NATO/Ukraine can drop 6500+ artillery shells per day for 6 days straight.
‘A Ukrainian’s Letter from the Front’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94RYVNg9bfA
You can say they are anarchronistic, but you need them to have a decent guitar amp.
I own a Russian rifle made in the late 1800s. Now, admittedly it was donated to the Finnish Armory by a dead Russian, and then re-barreled in 1970 by Sako, so it's not surprising it is so accurate, probably more accurate than the original configuration, but still here is a 125 year old weapon that still functions flawlessly.
The US has always had a problem finding the right general to command a successful war. We stumble around, putting a McClellan such in command but eventually find our Grant. Someone who knows how to win and is able to convey those thoughts into action.
That takes time. Modern warfare, against a near pear, might not allow that time.
If we are putting weak men into positions of power (some compromised by political ideology or academics), when we finally find the general to win a war... that war might be over with.
Absolutely true. In the next kinetic WW, we won’t have years of even months to sort out the McClellans from the Grants.
It will be decided in days to weeks, with folks like “White Rate Milley” making the critical decisions.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.