"The 1980's are calling to ask for their foreign policy back."

What I meant was a war of attrition where two reasonably evenly matched armies attempt to wear each other down over a long period by exhausting one anothers supply of men or material. Like in World War I. The Soviet-Afghan war was much more asymetric. For it to be analagous, the Russians would need to conquer Ukraine but then get bogged down with guerilla fighting eventually forcing them to leave.

Also on this, I'll note that from Putin's point-of-view it probably pays to wait things out until the increasingly likely return of Donald Trump. He will get more favourable terms at that point than now. (And probably more favourable ones now than would have been available last year - so this really is a serious strategic fuckup.)

Uh,…no, not quite.

https://kyivindependent.com/despite...ng-economic-benefits-particularly-red-states/

https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-sabotage-moscow-oblast-railway-line/

Look at me, I'm a freethinking skeptic and a libertarian!

That's why I eagerly swallow any line of bullshit that gets fed to me by a dictator.

Argentina won't join BRICS as scheduled, says member of Milei's transition team

A couple of days or so ago, I saw a number of people on social media asking why various European governments were posting advice on when to take iodine pills. The IAEA posted this today.

I read that as Update 200 - IKEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

https://x.com/victoriaslog/status/1731431836461441433?s=46&t=iYW3foyqIA6Tn8VWwn3nwQ

Air Force downs Russian Su-24M bomber near Snake Island

Looks like Ukraine is opening another front - attacks on Russian oil lines to Siberia. There's 4 primary oil lines that head to the East to China. One of them is down now. This is 4000 miles east of Moscow. It's almost impossible to protect that entire line. When the first attack was successful, the Russians used the altnernate line - which was also attacked.

Cutting off Russian oil exports to the East, as most of it now goes to China, with a small amount of it sent to Vladivostok to be shipped overseas - that's a bigger threat to the Russian petrostate economy than the sanctions have been.

And there's real question of what technical proficiency is left in Russia, and how quickly they can get teams to Siberia, as virtually all of their competent groups are already engaged in trying to keep logistics flowing to the Ukraine War.

If Ukraine can follow this up with more attacks this could be a major issue for Russia.

How it started/How it's going

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-67631224

Classic Romney.

Democrats won’t have an up or down spending vote, it’s always got to be tied to something else.

Okay, but Mittens just demanded these two things be tied together. Is Mittens a Democrat now?

Democrat Derangement Syndrome must be spreading like wildfire in the old Confederacy.

Well basically. Definitely a RINO.

i.e. "doesn't vote lockstep with the MAGAites"

As a bargaining chip, Schumer offered Republicans a zero-conditions amendment to the bill to allow for a vote on whatever immigration or border enforcement policy they wanted. “This is a golden opportunity for Republicans to present whatever border policy they want, and our side will not interfere with the construction of that amendment in any way,” Schumer said during his floor remarks on Wednesday. Unfortunately, this grand gesture to the minority didn’t change the outcome of the vote on the supplement. It only served as one more reminder of the current reality: that Republicans are not acting in good faith.

Russia’s Latest Disinformation Tactic Exploits American Celebrities

"Republican leaders to Ukraine: Drop Dead."

Poland turns to closer ties with the EU as it's right wing nationalist PM loses a confidence vote. A former EU commissioner Donald Tusk is now going to be prime minister.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/all-eyes-polish-parliament-tusk-set-become-pm-2023-12-11/

All I can think of is Donald Trump as a walrus.

Goo goo g'joob

Russia keeps probing Ireland as they see it as the weak link in the UK's defense system.

Ireland only has 2 naval vessels - and neither one of them is equipped with sonar.

The irony that Ireland is completely dependent on the UK for defense is palpable.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41288176.html

Russian submarine 'chased' from Cork Harbour by British navy
Military insiders say the Russians are probing British defence systems as they realise the UK is vulnerable on its western flank because the Irish navy has no sonar capabilities

How can you not have sonar on a naval vessel?! That's Canadian Navy type shit

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/12/12/7432737/

You'd think this is the sort of thing Republicans would be clamouring to fund.

I may be guessing a bit here, but quite possibly the Department of Defence didn't want combat-capable warships docked in harbours that might have an IRA presence?

Note that the dates in which the ships weren't upgraded to replace obsolete sonar coincide with the Troubles.

After that? Well, the British Navy will protect Ireland! Don't go thinking your EU pals will do it, you fucking Micks*.

*: Dad was Irish-Cockney.

That's not it. They're just cheapskates.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/us/politics/russia-intelligence-assessment.html

https://kyivindependent.com/tusk-poland-will-demand-full-mobilization-of-west-to-help-ukraine/