Every day lately we hear reports that Ukraine is running short of warm bodies to throw into their Spring-Summer-Fall offensive that never seems to go anywhere. American Neocons say it’s all a big success, because Americans aren’t dying in Ukraine—not in large numbers, anyway—so it’s all gravy for us if the Ukrainians manage to kill some Russians or destroy some Russian equipment. America will fight to the last Ukrainian, but when will that happen?
Another is equipment. Ukrainian military equipment is being destroyed faster than the West can build it. And the built up stock the West had has been mostly used up. And the remaining tanks are probably at 50% readiness, at best.
Good point. With the supply chain disruptions from the Covid scamdemic the scarcity of materials for manufacturing have lead times often up to a year at least in the tech sector which is an important aspect of modern weapons.
I think it’s deeper than that, at least in the us.
The military lines seem to be set up as boutique assembly lines. So the through put is not there. Our entire years patriot production capacity is shot in the Ukraine in a few days. A years 155 shell productions in our 1 factory, that needs national park permission to modify since at a historical site, is a months usage by the Ukraine,
Under Clinton there was a huge consolidation of defense manufacturers. So now you have little competition, and less capacity.
Old technology, especially electronics and chips. It’s too painful/ costly to get new technology replacements certified.
Procurement that will close assembly lines. A big batch is bought, and then line closes due to no more sales. F-22 we can’t make any more. Russia would keep the assembly lines open, with a low level of production so it could be ramped up.
Lack of innovation. Cdr salamander blames Nichols Goldwater for this. Along with forced jointness. Procurement system is broken. We still don’t have a deployed hyper sonic weapon system. Our land based ecm is a generation behind. Missile defense is more narrative (patriot), than capability. Our drones cost 10x, and do less (Dji).
Per col mcgregor our new equipment is still cold war designs. Huge lack of innovation. His example was the m1 tank engine based on an aircraft’s engine that runs super hot (easy to spot), and is a fuel guzzler. It should be replaced with a diesel. Cold War era weopon, that has received minor updates.
Lots of the Wests industrial capacity has moved to China. It saved money…. Unfortunately this causes issues when trying to increase production.
And production locations are based on politics. The winner is who has manufacturing located in more congressional districts, not the best product.
The us is not set up for an industrial war. We can only support low intensity wars, or a short high intensity war. We don’t have the sticks or industrial capacity.
And there is the huge corruption issue of top military retiring into high paying defense industry jobs.
Equipment losses are simply banked future MIC (Military Industrial Complex) income. We send away American manufactured arms (often to both sides of conflicts) that often wind up on entirely different battlefields. More future income and more future battles to supply said equipment into, often in opposition to our own stuff.
The lives lost number is huge: the consequences yet to be realized will be decades being revealed. The present count of lives effected, nay afflicted, is beyond calculation. The price of those effects is incalculable. I've lost a cousin in Combat - 55 years ago - who's loss still hurts. And, sadly, I'd always thought for a 'just cause'. Less belief today in that just cause just tears off the scab of a wound that will not heal. Imagine the exponential similar pains from a war that very possibly has 5 times the killed than our 'leadership' reports.
Sorry for lacking any encouragement - it's really my hope to be an encourager. What strikes me, additionally, is to consider Mark's post yesterday about Poland and consider today's info leads me to think the dying and suffering is far, far from over.
I'll leave you with considering the stunning final paragraph Mark wrote today being horribly, terribly right on target of truth provokes a deep, deep ache in my heart. -Sigh- is all I got left good sir. Hope you and you loved ones are well, best regards Ray. (Wrh)
I just heard that song again last week and feels like they could’ve written it now. But it just reminds me that this attitude of the elites has been going on for a long time.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/pentagon-aborts-flight-test-1st-hypersonic-missile-last-minute-cause-unknown
We always trust and we never learn.
Warm Bodies is one issue.
Another is equipment. Ukrainian military equipment is being destroyed faster than the West can build it. And the built up stock the West had has been mostly used up. And the remaining tanks are probably at 50% readiness, at best.
Good point. With the supply chain disruptions from the Covid scamdemic the scarcity of materials for manufacturing have lead times often up to a year at least in the tech sector which is an important aspect of modern weapons.
I think it’s deeper than that, at least in the us.
The military lines seem to be set up as boutique assembly lines. So the through put is not there. Our entire years patriot production capacity is shot in the Ukraine in a few days. A years 155 shell productions in our 1 factory, that needs national park permission to modify since at a historical site, is a months usage by the Ukraine,
Under Clinton there was a huge consolidation of defense manufacturers. So now you have little competition, and less capacity.
Old technology, especially electronics and chips. It’s too painful/ costly to get new technology replacements certified.
Procurement that will close assembly lines. A big batch is bought, and then line closes due to no more sales. F-22 we can’t make any more. Russia would keep the assembly lines open, with a low level of production so it could be ramped up.
Lack of innovation. Cdr salamander blames Nichols Goldwater for this. Along with forced jointness. Procurement system is broken. We still don’t have a deployed hyper sonic weapon system. Our land based ecm is a generation behind. Missile defense is more narrative (patriot), than capability. Our drones cost 10x, and do less (Dji).
Per col mcgregor our new equipment is still cold war designs. Huge lack of innovation. His example was the m1 tank engine based on an aircraft’s engine that runs super hot (easy to spot), and is a fuel guzzler. It should be replaced with a diesel. Cold War era weopon, that has received minor updates.
Lots of the Wests industrial capacity has moved to China. It saved money…. Unfortunately this causes issues when trying to increase production.
And production locations are based on politics. The winner is who has manufacturing located in more congressional districts, not the best product.
The us is not set up for an industrial war. We can only support low intensity wars, or a short high intensity war. We don’t have the sticks or industrial capacity.
And there is the huge corruption issue of top military retiring into high paying defense industry jobs.
G'afternoon Ray,
Equipment losses are simply banked future MIC (Military Industrial Complex) income. We send away American manufactured arms (often to both sides of conflicts) that often wind up on entirely different battlefields. More future income and more future battles to supply said equipment into, often in opposition to our own stuff.
The lives lost number is huge: the consequences yet to be realized will be decades being revealed. The present count of lives effected, nay afflicted, is beyond calculation. The price of those effects is incalculable. I've lost a cousin in Combat - 55 years ago - who's loss still hurts. And, sadly, I'd always thought for a 'just cause'. Less belief today in that just cause just tears off the scab of a wound that will not heal. Imagine the exponential similar pains from a war that very possibly has 5 times the killed than our 'leadership' reports.
Sorry for lacking any encouragement - it's really my hope to be an encourager. What strikes me, additionally, is to consider Mark's post yesterday about Poland and consider today's info leads me to think the dying and suffering is far, far from over.
I'll leave you with considering the stunning final paragraph Mark wrote today being horribly, terribly right on target of truth provokes a deep, deep ache in my heart. -Sigh- is all I got left good sir. Hope you and you loved ones are well, best regards Ray. (Wrh)
WWII bomber crews noted, when over the target they caught flack... I find in my Faith that thought to be of actual comfort... Blessing RNo! (WrH)
I just heard that song again last week and feels like they could’ve written it now. But it just reminds me that this attitude of the elites has been going on for a long time.
They don’t want to dig any deeper. Not even one inch deeper.