Garland And Yours Truly ...

 ... live at 18-00 (6-00) PDT))

No Black Sea ...

 ... for 404 and NATO anymore. 

A Very Symptomatic Exchange.

Both have no comprehension of what "troops' protection" in modern war is, because both do not understand what modern air defense is. 

Waltz, a devout neocon is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute and had a military career which was largely in special forces--hardly an environment where serious operational and strategic thinking is developed. Liu, however, has a STEM education--but obviously it is all about party politics and of very little if any substance, because the US military has NO force protection capability against serious enemy. It simply has no TOE and expertise. 

Hence, the accusation of Russia for providing Iran with intel and targeting, which, among other things, allowed Iran to hit some very sensitive CIA facility. Don't ask me--I merely state all the time that two can play the game. And Lavrov's statement yesterday about the US targeting Russia and Russia's civilians is not accidental before meeting (very briefly--35 minutes) Marko Rubio. Keep in mind, American situation with Iran is, for the lack of better word, dire. And even speculators do not buy this Trump's BS about oil anymore. I speak about it and more in my today's video. 

Open Thread.

Very busy today. 

It Is No Surprise ...

 ... and I am on record, terrorism is the weapon of the weak. 

MANILA /Philippines/, July 22. /TASS/. The United States is not just helping, but directly involved in directing Ukrainian weapons at targets, including civilians, on Russian territory. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov following his participation in ASEAN events in the Philippines.

I understand how difficult it is for decent people inside the US military to accept the fact that they are not the best, they are involved directly in terrorism and war crimes and that most of what they know about themselves is primarily from internal propaganda. So, what's left? Well, let's kill some civilians. The desire to "kill some Russians" is deeply ingrained in the US military-political top because of complex of inferiority, being not in the same league and recognition of what I speak about non stop for more than a decade--the US lost the arms race, it is all about spite and racism. But then again, US military for all intents and purposes is an Israeli military and has no a single serviceman, top-bottom, who would be able to coherently state when did the US military actually defend the US and her actual national interests. 

These are all hallmarks of a decomposing empire. Here are some results of the activity of the "finest fighting force in history".

The "most moral" military force of IDF looks at their apprentices from Pentagon with approval. 

Gloves Off ...

 ... and why. 

This Is Not ...

 ... how I imagined the fight between PLAN and Philippines' Navy, but this is tense but still funny. 

But reality, of course, is much more serious and the US will continue its, however useless, buildup in the area and use its vassals, I mean "allies", to provoke China. I am not going into the legal aspect of all those waters and all those Spratlys and all that, but here is a delusion on part of "intellectual" (I elaborate on this in my video today) Kazianis who lives in 1965 or maybe, indeed, in his 1945 outlet and never heard of antishipping missiles. 

China Is Building Toward Nine Aircraft Carriers. America Has Eleven — and Can’t Replace Them Fast Enough.  

Why China builds them is clear--it is symbolic because China has a monstrous shipbuilding industry which dwarfs that of the US and China leverages it, but also because she still copies very many views on war, in this case naval one, from the US. What many people still cannot grasp--China doesn't have strike weapon systems which guarantee sufficient number of leakers to stop US CBGs. Anybody who continues with a delusion of Chinese "hypersonic" weapons--I have news, China doesn't have them. Calling ballistic missiles which enter atmosphere at hypersonic speed a "hypersonic weapon" is the same as calling Packard autos the same generation as 2026 Honda Accord. 

This is the reality which very many people who do admire (I do it too) Chinese achievements (not least through first Soviet aid and then the US transplanting here manufacturing to China) cannot accept--in terms of naval warfare China is not in the same league because for all of its huge issues, including WW II based fighting doctrine of the US surface navy, China is nowhere near in terms of submarine component of the US or Russian Navies. Plus, the issue which many want to ignore but which Iran learned the hard way--Chinese AD turned out to be not what was promised. Russia warned Iran, but China outbid Russia. Well ... That's the reality and it is much more nuanced than merely proclaiming existing capability which is a much more inferior copy of original. Just to demonstrate:

I forestall many China fanboys who will rush to defend China while having no clue about realities of technological dimension of modern warfare. I repeat again, Russia "helped" (euphemism for built) Chinese missile attack early warning system. Get a hint and a clue.