On A Lighter Note.

Evidently real childhood, beyond internet, is alive and kicking)) 

As per Broken Peach, this Spanish cover band is, hm, most of the time better than originals and my God these girls can sing harmony, and that's just the rehearsal. 

Yes, they are very easy on the eye too. Something pleasant for the Labor Day. They should tour the US. They are way better than the "nostalgy circuit" for old farts like me. Evidently young people also dig them because--let's be frank--classic rock-pop of 1960-1980s is simply superior on every level than 99% of todays crap they call pop-music. 

Russia Never "Admitted" ...

 ... she is openly stating it since 2021. 

The Kremlin has confirmed that it will continue its full-scale invasion of Ukraine throughout autumn in a major blow to Donald Trump’s peace efforts. The US president has repeatedly declared that Russia wants to end the war, even going as far as to tell Emmanuel Macron that Vladimir Putin “wants to make a deal for me” in a bizarre hot mic moment.

Russia "wants" to end SMO AFTER root causes will be addressed. The SMO will continue until all political aims of the operation are met. But yes, Trump does think that Vladimir Putin is simply enamored with him. Nothing could be further from the truth but it is important for Trump to stress how important and irresistible as a man and politician he is. Mind you--he thinks that he can "enamor" a professional intelligence officer with TWO top KGB schools (apart from having an excellent law background), one of which is former KI (Andropov Red Banner Institute), today the Academy of Foreign Intelligence. 

Meanwhile in China:

And not to forget this: 

India IS facing the critical moment for strategic decision on the general path she should take in the nearest future. BRICS and SCO are shaping into the most important global economic, political and military organizations of today and Europe (and the US) in this sense stops being the most important direction of India's foreign policy but merely just another one among many. 

Big Guns Begin To Arrive ...

 ... to Tianjin. First PM Modi arrived, now Vladimir Putin. 

The meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization with the follow up of the 80th Anniversary of Japan's surrender already in Beijing on the 3rd of September. 

Per Modi's arrival. 

Ramifications are immense. Somebody should explain to Trump that these three (China, Russia and India) dwarf the combined West economically and militarily. But, of course, West's media lie (that's the only thing they are capable of). Larry deconstructs their butthurt BS. 

The Desperation and Dishonesty of the Anti-Russian Propaganda

Agree, it is desperation. 

Clearing The Air ...

 ... regarding this story which originated in Chinese tabloid Sohu which used term "gift" from Russia before Putin's official visit to Beijing. This "gift" thingy then started to be propagated all over the place in Russian (incompetent) media. Here is Vzglyad:

All this "gift" BS is just that--BS. Russia is not making any "gifts" to China, what Sergei Chemezov said, however, a week ago is that Russia is ready to SUPPLY PD-14 engines, which BTW are in serial production, but it will cost China. Russia is NOT transferring this technology, but what she says is if China wants to pay for scaling up of manufacturing of PD-14s, Russia will gladly take this investment and will scale it up ... in Russia. Here is a reminder about the fate of China's (not really--it is a Euro-American aircraft) which was predicted by my years ago and it happened when the US stopped supplying CFM Leap engines to China and C919 found itself dead in the water:

For those who still don't get it--apart from C919 being not Chinese--I repeat: China is NOT in the same league commercial jet engines wise as RR, PW, GE and PD series. These are the leaders here, Chinese engines are not competitive and Chemezov was very clear (in Russian): if China expresses desire Russia is ready to SUPPLY PD-14 engines. (c) No "technology transfer" (yeah, right), no manufacturing IN China but: China pays for expansion in Russia, ODK produces PD-14s for China and ships them, period. That helps China save her face with this C919 fiasco of which yours truly warned for years. In related news, after Russia quit Joint Venture with China on the wide body C 929 and went on her own way (IL-96-400 with PD-35 and shit), China asked Russia to test PD-35 in ... China)). Nice try, nice try)) 

If They Believe That Even ...

 ... at the perceived (stress on perceived) strength GB could do anything about Russians--I am talking about the time of the Cold War 1.0--I have a bridge for sale. Yet, British tabloids continue to lament, having no clue about scale of things. 

Putin has weak, bankrupt Britain in his sights. 

It is difficult to explain to cretins from The Telegraph that Britain was, is and will remain "in sights" of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces as long as London continues with terrorism, false flags and its visceral hatred of Russia. Other than that--Russians do not give a flying fuck about this, indeed bankrupt shithole of a country, while all those cultural treasures of Britain, from Shakespeare to Gainsborough, from Benny Hill to Beatles are beloved in Russia and are kept close to the heart. But in the end, a funny feature of Oreshnik or 3M14M is that it can take out the British blob without touching a livelihood of Londoners and others on the island and allow UK to survive. I know, it hurts for them in all those "exclusive" degree mills and clubs in UK to resign themselves to the realization that UK is simply not significant in a larger scheme of things. 

Meanwhile, Valery Gerasimov gave some updates on SMO today:

Russian forces taken control of over 3,500 square kilometers and 149 settlements in the Ukraine operation since March, Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov reported in an update on Saturday. He noted that Russia has advanced along nearly the entire front over this time. Gerasimov, speaking at a Defense Ministry briefing in Moscow, also gave percentage figures for Russian territory liberated and outlined plans for further operations. According to Gerasimov, Russian troops “have liberated 99.7% of the territory of the Lugansk People's Republic (less than 60 sq. km remain) and 79% of the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic.” He added that 74% of Zaporozhye Region and 76% of Kherson Region are now under the control of Russian forces. All four former Ukrainian regions voted to join Russia in referendums in September 2022.   

While Alastair Crooke correctly states what we all repeat ad nauseam--noises from Washington and EU are just noises. 

Everything is decided on the battlefield. Look at lovely detonations on this Pavlograd toys' factory. 

Evidently NATO's and 404's kids' toys have this propensity for detonation, same as coffee machines and vacuum cleaners at Hamburg's plant for household devices. What a shame, not. 

I Agree That He Was Always A Fraud ...

 ... albeit Born in the USA should it have been written from the moral and civic position of such people like Roger Waters it would have been a great protest song but it wouldn't be "anti-American", unless this Lewis guy wants to believe that the US went to Vietnam to do humanitarian work and not "to go and kill a yellow man". If Aaron doesn't understand that the US killed millions of Vietnamese civilians and that the US, certainly, deserved this "anti-American" song--he should have his head examined. But then again--explaining to people like Lewis what war crimes and crimes against humanity are will be exercise in futility. Yet, in one sense he is correct:

Springsteen is a fraud in human and artistic terms, because he is not and never was a man sharing struggles of American blue color class. He rode them to fame. Musically he had a huge success and he had a couple of masterpieces and a few good songs, the rest ... good marketing. Remarkably, if not for amazing covers by Manfred Mann's Earth Band of Springsteen's Blinded by the Light and Spirits in the Night (they did another one too--For You), few people would even remember those songs. In the Soviet Union we knew those because of MMEB covers. This one before Chris Thompson's magnificent vocals period. 

But, yes--this, an ultimate MMEB sound which makes those covers their own MMEB songs with Chris' incomparable voice. 

So, fuck Springsteen. 

Yes, And Then He Would Run To His Office ...

 ... would have cowered in the corner sucking on his thumb and started crying. In fact, he also would have fell on the stairs and soiled himself. No, this is not Putin--this is what Macron would do or any human trash from Daily Beast who think that kindergarten children in the West can do such a thing, because this is who they are and grasp of culture, class, dignity is absent in their DNA. 

French President Emmanuel Macron has upset the Kremlin after calling Russian President Vladimir Putin an “ogre” and a “predator,” according to Reuters. “For his own survival, [Putin] needs to keep eating,” Macron said after meeting with President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on August 18. “That means he is a predator, an ogre at our gates.” Russia, which is currently waging a war in Ukraine, accused the Frenchman of lobbing “low-grade insults.” “This is unworthy of a head of state,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

I only can empathize with Maria who needs to constantly deal with Euro cowards and low lives who, as in this case, French elect. And then, in a classic French manner, become unsatisfied with Satanist shithole that their country has become. Good only at insulting themselves (this concept is unknown in Paris, that insults reveal more about you than at whom they are aimed) and merely confirm my forecast about Europe. As great Persian poet and philosopher Omar Khayyam noted one thousand years ago: When you throw mud at someone, remember - you may not hit him, but the mud will stay on your hands!

Open Thread.

 Go at it, I need to catch up on some sleep. 

Something About Arctic ...

 ... and why EU is desperate and scared shitless. 

Joseph and Me.

Tomorrow at 10-00 AM PDT. 

Garland and Me.

Live in 45 minutes. 

Nima and Me.

Live in 10 minutes. 

When Your Expertise Is ...

 ... in writing all kinds of pseudo-military BS. I stress, again--you cannot explain to average journo anywhere in the wolrd what this thing is. They simply will have difficulties grasping it. Let's start with "nodes" (or nexuses):

PI/L and PH/I are those probabilities (nexuses) where the whole thing collapses on itself even in the "single shot", especially when you consider what highlighted in yellow "engaged in the fire control solution" means. It literally means that your AD complex received this "firing solution" and is capable to perform intercept of anti-shipping cruise missile (ASCM). That is in the fairy tales, of course, and is useless against genuine hypersonic missiles such as 3M22 Zircon or Kinzhal. In this case your kill chain begins to dissolve already at PH--Susceptibility segment. 

So, what then is this news about from the neocon central?

United States destroyers recently received upgrades in hardware and training for defense as China is set to unveil new missiles designed to sink enemy warships. China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. U.S. defense contractor Raytheon announced on Tuesday that the AN/SPY-6(V)4 radar recently completed its first live test in a maritime environment at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii, successfully tracking air and surface targets under various conditions. The AN/SPY-6(V)4 is one of four variants in the SPY-6 radar family for U.S. naval vessels, capable of simultaneously defending against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, as well as anti-surface and anti-air threats, and countering jamming and electronic warfare. Unlike ballistic missiles that follow a predictable trajectory, hypersonic missiles—capable of flying over five times the speed of sound—can maneuver during flight, making them difficult to intercept. Three of China's new anti-ship weapons could be hypersonic missiles.

It is impossible to explain to any US media maroon that AN/SPY-6(V)4 is just a better, more sensitive radar of the venerable Spy-1D line into AESA variant, whose task is not "to defend" (radar cannot "defend"--it is merely a part of a complex which actually defends) but provide all it can BEFORE the Engagement phase (see the picture of Kill Chain above) before the actual engagement happens which IS the launch of AD missiles which will be now guided before their Active Radar Seeker captures the anti-shipping missile by means of these guys which "pulse" until the AD missile seeker captures the target and now is in shoot-and-forget mode:  

And here they are: AN/SPG-62 fire control radar. I will omit here discussing Chinese hypersonic missiles such as (for now only claims) YJ-21. If the data about this missile is correct and it does reach terminal while maneuvering at M=10, the US Navy simply has no KINETIC means, yes those AD missiles, to do anything about it, period. Whether the US Navy has SPY 6, or 10, or hell knows what--the Air Defense contour of ANY US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class DDG is simply a weapon complex for XX century threats, it is not designed to engage a single, forget a 2-4-6 etc. salvo of hypersonic weapons, and survive. SM-6, SM-3--these are all weapons conceived and designed in 1990s against the "enemy" which fits into the description of decrepit and backward "opponents" like Iraq or Libya. The US Navy ran into the brick wall of Houthis recently, we all know the result. 

Remember the guy? 

He ripped a new ass-hole to all those "strategists" at the Millennium Challenge 2002. Read it, read it--there is a lesson there, Van Riper used salvos of slow subsonic "Iranian" missiles similar to US Harpoons against the "best fighting force in history". They couldn't handle it. They never could, and we saw the "quality" of the US-made air defense systems in SMO. If you think that adding new radar, however capable, without having kinetic means to defend oneself is awesome--I have a bridge to sell you. Prepayment, I'll give the account number in private. Any takers?

But sheer idiocy of the US "experts" doesn't stop there. Neocons' propaganda machine is hurting. Good, this filth must be removed from positions of power and influence if the US is to survive. 

Russia to reject US and EU offer of security guarantees to Ukraine – ISW report.

Yes, one of a very few times the Institute for Sinecures for War Amateurs such as Keane or Petraeus landed anything reminiscent of the truth is this. Russia can continue with SMO as long as she wants to and convulsions of EU regimes are of no concern to Russians. Why Russia needs to talk to the US I explained so many times that it becomes ridiculous repeating it ad nauseam. Europe is over, the US? Will see. 

Russia's Strategic ...

 ... air space and China's (and USSR's too) 80th Anniversary celebration. Promises to be epic. Europe soils itself while Exxon gets ready. 

I Don't Know ...

 ... what this kid Mario Nawfal was thinking, but pairing a senior officer of the US Marines and a man of principles with some "sniper and special forces" clown with sergeant (nothing personal against sergeants) who drinks 404 Kool Aid. What did Nawfal expect? 

Scott absolutely flattened this "special forces" ass-hole, whose understanding of war is as good as my understanding of the Chinese choreography. Does Nawfal do this on purpose, to create drama by pairing a solid professional with serious intel background with some creep who has no tool kit to grasp operational and strategic realities of SMO? After he was told by Douglas Macgregor to "stop BSing his audience" regarding 404 losses, I begin to think that that is Nawfal's MO to increase his audience. How the fuck this Nawfal guy ended up with Judge Nap and Larry in the same room with Lavrov remains a complete mystery. Two heavyweights and this kid? 

Nawfal is so removed from even basic realities of warfare, let alone operations and strategy, with the background in ... well, "investing", that one must ask the question how this Matt Tardio ended up in the same virtual room with Scott. The only "argument" this sergeant had was to attack Scott's character from the position of knowing nothing about Russia, Russian military and REAL war. I personally am getting tired of listening to all kinds of low rank guys talking about how great they were in ... Afghanistan or Iraq. 

Yes, They Are Experts.

 In continuation of my US university "idikeishn". 

Yes, there are "experts" on Taylor Swift. They have official teaching positions. 

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (WTVG) - A new course offering at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) will focus on popstar Taylor Swift and her fanbase, also known as “Swifties.” The BGSU College of Arts and Sciences is offering ACS 3000: Taylor Swift and Fandom for the Summer 2024 academic session. The 6-week online course will be conducted in an asynchronous format. The University’s summer course registration went live Feb. 12. `University officials say the final details of the course are still being worked out and that it will begin May 13.

Fuck, I am in the wrong field. I need to defend my Doctorate in ... in ... in ... ah, yes--looking at the wall. A new and fascinating field. Requires a lot of expertise. 

Gaza Genocide Is Also ...

... the United States' crime. The US is stained forever as a supporter of genocidal Netanyahu regime. It is simple as that. Israel owns the US, precisely because they have to because they are not good militarily.  

Can Russia destroy Netanyahu regime? Easily. But George is absolutely correct here--it is simple mathematics, saving 2 million Palestinians may result in killing a couple of billion people outright. As our friend Femi correctly pointed out--Arabs, where are you? Gaza and Palestine are ARAB issue, first and foremost, not Russia's. Anyone calling on Russia "to do something" about it are people who have no clue about the role Russia plays in the world and how corrupted by Zionist the US is. I will remind again that this piece of political art is as relevant as ever, in fact--even more so today than when it was created. 

Just substitute Soviet flag with Russian tri-color, and if you don't get the profound message in it, I have news for you--it is ONLY thanks to Russia's military and economic might that Washington's crazies didn't unleash a thermonuclear war. Simple as that. 

Speaking Of Generations.

Give Babylon Bee credit where the credit is due. 

Most of humanities studies in the West today is academic fraud and nothing but indoctrination. And I am talking about legitimate studies such as diplomacy, international relations etc. I omit "journalism" here altogether because it is not a viable academic discipline. 

And here is a very good piece (in Russian, use Google to translate) about grown up children. This video delves into this issue. 

It is a cultural decease which always accompanies declining civilizations. That is why the Vzglyad article I linked to above is so critical for understanding a huge problem. But Russian piece ends with this: 

Сейчас у нас сложилась уникальная ситуация, когда часть мужиков воюет и приобретает ту самую «строгую маску лица». Когда они вернутся с войны, их встретят «большие дети» с требовательными светлыми лицами и дерзкими речами. Честно, без всякого злорадства, скажу, что, когда два этих мира войдут в соприкосновение, «миру детей» я не позавидую.

Translation: We have a unique situation now, when some men are fighting and acquiring that very "strict mask of face". When they return from the war, they will be met by "big children" with demanding bright faces and bold speeches. Honestly, without any malice, I will say that when these two worlds come into contact, I will not envy the "world of children".

It is already happening in Russia. The West? You all know the answer.

I Warned About It ...

 ... for years. But they do not have the tool kit to grasp it. This is the hit in Russia today. Kurtukova is being the most Russian gal ever. 

But then again--Kadysheva's insane popularity ... nobody can explain this ...

I am sure they have it all figured out in CIA, LOL)) 

Here are Scarlet Sails in proper "distillation". 

LOL))

 The lyrics: a single day without you seems (feels) like two ... )))

Nah, it is all good-natured. 

Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeisk) -- Konstantinovka Axis.

Good graphics. Which shows territorial gains but also gives an idea how VSU lost already 625,000 this year alone. 

Larry and General Buzhinsky ...

 ... talking about the rebirth of Russia's military. 

About Air Defense of 404.

WSJ does not even understand that it provides a powerful evidence of a complete degeneration of the once best NATO's proxy in history. 

Yep, ancient Yak-52 trainers. Hey, why not, indeed)) Every little bit helps. Of course, this whole thing is down right ridiculous because of the immense intensity of Russia's combined (комбинированные) strikes conducted on a scale not seen in modern history which completely shut down air defense of 404. 

Meanwhile, Tucker calls out Konstantin Kisin who is nothing more than a stand-up clown and Zionist. 

Kisin, whose "expertise' is entertainment became a vocal "political commentator" and, you guessed it, passes in UK and elsewhere as Russia "expert" apart from being a supporter of Israel. He is nothing but a classic shill and propagandist with zero grasp of the complexities of the modern world, but here we are--he comments, you know and it sells among incompetents in the combined West. These types everywhere, the penetrated every media, intel and government orgs in the West and we can see what is happening.

Dmitry Orlov, meanwhile, wrote a significant note on egregore--no, this is not an esoteric BS, this is a legitimate cultural phenomenon. It is most likely, also, partially genetic. 

Rather, what took place in Alaska was an attempt at a transfusion of psychic energy from Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, Russia's leader for the last quarter of a century and standing alongside such great Russian leaders as Peter I (the Great), Ivan IV (the Awesome) and Joseph Stalin. Putin is not just respected and admired but loved by his people and his approval rating hovers around the 80% mark — something that is utterly unattainable for all Western leaders. The egregore of Russia's rulers, which has been alive, though not always well, for a thousand years, is alive and well now, perhaps the strongest it has ever been, embodied in the person of Vladimir Putin.

The egregore of the American president, on the other hand, is alive but quite far from well and fading fast. Not only is it weak, but it is being sucked dry by psychic energy leaches from the EU, NATO, the US deep state, the Zionist lobby and a wide assortment of other mental parasites. And so, in the interest of easing world tensions, Putin made a gracious offer to Trump to stand together, shake hands and have a friendly meeting where nothing was decided and no deals were signed, but a few possibly good ideas were floated in confidence. What Trump achieved along the way is a transfusion of psychic energy from Putin, his egregore gaining strength by the sheer fact of the two of them standing together at a symbolic altar on which was spelled "Alaska 2025" in huge letters. But the effect was fleeting and Trump's nostalgic fondling of the photo from that event (while bragging about it) is not going to change the fact that the American egregore is fading away and that with it Pax Americana is disappearing and being replaced by a gradually developing Pax Russica. 

Dmitry will elaborate on this later, but he does have a point. In the end, great Soviet thinker (persecuted) Vladimir Vernadsky was developing the concept of the noosphere. It is a very tentative issue but by far not all of it is esoteric. 

A Bit More On Mach Velocities ...

... and NATO (and 404) air defense systems. Before, though. Keep in mind that Patriot PAC3 main missiles used in 404 are MIM-104 D/E and possibly MIM-104F--the most advanced missile Patriot has whose velocity, unlike it is the case with MIM-104 D/E is "unknown", but in reality is the same as for MIM-104 D/E which is Mach=3.5. Mach=3.5 translates into roughly 1.2 kilometers per second and it is critical to understand why this news is absolutely astounding. Here is a famous (granted imprecise) graphics with capabilities comparison. 

We also know that S-400's long range missile 40N6E is capable of shooting down targets with the velocities of M=14, which would imply ballistic targets, while aerodynamic M=3.5 such as said MIM-104F represent pretty standard target for S-300 and C-400 family. What IS the REAL, not export variant and fanboys' "data" velocities for both 40N6E (1, 2, 3 etc.) and 48N6 which would be the culprits in shooting down Patriot's missiles, it is M=5.9 and above. How much exactly? Way above. Here is a scheme of probable deployment of S-400s at the front. 

Add here A-50s and their coverage of the front and you will get the idea of how this all happens. Keep in mind that the distance of the deployed S-300s and S-400s from the line of the combat contact is around 50 (give and take) kilometers. 

Recall how both S-300s and S-400s wiped the remnants of the 404 Air Force off the skies while allowing Russian Air Force operate safely at the echelons which provide a necessary altitude for the use of increasingly long-range FABs with UMPKs while operating even within the possible ranges of detection and firing of Patriot PAC3s. But in the end, apart from this impact, reality for the crème de la crème of NATO's AD is very sad--the moment any of those Patriots, SAMP-Ts or Iris with NASAMS turn on their radar--that's pretty much it for them, but a completely different algorithm of search kicks in and those ADs do not live long even if they managed to launch and escape (for now). Remember probability density? 

The proof of this working brilliantly is this:

The last remaining NATO AD complexes, like this IRIS-T a few days back, being wiped out and AAA remaining the only option for utterly destroyed NATO and 404 AD system. I wonder, if those operational quantum computers Vladimir Putin talked about three days ago have a "hand" in SMO? Hm, something tells me they do have, a big one and you know, Russians do not like to use their models in Garbage In--Garbage Out (GIGO) mode. That's why Russians win wars. Per breaking encryption and using quantum computational (immense) capabilities for geopolitical forecasting? You can bet your ass on that being done. 

Larry Wilkerson ...

 ... provides a good summary. 

There is really very little which could be added here, because neocons and their shills in Pentagon and CIA do not understand warfare and what real strategy--not some BS PowerPoint presentation--are. But then again, one cannot develop professional understanding of REAL war when the US military is forced to masturbate non-stop on the "accomplishments" of Israeli so called military. 

Sir, I salute you for your courage and being true to your military and civil duties and oaths. 

Idiocy of US MSM ...

 ... in this case of NBC is on parade. ERAM and propaganda. 

Pretty Much ...

 ... says it all. 

But I want to point out that Western media convulsions will continue including WSJ's yet another amateurish BS about ERAM "thingy" which, in actuality, doesn't exist as a viable weapon and, of course, the US will never deliver 3,000 "things" to 404. I address this issue in my today's video which should be up shortly. But, get a load of this, again: 

MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. Western-made anti-aircraft missile systems during the NWO showed an inability to resist the strikes of the aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Russian air defense. This was reported to TASS by a source in the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation. "Attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to limit the strikes of the aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces with the help of Western-made anti-aircraft missile systems are suppressed by Russian air defense systems. During the NMD, Russian air defense combat crews successfully intercept Western-made anti-aircraft guided missiles attacking the operational-tactical aviation of the RF Armed Forces while performing combat missions to destroy the enemy on the ground and in the air," the agency's interlocutor said. He clarified that since the end of 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been actively using S-200, SAMP/T and Patriot strike missiles against Russian Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft. The interlocutor added that "over the past year and a half, Russian air defense crews have intercepted almost two dozen Western-made anti-aircraft guided missiles that attacked aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces at supersonic speeds - from 870 to 1178 meters per second (up to 3.5 M)." "Moreover, about half of them are MIM-104D missiles of the American Patriot air defense system," he said. According to the source, "the greatest effectiveness of such interceptions is demonstrated by domestic S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems."

I cannot even begin to describe tactical and operational ramifications of it, but this is the first time in military in history that actual AD complexes are "suppressing" the activity of enemy's air defense in a significant, impactful way. This tells you something about detection and firing solutions development capabilities, ranges and velocities of Russian air defense missiles which make this possible. Some approximate assumptions, of course, could be made but keep in mind that S-300FM, S-400 and S-550 have in common one really funny missile--it is called 40N6E interceptor and it has a speed of, well, M=14+. Judge for yourself.

I repeat, I cannot emphasize enough the significance of this. 

Open Thread.

 Go at it. 

This Is the Kind of Thing ...

 ... I was talking about in re: North Korean-Russian relations. Kim honors 101 killed from North Korean Army contingent during the defense and liberation of Kursk Oblast. Watch first 20 or so minutes of this program to see the ceremony. 

You can skip the concert--pretty standard North Korean event. But then there are other things which inevitably change already the North Korean society. It is not just Russian investments, market, technology and other things. North Korea for the first time experienced (visits by K-Pop groups a few years back do not count) a real rock-concert. They DO listen to Shaman and sing his songs, especially Встанем (literally Get on Your Feet), but here they have been able to see him live. 

And, boy, did he rock to the core even Kim himself )) The packed palace roared. This was broadcasted by NK's Central TV. Well, what can I say--it was a triumph. And yes, Shaman can say now--Live in Budokan? Try live in Pyongyang. Will Kipelov or Aria now roll in? That could be a riot, literally)) That is some cultural exchange, I say. They will, inevitably, "thaw" on a societal level. 

You May Ask How?

How those damn Russkies do what they do. Well, here is your answer (part of it) by the Man himself. 

В России уже созданы квантовые компьютеры с огромными вычислительными возможностями. Об этом заявил президент Владимир Путин на встрече с физиками-ядерщиками и специалистами атомной отрасли в Сарове. Трансляцию ведет Кремль. 22 августа глава государства прибыл в закрытый город Нижегородской области, где расположен Всероссийский НИИ экспериментальной физики – Российский федеральный ядерный центр. В ходе визита Путин также почтил память Юлия Харитона – одного из создателей советского атомного проекта и первого научного руководителя ядерного центра. Президент возложил цветы к памятнику ученого и опустился на одно колено перед его бюстом.

Translation: Quantum computers with enormous computing capabilities have already been created in Russia. This was announced by President Vladimir Putin at a meeting with nuclear physicists and specialists in the nuclear industry in Sarov. The broadcast is being conducted by the Kremlin. On August 22, the head of state arrived in the closed city of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, where the All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics – the Russian Federal Nuclear Center – is located. During the visit, Putin also honored the memory of Yuli Khariton, one of the creators of the Soviet atomic project and the first scientific director of the nuclear center. The president laid flowers at the scientist’s monument and knelt down on one knee in front of his bust.

That also explains some things related to the Update I gave today.

And why things happen the way they do. Russia is celebrating the 80th Anniversary of nuclear age in USSR/Russia and creation of a monster of corporation Rosatom.

This Is A Purge ...

 ... which must have been done in Trump's first term. 

One of the CIA’s most senior Russia analysts has lost her job during President Donald Trump’s campaign to depoliticize the intelligence services, The Economist reported on Thursday. The officer, whose identity was not disclosed, oversaw the drafting of a report accusing Russia of interfering in the 2016 US presidential election in favor of Trump. The Economist described her as “the country’s top intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia,” who coordinated operations related to the former Soviet Union. According to the outlet, her security clearance was revoked on August 19, along with those of 36 other current and former officials.

The whole Russiagate thing couldn't pass the smell test from the inception and was nothing more than a crude PR media campaign. A moron could have come up with such "operation". But here we are, this partisan shyster passed for "the country's top intelligence officer for Russia". She couldn't have been because I can only reiterate the point--today Washington has NO real analysts and Russia experts anywhere near levers of power and influence. 

Remarkably, Larry delves into the level of delusion of the so called "expert community" when it comes to Russia. 

Is Trump sincere in wanting to forge closer ties with Russia, or is he pursuing the strategy elucidated by A. Wess Mitchell — who is a buddy of Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby — in his August 2021 article in The National Interest: A Strategy for Avoiding Two-Front War? The heart of Mitchell’s argument is that the US must convince Russia that China is the real enemy, and that the US must secure Russia’s cooperation in a US campaign to contain China. This is not just some average former US Foreign Service officer opining… Mitchell has sterling academic credentials and served as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs during Trump’s first term. Mitchell is currently the head of a think tank, and from that perch he was tasked by the Pentagon Office of Net Assessment with writing a longer version of this paper, which was delivered to the Pentagon in the Fall of 2020. In other words, Mitchell was asked to provide the US Department of Defense with a strategic vision for dealing with Russia and China  

Mitchell is your classic "humanities" product of the US degree mills with zero grasp of Russia, modern warfare and real economy. As a result, the only thing these types of people can do is a doctrine-mongering based on white board theories, which led to a precipitous decline of the American intellectual, diplomatic and military abilities. You cannot explain to contemporary average American "diplomat" or intel person what Correlation of Forces and Means is and how it shapes operational and strategic realities and national grand strategies--they simply have no tool kit to grasp it because it lies completely outside the American experience. Those few who get it are not allowed anywhere near levers of power and think-tank and academic sinecures. And that is why the US loses all of her wars and is now completely within the vicious circle of national humiliation. 

Use As Open Thread ...

 ... very busy today. But before--remember Su-57 which was flown by legendary Sergei Bogdan at the air show in China? Remember a bunch of the fanboys from the West and China talking about screws and all kinds of "no-stealth" nonsense despite the fact that they have been told non-stop that Bogdan flew a prototype and not a serial production fighter? Remember? Now to a serially produced front line SU-57s. For the first time. 

And even closer. 

I think no comments are necessary here about "stealth"--smooth carbon fiber and properly painted surfaces. 

And more military porn with Marshal Shaposhnikov launching both Kaibrs and Urans. 

While in the background a bunch of losers continue to cry and spew BS. 

We had one chance to sink the Russian economy and we blew it – Putin knew we would. 

No, you hadn't, morons, because all of your "elites" cannot find their own asses with both hands in a brightly lit room. Worse of all--you blew your own countries. An interesting video about it. 

Much of it holds water. 

Another Life Destroyed By Drugs.

Kids, don't do drugs, otherwise you will end up like this great actor. 

Dispelling Media and WH BS.

 Poor Lavrov, he has to constantly debunk West's BS. 

Yes, Colonel ...

 ... this is THE ONLY way to define and respond to it. 

Yes, Absolutely))

 "Putin's Forces" are bad)). Yes, that's what The Telegraph rag states. 

Putin’s forces are actually barely above Third World level: So, Donald Trump has recently said that the US military would be part of Ukrainian security in the event of a peace deal, offering “very good protection”. Then, shortly after, he said there would be no US “boots on the ground”. Is this just shilly-shallying? No, actually. The fact is that the USA is perfectly capable of crippling the Russian military, on its own, without the use of nuclear weapons and without the need for a single US boot to touch Ukrainian soil – probably without any large number of US aviators needing to enter Ukrainian airspace, even.

Absolutely, just send in this guy. He'll show those damn Russkies.

But the reality is much more prosaic. This piece is written by this guy))

Ah, what do you know--the guy is a part of Revolver and Pistol Club. So he knows everything about war)) In reality, he is a typical British tabloid hack with an acute case of butthurt and the only way he can vent the frustration from impotence is the same way as this imbecile from the same Telegraph. Remember him?

Yes, and sweeping is now in its conclusive phase, but then again, combined arms warfare is not a strong forte of the British Armed Forces. Come to think about--there are no strong fortes at all, and this is the main reason why these losers go around and parade themselves as clowns that they are, including in the publication which I wouldn't suggest to use as a toilet paper in times of crisis.