02/19/23

The Decisive Engagement – Knowing When To Fight To The Death

Recently I spoke to a fellow graduate of Virginia Military Institute and he said, “That is not the hill I want to die on.”

Both of us, being former soldiers, understood the portent of those words. There was no hill involved nor any prospect of death, but it meant what he intended it to — this was not the issue upon which to bet the entire enterprise. I agreed with him.

In business, life, relationships, the military, and the social wars that engulf our great national experiment, it is becoming progressively more difficult to sell the idea of the decisive engagement.

Bit of historic perspective

George Washington is known for being the most influential Founding Father, but he was also the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, a warrior chieftain, and the first two American Presidents. Sort of awkward the way I said that, but you understand what I mean.

Washington depicted after the battles of Trenton and Princeton by Charles Willson Peale, one of 8 different paintings of G Washington by Peale and his son.

Continue reading

02/6/23

This Is Really The 21st Century, Right?

I wake up early every morning and check the news, particularly the war news out of Ukraine.

I catch myself wondering if this is really the 21st century when I see a nuclear nation, Russia, invading and slaughtering a neighbor on some tired bullshit mumbled by a mad man about Nazis.

Is this actually the bloody 21st century?

Continue reading

01/30/23

Germany Goes To War – Tanks For The Ammunition

Recently, Germany played the reluctant, virginial, arranged marriage, trembling bridesmaid on the eve of her wedding being coy about slipping out of her knickers and approving the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine from other countries as well as from Germany.

If you buy a Leopard, unlike if you buy a BMW or a Mercedes, the Germans must approve any subsequent transfer. Seems a bit silly, but you play them the way they lay.

After prolonged sweaty foreplay and heavy breathing, and extracting a promise the Americans would send their lovely Abrams tanks to the deb ball, Germany finally drew its skirt over its head and delivered the permission and one hopes the Leopards are soon running free and wild incinerating Orc tanks. Continue reading

01/19/23

Russia Admits Defeat In Ukraine?

Dmitry Medvedev, former President of Russia and Putin stooge of long standing, made an odd admission yesterday.

Dimi said that Russia would use nukes if they were to lose the war in Ukraine.

It is hard to read this any other way than an admission of future defeat for Russia.

Medvedev, who used to be a “liberal” interested in bringing Russia kicking and screaming into the modern world and developing healthy relations with Europe and the US, has become the designated spokesman for Russia’s persistent threats of nuclear obliteration.

It was Dimi who threatened Finland and Sweden there would be huuuuuuge consequences if they joined NATO. Yawn.

He is Putin’s best boy, so the message has to be seriously considered, but the words say something entirely different. The Russians are preparing themselves for defeat.

Dimi and Vlad in an intimate moment discussing murdering innocent civilians in Ukraine.

What’s odd about this, Big Red Car?

Continue reading

01/8/23

Palantir And Artificial Intelligence (?) Go To War In Ukraine

On New Years Day the Ukrainians struck a school in Makiivka the Russians used to house up to 500 soldiers. It was well behind the FEBA (forward edge of the battle area, the line of contact).

From Russian sources — meaning these are Russia’s numbers — the four projectile HIMARS attack resulted in substantial Russian casualties: 90 KIA and 300 WIA. I suspect they are greater.

How did the Ukrainians do this, Big Red Car?

Well, the answer is a tour de force on how a much smaller, scrappy nation can fight a much larger nation by using technology to create a meaningful advantage.

There is a distinct possibility the Ukrainians will emerge from this conflict as a tech war super power.

Palantir – who is Palantir?

File:Palantir Technologies logo.svg - Wikimedia Commons

Continue reading