Bullet Points:
** The most environmentally friendly woman in the world.
** VDH discusses Ukraine, Finland, and an alternative.
** Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the El Salvadorian alien smuggler, MS-13 gang member, wife beater, and drug dealer, no longer has a non-removal order. Now that he’s back, what exactly do Democrats want to happen to him? It increasingly seems as though they oppose his deportation at all. This is someone who is clearly here illegally, has a valid deportation order, a history of domestic violence, is credibly accused of participating in trafficking activities, etc. We can argue about the destination, but this should be as easy a case for deportation as there is.
** Baghdad, Iraq: Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Asaib Ahl al Haq leader Qais al Khazali used widespread fears about an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) resurgence to try to justify the existence of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Recent US political and economic pressure on the Iraqi federal government to curb Iranian influence in Iraq has sparked a debate in the Iraqi political space about the future and possible dissolution of the PMF.
** The most optimized man in the world.
** (right) A dust storm known as the Haboob hit Phoenix. Thousands of people in Arizona have been left without power, especially in Maricopa County. Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport has temporarily grounded flights due to the inclement weather. Drivers have been facing problems due to low visibility during the storm. The ground suspension was lifted by evening, with flights delayed by 15 to 30 minutes. Dust storms such as this are not rare in late summer in the Arizona and New Mexico desert areas. They are lower altitude phenomenon and don’t reach places like the White Wolf Mine.
** Tehran, Iran: The Iranian regime is facing increasing pressure to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States ahead of the E3’s (the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) August 31 deadline for Iran to make progress toward a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue. Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Larijani is reportedly trying to convince the Iranian regime to reduce Iran’s level of uranium enrichment from 60 percent to 20 percent to avoid snapback sanctions and further US and Israeli strikes.
** Suwayda, Syria: Druze leader Hikmat al Hijri’s unification of around 40 Druze militias into the “National Guard” to defend Suwayda Province on August 23 undermines the Syrian transitional government’s efforts to establish a centralized Syrian state. The newly formed “National Guard” and “Supreme Legal Committee” include several former officers from the Assad era.
** Disney Grand Opening – the Peter Pan Syndrome.
** The steal remains real in the Golden State.
** Facebook discusses the .50 BMG as a sniper round. The .50 BMG is a better anti-material round than it is a sniper round. Many .50 BMG cartridge options can damage or destroy light-skinned armor that is not available in smaller and lighter projectiles. That may change in the future, but today, the .50 still holds its own.
** MQ25
Vanity Fair
(NY Post) “If I have to work bagging groceries at Trader Joe’s, I’ll do it,” the unidentified staffer whined.
Vanity Fair employees can always learn to code.
Russian Navy Corruption
(h/t Claudio) (Strategypage) By the end of 2023, the Russian Black Sea Fleet was destroyed mainly by Ukrainian airborne and naval drones, as well as land-based anti-ship missiles. About a third of the Russian ships survived and took refuge 488 kilometers away in the Sea of Azov. There, the Black Sea Fleet remains while repairs are carried out on damaged ships and crews undergo training. This did not resolve the issue, as a larger problem emerged: sailors were being sent to Ukraine as infantry. This practice extended beyond the Black Sea Fleet, with Russian generals also mobilizing sailors from the Baltic, Northern, and Pacific fleets. The army even conscripted shipyard workers. Compounding these issues is persistent corruption. Even during wartime, corruption persists among shipyard workers, managers, and suppliers of equipment. Russian government and military officials often view the war not as a national emergency but as an opportunity to enrich themselves by misappropriating funds intended for the war effort.
This situation is not new. The poor performance of Russian troops in Ukraine stems significantly from endemic corruption within the Russian military. These wasteful practices, which have been longstanding in Russian military tradition, contribute to its historical underperformance. Young men from wealthy families can pay approximately $500 to avoid military service or deployment to Ukraine. Those in combat zones can pay over $10,000 for a certificate of combat injuries, accompanied by a medical discharge from the military. For those remaining in service, bribes can secure extended leave to visit family and friends (costing nearly $1,000), promotions, certificates of physical fitness, or even a military driver’s license for those who are unqualified to drive. Bribes also help soldiers avoid punishment for using cellphones in combat zones.
Most Russian soldiers lack the financial resources to bribe their way out of trouble or danger. Consequently, poorer soldiers face higher risks of death, while those with wealthy families often survive and return home with purchased certificates of honorable combat service.
Bribes are also used to suppress uncomfortable discussions. A decade ago, efforts to modernize the military included initiatives aimed at reducing corruption. However, these efforts failed because too many individuals in the military and the ineffective defense industries profited from bribes, and many paid to have their offenses overlooked.
Corruption and poor management have created significant problems. Many officers are either incapable of or uninterested in implementing suggestions to improve combat capability. Senior officers often prioritize personal wealth over building modern, post-Cold War armed forces. Defense industry officials have consistently demonstrated incompetence, resulting in poorly developed or shoddily constructed weapons. Troops have voiced complaints about these issues for years, yet reform efforts have yielded little progress. Critics advocate for greater realism in addressing military corruption and the deficiencies of Russian defense industries. (more at the site)
Dream of Californication
(cue The Red Hot Chili Peppers)
(City Journal) Once celebrated as burgeoning hubs of progress and opportunity, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon are now showing unsettling signs of decline, a pattern mirroring the troubles of California.
As these states adopted policies similar to California’s, particularly in areas such as energy regulation, housing restrictions, and burdensome bureaucracies, they have begun to experience slowing job growth, sluggish housing construction, muted economic vitality, and rising domestic out-migration.
What’s particularly revealing is the shift in migration trends. Just as residents fled California despite its natural beauty and temperate climate, people are now leaving these Pacific and Mountain West states due to mounting frustrations with their increasingly inhospitable political and economic climates.
Kotkin argues that Colorado, Washington, and Oregon haven’t yet hit California’s level of dysfunction, but the trajectories are unmistakable. If these states are to avoid “Californication,” they must reconsider their policy alignment with the Golden State and the consequences that have followed.
Laundering – or “redirection”?
(NY Post) The New York Post Op-Ed argues that a sophisticated network of political insiders has redirected vast sums of taxpayer money through nonprofits under the guise of noble causes. It highlights two striking cases:
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick rescinded $7 billion in pre-approved subsidies channeled to a hastily created nonprofit, Natcast, which lacked any legal authority under the CHIPS Act, and $20 billion was stashed at Citibank, earmarked for “environmental justice” grants to Democratic-linked organizations—one tied to Stacey Abrams and Arabella Advisors.
According to the piece, these nonprofits are closely tied to political activism and offer lucrative roles for Democratic operatives, blurring the lines between charitable work and partisan politics. The author praises the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back such arrangements, but warns that the scale of this deeply entrenched system remains staggering.
Identify the Rotors
1
2
3
Identify the Armor
4
This might be a tough one.
5
Bonus – ID the Russian Aircraft
6
Parting Shot
End
1 – Airbus H145M
2 – Agusta Westland AW159 Wildcat HMA2
3 – Bell OH-58 Kiowa
4 – German u304(f) – Converted from French P107
5 – German Sd Kfz 10/5
6 – Antonov An-2
Excellent
VF Employee Outrage of the most elegant First Lady: Jealousy is a powerful thing….I wanna see pictures of the TDS’rs spouting off with such mentalist idiocy as, “We are not going to normalize this despot and his wife; we’re just not going to do it. We’re going to stand for what’s right,” the unidentified staffer whined. “What’s right”? “Despot”? …betting they can’t give a single example of their whacko characterization, but your Trader Joe’s paycheck won’t cover your Declining Denver Corporate Headquarters rent for one of those Russian style “hip” tenements off Santa Fe. But hey, toke on that ‘legal in Colorado’ doobee and tune out, non-binary. Good riddance…
***
Speaking of…Colorado Decline due to Californication: Those who think we work for them in this state will not change their trajectory. Never. (See above comment)
***
Putin and Zkyy meet with PDJT: Yet…”A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” (See Colorado decline above)
Reference those “legal in Colorado” products, when leaving Colorado eastbound on I-70, do be mindful to watch your speed and driving habits be-coz Kansas high-troll can usually be found scrutinizing eastbound traffic whilst paying scant attention to those traveling westbound.
…as well as heading South from Laramie/I-80 on 287, then North again…plenty of ‘Rec-Med’ shops in North Fort Collins.
Nebraska is also watchful.
Identify the Rotors:
1. Airbus Helicopters H145M
2. AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat
3. OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Identify the Armor:
4. leichter Zugkraftwagen 37 U304(f) 37mm PaK36
5. Perhaps a Sd.Kfz. 11.
ID the Russian Aircraft:
6. DEP Antonov. Update to AN-2 Colt.
yes!
Wow! The Russian military looks a lot like ours. Granted our bribes are hidden better, and promotions are based more on factors other than performance, but there have been similarities between the two since after WW II. That’s not to say the the US military can’t improve, but the past 30 years have been really bad for the DoD.
I see the Trump administration trying to set things right but it will take a decade or more to fix. The bureaucracy won’t want their ricebowl broken and will fight like the third monkey on the ramp up to the ark to save the mess.
vanity fair- in the immortal words of curly bill, “well, bye.”
Exactly. Nobody is keeping them from opening a hot dog cart.
Colorado’s decline was planned. Four wealthy individuals, including our current Emperor, created “The Blueprint”. Their plan has worked. What thwarts them is TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights), embedded in the state constitution. The (P)regressive cause has been bolstered by new residents from blue states. Change may be coming. Those areas of traditional Democrats (Pueblo, San Luis Valley, Four Corners) are not happy with the left wing. GOP? Too many are determined to ideological purity and cronyism, IMO.
———
Out migration? My COLOEXIT plan keeps getting sidetracked by familial ties that bind. Several cousins have decamped for Texas, settling in the Sequin area. None seem to regret leaving.
Could you leave with Banner in the R/V mirror?
No. He would come with me.
MRSLL has settled into the White Wolf Mine, but it was a challenge separating her from her bairns.
“The Blueprint” was an excellent book/warning. Few paid attention to it – or agreed with it.
Our COLOEXIT is “in process”…shame really, we love our homestead. Moved here in ‘84, MrsPaulM has been coming here most of her life, becoming a resident in’90. Over the 41 years both have watched the takeover from Denver/Boulder/Fort Collins (mostly Denver as the seat o’ power as “others” have moved in from Fruits-n-Nuts Land), ultimately forcing our hand to find a better downsize community to reside, even if out a ways from town, albeit fewer miles. Next chapter does not include Colorado.
That’s unfortunate, but it’s the same decision I made. I have not regretted the decision for a minute. I wish you and MRSPAULM fair winds and following seas.
Tusand tak.
Where can I read more about “The Plan”?
I don’t know where Vanity Fair finds their staff, but considering a trannie husband of a petty politician is really not a good choice as a substitute for the classic beauty of Melania Trump. Maybe the were dropped on their heads as toddlers. That, or their parents took large amounts of illegal street manufactured drugs.
Their mothers didn’t breast feed them?
When we were developing a system to guide 0.50 BMG caliber rounds, we spent three days at sniper training which included shooting the M-82 at various ranges out to 1000 yards. It was great fun to shoot at someone else’s expense. Our trainers (one ex-Army, the other ex-Marine) agreed that the 0.338 Lapua was a better round for long range sniping. Our paid sniper consultant, an Army Reserve sniper for several tours in Afghanistan, had used a 0.308.
Nobody asked me, but I prefer the .416 Barrett (10.4×83mm) cartridge for long-range shooting. They will out-range the .338 Lapua, which is an excellent cartridge. The .308 (Lake City Match) works well, but the original cartridge design was for a 6.5mm bullet. A 6.8 mm works too. So while I like .308 and own match-quality rifles chambered for .308, I know its limitations. Much beyond 800m, you’re better off with a .338 IMHO.
Yes sir, range requirements matter. I hit a target at 0.82 miles with a 0.308 during a different day of training (very light wind for Texas) but with the ex-marine sniper spotting. First round was two yards right and one yard down, the second was one yard right and one yard down and the third hit the target. The .308 was a slow-pig with quite the ballistic arc at that range. :)
Exactly. There’s always the issue of cold bore vs. hot bore for following shots at that range. There is also the potential of wind between here and there. The .416 Barrett prints better and carries a heavier punch at those ranges. The .338 isn’t a bad choice either. Most snipers in combat situations aren’t taking that sort of a shot because of those unforseen factors and in any sort of wind. Under 400M the .308 will do the job very nicely without a need for the larger and more expensive rounds. The 300 Win Mag is no slouch either.
Many of our hunting group (retired missileers) use .308 (I have many times) and several use 300 Win Mag. I have a rig similar to yours for hunting deer and wild pig, a .458 SOCOM and my own loads. I use a 325 grain Hornady FTX, with 28 grains of Hodgdon H110 which, with my rifle, gets approx. 1600 ft/s at the muzzle. It’s a bit slow, but works well on the pig and deer in the less than 200 yard ranges that we hunt at.
I have a few options for deer, pig, smaller game. One is a .25 Souper (.257 atop a .308 case necked down to .25) It’s a wildcat round developed and designed by my grandfather. I have a BSA action on it. It shoots very flat and you have to be careful that you don’t load them too hot or they bloodshot the meat to the point that it ruins the deer. https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.25-08+.25+Souper.html
That is a really flat trajectory! Nice about your grandfather.
Larry, why the preference for the .25 Souper over Ned Roberts older work on the 7 x 57 case?
Maybe it’s just me, but in a similar case, I prefer the 6mm Remington over the much more common .243 Winchester.
I knew a Marine Recon guy who swore the best long-range sniper rifle was a converted 20mm aircraft gun as he could hit an elephant at long range and get explosions, often secondary explosions. As the Viets would hide ammo and explosives on an elephant by covering it with the skin of another elephant.
–
Nicest crazy guy I ever knew. Miss him.
You guys need to schedule some time off to participate in the Boomershoot.
So, I guess we should all go out ta Cali and vote?
*
Early and often, as is the way out there.
– Kle.
I’ve been gone 6 years, and they still send me multiple ballots. I don’t vote there, but they send them to my kids’ homes and my prior residences.
Tangentially related to the half-track thing, can anybody rx a book on the Brit’s long range desert patrol operations in North Africa a/k/a “The Rat Patrol.” (Liked that show when I was a child–as an adult, not so much.)
Fishlaw. I would recommed the following three books, all of which I have a copy of in my library. “Long Range Desert Group” by W. B. Kennedy Shaw, “The Desert My Dwelling Place” by David Lloyd Owen, and “G Patrol” by Michael Crichton Stuart. Shaw was one of the units founding members and the units intelligence officer. He, along with Bagnold, another founding member, were experienced desert travellers and explorers from before the start of the Second World War. Both Lloyd Owen and Crichton Stuart were patrol commanders.
Thanks!
Dream of Californication
Been a very long time since I’ve seen a “Don’t Californicate Oregon” bumper sticker.
Left Colorado when it was still “People’s Republic of Boulder” instead of just “The People’s Republic”. No regrets and a sigh of relief.
I can’t seem to fit a 0.338 into my M1 so I guess I’m going to have to stick with 30.06.
Nice to see the .06!
👍🏻
Juan
I’m sure there’s a company out there who’d make a Garand in .338 for you.
But you would probably need something like Elmer Keith’s 338OKH to avoid having to cast a longer action, bolt, etc.
Dammit, LL, have to restart Melania Mondays.