Bad Moon Rising

It’s a special day at the White Wolf Mine – a full moon.

Bullet Points:

** Convert or die…nothing new under the Sun.

** The B‑2 Spirit stealth bomber has officially gained the ability to carry the AGM‑158C Long Range Anti‑Ship Missile (LRASM), marking a new chapter in its operational role. Traditionally focused on nuclear and land‑attack missions, the B‑2 can now conduct maritime strike operations, extending U.S. reach across the Pacific. The LRASM, with a range of over 200 nautical miles, uses advanced guidance systems to penetrate defenses and strike naval targets with precision. This integration was demonstrated during a live‑fire exercise north of the Mariana Islands, where the bomber successfully launched LRASM against a designated target. Analysts highlight that this capability strengthens U.S. deterrence posture, enabling stealth bombers to threaten warships from outside heavily defended zones. The move also sets the stage for the upcoming B‑21 Raider, which is expected to inherit similar capabilities, ensuring continuity in America’s long‑range strike strategy.

** Ryan spoils his guest.

** Lawyers for Anthony Fauci have launched a legal defense fund for the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, saying that the need to respond to a growing number of state and federal investigations related to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic will require substantial resources. They’re asking the public to contribute to aid the man of science in his hour of need.

** Join the Wagner Group. Uncle Yevgeny Prigozhin wants YOU for the Ukraine front. Yes, Vlad killed him and his leading cadre, but you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

** Earlier this month, three of Russia’s largest grain terminals in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk halted operations after being damaged. Ukrainian shipments have been snarled by regular Russian strikes on port facilities in Odesa and elsewhere.

** Housekeeping – There is no VM blog planned for tomorrow.

** Oil prices eased as efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz appeared to gain momentum. US officials said US Navy minesweeping has cleared most of the strait and that increasing tanker traffic through its southern lane has stripped Tehran of leverage, making the temporary, joint shipping corridor under discussion with Muscat irrelevant. Benchmark crude eased to about $86 a barrel after Pakistan reported “significant progress” toward ending the war. Iran has said a full reopening depends on the war ending and the blockade on its oil exports being lifted, and the Red Cross has warned the effects will be felt well into next year. As the conflict cools, the US is shifting from strikes to economic pressure on Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told counterparts from allied countries in recent phone calls, Axios reported. Washington will hold off on new strikes unless Iran attacks first, while tightening a naval blockade and adding Treasury sanctions, and will push as much oil through the Strait of Hormuz as possible. The policy is expected to continue at least until after the US midterm elections.

** BRM recalls the actor Tim Curry, dead at 80. RIP

** Live in the past or live in the future. Small modular reactors, micro-generators, etc., will be everywhere, providing 24/7/365 power capacity for industry and domestic use on Earth and in space.

Aid to Ukraine

Claudio (Strategy Page) brought this up: Since early 2022, NATO countries have provided Ukraine with several hundred billion dollars’ worth of weapons and military supplies. While the Ukrainians appreciate this, their most significant battlefield successes have come from weapons developed by Ukrainian individuals, small groups, and the small companies that these entrepreneurial efforts create.

Defense firms in NATO nations struggle to understand how this works. Traditional defense production relies on orders for batches of expensive weapons. Larger weapons can take from weeks to years to build. Smaller weapons and munitions can be produced quickly, but only from a few factories. In wartime, it can take a few months or more than a year to establish new arms plants and begin production. No NATO nations are at war and producing in wartime mode, but Ukraine is. As for the use of all the NATO military aid, Ukraine has been winning its war largely with Ukrainian-made weapons. Their response has been to build whatever they need, quickly, driven by necessity and the will to survive. It has filled gaps where traditional weapons were unavailable or inadequate. Ukrainian-designed and manufactured drones have become essential.

Ukraine’s innovation was crucial in defeating Russian efforts to occupy more territory. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian defense industry is moving toward production on a scale that would have seemed impossible a few years ago. The rapidly expanding drone production is less a fixed system than an evolving one: initially primarily defensive, but steadily expanding across the air, sea, and now ground combat zones.

What began as an improvisation is increasingly hardening into a durable, technological defense system, as the country seeks to become an indigestible steel porcupine for its rapacious neighbor. Since the full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s defense-industrial base has grown at an unprecedented pace, with annual production capacity increasing five times to $50 billion.

Chinese Mavic drones, for example, became emblematic of the war not because they were built for combat, but because Ukrainians adapted them to drop grenades when no better option existed. That was followed by Ukraine’s repeated examples of how drones assembled quickly, continuously adapted, and fielded at scale can have a major impact on the battlefield. For the defenders, it’s been a race to build effective, low-cost systems that can be quickly mass-produced. Ukraine was soon assembling its own drones and eventually building drone components as well.

All well and good. How many (by billions) of dollars of Western military munitions were “sold out the back door” through cutouts in Albania (and elsewhere)? How much of the cash humanitarian aid was laundered back to host countries or to the pockets of corrupt Ukes? The answers are, for all intents and purposes, unknowable. But the numbers have been significant. Is Ukraine to Russia what Sicily is to Italy? Is it a rich man’s fight and a poor man’s war?

And while I’m on THAT rant — 

Ukraine’s anti-corruption police arrested Irina Mudra, who was the deputy head of Zelenskyy’s office until prosecutors moved in.

Pravda reported, “Ex-deputy head of Zelensky’s office remanded in custody with bail set at $447,000.” No major US news outlets appear to have reported on the arrest (or court-ordered pre-trial detention) of Irina Mudra as of August 26, 2026. Isn’t it interesting that we now rely on Pravda for reliable news?

Mudra, 51, is a lawyer with vast knowledge of Ukrainian banking—and sticky fingers. Chay Bowes, an Irishman turned Russian journalist, said of the setting of the bail, “I’m sure she can pay much more. Half a million dollars is just pocket change for her.” Mudra said in court, “I have some of my own money. Some of it comes from acquaintances and friends. I will try to find that amount.”

EurAsiaDaily, another Russian propagandist, reported, “Even great-grandchildren will have enough: assets of Irina Mudra, dismissed from Zelensky’s office, have been found.” Mudra’s salary was around $1,000 a month. Her acquaintances and friends upped that to $30,000 a month. She’s a good mom who takes care of her daughter.

Mezha.net, a Ukrainian online outlet that is sorta reliable, reported, “During the court hearing, the prosecutor separately mentioned a conversation between Iryna Mudra and Mykytas. According to the prosecution, it concerned the transfer of nearly $4 million, expenses for Mudra’s daughter’s living costs and education in the United States, as well as assets that were not listed in her declaration.

“Based on the records of the covert investigative actions, it can be concluded that Mr. Mykytas left Mudra $4 million; she systematically receives $20,000 to $30,000 every month; she owns a Range Rover that is not included in her declaration, worth approximately 4 million hryvnias ($100,000). In addition, Ms. Mudra discusses jewelry she owns from Bulgari and discusses with Mykytas her daughter’s education in the United States, for which the annual budget for living expenses and tuition is expected to amount to $250,000.”

My oh my. This is all such a shock. I suggest that you ship any canned food and old clothes to Ms. Mudra to aid her in her hour of need.

Turkish Intentions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to remain on good terms with President Trump. The Sultan read the room and decided that Turkey’s way forward was as a partner to the US rather than as an antagonistic spoiler. The US dumped its Kurdish allies at the behest of Turkey (and Iraq) as a show of good faith. The Kurds aren’t happy, but geopolitics requires a heavy dose of realpolitik. At last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, President Trump showered his host with praise, calling him much more “loyal” than other countries.

Turkey has put its Russian air-defense equipment (not quite junk, but junk) for pennies on the Lira to pave the way for talks over the purchase of US-made F-35 fighter jets. He’s also seeking a return to the consortium producing fifth-generation jets and to buy F-16 fighters, and is due to visit Washington next month to discuss these issues. The issue of Iranian methane/natural gas is a sticky one because Turkey has been a major buyer. Turkey has continued to import Iranian gas even after a 25-year contract for 9.5 billion cubic meters a year expired at the end of July. As the US moves to economic Armageddon with Iran and those who do business with Iran, this situation will have to change. Ankara would clearly side with Washington, even if it is forced to secure more expensive energy supplies elsewhere before winter.

Turkey has moved ahead with the development of a new uncrewed, autonomous amphibious vehicle designed to hold beaches while an expeditionary force follows on. (above) At TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan 2026, hosted by the Gölcük Naval Shipyard Command in Kocaeli from 20 to 23 August 2026 unveiled İ-ZAHA  which is designed to take the crew out of the first wave, which is the highest-risk phase of any amphibious assault, and to operate as part of a manned-unmanned team (MUM-T) with the Marine Assault Vehicles (MAV) already in service with the Turkish Naval Forces Command. (h/t Claudio) Are they planning to seize islands from their NATO Ally, Greece? How long could the Greek military hold out against the Turkish war machine (rebuilt, Russian junk peddled to Bangladesh)?

Identify the Aircraft

1

The fully equipped medevac can cross the planet from the South Pole to the North Pole. There isn’t much room inside, though there is a bunk for one of the pilots.

2

3

End