"Mission from God" indeed. Worse is that martyrdom is central in Shia Islam; that decapitation strike killing Khamenei and others just boosted their morals.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - 07:48 pm: Edit

If that were true, Carl, they would phone in their position to US Central Command and ask to be sent to virgin land.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - 09:15 pm: Edit

I think Carl is confused.

Morals is closer to a spiritual internal code of behavior of individuals.

It is possible that Carl meant to type Morale, which in certain individuals, is a measure of intestinal fortitude. (Possibly another word for courage.)

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - 10:12 pm: Edit

Either one, doesn't matter, if they thought it was cool to die, they would volunteer.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 12:02 am: Edit

And the leadership in Iran would change hands on a more rapid basis?

We'd have an easier time with that new (and popular?) game of "Whack-A-Mullah?"

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 12:12 pm: Edit

[Gives Jeff Wiles a biscuit.]

Svc, I can't imagine you don't know what martyrdom means for those people so I'll drop that subject.

By Ted Fay (Catwhoeatsphoto) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 01:31 pm: Edit

Morale is not courage, it is the will to fight. One might have courage, but lose morale in the sense that one is persuaded to give up the fight. For example, I might be willing to die in battle, but the enemy threatens my child (who is in their power) and as a consequence I lose morale (the will to fight).

Sometimes, a failure of morale may be because of a failure of courage - but the two are not synonymous.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 01:50 pm: Edit

Morale is a expression of happiness, which reflects on the ability to fight.

Carl, I know more Moslems than you do and more about martyrdom than your fantasy world thinks it knows.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 02:14 pm: Edit

Air Defense: German TYTAN Interceptor Drones
March 26, 2026: German firm Tytan is one of several companies in Europe producing drones. Most of these are sold to the general public and some are sent to Ukraine for use in combat. While Ukraine manufactures most of the drones it uses, it will purchase effective ones from foreign manufacturers.
Tytan’s first drone is an interceptor used for air defense against attack drones. Production is already underway and is expected to reach 3,000 drones a month by the end of 2026. Each TYTAN drone weighs five kg, with a one kg warhead. Max speed is 250 kilometers an hour and an interception range of 15 kilometers.
Two years ago, Ukraine developed a drone that could intercept and destroy other drones. This was achieved using FPV/First Person Viewing operated drones to detect the enemy drone and destroy it by colliding with it. This was made possible by using drones controlled by FPV operators. While the first FPV drones were quadcopters, the interceptor drones are faster fixed wing models that look like remotely controlled model aircraft. The soldier operating the FPV was a kilometer or more away and used FPV goggles to see what the day/night video camera on the UAV could see. Each of these UAVs carried half a kilogram of explosives, so it could instantly turn the UAV into a flying bomb that could fly into a target and detonate. This is an awesome and debilitating weapon when used in large numbers over the combat zone.
The interceptor drones were used to take down Russian reconnaissance and surveillance drones that located targets for Russian artillery and for air strikes by manned aircraft or explosives equipped FPV drones that can go after a moving target. Unlike manned aircraft, drones are smaller and slower with top speeds of 100 to 150 kilometers an hour and only operate at low altitudes under 1,600 meters. Note that these drones were still unable to catch helicopters, which they could damage. Fixed wing aircraft, like jet fighters, are another matter as they rarely fly low enough for the drones to reach, much less hit such a fast moving aircraft. The Ukrainians were able to incorporate the new killer drone capability into their air defense systems, which meant the air defense radars and fire control systems recognized drones large enough and metallic drones to show up on radar. Modern aircraft tracking radars were not designed to detect, much less track, small slow and low flying drones.
The Russian solution to this Ukrainian interference was to send more surveillance drones accompanied by attack drones as a way to overwhelm the Ukrainian air defense system. Sometimes this worked, for a while, but the Ukrainians were generally faster to improvise and modify systems that didn’t work until they did. Russian forces rely more on massive use of whatever they have. This sometimes works because, as the Russians like to point out, quantity has a quality all its own. That worked until it didn’t as the Ukrainians found ways to quickly overwhelm Russian defensive measures and destroy more of their artillery target spotting and reconnaissance drones in several areas. If the Ukrainians could continue to manufacture lots of these interceptor drones that simply collide with their targets, the Russians are in big trouble because Ukrainian artillery can operate more freely and effectively and suffer lower losses.

FYEO

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 02:14 pm: Edit

Leadership: Russia Resists Chinese Domination
March 26, 2026: A growing number of Russian leaders and Russians in general are concerned about the increasing influence of China. Not only is China supplying many goods previously produced in Russia, but Chinese workers are crossing the borders in eastern Russia to help deal with the labor shortage. Because of over a million men lost in the Ukraine war, and another million leaving the country to avoid military service and an ever-declining birth rate, the Russian population is shrinking. As more Chinese move into eastern Russia, those areas will eventually be more Chinese than Russian. China never renounced its claims on Russian territory in the Far East, where the Russian city of Vladivostok was, until 1860, the Chinese city of Yongmingcheng. The Russian Far East is already dominated economically by the Chinese, and the Russians rightly fear that the Chinese want these territories back. Russia would probably comply because they need China as an ally and are too weak economically and militarily to resist such Chinese demands.
Russia is increasingly dependent on China for economic support and help in rebuilding an economy ravaged by more than four years of war in Ukraine. China is willing to help, not as an ally but as a patron for its new Russian client state. China seeks to turn Russia into a vassal state.
This is nothing new, not when you consider that the traditional Chinese name for their country is Zhongguo, which is usually translated into English as Middle Kingdom. But a more literal and accurate translation is “everything under the heavens”. Until the 21st century this mainly meant adjacent land areas. But now China points out that everything means the South China Sea, portions of India and the Russian Pacific Coastal region. The Zhongguo tradition also means China does not have allies, just powerful trading partners, like America and European nations. Then there are client states like North Korea, Pakistan and others who deny the status, like Russia. That has always been the Chinese outlook, and it hasn’t changed.
Some things have changed. China finally underwent the Industrial Revolution during the 1980s. While that made China an economic superpower, China is no longer a self-sufficient continental power, as it had been for thousands of years. Now China is dependent on international trade to keep its economy going. Treating foreigners with disdain, and often deceiving and exploiting them, has consequences. The most immediate example is how China is dealing with its recent debt crises and the possibility of a major economic disruption. China is seeking to make its enemies suffer for this, instead of itself, and so far that appears to be working.
Less hostile foreigners can also be a problem. This can be seen in the problems China is having with its two nuclear-armed clients, Russia and Pakistan. Both these clients have used their connections with China to carry out aggressive actions against weaker neighbors.
China supports this misbehavior because China is also an empire trying to reclaim lost territories. That some of those territories are currently Russia’s Far East is not officially discussed in Russia or China but is no secret to many Russians and Chinese. That is a problem for another day as currently Russia and China support each other’s imperial ambitions in Ukraine and the South China Sea and help each other out to deal with any associated problems, especially the UN or economic sanctions.
China does not want to fight a war to achieve this hegemony, and it doesn’t have to. The Chinese economy is the second largest in the world while its military exists mainly to protect China from external threats. The Chinese economy is the offensive weapon China is using to dominate the globe.

FYEO

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 05:07 pm: Edit

An Google inquiry about China and its economic outlook, paints a somewhat different picture:

Quote: “ China is facing a severe, multi-faceted economic crisis characterized by a bursting property bubble, high debt levels, deflationary pressures, and low consumer confidence, threatening to end its era of rapid growth. Youth unemployment is high and the population is shrinking, putting pressure on the ruling Communist Party.
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Foreign Policy Research Institute
+4
Key aspects of the crisis include:
Property Sector Collapse: Millions of unoccupied apartments and failing developers have severely affected household wealth and consumer confidence.
High Debt: A significant burden of debt exists, especially in the corporate sector and local governments, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.
Demographic Decline: The population is aging rapidly and shrinking, which reduces the labor pool and increases pension obligations.
Struggling Growth: Independent estimates suggest actual economic growth is lower than official figures, with significant deflationary pressure in the economy.
Structural Challenges: A lack of confidence and structural changes are contributing to a downward spiral, with foreign investment reaching three-decade lows.
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Foreign Policy Research Institute
+6
While some observers suggest these challenges are "structural" and represent a "bumpy path" rather than an immediate collapse, others highlight that the "economic miracle" is coming to an end.”

This response almost certainly reflects googles AI. Some parts may be in error, judge accordingly.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 05:18 pm: Edit

SVC:

If I recall correctly, the F.Y.E.O. Brief is substantially similar to earlier reports stretching back several years, with some changes reflecting actual events.I (And I suspect others who are paying attention) accepted it as very accurate.

More recently (within the last six to twelve months) China has had to deal with an increasing number of economic issues that have seriously curtailed China’s exports, thus reducing its competitiveness.

They may still be the worlds second largest economy, but it is an economy in decline, not growing.

If the current trend continues, it is possible they may slip down to. Third largest or even lower in the rankings.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 05:34 pm: Edit

The top ten economies rankings are:

Quote:”
According to data from sources like Statista and Bajaj Finserv, the largest economies are ranked as follows:

1. United States: $30.6 trillion
2. China: $19.4 trillion
3. Germany: $4.5 trillion
4. India: $4. trillion
5. Japan:
6. United Kingdom
7. France
8. Brazil
9. Italy
10. Canada .”

By Luxurious Long Hair Dolls on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 05:47 pm: Edit

Authentication Error

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 07:07 pm: Edit

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, March 26, 2026 - 10:06 pm: Edit

The solution in Iran is to let the women run the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0a6qLujLTs

By Carl-Magnus Carlsson (Hardcore) on Friday, March 27, 2026 - 03:58 am: Edit

In other news it is reported by Reuters:

"- Russia is pleased about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's remarks that Washington has tied ‌its offer of security guarantees to Kyiv surrendering the eastern Donbas region, a senior Kremlin official said on Thursday.
Zelenskiy's comment, which he made in an interview with Reuters, "can't help but make us happy", Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev told reporters on ​Thursday.

"He said an important thing... he finally understood that the U.S. position is that they'll ​only support security guarantees if Ukraine quits Donbas," Dmitriev said."

Besides being part of Ukraine hasn't Donbas also functioned as" Strategic depth" to Ukraine?

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Friday, March 27, 2026 - 09:07 am: Edit

The U.S. Army has just raised the maximum recruitment age from 35 to 42, and dropped the disqualification for certain drug convictions.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat) on Friday, March 27, 2026 - 10:16 am: Edit

Carl, yes of course it has. Ukraine also recently built major fortifications there. And some people who live there would need to move out, while others who live nearby would find the Russians that much closer.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Friday, March 27, 2026 - 12:53 pm: Edit

Because the Trump administration has tried to reduce oil prices by lifting sanctions on Russian oil, and because capital flow into Russia is decidedly suboptimal for Ukraine, the Ukrainians launched major drone attacks on the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga on Wednesday, which are major oil-export terminals. This has effectively shut off Russian oil loading in the Baltic.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, March 27, 2026 - 12:59 pm: Edit

It is not the only thing the Trump administration has done in an attempt to lower energy prices and expand the supply of oil available to the world market.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Friday, March 27, 2026 - 02:27 pm: Edit

Indeed, it is not, nor did I claim that it was.

The administration has also made efforts to increase oil supply by trying to guarantee insurance for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz (with, so far, no takers), releasing oil from strategic reserves (to some small and temporary effect), trying to recruit a sort of international naval security force to escort tankers through the Strait (which failed), and allowing Iranian oil already at sea to be delivered without interference (to minimal effect, while serving to provide funds to the country against whom we are involved in a war).

There is of course also the matter of Venezuela, which has enormous reserves of heavy, sour crude, and the administration has encouraged oil companies to build new facilities there. So far, most have shied away from it due to a combination of factors, ranging from the sheer amount of time and financial commitment necessary to the sociopolitical instability in that nation.

By A David Merritt (Adm) on Friday, March 27, 2026 - 02:31 pm: Edit

The reduction of sanctions on Russian, and "at sea" Iranian oil strikes me as more of a political move to lower the impact of fuel prices, than a strategic move to ensure a victory in the field.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Saturday, March 28, 2026 - 01:02 am: Edit

"The U.S. Army has just raised the maximum recruitment age from 35 to 42"

Yes, because they were told to do so three years ago, when the USAF & Space Force raised theirs. But the left-wing media spin is it's because the Iran conflict. Really? Let's assume a 42 year old does enlist, it's going to be months before he (she) is thru Basic and AIT, then more time before able to deploy to the sand box. These thing in Iran will be over and forgotten before that guy will be ready to go. But you can't tell people who take the NY Times spin as gospel.


Garth L. Getgen

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Saturday, March 28, 2026 - 10:15 am: Edit

I put no spin upon it, Garth; I simply made note of the changes. You seem to be engaging in a strawman argument.