Twilight 2025

[Olefin]

I think a parallel question to that is: Are we paying so much attention to gathering metrics about military training that we are forgetting the point of the training
It seems that in some organizations (military and civilian), there is more effort devoted to gathering metrics than there is devoted to the actual operations that are the whole point of the organization in the first place.

Amen to that - have seen people so dedicated to getting their metrics done that they forget that they actually have to solve the problems they keep documenting. Or they are more concerned with getting the proper form filled out than in doing anything.

[LoneCollector1987]

If you continue to post statements like that you're going to kick off arguments that this forum really doesn't need.

Please go to page 1 of this thread and look at the post of swaghauler of 07-09-2018, 11:43 PM.
I quoted him.

[Raellus]

Warning

Please go to page 1 of this thread and look at the post of swaghauler of 07-09-2018, 11:43 PM.
I quoted him.

We don't usually delete member posts unless they include egregious violations of forum guidelines. It's been nearly three years since Swag's post (that you quoted), so I don't remember for sure, but he may have received a private warning from a mod at that time. The point is, whether or not someone else got away with violating guidelines in the past, please follow them in the present. Thanks.

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[Raellus]

Russian Gunboats Head to the Black Sea

More saber rattling from Russia

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40103/russian-gunboats-head-to-the-black-sea-to-join-troop-buildup-near-ukraine

The gunboats featured in the article would look great in an updated timeline version of Pirates of the Vistula.

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[Olefin]

We don't usually delete member posts unless they include egregious violations of forum guidelines. It's been nearly three years since Swag's post (that you quoted), so I don't remember for sure, but he may have received a private warning from a mod at that time. The point is, whether or not someone else got away with violating guidelines in the past, please follow them in the present. Thanks.

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FYI that is one thing that might occur Raellus from time to time when old threads get resurrected - i.e. what was ok years ago (and some threads on here are OLLLLLDDDD) is now not so good- is there a review process associated with bringing old threads back

[3catcircus]

So, one thing that I find interesting is that, in the past, due to the relatively slow speed of communication, wars have broken out without the rest of the world knowing it. Additionally, events transpire that are slow enough that the observant can start to predict if war is coming to begin with. It took a month, for example, between the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the start of hostilities.

Now, with a 24/7 news cycle and the ease of TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, I wonder if wars could happen so suddenly that nations reactively join into the conflict before they've had a chance to actually process precursor events. I mean, we saw the recent Myanmar coup live on social media before the news networks picked it up and one can continue to see nightly video of antifa engaged in violence in Portland. Or, alternatively, will the focus be more on soft response - drones, network-centric warfare, cyber strikes, etc. without ever actually putting troops in the ground or getting to the point of launching nukes

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Well... I'd like to believe that governments would be very careful in their analysis of a developing conflict but the reality is that we know some governments will do this while some won't. It makes it very easy for a less thoughtful government to over-react.
Which leads to some idle speculation over those nations that possess nuclear weapons and how they would react - I'm thinking particularly of countries like Pakistan, North Korea and Iran.

[Gunner]

Now, with a 24/7 news cycle and the ease of TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, I wonder if wars could happen so suddenly that nations reactively join into the conflict before they've had a chance to actually process precursor events. I mean, we saw the recent Myanmar coup live on social media before the news networks picked it up and one can continue to see nightly video of antifa engaged in violence in Portland. Or, alternatively, will the focus be more on soft response - drones, network-centric warfare, cyber strikes, etc. without ever actually putting troops in the ground or getting to the point of launching nukes

This one of the issues talked about also with a potential 'incident' with either Russia or China - the need to be active and assertive on these social media platforms, especially the newer social media platforms, to "shape the narrative", because if we don't, they WILL. (we almost certainly won't be able to, in my humble opinion).

In some ways, the old Cold War was ever so much easier...

[Raellus]

Countermove

https://warisboring.com/russian-ukraine-tension-prompts-sailing-of-2-u-s-warships-to-the-black-sea/

Ukraine is not a NATO member, but it will be interesting to see how NATO responds if/when the Russians attack Ukraine (again).

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[pmulcahy11b]

https://warisboring.com/russian-ukra...the-black-sea/

Ukraine is not a NATO member, but it will be interesting to see how NATO responds if/when the Russians attack Ukraine (again).

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Ukraine was on the cusp of being accepted into NATO when the invasions occurred. We should have invaded then -- and the Romanians and Poles were practically champing at the bit to back up anything we did.

[3catcircus]

Soooo...

We could be looking at a Twilight:2021 or 2022 situation.

China's crackdown of Hong Kong has further emboldened them. They're disputing with Australia and other Asian countries.

The US has just told citizens to leave Russia, while operating USCG ships in the Black Sea (and backing off original plans to send USN ships).

India is in a full blown covid panic.

The power vacuum in Afghanistan is coming once the US leaves.

Massive civil unrest across multiple nations over covid lockdowns, illegal immigration, and "racism."

Governments and institutions continually revealed as vastly more corrupt than anyone could ever imagine.

EDIT:

Fighting in the middle east. Supporters on both sides clashing in NYC. Cyber hacks on a pipeline let's to shortages resulting in fist fights. Chick-fil-A rationing nuggie sauces...

[Raellus]

Interactive Map of Russian Military Forces

For anyone working up a near future land war in Eastern Europe (c/o Upinus):

https://www.gfsis.org/maps/russian-military-forces

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[swaghauler]

So, one thing that I find interesting is that, in the past, due to the relatively slow speed of communication, wars have broken out without the rest of the world knowing it. Additionally, events transpire that are slow enough that the observant can start to predict if war is coming to begin with. It took a month, for example, between the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and the start of hostilities.

Now, with a 24/7 news cycle and the ease of TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, I wonder if wars could happen so suddenly that nations reactively join into the conflict before they've had a chance to actually process precursor events. I mean, we saw the recent Myanmar coup live on social media before the news networks picked it up and one can continue to see nightly video of antifa engaged in violence in Portland. Or, alternatively, will the focus be more on soft response - drones, network-centric warfare, cyber strikes, etc. without ever actually putting troops in the ground or getting to the point of launching nukes

Since I can't post a link right now, GOOGLE or YouTube "loitering munition."

Then look at the scifi YouTube video "SLAUGHTERBOTS" to see HOW "war" could evolve.

[.45cultist]

Well, this spring had me in a family health crisis, Dad had a cancer induced stroke, Mom had a heart attack while I was away tending to Dad's business. I have been fooling around with another PA game: FGU's Aftermath!. One campaign world I did was "Blackout!" an exaggerated future world where EMP blasts cripple electronics and only a few remember the older ways. Part of that inspiration was complaints about the younger ones dependence on their smart phones, armor not knowing the early way to bore site and GPS vs. map and compass. Young soldiers were amazed you could pinpoint your location with a military protractor!

[3catcircus]

Since I can't post a link right now, GOOGLE or YouTube "loitering munition."

Then look at the scifi YouTube video "SLAUGHTERBOTS" to see HOW "war" could evolve.

Oh, no doubt we've made it easier to deal death without getting out hands dirty. But, if you want to take territory, you need people on the ground. Until we invent robot soldiers or clone troopers, that is...