I'm listening to the new episode of the NYT "Daily" podcast, an interview with Helene Cooper about tomorrow's military parade. Audio and transcript at Podscribe, here. (I do listen to the audio and tweak the transcript. Otherwise, instead of of "Champs d'Elysee," you'd be seeing "Sean.")
I loved the line "I don't really get the France part because France is a democracy."
And by the way, Cooper goes on to describe the many military parades we've had in the United States over the years.
Maybe reexamine the premise: "Dictatorships do that. Democracies do not." A democracy elected Trump, and Trump loved the French parade and wanted one for us. Did he want it to frighten us or to make us feel proud and secure?
Meanwhile: "What We Know About the ‘No Kings’ Protests on Saturday/Organizers have planned demonstrations in cities and towns across the country on the same day as President Trump’s parade in Washington to celebrate the Army" (NYT): "The demonstrations will occur in all 50 states, and organizers have estimated roughly 2,000 gatherings — ranging from small groups in more rural communities to larger rallies in major cities including New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas and Denver. According to a map by organizers, there are some three dozen events scheduled in Indiana alone."
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135 comments:
Apparently , to get on the list of advertised protests, you just need to sign up on the Kings website. So some of these could be 3 people with signs.
Guess we'll see tomorrow!
A very special parade for the birthday boy. Adorable.
We fly Navy fighters over football games! Disappointed in prissy Mattis.
Being inspired by France does throw a monkey wrench in the whole "dictatorships do that" leftist line. But I agree with Mattis that we shouldn't do it. Because the French do it.
Tom T. said...We fly Navy fighters over football games! Disappointed in prissy Mattis.
On a small scale, we involve the military in parades all the time. But a military parade is different thing. Let's keep it to veterans in July 4 parades.
They do the same in Spain, on Oct 12. Last year they were almost rained out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFfaYsgG29s&pp=ygUTZGVzZmlsZSBvY3QgMTIgMjAyNA%3D%3D
ooo and your brick. There will be stacks of bricks.
Go to Tampon Tim the Terrorist . com for instructions.
Also be sure to use the opposite gender bathroom.
“Apparently , to get on the list of advertised protests, you just need to sign up on the Kings website.”
How do we know the Kings website isn’t run by ICE and/or DHS?
To it properly, Euro style, you need the gala uniforms, the cavalry, on horses, the service academies in their full dress uniforms, etc. It does help to have a photogenic royal family in uniform. But the French do without, so I suppose you can make do as well.
Oh NO not the TUCK.. right wing bowtie boy says trump absolutely complicit in Israels' attack on Iran after trunp fails peace talks here there and everywhere. Carlson’s network also questioned Trump’s reaction and prior knowledge of the strikes following Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the United States had no involvement.
“While the American military may not have physically perpetrated the assault, years of funding and sending weapons to Israel, which Donald Trump just bragged about on Truth Social, undeniably place the U.S. at the center of last night’s events. Washington knew these attacks would happen. They aided Israel in carrying them out. Politicians purporting to be America First can’t now credibly turn around and say they had nothing to do with it. Our country is in deep,”
Carlson then called the president “complicit.” The guy has wars in Gaza ,Ukraine and soon in Iran and his negotiating skills seem to suck, but lets have a military spectacle for 45,000,000 plus like Putin ,and Kim and all those guys.
Beautiful
I can assure everyone, as a US Army veteran, who was in many, that the US has military parades. Perhaps not at this scale, but a quick look with chatgpt shows major parades to celebrate various victories. Certainly, the 250th birthday of the US Army is worth a celebration.
Hearsay from the NYT - wow - such a shock.
You do know that June 14, 2025 is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army. My son (who is a Special Forces office) is very stoked for this parade and the anniversary. I will proudly fly my US Army flag(This we'll defend) tomorrow.
Jim Mattis turned out to be a greedy corrupt politician.
Crazy how DC can change weak souls.
[Shrug] The Taliban has been staging military parades using American gear that Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, and dozens of generals left behind when we were driven out of Afghanistan. So why shouldn’t we stage our own parade with our equipment?
Note to the admirals and generals in the Pentagon: when the Commander in Chief says “Jump” you say “Yes, SIR!” on your way up. The a$$hole generals we have now were willing to be driven out of Afghanistan with their tails between their legs, leaving behind usable military equipment — and American citizens! — at the behest of Joe Biden, so they can damned well stage a parade at the behest of the new guy in the Oval Office.
I look forward to all of the traitors getting out there in the streets and signaling their support for the foreign invasion and their opposition to support for our own military.
Hopefully we can start a database and keep track as the enemies of our country out themselves.
According to AP, "[t]he Army had long planned a celebration for its semi-quincentennial on June 14." So no, Trump didn't gin this up for his birthday.
Trump never grabbed the steering wheel - AND - all of the documents have been destroyed by the corrupt left.
Trump never said what the corrupt left claimed he said when he visited the grave-sites in France during his first term. More leftist lies.
D.D. Driver said...
A very special parade for the birthday boy. Adorable.
It has been interesting to watch all of the neocons and bitchturd fake republicans let everyone know they are mad when someone actually wants to recognize the American men and women who serve in our armed forces.
Warmongering neocons who simultaneously attack events meant to honor the people they want to send to war are the lowest lifeforms in our political system.
I remember the story. Nothing new here.
Are they confirming the U.K. isn't a democracy? The Brits Troop the Colour every year.
tim maguire said...
Being inspired by France does throw a monkey wrench in the whole "dictatorships do that" leftist line. But I agree with Mattis that we shouldn't do it. Because the French do it.
Events like this are absolutely necessary for the morale of a combat force.
That is why the neocons and democrats hate them so much.
They want a demoralized dysfunctional military that will fight 20 year wars and die quietly and accept defeat like we did in Afghanistan.
It would have taken us 30 days at most to completely eliminate the taliban. We knew where they were and caught them multiple times before releasing them.
Washington DC is full of traitors and veterans look forward to the day that shithole is purged.
1. The Merchant Marines had their 250th yesterday, and the Continental Marines were founded 250 years ago come November. You have to read pretty far down in the stories to learn that it's about a military semiquincentennial celebration. 2. I can only hope that Trump follows the keen fashion sense and excellent taste of the late Muammar Gaddafi, of Libya, and wears a uniform festooned with braids, medals, ribbon, epaulets, a Big Hat, and some leather belts, with tassels. Wouldn't that be just a gas, if it didn't detract from the true purpose, celebrating the birthday of the Army.
3. No Kings ! Well..... let me put it this way, I went to the site and took a look at the map. One of these 2,000 brave assemblies of dissidens is planned for Bedias, Texas. Here's Main Street, Bedias. I'd expect to see a flood of pink pussy hats at the feed store, if it hadn't been closed for years.
Flag Day seems appropriate for military parade
We keep being told at how we must trim our federal budget, a significant portion of which is on defense.
Parades like this make it clear that is all talking points from the right, who haven't seen anything american flag covered they won't spend on.
Helene doesn't get out much past the Hudson River. Fourth of July parades in small towns all over the country feature the local National Guard Company marching along.
I’m sure Tim Walz must be correct when asked about troubling times like these said he thinks perhaps the only country who has the moral authority to bring peace is COMMUNIST CHINA.
Tim Walz is asshoe!
Mooks such as Mark stand alongside Walz.
This Jim mattis who would rather dink acid is the same one who sold his soul to Elizabeth Holmes fraudulent theranos scheme
How many people looked at the board who was supposed to make sure everything was honest and invested based on his and Schultz et Al reputation?
The board members should be in jail.
John Henry
"The Brits Troop the Colour every year."
In fact, tomorrow.
"It has been interesting to watch all of the neocons and bitchturd fake republicans let everyone know they are mad when someone actually wants to recognize the American men and women who serve in our armed forces."
What do you even mean? I LOVE this shit just as much as YOU do. I fucking LOVE it when our Dear Leaders have giant birthday parades for themselves. It makes America great! I also LOVE it when schoolchildren sing devotional songs to Barrack Hussein Obama. This is kind of America where we revere our leaders!
I'm with you on this one Achilles! Why attack me?
I’m just meh on the parades until I factor in who is apoplectic about them and it changes my view to I’m all for it. I know that’s a cliché response but I’ll cash in a cliché pass to say it…
If Mattis and Selva actually said those things, it's merely confirmation that USA military was being led by libtard shitheads.
Maybe if America is truly, truly great, we can get the new snazzy Arab Force One to do a flyover.
I listened to the podcast. Was that a parody of a NYT podcast? Or was that the real podcast. You know that military parade could turn into a Tiananmen Square moment. Really?
I’m psyched to see what I’ve purchased over the years!
If one is inclined to think the worst about Trump; he's a buffoon and a Dictator! Then a Military Parade celebrating the 250 year anniversary will most likely be seen as a SHOW OF FORCE designed to intimidate his opposition, foreign and domestic.
The rest of us will marvel in awe of what Military capabilities will be on display, and how we have a unique country that can put on a Military Parade not based on persecution or intimidation.
When they said there would be an A-10 “Wart Hog” fly-over at the parade I must of misheard, because I replied “how are they going to get Bill Clinton to open his fly in front of all those people?”
"...there are some three dozen events scheduled in Indiana alone." Oh I bet those will be real humdingers.
"Events like this are absolutely necessary for the morale of a combat force."
BINGO! This is exactly why Kim Jong Un's troops have such high morale. It's also how the Soviet Union was able to win the Cold War!
If you can't beat them (and clearly we cannot) why not join them? Let's make America as GREAT as North Korea.
Achilles with the big brain (again!).
I don't believe a word said in this story. As always, an elaborate story about Trump being a shallow or immature simpleton comes along and Ann and everyone else analyzes it from different angles except for the most obvious angle...its complete and total end to end bull*** as will be demonstrated soon enough as the story is entirely contradicted.
In my opinion the protesters should think of a better phrase than “the King’s protest”.
Because when I hear King I immediately think of MLK. That’s a good thing not something I should be worried about. And in an odd sort of way, these antiTrumpers have stumbled upon a truth. Trump is trying to bring King’s vision back. Welcome protesters - especially if you follow the lead of our American King and practice nonviolence.
Yes! King's protest: diversity of individuals, minority of one.
Dictator's protest: Diversity (i.e. color judgment, class bigotry), Equivocation, and Indoctrination (DEI). #HateLovesAbortion
Louis XIV or Louis XVI didn't need military parades. Republican/Democratic France did, and maybe still does. One might also look up the Grand Review of the Armies in May 1865 or New York City's Victory Parade in January 1946 or the National Victory Celebration in June 1991.
If a military parade makes the military look ominous or frightening, as Soviet parades did, maybe that's not such a bad thing. Rather than terrify people into obedience, it might make them more distrustful of government power. We talk about bombing or drone attacks quite carelessly and loosely now and might need a reminder of what they really involve.
"Events like this are absolutely necessary for the morale of a combat force."
BINGO! This is exactly why Kim Jong Un's troops have such high morale. It's also how the Soviet Union was able to win the Cold War!
A failure to distinguish between "necessary" and "sufficient."
Liberal assembly: American Civil Liberties Unburdened
So there had to be a war for American independence started which led to the formation of the American military 250 years ago. Then Donald Trump had to be born on June 14. Then he had to be re-elected in 2024 after losing in 2020. All to get a military parade on his birthday in 2025. Are we living in a simulation or is it a divine plan?
Quite a lot of countries have a national day military parade, and most of them should be perfectly acceptable to any left-wing American. Mexico has theirs on Sept 16, and it will be presided over by their current President, the left winger Ms. Sheinbaum. Chile puts on a partularly impressive show! Check out the uniforms - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYH4CYL1EcI&pp=ygUcZGVzZmlsZSBtaWxpdGFyIGNoaWxlbm8gMjAyNA%3D%3D
Who came up with "No Kings"? What does that have to do with Trump? Where is the monarchical equivalent of the Steele Dossier, the "evidence" of Trump's plan to assume the title of King of America, dissolve the Congress, and declare which of his sons shall be the heir apparent? Even the Russia, Russia Russia obsession of the lEft in 2-17 was better planned than this.
As noted, 250 years of the US Army. Who tend to get the short end of the stick. They often have to hang around an 'peacekeep' a bunch of pissed off locals. They do a great job - lets celebrate their contributions to a peaceful world over the years.
2. I can only hope that Trump follows the keen fashion sense and excellent taste of the late Muammar Gaddafi, of Libya, and wears a uniform festooned with braids, medals, ribbon, epaulets, a Big Hat, and some leather belts, with tassels.
Hah, that immediately brought this to mind: The Dictator
Then it hit me that that is probably pretty close to how some of the crazies see Trump.
buwaya, we have a day for that. July 4
They call shim DeeDee Driver
And once upon a pair of heels
ev’ry post shows his brain is gone
Got his number
Reports from Ukraine suggest that Kim Jong Un's troops do in fact have high morale, or at least much higher morale than their Russian allies, and usually fight to the death rather than surrender. So much for that talking point.
"No Kings" had its big kickoff with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. It doesn't really fit the current national context but I guess that nobody came up with a better slogan and the "No King Then. No King Now." signs were already printed.
@Dr Weevil: they would rather DIE than return to North Korea! Such high morale! Why can't AMERICA be as GREAT as NORTH KOREA?
The left have their Dear Leader hymnals and the Trumpers have their Dear Leader Happy Birthday Parades and they both think the *other side* is brain dead and they are both right about that part!
@nicksortor
🚨 Trump told CNN’s Dana Bash Iran’s hardline negotiators are now dead
BASH: “Does that mean Israel got them?"
TRUMP: “Well, they didn't die of COVID.”
🤣
Military parades are a part of US history, although rare in modern times. I think the last one was during the Eisenhower administration. Ike was hardly a dictator.
https://thegunzone.com/what-other-us-presidents-had-military-parades/
D.D. Driver said...
Does it hurt to dumb? I only ask because I'll never know.
I don't mind getting to see some of the weaponry I've helped pay for.
Mattis ended up being a disappointment in every way. He talked the talk but couldn't walk the walk.
Not going to look it up, but I do remember reading about a Prussian General who wanted a war to be over quickly so the troops could get back to doing their real jobs- marching in parades and celebrations.
The Merchant Marines celebrated their 250th? From their website: On May 22, the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) at Kings Point observed National Maritime Day. TBH, I didn't know that was a thing. But as for picking a founding date, that's a whole other thing. American vessels homeported in Boston and other ports were engaging in international trade before, during, and after the Revolution. Some obviously at sea when it started- flying the British flag. When did merchants switch to the US Flag? No one knows for sure. But we do know the Barbary Wars were fought because the Barbary states didn't respect the US flag.
“[D]ictators need to frighten their population...”
The day before the Israeli attack, Iran broadcasted a mass hanging of young men. I’m going out on limb saying a military parade is tame in comparison. From what little I know about human nature. I could be wrong.
"The left have their Dear Leader hymnals and the Trumpers have their Dear Leader Happy Birthday Parades..." And then there's you, to whom it's inconceivable that a person could neutrally view what is clearly a patriotic event, and not see it as anything more than a celebration of national pride; to take it all in, and see the President as just a notable side feature of the Main Event. Sad. You're the one making Trump the Center of Attention, when the planning was in progress long before his term. What for?
Who came up with "No Kings"
Well they can't say "no monarchs". Every woman is a "Queen" these days.
A very special parade for the birthday boy.
The birthday boy is the US Army, and yes, it's well deserved.
Those who can't acknowledge the Army's anniversary and want to make this all about Trump need to seek professional help.
"Military parades are a part of US history, although rare in modern times. I think the last one was during the Eisenhower administration. Ike was hardly a dictator."
This ⬇️ is BIRTHDAY parade. This is honoring a MAN not an Army or a country. This is the type of shit dictators do. Show me some other example. ONE other example of a Western leader throwing himself a birthday parade.
Just one example.
🦗🦗🦗
THIS is Achilles and Rusty and gang, a bunch of children :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJFC1qFCgyA
Dr Weevil said...
Reports from Ukraine suggest that Kim Jong Un's troops do in fact have high morale, or at least much higher morale than their Russian allies, and usually fight to the death rather than surrender. So much for that talking point.
************
You make it sound like the NORKS in Ukraine engage in pitched combat and fight to the "last man".
The truth is, they mostly die by having drones drop grenades on them. IOW they didn't even see their deaths coming.
Hello, we had 25,000 NG and army in DC on Biden's inaugeration - and they were there to "awe" and "frighten" the population. And keep them from protesting. In fact, over 5000 NG troops stayed till the end of March. To protect King Biden and Queen Nancy from any of MAGA peasants.
And Mattis and Esper weren't concerned at all.
Remember "war hero" "non-partisan" Officer Vindman. Who wore his medals and uniform when he testified against Trump in Impeachment 1.0? Well, he's dropped the mask and now is screeching "Fascist, Fascist, you dirty Nazi" at the NG for showing up in LA.
Not quite off thread, but …
When Trump asserted that France is a democracy, had he thought to confirm that with Marine le Pen?
@D.D. Driver: you have been repeatedly told that the parade commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army. Yet you ignore that, in favor of the canard that it's all to glorify Trump.
You're a Fool, a Certified Grade A Fool at that.
Big Mike, that's not what Trump said, that's what one of the journalists said, Michael Bobro. He was confused that the smart people were saying that only dictatorships have military parades, but clearly the context was France. Only the smartest people in the room have that sort of special reasoning power.
Biden and the Democrats act Joe Stalin in office. They throw pro-lifers, J6ers, etc. in jail for protesting. They get the FBI to conduct dawn raids with SWAT teams. They try to jail Trump. They get the FBI/DHS to contact social media to censor and harrass anyone they don't like. And then when Trump gets in office, they screech that "Democracy is at stake", "No Kings".
While the best defense is a good offense, they always overestimate the Right. The Left thinks if they don't tie up the Right and make them defend Trump, the Right will start pointing out that how powerful and undemocratic the Left is. But the Right has no desire to do that. They just want to "Own the libs". And watch Fox news. And make fun of AOC or the morons on "The View".
I laugh at the west's feeble military parades. Now, THIS is a military parade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLmgyF1ioAQ
Boy was I naive about the Generals/Admirals prior to 2016. Like Trump, I thought they non-partisan and patriotic. Who knew they were a bunch of crazed globalists and liberal/leftists? I forgot did General Millie vannilli get pardoned by BIden? Because if he didn't he should be brought up on charges for by-passing Trump and talking to the Chinese on his own. Not to mention, lying to Trump about a lot of things.
I don't see anything wrong with a military parade, but given the Army isn't used to defend America, but carry out Globalist wars for the American Empire, I'm not sure I want people to celebrate them. Its a good thing our Army was so small under Biden, because if it'd been bigger he probably would've sent them to Ukraine. Or invaded Iran.
Trump is undoubtedly a showman, and despite the grim assurances of the American Left, undoubtedly a patriot as well. I haven't been to any parade in years (I'm not counting Mardi Gras, which has a whole other purpose), but I remember well the way the marching bands and proud ranks of people made me feel - the excitement, the sense of community, the shared purpose.
And I attended any number of air shows as an Air Force force brat. The flyovers and demonstrations of aircraft, the families gathered to celebrate the common mission of their loved ones, and yes, the exhortations to support our POW/MIA personnel - it was always stirring.
Military recruitment is ahead of targets, for the first time in years. Americans voted for a president who would form an administration dedicated to American greatness - and, I think, Americans are hungry to celebrate that greatness. The American military is not just a powerful military force but an engine of cultural change (one hopes returning to positive cultural change now), a social equalizer, a thumb in the eye to organizations like, say, the British military where it was routine to buy your loser offspring a commission. It's a (large) microcosm of the entire concept of the United States. And a parade is a tried and true public spectacle that makes the patriotic heart swell.
And Triple-D, please stop - my eyes hurt from rolling back so far in my head.
This one's even better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifF2FSVXTHM
D.D. Driver said...
"Events like this are absolutely necessary for the morale of a combat force."
BINGO! This is exactly why Kim Jong Un's troops have such high morale. It's also how the Soviet Union was able to win the Cold War!
If you can't beat them (and clearly we cannot) why not join them? Let's make America as GREAT as North Korea.
Achilles with the big brain (again!).
Events like this also provide an opportunity for neocon pieces of shit to tell people in the armed forces to sit down and shut up and wait quietly to be sent to war.
Trump is loved in the armed services because he obviously respects what we do and what we did.
Neocons like DD Driver think we are disposable fodder.
There is no one more hated in the veteran community than the chicken hawk douchebag who doesn’t like military events to show respect to the military.
Right WE know nothing,The Sgt.Shultz administration,,FUK Zelensky ,complicit with BIBI, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Trump administration diverted 20,000 anti-drone missiles originally meant for Kyiv to American forces in the Middle East.
Zelensky revealed Sunday that he had secured a deal for the missiles under the Biden administration to counterattack Moscow’s deadly, Iranian-designed Shahed drones, which have been at the center of Russia’s mass bombardment campaign.
“We have big problems with Shaheds,” Zelensky told ABC News’ “This Week.” “We counted on this project — 20,000 missiles. Anti-Shahed missiles. It was not expensive, but it’s a special technology.”
Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Trump administration diverted anti-drone missiles originally meant for Kyiv to American forces in the Middle East. ABC News
Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Trump administration diverted anti-drone missiles originally meant for Kyiv to American forces in the Middle East. ABC News
The diversion of the weapons was first reported by the Wall Street Journal last week, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly issuing an “urgent” call to redirect the weapons on June 4 away from Ukraine. us NOTHING TO DO WITH IT from the most obsessive LIAR group in history! cmon man..
"So this goes back to 2017 when President Trump was in Paris and watched France's Bastille Day military parade. There were tanks..."
No, it goes back to slavery. Everything goes back to slavery.
Here in GA road works signs say “Your tax pennies at work”.
Maybe the military is shy of having to honestly say “Your tax gazillions at work”.
I preferred the Chinese women marching myself. It rocked!
There has been an annual Veterans Day parade in Birmingham for over 70 years. But lately there are more school kids in it than real military units. But still...
The military has been ordered to remove documentation of its DEI (e.g. systemic, institutional racism, sexism, political congruence) legacy from its website and properties, so that no kings and queens will be honored when the focus should be on the men, women, and achievement in service over 250 years.
Been in a lot of parades if "pass in reviews" count. A few random thoughts
1. 250th birthday for the Army? worth a parade
2. gettin warm in DC in June
3. Troops generally don't mind parades. what they hate is stand in formation for hours waiting for the parade and lots of pre-pre-inspections
4. parades after winning wars are good.
5. I would not know. There were no parades when I came back from Hue
BEDIAS!?!?!? Oh man that is hilarious. Population 361. I used to ride through Bedias every couple of months, it's in the middle of some great routes. It also happens to be in one of the reddest counties in Texas. Wish I still lived in the area, I'd go take some pictures.
How should I feel that Democrats are now calling JFK, by implication, a fascist authoritarian? His inauguration had a rather impressive military parade.
And after the left finishes lighting their hair on fire over this, they'll move on to something else.
It must be exhausting to be constantly outraged over the stupidest things. Get a fucking life, already.
@ Hannio
Let's just go with the OG:
North Korea Party Rock Anthem ft. Kim Jong Il
https://youtu.be/VJNBfBr-OGU?si=iOc3gBh8n6TuwNNy
B.S. This goes back to 1976 when Trump saw Bicentennial Parades in these here United States and now knows the 250th is the next best opportunity for such patriotic displays.
I just came from a US Army installation. There was lots of preparation going on for a host of activities celebrating the Army's 250th birthday. I saw tents, vendor trailers, stages, and lots of soldiers in civilian attire. Looks like there will be fun to be had over the weekend, and the US Army is funding it. Good.
I didn't see any signs for a parade, though.
I'm a 30 year veteran (depends on how you compute it), and a huge military parade in DC just rubs me the wrong way. I don't see this being a good thing.
We used to have displays of equipment on Armed Forces Day. We let the kids crawl over the tanks and helicopters (under supervision, of course), and we let the people meet the nice soldiers protecting our country.
Wasn't that enough?
I just saw a video from the Lincoln Project featuring a military band and some marching troops.
They think its North Korea.
I thought the image of Americans of all stripes marching together as a unit looked pretty inspiring.
They also don't goose step.
..."Zelensky revealed Sunday that he had secured a deal for the missiles under the Biden administration to counterattack Moscow’s deadly, Iranian-designed Shahed drones, which have been at the center of Russia’s mass bombardment campaign...."
You mean the one that came in response to the Ukraine's Sneaky Pete drone attack on strategic bombers, STINKY ?
I guess their intelligence operatives didn't know there was an election coming up, and a leadership change. Maybe they read the wrong polling data and thought it'd be Kamala.
Not sure I'd buy too much into anything said by a Ukrainian, just sayin'. Maybe there was a Biden deal, maybe not, maybe there were anti-drone missiles diverted, maybe not.
You're seeing it in the wrong light. Maybe Israel just helped out Ukraine by whacking Iran's supply lines. Maybe they're secret allies.
Dum Dum Driver apparently doesn’t know what coincidence means.
Btw, whole bunch of people were born on June 14: Boy George, Steffi Graf, Burl Ives, Harriett Beecher Stowe, Che Guevara…
If Dum Dum Driver feels so strongly about it, Dum Dum Driver can put on Che Guevara apparel and join street protestors.
The rodeo is in town this weekend. It will pull bigger crowds than the local protest.
"It must be exhausting to be constantly outraged over the stupidest things."
Well, they're idiots, so...
"I preferred the Chinese women marching myself. It rocked!"
I need to take a cold shower.
Well, I have nothing against Ukraine but if our military leaders feel that certain weapons are necessary to protect our soldiers,, I say divert whatever is necessary, whenever it’s necessary. Especially if it could help in keeping nuclear weapons out of Iranian hands.
tommyesq said...A failure to distinguish between "necessary" and "sufficient."
This is neither. I could accept an argument based on it being fun, everybody loves a spectacle, but not on it being important, because it isn’t.
The 20,000 or so units in question are guidance equipment add-ons for 70mm "Hydra" rockets, which are standard NATO unguided munitions. These are cheap rockets used en masse from multi unit launchers, often seen on helicopters. There has been an ongoing R&D program to use these as a base for cheap anti-drone munitions or as a substitute for manpads. This has been a long running (almost 20 years now) multinational project, a principal player is the UK's BAE. Ukraine has been a player too, a testbed for this since 2022, as a "live fire" site.
Russia has been sending swarms of Shahid drones into Ukraine for years, since 2022. This project is a good prospect for coming up with a cheap counter to things like the Shahid. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Precision_Kill_Weapon_System
I suggest you read the whole thing.
The only people I see making tomorrow's parade all about Trump are the Democrats and fake Republicans who keep lying about it being a parade for his birthday.
In the 1980's I was a metrology consultant (well, my employer was, as a supplier of Quality Control systems) to many aerospace firms making things that went zoom, and bang. I cannot say that I worked on Hydra 70 (NDAs, the only thing I can say concerning all our clients is I worked on the manufacture of the McDonnell Douglas Harpoon missile, but lets say I know something about such things).
Everyone on the JCS from Trump's first term needs their pensions, and security clearances, pull.
What a bunch of trash
The ubiquitous Hydra 70 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra_70
Note: To be clear the point of the APKWS is to bring down drones of the Shahid class as a point-defense system. The whole thing is supposed to be a cheap counter to that class of threat. This has nothing to do with Patriot or cruise missiles, etc. Ukraine has used various defensive systems versus the Shahid, mostly guns of some sort, the best seem to be the old German Flakpanzer Gepard. Most of the remaining functioning Gepards (about 100) in existence seem to be in Ukraine now. Of course, as a point defense system with limited range one needs large numbers to cover a large number of potential targets, and if one can afford to send a large number of drones at one target its easy to swamp the defenses.
Just remember after the parade while you're standing in formation do not lock your legs. You'll pass out
Without evidence, ABC News reported Zelenskyyyy said....
The difference is that Donny wants to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a military parade to celebrate his birthday at the same time that he professes to be reducing spending while firing Federal workers, spending excessively to round up people who are here legally and using reserve troops in violation of Posse Comitatus to stand around with empty weapons in LA. Meanwhile these troops are not able to work their regular jobs.
So, I've seeing some pictures of soldiers from different units assembling for the parade. I may have to change my tune.
They are having units dressed as soldiers throughout history. This may be worthwhile, after all.
@Joe Bar: you gotta give it to Trump. He knows how to produce a show. I’m sure it will be fantastic.
I realize the country has changed a lot since 1976, but I'm slightly surprised by how little attention is being paid to next year's semiquincentennial of the USA's founding, i.e., the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I was just a kid in 1976, but I remember a lot of hype and a series of significant celebrations leading up to the bicentennial 4th of July. It was a big deal!
Insert 1619 joke here, I gues..
It seems to me the National Guard is there as a show of force, which is valuable as a preventative to violence and looting. The key here is to dissuade, by simply being there, the undisciplined and malicious elements, by showing that force is present and available at need. This should have been done in many places in 2020 IMHO, it would have prevented many problems and much loss - the situation in Kenosha WI for instance (just one of many cases in 2020), with a crowd of opportunistic looters and arsonists that seem to have overwhelmed the local police. The problem of vigilanteism comes up only when some perceive that the state can't maintain order, and in Kenosha it was was obvious that it couldn't. A few hundred National Guards probably could have changed that. Anyway, I will be in San Francisco and Los Angeles in a month or so and can report, maybe, on conditions.
“ The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2025, with Philadelphia hosting the main events. The celebration, titled "Homecoming 250," will include a series of events from October 9 to 16, culminating in the Marine Corps' celebration on November 10. The Navy's anniversary will be commemorated with a commemoration at Independence Hall on October 13, featuring addresses by Navy leaders and a flyover by the Blue Angels…”
"...The difference is that Donny wants to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a military parade to celebrate his birthday..."
Oh you poor dear. Is there a dimmed room with a fainting couch available? If it makes you feel any better, I'm reliably informed that tens, maybe hundreds of millions of taxpayer funds have been diverted from the coffers and bled into the various leftist NGOs and Directed-action funds, to underwrite the 'No Kings' thriller - the only distinction being that they're being very sneaky about how they're stealing it. I'm sure you'll get your moneys worth.
To be clear on another point - I know its going to come up - APKWS or any other point defense system, no matter how cheap, isn't going to help vs the Houthis, unless you can equip every merchant ship with such a system. A naval vessel defending merchant ships vs a swarm of drones is going to need a weapon with considerable range to cover multiple potential targets. Range plus guidance = expense.
How often does the military engage in PR with parades and ceremonial appearances instead of killing people and breaking things- their reason for existing?
Virtually every single day.
My son, as an ROTC cadet, was color guard at more then one Bills game, and got to stick around for the game. Blue Angels and other service flight squadrons exist for the sole purpose of showcasing the military. As do various parachute teams that come down in stadiums across the country bearing the national flag. Making a movie with some military in it? Presenting the military in a positive manner? There's a Pentagon unit to provide assistance. IIRC- Stripes did not receive any military assistance... And funerals, which occur near daily. Somewhere. I coordinated base color guard at my final duty station. Funerals were their most common duty. And- they were all volunteers who did this in addition to their other military duties.
And even first ladies get military escorts at their funerals. https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fim.rediff.com%2Fnews%2F2023%2Fnov%2F30funeral-rosalynn-carter20.jpg
As for service birthday celebrations, they occur, obviously, yearly. All over the country. Like the 250th USMC Birthday Ball in Rochester NY this year: https://www.mcccrochester.org/birthday-ball-1 Tickets on sale August 1. Should be a good one.
gadfly said...
The difference is that Donny wants to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a military parade to celebrate his birthday
It's the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the US Army, and this pitiful toad wants to make it all about Trump.
TDS really makes people stupid
BASH: “Does that mean Israel got them?"
TRUMP: “Well, they didn't die of COVID.”
Perhaps "with" COVID, though!
"TDS really makes people stupid"
To be fair, it's possible they were already stupid.
I walk every step o' the mile,
And think it was really worthwhile
To see a parade come marching down the line.
I don't know a son of a gun
Who wouldn't be willing to run
To see a parade come marching down the line.
Perhaps I'm what you'd call a patriot,
But one thing's certain, whether I am or not!
I love a parade;
The tramping of feet,
I love ever beat
I hear of a drum.
I love a parade;
When I hear a band
I just wanna stand
And cheer as they come!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Kh_SwBR2k
This "No KIngs" protest is strange. I wonder why there is so much hate for the Los Angeles hockey team?
Joe Bar said...
Wasn't that enough?
Trump is repairing the damage done by 50 years of Uniparty assholes treating the Army like garbage and disposable fodder.
Maybe 40 years ago you wouldn't "need" it. But after 50 years of Bushes and Clintons and Obamas and Bidens sending the Army to shitholes only to purposely lose something needs to be done.
The big change happened when Biden fucked Afghanistan up. Obama turning Iraq into an ISIS stronghold was not particularly great but the Afghanistan pull out made that look tame.
Every general that signed off on that Afghanistan withdrawal plan should be publicly executed.
Why are they protesting against King?
buwaya,
When the state can't maintain order, vigilantism isn't a problem, vigilantism is a solution.
The British "Trooping the Colour" military parade is today, I believe. If this fellow Paul Selva really said, "Mr. President, dictatorships do that. Democracies do not," he's so ignorant it's just embarrassing. And if he was just trying to gaslight Trump, he's embarassingly stupid too. Trump is quite old. I can pretty much guarantee that the Bastille Day parade is not the first military parade he's seen in a Western democracy. If Selva tells Trump democracies don't do military parades, Trump's probably wondering where the hell this dumbass came up with this.
You kind of have to hope Selva is being libelled here.
Why are they protesting against King?
Because Diversity (i.e. color judgment, class bigotry), DEI (i.e. systemic, institutional Diversity) is antithetical to King's Dream. Denocrats bray principles that can only be reconciled under the Pro-Choice religion.
Trump was elected in part on his promise to not involve our soldiers in neocon wars. The neocons are the ones disrespecting troops' lives. Trump has not changed this policy. He is respecting the troops --- and their lives. I'm sure the appreciation is mutual.
I'm going to the Gainesville, GA No Kings event to videotape it -- in the zip code with the highest percentage of illegal immigrants per capita in the entire United States. Of course, I'm sure the protesters will just be a bunch of stupid white leftists.
The only time in my life the US was attacked out armed forces sat there and watched Flight 77 crash into their headquarters.
Not much to brag about.
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