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Post by quincannon on Apr 21, 2022 2:24:25 GMT
Tom: The primary problem the Russian Army has is leadership. They have none, or at least none worth the name. Everything you have seen so far goes back to leadership, maintenance, logistics, schoolyard level tactical employment of forces, and even the brutality directed toward the civilian population.
We talk about combined arms operations, and it is in that venue that leadership at the lowest level is vitally important. I would remind you, and all here, that the Bridge at Remagen was siezed by a Second Lieutenant operating without orders, and on his own initiative, that first got us across the Rhine, while leading a company combined arms team. The history of the war in Europe, and the War in Korea, are filled with such episodes, small combined arms teams, led by very junior officers, taking the initiative, without orders. If you don't have that kind of leadership, at that level, you don't have an army. You just have a bunch of guys playing dress up like our friend on the other board. A macabre masquerade.
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Post by quincannon on Apr 22, 2022 17:09:45 GMT
Howitzers that Biden promised last week have arrived in Ukraine, with sixty plus to follow. They are M777A2 155mm towed guns. I would have prefered to see self propelled M109A6 Paladin, which are easier to move, thus making it easier to avoid counter battery fire. Perhaphs the second batch will be, Hope so.
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Post by herosrest on Apr 22, 2022 20:39:59 GMT
A sergeant under Custer's command. Does not really matter that much who pulls the trigger does it? Stuart's mission at Gettysburg was to divert attention from Lee's 3 July attack on Cemetery Ridge. He accomplished that mission by first keeping the cavalry fully occupied, and fixing in place an entire unengaged army corps. I would say that was a pretty good days work. In my humble opinion, Stuart's attack was intended to win the battle by throwing the rear into confusion and rout. Similar to the collapse at First Bull Run, by destroying Union confidence, in getting in behind. I believe that was Custer's first experience of battle. He later exampled an understanding of what happened at Bull Run during his fight at Waynesborough. The job that Stuart was tasked to do was really a job for an Infantry corps supported by cavalry. Lee was fresh out of Army corps. He had destroyed them by his own hand and incompetence on 1 and 2 July. Even the attack, known as Pickett's Charge, was conducted by two used up divisions, and Pickett's fresh division that were put together on an ad hoc basis, and not from Longstreet's own corps. Longstreet did not have a corps after the 2nd day, rather two beat up and thoroughly defeated divisions, plus Pickett. No one but Lee was responsible for what happened at Gettysburg. He would not listen to anyone. I feel that Lee felt that he had no option but advance into the meat grinder, there are many examples of this. There are many examples of commanders who would decline slaughter. Stuart was to smash into the rear and raise chaos and repeat the first Bull Run. That is just how it seems to me. Lee's infantry were to follow up a retreating Union Army.Same goes for the Antietam Campaign. Have you ever read the nonsense that was Special Order 191? Lee was always trying to do something with very little. On defense you can get away with that many times, in that the defender has the luxury of choosing the ground he wants to fight on. You cannot do that on the operational offense. Lee fought on the operational offence twice and lost both of them. Keeping in concert with what this thread has become though there is a cautionary tale for Ukraine here. As of yesterday it seems that Ukraine will receive all of the weapons necessary to build a very capable offensive capability, tanks, APC's, tube and rocket artillery along with supporting systems like counterbattery radar, helicopters, and all the logistical material required to keep them running and fighting. The caution is that if Ukraine tries to use them too soon, to move the Russians out of eastern Ukraine by shifting to the operational offensive, the Russians will stop them. Best to wait for a year, fully train up, and let the sanctions be felt by Russia with full effect. Meanwhile remain on the operational defense and bleed the Russians. Hurt them bad. Keep them off balance. Then when the time is right strike. Haste makes waste. There has been a report today attributed to senior Russians organising Ukraine, that Moldova is a campaign target - but whether this is distraction psyops or too much vodka, I can't say. However, what I can say with some evidence from people who know is that Putin is a stubborn, boring, and not particularly brilliant achiever with balls the size of the Moon. A cursory study of history shows that sustained conflict in the Balkans, sets the World alight.
I've sort of reached blech..... with some light link reading the last few days, although i'm not too sure why it's up. An image of old Sitting Bull came to me me, he looked crossed eyed and saying 'Head full......'. Oh dear.......
In terms of global and national economies (all round) this is going to be a debilitating war and economic war. The Soviet's over-extended themselves fiscally. This will not happen in Ukraine because the economic fallout suits and favours China. I'm sure this is understood although in fuzzy fashion but do not be surprised when nukes start flying in Europe. It will happen.
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Post by herosrest on Apr 22, 2022 21:09:27 GMT
21st Century warfare
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Post by quincannon on Apr 23, 2022 3:04:55 GMT
HR: I believe if you read the official records, you will find that the intention was to distract rather than for Stuart to attack into the Union rear. Consider a cavalry division (Stuart's) launching an attack on an army corps in reserve, therefore unengaged, reinforced by a cavalry division. Lee knew that both the army corps and the cavalry division were there, and they guarded the very place where Stuart supesdly was to attack. Don't think "attack" was even brought up when Stuart was given his orders. What was discussed was keeping that corps in place along with the Union cavalry. Keep them in place by attracting attention to yourself, was Stuart's mission. The Union cavalry ended up fighting Stuart and that Army corps remained in place. Mission accomplished. You also must remember that a lot of what you read about Gettysburg, makes Stuart the goat for Lee's failures. Longstreet gets more than a few brickbats thrown his was as well. Stuart was fully blamed for the loss, because he was absent until the afternoon of 2 July, having ridden around Meade. Well it was Lee who sent him to ride around Meade. A thorough examination of the whole affair is contained in "Sabre or Scapegoat". I am sure you will find that informative. Lee had plenty of cavalry with his army, about two thirds of everthing that was available. He did not have Stuart, and he had come to rely on him. If you rely on him, the moral of that story is don;t send him away. The virdict is scapegoat for Lee's poor performance.
Lee is symbolic for the "nobel lost cause". If you do not understand what nobel lost cause means in the south - I means that tresonious scum and their progeny lost and they don't want to admit or accept it. They would rather turn the clock backward, when the march of history is always forward. That's why they will always lose in the end, just as Putin's present clock turning back exercise will lose too, and for the same reason.
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Post by herosrest on Apr 23, 2022 5:46:47 GMT
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61188943QC - Certainly, Stuart carried the can for Lee in some minds and this is the way of life. Reno getting blamed for Custer is similar. The cavalry fight was unintended by my reading and Union countered in surprise. Stuart was to sweep the Union rear - I think this way and accept that you see it differently. Stuart was the main blow. Lee was damned if he did or if he didn't in facing dwindling numbers and resources as the war advanced unless brought to a success, soon or quickly. Reckless throw of the dice, perhaps. I'm not an expert but see what I see. Ask the cavalry guys. I offer a Union parallel at Trevillian Station, and sorry it happens to be Custer. He stumbled into the target and captured the enemy reserve ammunition (Supplies as well). All hell let loose which is viewed in various fashions. He took the Confederate ammunition as they were throwing the kitchen sink at Sheridan and doing well. What Custer did is what was intended for Stuart at GB.
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Post by herosrest on Apr 23, 2022 7:05:40 GMT
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Post by herosrest on Apr 23, 2022 7:58:10 GMT
Here's lovely - www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/looking-to-deepen-pain-for-putin-west-studying-oil-and-gas/ar-AAWugdM I have a great deal of time for Yellen. She is incredibly special. Now, how to stuff Putin Pi? Invade Saudi Arabia to stabilize the ME and oil production. No brainer and the cheapest option. This will happen and guess whom Putin hates the most on Earth. Of all 8 billion people, who sits top of his list of hates? Turkey is economically destabilized. Arab League are mixing it with Israel. Moldova has been dropped into the pot. Germany desperately needs a new gas supply. Why not sort out Turkey's problems by developing the eastern Med gas fields urgently and utterly finishing off Nordstream 2. Why pipe gas from Russia through the Black Sea when it is sitting under the Med off Greece and Turkey. Investment is the problem, not politics. Slap a tax on Russin gas imports at source - Hey, Mr. P - pay us to take your gas and oil!
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Post by quincannon on Apr 23, 2022 17:54:01 GMT
HR: I believe the differences in our views can be summed up by defining three words.
Those words are distract, exploit, and sweep.
If Lee's directive, thus Stuart's intention was to sweep, why did he only have three of his brigades with him at East Cavalry Field? That was less than half of his division.
Having only three brigades though would be a sufficient force to distract attention and keep Union reseerves in place. Three brigades would also be sufficient to exploit any success gained by the main attack on Cemetery Ridge.
I have no problem with defining Stuart's mission as divert, exploit, or both. I do have a problem with the thinking that three brigades of cavalry was intended to sweep the Union rear, in light of the amount of unengaged Union forces in that rear.
Longacre and others have written several volumes on the cavalry portion of Gettyburg. Longacre's is especially valuable in that regard. One very telling fact, to me at least, is that on Lee's order Stuart was supposed to discharge four cannon shots as a signal he was in position. Stuart dutifully did this, and that was before Alexander fired his first gun or the three division attacking force made their first step forward. What I take from that is that Alexander was to pin the Union forces on the ridge, and Stuart was to show himself. Alexander failed to pin Union forces, and while Stuart showed himself, he was immediately attacked. Attacked by the same people he was, according to your theory, supposed to sweep away.
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Post by herosrest on Apr 24, 2022 7:55:27 GMT
I'll take a harder look, QC. Get back to you. I know the battle is well studied in depth and this is often problematic. I like keep it simple - whack a mole.
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Post by quincannon on Apr 24, 2022 17:14:36 GMT
Good for you HR. So much of the common beliefs about the ACW are colored by the after the war efforts to cleanse some of the participants of their mistakes. I think you will find with further study on your part that this is one of those. There is, for instance, a good reason that there is no statue of Longstreet on Confederate Avenue in Richmond. He pointed out Lee's tactical and operational errors in mis book "Manassas to Appamatox" and was never forgiven for it. Same was true for Mosby, whose exploits were largely overlooked for nearly a century, only to be redeemed in the 1940's and 50's. The fact that both Longstreet and Mosby later served in the Grant Administration probably added to the anger.
THat is why you have read me many times on this forum state that history is only starting to be told accurately after a hundred years have passed.
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Post by quincannon on Apr 25, 2022 18:51:56 GMT
Mike left the battlefield about an hour ago. Snow has greatly hampered his trip and he is a day behind schedule. The park road was closed south of Calhoun Hill, so he did not get to the Reno/Benteen area nor could he view Ford B. He does agree though that battle ridge could not be held by five companies. We will get into detail about that over dinner tonight.
I also asked him what he thought of the idea of a company charging off of Last Stand Hill and getting as far as Deep Ravine down by the river. He kind of chuckled, and said not so much. We will get at that tonight as well.
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Post by deadwoodgultch on Jun 30, 2022 18:22:14 GMT
Chuck,
I did not mean how the keeper was politically, but rather on an individual basis.
I also did not wish to comment on the past and/or political goings on in the other thread and I will comment here for what it is worth. The 1/6 hearings have become a made for TV circus, sham. Network TV is obviously complicit. I probably wouldn't feel that way if the Republicans had been allowed to place on that committee representatives of their choice, rather than have the powers that be appoint them.
Secondly, what I remember I remember the price of regular gas was 1.99 in my area of VA, on 1/6. Oh and my grocery bills are in the range of 20% more. I know that is above what the media is telling us. I tend to buy fresh, several times per week. Check out the increase in fertilizer prices and other agriculture needs.
Regards, Tom
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Post by quincannon on Jun 30, 2022 18:47:50 GMT
Yes I know, but with the keeper how she is politically in an election year is how she is. I did neglect to tell you that she was re-elected herself to her fourth four year term this past May.
You are entitled to feel about the hearing any way you so desire. All I told you was that they evidently had an impact on the primary elections held this past Tuesday in Colorado. That's what Republican candidates themselves told me, one on Tuesday night, and the other yesterday. They watch the polls as if it were a religious experience. My other friend who was running for State Senator was unopposed so I don't know if he has a relavant opinion or not. I have not seen him to ask him
The Speaker of the House appoints people to select committees in the House. Several Republicans were nominated to serve, and then withdrawn by Republican leadership. Two Republicans serve on the 1/6 Committee, and the Speaker did not have to appoint them, but she did. Those are the facts, and if you do not chose to believe the facts, then I can be of no further assistance to you.
So your telling me you don't like inflation. Neither do I. I think you have to put it in perspective though in that the price of fuel is up, and there is not a hell of a lot that can be done about it, in that oil prices are clearly defined by world events, and there is a war on, involving a petro-state. The price of grain is also up, and there is a war on, you will recall, involving one of the world's leading producers of grain. The price of fuel though has an impact on goods and services well beyond the gas pump. As the cost of fuel/transportation goes up so do the cost of goods and services. The price of grain, is actually a bit more serious in that world hunger leads to migration, and migration leads to instability. Once the inflation dragon is let loose it's difficult to put him back in his cage. It takes time, but this too will pass, regardless if something is done or nothing is done. Economics 101 old son. That is what is presented in the most basic course on a very complicated subject. It is very easy to blame. It is very hard to accurately determine where blame belongs. The world has a way of stabilizing itself, but not without great pain.
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