#revolutionary war airports

[mariacallous]

“We’ve seen arson, sabotage and more: dangerous actions conducted with increasing recklessness,” warned Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, Britain’s domestic security and counter-intelligence agency, of the threat posed by Russia and the GRU, its military-intelligence agency. “The GRU in particular is on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets,” he said on October 8th. Other European intelligence agencies are equally concerned. On October 14th Bruno Kahl, Germany’s spy chief, said that Russia’s covert measures had reached a “level previously unseen”. Thomas Haldenwang, the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence services, told lawmakers that an act of sabotage had almost caused a plane to crash earlier this year as he warned that “aggressive behaviour” by Russian spies was putting lives at risk.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has been accompanied by a crescendo of aggression, subversion and meddling elsewhere. In particular, Russian sabotage in Europe has grown dramatically. “We see acts of sabotage happening in Europe now,” Vice-Admiral Nils Andreas Stensones, the head of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, said in September. Sir Richard Moore, the chief of MI6, Britain’s foreign-intelligence agency, put it more bluntly: “Russian intelligence services have gone a bit feral, frankly.”

The Kremlin’s men have squeezed the West out of several African states. Its hackers, Poland’s security services said, have tried to paralyse the country in the political, military, and economic spheres. Russia’s propagandists have pumped disinformation around the world. Its armed forces want to put a nuclear weapon in orbit. Russian foreign policy has long dabbled in chaos. Now it seems to aim at little else.

Start with the summer of sabotage. In April Germany arrested two German-Russian nationals on suspicion of plotting attacks on American military facilities and other targets on behalf of the GRU. The same month Poland arrested a man who was preparing to pass the GRU information on Rzeszow airport, a hub for arms to Ukraine, and Britain charged several men over an arson attack on a Ukrainian-owned logistics firm in London. The men were accused of aiding the Wagner Group, a mercenary outfit now under the GRU’s control. In June France arrested a Russian-Ukrainian who was wounded after attempting to make a bomb in his hotel room in Paris. In July it emerged that Russia had plotted to kill Armin Papperger, the boss of Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest arms firm. On September 9th air traffic at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport was shut down for more than two hours after drones were spotted over runways. “We suspect it was a deliberate act,” a police spokesperson said. American officials warn that Russian vessels are reconnoitring underwater cables.

Even where Russia has not resorted to violence, it has sought to stir the pot in other ways. The Baltic states have arrested a number of people for what they say are Russian-sponsored provocations. French intelligence officials claim that Russia was responsible for the appearance of coffins draped with the French flag and bearing the message “French soldiers of Ukraine” left at the Eiffel Tower in Paris in June. Many of these actions are aimed at fanning opposition to aid for Ukraine. But others are intended simply to widen splits in society of all kinds, even if these have little or no link to the war. France says that Russia was also behind the graffiti of 250 Stars of David on walls in Paris in November, an effort to fuel antisemitism, which has surged since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Much of Russia’s activity has been virtual. In April hackers with ties to the GRU seem to have manipulated control systems for water plants in America and Poland. In September America, Britain, Ukraine and several other countries published details of cyber-attacks by the GRU’s Unit 29155, a group that was previously known for assassinations in Europe, including a botched effort to poison Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer. The GRU’s cyber efforts, which had been ongoing since at least 2020, were not just aimed at espionage, but also “reputational harm” by stealing and leaking information and “systematic sabotage” by destroying data, according to America and its allies.

Beyond Europe, GRU officers have been in Yemen alongside the Houthis, a rebel group that has attacked ships in the Red Sea, ostensibly in solidarity with Palestinians. Russia, angered by America’s provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine, came close to providing weapons to the group in July, CNN reported, but reversed course after strong opposition from Saudi Arabia. The fact that Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, was willing to alienate Muhammad bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler whom he had courted for years, is an indication of how Russia’s war has cannibalised its wider foreign policy.

Everything everywhere

“What Putin is trying to do is hit us all over the place,” argues Fiona Hill, who previously served as the top Russia official in America’s National Security Council. She compares the strategy to the Oscar winning film: “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. In Africa, for instance, Russia has used mercenaries to supplant French and American influence in the aftermath of coups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Russia’s meddling in America takes a very different form. In May Avril Haines, America’s director of national intelligence, called Russia “the most active foreign threat to our elections” above China or Iran. This was not merely about trying to shape America’s policy on Ukraine. “Moscow most likely views such operations as a means to tear down the United States as its perceived primary adversary,” she said, “enabling Russia to promote itself as a great power.” In July American intelligence agencies said that they were “beginning to see Russia target specific voter demographics, promote divisive narratives, and denigrate specific politicians”.

These efforts are generally crude and ineffectual. But they are prolific, intense and sometimes innovative. In September America’s Justice Department accused two employees of RT, a Kremlin-controlled media outlet that regularly spews out Russian talking points and lurid conspiracy theories, of paying $10m to an unnamed media company in Tennessee. The firm, thought to be Tenet Media, posted nearly 2,000 videos on TikTok, Instagram, X and YouTube. (Commentators paid by the company denied wrongdoing.) The department also seized 32 Kremlin-controlled internet domains designed to mimic legitimate news sites.

Russian propagandists are also experimenting with technology. CopyCop, a network of websites, took legitimate news articles and used ChatGPT, an AI model, to rewrite them. More than 90 French articles were modified with the prompt: “Please rewrite this article taking a conservative stance against the liberal policies of the Macron administration in favour of working-class French citizens.” Another rewritten piece included evidence of its instructions, saying: “This article…highlights the cynical tone towards the US government, NATO, and US politicians.”

Russian disinformation campaigns are hardly new, acknowledges Sergey Radchenko, a historian of Russian foreign policy, pointing to episodes such as the Tanaka memorandum, an alleged Soviet forgery that was used to discredit Japan in 1927. Nor are proxy wars or assassinations a novelty. Soviet troops were already fighting in Yemen, disguised as Egyptians, in the early 1960s, he notes. The KGB’s predecessors and successors have killed many people abroad, from Leon Trotsky to ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko.

The genuinely new part, says Mr Radchenko, “is that whereas previously special operations supported foreign policy, today special operations are foreign policy.” Ten years ago the Kremlin worked with America and Europe to counter Iran and North Korea’s nuclear programme. Such co-operation is now fanciful. “It is as if the Russians no longer feel they have a stake in preserving anything of the post-war international order,” says Mr Radchenko. This period reminds him more of Mao’s nihilistic foreign policy during China’s Cultural Revolution than the Soviet Union’s cold-war thinking, which included periods of pragmatism and caution. Ms Hill puts it another way: “It’s Trotsky over Lenin.”

Mr Putin embraces these ideas. “We are in for probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and at the same time most important decade since the end of World War II,” he said in late 2022. “To cite a classic,” he added, invoking an article by Vladimir Lenin in 1913, “this is a revolutionary situation.” That belief—that the post-war order is rotten and needs rewriting, by force if necessary—also gives Russia common cause with China. “Right now there are changes the likes of which we haven’t seen for 100 years,” Xi Jinping told Mr Putin last year in Moscow, “and we are the ones driving these changes together.”

Russia’s foreign-policy strategy, published in 2023, offers the bland reassurance that it “does not consider itself an enemy of the West…and has no ill intentions”. A classified addendum acquired by the Washington Post from a European intelligence service suggests otherwise. It proposes a comprehensive containment strategy against a “coalition of unfriendly countries” led by America. That includes an “offensive information campaign” among other actions in the “military-political, trade-economic and informational-psychological…spheres”. The ultimate aim, it notes, is “to weaken Russia’s opponents”.

This does not mean Russia is unstoppable. It is increasingly a junior partner to China. Its influence has slipped in some countries, such as Syria. It does not always back up its own proxies—dozens of Wagner fighters were killed in an ambush by Malian rebels, aided by Ukraine, in July. And Russian subversion can be disrupted, says Sir Richard, by “good old-fashioned security and intelligence work” to identify the intelligence officers and criminal proxies behind it. The fact that Russia is increasingly reliant on criminals to carry out these acts, in part because Russian spies have been expelled en masse from Europe, is a sign of desperation. “Russia’s use of proxies further reduces the professionalism of their operations, and—absent diplomatic immunity—increases our disruptive options,” says Mr McCallum.

Russian meddling is intended to put pressure on NATO without provoking a war. “We also have red lines,” says Ms Hill, “and Putin is trying to feel those out.” But if he is truly driven by a revolutionary spirit, convinced that the West is a rotten edifice, that suggests more lines will be crossed in the months and years ahead.

[lizardsfromspace]

Does anything sum up The Current Media Ecosystem like

Joe Rogan declaring that people must regret voting for Biden bc he said "they took over airports in the Revolutionary War"

Playing a clip where Biden's clearly quoting Trump, and thinking he said "stable Jesus" instead of "stable genius"

When told Trump said it & played the clip of Trump saying it, going "ah, well, he just misspoke! Not a big deal" & then ranting about how "that's what the media does"

"You have to double check everything the media says" when THEY'RE the media being double checked

Highest paid podcaster in the world everyone. Our Greatest Thought Leader (TM)

[girlactionfigure]

🔘 WEDNESDAY night - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

❗️ATTACK ORDER AGAINST ISRAEL - In the last hour:  Iran's spiritual leader Khamenei ordered direct revenge for the elimination of Hamas leader Haniyeh while in Iran.  Israeli President Israel Herzog this evening called on citizens to remain vigilant.  In Israel it is estimated that the reaction is close, but it will not be tonight.

.. Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei ordered the Revolutionary Guards and the army to prepare plans for attack and defense should the war expand.

.. According to the same Iranian sources: The possibility of attacking military sites in the Tel Aviv and Haifa area with suicide drones and missiles is being considered, while avoiding civilian targets.

.. Iranian sources to the New York Times: Khamenei ordered to attack Israel directly.

❗️HAIFA MAYOR.. Mayor Yona Yahav: "calls on residents to stay near protected areas in the near future."

❗️ US ISSUES TRAVEL WARNINGS.. level 4 - maximum-do not travel - to all of Lebanon.  Level 3 - reconsider travel - to northern Israel.  “Do not come to these areas.”

♦️PALESTINIAN CLASHES - KALKILYA.. Report of clashes now at the Eyal crossing (Kalkilya) as violent armed protestors move on the checkpoint - IDF forces are responding with live fire.  At least 1 terrorist of the Israel Defense Forces was wounded by our forces.

⭕ In recent hours, Arabs have been carrying out dozens of terrorist attacks with stones, Molotov cocktails, and firecrackers in Judea and Samaria, along with marches and gatherings in cities and villages.  A march in Jenin with armed men with visible faces condemning the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh.

▪️EXPLOSION IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ.. Smoke rises in the Sabaa Qusour area, northeast of the capital, Baghdad, after hearing an explosion, the cause of which is unknown.

▪️AIR TRAVEL - VARIOUS RUMORS.. we’ve seen supposed reports that various US airlines have suspended travel to Israel, but have only been able to confirm United has paused flights for the moment.  “If your flight is canceled by a U.S. airline or departing from a U.S. airport, you are entitled to a cash refund, even if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.”

▪️Report in Iran: Milad Bedi, an Iranian military adviser to the Revolutionary Guards, was killed yesterday in the Israeli attack against Hezbollah in Beirut.

[reinathevocaloid]

My USUK Fic Rec

(Bc apparently my feels for these two always come back even after all these years)

Lying in that Sound, Tonight by stardropdream

Before the victory of the allies, before the United States of America joined the war, before Lend-Lease, before everything — there were just two nations, two men, who just refused to meet halfway until it was forced upon them.

Misplaced Soil by stardropdream

An argument leaves England and America to reassess and redefine their "special" relationship, all the while England is stuck in a country he doesn't fully understand despite his best efforts.

Bottle it Up by stardropdream

Arthur thinks to himself that at this point he should be used to war, used to the loss of his men. But he is not, and after two ambushes in one day, he is forced to realize that Alfred, too, is in many ways much too young for war. How sweet it is, to die for one's country.

The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore by stardropdream

With the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, the War of 1812 came to its conclusion, but there are still things left unsaid.

Here's to the Daylight by stardropdream

England's relationship with mornings. Four vignettes (colonial times, revolutionary times, world war two time, and current time).

Meet Along the Way by stardropdream

England comes to meet America at the airport.

Raining of the Lone Star by stardropdream

England, angry that America isn't home when he said he would, goes off to clear his head and finds America participating in a tradition England would never have expected of him.

This One Old Street by stardropdream

Alfred and Arthur spend a slow Sunday day together, before Arthur is slotted to leave for London that evening.

And Bury My Body at Sea by stardropdream

When the water comes to take Arthur away in order to repay a debt from centuries ago, Alfred is the one to bring him back.

You Can’t Take the Sky from Me by Haro

Ace pilot America is on a mission for the World Military when a chance encounter with a group of sky-pirates leads him to team up with their captain, England, against a malevolent group that wants to fill the sky with zeppelins.

To Drive the Cold Winter Away by Haro

America waits at the airport on a bitter winter day.

To the End of the Universe by Haro

The year is 2650. Many things have changed, but just as many remain the same. America and England, for example, still hate goodbyes and love each other.

Somnium by Haro

Somnium, they had named it. When the United Federation of America and the United Kingdoms had made the decision to terraform this planet together, it was hailed as the largest project of its type to date. And it was.

All Roads Lead by PennyLane

It’s WWII, and England is a prisoner in a German POW camp. America’s mission it to rescue him before the Germans discover who he really is.

Born on the Fourth of July by PennyLane

It’s America’s Bicentennial and the celebration is going to be epic. Despite England’s bouts of ill health he suffers during this time of the year, he knows his duty, and his duty is to attend the festivities and play his part. But this celebration doesn’t turn out as either America or England thought it would. (Set during America’s Bi-Centennial, 1976)

Written in the Stars by rierin

Alfred wakes up after an assassination attempt to find Arthur at his bedside. He's told he and Arthur are engaged— but the last thing Alfred remembers is the Revolutionary War, and all he feels for Arthur is anger and resentment bordering on hatred.

caressed by thorns by aiwendor

America once looked at the mark on his chest with excitement. Now, he only looks at it with disdain.

i'll show you the stars by aiwendor

Once, a long time ago under a starry night sky, America made a promise.

The Secret Ingredient by Ferrero13

It is a fact. All the nations know it. England cannot cook. He must, in fact, not be allowed within spitting distance of a kitchen. Except, it turns out, it isn't.

American in America by Ferrero13

America, being America, says something he should've known better than to say in his own airport, whereupon he is taken in for questioning and finds it very difficult to explain why this particular nineteen-year-old seems to be as politically active as the President himself.

Cold December Night by Car

All England wanted was one kiss from America, and if wearing a -not ugly at all, thank you very much- sweater and wallpapering his penthouse with mistletoe was how it was going to happen- so be it.

(I'll add more to this list as I gain more favs!!!)

[hale-nathan]

Trump Weird News - GOPBUSTERS Meet WEIRDBUSTER - Tim Walz

Tim Walz - VP Candidate: “The fascists depend on us going back, but we’re not afraid of weird people,” Walz said. “We’re a little bit creeped out, but we’re not afraid.”

Trump: Continental Army "manned the air" and "took over the airports" during the Revolutionary War

[beardedmrbean]

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iranian leaders vowed revenge on Thursday for two explosions that killed nearly 100 people at a ceremony to commemorate top Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani on the anniversary of his death in a U.S. drone attack.

"A very strong retaliation will be handed to them on the hands of the soldiers of Soleimani," First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber told reporters at a hospital were some of the wounded from Wednesday's blasts were receiving treatment.

Tehran has blamed the explosions on unspecified "terrorists", but no one has yet claimed responsibility for the bloodiest such attacks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

An unnamed source told the state news agency IRNA that the first explosion at the cemetery in the southeastern city of Kerman "was the result of a suicide bomber's action".

"The cause of the second blast was most likely the same," the source told IRNA.

State TV showed crowds gathered at dozen cities across Iran, including Soleimani's home town Kerman, chanting: "Death to Israel" and "Death to America".

Iranian authorities have called for mass protests on Friday, when the funerals of the victims' of twin blasts will be held, state media reported.

Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps described the attacks as a cowardly act "aimed at creating insecurity and seeking revenge against the nation's deep love and devotion to the Islamic Republic".

The Guards commander in Kerman denied state media reports of a shooting in Kerman on Thursday.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has condemned the "heinous and inhumane crime", and Iran's top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, vowed revenge for the twin bombings, that also wounded 284 people, including women and children.

EARLIER ATTACKS

The United States on Wednesday said it was not involved in any way in the explosions and had no reason to believe Israel was.

Washington said the blasts appeared to represent "a terrorist attack" of the type carried out in the past by Islamic State militants.

Tehran often accuses its arch enemies, Israel and the United States, of backing anti-Iran militant groups that have carried out attacks against the Islamic Republic in the past. Baluchi militants and ethnic Arab separatists have also staged attacks in Iran.

In 2022, the Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Shi'ite shrine in Iran which killed 15 people.

Earlier attacks claimed by Islamic State include twin bombings in 2017 which targeted Iran's parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The U.S. assassination of Soleimani in a Jan. 3, 2020, drone attack at Baghdad airport, and Tehran's retaliation - by attacking two Iraqi military bases that house U.S. troops - brought the United States and Iran close to full-blown conflict.

As chief commander of the elite Quds force, the overseas arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Soleimani ran clandestine operations abroad and was a key figure in Iran's longstanding campaign to drive U.S. forces from the Middle East.

Tensions between Iran and Israel, along with its ally the United States, have reached a new high over Israel's war on Iran-backed Hamas militants in Gaza in retaliation for their Oct. 7 rampage through southern Israel.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia have attacked ships they say have links to Israel in the entrance to the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

U.S. forces have come under attack from Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria over Washington's backing of Israel and have carried out their own retaliatory air strikes.

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Vermillion Snow: Midnight Neon

Designer's Reflection: Midnight Neon

Obtained: Welfare

Rarity: SSR

Attribute: Green/Fresh

Awakened Suit: Midnight Spotlight

Story - transcripts from Designer's Reflection

Chapter 1 - Wine Party Invitation

Chapter 2 - Assistant Experience

Chapter 3 - Unexpected Challenge

Chapter 4 - New Year's Eve

Story - summarized

Vermillion is decorating her dorm for the winter break when Chi Xiaoyu offers her a chance to take her place as Helz's assistant for the Designer's Cocktail this year. It's a huge opportunity to network with other designers and learn insider secrets. Naturally, Vermillion is excited to go.

A week before New Year's Eve, she and Helz land in Lodden Airport. Everything is still festive for Starsnow as they get ready for the conference at the hotel. It's hard work being an assistant, but Vermillion Snow takes careful notes and pays attention to the hottest designers.

One of them is Caroline, who works for a brand under Mercury Group. She prefers flashy, modernist styles, and she sees fashion only as a status marker. But worst of all, she berates her assistants for even things so small as a color palette she disagrees with.

Vermillion approaches an assistant that Caroline had just screamed at, and offers kind words and encouragement. Caroline hadn't gone far, and she scolds her as well.

Helz finds out about the incident, and he suggests that Vermillion Snow get three letters of recommendation so that she could attend the finale party as well and prove Caroline wrong with her own design. He signs the first letter, and Sonya (the carousel-dress girl) signs the second. A mysterious third designer signs the last letter.

By the start of the Cocktail's finale party, Vermillion has a dress styled and finished: fresh, simple, yet breathtakingly stunning. As soon as Caroline sees the dress, she falls into silence. It's clear that Vermillion Snow wins this challenge - even better, she wins best design at the party. In her speech, she thanks Helz and Sonya, as well as the third person "who inspired this design."

She figured out that Caroline sent the third recommendation letter. Caroline began as a lowly assistant as well, and while she still thought herself above the assistants, she wanted to give Vermillion a chance.

Bells ring in the New Year, and Vermillion Snow has emerged a more confident indie designer with contact cards from famous designers all across the continent.

Connections

-You first meet Sonya in her Reflection for Carnival Scene. Just like in her memories there, she has no character art here. The given reason in-game is that she is shy.

-Helz used to be an assistant, too, but in Morning Mist, his boss, Mr. Doge, was a lot more abusive than Caroline, going so far as to trigger eating disorders.

-Vermillion Snow may not design a lot of Apple clothes, but she is from Apple herself. She and her parents had to leave Apple during the revolutionary war, as explained in her memories in Flowery Silhouette.

-It's fitting that Vermillion would be Helz's assistant, since both are passionate about fashion and seek to reveal the true self, like when Helz designed the wedding pantsuit in Romantic Visit. And both of them earned praises and got contact cards from other famous designers.

-It's actually good that Chi Xiaoyu didn't go as Helz's assistant. While she loves designing, she doesn't like doing extra work... probably because she has bad memories of Jiang Xitong giving her lots of extra work in Early Summer Shower.

-You've seen Lodden before in Vol. 1 Chapter 6 with the auction and the Lodden's Night SSR gacha. Thankfully, no one gets hurt this time.

-Vermillion Snow and Helz land "seven days before New Year's Eve." That means they get into the airport on Christmas Eve, which makes sense with the Night of Twin Queens still performing at the theater. You've seen one queen's Reflection earlier this year in May (Erika) and a couple week's ago you met the other queen, Erinka.

Fun Facts

-This is Vermillion's only Apple-themed suit. All her other ones are Cloud-based, since she considers that country her home and inspiration.

-Chi Xiaoyu knows that Vermillion hates the name "Reddish," but she still calls her that to this day.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.20 (1920-1990)

1920 – The first commercial radio station, 8MK (now WWJ), begins operations in Detroit 1920 – The National Football League is organized as the American Professional Football Conference in Canton, Ohio 1926 – Japan's public broadcasting company, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK) is established. 1938 – Lou Gehrig hits his 23rd career grand slam, a record that stood for 75 years until it was broken by Alex Rodriguez. 1940 – In Mexico City, exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky is fatally wounded with an ice axe by Ramón Mercader. He dies the next day. 1940 – World War II: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes the fourth of his famous wartime speeches, containing the line "Never was so much owed by so many to so few". 1940 – World War II: The Eighth Route Army launches the Hundred Regiments Offensive, a successful campaign to disrupt Japanese war infrastructure and logistics in occupied northern China. 1944 – World War II: One hundred sixty-eight captured allied airmen, including Phil Lamason, accused by the Gestapo of being "terror fliers", arrive at Buchenwald concentration camp. 1944 – World War II: The Battle of Romania begins with a major Soviet Union offensive. 1948 – Soviet Consul General in New York, Jacob M. Lomakin is expelled by the United States, due to the Kasenkina Case. 1949 – Hungary adopts the Hungarian Constitution of 1949 and becomes a People's Republic. 1955 – Battle of Philippeville: In Morocco, a force of Berbers from the Atlas Mountains region of Algeria raid two rural settlements and kill 77 French nationals. 1960 – Senegal breaks from the Mali Federation, declaring its independence. 1962 – The NS Savannah, the world's first nuclear-powered civilian ship, embarks on its maiden voyage. 1968 – Cold War: Warsaw Pact troops invade Czechoslovakia, crushing the Prague Spring. East German participation is limited to a few specialists due to memories of the recent war. Only Albania and Romania refuse to participate. 1975 – Viking program: NASA launches the Viking 1 planetary probe toward Mars. 1975 – ČSA Flight 540 crashes on approach to Damascus International Airport in Damascus, Syria, killing 126 people. 1977 – Voyager program: NASA launches the Voyager 2 spacecraft. 1986 – In Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S. Postal employee Patrick Sherrill guns down 14 of his co-workers and then commits suicide. 1988 – "Black Saturday" of the Yellowstone fire in Yellowstone National Park 1988 – Iran–Iraq War: A ceasefire is agreed after almost eight years of war. 1988 – The Troubles: Eight British soldiers are killed and 28 wounded when their bus is hit by an IRA roadside bomb in Ballygawley, County Tyrone. 1989 – The pleasure boat Marchioness sinks on the River Thames following a collision. Fifty-one people are killed.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 51 of 2023

Title: Chasing Chaos: My Decade in and Out of Humanitarian Aid Authors: Jessica Alexander ISBN: 9780770436919 Tags: AU African Union, AU AUMIS African Union Mission in the Sudan, BDI Burundi, COG Congo-Brazzaville, Disaster - Cyclone Nargis (2008), Disaster - Hatian Earthquake (2010), Disaster - Hurricane Mitch (1998), Disaster - Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (2004), GBR BA British Army, GBR United Kingdom, HND Honduras, HND Teguchigalpa, HTI Delmas 31 Camp, HTI Gaston Margon Camp, HTI Haiti, HTI Jacmel, HTI MINUSTAH United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti, HTI Port-au-Prince, Humanitarian Aid, ICC International Criminal Court - Hague, IDN Banda Aceh, IDN Indonesia, KEN Kenya, KEN Nairobi, LBR Liberia, LBR National Patriotic Front of Liberia, LBR President Charles Taylor, LKA Sri Lanka, LKA Tamil Tigers, MOZ Mozambique, RWA Hutu Tribe, RWA ICTR International Criminal Trial for Rwanda (Rwandan Civil War), RWA KGL Kigali International Airport, RWA Kibuye, RWA Kigali, RWA Kinbungo, RWA Kiziba, RWA President Juvenal Habyarimana, RWA Rwanda, RWA Rwandan Civil War (1990-1994), RWA Rwandan Genocide (1994) (Rwandan Civil War), RWA Tutsi Tribe, SDN Abu Shouk Refugee Camp, SDN Al Salam Refugee camp, SDN Dar Zagawa, SDN Darfur, SDN Darfur - Abu Shouk Refugee Camp, SDN Darfur - Al Salam Refugee Camp, SDN Darfur - Zam Zam Refugee Camp, SDN Hamadyia Refugee Camp, SDN Hassa Hissa Refugee Camp, SDN Janjaweed Militia, SDN Jebel Marra, SDN Jebel Si, SDN JEM Justice and Equality Movement Army, SDN Juba, SDN Kalma Refugee Camp, SDN Khartoum, SDN Korma, SDN Mukjar, SDN North Darfur, SDN North Darfur - El Fasher, SDN Nuba Mountains, SDN Nyala, SDN President Omar Al-Bashir, SDN Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005), SDN SLA Sudanese Liberation Army, SDN South Darfur, SDN Sudan, SDN Tawila, SDN Zalingei, SDN Zam Zam Refugee Camp, SLE Bo, SLE Child Soldiers (Sierra Leone Civil War), SLE Freetown, SLE IMATT International Military Advisory and Training Team, SLE Kailahun, SLE Makeni, SLE RUF Revolutionary United Front, SLE SCSL Special Court (Sierra Leone Civil War), SLE Sierra Leone, SLE Sierra Leone Civil War (1991-2002), TCD Chad, TMP East Timor, TMP Free Aceh Movement, TZA Tanzania, UN UNDP United Nations Development Programme, UN UNICEF United Nations Childrens Fund, UN United Nations, US NY JFK International Airport, US NY New York, USAID Rating: ★★★★ (4 stars) Subject: Disasters

Description: An eye-opening and intimate memoir about life as an international humanitarian aid worker in the field in Rwanda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Haiti. Jessica Alexander arrived in Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide as an idealist intern, excited to be a part of the international humanitarian aid community. But the world that she encountered in the field was dramatically different than anything she could have imagined. In this honest and irreverent memoir, she introduces readers to the reality of the life of an aid worker. We watch as she helps to resettle refugees in Rwanda, manages a 24,000-person camp in Darfur, and helps a former child soldier in Sierra Leone get rid of a tattoo that was carved into his skin by a rebel group. But we also see the alcoholic parties and fleeting romances, the burnouts and cyncism, the plans and priorities that constantly shift and change. Tracing her personal journey from idealistic and naïve newcomer to hardened cynic to hopeful but critical realist, Alexander transports readers to some of the most troubled locations and shows us not only the impossible challenges, but also the moments of hope and recovery. Review: It was a pretty decent book that gave the reader some insight into the situations in Darfur, Haiti, and Sierra Leone from the perspective of a humanitarian aid worker. You'll understand why the help offered is rarely helpful at all, and good intentions is really a double edged sword. There's some good, a lot of bad, a lot of stress, confusion, and a system rigged to fail for the most part. But there's also the human element, and the people that are affected at every level make this a story worth reading.

[lattesforlife]

For those who live in New Jersey and those who visit . . . .

New Jersey is a peninsula.

Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.

New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq. mi.) than Havana, Cuba.

New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.

New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."

New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club (not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.

Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland .

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns; some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Cape May.

New Jersey has the most stringent testing along its coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.

New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)

Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! In 1642, the first brewery in America, opened in Hoboken.

New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.

George Washington slept there.

Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory

Jersey also boasts the first town lit by incandescent bulbs. The first seaplane was built in Keyport , NJ.

The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.

The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ

New Jersey was home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.

The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City. And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world, not to mention salt water taffy. ( Now made in Pennsylvania)..

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.

The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains

New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. (Union, NJ!!!)

New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City

The Pulaski Sky Way, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.

New Jersey built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).

The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they're all gone now!).

New Jersey is home to both of "NEW YORK'S" pro football teams!

The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.

The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

All New Jersey natives: Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Zack Braff Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Joe DePasquale, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm.Halsey,Jr.,Norman Schwarzkopf, Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia, Kelly Ripa, and Francis Albert Sinatra and "Uncle Floyd" Vivino.

The Great Falls in Paterson, on the Passaic River, is the 2nd highest waterfall on the East Coast of the US.

You know you're from Jersey when . . . .

You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges." You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags. A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter. You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven. You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery. At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from. You know what a "jug handle" is. You know that WaWa is a convenience store. You know that the state isn't all farmland. You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey--there's the shore--and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore." And when you are there, you're not "at the shore"; you are "down the shore." You know how to properly negotiate a circle. You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving. You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (try . . Mexico . . . York ..! . . Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?). You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich. You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege. You don't think "What exit?" is very funny. You know that people from the 609 area code are "a little different." Yes they are! You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-staters. You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls. You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers. Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony. You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits. You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall. You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, and people from Central Jersey go to LBI, and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood. It can be no other way. You weren't raised in New Jersey--you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey. You don't consider Camden to actually be part of the state You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's. You also remember Palisades Amusement Park. You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries. You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.

And finally . .

You've NEVER, NEVER NEVER, EVER pumped your own gas.

(Copied from a friend)

[insidewarp]

Watch Trump claim the army retook airports during the Revolutionary War ...

[girlactionfigure]

🟥🟥 Fri morning - ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

🔹SELL your Chametz online here. Passover is almost here! -> https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/sell_chometz_cdo/sc/passover_home_button

🔴 ISRAEL STRIKES IRAN - IN A PINPOINT WAY .. fog of war, info unclear, various reports…

A U.S. official confirmed to ABC News Israeli missiles have hit a military site in Iran near an Iranian nuclear facility. 

Fars Agency: "Explosions were heard near Isfahan Airport and the Ashtam Shakri base.” (Approx. 200 km from the top of the Persian Gulf.).  Iranian reports: there were 3 explosions in Isfaya, and the force of the explosions shook the area.

Israel’s early morning retaliatory strike, however, appeared to be “limited,” a military source told Fox News.  No statements out of Israel.

Many Iranian residents have documented explosions in various areas of Iran using suicide drones.  Iran is currently denying.

Attacks in Syria and Iraq as well.  Reports of loud explosions heard in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.  In Syria reports of attacks on airports in Yizraa, Al-Talaa, and a radar station by Karpa.

Conflicting reports if attack was on Iran air base, or on nearby Iranian nuclear development facility.

US “unnamed officials” say 9 sites in Iran were struck.

All flights in Iran halted except for military.

Based on “reports from Iran and the US”, this is a limited and targeted attack on the Hastam Shikari air force base near Isfahan, a base that took part in the attack against Israel last week. 

One Summary: IDF jets hit radars in southern Syria, in Iraq by Baghdad, clearing the path to attacks near Iranian nuclear military facilities in Isfaya.

Iran reports a few drone shoot-downs.

⚠️ NO CHANGES IN HOME FRONT INSTRUCTIONS.. within Israel there have been no changes in instructions for civilians at this time.

⚠️ US REPEATS WARNING TO PERSONNEL IN ISRAEL.. The US warns its citizens in Israel not to leave the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva area.

⚠️ IRAN ALERT.. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards declare a state of maximum alert in all their bases and military camps throughout Iran.  Emergency meeting of the War Council.

▪️MERON RADAR BASE DAMAGED.. IDF confirms: damage of ​​the air control base on Mount Meron.  Censorship allowed publication after Hezbollah uploaded a video of the attack.

▪️AUSTRALIA - RUN AWAY!  The Australian government calls on its citizens to leave Israel and the Palestinian territories: "The security situation is rapidly deteriorating.”

▪️COUNTER-TERROR - SAMARIA - TULKARM.. Arabs report the activity of IDF forces in a number of houses in the Manshiya neighborhood in the Noor al-Shams, Tulkarm.  Terrorists detonated a powerful bomb at a military bulldozer during the activity of IDF forces in the Noor al-Shams, no casualties.  Major firefight.

▪️US VETO’S UN RESOLUTION FOR PALESTINIAN MEMBERSHIP.. The Palestinian Presidency condemns the use of the US veto to prevent the State of Palestine from receiving full membership in the United Nations.​​​​

▪️RUSSIA REQUESTS UN TO SANCTION ISRAEL.. Russia's permanent representative to the UN Security Council, Vassily Nebenzia, said that the council should urgently consider imposing sanctions against Israel for disobeying the Gaza ceasefire resolution during Ramadan. (( but not for Hamas in not returning the hostages, as also stated. ))

▪️ECONOMY - RATING DOWNGRADE.. S&P downgraded Israel's credit rating due to political and security instability.

▪️AID DROP MISSES.. again, feeding the fish as it dropped into the sea.

🔻ROCKETS - from Islamic Jihad (Gaza) - at Ashkelon, Mefalsim, Nir Am Shooting Range 

🔻ROCKETS - from Hezbollah - at Ma'ayan Baruch, Beit Hillel, HaGoshrim, Margaliot, Kiryat Shmona, 

🔻DRONES - from Hezbollah - at Avivim, Ramat Dalton Industrial Zone, Baram, Jish (Gush Halav), Dalton, Yir'on, Kerem Ben Zimra, Alma, Rehaniya 

[hale-nathan]

Trump Weird News - Weirdbuster! - Tim Walz [VP Nominee]

Tim Walz - VP Candidate: “The fascists depend on us going back, but we’re not afraid of weird people,” Walz said. “We’re a little bit creeped out, but we’re not afraid.”

Trump: Continental Army "manned the air" and "took over the airports" during the Revolutionary War

[casuallyodd]

While very believable, I'm not sure how true this is and haven't looked into it yet.

That said one of the most frustrating things about this Biden age thing is that they know he has a stutter and that he's old. But they really do seem to play that age is always the cause and issue. Biden has messed up names but seems to mostly have coherent thoughts (there have been some rambling answers though between being old and a politician and possibly the stutter, they never seem extreme)

Meanwhile Trump lies and lies and lies about stuff that is obviously wrong. Or makes statements that if Biden said it, it'd be "evidence" of his mental issues

When talking about thr Revolutionary war

Trump praised the Americans’ military efforts in the war against Great Britain. “Our army manned the air, it rammed the ramparts, it took over the airports, it did everything it had to do, and at Fort McHenry, under the rockets’ red glare, it had nothing but victory,”

Magnets don't work if you get them wet

"Now all I know about magnets is this: Give me a glass of water, let me drop it on the magnets, that's the end of the magnets."

Mixes up names all the time

Indeed, in 2018, while Trump was still serving as President, he introduced Marillyn Hewson, then CEO of Lockheed Martin, as “Marillyn Lockheed” at a White House event. At another White House meeting the following year, Trump famously referred to Apple CEO Tim Cook as “Tim Apple.”

Last September, Trump appeared to mix up Biden with former President Barack Obama—not for the first or last time. The same month, he stumbled over the distinction between former President George W. Bush and his brother Jeb Bush, who ran against Trump in the 2016 Republican primary. In October, Trump called Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán “the leader of Turkey.” And in November, he said, apparently confusing the population of North Korea or the leader of China, “Kim Jong Un leads 1.4 billion people, and there is no doubt about who the boss is. And they want me to say he’s not an intelligent man.”

As recently as January, during a campaign speech, Trump mixed up former House speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi and former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, repeating the latter’s name several times as he talked about the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, which he has frequently blamed Pelosi and other Democrats for.

And when someone lies as much as he does, for decades, this should matter

Yes, the news points it out and then... nothing. YHe's shameless and so are his supporters, but the media seems to shrug and move on. Look at the long Wikipedia article and you'll be amazed.

Instead of coming back and going, no this is objectively false, the media are so terrified of being called biased, they give up. And because other news groups are moving on, they don't want to be left behind so the story just drops.

These things should matter and the fact that Trump gets away because the media gives up is frustrating

Trump can't stay awake. Trump never showed up to the Oval Office before noon.

Media, do your job!

[verondertsik]

Iran receives first deliveries of S-400s from Russia’s Almaz-Antey

The New York Times, as cited by The Times of Israel on August 5, reported that Iranian officials claim Russia has started delivering advanced air defense and radar systems to Iran following Tehran’s request to the Kremlin. 

Local Iranian media have corroborated Tehran’s request, and two officials, including a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, have confirmed to The Times that these deliveries are underway. According to these Iranian sources, the equipment in question is likely the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, crafted by the Almaz-Antey concern. However, it should be noted that BulgarianMilitary.com has not independently verified that it is indeed the S-400 being supplied to Tehran by Moscow. 

The Times article did not specify the exact equipment requested by Iran or what has been delivered so far. Iran does already possess Russian S-300 air defense systems, although Russia has since developed the more advanced S-400 system.

The events

The events took place amid rising tensions in the Middle East, anticipating a potential Iranian retaliation against Israel following the alleged assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. 

Reportedly, on August 2, a Russian transport aircraft was observed landing at Tehran International Airport. The aircraft in question was an Il-76TD operated by Gelix Airlines, which is known for being used by Moscow for military deliveries under the guise of a civilian carrier, lacking any military insignia. It’s plausible that this flight marked the first delivery of the S-400 systems, despite lacking independent confirmation. BulgarianMilitary.com cannot verify from an independent source that this particular transport on August 2 pertained to the delivery of anti-aircraft systems to Iran.

Total war?

Iran has called for Israel to be “punished” for the killing of Haniya and has vowed to take action, raising concerns that the region could edge closer to all-out conflict. Additionally, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has threatened retaliation against Israel from Lebanon following the death of its military leader, Fuad Shukr, in an attack near Beirut last week, for which Israel has claimed responsibility. 

Israel, in turn, has stated it is prepared to defend itself against any aggression. As reported by Ynet, on August 4, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting with security leaders to discuss the potential for a pre-emptive strike on Iran to avert an anticipated attack. Following this, on August 5, Defense Minister Yoav Galant emphasized that Israel must be prepared to quickly go on the offensive if faced with an Iranian assault.

The difference between S-300 and S-400

One of the key differences between the two systems is their range. The S-300 has a maximum range of approximately 150-200 kilometers, depending on the variant. In contrast, the S-400 can engage targets at distances of up to 400 kilometers, making it a more formidable defense system. 

Another significant difference lies in the missile types used by each system. The S-300 typically employs the 5V55 and 48N6 series of missiles, which are effective against a variety of aerial threats. The S-400, however, uses a more diverse array of missiles, including the 48N6, 9M96, and the long-range 40N6 missiles. This versatility allows the S-400 to engage multiple types of targets simultaneously and at different ranges. 

The radar and sensor technology in the S-400 is also more advanced compared to the S-300. The S-400’s radar systems can detect and track targets at greater distances and with higher accuracy. This improved detection capability enhances the overall effectiveness of the system, allowing it to respond more quickly and efficiently to incoming threats. 

In terms of deployment, the S-400 is designed to be more mobile and flexible than the S-300. It can be rapidly deployed and redeployed, making it suitable for a variety of operational scenarios. This mobility is a significant advantage in modern warfare, where the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions is crucial.

The S-400 disappointment

However, the S-400 is not what Russian generals had hoped for in recent years. Despite its excellent characteristics, the war in Ukraine shows that it is possible that many of them were only “on paper.” Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, there have been several reports of Ukrainian forces successfully targeting and downing Russian S-400 missile systems. 

One notable instance occurred in April 2022, when Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed a Russian S-400 system in the Kherson region. This was achieved using a combination of drone reconnaissance and precision artillery strikes, demonstrating the adaptability and resourcefulness of the Ukrainian military. 

Another significant event took place in September 2022, when Ukrainian forces claimed to have downed an S-400 system near the city of Kharkiv. In addition to these specific instances, there have been multiple reports throughout 2022 and 2023 of Ukrainian forces targeting and damaging Russian S-400 systems in various regions, including the Donbas and southern Ukraine. These actions have been facilitated by the use of advanced Western-supplied weaponry and intelligence-sharing with NATO allies. 

The downing of S-400 systems by Ukrainian forces has had a significant impact on the dynamics of the conflict, undermining the perceived invincibility of Russian air defenses and boosting the morale of Ukrainian troops and their supporters. It also underscores the ongoing evolution of modern warfare, where traditional military assets can be effectively countered by innovative tactics and technology.

[vikisdertor]

Iran receives first deliveries of S-400s from Russia’s Almaz-Antey

The New York Times, as cited by The Times of Israel on August 5, reported that Iranian officials claim Russia has started delivering advanced air defense and radar systems to Iran following Tehran’s request to the Kremlin. 

Local Iranian media have corroborated Tehran’s request, and two officials, including a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, have confirmed to The Times that these deliveries are underway. According to these Iranian sources, the equipment in question is likely the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, crafted by the Almaz-Antey concern. However, it should be noted that BulgarianMilitary.com has not independently verified that it is indeed the S-400 being supplied to Tehran by Moscow. 

The Times article did not specify the exact equipment requested by Iran or what has been delivered so far. Iran does already possess Russian S-300 air defense systems, although Russia has since developed the more advanced S-400 system.

The events

The events took place amid rising tensions in the Middle East, anticipating a potential Iranian retaliation against Israel following the alleged assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. 

Reportedly, on August 2, a Russian transport aircraft was observed landing at Tehran International Airport. The aircraft in question was an Il-76TD operated by Gelix Airlines, which is known for being used by Moscow for military deliveries under the guise of a civilian carrier, lacking any military insignia. It’s plausible that this flight marked the first delivery of the S-400 systems, despite lacking independent confirmation. BulgarianMilitary.com cannot verify from an independent source that this particular transport on August 2 pertained to the delivery of anti-aircraft systems to Iran.

Total war?

Iran has called for Israel to be “punished” for the killing of Haniya and has vowed to take action, raising concerns that the region could edge closer to all-out conflict. Additionally, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has threatened retaliation against Israel from Lebanon following the death of its military leader, Fuad Shukr, in an attack near Beirut last week, for which Israel has claimed responsibility. 

Israel, in turn, has stated it is prepared to defend itself against any aggression. As reported by Ynet, on August 4, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting with security leaders to discuss the potential for a pre-emptive strike on Iran to avert an anticipated attack. Following this, on August 5, Defense Minister Yoav Galant emphasized that Israel must be prepared to quickly go on the offensive if faced with an Iranian assault.

The difference between S-300 and S-400

One of the key differences between the two systems is their range. The S-300 has a maximum range of approximately 150-200 kilometers, depending on the variant. In contrast, the S-400 can engage targets at distances of up to 400 kilometers, making it a more formidable defense system. 

Another significant difference lies in the missile types used by each system. The S-300 typically employs the 5V55 and 48N6 series of missiles, which are effective against a variety of aerial threats. The S-400, however, uses a more diverse array of missiles, including the 48N6, 9M96, and the long-range 40N6 missiles. This versatility allows the S-400 to engage multiple types of targets simultaneously and at different ranges. 

The radar and sensor technology in the S-400 is also more advanced compared to the S-300. The S-400’s radar systems can detect and track targets at greater distances and with higher accuracy. This improved detection capability enhances the overall effectiveness of the system, allowing it to respond more quickly and efficiently to incoming threats. 

In terms of deployment, the S-400 is designed to be more mobile and flexible than the S-300. It can be rapidly deployed and redeployed, making it suitable for a variety of operational scenarios. This mobility is a significant advantage in modern warfare, where the ability to quickly adapt to changing conditions is crucial.

The S-400 disappointment

owever, the S-400 is not what Russian generals had hoped for in recent years. Despite its excellent characteristics, the war in Ukraine shows that it is possible that many of them were only “on paper.” Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, there have been several reports of Ukrainian forces successfully targeting and downing Russian S-400 missile systems. 

One notable instance occurred in April 2022, when Ukrainian forces reportedly destroyed a Russian S-400 system in the Kherson region. This was achieved using a combination of drone reconnaissance and precision artillery strikes, demonstrating the adaptability and resourcefulness of the Ukrainian military. 

Another significant event took place in September 2022, when Ukrainian forces claimed to have downed an S-400 system near the city of Kharkiv. In addition to these specific instances, there have been multiple reports throughout 2022 and 2023 of Ukrainian forces targeting and damaging Russian S-400 systems in various regions, including the Donbas and southern Ukraine. These actions have been facilitated by the use of advanced Western-supplied weaponry and intelligence-sharing with NATO allies. 

The downing of S-400 systems by Ukrainian forces has had a significant impact on the dynamics of the conflict, undermining the perceived invincibility of Russian air defenses and boosting the morale of Ukrainian troops and their supporters. It also underscores the ongoing evolution of modern warfare, where traditional military assets can be effectively countered by innovative tactics and technology.