Chuckle factor 10 Julian! I bought a great T shirt with this guys exact image on, years ago. So evocative of a stand back, no- bullshit rebel. I still keep it for special occasions. Hats off to you man.
I love recording studios – they have just the right combination of light and shadow for a good selfie. Out in the real world in the daylight… well ...that's picture number two.
First an admission: I subscribe to both the "Wall Street Journal" and the "New York Times". Soviets would subscribe to "Pravda" and "Izvestia". In both cases it provides two different perspectives of government propaganda.
I make comments to articles in both publications in an attempt to counter the narrative concerning Ukraine and Gaza.
Not today, there simply was no point. Those imbued with the fallacy of American Exceptionalism totally blanketed the comments sections.
The U.S. has been in decline since the political assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK in 60's. I was in high school for the latter two. Falling for the Warren Report when you are a minor is somewhat excusable. But now there is a real need to address the misrepresentation of the historical record of WWII and the aftermath through to the Vietnam conflict. The misrepresentation of WWII in my view promotes the wild overestimation of American military prowess. That mass media fails to note both the offshoring of important work and the inability to design and implement new technologies is causing much damage.
My voice is but a small one. However, with company it can be an important one.
" The misrepresentation of WWII in my view promotes the wild overestimation of American military prowess."
I'm amazed at how many Americans believe it was the US that stopped the Germans in WW2.
If not for the Soviets, the Europeans today would be speaking German from Bergen to Athens.
The real genocide of that war was the huge losses the Soviets suffered. Unimaginable. Following the western texts you'd think it was the Americans at Omaha Beach that defeated the Germans. Unreal.
A coordinated attack by Iran, Hezbollah and Iraq Axis of Resistance coordinated? Interesting fact, especially considering that the game of Chess originated in Iran. I wouldn't be messing with them if I was Israel or the USA. My guess is that they're a few moves ahead...
The mindset of the US is determined by news cycles – somewhere between one week and three weeks-- and monthly share earnings reports. It is hard to develop strategy when you can only look ahead a month or two. That means that all strategy has to be retrogressive – assuming the past repeats itself.
I read the article before I wrote mine – which is partly a reply to it. Simplicius is never simple. He collates amazing amounts of information which is extraordinarily useful but sometimes he jumps to judgment – as indeed most of us do. In this case, he is assuming that Iranian media reports are accurate. But there is a difference between what the Iranian media says and what the IRGC says. Targets in Israel are definitely hit. We don't know the extent of the damage. And we don't know what they were hit by! Nor actually who – since this was a coordinated attack by Iran, the Axis of Resistance, the Houthis, and Hezbollah. This opacity is useful to Iran to the degree that it increases in uncertainty.
I've seen estimates, based on Israel claims, that Iran's demonstration of force cost ~$30M. Israel's (failed) defense cost ~1.3B. Not sure of the $1.3B includes contributions from UK flying out of Cyprus, US out of Syria, or other 2rd parties.
We used LLMs to rewrite the first part of the post as sonnet. (Up the introduction of the cat named "Ichi.")
---------------
In a world where missiles pierce the sky,
A hundred drones, the US military spies.
Yet Israel claims, with a watchful eye,
Three hundred threats from the enemy rise.
Bullets and drones, missiles ballistic,
A ninety-nine percent interception rate,
Most shot down, in action heroic,
By British and American allies, so great.
Do the Americans undercount their foe?
Or do the Israelis exaggerate their plight?
In this age of Media Wars, who can know?
Yet most believe the IDF's account is right.
Mainstream Media, Blogosphere, Iranians align,
Their voices echo the IDF's design.
Yet sources whisper of a different tale,
That the Israeli regime did indeed fail.
To intercept hypersonic missiles' trail,
Fired by Iran, their efforts frail.
Press TV cites "sources", yet who can tell?
Could be your mother-in-law or my cat, Ichi, as well.
In this world where truth and falsehood dwell,
Only time will break this uncertain spell.
Chuckle factor 10 Julian! I bought a great T shirt with this guys exact image on, years ago. So evocative of a stand back, no- bullshit rebel. I still keep it for special occasions. Hats off to you man.
I love recording studios – they have just the right combination of light and shadow for a good selfie. Out in the real world in the daylight… well ...that's picture number two.
Nice to see your in two modes. One ought to never think one knows one’s self
Iran says it hit all its targets .
New warfare with cheap drones at $ 15 million compared to the defense of those drones at 1.3 billion .
Media is simply excitement for those who don’t read anything else.
Cheap thrills for the unwary.
First an admission: I subscribe to both the "Wall Street Journal" and the "New York Times". Soviets would subscribe to "Pravda" and "Izvestia". In both cases it provides two different perspectives of government propaganda.
I make comments to articles in both publications in an attempt to counter the narrative concerning Ukraine and Gaza.
Not today, there simply was no point. Those imbued with the fallacy of American Exceptionalism totally blanketed the comments sections.
The U.S. has been in decline since the political assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK in 60's. I was in high school for the latter two. Falling for the Warren Report when you are a minor is somewhat excusable. But now there is a real need to address the misrepresentation of the historical record of WWII and the aftermath through to the Vietnam conflict. The misrepresentation of WWII in my view promotes the wild overestimation of American military prowess. That mass media fails to note both the offshoring of important work and the inability to design and implement new technologies is causing much damage.
My voice is but a small one. However, with company it can be an important one.
I have enormous respect for your attitude and your commitment. Please keep it up. The world needs more people like you
" The misrepresentation of WWII in my view promotes the wild overestimation of American military prowess."
I'm amazed at how many Americans believe it was the US that stopped the Germans in WW2.
If not for the Soviets, the Europeans today would be speaking German from Bergen to Athens.
The real genocide of that war was the huge losses the Soviets suffered. Unimaginable. Following the western texts you'd think it was the Americans at Omaha Beach that defeated the Germans. Unreal.
We teach "history" in high school. I think it should be renamed "historical fiction".
A coordinated attack by Iran, Hezbollah and Iraq Axis of Resistance coordinated? Interesting fact, especially considering that the game of Chess originated in Iran. I wouldn't be messing with them if I was Israel or the USA. My guess is that they're a few moves ahead...
The mindset of the US is determined by news cycles – somewhere between one week and three weeks-- and monthly share earnings reports. It is hard to develop strategy when you can only look ahead a month or two. That means that all strategy has to be retrogressive – assuming the past repeats itself.
May be of interest:
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/iran-breaches-anglo-zionist-defenses
Iran Breaches Anglo-Zionist Defenses in Historic Attack: A Breakdown
Simplicius
Apr 14, 2024
I read the article before I wrote mine – which is partly a reply to it. Simplicius is never simple. He collates amazing amounts of information which is extraordinarily useful but sometimes he jumps to judgment – as indeed most of us do. In this case, he is assuming that Iranian media reports are accurate. But there is a difference between what the Iranian media says and what the IRGC says. Targets in Israel are definitely hit. We don't know the extent of the damage. And we don't know what they were hit by! Nor actually who – since this was a coordinated attack by Iran, the Axis of Resistance, the Houthis, and Hezbollah. This opacity is useful to Iran to the degree that it increases in uncertainty.
Sorry for the typos. I still can't type with my right hand very well!
I checked him out. As you say a lot more succinct.
I've seen estimates, based on Israel claims, that Iran's demonstration of force cost ~$30M. Israel's (failed) defense cost ~1.3B. Not sure of the $1.3B includes contributions from UK flying out of Cyprus, US out of Syria, or other 2rd parties.
Asymmetric much? 😂
And it is confirmed. Israel spent $1.3B & US spent another $1.3 B.
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/israeli-f35-central-role-air-defence
Which means other countries spent additional.
They must be crapping pants over tbe $$!
Now THIS is economic warfare. Iran is working for Raytheon.
Getting contracts & filling them are 3 different things.
Btw, yesterday a "structural" fire at Scranton PA mfg plant that makes 155 artillery. No word on extent of damage.
Charmed, I'm sure! 8-)
I assume you talking about the Real Me – the second picture – and not that wimpy guy in the studio. The Old Guy at least has character.