Re: The joy of Linux

On 06/11/2024 20:55, D wrote:

  On Wed, 6 Nov 2024, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
 >

But he will wreak revenge and I am seriously worried about Ukraine.

 I wouldn't worry about it. Europe can outspend russia 15x and if europe cannot manufacture, europe will buy from other countries who can.
 

Europe COULD, but whether it will is moot.
A lot of people just cant be bothered about Ukraine. They want their mediterranean holidays, not to work in a munitions factory.

Trump is a businessman, so even if he does not send more money to Ukraine, he will definitely, 100% allow europe to buy weapons and ammunition from the US. US benefits, and Ukraine, and europe foots the bill, as it should be in the new Trumpian world.
 

Well yes, That is a possibility. Europe uses interest on frozen Russian assets to buy ATACMS. But would trump allow them to be sold?
With Starlink's Musk in his pocket, would he switch off Ukrainian access to it thereby decimating their ability to use long range drones.
Would he cancel SIGINT flights from the UK carried out by US Rivet Joints that provide information to Ukraine fir targeting.
The US military is in this up to their necks as are the UK.
Its very much a joint effort, and I can tell when there is something in the long range strike being planned when aircraft with no transponders enabled take off from the local USAAF airfields.
Trump may trumpet his bravado from capitol hill, but the reality is that UK NZ Canadian and Australian intelligence, vital to US security, relies on co-operation.
911 type operations are planned monthly, and Israelis generally know when. As do other intelligence services.
There is a world beyond vain Trumpetings, of professional international intelligence and military co-operations that guarantees as far as it can the safety of all. One person ceasing to pull their weight risks another 911.

I even imagine that he will send some token amounts or help out with non-monetary gifts, unless his 24 hour peace plan works out (which I doubt).
 

Its been 24 hours. Fuck all has happened.

If that is allowed to fall, Europe is threatened. And Europe doesn't currently have the ability to churn out armaments at the scale needed by itself just yet.

 It is an interesting question... how long time would it take for europes weapon companies to up the production?
 

Well One of Germany's main shell manufacturers is setting up in Ukraine,
"Earlier this year, Rheinmetall's CEO Armin Papperger — the most powerful weapons tycoon in Europe — was the subject of an assassination attempt by Russian operatives that was foiled by the United States and Germany.
The Düsseldorf-based firm plans to run four factories inside Ukraine producing everything from artillery ammunition to gunpowder and air defense systems, alongside the vehicle repair and maintenance facility.
Rheinmetall — which Papperger claims is the most profitable defense company in the world — said earlier this month that it had already sent around 200 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, and the German government has donated Rheinmetall's air defense systems too, along with thousands of shells.
Papperger justified investments in production plants inside Ukraine by saying in a recent interview with Welt that Kyiv needs four million rounds of artillery ammunition to restock its silos as it resists Putin's full-scale invasion. "

I saw a mainstream news reports from a swedish weapons factury where they have already lowered the quality in order to up the quantity of their production line to help ukraine.

Hadn't seen that. Interesting. In terms of simply killing assaulting meat waves using cluster munitions, pinpoint accuracy is not required.
They need that to take out the tanks, but often drones do that.
Europe is already engaged in WWII and the US is already an active participant.
And cannot disengage either.
US has been happy for NATO countries to send their old F16s to Ukraine if they buy new F35s. Ching Ching.
And to use Russian frozen assets to finance shipment essentially obsolete Bradleys and Abrams waiting to be scrapped to the front, and take full price for them...
This 'Ukraine is costing ordinary Americans' is just so much bullshit.
America is making money and testing out its obsolete kit against old SovBloc equipment.
Oddly the Abrams tanks have not been vastly useful, but everyone loves the Bradley fighting vehicles. You can take out a Russian tank with the autocannon. If aimed carefully.
The US has thousands of them awaiting either upgrades or replacements. Already written off as zero value.
The Donald would be a fool not to sell them on for cash.
The reality is that I don't think, with respect, that certain Trump supporters here have the first idea about what is going on in the US military, intelligence or armament manufacturing businesses.
"stop the war that is costing us money" is a great election line. But the reality is that the Wests defense is so intertwined that merely saying that wont stop USAs deep involvement in it.
If the US wants to interfere in the middle east, then it needs European bases as staging posts. Ones that can't be sunk by enemy action.
In short Trump may preach isolationism, but it is a lot trickier to achieve, and certainly not in 24 hours.
And not without severe damage to US interests globally.
--
Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.
  – Will Durant