OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

lousubcap

And is from the WSJ and Peggy Noonan-

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-senators-shorts-and-americas-decline-fetterman-dress-code-boebert-79b8f2aa?st=58vap5iadqjrhol&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

HeavyG

lousubcap said:

And is from the WSJ and Peggy Noonan-

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-senators-shorts-and-americas-decline-fetterman-dress-code-boebert-79b8f2aa?st=58vap5iadqjrhol&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Oh Peggy... the Senate started going downhill when its members stopped wearing powdered wigs.

 

lousubcap

Russia-Ukraine update:

"Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Saturday said he would keep Ukraine aid in the Pentagon funding bill, reversing his Friday statement that he would remove the funding due to opposition from Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). Mychael Schnell reports for The Hill. 

The United States will send a small number of long-range missiles to Ukraine, President Biden promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. officials familiar with the matter said. The Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) have a range of 45 to 190 miles. The decision comes as the U.K. and France are wavering on whether they will send more long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. Jonathan Lemire, Alexnader Ward, Paul McLeary, and Lara Seligman report for POLITICO. 

Ukrainian missiles struck the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the occupied city of Sevastopol on Friday. While Russian accounts of the incident said only one missile hit the building, footage later showed a second missile hitting the headquarters, marking Ukraine’s third major success in 10 days. Ukraine destroyed several significant Russian naval assets and blew up the Black Sea Fleet’s backup communications headquarters. Yaroslav Trofimov reports for the Wall Street Journal. 

Poland clarified that it would send weapons it has already committed to Ukraine after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, “We no longer transfer weapons to Ukraine because we are now arming Poland.” Polish President Andrzej Duda has said his prime minister’s words were “interpreted in the worst possible way.” While the diplomatic spat between Poland and Ukraine last week appeared to call European solidarity into question, Morawiecki’s comments may have been intended to appeal to the farmers, a critical voting group in Poland’s forthcoming elections. Luke McGee reports for CNN. 

Ukrainian armored vehicles have broken through Russia’s main defensive line along the front in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. While Ukrainian infantry penetrated the final line “two to three weeks ago,” vehicles have only recently broken through, a Ukrainian commander said. Isabelle Khurshudyan, David L. Stern, Alex Horton, and Kamila Hrabchuk report for the Washington Post."

lousubcap

More on Russia-Ukraine Monday:

"How has the Russian military adapted its tactics during its ongoing Ukraine invasion? The Wall Street Journal on Sunday tallied a little more than half a dozen different adjustments Moscow has implemented since trying and failing to take control of the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv almost 580 days ago. 

Examples include less risky jet piloting, launching missiles from much farther back, hiding vehicles in tree lines, moving ammo depots farther back from frontlines, and nearly doubling tank and artillery shell production. But on the tank note, one defense official predicted it will still take Russia about a decade to make up its tank losses, which number around 2,000 so far. Story, here. 

Another recent adjustment: "Russia has placed layers of barriers, nets, and barges at the entrance to Sevastopol harbor in Crimea," Brady Africk of the American Enterprise Institute noted Sunday on social media, after weeks of Ukrainian naval drone attacks on Russian vessels in the region. 

It's often said that defending on the battlefield is much easier than going on the offense.And indeed, "Over the last nine months, the Russian force in Ukraine has proved itself capable of conducting stalwart defensive operations," the British military said Monday. "However, [Russia's military] continues to display only minimal capability on the offensive. Commanders struggle to orchestrate complex joint effects, to concentrate sufficient artillery ammunition, and to maintain high morale and offensive spirit," they added. "

Botch

To further extend one of my favorite lines about this conflict:
Russia has gone from being one of the two World Powers,
To being the second-strongest force in Ukraine,
To being the second-strongest force in Russia,
 
 
...to having lost all control of the Black Sea, to a country that has no Navy.  

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update: (slow day so far.)

"Thirty-four Russian officers, including the Black Sea Fleet commander, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, were killed and 105 others wounded following a strike, the Ukrainian military claimed yesterday. If accurate, Ukraine’s detailed claims about who was killed or injured suggest it has also won an intelligence victory. Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Andrew E. Kramer reports for the New York Times. 

“Abrams [tanks] are already in Ukraine and are preparing to reinforce our brigades,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed yesterday. Ian Lovett reports for the Wall Street Journal. Thirty-four Russian officers, including the Black Sea Fleet commander, Admiral Viktor Sokolov, were killed and 105 others wounded following a strike, the Ukrainian military claimed yesterday. If accurate, Ukraine’s detailed claims about who was killed or injured suggest it has also won an intelligence victory. Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Andrew E. Kramer reports for the New York Times. "

HeavyG

Will be interesting to see if the Abrams tanks live up to the hype.

fishlessman

HeavyG said:

Will be interesting to see if the Abrams tanks live up to the hype.

the abrams should easily take out the rest of the black sea fleet

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

ear defence positions in Tokmak, 18km (11.2 miles) away from the front, to assist them.

[Al Jazeera]

“It’s obvious the Russians are on the defensive right now,” said Grimes. “They’re operating with conscript forces because they’ve lost a lot of their élite forces, so they’re throwing their conscripts into the meat grinder.”

Russian commanders have also ignored their own playbook, whereby “one echelon of Russian forces slows a Ukrainian tactical advance while a second echelon of forces counterattacks,” said the ISW.

“Russian forces continue to expend significant combat power on counterattacking to hold their current positions and appear to be resisting the operationally sound course of action of falling back to prepared defensive positions further south,” it said.

Some observers have said Ukraine risks losing global support because its advance has been slow. Krummrich believed Ukraine’s deliberative approach was key to its success.

“When [countries] see Ukraine moving forward, that strengthens their righteous position on the world stage to say, ‘You need to back us’. If the Russians were blowing through Ukraine, a lot of midrange countries might say, ‘We’re going to hedge our bets on this.’”"

lousubcap

Some quotes from outgoing CJCS (Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff).  Worth a read-

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/27/mark-milley-quotes-ukraine-00117971

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s air defense systems shot down 34 of 44 Russian drones last night, its air force claimed today. The attack caused no casualties, Odesa’s regional governor, Oleh Kiper, said. Martin Belam and Helen Sullivan report for the Guardian. 

The House Rules Committee met to remove funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative as House Republicans made further cuts to their defense spending bill yesterday night. A final vote is expected this week amid uncertainty over the bill’s prospect of passing. Emily Brooks reports for The Hill.

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence said “a concerted new Russian offensive [wa]s less likely over the coming weeks” based on its daily assessment of the war in Ukraine.

Ilya Yevlash, spokesperson for the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told the RBC-Ukraine outlet that mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group had returned to the front line in the east. Wagner was instrumental in the Russian capture of Bakhmut earlier this year, but its troops were pulled out after a short-lived mutiny and the death a month later of leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash. Yevlash said that while the mercenaries were among the “most prepared” in the Russian military, they were not a “significant threat, a ‘game changer’”.

Moscow accused the UK and the United States of involvement in last week’s Ukrainian attack on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol in annexed Crimea. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed Western reconnaissance data, satellites of NATO countries, and spy planes were used. Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014."

Gulfcoastguy

But 4 500kg glide bombs hit the grain terminals in Odessa.

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The U.S. House of Representatives voted 311-117 to approve $300 million in new aid to Ukraine yesterday night, shortly after Republican leaders stripped Ukraine assistance from a Pentagon funding bill on Wednesday. Mychael Schnell reports for The Hill. 

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general, and the defense ministers of the U.K. and France were in Ukraine yesterday, encouraging weapons production within Ukraine. Their visit comes just before a forum with international military contractors is convened by the Ukrainian government, as it tries to promote the development of a domestic weapons manufacturing and repair capacity. Constant Méheut and Lara Jakes report for the New York Times. 

“Very difficult questions” must be resolved before the E.U. can start membership talks with Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said today. E.U. members will decide in December whether to allow Ukraine to begin accession negotiations. Reuters reports.

Russia launched its largest air attack on Ukraine this month, targeting three regions – Mykolaiv and Odesa in the south and Kirovohrad in central Ukraine. The air force said its air defence systems shot down 34 of 44 Shahed drones. Damage on the ground was limited.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukrainian forces were “gradually gaining ground” in their counteroffensive against Russia. Speaking in Kyiv at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Stoltenberg also said Russian troops were fighting for Moscow’s “imperial delusions”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said elections conducted earlier this month in Russian-occupied parts of eastern Ukraine marked a step towards their full integration into Russia. Kyiv condemned the votes in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions as illegal.

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence said Russia has lost about 90 fixed-wing aircraft in combat since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It added that Russia was also using such aircraft far more intensively than during peacetime and that it was highly likely that was “eating into its airframes lifespans far more more quickly than planned”."

Gulfcoastguy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVwbQha6-Pg

Diane Feinstein has died. I wonder if the senate balance has changed for a few hours?

JohnInCarolina

Gulfcoastguy said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVwbQha6-Pg

Diane Feinstein has died. I wonder if the senate balance has changed for a few hours?

Why would it?  It was 51-49 before she died, now it's 50-49, until a replacement is appointed.

nolaegghead

lousubcap

The looming gubmint shutdown- (does not appear to be behind a paywall but my detective skills are at the neophyte level):

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2023-09-25/government-shutdown-kevin-mccarthy-seems-to-have-lost-control?srnd=opinion&leadSource=uverify wall

lousubcap

Worth the read for how the military-civilian interface works:

Milley takes exit swipe at Trump

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley retired Friday with an impassioned speech in which he took a swipe at former President Trump, proclaiming that the U.S. military does not swear an oath to a “wannabe dictator.”

© Getty

Trump last week accused Milley of “treason” in going behind his back to reassure his Chinese counterpart near the end of his term, suggesting that the Army general should be put to death.   “We are unique among the world’s militaries. We don’t take an oath to a country. We don’t take an oath to a tribe. We don’t take an oath to a religion. We don’t take an oath to a king, or a queen, or to a tyrant or a dictator,” Milley said at a ceremony in Virginia.   “And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator,” he continued. “We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America — and we’re willing to die to protect it.”   Milley, who Trump appointed in 2018, often clashed with the former president while serving under him, most notably overthe incident in front of St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C., in June 2020 during the protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd.   Milley had briefly appeared wearing combat fatigues alongside Trump as he walked across Lafayette Square to St. John’s as Trump sought a photo-op.   The four-star general later apologized publicly for creating “a perception of the military involved in domestic politics” and that he “should not have been there” — an apology that angered Trump.   The other speakers at the ceremony never directly referred to Trump during the Friday affair at Joint Base-Myer Henderson Hall, instead lavishing Milley with praise for his service to the country across more than four decades in the military.    President Biden called Milley’s partnership “invaluable,” saying he was “unflinching in the face of danger.” Biden recounted how Milley “once ran across a bridge booby-trapped with mines to stop two battle tanks evacuating wounded troops from driving across it.”   Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, meanwhile, called Milley “a scholar and a warrior.”   “We respect him for his wit, but we love him for his heart. And he’s thrown his whole heart into leading this tremendous joint force of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, guardians,” Austin said.  ""

"

JohnInCarolina

http://twitter.com/TheAtlantic/status/1708455476814315950?s=20

HeavyG

https://twitter.com/ChakhoyanAndrew/status/1708511852857057328?s=20

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"President Biden yesterday pressed Republicans in Congress to provide more aid to Ukraine after the funding bill that averted a U.S. government shutdown did not include more assistance for Ukraine. “We cannot under any circumstances allow America’s support for Ukraine to be interrupted. I fully expect the speaker to keep his commitment to secure the passage and support needed to help Ukraine as they defend themselves against aggression and brutality,” Biden said. Jeff Mason reports for Reuters. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to fight Russia “for as long as it takes,” as U.S. commitment appears to waver after the funding bill that averted a U.S. government shutdown did not include more aid for Ukraine. However, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senator Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC) signaled more support was forthcoming yesterday. Rachel Pannett reports for the Washington Post.

The growing use of cheap consumer drones in the war in Ukraine has meant military supply lines increasingly rely on manufacturers in China, the world’s most significant maker of such drones. Ukraine loses an estimated 10,000 drones a month. The Ukrainian military has found it more challenging to secure drones after Chinese suppliers reduced their sales, following Chinese rules to restrict drone exports that took effect on Sept. 1. Chinese drone deliveries to Russia dwarf Chinese companies’ shipments to Ukraine. Paul Mozur and Valerie Hopkins report for the New York Times.

The U.K. is considering moving its training and production activities into Ukraine, U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said. His comments come as BAE Systems, the U.K.’s largest defense firm, announced it would be manufacturing in Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev, chair of Russia’s security council, said British soldiers in Ukraine would be legitimate targets. Prime Minister Rish Sunak quickly clarified that “there are no British soldiers that will be sent to fight in the current conflict.” Annabelle Dickson reports for POLITICO.

Ukraine said its air defence systems shot down 16 of about 30 drones launched by Russia on Sunday. Authorities said civilian infrastructure and grain storage warehouses were damaged in the Cherkasy region as well as the southern Mykolaiv and eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces’ air defences in eastern Ukraine had intercepted five United States-made HIMARS shells, an air-launched JDAM bomb and 37 Ukrainian drones. Kyiv began a counteroffensive in June to retake Ukrainian land occupied by Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.

Russia’s defence ministry said it shot down six Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and two Ukrainian missiles over Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said five more ships were on their way to Ukrainian seaports using a new corridor for agricultural exports after Moscow withdrew from the United Nations and Turkey-brokered Black Sea grain deal that allowed safe passage for Ukraine’s grain.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak backpedalled on a comment by his defence minister that the United Kingdom could send military instructors to Ukraine. Grant Shapps told the Sunday Telegraph that as well as training Ukrainian troops in the UK, he wanted to deploy British instructors to Ukraine. Hours later, Sunak said there were no such plans. “That’s something for the long term, not the here and now. There are no British soldiers that will be sent to fight in the current conflict,” he said.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence said leaked Russian defence spending documents suggested Moscow was “preparing for multiple further years of fighting in Ukraine. The documents said defence spending for 2024 was likely to account for 30 percent of total public expenditure."

lousubcap

What's the phrase "Meet an a$$hole in the morning, you met an a$$hole.  Meet a$$holes all day long, you are the a$$hole."

Another of those really smart and great people who worked with CHEETO and became dumbed down thru the experience: (at least thru CHEETO'S loyalty lens-yep-the Constitution wins every time if anyone has a spine.)

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4231199-trump-accuses-milley-of-being-slow-moving-and-thinking/?email=467cb6399cb7df64551775e431052b43a775c749&emaila=12a6d4d069cd56cfddaa391c24eb7042&emailb=054528e7403871c79f668e49dd3c44b1ec00c7f611bf9388f76bb2324d6ca5f3&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=10.02.23 — Defense & National Security BH

CHEETO makes Nixon look like a saint.  I loathe CHEETO. 

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The Pentagon has $5 billion remaining in support funding for Ukraine, which may only last a few months after Congress declined to include more support in the funding bill that averted a government shutdown. Fears of wavering U.S. commitment may lead Russia to believe it can wait until U.S. fatigue sets in. Gordon Lubold, Lindsay Wise, and Isabel Coles report for the Wall Street Journal. 

Almost all E.U. foreign ministers met in Kyiv yesterday in a surprise summit to confirm the bloc’s support for Ukraine. The summit appears intent on assuaging fears that European support for Ukraine might waver. Monika Pronczuk reports for the New York Times. 

Josep Borrell, the E.U.’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, proposed an additional aid package for Ukraine of about $5.2 billion. Kelly Kasulis Cho reports for the Washington Post.

Russia may soon test an experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile, as suggested by satellite imagery and aviation data. The activity near one of Russia’s Arctic bases is consistent with those undertaken during missile tests in 2017 and 2018. The missile is designed to be able to fly for around 14,000 miles. However, previous tests failed as it only flew about 20 miles before crashing. Riley Mellen reports for the New York Times. 

Ukraine shelled a Russian village near the border with cluster munitions today, damaging several houses, according to the Russian governor of the Bryansk region. Ukraine previously pledged to only use these controversial U.S. munitions on military targets. There were no reported casualties. Reuters reports. 

Russia is deploying so-called “Storm-Z” squads comprised of convicts and regular soldiers being punished for disciplinary breaches to attack the frontline in what amounts to cannon fodder. These squads are typically sent to the most exposed parts of the front. One regular soldier described them as “just meat.” Reuters reports. "

lousubcap

Tom Nichols from The Atlantic:  Many R's and Ukraine-

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/why-the-gop-extremists-oppose-ukraine/ar-AA1hAV63?utm_ 

lousubcap

More on Russia-Ukraine Tuesday:

"LOOKING AHEAD IN UKRAINE: Ukraine’s counteroffensive has progressed very slowly since it began over the summer, and recent reports show that Russia’s “elastic defense” may be a big reason why, The New York Times’ MATTHEW MPOKE BIGG reports.

That tactic involves Russian troops ceding ground to Ukrainians before striking back when they’re vulnerable, when they’re moving across open fields or at abandoned Russian positions. On Monday, it played out in the Zaporizhzhia region when Moscow’s troops said they attacked Kyiv’s forces, while Ukraine said it “repelled the attacks.”

The objective is to prevent Ukranians from gaining enough traction to secure land to stage more offensives, sometimes leading to conflicting reports of what went down.

Ukraine has made small gains though, and it’s pushing for the West to continue providing military assistance to keep the momentum going. But some allies are worried about the effects on their own militaries. To ease their concerns, President JOE BIDEN today called several Western countries to reassure them that U.S. aid would continue, our own KELLY GARRITY reports.

“We cannot keep on giving from our own stockpiles,” one European official told our own PAUL McLEARY and LARA SELIGMAN. The official added that there’s still robust public and political support for Ukraine’s fight, but “we’ve given everything that will not endanger our own security.”

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has $5.4 billion left in reserves to send military assistance to Kyiv, even with Congress’ failure to include more funding for Ukraine over the weekend, two U.S. officials familiar with the discussions told Paul and Lara.

News of the dwindling budget came as Pentagon leaders sent a letter to Congress warning that they’re running low on money to replace Kyiv’s weapons, The Associated Press’ LOLITA BALDOR and TARA COPP reported Monday evening. Pentagon Comptroller MICHAEL McCORD wrote that the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative — which provides long-term funding — was completely depleted.

The Defense Department has “enough funding authorities to meet Ukraine's battlefield needs for just a little bit longer, but we need Congress to act to ensure there is no disruption in our support," spokesperson SABRINA SINGH told reporters today."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Western ammunition stocks are now at “the bottom of the barrel” following continued deliveries to Ukraine, according to Adm. Rob Bauer of the Netherlands, the chair of the NATO Military Committee. The announcement coincides with fresh uncertainty over Western military aid for Ukraine. However, the U.K. has stressed that the West must continue supporting Ukraine despite thinning stockpiles. For example, the low supply of 155mm artillery rounds caused the United States to supply Ukraine with controversial cluster munitions. Brad Lendon and Radina Gigova report for CNN. 

President Biden warned that any “lapse in support will make [Russian President Vladimir] Putin believe he can wait us out” while speaking with allies yesterday. Biden’s warning comes just after the E.U. proposed an additional $5.2 billion in aid to Ukraine. Kelly Kasulis Cho, Adela Suliman, and Miriam Berger report for the Washington Post. 

The governor of Russia’s Bryansk region accused Ukraine of using cluster munitions against a Russian village near the Ukrainian border. Several houses in the village of Klimovo were damaged, although no casualties were reported.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it destroyed 29 of 31 drones and one cruise missile launched by Russia, mostly towards the regions of Mykolaiv and Dnipropetrovsk, during overnight attacks that lasted more than three hours.

Falling debris from destroyed Russian drones caused fires in Dnipro and in an industrial enterprise in Pavlograd, two cities in Ukraine’s eastern Dnipropetrovsk region. Firefighters managed to extinguish both fires and there were not initial reports regarding victims.

Ukraine’s military said that Russian forces tried unsuccessfully to regain lost positions near Mala Tokmachka and Verbove in the Zaporizhia region over the previous 24 hours."

lousubcap

Some political observations following the R clown show of yesterday:

… “McCarthy’s Extraordinary Downfall Reflects an Ungovernable G.O.P.,” by NYT’s Carl Hulse: “With the G.O.P. base increasingly hungry for insurgency and confrontation, Mr. McCarthy found himself out of step, a problem that is likely to plague any candidate who tries to succeed him. … For Mr. McCarthy, who practiced a management style of doing and saying pretty much whatever it would take to get through the day, tomorrow finally arrived.” (Note-the NYT article is behind a paywall.)

… “The rudderless GOP careens toward 2024,” by Burgess Everett, Sarah Ferris and Ally Mutnick: “McCarthy’s loss to eight rebel Republicans is the latest and most acute example of a party now so wracked by division that it cannot govern itself. … McCarthy’s undoing leaves the only part of government Republicans control rudderless, making it harder to operate day-to-day, let alone tackle big challenges.“

— Democrats say good riddance: “Months of bad blood between McCarthy and Democrats help sink his speakership,” by WaPo’s Paul Kane: “Some Democrats pitied him and all his efforts to appease a group of intransigent right-wing radicals. But they said he had to pay a price for making so many promises and backing away from them. They recalled how, immediately after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, McCarthy blamed President Donald Trump and called for an independent commission to investigate, only to throw his support behind Trump after he left office and to oppose a deep investigation.” (also paywall protected.)

lousubcap

A bit of soccer/football/ futbol news:

First an interesting article regarding the sport and it's name in various countries:

https://www.topendsports.com/sport/soccer/sport-name.htm 

And once you read that-the World Cup 2030 announcement: (Edit-the link works...)

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67010609?at_campaign_type=owned&at_medium=emails&at_objective=awareness&at_ptr_type=email&at_ptr_name=salesforce&at_campaign=newsbriefingpm&at_email_send_date=20231004&at_send_id=3986250&at_link_title=Type-Article_Name-2030+World+Cup+Tournament+to+be+held+across+six+countries+in+three+continent_Sponsor-Undefined_Social-Website_Topic-Sports_Value-Free_Region-Europe_Language-en_Placement-Get+up+to+speed_Location-hyperlink&at_bbc_team=crm

lousubcap

More on Russia-Ukraine today (as MSM doesn't report much right now): (From Politico)

The Pentagon has transferred more than 1 million rounds of ammunition seized from Iran to Ukraine, our own LARA SELIGMAN reports.

The transfer, which took place Monday, is aimed at helping Kyiv’s forces push through Russia’s defensive lines before winter arrives. It comes as Western support is starting to slip for Ukraine and further U.S. funding has fallen victim to political infighting in the House, where a group of hardline Republicans is opposing any additional aid.

Overnight, Russian forces claimed to have foiled Kyiv’s largest cross-border drone attack, The Associated Press’ DASHA LITVINOVAreports. As cold weather concerns loom, NATO officials continued to press today for increased weapons production from allies.

“The bottom of the barrel is now visible,” Adm. ROB BAUER, head of NATO’s Military Committee, said about Ukraine’s weapons systems and ammo while speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum.

Former NATO chief ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN believes a resolution to the budget standoff in the U.S. is critical to ensuring allies in Europe remain in-step on maintaining support.

“The fact is that if we can count on continued American support, then the European allies will follow,” Rasmussen told our own JOSHUA POSANER, adding that he was “optimistic” agreement can be found in Washington on further funding.

lousubcap

In keeping with serving up interesting news articles here, give this a read:  (I really do try to play frictionless conduit in this thread-not so others.)  What do I know...seems reasonable if dealing with reasonable people.

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/4235818-the-trump-collapse-is-coming-and-hes-taking-biden-down-with-him/?email=467cb6399cb7df64551775e431052b43a775c749&emaila=12a6d4d069cd56cfddaa391c24eb7042&emailb=054528e7403871c79f668e49dd3c44b1ec00c7f611bf9388f76bb2324d6ca5f3&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=10.04.23 Defense & National Security JB