Russia on brink of ... NOPE! Russia INVADES Ukraine!

[Jaskalas]

why is Ukraine getting all the pressure to pursue peace when Russia is the invading country?
unfortunately, we all know why

Because, for some reason, we stopped shooting people for treason.

 

[Jaskalas]

Trump facilitates Russian missile attack on civilian aid workers, including US and UK citizens.

The short sightedness here is just insane. SpaceX will never sell sat services to another government ever again. The governments with money will refocus on supporting competitors that will eat at them.

All Trump and Elon care about is making Russia win the war.
To hear my local MAGA explain it, Europeans "need to die".
Reasons?

• No respect.
• Too woke.
• Too weak.

Basically whatever MAGA / Trumpian nonsense you want to make up, their media feeds have plastered it all over their pea sized brains for years and so now joining Russia to kill Europe is all they care about in foreign policy. Well, that and helping Israel "finish the job" in Gaza. It is painful to sit idly by as we become the Third Reich in all but name.

 

[K1052]

I think a lot of Defense companies are in the same boat when the US Govt backstabs a partner and ally. If the US government orders SpaceX to cut services then SpaceX has to cut services.

I think we have to keep in mind the distinction between different types of Starlink services currently active in Ukraine.

DOD controlled Starlink Terminals. These are Starlink terminals that have the geo-fencing controlled by the US DOD and are directly paid for by the US DOD.

Commercial Service Starlink Terminals. These are Starlink terminals paid for by civilians, different European governments, etc. They are standard Starlink service terminals and are subject to the standard TOS.

Most likely scenario is that the US Govt cuts of the DOD Starlink terminals. They can either have SpaceX de-activate them (They control the subscription) or de-activate themselves since they have greater control over the terminals per the US Govt contract with SpaceX. The US government could also order SpaceX to more strictly enforce the TOS. The current TOS

9.5 Modifications to Starlink Products & Export Controls. [...] However, Starlink is not designed or intended for use with or in offensive or defensive weaponry or other comparable end-uses. Custom modifications of the Starlink Kits or Services for military end-uses or military end-users may transform the items into products controlled under U.S. export control laws, specifically the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 C.F.R. §§ 120-130) or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 C.F.R. §§ 730-774) requiring authorizations from the United States government for the export, support, or use outside the United States.

Right now SpaceX has a generous interpretation of the TOS allows them to be used for military comms. As long as you don't mount them on drones and use them for communication for active attacks on the Russians. The US Govt could order SpaceX that Starlink terminals used for military comms makes them fall under ITAR rules and take appropriate action.

This overall is the problem when you depend on one provider for the majority of your data services. Ukraine learned this the hard way when the war started and they depended on ViaSat and the Russians hacked the ViaSat terminals and bricked a bunch of them. The problem is there really isn't a good alternative to Starlink for low latency satellite data communications. Ukraine is kind of stuck until there is a good commercial alternative to Starlink or they go back to using high latency satellite data communications.

I think US defense and adjacent companies are going to be in a real tough spot competing for European tenders. If the Euros are raising the kind of money they are talking a bout they're almost certain to invest in domestic capacities with it that the US can't just decide to turn off.

That Europe doesn't possess a cheap launcher yet is certainly unfortunate however I'm guessing that will gain in priority along with making alternatives to Starlink, like Eutelsat, more capable and competitive sooner even if it requires government money to do so. Once people start bandying around "national security" then more things are possible.

 

[Jaskalas]

I think US defense and adjacent companies are going to be in a real tough spot competing for European tenders. If the Euros are raising the kind of money they are talking a bout they're almost certain to invest in domestic capacities with it that the US can't just decide to turn off.

In terms of weapon finances and production, short term might require some US purchases. But you can bet the long term will stay with reliable partners instead of traitors.

 

[K1052]

In terms of weapon finances and production, short term might require some US purchases. But you can bet the long term will stay with reliable partners instead of traitors.

The order books are such already that a lot of stuff if ordered now would take years to arrive. There are some exceptions, especially in munitions, but like if you wanted to order another F-35 delivery would be like 2031 or later.

Expansion of munitions production has already been a focus that will probably have much more money dumped into it very soon. I also bet there is a room of guys over at Kongsberg talking about how to integrate FR/GER/UK missiles into NASMAS to relieve reliance on Raytheon.

 

[Brovane]

I think US defense and adjacent companies are going to be in a real tough spot competing for European tenders. If the Euros are raising the kind of money they are talking a bout they're almost certain to invest in domestic capacities with it that the US can't just decide to turn off.

That Europe doesn't possess a cheap launcher yet is certainly unfortunate however I'm guessing that will gain in priority along with making alternatives to Starlink, like Eutelsat, more capable and competitive sooner even if it requires government money to do so. Once people start bandying around "national security" then more things are possible.

If they want Eutelsat more capable sooner that path probably runs through SpaceX for launches. They are the only provider right now that has excess launch capability for the next couple of years.

 

[K1052]

If they want Eutelsat more capable sooner that path probably runs through SpaceX for launches. They are the only provider right now that has excess launch capability for the next couple of years.

Unless they start bumping Ariane 6 payloads.

 

[Brovane]

Unless they start bumping Ariane 6 payloads.

Which ones to bump? Galileo payloads? Metrological satellites? You could bump Project Kuiper but that would impact your commercial business. A lot of money is at stake if you bump Project Kuiper sats. Ariane 6 is only scheduled for 4-5 launches this year. They just haven't built up a solid launch cadence on a new LV and because it isn't reusable it would be difficult to ramp up significantly launch cadence more than planned.

This is where launch reusability really shines because it is much easier when you are reusing hardware to sustain a high launch cadence.

 

[K1052]

Which ones to bump? Galileo payloads? Metrological satellites? You could bump Project Kuiper but that would impact your commercial business. A lot of money is at stake if you bump Project Kuiper sats. Ariane 6 is only scheduled for 4-5 launches this year. They just haven't built up a solid launch cadence on a new LV and because it isn't reusable it would be difficult to ramp up significantly launch cadence more than planned.

This is where launch reusability really shines because it is much easier when you are reusing hardware to sustain a high launch cadence.

That would likely be up to the French government but I'd assume the meteorological payloads.

 

[Drach]

.

 

[Drach]

View attachment 119090


Funny.
Do they realize and do this on purpose?

Goatse?

 

[Jaskalas]

Trump works to secure division and potential civil war inside Ukraine.
With Allies like this, Europe is going to need more nuclear weapons.

Trump team meets with Zelensky’s political rivals in apparent bid to remove him from power

Two of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s political rivals have confirmed that they have been in contact with members of US President Donald Trump’s entourage following a Politico report published on Thursday in which an alleged bid to remove Zelensky from office was revealed.​

​

According to Politico, “secret discussions” have been held about holding snap presidential elections in Ukraine that could potentially unseat Zelensky before a final peace deal is signed.​

 

[K1052]

Trump works to secure division and potential civil war inside Ukraine.
With Allies like this, Europe is going to need more nuclear weapons.

Trump team meets with Zelensky’s political rivals in apparent bid to remove him from power

Two of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s political rivals have confirmed that they have been in contact with members of US President Donald Trump’s entourage following a Politico report published on Thursday in which an alleged bid to remove Zelensky from office was revealed.​

​

According to Politico, “secret discussions” have been held about holding snap presidential elections in Ukraine that could potentially unseat Zelensky before a final peace deal is signed.​

The Ukrainians are openly making fun of this since it is obvious if Zelensky is pushed out that Zaluzhnyi is gonna be president lol.

 

[K1052]

Americans increasingly disapprove of how Trump is handling Ukraine.

A new Economist-YouGov poll shows Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war 45 percent to 40 percent. That’s not a huge gap. But it’s worse than his overall approval rating, and it’s tied for his worst issue in what was otherwise a pretty decent poll for Trump.

In addition, just 21 percent strongly approve of his handling of the war, compared with 36 percent who strongly disapprove. Just 43 percent of Republicans strongly approve.
The story is similar in a Reuters-Ipsos poll. It shows Trump’s approval on the broader issue of foreign policy continuing to deteriorate. While Americans approved of Trump’s foreign policy by two points in January (39 percent to 37 percent), they now disapprove by 13 points (50 percent to 37 percent).

Trump recently began his feud with Zelensky by accusing Ukraine of starting the war, despite Ukraine being invaded and despite Trump rarely casting such blame on Russia.

The Reuters poll found that Americans overwhelmingly disagree with this posture. They say, 70 percent to 9 percent, that Russia is more to blame. When asked separately whether both sides were “equally” to blame, Americans disagree 60 percent to 22 percent.

https://archive.is/A0IuT

 

[hal2kilo]

Trump works to secure division and potential civil war inside Ukraine.
With Allies like this, Europe is going to need more nuclear weapons.

Trump team meets with Zelensky’s political rivals in apparent bid to remove him from power

Two of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s political rivals have confirmed that they have been in contact with members of US President Donald Trump’s entourage following a Politico report published on Thursday in which an alleged bid to remove Zelensky from office was revealed.​

​

According to Politico, “secret discussions” have been held about holding snap presidential elections in Ukraine that could potentially unseat Zelensky before a final peace deal is signed.​

Some of you folks out there still think Trump isn't working with the Russians?

 

[Jaskalas]

All Trump and Elon care about is making Russia win the war.
To hear my local MAGA explain it, Europeans "need to die".

Followup, Newsmax Chris Salcedo on 3/06/2025

Attacking Europe for daring to consider arming up and defending itself. Calling them warmongers who dare to defy the Trump peace plan of a quick death by Russia.
Confirming my worst fears. MAGA has long conditioned their viewers to want Europeans dead.

 

[fskimospy]

Followup, Newsmax Chris Salcedo on 3/06/2025

Attacking Europe for daring to consider arming up and defending itself. Calling them warmongers who dare to defy the Trump peace plan of a quick death by Russia.
Confirming my worst fears. MAGA has long conditioned their viewers to want Europeans dead.

Europe spends less on defense: FREELOADING EUROPEANS

Europe spends more on defense: WARMONGERING EUROPEANS

Again, Sartre’s ‘anti-Semite and Jew’’s discussion of bad faith explains modern US conservatism perfectly. Honesty is not an independent value to them and they in fact enjoy lying and seeing other people try to engage with their lies in an honest way.

 

[Jaskalas]

Europe spends more on defense: WARMONGERING EUROPEANS

Newsmax Rob Schmitt on 3/06/2025
Echoed the same propaganda that his earlier cohort did. I suspect MAGA channels push the same Pro-Russia anti-Euro message every hour.

 

[balloonshark]

In case you were still wondering who started the war.

 

[kage69]

After Traitor Trump's ambush tantrum the other day, that video should be a refresher for every American with an internet connection and a soul.

 

[K1052]

Ukrainians say the Mirage 2000-5Fs they just got were already deployed for air defense overnight.

 

[K1052]

Also I guess it's Putin's turn through the Trump funhouse. I assume this is related to the European security forces he wants to have in Ukraine that the Russians have categorically refused.

 

[cytg111]

Also I guess it's Putin's turn through the Trump funhouse. I assume this is related to the European security forces he wants to have in Ukraine that the Russians have categorically refused.

View attachment 119180

Is this not already on the books?

All I've read is the opposite

https://www.reuters.com/world/white-house-seeks-plan-possible-russia-sanctions-relief-sources-say-2025-03-03/

 

[K1052]

Is this not already on the books?

Some banks are not sanctioned to facilitate payments for stuff that was important to allies/friendly nations.

 

[Perknose]

Is this not already on the books?

All I've read is the opposite

https://www.reuters.com/world/white-house-seeks-plan-possible-russia-sanctions-relief-sources-say-2025-03-03/

Under our Dear Leader's rule, it's opposite day every damn day.