Chalk up another crafty Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) to the Russian military.

I am hoping the West has noticed the game changer that a conventional warhead on hyper-sonic IRBMs and ICBMs has changed the balance of power in near peer and peer combat for the remainder of this century as exemplified by the Oreshnik attacks by the Russians.

This is a strategic decapitation weapons system that makes exquisite platforms like aircraft carriers and static land bases eminently targetable with no hope of defending against the incoming warheads.

Germany is too far gone to catch up and they have traditionally been the bleeding edge of any military innovations in the EU.

Unless an uncharacteristic miracle takes place in the US procurement and acquisition system, the US and the West is years behind. There is a slight chance a crash program to convert half of the current Minuteman III armory to conventional warheads which could fast-track the game changer but the arthritic and sclerotic history of American arms in the last half century turning on a dime to fight a future war instead of the last war is slim.

Germany’s inability to increase innovation and production is emblematic of the entire West.

Take a listen to my latest WarNotes Episode 005 where I discuss nuclear weapons in the 21st century published this morning.

Kiel Institute Report:

War is back in Europe and as it becomes long-lasting, the question of armament gains central importance. This report finds that Russian military industrial capacities have been rising strongly in the last two years, well beyond the levels of Russian material losses in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the build-up of German capacities is progressing slowly. We document Germany’s military procurement in a new Kiel Military Procurement Tracker and find that Germany did not meaningfully increase procurement in the one and a half years after February 2022, and only accelerated it in late 2023. Given Germany’s massive disarmament in the last decades and the current procurement speed, we find that for some key weapon systems, Germany will not attain 2004 levels of armament for about 100 years. When taking into account arms commitments to Ukraine, some German capacities are even falling. The new Tracker provides detailed information on quantities, value of the orders, predicted delivery dates, as well as the companies from which Germany procures. The situation of slow and insufficient procurement can and needs to be remedied. Failing on deterrence would mean a higher likelihood of a costly war. Instead of Germany pursuing a “war economy”, as some have argued, Germany’s defence budget needs to durably and credibly increase. Higher and credible long-term demand will lead to increasing supply capacities. A long-term European armament strategy is needed. Germany and Europe need to focus on speed in procurement, on cost effectiveness through economies of scale in an integrated European market, on innovation, and on technological superiority. Tracking military rearmament is essential to the security of the continent.

Fit for war in decades: Europe’s and Germany’s slow rearmament vis-a-vis Russia

You are living in historic times.

I urge you to watch the short video below.

HT to Millinneum 7:

Email me at cgpodcast@pm.me

It is much worse than Shawn Ryan thinks per his reactions during the interview.

Sarah Adams discusses a forecast of an attack on the US from 1:12:00 to 1:25:00.

There will be far more than 1k fighters (think train the trainer) because the aQ et al planners will coordinate with auxiliary forces on college campuses and other anti-Israeli cadres to facilitate the clogging of 911 phone lines with false calls, create traffic accidents on major arterials, conduct information shaping on the Coprophile Media networks and provide logistics support to the fighters among other things to include shelter and aid.

Since October 2023, the domestic alignment of millions of sympathizers to the anti-Israel coalition has created a de facto homegrown support infrastructure for attacks on the US homeland by Sunni and Wahhabi fanatics.

This will take place over days with different target sets every 24 hours to make the slow response by the government at all levels play whack-a-mole and fail to anticipate movement of the target sets from public venues to residential areas to infrastructure to direct hits on emergency response modalities like police & fire departments and then lower priority targets until they burn themselves down (HT to William Forstchen).

Hostile drones will be used to target any flashing lights they see (police & fire vehicles) and electric vehicles; the former to stymie emergency response and the latter to create massive fires on arterials.

The unintended consequences and chaos avalanches that will follow this attack by the US government response will make things even worse.

I cover this in detail in the Storming America episodes 37, 41-43 and 49-50 in my Chasing Ghosts podcast.

Email me at cgpodcast@pm.me

https://x.com/ArmchairW/status/1866706379584545203

My Substack

Email me at cgpodcast@pm.me

Medal of Honor citation for Commander William L. McGonagle, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Liberty (AGTR-5)

Thanks to Candace Owens for lifting this incident from the dead.

One receives the Medal of Honor for engaging in a fight in enemy action.

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer, USS Liberty (AGTR-5) in the Eastern Mediterranean on 8-9 June 1967. Sailing in international waters, the Liberty was attacked without warning by jet fighter aircraft and motor torpedo boats which inflicted many casualties among the crew and caused extreme damage to the ship. Although severely wounded during the first air attack, Captain (then Commander) McGonagle remained at his battle station on the badly damaged bridge and, with full knowledge of the seriousness of his wounds, subordinated his own welfare to the safety and survival of his command. Steadfastly refusing any treatment which would take him away from his post, he calmly continued to exercise firm command of his ship. Despite continuous exposure to fire, he maneuvered his ship, directed its defense, supervised the control of flooding and fire, and saw to the care of the casualties. Captain McGonagle’s extraordinary valor under these conditions inspired the surviving members of the Liberty’s crew, many of them seriously wounded, to heroic efforts to overcome the battle damage and keep the ship afloat. Subsequent to the attack, although in great pain and weak from the loss of blood, Captain McGonagle remained at his battle station and continued to conn his ship for more than seventeen hours. It was only after rendezvous with a United States destroyer that he relinquished personal control of the Liberty and permitted himself to be removed from the bridge. Even then, he refused much needed medical attention until convinced that the seriously wounded among his crew had been treated. Captain McGonagle’s superb professionalism, courageous fighting spirit, and valiant leadership saved his ship and many lives. His actions sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Here’s an excellent nut and bolts history:

An excellent book on the subject:

If you wish to reach some of the survivors, try here: https://ussliberty.org/