The US unlike those mean Russians and Iranians would never bomb cities, impose sanctions, seize ships or freeze assets on other countries if it would hurt or impoverish ordinary people. We are the good guys.
One of the elements of the grain and fertilizer shipping deal that is that the US promised to ease the way regarding all of the supporting functions for international shipping, e.g. insurance and payments. I can easily see the oh, so brilliant people in the White House and State intentionally screwing that up simply to be able to point a finger at the Russians. I am in no way pro-Russian. I am also not pro-State Department, the inhabitants of Foggy Bottom.
And who knows what side deal has been hatched by one of the Biden shell companies? As much as I am absolutely ticked off about corruption in high places, I am equally tight jawed that we even have to have a discussion about corruption in high places.
Fraction of grain exports under the initiative going to low-income countries - 2%. Top 3 countries - #1 China (surprise!), #2 Spain, #3 Turkey. This administration is all about the "free flow at market prices" of grain and fertilizer to China. I am looking forward to the day when the autonomous Mississippi River Basin satrapy has the honor of grazing the horses from the Xinjiang Horse Breeding and Research Center.
My understanding is that most of the wheat going to Turkey is for making and then exporting flour, which makes sense. But I hear you about the Mississippi Satrapy. The only real hole in that plan would be those good old boys in the area.
But it's like oil. It's fungible, nobody really cares where it was extracted or grown. And if the high income states regular suppliers can't fill orders they can and will outbid the low income states for it.
"They coordinated efforts to resume the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Due to Russia’s actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis. A total of 400 million people in many countries in Africa and Asia are threatened with hunger. Together, we must prevent a global food catastrophe."
"Ukraine has asked the European Commission to compensate for the costs of transporting Ukrainian agricultural products to distant European ports. This was announced by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solsky during the telethon of the Yedyni Novyny (United News) telethon.
"The deadline of 15 September imposed on the countries of the European Union bordering Ukraine for the lifting of the ban on the import of cereals from the country at war is “unacceptable to us”. So said the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture István Nagy, during a press conference in Warsaw, together with his counterparts from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia."
Potential rift forming. Fortunately, the State Department is led by the smartest person in the room, Antony Blinken, so this should be patched over fairly quickly.
Putins plan to bring the world to its knees in the absence of a Black Sea deal. Seems questionable given the amount of US farm acreage in conservation programs.
"“The plan is to bring the world to its knees and make Russia a unique grain supplier. After the failure of the idea of an “energy superpower,” Putin wants to become a “grain superempire,” Danilov said."
Pretty embarrassing when a **NAVY** Captain is a complete Lubber around a simple Little Plastic Toy Boat. (Yeah, I know he wont ever screen for carrier command...but still..to enshrine the institutional Lubberlieness in a blockbuster movie....yeesh)
He is an Airedale you say? In my Dad's era, Brownshoes were proud they weren't just goons in a flight suit like the Air Force Pukes. They prided themselves as "Naval Aviators", and the wider professional breadth that entailed.
Of course, the problem has been most immediately -and tragically- acute in the SWO world:
Guardian, Port Royal, USS Howard boarding ladder, Fitzgerald, McCain, Harpers Ferry/Momsen channel duel...
If you are in the Navy...then you should act as if you are actually a 'Sailor' first.
You're never going to "win at Sea" unless you can competently operate on/under/over it.
Can't parse those elements out.
Well, I actually saw a little ember of hope here in town. The USNA sailing team entered a J105 (quite similar to the J125 in the TopGun flick) in both the Bayview to Mackinac and Chicago Mackinac races.
"Crew from Naval Academy readying for race to Mackinac Island"
Avenger is her name, and she finished middle of the pack in her Division in the Bayview.
As I type, she is just about abeam Little Sable, 4th in Section. Just ahead in time of a good friend aboard Thunder...Sam Keyes. Sam is a "Sierra Hotel" Solo sailor:
Yes, I know the USNA boats do races in the northeast like the Bermuda race and some entirely invisible collegiate events, but its good to see Sailors doing some actual sailing...And 'Showing the Flag' beyond the Chesapeake bubble.
My favorite quote in the podcast: “I divide my officers into four groups. There are clever, diligent, stupid, and lazy officers. Usually two characteristics are combined. Some are clever and diligent — their place is the General Staff. The next lot are stupid and lazy — they make up 90% of every army and are suited to routine duties. Anyone who is both clever and lazy is qualified for the highest leadership duties, because he possesses the intellectual clarity and the composure necessary for difficult decisions. One must beware of anyone who is stupid and diligent — he must not be entrusted with any responsibility because he will always cause only mischief.” - General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord
The US unlike those mean Russians and Iranians would never bomb cities, impose sanctions, seize ships or freeze assets on other countries if it would hurt or impoverish ordinary people. We are the good guys.
One of the elements of the grain and fertilizer shipping deal that is that the US promised to ease the way regarding all of the supporting functions for international shipping, e.g. insurance and payments. I can easily see the oh, so brilliant people in the White House and State intentionally screwing that up simply to be able to point a finger at the Russians. I am in no way pro-Russian. I am also not pro-State Department, the inhabitants of Foggy Bottom.
And who knows what side deal has been hatched by one of the Biden shell companies? As much as I am absolutely ticked off about corruption in high places, I am equally tight jawed that we even have to have a discussion about corruption in high places.
https://www.un.org/en/black-sea-grain-initiative/data
Fraction of grain exports under the initiative going to low-income countries - 2%. Top 3 countries - #1 China (surprise!), #2 Spain, #3 Turkey. This administration is all about the "free flow at market prices" of grain and fertilizer to China. I am looking forward to the day when the autonomous Mississippi River Basin satrapy has the honor of grazing the horses from the Xinjiang Horse Breeding and Research Center.
My understanding is that most of the wheat going to Turkey is for making and then exporting flour, which makes sense. But I hear you about the Mississippi Satrapy. The only real hole in that plan would be those good old boys in the area.
From our own USDA, only 15% of Turkey's flour exports goes into the the UN program. "Approximately 15 percent of Turkey’s 3.0 MMT annual flour exports, or about 400,000 MT, are humanitarian aid shipments. " https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Grain%20and%20Feed%20Update_Ankara_Turkey_TU2023-0002.pdf
Over the last 10 years, Turkish flour almost always goes to Iraq and Syria as their top two flour export recipients. https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-product/wheat-flours/reporter/tur?yearExportSelector=exportYear1
Thank you for the clarification and the details. I’m always ready to take in new facts.
>> Autonomous Mississippi River Basin (U/LMRB-Satrapy)? <<
https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/np211/LMRBProposal.pdf
[modern usage is a pejorative and refers to any subordinate or local ruler,
usually with unfavourable connotations of corruption]
Sounds like topic for AI-assisted thesis generator:
https://premium-papers.com/topics/
But it's like oil. It's fungible, nobody really cares where it was extracted or grown. And if the high income states regular suppliers can't fill orders they can and will outbid the low income states for it.
(Laughs in Great War Royal Navy.)
Referring to this source?
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/history/rn-great-war-ships.htm
More various history books I've read over the years, and my 8th grade history teacher.
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/coordinated-efforts-to-restore-the-black-sea-grain-initiative-zelenskyy-held-talks-with-erdogan/
"They coordinated efforts to resume the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Due to Russia’s actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis. A total of 400 million people in many countries in Africa and Asia are threatened with hunger. Together, we must prevent a global food catastrophe."
'Asia" - read China
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/ukraine-will-ask-the-european-commission-to-compensate-for-the-costs-of-grain-transportation-to-european-ports/
"Ukraine has asked the European Commission to compensate for the costs of transporting Ukrainian agricultural products to distant European ports. This was announced by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solsky during the telethon of the Yedyni Novyny (United News) telethon.
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/ukraine-wheat-september-15-deadline-unacceptable-for-hungary/
"The deadline of 15 September imposed on the countries of the European Union bordering Ukraine for the lifting of the ban on the import of cereals from the country at war is “unacceptable to us”. So said the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture István Nagy, during a press conference in Warsaw, together with his counterparts from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia."
Potential rift forming. Fortunately, the State Department is led by the smartest person in the room, Antony Blinken, so this should be patched over fairly quickly.
This morning's narrative.
Lithuania opposes any deal that has concessions, says that Belarus should bear the full sanctions as well.
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/lithuanian-president-opposes-easing-sanctions-against-russia-in-exchange-for-extension-of-the-grain-deal/
'Food Terrorism' Let's see how long until our elites adopt this new vocabulary.
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/kuleba-calls-on-africa-and-asia-to-take-joint-action-against-food-terrorism/
Putins plan to bring the world to its knees in the absence of a Black Sea deal. Seems questionable given the amount of US farm acreage in conservation programs.
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/putin-wants-to-become-a-grain-super-empire-danilov-on-russian-attacks-on-ukrainian-ports/
"“The plan is to bring the world to its knees and make Russia a unique grain supplier. After the failure of the idea of an “energy superpower,” Putin wants to become a “grain superempire,” Danilov said."
Iranian drones. They're what's for dinner.
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/drone-attack-on-danube-ports-grain-hangar-destroyed-casualties-reported/
Folks may not see it, but this is related...
And if you are one of them, then its all the more grist to bring this up.
I've oft bitched about how the USN has not fostered a "Mariner" culture in decades.
Great example is the scene in Topgun Maverick when he is lost as a goose on the J125...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXuszu8V1Xc
Pretty embarrassing when a **NAVY** Captain is a complete Lubber around a simple Little Plastic Toy Boat. (Yeah, I know he wont ever screen for carrier command...but still..to enshrine the institutional Lubberlieness in a blockbuster movie....yeesh)
He is an Airedale you say? In my Dad's era, Brownshoes were proud they weren't just goons in a flight suit like the Air Force Pukes. They prided themselves as "Naval Aviators", and the wider professional breadth that entailed.
They liked looking the part:
https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv62-60/002.htm
Now, being just a goon in a flightsuit like the USAF Pukes is in vogue at the highest levels of the USN.
Maverick said the quiet part out loud, and these guys dress the part:
https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2013/jun/27/nsawcs-adm-vance-relinquishes-command/
I doubt anyone of this generation of airedales has the acumen to "sail" their rudderless carrier home...
http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/CV11/1944MarchTorpedoDamageSteering.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/arwfnb/juryrigged_sail_on_the_focsle_of_the_aircraft/
Are any of today's airedales ready to execute an operation like D.V. Gallery pulled off?
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/W-Oct21-U-505-7-e1657233349184.jpg
Of course, the problem has been most immediately -and tragically- acute in the SWO world:
Guardian, Port Royal, USS Howard boarding ladder, Fitzgerald, McCain, Harpers Ferry/Momsen channel duel...
If you are in the Navy...then you should act as if you are actually a 'Sailor' first.
You're never going to "win at Sea" unless you can competently operate on/under/over it.
Can't parse those elements out.
Well, I actually saw a little ember of hope here in town. The USNA sailing team entered a J105 (quite similar to the J125 in the TopGun flick) in both the Bayview to Mackinac and Chicago Mackinac races.
https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/crew-naval-academy-readying-race-154109970.html
https://www.freep.com/picture-gallery/news/local/michigan/2023/07/13/navy-sailors-take-prepare-hit-water-bayview-mackinac-race/12247270002/
"Crew from Naval Academy readying for race to Mackinac Island"
Avenger is her name, and she finished middle of the pack in her Division in the Bayview.
As I type, she is just about abeam Little Sable, 4th in Section. Just ahead in time of a good friend aboard Thunder...Sam Keyes. Sam is a "Sierra Hotel" Solo sailor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYQPAFMxWpc&t=227s
Yes, I know the USNA boats do races in the northeast like the Bermuda race and some entirely invisible collegiate events, but its good to see Sailors doing some actual sailing...And 'Showing the Flag' beyond the Chesapeake bubble.
So, good on 'em! And more-much more-please.
Don't forget that time Tom Cruise was also in the Navy and afraid of water. https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/04baed57-f123-4347-b3ea-dfed81885309
Fact follows fiction...
Especially in this case.
Sorry the truth hurts Andy.
It's not just pilots, most of the GOFOs are cosplaying military.
My favorite quote in the podcast: “I divide my officers into four groups. There are clever, diligent, stupid, and lazy officers. Usually two characteristics are combined. Some are clever and diligent — their place is the General Staff. The next lot are stupid and lazy — they make up 90% of every army and are suited to routine duties. Anyone who is both clever and lazy is qualified for the highest leadership duties, because he possesses the intellectual clarity and the composure necessary for difficult decisions. One must beware of anyone who is stupid and diligent — he must not be entrusted with any responsibility because he will always cause only mischief.” - General Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord
news.clearancejobs.com/2019/10/08/the-four-classes-of-military-officers-or-office-workers-clever-diligent-stupid-and-lazy/
"One must beware of anyone who is stupid and diligent "
I think I read something like that a long time ago. One of life's great truths.
HI Sutton take on the Russian corvette "Sergey Kortov" attack. Posted a few hours ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8R0gCq8rAA