https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-200_(missile) SA-5 is the NATO name, S-200 is the Russian name. Unless the Russians also install the nose cones backwards, that’s how they’re supposed to look.

Demonstrating the bomb on an uninhabited area was ruled out early as a) there would not have been structures to fully demonstrate the bomb’s effectiveness and b) there was a fear that the Japanese would truck American POWs to the bombing site if it was announced ahead of time.

The surrender terms the Japanese government was trying to secure through Russian envoys would have left the Imperial Japanese government in power and allowed them to “de-militarize” on their own terms. That was (understandably) unacceptable to the British and Americans after the experience with post-WWI Germany. We…

Oh I definitely agree. But it’s a sign that they’re getting tired of supporting Kim.

They have a long way to go before they successfully miniaturize their warheads and get ICBM technology right. But I worry that they could get a warhead small enough and reliable enough to use in artillery. That could be a much larger threat to S. Korea and much harder to counter.

I think they’re just concerned something might go south soon (no pun intended). I don’t know if they have information we don’t have. I think they just see the situation as increasingly problematic.

That’s beginning to change. China recently deployed 150,000 troops near the North Korean border, and has been turning around North Korean coal ships when they try to enter Chinese harbors.

PeteRR, like everyone else, has every right to speak in public.

Exactly what I was thinking. Some kind of modified scrapyard B-wing.

In practice yes. But modern warfare is heavily dependent on accuracy, and chemical weapons are anything but. Biological weapons are even more dangerous since they can spread basically anywhere.

I was thinking this. The Coptic Christians were there before Islam existed.

The tomahawks could have been challenged, but it wasn’t because Putin had some deal with Trump. Those Russian systems aren’t as effective as they claim to be, just like our cruise missiles aren’t as damaging as we claim they are. The Russian’s knew they would be foolish to piss us off by engaging our TLAMs, and their…

What are you talking about? Less than 10 people died from the US attack.

I’m convinced at this point it was a political statement more than anything. The tactical value was pretty insignificant.

They didn’t aim for the runway. They knocked out the ground attack planes and hardened hangers. Those planes that were out in the open were parts spares that are not in flyable condition.

Easy there comrade. You should check more than just one video...

But you still need to address the reason why the refugees left in the first place.

And as I said elsewhere, Obama did not need to ask Congress in 2013. He has the authority to order limited airstrikes entirely on his own.

I’m a vampire. The sexy Anne Rice kind.