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PaperclipPerfector  11mo ago (text post)   26078 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of December 4, 2023

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Europe doesn't have anything. The entire EU together couldn't come up with its promised million shells. Meanwhile North Korea just pulls that out of its back pocket when Russia calls. It's not a video game, they can't just magically turn GDP into ammunition and arms factories instantly.

Funny that the other Korea is doing the same thing for the other side of the equation.

There's a limit on how long Korea can do that though. Yes they have a lot of shells but they also, you know, need them for their national defense. And like Ukraine, while they do have a lot of old shells stockpiled, they don't really have huge production to build new ones.

To which Korea is that most applicable you think?

Both to some extent, but NK has nukes for deterence and isn't bound by cost disease. They're probably much happier to trade their old shells for hard cash.

I do find the "it's a Korean peninsula proxy war" commentary to be amusing precisely because it's not completely wrong.

Doesn’t need to be instant. I haven’t seen this deficit of european arms and great north korean bonanza result in significant russian victories. To carry on war, three things are necessary: money, money, and yet more money.

Doesnt need to be instant. I havent seen this deficit of european arms and great north korean bonanza result in significant russian victories.

You've seen the Ukranian counteroffensive flop while NATO officials openly tell you to "expect bad news" in days to come.

To carry on war, three things are necessary: money, money, and yet more money.

No, you need weapons, which come from factories, which the west by and large doesn't have anymore. The US hopes to produce 100k shells per month by fiscal year 2026, while Russia is expected to ramp up to 2 million per year in the next couple years. Meanwhile the EU says a lot of happy horseshit but gets dunked on by North Korea singlehandedly.

Russia is expected to ramp up to 2 million per year in the next couple years

That would be disastrous for Russia if it's true, given the rate they're burning through their artillery stocks. However, you should take into account the possibility that Putin may be able to divert more of Russia's economy to shell production.

“Wars develop in phases. We have to support Ukraine in both good and bad times. We should also be prepared for bad news, Stoltenberg said ”

That’s what you pinned your hopes on, cryptic nato comments? Let’s just wait for this crushing north korean industrial superiority to bear fruit. Even if "the factories are gone!", it's helplful to have this low-stakes operation to reflect on and correct our weaknesses.

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