What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[katmai]

I think it's as much how hard it is for them to get into the system as anything else. The phones are jammed and the internet system tells them to call in. *shrugs* No idea.

fair enough. I'm lucky that Washington states was pretty easy and all online based.

[Threviel]

Yes, and the US fought with two hands and a foot tied behind the back. If it had been a total war situation it would have lasted a few days.

What, like the Soviets in Afghanistan?  This is nonsense.  I don't even know how you would do a "total war" COIN.

Something like the soviet invasion of Germany, although that was not COIN? Boer war? Chechnya? Russian civil war? Uighurs? Indian wars? Saddam vs kurds? Rif war? Third punic war? History is rife with brutally suppressed rebellions and brutal invasions suppressing people.

The soviets in Afghanistan I cannot really explain, know too little. But if a proper well funded military want to put down a revolt and they don't have to bother about public image, well, let's just say that I would not want to be a guerilla fighter.

But, silly discussion that came from a bunch of idiots and my silly fantasies, let's just drop it.

[Admiral Yi]

I think it's as much how hard it is for them to get into the system as anything else. The phones are jammed and the internet system tells them to call in. *shrugs* No idea.

Iowa kept changing their set up every day almost.  One day it would say email us or call if you've been affected by covid 19.  Next they say phones are very busy, here's a list of people who qualify, go ahead and apply online.  This is new for them too.

Tell your friend to skip the call and just try to apply online.

[merithyn]

I think it's as much how hard it is for them to get into the system as anything else. The phones are jammed and the internet system tells them to call in. *shrugs* No idea.

fair enough. I'm lucky that Washington states was pretty easy and all online based.

One lives in Washington.

[merithyn]

I think it's as much how hard it is for them to get into the system as anything else. The phones are jammed and the internet system tells them to call in. *shrugs* No idea.

Iowa kept changing their set up every day almost.  One day it would say email us or call if you've been affected by covid 19.  Next they say phones are very busy, here's a list of people who qualify, go ahead and apply online.  This is new for them too.

Tell your friend to skip the call and just try to apply online.

They've tried. That's jammed up, too.

[katmai]

I think it's as much how hard it is for them to get into the system as anything else. The phones are jammed and the internet system tells them to call in. *shrugs* No idea.

fair enough. I'm lucky that Washington states was pretty easy and all online based.

One lives in Washington.

i won't talk bad about your friends so I won't say anything at all.

[merithyn]

I think it's as much how hard it is for them to get into the system as anything else. The phones are jammed and the internet system tells them to call in. *shrugs* No idea.

fair enough. I'm lucky that Washington states was pretty easy and all online based.

One lives in Washington.

i won't talk bad about your friends so I won't say anything at all.

[katmai]

But seriously. Yes Washington State is just implementing the benefits this week so maybe that's been their issue. But I had no issues with online and filing the claim.

[Eddie Teach]

The soviets in Afghanistan I cannot really explain, know too little.

American weapons had something to do with it.

[Razgovory]

The soviets in Afghanistan I cannot really explain, know too little.

American weapons had something to do with it.

Yeah, see that's were the "public image" thing come in.  If an army doesn't care about "pubic image" and just massacres the civilian population suddenly the insurgents start appearing with better weapons.  War is a political act.  The purpose of war is not to kill but to make a group of people do something that they would not otherwise do.  In COIN operations the political and diplomatic aspects are more important than the purely military aspects.

[Zoupa]

Well that was different, but even so it was not Reconstruction featured an insurgency against the US Army.

It is an interesting point--aside from the protest in question being in Michigan which was decidely not a part of the confederacy (despite some people at that rally flying confederate flags), the confederate army was not a lower class insurgency--if anything it was an upper class movement* and connected to that reason couldn't practically be an insurgent movement.

*while the confederate army was clearly not a bunch of rich dudes, almost half the population was black, so with an all white army even the lowest soldier would have been close to the middle of society.

Reconstruction of course had a lot of violence, but it generally wasn't directed against the US military.

The Confederate flag is a nice touch since they were also a bunch of losers who died for something stupid. 

[Threviel]

The soviets in Afghanistan I cannot really explain, know too little.

American weapons had something to do with it.

Yeah, see that's were the "public image" thing come in.  If an army doesn't care about "pubic image" and just massacres the civilian population suddenly the insurgents start appearing with better weapons.  War is a political act.  The purpose of war is not to kill but to make a group of people do something that they would not otherwise do.  In COIN operations the political and diplomatic aspects are more important than the purely military aspects.

So, I did some reading on wiki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-insurgency#Russia_and_The_Soviet_Union is interesting. Apparently Lenin- and Stalin-led totally ruthless Soviet Union did a lot of COIN. Crimean Tartars or Chechnyans from WWII would really like to know more about this appearing with better weapons part.

But yeah, a morally and financially finished Soviet Union led by geriatrics that failed in a huge-ass and difficult country like Afghanistan, yeah, that sure shows that COIN can only be done politically.

[Razgovory]

Muhammad: Do you really think we can defeat the Soviet Union?

Also Muhammad: Yeah, the way I see it they are morally finished.  Besides, many of their leaders are old.

Muhammad: Does that make a difference?

Also Muhammad:  Maybe?

I will also say that describing the deportation of the Crimean Tartars as a COIN action is odd.  Political purges are generally not considered a military action.  The Soviet Union did do a lot of COIN work, but this involved quite a bit of political actions (there is a reason why the Soviets emphasized political indoctrination in nearly every activity).

[Threviel]

Rather:

Mohammad: Don't you think it's weird that we are still alive?

Other Mohammad: Yeah, it's strange, when analysing earlier Soviet Invasions they seemed much more prepared and killed most of the people that could ferment rebellion in an early stage. Then they normally institute a totally ruthless police state, weird that they haven't.

Mohammad: It is the will of God!

Other Mohammad: Inshallah! Kill the infidels!

[celedhring]

Your mujahideen are particularly well-versed in Soviet leadership and military traditions.