Posted on 02/24/2024 5:59:01 AM PST by SpeedyInTexas
“Exclusive: Musk’s SpaceX is building spy satellite network for US intelligence agency, sources say”
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4224767/posts
“The satellites can track targets on the ground and share that data with U.S. intelligence and military officials, the sources said. In principle, that would enable the U.S. government to quickly capture continuous imagery of activities on the ground nearly anywhere on the globe, aiding intelligence and military operations, they added.”
Musk likes the ‘Star’ word.
Starship
Starlink
Starshield
Heading overseas next week for an Asia trip. Going to visit Tokyo for the first time.
Bought the new book “In True Face: A Woman’s Life in the CIA, Unmasked”.
WP review: https://archive.ph/8vTC5#selection-671.409-671.421
I’ll post a review when I finish it.
Gone for a week?
When you get back, Russia will have Gone Through the Looking Glass.
So many things there have been geared toward getting through this election - so much has been swept under the rug, so many cans have been kicked down the road.
The morning after,Putin and Russia will have a lot to face up to. Mobilization, tax hikes, letting the ruble fall, collapsing refinery products and revenue, America suddenly getting ready to drop the money bomb on their forces in Ukraine, and the end of the line for pulling gear out of storage coming into view.
Reality is going to have its day, and the harsher austerity measures that they were holding off on, will likely start rolling out over the coming weeks and months.
Putin won’t have to manage another fake election for seven years, so he probably figures that now he can really get away with murder.
2 weeks.
As marcus posted:
“The Ukrainian Armed Force have Struck their 6th Oil Refinery and Depot within the past week tonight, with several One-Way “Suicide” Drones having Impacted a Large Oil Refinery on the Outskirts of Slavyansk-on-Kuban in the Krasnodar Krai Region of Southwestern Russia; according to Residents near the Refinery there were No Air Raid Sirens or attempt by Air Defenses to Down the Drones during their Approach to the Facility.”
https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1769187586327593262
“The “Slavyansk Eko” oil refinery struck by Ukrainian drones tonight.”
https://twitter.com/igorsushko/status/1769196948962398433
“The Ukrainian Armed Force have Struck their 6th Oil Refinery and Depot within the past week”
Its time for Russia to admit they can’t win this, show the courage of the white flag, and end the needless loss of life.
But seriously, if this keeps up, Ukraine is going to achieve Strategic effects.
This is a much more rapid process than watching the Soviet storage yards empty out. If unchecked, it could inflict a crisis within Russia, in just a month or two.
Domestic fuel costs could rise quickly, shortages and rationing could inflict secondary and tertiary impacts beyond just denting GDP numbers or driving the Government’s budget deficit higher.
If 50% or 80% of refining capacity is taken off line, Russia might be unable to provide enough heat next Winter. Russia’s balance of trade could wrenchingly turn into a major deficit. Oil production itself could be disrupted. Food production and distribution could even be at risk.
Statista reports that Russia had 6.8 Million barrels per day of refining capacity in 2022.
We can start the countdown, and start watching for shortage impacts of gasoline, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel.
“drones attacked another oil refinery – in Slavyansk-on-Kuban (Krasnodar Territory).” (Multiple hits and fires)
“The Russian Ministry of Defense states that 17 drones were shot down over the Krasnodar Territory”
SpaceX’s Starshield
Earth Observation
Starshield launches satellites with sensing payloads and delivers processed data directly to the user.
Communications
Starshield provides assured global communications to government users with Starshield user equipment.
Hosted payloads
Starshield builds satellite buses to support the most demanding customer payload missions.
Security
Starlink already offers unparalleled end-to-end user data encryption. Starshield uses additional high-assurance cryptographic capability to host classified payloads and process data securely, meeting the most demanding government requirement
Modular Design
Designed to meet diverse mission requirements, Starshield satellites are capable of integrating a wide variety of payloads, offering unique versatility to users.
Interoperability
Starlink’s inter-satellite laser communications terminal, which is the only communications laser operating at scale in orbit today, can be integrated onto partner satellites to enable incorporation into the Starshield network
Rapid Development and Deployment
With the proven ability to iterate rapidly, SpaceX’s unique full-stack approach in developing end-to-end systems, from launch vehicles to user terminals, enables the deployment of capabilities at scale with unprecedented speed.
[ Not mentioned is the date on which it will become self-aware ... ]
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Building Global Satellite Surveillance Network for U.S. Intelligence Agency
The Last Refuge ^ | March 16, 2024 | sundance
Posted on 3/17/2024, 5:11:31 AM by Bratch
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4224844/posts
Kremlin snuff box, Russian blogger
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets
Tragedy in the Belgorod region. During the day we lost more than 30 soldiers
Such losses were suffered on Saturday, March 16, according to sources in the General Staff and the FSB. 12 military, border guards, territorial self-defense fighters and the National Guard died in clashes with saboteurs who continue to attack the Belgorod region. More than 20 people were injured.
21 soldiers died in Belgorod as a result of attacks on the city. The enemy fired at a number of important targets. Sources do not say which ones exactly, but, according to our information, among them was a military base, “which only a few knew about.”
“Obviously, entire groups of enemy intelligence officers are now operating in Belgorod. I’m afraid the enemy also has agents among the local residents. We are now looking for those who handed over the coordinates to the enemy. Some objects were strictly classified, we are finding out how they found out about them in Ukraine,” said our source in the FSB.
The work, he said, is being carried out actively. The interlocutor promised “quick results in just a few days.”
Kremlin snuff box, 03/17/24
https://t.me/s/kremlin_secrets
The dome of all domes! To protect Moscow, two air defense divisions were transferred from Crimea and the Zaporozhye region
Intelligence received information that the Ukrainian military is preparing a massive shelling of Moscow on the day of the festive concert on Red Square on March 18.
We would like to remind you that Vladimir Putin is expected to be present at the concert, who by that time will win the elections again.
To be on the safe side, two air defense divisions were transferred from Crimea and the Zaporozhye region closer to the capital. It is worth noting that this is quite a lot in the current conditions, when in addition to the front line, it is also necessary to close the capacity of oil refineries.
Interlocutors at the General Staff do not comment on this decision and hope that the air defense systems will still be returned to the front.
At the same time, Moscow Mayor Sobyanin is pleased. He has long insisted on the need to strengthen air defense around the capital and plans to continue strengthened air defense after the elections.
“’Elon Musk’s SpaceX Building Global Satellite Surveillance Network for U.S. Intelligence Agency”
I posted a separate thread on this. And people would say its false. Just the media trying to tarnish Musk’s image.
I used to think all the wackos were on DU. But I realize we have our share of wackos also.
At some point, the oil fields will also be impacted.
Oil can’t be flared like natural gas.
It has to be processed or stored.
Wells have to pump or be capped.
Russia could become an ecological disaster.
Russia is being destroyed, one refinery at a time.
Putin is a master strategist.
“Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Chinese Cars Made in Mexico”
Of course.
Trump is at his best when he talks economics, trade and jobs.
He is at his worst when he talks about RuZZia and Ukraine.
“A Small Ex-Soviet Satellite State Goes Hunting for Arms for Ukraine”
“As the U.S. dithers on aid, the Czech Republic is turning to Cold War contacts to supply the ammunition Ukraine needs most”
“PRAGUE—Ukraine is about to receive large shipments of the ammunition it needs most. It won’t come from the U.S., or any other pillar of NATO.
Rather, the deal was clinched by a landlocked country of 10 million people sandwiched between Germany and Poland and known more for its picturesque capital and famed beer than its military prowess.
The Czech Republic, a former Soviet satellite state with little sympathy for Russia’s efforts to restore its lost empire, is one of Ukraine’s most ardent supporters. By activating relations dating back to the Cold War, it has sourced around 800,000 artillery shells from a diverse coalition of suppliers spanning the globe and identified another 700,000 that could be secured with extra funds.
The shells include 300,000 Soviet-standard shells and around 500,000 Western-made rounds, to be delivered in batches by the end of the year. More shells will be available as funding comes in, the Czech government said. Altogether, Czech officials say around 3 billion euros, equivalent to $3.3 billion, would secure around 1.5 million shells—a fraction of the $60 billion aid package for Ukraine now stranded in the U.S. congress.”
“The launch vehicle for the missiles that sank Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Moskva, was delivered by the Czech Republic.”
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