So, the Houthi have changed the nature of warfare.
This fellow on Telegram, Roy (I think this is the channel but the link doesn’t work, it’s the Arabic spelling that is the same as on my Telegram but can’t find on Youtube, I think), posts information about Military movement in Ukraine and Palestine. It’s in Arabic and one has to watch the videos to read the English interpretation of events. He writes/says a lot about what’s going on in Ukraine; I think because it’s predictable.
Reliable and Good information. I find.
The Russian Ukraine conflict is obviously Attrition Warfare and, basically, the country with access to weapons supply wins. America, an ocean away from Ukraine, cannot continuously supply it with weapons. Distance makes it, too hard. Europe with fewer weapons suppliers cannot help Ukraine and maintain domestic supply. Ukraine cannot beat Russia without help, those weapons. So, once, that weapons supply dries up, Ukraine is cooked. The latest $60 Billion Dollar American support bill is just prolonging defeat. Albeit, very briefly.
Russia has access to more weapons faster. The thing to note, though, is Russia’s use of Drones. Unlike the Ukrainian attack of the other day, Russians have been using Drones for over a year.
Kiev was bombarded by Russian Drones Thursday which did not make Youtube.
Drones have changed everything.
General Carl von Clausewitz, a Brilliant Prussian Military strategist, (his book: https://clausewitzstudies.org/readings/OnWar1873/TOC.htm) discussed the Morality of War and the ramifications of technological advancements in war. Like Drones.
And, Houthi Principled fighting.
One likes to believe one is fighting a Moral War. The Houthi are and they have made it clear they do not want to kill, only financially hurt Israel.
They changed the nature of the Battle.
This is a pretty good synopsis of the 4 stages in the evolution of war fare since Napoleon: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/from-prussia-with-love-the-origins-of-the-modern-profession-of-arms/ With emphasis on the influence of Change: New technology also revolutionized the conduct of war. The nineteenth century saw the introduction of steam-driven rapid movement on land (railroads) and at sea (steamships). Steam-powered factories made possible for the first time the mass manufacture of standardized weapons, munitions, supplies, and other needs of armies and navies.
Changes in warfare did not occur immediately, however. The French and British armies that faced each other at Waterloo fought in what would be considered traditional fashion. But eventually, military institutions began to recognize the benefits of new inventions that were appearing in industry and in civil society. Starting with the Crimean War, rifles, steamships, railroads, and the telegraph permitted the long-range deployment of forces that could defeat numerically superior (but technologically inferior) military force.
The Industrial Revolution (the steam engine) changed things; new inventions in technology altered the nature of the battlefield. And effects on the battle field. Over time.
However
Houthi Drones have completely redefined it. Overnight.
The Houthi employed Drones to stop a Navy in the Red Sea (wrote about this before, lots of posts going back years). That’s a big deal because it has also altered the nature of the Capitalism which has dominated the world.
Of that $60 Billion dedicated American funding to Ukraine, $40 Billion is actually for construction of weapons in the States, for Ukraine: https://jpjude.substack.com/publish/post/144070042
Though, if you read the article, the weapons are already built: The Pentagon has had supplies ready to go for months but hasn’t moved them because it is out of money. It has already spent all of the funding Congress had previously provided to support Ukraine, sending more than $44 billion worth of weapons, maintenance, training and spare parts since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
By December, the Pentagon was $10 billion in the hole, because it is going to cost more now to replace the systems it sent to the battlefield in Ukraine
And already in use now. Used up?
So, the issue becomes what did that $40 Billion buy? The biggest, most effective guns OR the most expensive weapons money can by? Or, was money to Ukraine really about greasing Congressmen’s hands?
Andrew Cockburn’s The Spoils of War is excellent documenting the grift in the Military Industrial Complex. So, the greasing of Congressman’s hands?
Ukraine is obviously losing the conflict with Russia. So, the new money is actually about backhands, and the issue of the Battle field already lost.
The conflict is over, but skirmishes continue.
Capitalism premised on profits BEFORE utility is easily defeated by a foe fighting on Principle or Moral Grounds. Clausewitz would compare fighting an enemy on home territory to fighting a foe fighting somewhere else on Principle. Home is worth dying for: a Principle has to be shared to elicit empathy. Making it comparable to fighting for home?
Anyhow
The Houthi in a different place, so, not Ukraine, were able to defeat a Navy; they with CHEAP Drones were able to defeat big, expensive ships with big expensive weapons.
From 2 weeks ago:
I can independently verify the success of the Houthi attacks, my friend Roy above discussed them. Mediterranean Man, a chap posting from Egypt on Telegram, has also discussed them.
Houthi success, the aim was just to keep the Red Sea closed, has changed everything. Why have big, expensive weapons that cannot defeat the enemy? Why spend money on things that don’t work (guns can’t guarantee victory)?
My bet is the Military Industrial Complex is scared.
So, are a lot of weapons makers: Raytheon, Northrop Grunman, BAE. Andrew Cockburn wondered about the dropping of a Nuclear Bomb that didn’t work. That didn’t explode and why its threat pointless; who would want to lay claim for that production?
And, their fear likely filtering through the Capitalists around. Remind anyone of jobs that produce nothing? Capitalists who profit from nothing? corporate welfare?
Houthis have really changed things.
Got a citation wrong. The AP article about Ukrainian funding: https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-congress-aid-a28f463da6df2f144e3bbdbf47254ece