Picture of the Day (Other eras)

[VonMudra]

If i am not mistaken he died 1 day after the bloodiest day of WW1, in the news they say that in a day over 42 000 people where dead. as a result of the higher up not understanding why they could not break the lines (since the enemy had machine guns) and instead of breaking of the attack kept sending in more troops.

Anyway, a wikipedia article about it, failing to mention any French and Belgian troops though. He must have died during this battle since the date is correct, and the line on the map runs straight through the town where he died.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mons

My great grandfather was captured at Mons.  It's essentially a mythic battle in the UK, being Britain's first major engagement since the Crimea.

It is, I understand, quite the myth at that:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mons-Myth-Reassessment-Battle/dp/0752452479

[Born2Kill 007]

As seen on reddit

not a picture, but a video of rockets being intercepted over Israel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e9UhLt_J0g&feature=youtu.be
seems legit, interesting watch

Awesome videos of an even awesomer machine. I love those Iron Dome videos

[Oberst]

Judging from the fact, that one Iron Dome rocket, cost about 50k US$ and two are shot to intercept one Qssam rocket, you see approximately 1.5 million $ being used to intercept 15 Qssam rockets worth of about 15000$. Yep, seems legit.


EDIT: My memory failed me on the costs.

[Born2Kill 007]

I think they only fire 2 at high risk missiles. Secondly, I think it's still profitable if you calculate the saved costs. If a missile hits, you also have quite a lot of damage, and even more important, your populations feels unsafe.
So is it expensive? Yes, but I think it's the best alternative.

[TASSER]

Plus the added value of negating one of the enemies most powerful psychological/harassment weapons.

Is the Iron Dome 100% effective? No of course not, and there's a lot of differing perspectives on what the system's kill percentage of enemy rockets is (the actual number is probably classified). But I'm of the opinion that investment into a truly defensive weapon is quite worthwhile.

Yep, does indeed seem legit. Not everything can be quantified financially.

[Dukat]

In modern times like these, you'll find conspiracy theorists everywhere. Concerning the Iron Dome, they came up with a clever idea:

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/12772-israeli-expert-says-iron-dome-defence-is-a-hoax

[Sander93]

Judging from the fact, that one Iron Dome rocket, cost about 50k US$ and two are shot to intercept one Qssam rocket, you see approximately 1.5 million $ being used to intercept 15 Qssam rockets worth of about 15000$. Yep, seems legit.

Saving human lives should not have anything to do with costs. For the same reason we would send ambulances, police cars and fire engines (at least 20 people) to a single car crash with only one victim.

Besides that, the system calculates where the rockets will actually hit and only intercepts those who would cause damage.

[Born2Kill 007]

Children hold guns as they celebrate with others Palestinians the announcement that Hamas and Israel have agreed to an open-ended ceasefire on August 26. (RT)

[Captain Pyjama Shark]

Sinking of the Mainz, Heligoland Blight, August 28, 1914.

[Turkish007]

Iraqi Army

[Dukat]

Ukrainian volunteers digging trenches outside the city of Mariupol in preparation of the attack announced by Separatists, Mariupol, Ukraine.

[Captain Pyjama Shark]

Ukrainian rebels

[Dukat]

Ukrainian forces on the move.

Accordingly to high NATO-generals Kiev has lost the battle for Ukraine. The ukrainian assault has been halted and repelled, with several ukrainian units being trapped in pockets or taken prisoner. The ukrainian army lost all liberty of action and is forced to retreat while the moral within the troops seems to be broken. As Separatists opened a new frontline at Nowoasowsk, ukrainian units are foced to relocate in order to defend the city of Mariupol. After all, the ukrainian army does not have any operational reserves left to counter separatist attacks currently.

Putin is probably right when he threatens that he'd be in Kiev within two weeks. I think it might be even less. About 20 russian battalions are stacked along the ukrainian border. It seems like there is no other choice for the 45 million Ukrainians to accpt the dictate of peace by 4000 armed Separatists backed up by Russia.

[Biiviz]

And Putin's view of the west as weak is confirmed. He can do whatever he wants.

[Born2Kill 007]

Our governement is gonna buy new jets. It's a competition between the F-35, F/A-18, JAS-39, Eurofighter and the Rafale. I'm hoping we'll get the Eurofighter, but I assume we won't. But as long as we don't get the F-35, we're okay I guess. Only downside, today it was leaked that the requirement is made to match the F-35. Our minster of defense is a huge fan of the F-35...
F16 --> F18 isn't enough of an improvement to warrant a new plane in my opinion, so not too much of a fan on that one
F16--> Rafale: Rafale is decent and no-one wants to buy it, so the french are now doing anything to get at least a few sold. So with some luck, Belgium might get them so cheap that they are worth buying
F16-->Eurofighter: Might not be neutral in this since i'm a Eurofighter fanboy, but in my opinion it has all apart from stealth (huge payloads, good speed, good maneuvres, good detection). And stealth seems to be overrated anyway
F16-->JAS39: I guess the JAS39 is the plane that matches the aim of the F-16 best. A cheap multirole plane that can do what it has to do. So as replacement of the F16 in our air force, probably the best option
F16-->F35: Please no. I think i don't have a write a whole page here about the shittyness of the F35 and its insane costs. I'd honestly prefer to see our F-16s replaced by MIG-21s than F35s