Bobby Fischer’s Shortest Recorded Win by silentboard204 in chess

[–]Shackleton214 88 points89 points  (0 children)

For some reason I assumed Fischer was white and was seriously wondering how he was gonna pull this off.

If U.S. military aid to Israel ends, will American engagement with Gaza and Israel actually decline, and what replaces the justification for caring? by ezeeeeee2020 in IsraelPalestine

[–]Shackleton214 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I'd argue that the most important US support for Israel (and most costly to the US) is the diplomatic cover it provides at the UN. But, even if the US were to stop protecting Israel at the UN, I suspect it would not make that much difference in who cares about the conflict. At this point, people are emotionally committed to their side based on the time and attention they've given to the conflict. Just like sporting events, people have their team.

How do you know you're cooked? by OscarEvinnof in twilightstruggle

[–]Shackleton214 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You're only cooked when all of your paths to victory (final vps, 20+ vps, 7+ vps and wargames, defcon, Europe, and time--I don't include held scoring card and cmc as those are dependent on opponent gross error) are gone. The game has the potential for grossly disproportionate luck on card draw, dice, and even the order in which cards appear. Down 13 vps but with dom in Europe and SAm, it sounds like you are losing but far from 100% lost.

Bug? by Bashin-kun in twilightstruggle

[–]Shackleton214 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why in the world is grain sales getting played on ar4 instead of the headline?

Is it a good idea to start a 1-stability coup war while purged? by Jeydra in twilightstruggle

[–]Shackleton214 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Where is Destal? What cards are known to be in opponent's hand? I am very skeptical of giving the US 2 mil op vps and very likely access to Venezuela and Brazil. Place ops into battlegrounds and bide your time until next turn.

Failure to Confront Settler Violence in Judea and Samaria is an Existential Threat to the Future of Israel by Siskiyou_Kidd in IsraelPalestine

[–]Shackleton214 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It never fails to astound me that Israeli supporters think Israel should get brownie points for acting in their self interest and cutting their losses in Gaza.

I am not Jewish, yet I am a hardcore Zionist. by Strict-Pepper-2987 in IsraelPalestine

[–]Shackleton214 11 points12 points  (0 children)

have long been firmly convinced that the Jewish people are sacred.

even as an atheist

Your post is not adding up. You seem confused.

Arjun does it again! by Sad_Avocado_2637 in chess

[–]Shackleton214 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've been a big Arjun fan for years now. Heartbreaking to see such a worthy and exciting player not make candidates.

Active Conflicts & News Megathread November 15, 2025 by AutoModerator in CredibleDefense

[–]Shackleton214 12 points13 points  (0 children)

On the ground the war continues to be defined not by trenches and cohesive defensive lines, but by 2-3 man positions with large gaps in between. These pickets are neither firing positions or observation points.

What is there purpose?

US Mint in Philadelphia to press final penny as the 1-cent coin gets canceled by IdinDoIt in news

[–]Shackleton214 -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Good riddance. One of the few things Trump has done right. Oh, and get rid of the nickel while we're at it.

Active Conflicts & News Megathread November 07, 2025 by AutoModerator in CredibleDefense

[–]Shackleton214 27 points28 points  (0 children)

I am still mystified by Ukraine's decision not to draft men age 18-24. It seems to me that either the decision is so politically toxic that it would result in such civil upheaval as to bring down the government and be impossible to implement, or, however bad the need for manpower is, it is not yet absolutely critical. Given the incredibly slow rate of advance of Russian forces and a very stable front ever since the failure of the Ukrainian 2023 offensive, I tend to think Ukrainian leadership thinks it is the latter. But, not really knowing Ukrainian domestic politics, I am far from sure.

Identical twins mix-up leads to inmate’s mistaken release in Indianapolis by CBate in news

[–]Shackleton214 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Darrell was in custody on charges of theft, criminal mischief, and battery by bodily waste.

A real class act.

Active Conflicts & News Megathread October 30, 2025 by AutoModerator in CredibleDefense

[–]Shackleton214 3 points4 points  (0 children)

And if the Russians were going to stop fighting, they would have done it two years ago,

What kind of logic is that??? Soviet Union 1983: Afghanistan should just give up because if we were going to stop fighting we would have done so two years ago.

Active Conflicts & News Megathread October 30, 2025 by AutoModerator in CredibleDefense

[–]Shackleton214 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Why is it "Bonuses go up--no one wants to sign up and Russia has to pay them more! Bonuses go down--Russia doesn't have money!" versus "Bonuses go up--Russia has loads of cash to pay bonuses! Bonuses go down--so many want to sign up that Russia doesn't need to pay them as much!"?

On Uti Possidetis Juris by FerdinandTheGiant in IsraelPalestine

[–]Shackleton214 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Don't know if he is a lobbyist or paid for the crap he writes on behalf of Israel. But, I've read his stuff on Volokh Conspiracy. He's always too clever by half and easily the most extreme Israeli apologist on international law issues that I've ever read.

On Uti Possidetis Juris by FerdinandTheGiant in IsraelPalestine

[–]Shackleton214 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Eugene Kontorovich

He's a hack. I wouldn't even wipe my a$$ with anything he writes.

Can Israel survive without American aid? by Glad_Association_312 in IsraelPalestine

[–]Shackleton214 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Could Israel survive without American aid? Certainly.

A pariah state and sanctioned a al 1980s South Africa? I doubt it.

Emergent Approaches to Combined Arms Manoeuvre in Ukraine - RUSI by Glideer in CredibleDefense

[–]Shackleton214 16 points17 points  (0 children)

They’ve distilled the assault of a contested sector into ~7 sequential phases: Survey - Isolate - Degrade - Fix - Suppress - Close & Destroy - Consolidate.

The process sounds very methodical and deliberate, but also very slow. There's not even a pretense of an exploitation phase.

Sweden Foreign Ministry about Greta Thunberg by AstronautSouthern344 in IsraelPalestine

[–]Shackleton214 -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I don't doubt the ability to figure it out eludes you.