Recent posts

#1

Computer Gaming / Strategic Command WWII: War in...

Last post by CJReich46 - Today at 11:02:29 AM

We have a release date:

June 25th!

https://www.matrixgames.com/game/strategic-command-wwii-war-in-the-pacific

#2

Current Events / Re: Israel

Last post by Tripoli - Today at 09:25:22 AM

Anyone taking bets on whether this was an Israeli intelligence job?

https://www.foxnews.com/world/no-sign-life-crash-site-helicopter-iranian-president-ebrahim-raisi-leaders

Apparently, there was bad weather, so pilot error in flying in an area where he didn't have good visual of the ground is a distinct possibility.  With that said, I have to confess that my initial reaction was that 1) Pilot Error", 2) Israel and 3) "An Act of God" were all equally likely.
 
Source: https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iran/2024/iran-240520-voa01.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e3911%2evd0ao0e7xa%2e3mxv
State media says Iranian president, foreign minister found dead at helicopter crash site
In-Depth Coverage
By Michael Lipin May 20, 2024

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and other officials were found dead Monday at the site of a helicopter crash in northwestern Iran, state media said.

Search crews found the wreckage Monday, a day after the helicopter crashed in bad weather near Varzaqan in Iran's East Azerbaijan province.

State media said the passengers were traveling back to Iran from an event just across the border with Azerbaijan, where they met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to inaugurate a dam project.

Iranian media said the crashed helicopter was one of three transporting Iranian officials back from the event, where they inaugurated the Khoda Afarin and Giz Galasi hydroelectric power plants along the Aras River that marks the border between Iran and Azerbaijan. The plants are located on the stretch of river between the Azerbaijani district of Jabrayil and Iran's East Azerbaijan province.

Aliyev posted a statement on the X platform saying he was "profoundly troubled" by the crash of Raisi's helicopter and offering prayers and assistance as a "friend and brotherly country."

Iran's constitution says that if the president dies or is incapacitated, the role is filled by the first vice president, a position currently held by Mohammad Mokhber, until a new presidential election is held within 50 days. The role of president is subservient to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who retains his ultimate authority over the affairs of the country.

Raisi, an ultraconservative Khamenei protege seen by some observers as the supreme leader's preferred successor, was elected president in a 2021 vote that saw his most prominent rivals barred from running and a record low turnout from the electorate.

Images posted to social media and deemed credible by VOA Persian showed opponents of Iran's authoritarian Islamist rulers setting off fireworks in multiple locations late Sunday to celebrate the prospect of Raisi's demise.

In one video, a female narrator identifies the location of fireworks as southern Tehran.

In another, a male narrator reacts to what he says are fireworks in the city of Saqqez in northwestern Iran's Kurdistan province.

VOA could not independently verify the circumstances of the fireworks as it is barred from reporting inside Iran.

Earlier Sunday, Iranian state TV showed footage of government supporters gathering in different parts of the country to pray for Raisi's safe return.

State news agency IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying: "The Iranian nation shouldn't be worried. There will be no disruption to the operations of the country."

IRNA also published a photo showing Vice President Mokhber chairing an emergency cabinet session to deal with the crash's aftermath.

In a VOA Persian TV interview on Sunday, Germany-based independent Iranian journalist and researcher Reza Talebi said that if Raisi has died, Iran's Islamist rulers may declare him a martyr who died as a result of foul play by their chief external enemies, Israel and the United States. There is no evidence of foul play.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington is closely following reports of the Iranian helicopter crash. "We have no further comment at this time," the spokesperson said.

Payam Yazdian, Farhad Poulavi and Masood Farahmand of VOA's Persian Service and VOA Azerbaijani Service chief Asgar Asgarov contributed to this report.

[Addendum: Here's an article on just how dangerous a helo entering IFR conditions  is: https://www.twz.com/31962/i-almost-died-flying-into-a-mountain-near-kobes-crash-veteran-navy-pilot-explains-the-risks]

[Battles of Kursk - Southern Flank]

#3

Wargame Design Studio / Re: WDS Discounts + Game of th...

Last post by rahamy - Today at 09:04:54 AM

New Game of the Week announced, this time we have Panzer Battles: Battles of Kursk - Southern Flank. Read all about it in todays blog post:

https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/game-of-the-week-may-20-to-26

#4

Current Events / Re: Israel

Last post by Jarhead0331 - Today at 08:31:12 AM

Anyone taking bets on whether this was an Israeli intelligence job?

https://www.foxnews.com/world/no-sign-life-crash-site-helicopter-iranian-president-ebrahim-raisi-leaders

#5

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by Jarhead0331 - Today at 06:45:59 AM

So, does anyone here think that if Trump wins he'll want to stop sending aid to Ukraine so not to piss off his butt buddy Putin?

Please leave politics out of this thread. Buzz words like "Trump", "Biden" and "butt buddy" are sure to lead the thread back into the gutter.

Thanks.

#6

Computer Gaming / Re: Campaign Series Vietnam

Last post by Jason Petho - Today at 12:07:29 AM

City fighting. Holy freakin' firetruck. Especially with ARVN troops. At least I have some ARVN parachutists, but wow, what a mess. We finished off the first Hue scenario and started scenario number 2 (Hot Seat). This one is pretty interesting, I'm liking how the scenarios from David are telling a story. There's a lot to script though for these scenarios, as there is a lot of units. This will be interesting to see how that will work out and keep the action where it is supposed to be. Good times, good times to be had! 

#7

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by acctingman - Yesterday at 09:47:18 PM

So, does anyone here think that if Trump wins he'll want to stop sending aid to Ukraine so not to piss off his butt buddy Putin?

#8

Computer Gaming / Re: Next three rumoured Total ...

Last post by Anguille - Yesterday at 09:42:45 PM

Cool 😎

#9

Computer Gaming / Re: Star Citizen

Last post by Skoop - Yesterday at 03:35:41 PM

Yeah, I'll have to try it out for myself.  With, the DCS phantom releasing, not sure I'll get around to it.  Especially after a wipe, seems less enticing starting over.

Apparently, the top dogfighter guys claim that the Drake Buccaneer is the new meta ship.  Basically, any ship classed as interceptor will have the top speed and maneuverability.  Interesting cause the Bucc has sucked for years, now it's the best fighter in the game. It'll probably change again though.     

#10

Current Events / Re: Russia's War Against Ukrai...

Last post by JasonPratt - Yesterday at 01:22:36 PM

Paying attention to important stuff seems more and more difficult.

I think it's grown more and more difficult for policy makers to pay attention to important stuff because money rules American politics these days, and special interests are extremely well-positioned to use money to influence incumbent politicians.

I don't disagree, but I'm somewhat amusedly trying to recall if there was a time in US political history when that wasn't ever true.