There is a great Nigerian folk tale and it goes like this:.A tortoise was slowing moving along a trail when he came across a frightening sight — a mean, hungry lion, standing in his path..The Nigerian tortoise, which can live hundreds of years, knew his time on this Earth, was probably up..He approached the lion, who stood silently.."Are you going to kill me?" said the tortoise.."Yes," said the lion, as he moved closer.."I ask only one thing — one favour. Can you grant me this favour?" the tortoise asked.."What is it," said the lion.."Give me 10 minutes, that's all."."Ten minutes? Sure ... you got it.".The tortoise began to furiously disturb the trail. Kicking up sand and knocking over bushes, digging small holes ... this puzzled the lion greatly..After he was done, the lion asked, "Why did you do that?".The tortoise smiled, "Everyone will now know a great battle was fought here. A great, great battle.".While the tortoise would no doubt die, he would be admired for his courage. The lion, not so much..Today, that lion could be Russia, while the tortoise is Ukraine..Only this time, the tortoise is getting strong support from allies, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, NATO and other nations..Canada is helping too, but it's pathetic. But what would you expect, from a prime minister who, in definition, is a hollow gesture..On Friday, the Pentagon announced the latest security assistance package for Ukraine. It's worth around US$725 million and contains additional munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) along with ammunition for other systems, as well..As winter approaches, the weather will begin to affect fighting in Ukraine.."Winter definitely will present some challenges to all parties on the battlefield," said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder..Ryder said questions about how Ukrainian soldiers can be equipped for that fight are being addressed within the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and in discussions with Ukraine.."I think that when you look at things like ... rain, snow, mud [and] the impact that it has on the terrain, it definitely will add another level of complexity to an already very dynamic battlefield.."This is why ... you see us continuing to work very closely with Ukraine, with our international partners and allies to identify what Ukraine's needs are.".The latest assistance package includes, among other things, ammunition for the HIMARS system; 23,000 155 mm artillery rounds; 500 precision-guided, 155 mm artillery rounds; 5,000 155 mm rounds of remote anti-armor mine systems; 5,000 antitank weapons, high-speed anti-radiation missiles; and more than 200 Humvee vehicles..Kyiv was struck by so-called "kamikaze" drones on Monday, unleashed by Russia but believed to be Iranian-made. That would violate UN sanctions, BBC News reported.. Iranian Gaza drone photoIranian Gaza drone photo .The US agrees with the French and British assessment the drones violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231, the US State Department said..That resolution, linked to Iran's nuclear accord, bars Iranian transfers of certain military technologies..Ukraine identified the drones — or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — as Iranian Shahed-136 weapons. They are called kamikaze drones after the Japanese fighter pilots who flew suicide missions in the Second World War.."It is our belief these UAVs that were transferred from Iran to Russia and used by Russia in Ukraine are among the weapons that would remain embargoed under 2231," said Vedant Patel of the State Department..Iran denies supplying them to Russia, but Patel said the US "exposed publicly that Russia received drones from Iran, that this was part of Russia's plan to import hundreds of Iranian UAVs of various types.".He added there was "extensive proof" of Russia's use of them in Ukraine..Critical infrastructure was hit on Monday in Ukraine's Kyiv, Dnipro and Sumy regions, with electricity cut in hundreds of towns and villages, the Kyiv government said..At least eight people were killed — four in Kyiv and four in Sumy. The US said it would "hold [Russia] accountable for its war crimes.".Russia ordered 2,400 Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones to use them in its war against Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s intelligence services and President Volodymyr Zelensky..The Russian Ministry of Defence has also confirmed the use of its TOS-1A weapon system in Ukraine, the UK’s Ministry of Defence tweeted.. HumveeHumvee .The TOS-1A uses thermobaric rockets, or vacuum bombs, creating incendiary and blast effects far greater than conventional warheads..As a result of these and other weapons, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the Alliance will promptly provide Ukraine with hundreds of drone jamming devices to help neutralize the effectiveness of Russia's drones and protect the Ukrainian population..Meanwhile, the Israeli decision not to provide weapon systems to Ukraine is meeting growing criticism among Israeli experts and politicians..Israel is one of the lead nations in drone, and anti-drone technology..The Ukrainian government also sent Israel an official request for air defense systems that will allow it to counter any Iranian ballistic missiles and Iranian attack drones, according to a copy of the letter obtained by Axios.."Ukraine is highly interested in obtaining from Israel (in shortest possible terms) defence systems, in particular: Iron Beam, Barak-8, Patriot, Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow Interceptor and Israeli support in training for Ukrainian operators," the letter said..Russia is worried by the possible change in Israel’s policy and released a direct warring. According to a report in The Guardian, Dimitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the security council of Russia, used his Telegram account to warn Israel against a decision to supply military systems to Ukraine..He said that it would be “’a reckless move’ that would ‘destroy relations between our countries.’”.“They [Russia] feel that something is changing — slowly, but changing — and they immediately released this warning to Israel,” said one political source here, who indicated Moscow is reading the tea leaves correctly, Breaking Defense reported..Sources say Jerusalem also scrapped an in-the-works deal with Ukraine for Spike anti-tank missiles when the invasion began in February..However, the winds of change appear to be blowing..On Sunday, Nachman Shai, a minister in the Israeli cabinet, went further than any politician before, tweeting, “There is no longer any doubt where Israel should stand in this bloody conflict. The time has come for Ukraine to receive military aid as well, just as the US and NATO countries provide.”.Ksenia Svetlova, the director of the Israel and the Middle East program at the Mitvim Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, told Breaking Defense Israel prides itself on being the only democracy in the Middle East..And yet Israel “suddenly became silent in the face of cruise missiles that wiped out entire cities and killing pits that became mass graves: children, women and prisoners with their hands tied behind their backs,” she said..Israel is trying to remain neutral, in order to have access to IAF fighter jet raids against its enemies in Syria, such as Hezbollah, which smuggles weapons into Lebanon. But that excuse is now wearing thin, following the horrific scenes in Kyiv..The Russians have reason to be afraid, however..Defensive weapons such as Iron Dome have been tested by the US, and proved to be very effective at stopping just about everything..The tests took place at the White Sands test field in New Mexico. They are part of a program led by the marines to test a new prototype system for Medium Range Intercept Capability (MRIC).."The three tests that took place this year proved the performance of the MRIC system [along] with Iron Dome interceptors is good and provides a dedicated launcher solution for the Marines," said Don Kelly, project manager in the Air Defense Department (GBAD) of the Marine Corps' Land Directorate at the end of the test..There is no doubt having these weapons in Ukraine would be a game-changer..One more advantage for the tortoise.. HIMARSHIMARS
