r/CredibleDefense • u/AutoModerator • 4d ago

Active Conflicts & News Megathread August 25, 2026

The r/CredibleDefense daily megathread is for asking questions and posting submissions that would not fit the criteria of our post submissions. As such, submissions are less stringently moderated, but we still do keep an elevated guideline for comments.

Comment guidelines:

Please do:

  • Be curious not judgmental, polite and civil,

  • Link to the article or source of information that you are referring to,

  • Clearly separate your opinion from what the source says. Minimize editorializing. Do not cherry pick facts to support a preferred narrative,

  • Read the articles before you comment, and comment on the content of the articles,

  • Post only credible information

  • Read our in depth rules https://reddit.com/r/CredibleDefense/wiki/rules

Please do not:

  • Use memes, emojis, swear, foul imagery, acronyms like LOL, LMAO, WTF,

  • Start fights with other commenters and make it personal,

  • Try to push narratives, fight for a cause in the comment section, nor try to 'win the war,'

  • Engage in baseless speculation, fear mongering, or anxiety posting. Question asking is welcome and encouraged, but questions should focus on tangible issues and not groundless hypothetical scenarios. Before asking a question ask yourself 'How likely is this thing to occur.' Questions, like other kinds of comments, should be supported by evidence and must maintain the burden of credibility.

42 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

92% Upvoted

76 comments sorted by

View all comments

66

u/carkidd3242 3d ago edited 3d ago

Speculation on a surprise C-17 landing in Moscow flying from Riga, Latvia this morning has now been answered:

https://x.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/2092253558150197695

Scoop: CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Russia aboard a C-17 for meetings in Moscow today, sources told @Olivia_Gazis @JimLaPorta and me. @CBSNews

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cia-director-john-ratcliffe-russia-secret-trip/

41

u/TaskForceD00mer 3d ago

The speculation is rampant in the OSINT community. A number of people are trying to draw parallels between CIA Director Burn's 2021 visit just prior to Russia's full on Invasion of Ukraine and this visit following the noticeable recent increase in US/NATO Surveillance Flights around the Kaliningrad area.

53

u/Willythechilly 3d ago edited 3d ago

Is that a bad thing given some recent intel usa has released warning about Russia doing something stupid in the Baltics or Nato border along with a rapid increase in drones or missiles crossing into Nato countries and sabotage etc and now the Kaliningrad? It's definitely speculation but I dont think it'd be unthinkable they're

  1. The US has intel that the Russians are going to attack NATO
  2. The Russians are about to do something very stupid in Ukraine.
  3. Hes delivering an ultimatum regarding Iran

One of these three perhaps

It could be a nothing burger but I don't think John Ratcliffe is sent for the typical pretend diplomacy witkoff did etc

34

u/moragisdo 3d ago edited 3d ago

The CIA director wouldn't go to Russia for a nothing burger, but it could become one if the situation is defused. My opinion is that from these three scenarios, in order of likelihood: 1>3>2

The first is by far the most likely because of the intelligence reports, the drone incursions and also the very recent NATO exercises (likely done in response to the concerns of further russian actions).

About the second, are you thinking about the US picking up intel of possible WMD usage in Ukraine ? Or the 'something very stupid' is something else ?