March 4: Putin's "Punisher"

So, let's play a little game. Imagine yourself to be the gangster head of a big eastern Europe/Asian country. Imagine you have the press take photos of you lifting weights or riding bare chested thru the forest, near your dacha. Imagine that you are Vladimir Putin (a gold star to those of you who realized where this was going). So back to our story.......

.......your military needs an new piece of equipment and you being you, want it to stand out from the everyday tough as nails equipment most armies are using. Now imagine what it might look like. Another gold star to those of you who imagined it would look like this.......

Unusual? Intimidating? You got it. And here is the man himself being shown his military's new vehicle, the Zil Karatel or as it has been nicknamed, The Punisher. Why not? It sure looks like it could carry out some very serious punishment.

And if Putin didn't like it, you'd probably be calling him the punisher. In fact, in case the head guy doesn't like it, the fellow on the right is explaining that it was Boris's idea.........

Yes, The Punisher is one awesome piece of hardware........

Big and brutal looking, just imagine this thing rolling towards you on the battlefield. Shoot, run or just freeze in a panic? Can't quite picture it? Ok, then try this one.......

And, if those guys aren't hanging out the top, they can ride in 1970's type, party truck comfort. Make sense to have almost pure white seats in a military vehicle? Not to me, but maybe the Chief Thug has an affinity for white. Who knows?

Interested in seeing the vehicle from which this bruiser was derived? Sure you are, but you might be very surprised to see that, it is based on the Kamaz 4911 Extreme Dakar Rally truck.......

Hey, isn't that where all the armies of the world find their best equipment? Next thing you know, Robbie Gordon, that "I'll race anything", off road champ, will be advising the US military on future vehicles. Heck, maybe he already does.

So next time you are driving around Russia and you spot this in your rearview, may I suggest that you quickly pull aside and hope that they aren't after you (and look to see if the Head Thug is behind the wheel).

Until next time.......