Hagel will have to go out in front of the cameras like Rodney Dangerfield used to do and say “I don’t get no respect, no respect....”
Seriously, the whole strategy right now is containment.
The Ukrainians being advised by guys like Hagel are limiting their military action to avoid a massive Russian response.
The Ukrainian operations are right out of the Robert McNamara playbook, the Donald Rumsfeld playbook.
The Russians are being held back like the Communists in Vietnam were 50 years ago and the Taliban and Al Quaeda were in Afghanistan in the W Bush era. There was no desire for a “wider war” with nuke countries like the Soviets and or Pakistan.
George Patton and Douglas MacArthur aren’t in charge of the situation, here.
I tend to think we should stay out of this situation since it would only humiliate this country to be a loser if we get in.
“Seriously, the whole strategy right now is containment. The Ukrainians being advised by guys like Hagel are limiting their military action to avoid a massive Russian response.”
I see it as the exact opposite...
The phone lines from Washington are likely on fire, demanding action, that the Ukrainians “Do Something!!!”
Immediately after Hagel’s visit, they announced an attack on the pro-Russians that ended embarassingly.
Immediately after Biden’s visit, they announce another offensive that gets repelled, and causes Russia to start rattling sabres.
This has become a world-wide embarrassment for Obama, as well as impacting the larger efforts the Saudi’s have been pushing of Energy Geopolitics. They want ACTION for their money.