Posted on 02/28/2015 12:21:40 PM PST by Greetings_Puny_Humans
WASHINGTONThe U.S. is providing spy-satellite imagery to Ukraine to help in its fight against Russia-backed rebels, but with a catch: the images are significantly degraded to avoid provoking Russia or compromising U.S. secrets. The White House agreed last year to Ukraines request to provide the photos and other intelligence. But before delivering them, U.S. officials black out military staging areas on Russian territory and reduce the resolution so that enemy formations cant be clearly made out, making them less useful to Ukrainian military commanders. Those steps, which delay the delivery of the images by at least 24 hours, are designed to keep the U.S. out of the so-called kill chainmilitary jargon for the stages of lethal operationsbecause of concerns that furnishing actionable intelligence to the Ukrainians could trigger a more aggressive Russian military response. The images also are being obscured to reduce the risk that, if the Russians were to obtain them, they could glean important intelligence about U.S. satellite capabilities. The U.S. effort to keep its distance goes beyond intelligence sharing. Last fall, the U.S. delivered short-range radars to Ukraine to help its forces pinpoint incoming mortar and artillery fire, but withheld key components needed to make the system more effective. Ukrainian officials say the limitations have hampered the ability of their forces to counter separatists who receive advanced training and equipment from Moscow. Russia has consistently denied aiding the rebels.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Hey, but we sent them blankets and grief counselors.
Is there any friendly nation that has not suffered insult or injury from the United States under Obama?
Instead of degrading the images and delaying delivery, for fear that it will make the bloodthirsty invading Russian cutthroats upset with their victims, why not avoid trouble and send the intel straight to Putin, let him decide what Ukraine gets?
Merkel’s opposing significant help to the Ukrainians. My sense is that even her approach of providing economic but not military (i.e. equipment) aid is opposed by the German public, which wants to throw Ukraine to the wolves, so she’s merely trying to avoid handing over power to the SPD (Social Democratic Party), which is outright pro-Russia.
Over simplified mixed with wishfulness.
What's your take on Merkel's position?
It’s obvious to the entire world that zero is intentionally wreaking chaos.
There is absolutely no other explanation. He must be surrounded by mostly stupid-intelligent people. In America all he cares about is his image. Therefore he would do for allies what he does for America, which is spin his image in a positive manner. But no, outside of the US he doesn’t care about his allies and makes no effort to spin it otherwise.
Canada announced two weeks ago that they are giving Ukraine their satellite imagery from RADARSAT-2. Wonder what the quality of these are. Sadly it can take photos only two times a day.
“Sources say RADARSAT-2 is able to take photos of the Ukraine-Russia border two times a day and offers sufficiently detailed imagery that Kiev could track the movement of objects as small as individual vehicles. If on the first pass you get an image of vehicles in one spot, it has the resolution to allow you to see in the second pass if vehicles have moved, one source said.”
Merkel’s position hasnt changed since this began: no military involvement. She is in a grand coalition government with SPD, these pro-Russians, as you see them, own up to the sanctions against Russia as much as anyone else.
My point is that if she favors military aid (which is opposed by a majority of German voters), the coalition splinters, new elections are held and SPD wins decisively, leaving the CDU out in the cold. Upon which economic sanctions against Russia are lifted completely.
These are same US mortar radar systems that got left behind in Debaltseve by the UAF less than 90 days after they were put in the field, and were some of the 'trophies' captured by the Ukie-separatists who will no doubt turn them over to the Russians for examination and possible reverse engineering.
It makes very little sense to keep sending advanced weapon systems over to Ukraine only to have them wind up in the hands of their opponents a short time later.
Surely there are better uses of American tax dollars than this.
The US mortar radar system given the Ukrainians was not only disabled, but also outdated. It is being replaced by the AN/TPQ-49 system so there are no worries about reverse engineering.
The better use of US tax dollars is to give equipment that is effective in killing aggressive russians “vacationers”.
Furthermore its bogus to claim the radar was outdated when it had only been in the field for 90 days before it was captured.
What makes you think the Ukie conscripts are going to fight any harder with new radar systems anyway?
“Furthermore its bogus to claim the radar was outdated”
If you bothered reading the article you would know that the Ukrainians were given the older TPQ-48 short-range counter-mortar radar system and that they are asking for the next generation of the short-range radar, the TPQ-49.
I could care less whether the Kiev junta wanted the latest version of the radar, the notion that the stuff they did get was “outdated” is absurd.
Perhaps you’d care to explain how having TPQ-49 (as opposed to the outdated TPQ-48) would have made a difference in the Debaltseve bulge?
Would TPQ-49 have made the UAF conscripts better and braver fighters?
Hint: the answer here is NO!
Maybe the US should start installing GPS tracking devices on these radars so they can be recovered when left behind on the battlefield.
Hey at least Obama hasn’t said I feel you pain.
The Putin Internet Creeps threaten this young lady:
Opposition Russians assassinated:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_EQE2jU0AAu2Xs.jpg:large
“15 Years Later, Questions Remain About Death Of The Man Who Made Putin”
http://www.rferl.org/content/questions-remain-about-death-of-man-who-made-putin/26867539.html
Putin Internet-Creeps threaten this young lady
Big fan of Pedophiles Mac Truck?
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