--- "...bombarded with propaganda that portrays this war as a close call...."
"Western officials’ promises of reinvigorating their own defense industries have collided with bureaucratic and supply-chain bottlenecks. Meanwhile, sanctions and export controls have impeded Putin’s war effort far less than expected. Russian defense factories are ramping up their output, and Soviet legacy factories are outperforming Western factories when it comes to much-needed items like artillery shells. "The technocrats responsible for running the Russian economy have proven themselves to be resilient, adaptable, and resourceful. Elevated oil prices, driven in part by close cooperation with Saudi Arabia, are refilling state coffers. Ukraine, by contrast, depends heavily on infusions of Western cash."
It’s Time to End Magical Thinking About Russia’s Defeat Wall Street Journal, 16 November 2023
Worldtraveler once upon a time:
"It’s Time to End Magical Thinking About Russia’s Defeat Wall Street Journal, 16 November 2023" From Day One I've said the major problem with our aid to Ukraine is that we've sent them just enough to keep fighting, but never enough to actually win.
The obvious reason is because that's the way our Democrats love, love, love to fight wars -- jump in quick with no plans for victory, fight, fight, fight, die, die, die, then run for the hills and surrender disgracefully, as in Vietnam or Afghanistan.
It's the Democrats' way of war, and does not bode well for Ukraine.
On the other hand, Ukraine does not depend 100% on our Democrats.
Plus, Russians -- regardless of how much you sugar coat them -- have many of their own serious problems.
One major problem for Russia is that they will soon run out of non-Russians, Russian country-folk and criminals to send in suicidal "Meat Wave" assaults against Ukraine.
When big-city Russians are eventually forced to conscript their own children for war, then Vlad the Invader's adventures in Empire Building will come to a screaming halt.
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