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No, You’re Not Imagining It: Russia’s Army Is Inept
Slate ^ | Feb 28, 2022 | Fred Kaplan

Posted on 02/28/2022 6:52:04 PM PST by Renfrew

Troops are trained in rote set pieces, with no time devoted to improvising if things don’t go as planned.

Military operations designed to take place sequentially—Step 1, then 2, then 3, etc.—fell apart, catastrophically. If Step 2 hit a big obstacle, the by-the-book soldiers moved on to Step 3 anyway. Therefore, large troop-transport planes tried to land, even though the airport hadn’t been completely secured and Ukrainian air defense systems hadn’t been destroyed. As a result, two Il-76 transport planes, each carrying 100 airborne troops, were shot down.

Tanks aren’t supposed to roll through hostile territory all alone. They need to be escorted by infantry troops alongside or by combat planes from above, to avoid getting ambushed. Yet, in this invasion, Russian tanks are rolling all on their own or providing protection for reconnaissance scouts, but getting no protection for themselves. So, as might be expected, lots of Russian tanks are getting ambushed.

(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fredkaplan; lowmorale; putinsbuttboys; putinworshippers; russia; russianaggression; slate; ukraine
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To: MNJohnnie

They are arming Ukraine to support there battle in the east. Are you denying this? It was something Trump bragged about. Notice though, Trump had a public declaration that he wanted nothing to do with NATO expanding, let alone to Ukraine. No war (there was much more to his policy and if you look in my comment thread you’ll see how I perceived it). You can be tough, very tough and not trigger a war but the constant push to get Ukrainenin NATO while arming them in two states that border Russia is, to me, begging for war. I understand Putins position, it’s not about falling for his propaganda...it’s about understanding. Understanding, by the way, is how you ultimately avoid wars (which is why I appreciate Trump’s recent comment).


121 posted on 02/28/2022 8:55:31 PM PST by wiseprince (Me,)
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To: nickcarraway

In light of Operation Bagration you might want to rethink the comments you posted.


122 posted on 02/28/2022 9:04:22 PM PST by robowombat (Orth, all)
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To: wiseprince

So basically your only intrest is in a any PR tool to use to beat up your domestics poltical oppoinents with. What ever they are for you must be against.

That behavior is sick when the Left does it, it gets no better when the Right tries to use it,


123 posted on 02/28/2022 9:05:06 PM PST by MNJohnnie (They would have abandon leftism to achieve sanity. Freeper Olog-hai)
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To: Renfrew

No, You’re Not Imagining It: Russia’s Army Is Inept

Or is it Really?


124 posted on 02/28/2022 9:12:54 PM PST by NavyShoe
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To: MNJohnnie

Not at all. You clearly didn’t take the time to understand my perspective so we can’t have a conversation.


125 posted on 02/28/2022 9:20:11 PM PST by wiseprince (Me,)
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To: MNJohnnie

One nation state invaded another. If you cannot understand the clear moral and legal difference between being the aggressor and the defender, you are actively trying to avoid learning any thing abut this conflict,

How about our bombing of Serbia? And Libya?

In Kosovo, we have a cute little statelet still being babysat by NATO with a big fancy permanent NATO base called Camp Bondsteel.

Libya is a failed state with slave markets and more petty warlords than you can shake a grenade launcher at.


126 posted on 02/28/2022 9:24:48 PM PST by CatHerd (Whoever said "All's fair in love and war" probably never participated in either.)
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To: jdege
I’ve read claims that the Russians intended to sieze the airfields, and land their quality troops there, and that the ground assault was relegated to poorly-trained conscripts primarily as a diversion.

Scrolled looking for someone saying this.
I think the real troops are incoming. The first wave were just the scrubs.

127 posted on 02/28/2022 9:30:40 PM PST by chud
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To: Renfrew

In some ways, yes

But I don’t believe this is them doing a full 100% all out attack either

they aren’t using a lot of heavy artillery they’ve got

and they aren’t doing hundreds of sorties bombing targets either

pooty thought it would be easier than it has been

underestimated resistance


128 posted on 02/28/2022 9:39:35 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: Renfrew

Sure going to look stupid when Kyiv is surrounded. Which it will be in a couple days.

Idiot propaganda. Seems someone really opened up the tap.


129 posted on 02/28/2022 9:56:41 PM PST by Basket_of_Deplorables (Putin is behaving rationally. The war is on Biden and Obama.)
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To: Renfrew

Population is my preferred way. How many men can you mobilize?
Much of the combat power that money can buy can be fudged - other people can buy some of it for you (as in this case today), or the strategic situation may make fewer demands on the defender as the attacker needs more firepower, ceteris paribus, etc.


130 posted on 02/28/2022 9:59:57 PM PST by buwaya
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To: Renfrew

“...with no time devoted to improvising if things don’t go as planned.”

I recall reading that is why our troops are some of the best in the world. They can adapt quickly to changing conditions; and changing leadership in the field (killed or wounded). They don’t have to wait for some commands from higher-ups like so many of the other troops do (Russia, China, etc.).


131 posted on 02/28/2022 10:00:42 PM PST by 21twelve (Ever Vigilant. Never Fearful.)
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To: Renfrew

Our media thinks we’re retards.


132 posted on 02/28/2022 10:15:08 PM PST by Tzimisce ( )
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To: proxy_user

“”The first man in line gets a rifle! The second, ammunition! When the first is killed, the second gets a rifle and shoots!””


133 posted on 02/28/2022 10:26:36 PM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: cdcdawg
If nothing else, Putin cured COVID-19. I haven’t heard much about it in last few days. So, there’s that.

Das Pandemic!!

134 posted on 02/28/2022 10:49:27 PM PST by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
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To: wiseprince
Unfortunately, the root problem is Russia doesn't want Ukraine in the EU. That was the original trigger (other than Putin's delusions of restoring Russian glory.)
135 posted on 02/28/2022 11:11:34 PM PST by Paul R. (You know your pullets are dumb if they don't recognize a half Whopper as food!)
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To: Renfrew

“This is a useful analysis of the Russian way of war, and the problems it is facing in Ukraine”

I want to read that after coffee.

My take...this is the Russian version of blitzkrieg and Full Domain Battlespace with Russian characteristics. Lines and bread lines with huge delays are back in style.


136 posted on 03/01/2022 2:29:21 AM PST by rbmillerjr (Defeating China is impossible without understanding that Russia is our enemy)
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To: atc23

“Any NATO country that traffics in weaponry used to thwart Putin’s goals and kill Russian troops risks Hellfire - they better know it.”

Prepare for hellfire then. Those staging areas and clogged up highways are easy kill zones for the West, who have precision weapons.


137 posted on 03/01/2022 2:31:43 AM PST by rbmillerjr (Defeating China is impossible without understanding that Russia is our enemy)
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To: DesertRhino

“Sounds like you have not spent much time around tanks.”

FM-169 says you just allow Russian tanks to run out of gas.


138 posted on 03/01/2022 2:33:12 AM PST by rbmillerjr (Defeating China is impossible without understanding that Russia is our enemy)
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To: proxy_user

They did the same in WWI. The Russian Army was called “The Steam Roller”. But they were inept and after they lost badly at Tannenberg, it was all down hill.


139 posted on 03/01/2022 2:36:29 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dreams)
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To: Lazamataz

Bismarck said that Russia is never as strong or as weak as it may appear. When Hitler saw the Red Army floundering against Finland in the Winter War of 1939-1940, it gave Adolph too much confidence leading to his June 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union.


140 posted on 03/01/2022 2:40:05 AM PST by Monterrosa-24 ( "...To the barricades...")
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