Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Even With Military’s Underperformance, Kremlin Likely to Achieve Land Grab: US Security Expert, It's Only a Matter of Time
Epoch Times ^ | 03/12/2022 | Masooma Haq and Steve Lance

Posted on 03/12/2022 7:25:55 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Jim Hanson, a retired member of the U.S. Army Special Forces and president of the Security Studies Group, said in his assessment, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plan in Ukraine is developing according to the Kremlin’s initial goals, except that the Russian military is floundering.

“I’ve known what his ultimate goal was from the beginning, and it was to gain recognition for Crimea, to take official control of the two Russian-speaking provinces, and at that point, to use a further incursion into Ukraine proper as a bargaining chip to get sanctions removed,” Hanson told the host of NTD’s Capitol Report, Steve Lance, in a March 8 interview.

“I think this is playing out pretty much as Vlad expected, except for the fact that his military vastly underperformed.” He said that Ukraine has been using the anti-aircraft equipment it has to undermine Russia’s military.

“What they also have, though, is the Russians have been not particularly good at the tactics they’ve been using. I mean, one of the more famous shots is an attack helicopter being ambushed. And you can’t ambush an attack helicopter unless it’s flying a route you knew it was going to be on.”

“So, I think the Russians are making some mistakes. And I think the technology and the capabilities that Ukraine had and has been given have made it a lot more dangerous for the Russians to think they can fly unopposed.”

Hanson said the offer from Poland, a NATO member, to give fighter jets to the United States, who would, in turn, give those jets to Ukraine, is making the war more dangerous.

“It absolutely heightens tensions between the U.S. and Russia because … at some level, those are NATO aircraft. I mean, Poland can give them to Ukraine and say, ‘Well, this is outside of our function as a NATO member.’ Putin does not see it that way and does not have to see it that way, and I think that vastly increases the danger.”

Hanson sees the Kremlin’s demands to take Crimea and the two provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk like an off-ramp to the war, as the land Putin is asking for is already either aligned with Russia or under its control.

“Crimea is definitely part of Russia at this point, for all intents and purposes, the two Russian-speaking provinces were in everything but name, and now they’re asking for independence. And at that point, if they’re independent, they will almost certainly join the Russian Federation.”

Hanson said another of Putin’s demands is that Ukraine not join NATO. So far, Ukraine has turned down Russia’s demands. Hanson believes Ukrainians have shown Putin they will not submit to his violent attempts to take their country.

“I don’t believe it really ever was [Putin’s] goal to take and keep Ukraine, because I can’t imagine many places other than Afghanistan that would have a more powerful and dangerous insurgency if you managed to topple their government.”

Hanson said if Russia did try to occupy Ukraine, they would “keep it at a very, very high cost in blood and treasure.”



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: armchairgeneral; exmilitaryexpert; hereadspurinsmind; invasion; jimhanson; ooglyboogly; russia; ukraine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last
To: SeekAndFind

Kramer was right. Ukraine is weak.


41 posted on 03/13/2022 12:08:30 AM PST by McGruff (A lie can travel around the world and back again while the truth is lacing up its boots)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rrrod
Hatred of Russia will reach new heights thanks to Putin.

Which will just keep the cycle repeating even after Putin leaves the stage. We blew it after the Cold War to try to bring Russia into the fold.

42 posted on 03/13/2022 12:09:04 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Nextrush

Biden has been absolutely pathetic in his public speeches about this Ukraine conflict...and even this country. Never saw such a loser president - and his side kick for that matter.


43 posted on 03/13/2022 12:16:45 AM PST by caww ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: miserare

The Ex Military are indeed everywhere - believing they know how to read Putins mind and how his military is moving. Few if any get it right because they aren’t there.

Putin will stop once he’s attained his military objectives as I see it.
Zelensky will try now to come out smelling like a rose and get something out of it rather than just destroyed cities and dead bodies for his effort.


44 posted on 03/13/2022 12:21:13 AM PST by caww ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Vermont Lt

That’s an awful thing to say.


45 posted on 03/13/2022 12:22:06 AM PST by caww ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: apillar
it's a bit and more late “for the people”....Should Putin take Odessa, Kiev and Mariupol he will have pretty much accomplished what he set out to do....build a land bridge around Ukraine and secure all the ports in the south...along with clearing out the undesirable beasts that roam throughout Ukraine.
46 posted on 03/13/2022 12:26:34 AM PST by caww ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: antceecee
So is checking a source's credibility.
47 posted on 03/13/2022 12:38:15 AM PST by Widget Jr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

Drone. It was a stabilized system too.
My guess.


48 posted on 03/13/2022 1:02:32 AM PST by buwaya
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Charles Martel

There are very few of the latest tech. There are only 50 or so of the T-14’s and even the T-90 is mainly for export, Russia seems to have made only 500 or so for itself. And so on for everything else they have. That’s why the predominant tanks they have been using are upgraded T-72’s and T-80’s.

Their standing army is also rather small and has to cover commitments across an enormous area. As it is they seem to have committed about 1/3 of its manpower and maybe up to half its combat “teeth” units to Ukraine. The bulk of Russian military potential is in its conscript reservists, but they don’t seem to have set that system up for easy or quick mobilization. And their reserve equipment would be even older, unupgraded 1970’s-80’s stuff that may take some doing to get into running order. We are already seeing some of that equipment showing up on Russian videos, ironically. Russia can win by swamping the Ukes Soviet style, but it will take an effort.


49 posted on 03/13/2022 1:18:46 AM PST by buwaya
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: BobL; SeekAndFind; Williams; TigerLikesRoosterNew; Meet the New Boss; Red Badger; PIF; BenLurkin; ..

Just what we need, more censorship. Haven’t we had enough of that over low cost Covid treatments? Ukraine may not be winning, but neither is Russia in the long run. Here is an interesting link on odd behavior by confused Russian troops.

https://www.aol.com/news/don-t-know-survived-family-093014345.html What happened to one family after being allowed past a Russian checkpoint.

New information. Apparently one of the goals of Putin is to get land access to Crimea. They don’t already have that? Maybe they could be granted something like the Danzig Corridor to solve that if it is truly a problem.


50 posted on 03/13/2022 4:09:11 AM PDT by gleeaikin (ould the , vitamins,Question authority!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: gleeaikin

Apparently one of the goals of Putin is to get land access to Crimea. They don’t already have that?


What I heard is US, NATO, someone is suggesting that the US accept Russian control of the Crimea - that may or may not be true from the confusing video clip.


51 posted on 03/13/2022 5:42:52 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

It’s difficult to get a clear objective picture of what is happening, but this analysis seems to provide the most reasonable account that matches the bits and pieces of believable information.


52 posted on 03/13/2022 6:16:47 AM PDT by Repealthe17thAmendment
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Mojo

All I know is that the Soros/DNC/media clan is FIGHTING LIKE HELL to protect Ukraine...something they sure as hell didn’t do for Serbia or the numerous other countries we’ve bombed in the recent past.

Hopefully, we’ll find out their end game, before becoming victims of it.


53 posted on 03/13/2022 6:19:09 AM PDT by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart, I just don't tell anyone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: buwaya

But it knew where to be and where to point the camera.


54 posted on 03/13/2022 6:34:22 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Today I will do what others won't, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't.” ~ Jerry Rice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

A matter of time. And casualties. Just depends on how many Russia is willing to accept.


55 posted on 03/13/2022 6:43:54 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: miserare

I saw him and had to immediately turn the channel....lot of guys/girls lost everything under his lackluster leadership. Hackworth’s definition of a perfumed prince


56 posted on 03/13/2022 6:50:51 AM PDT by Son of Rooster (He who dares not to offend cannot be honest. T Paine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

Yep, it was posted to provide imagery to a combat unit for a particular reason. Maybe monitoring enemy units for an ambush. I think the helo was probably covering a road column. The MANPAD guy was probably part of the ambush. Very good precaution if a column has helicopter cover.


57 posted on 03/13/2022 7:37:47 AM PDT by buwaya
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

He’s right Putin is not planning to occupy the Ukraine. He’s getting rid of the NWO there.


58 posted on 03/13/2022 8:06:12 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Georgia Girl 2

What if He eventually occupies Ukraine... will you change your mind?


59 posted on 03/13/2022 8:08:44 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Yes, but that’s highly unlikely. The Ukraine is broke. It would be a welfare state. Putin wants the Ukraine like we want Puerto Rico as the 51st state.


60 posted on 03/13/2022 8:13:16 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson