Posted on 03/24/2022 9:51:18 AM PDT by Yo-Yo
“Given Putin’s history of being careful and calculated it is almost inexplicable that he did this...”
This is why I give a bit of credence to the rumors that Putin has some terminal illness. If he thinks he only has a year or two left and wanted to cement his legacy, that could explain why he would be willing to take a big risk.
Also, keep in mind that this is like the fourth or fifth military action that Russia has made against its ex-Soviet neighbors in recent times, and all of those interventions went much more smoothly, so I do think how the current situation is turning out is not what they were expecting.
this author is ridiculously long-winded.
I think this war is likely to end in a peace agreement that leaves Russia with more territory than it started with, with international recognition of its possession of Crimea and for the Donabas republics and with the lifting of sanctions. Without these terms, the war will not end, so I think they will be agreed to. I would call that a win for Russia. Nobody knows, but that is my prediction FWIW
What’s the red line? The Dneiper? It doesn’t correspond to the Russian-ethnically dominated region of Ukraine.
The Russians have reasonably good and dependable gear but insufficient training at all levels and zero depth in NCOs.
Great NCOs are the backbone of any competent army and the Russians have traditionally used junior officers instead of career NCOs to provide the critical "corporate knowledge".
Interesting. Thank You.
Nitpick: Japan's Emperor was not toppled, although defeated after the nukes. Eisenhower believed best to allow the Emperor to maintain his popularity and his newly assigned figurehead position. Eisenhower went on to write a Constitution for the then Imperial Japan. I believe that to be a wise decision which modern Japan has played out.
However, after actually toppling the Nazi regime, we allowed the Soviets to take half of Berlin and east Germany. As General Patton said at the time, "We should go into Russia and kill the commie bastards so we don't have to deal with them in the future." How prophetic were his words? Remember, they had NO nukes at the time.
He wants Mariupol. He wants all Ukrainians removed from that area. Then he'll have a complete Donbas.
It’s because the ukes don’t have antiship missiles, that’s why.
Yep. I have been inclined to think very much the same. Money laundering central.
Not a combatant in any of the three -NATO
Sounds like they’re starting to do some damage to Russian ships. But I don’t know why it has taken so long.
Russia has too long of a proud history to be humbled or hobbled voluntarily.
And I think the West learned its lesson after WWI post-Kaiser Germany about the consequences of extracting revenge. They'd much rather extract business contracts with former enemies. Again, look at post-WWII [West] Germany and Japan.
If Russia somehow dumps Putin, all will be forgiven, IMHO.
Russia has too many natural resources that the West wants and/or needs, and too many nukes that the West doesn't want delivered onto their territory, to not be magnanimous towards a Putin-free Russia.
My what a vivid imagination you have.
Imagine the ukes with nukes.
https://freerepublic.com/tag/ukenukes/index?tab=articles
“Why are these sitting duck ships not being blown out of the water?”
Either Ukraine doesn’t have the anti-ship capabilities, or can’t move those assets into a place where they could attack, or doesn’t want to risk losing them by placing them within range of Russia’s battleships.
Everything we have seen or have been told about the Russian Army for 80 years was pitched out the window one month ago. Russia ran out gas, ammo and food two weeks ago. All of Russia’s generals have been slaughtered. Every Russian vehicle with an engine is destroyed or broken down. NATO on its border is not a concern of Russia, this is all about reclaiming East Germany, on and on and on. This, is what we now KNOW about the Russian Army. Forget Sun Tsu. The new wisdom DC and most FReepers follow is.
“Your media masters will tell you everything your enemy thinks, fears and will do. There is no need for thinking for yourselves, your media masters think for you.”
The all powerful media/government conglomerate.
Not a combatant in any of the three -NATO
OK, how about Kosovo? Yugoslavia?
Between Afghanistan and Iraq we showed that the only thing we fail at militarily is trying to force democracy onto a culture that respects only jihad and pedo.
***Pretty good, almost tagline worthy but too long.
What we have needed to do is implement the emBASEee Strategee
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4043681/posts
Reactive armor upgrades added to the tank post-manufacture:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_armour
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