[Captain Rhino]

During my long since past days on active duty, the Soviets had a saying in response to the much discussed superiority of NATO arms:

“Quantity has a quality all its own.”

When you have run out of everything and the enemy hasn’t, the fact that their bullet launchers are now Moisin bolt action rifles taken out of mothballs isn’t going to make their victory any less significant.

Kissinger’s counsel at the WEF in Davos was perhaps a little too much “Real Politik” for the West to stomach.

Ukraine has to fight to retain as much of its territory as possible in the face of Russian aggression. As long as Russia is effectively a dictatorship under Putin (or someone cut from the same cloth once he’s gone), its government is going to mobilize, train, equip, deploy , and expend forces in a war of attrition until it achieves enough to claim vindication - especially in the face of combat losses, continuing sanctions, the expansion of NATO in previously neutral Scandinavia, etc.

So it comes back full circle: there will be war until someone runs out of the means to fight (Ukraine) or the will to fight (Russia).

With NATO and other western countries backing Ukraine, let’s hope it doesn’t follow another old Cold War era saying:

“NATO (Europe) will fight the Warsaw Pact (Soviets) to the very last American.” except it will be:

“NATO will fight the Russians in Ukraine until the very last Ukrainian.”

Possibly there is some narrow set of conditions for a settlement that allows peace to be reestablished without them also being so bitter that they plant the seeds of a new war.

[Travis McGee]

See 52

[ought-six]

“During my long since past days on active duty, the Soviets had a saying in response to the much discussed superiority of NATO arms: “Quantity has a quality all its own.””

That comment originated with Stalin. It became gospel with the Soviets.

[for-q-clinton]

Yes Russia appears to be good at losing soldiers. But the difference this time is the Internet. That news is getting back and many aren’t agreeing to go to war. Apparently without a formal declaration of war only those that agree to go are being sent. Some agreed before the war (meaning they signed contracts to do whatever). Now many are refusing.

[StAnDeliver]

"Kissinger’s counsel at the WEF in Davos was perhaps a little too much “Real Politik” for the West to stomach."

You're aware that the first thing Henry said when he stepped up to the mic at WEF was "The dividing line should be a return to the status quo ante."

You're aware of that, aren't you? Because the discussion here at the time, was how disappointed the Putlims were! "Waaah, Kissinger wants Putlim to withdraw back to the existing borders."

Have some Realpolitik served hot.