Posted on 08/13/2022 8:51:13 AM PDT by SpeedyInTexas
The staggeringly high rate of Russian casualties in Ukraine means that President Vladimir V. Putin may not be able to achieve one of his key war objectives: seizing the entire eastern region of the country this year, officials in the Biden administration and military experts say.
With 500 Russian troops killed or wounded every day, according to the latest estimate by American intelligence and military officials, Russia’s war effort has decelerated to a grinding slog, the officials said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Keep toilet paper handy as you read your NY Slimes!
500 Russian troops killed or wounded every day, according to the latest estimate by American intelligence and military officials
I recall the same folks released the body counts for Vietnam. We killed the whole population of Vitenam several times over and victoriously ascended to glory off some rooftop.
Wisely or not, I declined a CIA recruitment offer in college. But I know enough about the field to let you in on a secret: there are very few real secrets because, in the game of nations, everyone is working from the same playbook. And when you know the playbook, you can usually see what is happening as well as Tom Brady reads a pass defense.
Ok, so you’re also working to assumptions based on what you read. The next question is credibility of what we’re repeating, and the credibility of Western sources on this war is HORRENDOUS.
Actually, official and semi-official Western sources have been fairly restrained about Russian casualty estimates. One has to read carefully so as to distinguish between estimates for killed in action and the larger category of casualties, which includes wounded and missing. Also, estimates of unit combat effectiveness can confuse the issue further when expressed as percentages.
“Actually, official and semi-official Western sources have been fairly restrained about Russian casualty estimates.”
LOL, good one!
Iraq had a little less than 26 million in 2003. Shinsecki (sp?) said we needed 300,000 troops and was fired because Bush/Cheney planned to go in with fewer. Ukraine has over 40 million so it was certainly reasonable to think 200k was not enough. I asked my son who was in Gulf War 1, who said we should have had 400k for 2003. The guy who ran the Iraq conquest for a year (I think Bremmer was the name) said we should have had 500k. So no wonder Putin is having trouble with his little exercise (not war).
This afternoon I heard a report that Ukraine has bombed the last bridge over an important strategic river that now leaves Russia with no secure crossing. Could this be the same action?
Ukraine is not quite first world. Formerly part of second world or the Soviets bloc. But we can see that their military is why more advanced then the Iraqi military at the time of the Iraqi invasion. Remember Putin split up his 200k in four fronts. So his troops had their offensive capabilities reduced. Which was crazy. In retrospect, Putin should have concentrated in the Donbass and Kherson fronts and Russia will be more likely to make significant progress at this point.
But on 2/24/2022, no one knew that Zelensky was for real. He didn't flee the capital like the President of Afghanistan did when the Taliban attacked Kabul.
The number of people in a country (its population), are not all fighters, and those who do feel up to the fight, are not all armed or armed at all.
The fighters that matter (the military) are just a fraction of the population, so, it’s just a matter of throwing into the war the number of people that can handle the military of the invaded country. If the people in Ukraine were similarly armed as the people in the U.S., then, the invading country would need to throw into the fight a force many times bigger than the entire population.
So, do tell, what is your estimate of Russian casualties to date in their Ukraine war?
“So, do tell, what is your estimate of Russian casualties to date in their Ukraine war?”
How the hell would I know - ask Putin if you want that information.
But I do understand the motivation of the Neocons to greatly inflate whatever the number is ($$$$$).
Anyway, things are now wrapping up in Donbass, so it won’t matter - people can make up all the death stats that they want, but they can’t lie about who controls what land.
Incompetent Russian Army can’t cross Rivers, especially if they are marked strategic.
An attitude of hostility and distrust is not a proper substitute for information. In the absence of Russian transparency about their losses, reliance on US and NATO casualty estimates is reasonable. And we can also take a clue from the Russian parents who are going to great lengths and considerable risk to keep or get their sons out of the Russian military.
Everyone learned about trench warfare in WWI. Seems like we forgot. Our doctrine is based on all of our recent victories around the world fought using modern armaments. We don't have enough planes to drop enough high tech bunker busters to take out an entrenched army. The Russians don't either. Artillery - you mean like grandad fought with - are you kidding?
“In the absence of Russian transparency about their losses, reliance on US and NATO casualty estimates is reasonable.”
You’re welcome to do that, but as far as I’m concerned, I see land getting rolled up, daily now, by Russia, and I see motivation, $$$$$$’s, for what has been a virtual NON-STOP string of lies in just about every other area of this war.
So, no, I WILL NOT trust the Biden Administration, nor CNN, as to Russian numbers, because, believe it or not, they have lied to me in the past, many, many, times.
But if it does make you feel better about your tax dollars going to Ukraine, feel free to believe Biden/CNN all you want!
Golly, it must be difficult to accept the US victory in World War II considering that FDR was President.
“Golly, it must be difficult to accept the US victory in World War II considering that FDR was President.”
Not really. Once you see footage of liberated areas of the world during WW2, it gets really easy to know the TRUTH. Similar to footage from the now-liberated areas of Ukraine.
But short of that, one has to depend on honesty of the people, and like I’ve mentioned before, the Biden Administration and CNN don’t get very high ratings from me, when it comes to honesty.
But, again, you’re welcome to trust them...just don’t waste your time trying to get me to also trust them - it’s futile on my part.
6500+ Russian artillery shells per 24 hours for seven days straight calls your BS, Speedy....
So do others:
Russia on the ropes Part 13; Really
https://sonar21.com/russia-on-the-ropes-part-13-really/
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