Posted on 09/03/2022 8:10:17 AM PDT by SpeedyInTexas
Kyiv’s Kherson offensive is not just about retaking territory but eroding Russian will to continue its futile and costly war.
The great Prussian theorist of war, Carl von Clausewitz, took it for granted that defence was the strongest form of warfare, if only because a successful attack required superior numbers. For this reason the weaker side was obliged to defend. A state stuck on the defensive might prevent enemy gains but could not achieve its own objectives. They therefore had to use the time gained by the defence to create a more favourable balance of strength. Then they could strike. “A sudden powerful transition to the offensive — the flashing sword of vengeance,” he wrote, “is the greatest moment for the defence.” On August 29 the Ukrainian government announced that an offensive in southern Ukraine had begun, and has since then revealed as little as possible about its progress.
Inevitably this has led to intense speculation. There have been occasional reports of significant breakthroughs, but also of fierce fighting and Russian counter-attacks. Russian propagandists insisted almost immediately that it had failed badly and that Ukrainian forces had suffered grievous losses. More reliable Russian sources were circumspect, acknowledging that Ukraine was attacking with fresher troops and better equipment than before, and inflicting considerable damage. Their assessments tend to fit with Ukrainian sources’ suggestions of modest but significant progress, with some Russian forces being pulled back and others taking heavy casualties even as they slow down the Ukrainian advance.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
The Brits have a long history of sending the fodder straight into the guns.
Larry Freedo here longs for the good old days of Dougie Haig.
‘Ukraine Disaster Troops Surrounded on Ingulets River; Europe Disaster Gazprom Suspends Nord Stream 1’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBucXLjxUOc
as Europe digs in for a long cold winter with some having no heat.
Big wind
and Big sun
when winter comes
can’t get it done.
But Big nuke
it ain’t no fluke
Plenty of juice
for any use.
With Joe Biden’s MONEY he stole from us....
I haven't seen you making multiple replies to the PIFster this morning. Are you two having a lovers' spat? What is the problem, do you want to be pitching instead of catching?
Go to DU and plague us no more.
Joe sees a 7-year-old girl, and #DarkBrandonRises...
1) There are blogs from both sides that fill with comments on each article, and within the comments will be claims, or links to other blogs. Then another blog will link to that comment. The war discussion then becomes full of cross posted, self referential statements that somehow are transformed into “information” or “data” and quoted as such.
2) The Clauswitz theory of the defense having advantage in warfare was an era before satellite recon quotes of positional latitude/longitude and precise GPS or GLONASS guided guided munitions. If the defense has to be stationary to defend something, it can be targeted intensely. Attacking forces can be on the move. Guided munitions from the other side hits lat/long positions vacated.
3) Counter battery artillery is similarly rendered ineffective. Incoming munitions are guided. They maneuver. Tracking a ballistic trajectory back to launch point is impossible because the trajectory is no longer ballistic. A maneuvering item provides no information about launch point.
4) War has changed. Satellite recon is overwhelming in importance. You cannot mass troops to do anything without being seen. There is no surprise anymore. This is the first war ever fought with excellent satellite imagery available to both sides. It makes for a very bloody war. No one will move until they kill off enough troops to eliminate resistance, because that other side has all the same tools of recon and guidance.
5) An added tidbit for those not up to speed. Laser designation is the traditional answer to moving targets. It works well, but not with long range munitions. Those munitions must have initial and terminal guidance. If they aren’t headed in the correct direction initially such that nearing terminal distances the laser reflection is within the seeker field-of-view, it fails. And the even more traditional failure mode is simply smoke in the air dispersing the laser return.
6) Lastly, drone worship. Drones must have bidirectional data links. They have to be flown and their imagery must transmit back to base. Both signals are jammable, or worse, spoofable. A jammed signal does not get heard by the intended receiver. A spoofed signal is cleverly corrupted with incorrect information. This generates friendly fire events.
Psst -- that means the Russians are winning.
And as proven by the failed Ukrainian Kherson offensive, the Russians aren't giving that territory back.
It sounds like they’re will be no ships to save the boys at Dunkirk this time. But in an added twist, the Ukraines are sending in more reinforcements to get slaughtered! They have repeatedly done that throughout the war. That’s a big reason why the Russian don’t need to take a lot of territory, the rats just keep walking into the trap.
Dig their own grave that is.
Sorry but the prognosis is not good for Ukraine. At the “Kherson beachhead” Ukraine had a rare, tactical opportunity. 25,000 Russian troops had their backs against a natural barrier the Dnieper River. The bridges were cut. There was no credible way to resupply, reinforce, or execute and orderly withdrawal. The Ukrainians tried some sort of “counteroffensive” which apparently has failed. If the Ukrainians were not able to take advantage of such an opportunity, it is doubtful that they can succeed long term.
Joe Biden belongs in a retirement home and not the White House. The entire Biden Administration is staffed by shake down artists, not people who build, grow, and improve things. They can only feast off the work and wealth of others. They are the parasite that kills the host.
Goooood night....ding....ding....ding....ding....ding....!
And how do you know that>? Because the Russian Ministry of defense and State media says so?
Actually the BBC is doing the best and most accurate reporting in the Ukraine.
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