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Maneuver Warfare: Great dangers rise up when you least expect them.

> by William Schryver / Oct 4, 2022
John Boyd was one of the most brilliant and celebrated modern military theorists, and his concepts were extremely influential among many in the post-Vietnam officer cadre of the United States Marine Corps.

In particular, the highly regarded USMC General Paul K. Van Riper became a zealous disciple of Boyd’s conceptions of war. I have previously written of Van Riper’s legendary exploits, and most recently his observations of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

[Please read it all at the link. This is by far the best analysis of what’s currently going on in Ukraine, IMHO.]

https://imetatronink.substack.com/p/maneuver-warfare

His point that Ukraine has pulled forces and equipment from everywhere and sent it all in for this offensive attempt on multiple front lines certainly looks accurate. This post on this Ukraine Telegram Channel https://t.me/s/rezident_ua/ certainly supports that thesis.

“The flaming base of the 72nd mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the city of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region, which was attacked at night by Iranian kamikaze drones Shahed-136 (Geran-2).

The drones flew freely from 150 to 400 km, which means only one thing, that all air defenses from near Kyiv were transferred to the Kharkov and Nikolaev regions.”

Russia hit multiple Kiev area targets in a massive drone attack last night. If the Ukrainian air defense systems were moved from Kiev to the counter offensive targets Russia certainly picked a good time to wallop Kiev (Bila Tserkva - 80 miles from Kiev)

As a Tactics instructor at The Basic School in the Marine Corps in the late 80's, we were immersed in Boyd's theories, including a presentation presentationsvan Riper. The Commandant at that time was Al Gray, who also was a huge proponent of what was referred to as manuever warfare. But I have to say I think you have the application of those theories backwards in Ukraine.

1) It's pretty clearly the Ukrainians who have gotten inside the Russian's OODA loop. The Russians are purely in reactive mode, while the Ukrainians are dictating the time and place of operations. Public Russian sources have essentially acknowledged this.

2) Manstein withdrew intact units, in good order, before the Soviets attacked. But that's not what's happening in Ukraine. There, you have a front that is far too thinly held - but held nevertheless - by Russian units attempting a defense. And they've been simply blown out by tight concentrations of Ukrainian units at critical points that then create havoc in Russian rear areas, bypassing and isolating strongpoints for mop-up later. It's classic manuever warfare.

3). I think a surprise, lightning counterstroke from Russian troops is highly unlikely . The difference from WW2 again is that the Ukrainians (via the U.S./NATO) have far superior intelligence. Satellites and SIGINT - coupled with atrocious Russian radio discipline and lack of countermeasures - means that it would be virtually impossible for the Russians to launch a true "surprise" major counterattack.

Western media has never once given a non fabricated or non embellished account

Not one mention of any Russian advance though anyone can see the maps

They also claim Russian total war which is bullshit

Never mention Ukrainian atrocities instead always claiming Russians did it

The three day war claim a lie

Kiev withstood Russian attacks another lie it wasn’t much of an attack but more a hold and withdrawal

Now both sides are jockeying for some line to be in place given Russian plans to increase troops etc and wetter and colder weather coming. Uke falls are wetter than ours apparently

Russia is withdrawing where they see its best and Ukes are advancing where they can

The real war which I imagine will be amped up beyond limited war some

Will tell the tale

I do think USA and nato are managing this now from Germany we hear to escape missles

A good number of uke atrocities on civilians past few days zero mention in the west
Russian strikes on select targets deep inside Ukraine yesterday ignored

Western media lies since 2014

It’s unprecedented

It will continue whenstill its over and that will be lies too even if Putin sat on a throne in Kiev
Just like russiagate
Anyone here curious I’ll be glad to link alternate sourcing

When I ask Z brigade here for what opposition sources they use from Russia they give me propaganda links

One was a virulent twitter Russia hater who claimed to have a Wagner source who says the sky is falling

90% of his tweets were I hate Russia

I can provide folks who don’t trust western media but who attempt to show both sides
Even Russia state sources are more honest that most western outlets

We are managing the propaganda no doubt

Say anything

It’s easy when nobody besides tucker and Bannon of note are countering it