Military observations on Ukraine invasion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover, the primary LNG pipeline from Russia to China—Power of Siberia—wasn’t even completed until 2019.

What would it take for motivated dissidents/saboteurs to, say, blow up a critical compressor station?

Huh? What fantasy world do you live in? Are you interested in in actual discussion, or do you want to write a Tom Clancy novel?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but there have already been a few mysterious explosions at some key Russian facilities over the last year.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of “saboteurs.” Might want to take your discussion to the entertainment/pop culture forum.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of "Let us not hear about dissidents! Russia is righteous! Ukrainians are Nazis with biological weapons plotting with NATO to attack Russia! Russia is not targeting civilians! Anything to the contrary is WESTERN FAKE NEWS!"

Huh? I never said anything even close to that. I’m responding fully to the fact that it’s sort of ridiculous to think that dissidents could blow up a power compressor of a major LNG pipeline.

Russia's security situation is rapidly deteriorating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover, the primary LNG pipeline from Russia to China—Power of Siberia—wasn’t even completed until 2019.

What would it take for motivated dissidents/saboteurs to, say, blow up a critical compressor station?

Huh? What fantasy world do you live in? Are you interested in in actual discussion, or do you want to write a Tom Clancy novel?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but there have already been a few mysterious explosions at some key Russian facilities over the last year.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of “saboteurs.” Might want to take your discussion to the entertainment/pop culture forum.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of "Let us not hear about dissidents! Russia is righteous! Ukrainians are Nazis with biological weapons plotting with NATO to attack Russia! Russia is not targeting civilians! Anything to the contrary is WESTERN FAKE NEWS!"

Huh? I never said anything even close to that. I’m responding fully to the fact that it’s sort of ridiculous to think that dissidents could blow up a power compressor of a major LNG pipeline.

Russia's security situation is rapidly deteriorating.

It's starting to get ugly for Putin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover, the primary LNG pipeline from Russia to China—Power of Siberia—wasn’t even completed until 2019.

What would it take for motivated dissidents/saboteurs to, say, blow up a critical compressor station?

Huh? What fantasy world do you live in? Are you interested in in actual discussion, or do you want to write a Tom Clancy novel?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but there have already been a few mysterious explosions at some key Russian facilities over the last year.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of “saboteurs.” Might want to take your discussion to the entertainment/pop culture forum.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of "Let us not hear about dissidents! Russia is righteous! Ukrainians are Nazis with biological weapons plotting with NATO to attack Russia! Russia is not targeting civilians! Anything to the contrary is WESTERN FAKE NEWS!"

Huh? I never said anything even close to that. I’m responding fully to the fact that it’s sort of ridiculous to think that dissidents could blow up a power compressor of a major LNG pipeline.

And you are certain of this, how?

Because major pipelines have significant security. How can you not be sure that this is an extremely, extremely low likelihood scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover, the primary LNG pipeline from Russia to China—Power of Siberia—wasn’t even completed until 2019.

What would it take for motivated dissidents/saboteurs to, say, blow up a critical compressor station?

Huh? What fantasy world do you live in? Are you interested in in actual discussion, or do you want to write a Tom Clancy novel?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but there have already been a few mysterious explosions at some key Russian facilities over the last year.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of “saboteurs.” Might want to take your discussion to the entertainment/pop culture forum.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of "Let us not hear about dissidents! Russia is righteous! Ukrainians are Nazis with biological weapons plotting with NATO to attack Russia! Russia is not targeting civilians! Anything to the contrary is WESTERN FAKE NEWS!"

Huh? I never said anything even close to that. I’m responding fully to the fact that it’s sort of ridiculous to think that dissidents could blow up a power compressor of a major LNG pipeline.

Russia's security situation is rapidly deteriorating.

It's starting to get ugly for Putin.

That headline really doesn’t capture the nuance of the article itself. You should read the actual article.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Ukraine has about 45, so 98 is a huge addition.

Wow, that's a huge infusion at the same time Russia is transporting in plumbing repair vans for reinforcement.

It’s about two squadrons worth of MiGs (9.12 and a couple of UBs) that were due to be replaced anyway with F-16V. It’s a great gesture for sure and I love how the Poles are leading NATOs response but let’s keep things in perspective.

Poland put Biden in a tough spot. Poland basically is saying step up America and do the deal out of Germany so we are all in this together.

OK. So conduct the transfer in Moldova.

But get this done extremely quickly. The Migs are desperately needed today!

The Poles are scared to do this and they have NATO backing. Moldova would be nuts to agree to this.

I really don't understand the reluctance for NATO countries though. They are opening providing billions in weapons to Ukraine. I don't see how fighter jets crosses some line that they haven't already crossed. I suspect the issue is more about whether the US can really replace the Polish MiGs in any timely fashion. I doubt the US has a couple dozen F-16s just sitting around ready to send to Poland.

because gutlessness and spinelessness of the Sheeple are the definers of History just as much as it is shaped by megalomaniac dictators ( Hitler, Stalin )

The 21st Century has many modern advances, but in many ways it is a " wash and repeat " of the 20th century or the 18th century or the .... just pick.

Sickening to watch, isn't it.

PP is dead on: the time is ripe for ANY European country leader to step into this vacuum and become a world leader. Maybe the UK ... maybe Zelensky was invited to Parliament to prime the British public for what an ambitious Boris would like to do: seize all capital assets in the UK for UK treasury and restore the British Empire....AND keep practicing his Churhill hand gestures ...

Reluctance... it's the possibility of this war going nuclear. At this point I'm not sure we can trust Putin to have the judgement to keep his finger off the button.

The western countries don’t want nuclear war with Russia. Sadly, if Ukraine is obliterated, it would still be a small percentage of the life lost and world devastation that a nuclear war would bring. Hopefully neither happens and Ukraine can negotiate something with Russia. They aren’t going to win a ground war, so they have to do something besides beg other countries to step in. No one is going to, in any meaningful way.

Analysts have said it would take 500k Russian troops to actually occupy Ukraine.

No it is closer to 880k and that is combat or police units.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Ukraine has about 45, so 98 is a huge addition.

Wow, that's a huge infusion at the same time Russia is transporting in plumbing repair vans for reinforcement.

It’s about two squadrons worth of MiGs (9.12 and a couple of UBs) that were due to be replaced anyway with F-16V. It’s a great gesture for sure and I love how the Poles are leading NATOs response but let’s keep things in perspective.

Poland put Biden in a tough spot. Poland basically is saying step up America and do the deal out of Germany so we are all in this together.

OK. So conduct the transfer in Moldova.

But get this done extremely quickly. The Migs are desperately needed today!

The Poles are scared to do this and they have NATO backing. Moldova would be nuts to agree to this.

I really don't understand the reluctance for NATO countries though. They are opening providing billions in weapons to Ukraine. I don't see how fighter jets crosses some line that they haven't already crossed. I suspect the issue is more about whether the US can really replace the Polish MiGs in any timely fashion. I doubt the US has a couple dozen F-16s just sitting around ready to send to Poland.

because gutlessness and spinelessness of the Sheeple are the definers of History just as much as it is shaped by megalomaniac dictators ( Hitler, Stalin )

The 21st Century has many modern advances, but in many ways it is a " wash and repeat " of the 20th century or the 18th century or the .... just pick.

Sickening to watch, isn't it.

PP is dead on: the time is ripe for ANY European country leader to step into this vacuum and become a world leader. Maybe the UK ... maybe Zelensky was invited to Parliament to prime the British public for what an ambitious Boris would like to do: seize all capital assets in the UK for UK treasury and restore the British Empire....AND keep practicing his Churhill hand gestures ...

Reluctance... it's the possibility of this war going nuclear. At this point I'm not sure we can trust Putin to have the judgement to keep his finger off the button.

The western countries don’t want nuclear war with Russia. Sadly, if Ukraine is obliterated, it would still be a small percentage of the life lost and world devastation that a nuclear war would bring. Hopefully neither happens and Ukraine can negotiate something with Russia. They aren’t going to win a ground war, so they have to do something besides beg other countries to step in. No one is going to, in any meaningful way.

Analysts have said it would take 500k Russian troops to actually occupy Ukraine.

No it is closer to 880k and that is combat or police units.

Russia will never successfully occupy the whole country of Ukraine.

Not even clear they can control any of the major cities for a prolonged period of time.

They can probably encircle and lay siege to a city long enough to kill people by starvation but not sure that is allowed by modern international law?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Ukraine has about 45, so 98 is a huge addition.

Wow, that's a huge infusion at the same time Russia is transporting in plumbing repair vans for reinforcement.

It’s about two squadrons worth of MiGs (9.12 and a couple of UBs) that were due to be replaced anyway with F-16V. It’s a great gesture for sure and I love how the Poles are leading NATOs response but let’s keep things in perspective.

Poland put Biden in a tough spot. Poland basically is saying step up America and do the deal out of Germany so we are all in this together.

OK. So conduct the transfer in Moldova.

But get this done extremely quickly. The Migs are desperately needed today!

The Poles are scared to do this and they have NATO backing. Moldova would be nuts to agree to this.

I really don't understand the reluctance for NATO countries though. They are opening providing billions in weapons to Ukraine. I don't see how fighter jets crosses some line that they haven't already crossed. I suspect the issue is more about whether the US can really replace the Polish MiGs in any timely fashion. I doubt the US has a couple dozen F-16s just sitting around ready to send to Poland.

because gutlessness and spinelessness of the Sheeple are the definers of History just as much as it is shaped by megalomaniac dictators ( Hitler, Stalin )

The 21st Century has many modern advances, but in many ways it is a " wash and repeat " of the 20th century or the 18th century or the .... just pick.

Sickening to watch, isn't it.

PP is dead on: the time is ripe for ANY European country leader to step into this vacuum and become a world leader. Maybe the UK ... maybe Zelensky was invited to Parliament to prime the British public for what an ambitious Boris would like to do: seize all capital assets in the UK for UK treasury and restore the British Empire....AND keep practicing his Churhill hand gestures ...

Reluctance... it's the possibility of this war going nuclear. At this point I'm not sure we can trust Putin to have the judgement to keep his finger off the button.

The western countries don’t want nuclear war with Russia. Sadly, if Ukraine is obliterated, it would still be a small percentage of the life lost and world devastation that a nuclear war would bring. Hopefully neither happens and Ukraine can negotiate something with Russia. They aren’t going to win a ground war, so they have to do something besides beg other countries to step in. No one is going to, in any meaningful way.

Analysts have said it would take 500k Russian troops to actually occupy Ukraine.

No it is closer to 880k and that is combat or police units.

Yep and the "combat troops" they have there now have absolutely no idea what they are doing. In 2 weeks Russia has already lost more troops than the US did in Iraq and Afghanistan combined since 2001.
Simultaneously hilarious and painful to watch:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Ukraine has about 45, so 98 is a huge addition.

Wow, that's a huge infusion at the same time Russia is transporting in plumbing repair vans for reinforcement.

It’s about two squadrons worth of MiGs (9.12 and a couple of UBs) that were due to be replaced anyway with F-16V. It’s a great gesture for sure and I love how the Poles are leading NATOs response but let’s keep things in perspective.

Poland put Biden in a tough spot. Poland basically is saying step up America and do the deal out of Germany so we are all in this together.

OK. So conduct the transfer in Moldova.

But get this done extremely quickly. The Migs are desperately needed today!

The Poles are scared to do this and they have NATO backing. Moldova would be nuts to agree to this.

I really don't understand the reluctance for NATO countries though. They are opening providing billions in weapons to Ukraine. I don't see how fighter jets crosses some line that they haven't already crossed. I suspect the issue is more about whether the US can really replace the Polish MiGs in any timely fashion. I doubt the US has a couple dozen F-16s just sitting around ready to send to Poland.

because gutlessness and spinelessness of the Sheeple are the definers of History just as much as it is shaped by megalomaniac dictators ( Hitler, Stalin )

The 21st Century has many modern advances, but in many ways it is a " wash and repeat " of the 20th century or the 18th century or the .... just pick.

Sickening to watch, isn't it.

PP is dead on: the time is ripe for ANY European country leader to step into this vacuum and become a world leader. Maybe the UK ... maybe Zelensky was invited to Parliament to prime the British public for what an ambitious Boris would like to do: seize all capital assets in the UK for UK treasury and restore the British Empire....AND keep practicing his Churhill hand gestures ...

Reluctance... it's the possibility of this war going nuclear. At this point I'm not sure we can trust Putin to have the judgement to keep his finger off the button.

The western countries don’t want nuclear war with Russia. Sadly, if Ukraine is obliterated, it would still be a small percentage of the life lost and world devastation that a nuclear war would bring. Hopefully neither happens and Ukraine can negotiate something with Russia. They aren’t going to win a ground war, so they have to do something besides beg other countries to step in. No one is going to, in any meaningful way.

Analysts have said it would take 500k Russian troops to actually occupy Ukraine.

No it is closer to 880k and that is combat or police units.

Russia will never successfully occupy the whole country of Ukraine.

Not even clear they can control any of the major cities for a prolonged period of time.

They can probably encircle and lay siege to a city long enough to kill people by starvation but not sure that is allowed by modern international law?

At this point, all roads lead to war crimes prosecution at The Hague for every Russian involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover, the primary LNG pipeline from Russia to China—Power of Siberia—wasn’t even completed until 2019.

What would it take for motivated dissidents/saboteurs to, say, blow up a critical compressor station?

Huh? What fantasy world do you live in? Are you interested in in actual discussion, or do you want to write a Tom Clancy novel?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but there have already been a few mysterious explosions at some key Russian facilities over the last year.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of “saboteurs.” Might want to take your discussion to the entertainment/pop culture forum.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of "Let us not hear about dissidents! Russia is righteous! Ukrainians are Nazis with biological weapons plotting with NATO to attack Russia! Russia is not targeting civilians! Anything to the contrary is WESTERN FAKE NEWS!"

Huh? I never said anything even close to that. I’m responding fully to the fact that it’s sort of ridiculous to think that dissidents could blow up a power compressor of a major LNG pipeline.

And you are certain of this, how?

Because major pipelines have significant security. How can you not be sure that this is an extremely, extremely low likelihood scenario.

You don't think there are at this point already a lot of disgruntled high ranking Russian military and FSB angry that Putin is making them take the fall for his disastrous war?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover, the primary LNG pipeline from Russia to China—Power of Siberia—wasn’t even completed until 2019.

What would it take for motivated dissidents/saboteurs to, say, blow up a critical compressor station?

Huh? What fantasy world do you live in? Are you interested in in actual discussion, or do you want to write a Tom Clancy novel?

Maybe you haven't been paying attention, but there have already been a few mysterious explosions at some key Russian facilities over the last year.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of “saboteurs.” Might want to take your discussion to the entertainment/pop culture forum.

And you seem obsessed with conspiracy theories of "Let us not hear about dissidents! Russia is righteous! Ukrainians are Nazis with biological weapons plotting with NATO to attack Russia! Russia is not targeting civilians! Anything to the contrary is WESTERN FAKE NEWS!"

Huh? I never said anything even close to that. I’m responding fully to the fact that it’s sort of ridiculous to think that dissidents could blow up a power compressor of a major LNG pipeline.

And you are certain of this, how?

Because major pipelines have significant security. How can you not be sure that this is an extremely, extremely low likelihood scenario.

You don't think there are at this point already a lot of disgruntled high ranking Russian military and FSB angry that Putin is making them take the fall for his disastrous war?

I believe there are some disgruntled military and FSB officers, but deciding that means they’re going to blow up Power of Siberia is taking the current reality so many steps ahead that it really is analytically useless. I prefer a more disciplined analytic approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Ukraine has about 45, so 98 is a huge addition.

Wow, that's a huge infusion at the same time Russia is transporting in plumbing repair vans for reinforcement.

It’s about two squadrons worth of MiGs (9.12 and a couple of UBs) that were due to be replaced anyway with F-16V. It’s a great gesture for sure and I love how the Poles are leading NATOs response but let’s keep things in perspective.

Poland put Biden in a tough spot. Poland basically is saying step up America and do the deal out of Germany so we are all in this together.

OK. So conduct the transfer in Moldova.

But get this done extremely quickly. The Migs are desperately needed today!

The Poles are scared to do this and they have NATO backing. Moldova would be nuts to agree to this.

I really don't understand the reluctance for NATO countries though. They are opening providing billions in weapons to Ukraine. I don't see how fighter jets crosses some line that they haven't already crossed. I suspect the issue is more about whether the US can really replace the Polish MiGs in any timely fashion. I doubt the US has a couple dozen F-16s just sitting around ready to send to Poland.

because gutlessness and spinelessness of the Sheeple are the definers of History just as much as it is shaped by megalomaniac dictators ( Hitler, Stalin )

The 21st Century has many modern advances, but in many ways it is a " wash and repeat " of the 20th century or the 18th century or the .... just pick.

Sickening to watch, isn't it.

PP is dead on: the time is ripe for ANY European country leader to step into this vacuum and become a world leader. Maybe the UK ... maybe Zelensky was invited to Parliament to prime the British public for what an ambitious Boris would like to do: seize all capital assets in the UK for UK treasury and restore the British Empire....AND keep practicing his Churhill hand gestures ...

Reluctance... it's the possibility of this war going nuclear. At this point I'm not sure we can trust Putin to have the judgement to keep his finger off the button.

The western countries don’t want nuclear war with Russia. Sadly, if Ukraine is obliterated, it would still be a small percentage of the life lost and world devastation that a nuclear war would bring. Hopefully neither happens and Ukraine can negotiate something with Russia. They aren’t going to win a ground war, so they have to do something besides beg other countries to step in. No one is going to, in any meaningful way.

Analysts have said it would take 500k Russian troops to actually occupy Ukraine.

No it is closer to 880k and that is combat or police units.

Russia will never successfully occupy the whole country of Ukraine.

Not even clear they can control any of the major cities for a prolonged period of time.

They can probably encircle and lay siege to a city long enough to kill people by starvation but not sure that is allowed by modern international law?

Nobody's worried about Putin invading Ukraine. He can't, unless he uses nuclear weapons, which we think he's not prepared to do. But we are all gravely concerned about the tens of thousands of civilians he is perfectly prepared to murder, with medieval tactics like sieges, simply because he cannot bear to lose face.

And what's that about "modern international law"? Are you stupid or 5 years old? In your wildest dreams, did Putin ever care about that? Hello?!?!?! He has perpetrated the same horrors in Chechnya and Syria, except that because it was on Muslims further away from Europe, nobody cared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Ukraine has about 45, so 98 is a huge addition.

Wow, that's a huge infusion at the same time Russia is transporting in plumbing repair vans for reinforcement.

It’s about two squadrons worth of MiGs (9.12 and a couple of UBs) that were due to be replaced anyway with F-16V. It’s a great gesture for sure and I love how the Poles are leading NATOs response but let’s keep things in perspective.

Poland put Biden in a tough spot. Poland basically is saying step up America and do the deal out of Germany so we are all in this together.

OK. So conduct the transfer in Moldova.

But get this done extremely quickly. The Migs are desperately needed today!

The Poles are scared to do this and they have NATO backing. Moldova would be nuts to agree to this.

I really don't understand the reluctance for NATO countries though. They are opening providing billions in weapons to Ukraine. I don't see how fighter jets crosses some line that they haven't already crossed. I suspect the issue is more about whether the US can really replace the Polish MiGs in any timely fashion. I doubt the US has a couple dozen F-16s just sitting around ready to send to Poland.

because gutlessness and spinelessness of the Sheeple are the definers of History just as much as it is shaped by megalomaniac dictators ( Hitler, Stalin )

The 21st Century has many modern advances, but in many ways it is a " wash and repeat " of the 20th century or the 18th century or the .... just pick.

Sickening to watch, isn't it.

PP is dead on: the time is ripe for ANY European country leader to step into this vacuum and become a world leader. Maybe the UK ... maybe Zelensky was invited to Parliament to prime the British public for what an ambitious Boris would like to do: seize all capital assets in the UK for UK treasury and restore the British Empire....AND keep practicing his Churhill hand gestures ...

Reluctance... it's the possibility of this war going nuclear. At this point I'm not sure we can trust Putin to have the judgement to keep his finger off the button.

The western countries don’t want nuclear war with Russia. Sadly, if Ukraine is obliterated, it would still be a small percentage of the life lost and world devastation that a nuclear war would bring. Hopefully neither happens and Ukraine can negotiate something with Russia. They aren’t going to win a ground war, so they have to do something besides beg other countries to step in. No one is going to, in any meaningful way.

Analysts have said it would take 500k Russian troops to actually occupy Ukraine.

No it is closer to 880k and that is combat or police units.

Russia will never successfully occupy the whole country of Ukraine.

Not even clear they can control any of the major cities for a prolonged period of time.

They can probably encircle and lay siege to a city long enough to kill people by starvation but not sure that is allowed by modern international law?

Nobody's worried about Putin invading Ukraine. He can't, unless he uses nuclear weapons, which we think he's not prepared to do. But we are all gravely concerned about the tens of thousands of civilians he is perfectly prepared to murder, with medieval tactics like sieges, simply because he cannot bear to lose face.

And what's that about "modern international law"? Are you stupid or 5 years old? In your wildest dreams, did Putin ever care about that? Hello?!?!?! He has perpetrated the same horrors in Chechnya and Syria, except that because it was on Muslims further away from Europe, nobody cared.

Umm … Putin already invaded Ukraine.

[Anonymous]

Also, plenty of people cared about what was happening in Syria and Chechnya. We deployed troops to Syria — did you forget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Ukraine has about 45, so 98 is a huge addition.

Wow, that's a huge infusion at the same time Russia is transporting in plumbing repair vans for reinforcement.

It’s about two squadrons worth of MiGs (9.12 and a couple of UBs) that were due to be replaced anyway with F-16V. It’s a great gesture for sure and I love how the Poles are leading NATOs response but let’s keep things in perspective.

Poland put Biden in a tough spot. Poland basically is saying step up America and do the deal out of Germany so we are all in this together.

OK. So conduct the transfer in Moldova.

But get this done extremely quickly. The Migs are desperately needed today!

The Poles are scared to do this and they have NATO backing. Moldova would be nuts to agree to this.

I really don't understand the reluctance for NATO countries though. They are opening providing billions in weapons to Ukraine. I don't see how fighter jets crosses some line that they haven't already crossed. I suspect the issue is more about whether the US can really replace the Polish MiGs in any timely fashion. I doubt the US has a couple dozen F-16s just sitting around ready to send to Poland.

because gutlessness and spinelessness of the Sheeple are the definers of History just as much as it is shaped by megalomaniac dictators ( Hitler, Stalin )

The 21st Century has many modern advances, but in many ways it is a " wash and repeat " of the 20th century or the 18th century or the .... just pick.

Sickening to watch, isn't it.

PP is dead on: the time is ripe for ANY European country leader to step into this vacuum and become a world leader. Maybe the UK ... maybe Zelensky was invited to Parliament to prime the British public for what an ambitious Boris would like to do: seize all capital assets in the UK for UK treasury and restore the British Empire....AND keep practicing his Churhill hand gestures ...

Reluctance... it's the possibility of this war going nuclear. At this point I'm not sure we can trust Putin to have the judgement to keep his finger off the button.

The western countries don’t want nuclear war with Russia. Sadly, if Ukraine is obliterated, it would still be a small percentage of the life lost and world devastation that a nuclear war would bring. Hopefully neither happens and Ukraine can negotiate something with Russia. They aren’t going to win a ground war, so they have to do something besides beg other countries to step in. No one is going to, in any meaningful way.

Analysts have said it would take 500k Russian troops to actually occupy Ukraine.

No it is closer to 880k and that is combat or police units.

Russia will never successfully occupy the whole country of Ukraine.

Not even clear they can control any of the major cities for a prolonged period of time.

They can probably encircle and lay siege to a city long enough to kill people by starvation but not sure that is allowed by modern international law?

Nobody's worried about Putin invading Ukraine. He can't, unless he uses nuclear weapons, which we think he's not prepared to do. But we are all gravely concerned about the tens of thousands of civilians he is perfectly prepared to murder, with medieval tactics like sieges, simply because he cannot bear to lose face.

And what's that about "modern international law"? Are you stupid or 5 years old? In your wildest dreams, did Putin ever care about that? Hello?!?!?! He has perpetrated the same horrors in Chechnya and Syria, except that because it was on Muslims further away from Europe, nobody cared.

But now the case for prosecution is being made. Paperwork already filed.
Putin and senior members of his regime would never be able to leave the country lest they face arrest and prosecution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Ukraine has about 45, so 98 is a huge addition.

Wow, that's a huge infusion at the same time Russia is transporting in plumbing repair vans for reinforcement.

It’s about two squadrons worth of MiGs (9.12 and a couple of UBs) that were due to be replaced anyway with F-16V. It’s a great gesture for sure and I love how the Poles are leading NATOs response but let’s keep things in perspective.

Poland put Biden in a tough spot. Poland basically is saying step up America and do the deal out of Germany so we are all in this together.

OK. So conduct the transfer in Moldova.

But get this done extremely quickly. The Migs are desperately needed today!

The Poles are scared to do this and they have NATO backing. Moldova would be nuts to agree to this.

I really don't understand the reluctance for NATO countries though. They are opening providing billions in weapons to Ukraine. I don't see how fighter jets crosses some line that they haven't already crossed. I suspect the issue is more about whether the US can really replace the Polish MiGs in any timely fashion. I doubt the US has a couple dozen F-16s just sitting around ready to send to Poland.

because gutlessness and spinelessness of the Sheeple are the definers of History just as much as it is shaped by megalomaniac dictators ( Hitler, Stalin )

The 21st Century has many modern advances, but in many ways it is a " wash and repeat " of the 20th century or the 18th century or the .... just pick.

Sickening to watch, isn't it.

PP is dead on: the time is ripe for ANY European country leader to step into this vacuum and become a world leader. Maybe the UK ... maybe Zelensky was invited to Parliament to prime the British public for what an ambitious Boris would like to do: seize all capital assets in the UK for UK treasury and restore the British Empire....AND keep practicing his Churhill hand gestures ...

Reluctance... it's the possibility of this war going nuclear. At this point I'm not sure we can trust Putin to have the judgement to keep his finger off the button.

The western countries don’t want nuclear war with Russia. Sadly, if Ukraine is obliterated, it would still be a small percentage of the life lost and world devastation that a nuclear war would bring. Hopefully neither happens and Ukraine can negotiate something with Russia. They aren’t going to win a ground war, so they have to do something besides beg other countries to step in. No one is going to, in any meaningful way.

Analysts have said it would take 500k Russian troops to actually occupy Ukraine.

No it is closer to 880k and that is combat or police units.

Russia will never successfully occupy the whole country of Ukraine.

Not even clear they can control any of the major cities for a prolonged period of time.

They can probably encircle and lay siege to a city long enough to kill people by starvation but not sure that is allowed by modern international law?

At this point, all roads lead to war crimes prosecution at The Hague for every Russian involved.

This US has The Hague Invasion Act. I'm sure the Russians will be similarly deferential to the ICC. International law only matters if a country has the power to impose it, the US, Russia, and China will never let their militaries be subject to it.