I will speculate that a lot more prep was made than we believe at the moment. What is keeping the Russians from establishing air superiority? Something is up. Coupled with the US outing the plans before they happened while Russia called it all “hysteria”, there is more to this story.
As in there are more Javelins than we thought? Copy that. But that’s not enough. Also that isn’t anti-aircraft.
Ukrainians want NATO to put in a no fly zone over Ukraine, but that would pull NATO into a war with Russia.
OK, then you’re right, I missed your reference. My point is that there is no rational explanation for why Russian planes aren’t already running unopposed unless their existing air defenses weren’t fortified somehow. Their known defenses simply aren’t enough.
US has almost unquestionably been providing Ukraine with tracking/targeting info on aircraft. We’ve had tankers flying Eastern Europe all week, and at least a few times an AWACS has shown up near Ukranian airspace with its transponder on. In addition to the Global Hawk drones we’ve had up in the area constantly.
OK. But that’s it? Radar and drones? GH’s are badass in their lanes, but aren’t SU-57’s. There is more to this. Even Stingers are just mild deterrents. I am suggesting there is something more formidable in place, although I have no guess as to what it is.
Will Putin consider this an act of war? Locking down $640B in foreign currency reserves is going to sting Allies ready strong sanctions against Russia as bombardments of Kyiv grow fierce The Biden administration, Canada and European allies will impose major restrictions on Russia’s central bank, freezing its ability to use its $640 billion in foreign reserves. They also announced that they would remove certain Russian financial institutions from the SWIFT messaging network that connects banks worldwide, a move that to date has been taken against only Iran and North Korea.
Russia appears to be vaguely specific with their attack - which they probably aren’t the best at. They could just send bombers and flatten them. But fortunately that doesn’t seem to be the plan.
Okay. Rubio issued another tweet that seems to be from Senate intelligence: Here’s a pretty solid anonymous account that is clearly knowledgeable account from inside the beltway explaining it:
I took Rubio’s tweet to likely be referring to the possibility of Russia using something like the TOS system (Russia calls it a heavy flamethrower, it would probably be more accurate to call it a MLRS that is designed to fire thermobaric rockets) against civilian areas.
I really do not want active US involvement into this war (troops in combat). But if Russia uses that weapon against civilians, they may have crossed the line in the sand.
Tell those rural counties that they can secede to Florida, and Orlando, Miami, and South Florida can secede and join California or Oregon. That way, those Florida areas won't have to put up with a state government that represents the interests of Floribama, and those rural counties won't have to put up with a state government that represents the interests of LA and San Francisco.
