Sure. But it seems that Putin is the one who would find it hard to believe. He sees pawns on a chessboard (if he even sees that; more likely, he sees lines on a map, and doesn't give a shit about the blood of his own country folk that he is shedding, in hopes of capturing valuable resources to feed his hungry beast of a government).
Yes, but the Russians you don’t hate strongly support Putin. Larger picture: this is the war the US wanted and it’s no skin off its nose in fighting Russia to the last dead Ukrainian.
Ukraine knocks out radar station and SAM site. Looks like they are weakening Russia before the counteroffensive. Ukrainian forces strike Russian anti-aircraft system and radar station – General Staff (yahoo.com)
Don't be so naive. When a communist government pollster knocks on your door and asks if you support the dictator, the correct answer is "yes". The pollster might even point to an upper floor balcony on the tallest building nearby if you hesitate with your answer. "How would you like to see the view from that balcony? We can arrange it." If the U.S. had wanted this war, the gov't would have done a better job of preparing for it, and Ukraine would not be running out of shells and ammunition right now. You don't poke the bear with a stick and then ask, "Did anyone bring the bear spray?"
I find it highly unlikely that a few F-35's didn't go on at least one mission over central Ukraine to see if they were picked up by any Russian SAM sites or drew the interest of any Russian aircraft. I would say that you are gullible if you believe otherwise with any degree of certainty.
You would have to be ignorant to not know that it is a crime in a communist country to criticize the leader of the country. That's why polls in Russia and China do not carry the same weight as those done in western countries. Excuse me, I shouldn't have said "ignorant". I should have said "markedly ignorant".
coming soon to a balcony near them: Russian Businessmen Slam Putin, Ukraine Invasion in Leaked Call – Reports
I would very much like to think that we'd not risk giving a desperate cornered dictator with his trigger happy finger itching to let loose the 2nd largest nuclear arsenal on the planet, a convenient excuse to do so, in order to validate his claims about the West and remove any of the itch of his uke folly... For what?
The benefit is huge. You get to know for sure that your "invisible" plane is actually invisible to one of your two biggest adversaries. If someday you had to bomb Moscow (and you weren't planning on using ICBMs), what are the odds that F-35's and F-22's could carry out that mission? It also answers the question: are fighter/bomber aircraft losing their role in warfare? Just like the battleship went out of favor with the use of aircraft carriers, planes could be rendered obsolete by either next-gen SAM systems, or by drones. You want to know the answer to that question before you get into a fight, not after. And, as long as we did not attack Russia while we were flying above Ukraine, there is no reason for Putin to do any more than try to shoot down the aircraft. We would probably accept that as a risk of the mission, and not retaliate if they did shoot our plane out of the sky. We could say that we were just monitoring the battle, and had no plans to go on the offensive. This would actually be less provocative than what we did in the old days: we used to fly U-2 spy planes (and, later, SR-71 Blackbirds, I suspect) over Russia. They shot one U-2 down (pilot was Gary Powers?), but they were not interested in going to war over it. I don't see this as any different.
Interesting story on the REAL REASON that the U.S. is having trouble keeping up with supplying Ukraine with shells and ammunition. Apparently, the Pentagon has idiots in charge of sourcing raw materials, and those idiots are willing to accept (or prefer to get) sole-source suppliers for their weapon systems. One of their sole suppliers was a black powder factory in Louisiana (!) that blew up in June of 2021. The weapons assemblers are having to source their black powder from overseas suppliers and from existing stockpiles. Someone at the Pentagon should get the firing squad for this. "So, you trusted our national security to a Cajun with a cigarette in an explosives factory?" I could accept using one company to supply something, if that was necessary to keep costs down. But not one factory or location. Just incredibly stupid and short-sighted. Luckily, in this case, the black powder is only used to ignite the more powerful explosive that is used in the shell, so smaller quantities are needed than the more powerful explosive. Even so, it is a necessary component, apparently. U.S. production of bullets, shells, and missiles sidelined by explosion at 1 Louisiana gunpowder mill (yahoo.com)
and the paranoia or the pushback claims another top russian thug, ie general. Hopefully he scores a high 9's on a balcony backflip, double twist, sometime soon Putin Fires 'Butcher of Mariupol' Russian General, Mikhail Mizintsev (msn.com) The Russian commander known as "the Butcher of Mariupol" has been removed from his position, according to a Russian war correspondent. Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev has garnered a reputation for ruthless brutality in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He is particularly associated with the bombardment of the southern port city of Mariupol, which Moscow claimed in May 2022. ..................................... "Mizintsev is the Chief of the National Defence Command and Control Centre, where all Russian military operations are planned and controlled worldwide," the U.K. government said at the time. "Mizintsev is known for using reprehensible tactics, including shelling civilian centres in both Aleppo in 2015-16 and now in Mariupol—where atrocities are being perpetuated against Ukrainian people."
He was the guy who as going to save the war for them when he came on board. Guess even he can’t help.
You have to read the entire thread. Apparently, he gets put on more ignores than anyone else on GC, or at least that’s the rumor.
Liar. Unlike some posters who are celebrating the deaths of Russians, because they are Russians, I’ve repeatedly stated stated that the war was unnecessary, but that it is the war the US wanted, and Ukrainians are essentially dying for Joe Biden. Fortunately, a grown up has entered the room … MoA - Ukraine Peace Talks - A Grown Up Is Taking Charge
