Ive read that the primary purpose for the f-16's would be as launch vehicles to increase range of missiles or guided bombs and would largely stay out of reach of Russian air defenses. is that how you would see them deployed? I would think that the first thing would be to fortify airfields with missile defense systems so you had a safe place to store, maintain, fuel, arm them
interesting perspective, tales of officers having to lead russian attacks as morale saps and documents recovered form dead russians indicate a paranoia of being trapped. that sort of fear can lead to mass collapses on the ground. Ukrainian soldier claims Russians near Bakhmut being forced to attack by officers (msn.com) "We see the appearance of officers on the front line, officers are leading the fight," Syrotyuk, who is on the southern outskirts of Bakhmut, told Radio NV. "What does this mean? We have recently seen a situation where a captainof Russian troops personally led the attack. This shows that the soldiers do not want to go on the attack, that they do not believe in the success of the cause, they (have to be) led by an officer. "The Ukrainian soldier noted that when documents and phones of the dead Russian officers get to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, it further complicates the situation for the enemy, as these yield valuable intelligence about the Russians’ plans. Syrotyuk said there was no sign at the moment of the Russians retreating from the fighting. "But the enemy does not have a high morale either. If a little more new equipment arrives from our side, I think the enemy will be very (upset). They are very afraid of a Ukrainian counter-offensive. It hasn't happened yet, but they have frightened themselves so much that they already see any of our movements forward as a major Ukrainian offensive. They measure everything with 'pockets' (encirclements – ed). For some reason, they are now all living in a panic that they will end up in a pocket."
Z said this am that Bakhmut was lost. situations are fluid, like recruiting. i tend to prefer the blogs or stories with reports from people that are close to the action as both sides have an agenda.
If you're talking about Z's comments at the G7, he did not say Bakhmut was lost. Here are his words: At a press conference on the final day of the summit, Mr Zelensky refused to provide precise details. But he said the city, where the war's longest and bloodiest battle has raged since August, was "not occupied" by Russia "as of today". There had earlier been some confusion about the status of Bakhmut, after Mr Zelensky said "today Bakhmut is only in our hearts". His office later clarified that he had not said that the city had fallen. Ukraine war: Bakhmut 'not occupied' by Russia, says defiant Zelensky So I'm going to go with Z's actual words over a blogger, sorry. If Z doesn't know what the situation is on the ground in Bakhmut, then we have larger issues. The point is he obviously danced around the topic of Russian control of Bakhmut. That doesn't give me an abundance of confidence in his truthfulness. While I support Ukraine's sovereignty, I think it is important for us to call out when the government we're protecting is evading the truth or spewing propaganda. Unfortunately, our country has a history of running with the propaganda in foreign wars and finding out too late we were being lied to the entire time. South Vietnam, for example. I think it is important for us to hold a nation we're sending billions in military aid to accountable. After all, who's to say they won't use those munitions against us later if we're just going to allow them to lie to us?
Do you know what has exchanged between our two countries’ military intelligence communities? Are you not aware that Ukraine is leaning on US military intelligence for certain aspects of this war? Has it ever occurred to you there is real value in what is put out there for mass consumption?
Soooo... Zelenskyy is relying upon US intelligence info to let him know what's happening in his own country? Interesting take. Given that the IC has given us false information in prior years regarding the goings on in foreign wars, do you not see the need to be at least skeptical of what you read?
Go back and reread my post. There’s a distinct qualifier in there about US and Ukraine intelligence sharing. And at no point have I said anything to indicate one shouldn’t be skeptical. I was responding to your Ukraine lying to the US comment as if citizens are in any kind of position to state that Ukraine is lying to US officials.
I read a good amount about military stuff, but I'm no expert. My source is basically the Wiki which states this: "In 2007, the U.S. Army terminated the ATACMS program due to cost, ending the ability to replenish stocks." Also, it's basically a SRBM just launched from a MLRS platform. It's not even a long range missile let alone our "most advanced" long range missile. Storm shadow missiles are cruise missiles I believe, not in the same class as ATACMS. They're more similar to Tomahawks.
They didn't have the ability to launch Storm Shadows either until they did, I'm sure we can modify their jets to launch Tomahawks as well.
So your position is that Zelenskyy was lying about Russian control of Bakhmut to the press, but behind closed doors he is telling US intelligence that Bakhmut has fallen? At the very least, that would be propaganda. If you're indicating propaganda is sometimes necessary to win a war, well then, you shouldn't have an issue with someone calling it propaganda. I mean, it's all good, right??
There’s propaganda in every war - it serves it purpose whether it’s intentional strategic misinformation, timing of release, morale reasons, etc. No one has argued otherwise. For instance, the Ghost of Kyiv served its purpose. You started this by claiming we need to call it out because you somehow believe the US government is being hoodwinked or having the wool pulled over its eyes to the US’s detriment. My point has simply been that’s preposterous with how tightly the two countries’ military intelligence have been working together and the US’s independent capabilities in the area. There’s a massive difference between what’s put out there for public consumption and what is happening behind closed doors. And I believe communications are happening at a much lower more functional nature between the countries than Zelenskyy having to personally update other countries.
I thought it was Putin who was in trouble ? All G7 leaders arrayed against him are underwater ranging from Meloni 49% to Macron 25%.
That might be. I hope so. Tomahawks would give Russia yet another problem it can’t solve except through language.
If that’s true, then there’s essentially no reason we shouldn’t expend the entire inventory in Ukraine. Any PGM made in 2007 is obsolete now. If they aren’t all that in combat, then no great loss. But if they are, then we should restart the manufacturing with 2023 technology.
If there is anyone in a leadership role in Russia or China who still believes that there is a path of negotiation with the United States, Kupchan’s delusional diatribes unleashed in this video should awake them to the futility of such an effort. There is no room for genuine negotiation with Moscow. The Washington establishment will not be satisfied until Putin is dead and Russia is carved up like a Thanksgiving Turkey — the bird not the country. Western Delusions About Russia and Ukraine Are Genuine - A Son of the New American Revolution
