War in Ukraine

Pure ignorance. Investing in Ukraine's defense is smart money. We will save trillions on future defense spending if Russia is defeated. We did it before, and we can do it again. Do you not like economic prosperity? Do you not like zero-deficit government spending? Do you not like a high standard of living? Because that's what we had in the 1990's, after Russia's economy collapsed following their defeat in Afghanistan. Those things didn't happen because Bill Clinton was a brilliant president; they happened because Reagan kept sending Stinger missiles to Afghanistan in the 1980's. Even with the additional money that we will wind up spending to help rebuild Ukraine after Russia is defeated, we will still come out ahead.

And if we are smarter about how we handle Russia after they are defeated (one of Clinton's many mistakes), then it will be many decades before they will be able to pose any kind of threat to their neighbors.

 

If Trump had not emboldened Putin, we would not have this problem. Thank you Trump for mortgaging our future!!

 

The Brits think that it is not the F-16 that will swing the war in favor of Ukraine, but the weapons that the F-16 carries.

The Ukrainian SU-27 firing a U.S. HARM missile will not be as accurate as an F-16 firing the same missile, because the SU-27 has to use the missile's least accurate guidance mode. An F-16 firing the missile can use its most accurate guidance mode.

It’s not the F-16 fighter which will win the Ukraine war, but the missiles it carries

 

Regardless of who caused the current situation (which we can't undo at this point), we need to figure out the best way to handle the situation and prevent Russia from making any future invasions. The best way to do this is to enable Ukraine to drive the Russians back to Russia.

 

correct, they are advanced launching systems that may also help with russian helicopters if they can take out the sam batteries in the area

 

seems like a Wagner without a home. where to now?

Lukashenko boots Wagner out of Belarus (msn.com)

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has reportedly kicked the Wagner PMC out of Belarus, after refusing to finance the Russian mercenaries.

Wagner forces left Russia for Belarus as part of a settlement deal brokered by Lukashenko following the armed mutiny on June 24 that saw Wagner’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin turn on his boss, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But reports have now emerged suggesting Lukashenko has refused to finance their stay in the country and the mercenaries are being 'bussed' back to Russia for a “vacation.” According to the VChK-OGPU Telegram channel, operations to remove all Wagner Group men began earlier in the month, with a second phase to remove the rest going into effect this weekend.

Wagner’s services don’t come cheap. Putin recently admitted that the Kremlin has spent around $1bn on the private military company last year, using state budget funds. Previously the Kremlin denied all knowledge of Wagner.

 

But Trump was a Kremlin puppet and we must never lose sight of that. I'm more concerned with what Trump did than I am about what's going on today. That's more important.

 

This is all part of a series of Putin 3 dimensional chess moves that are far too complex for us to comprehend.

 

The war started during Biden's administration. Can you agree with that?

 

Depends on who you ask. Several deluded posters believe the War started the day Russia agreed to Ukraine’s sovereignty. One poster brazenly claims that Ukraine is not and has never been a sovereign country. It’s fascinating to read to arduous efforts to stretch and bend time and events to mold them into a “reality” that suits a purpose.

 

They are mercenaries, right? Work all over the globe. Maybe Ukraine can hire them now…

 

He’s just being snarky with the Trump BS. If you’re here to have a serious discussion about the direction of the war, then that is not it.

 

Most on this thread are fighting and winning a pretend war. What’s actually happening on the ground is immaterial.

 

More evidence that Putin is nearly broke. He can't trust Wagner in Ukraine because they might march on Moscow. So he parks Wagner in Belarus in the hopes that Belarus will pay their salaries. Belarus can't afford them either. Putin is going to have to send them to Syria or Africa to get them away from Russia, but he will still have to pay them with money he doesn't have.

 

Looks like it’ll be another nine months before we see F-16s falling flaming from the skies …

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/11/f-16-fighters-ukraine-training-delays/

 

Ukrainian ranks broken and fleeing as Russia relentlessly pushes West. But Russia is running out of rubles to buy the shovels which are their only weapons.

 

Sorry, I got a little carried away last night, but I think I did a pretty accurate job of emulating many posters here. Back to business.

I'd say the war started during the Obama administration. Paused for the most part under Trump, although he did begin weapons shipments to Kyiv. Blew up under Biden. Blowing up more than ever right now, under Biden.

 

While Russia seizes territory the Zelensky regime seizes churches …

 

Until you watch the video of the soldiers losing legs by stepping on mines, in real graphic close-up drone shots.

 

Yep, and he's acting like a dictator preventing opponents from running for office among a myriad of other dictator type moves... on his own citizens.