This man was convicted and served time for sex crimes with a minor- time was when the right ran around screaming groomer! groomer at those that had a different political view. But now when they find a real one that agrees with them we should listen to him.? interesting factoid: this child molester was born in G’ville Scott Ritter - Wikipedia
I agree Ritter is a horrible person to use to gain an edge in a political debate. That said, it doesn't disqualify everything he said as lies, but I do think we can find a better source in the future. If we're judging based on character, Ukraine has been known since the 1990's as the most corrupt country in Europe. Biden himself has given speeches in Ukrainian parliament begging them to end their corrupt ways. So, it's not as if we can take everything coming out of Ukraine at face value either.
It's not a deflection at all. We aren't sending billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to Russia. We are to Ukraine, so it's a very relevant conversation to be had.
I believe we have already determined that we are not "sending billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to Russia" as poster once again suggests, but sending humanitarian aid (no issue there) and arms/ammo. According to multiple reports the arm/ammo continue to erase large amounts of Russian cannon fodder, has neutralized Russian battlefield air-superiority, created a significant underwater Black Sea fleet for the Russians, and stalled for two years Putin's murderous invasion. Money well spent.
Since you seem to be concerned about corruption in Ukraine there is speculation the most corrupt Ukrainian politician in recent history Viktor Yanukovych who was deposed as the President of Ukraine in 2014 and is currently in exile in Russia would have been installed as president again if Putin's invasion of February 2022 had gone as planned. Former Pro-Russian President Of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Son Hit With EU Sanctions Yanukovych was president of Ukraine for four years until his ouster in February 2014 in a popular uprising against his government's turn away from the West and toward Moscow. Russia responded to the defeat of its ally by seizing Ukrainian territory on the Crimean Peninsula and in the eastern Donbas region. Moscow launched its current full-scale invasion in February. The EU argues that Yanukovych, 72, still plays a "role in undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and the state's stability and security." I also recall that Trumpers were attacking Biden because as Vice President he was pressuring Ukraine to oust its corrupt Prosecutor General, Viktor Shokin, a goal also shared by the IMF and EU as a condition of providing aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine's pilots are very much impressed with the F-16's they are training on. The plane exceeds their expectations. They have been training in the U.S. since October, so they should be almost ready to be unleashed on the unsuspecting Russian barbarians. Just kidding--the Russian barbarians are not only suspecting that the F-16's are coming, they are terrified. The pilots had some difficulty in training at first, because they were used to the mediocrity of the Russian aircraft that Ukraine used to fly. US F-16s are exceeding the expectations of Ukraine's pilots, report says
The arms race in the U.S. is beginning to heat up. Republican mental defectives in Congress insist that you pay for each and every one of these weapons programs, simply because they are unwilling to spend U.S. dollars to send military assistance towards defeating our enemies in places like Ukraine. If any defense contractor has an idea for a new weapons system, we will have to buy it. Get used to it. Republicans in Congress have a new nickname for their prototypical supporter: Ben Dover. This drone works with the B-21 Raider. You give twice the buck for your bang. It may actually be a good weapons system. But it would likely not be necessary to purchase in great numbers without the treason going on in Congress. This Little-Known Drone Could Deliver Another $100 Billion to Northrop Grumman
I saw that article a few days ago, and I hope that’s the truth. Of course, that is what Ukrainian pilots would say in any case. We will see how effective the F16 is against a near-peer adversary only when they start flying combat missions. I’m optimistic, because every other weapon system, starting with the Javelin, has exceeded expectations in combat. But it’s very important to remember that no new weapons system is going to be any kind of panacea. Barring Western direct intervention, Ukraine can only win through a long struggle of eroding Russian will. I only bring this up again to manage everyone’s expectations.
Russia lost one of their mobile SAM trucks to a minefield. first anti-aircraft battery lost to a minefield Rare Russian anti-aircraft launcher damaged by mine in a first-ever incident (msn.com) Conversely, Defense Express points out that this marks the first globally documented instance where any army has lost an anti-aircraft missile launcher due to a mine explosion. Notably, the S-350 Vityaz is a Russian-made weapon, produced only in small quantities. The Vityaz was introduced to the Russian Federation army in 2020 and by 2022, the Russians only possessed six such launchers. The fate of one among these, now damaged by a mine, remains undetermined. It depends on whether the weapon can be safely retrieved from the hazardous area and whether successful repairs are possible. It's worth remembering that for the Russians, the S-350 is seen as valuable equipment. The system is, in essence, the counterpart to the aging S-300 batteries. The Vityaz is expected to possess significantly greater firepower than its predecessor. Each S-350 launcher carries up to 12 missiles. .................... Despite the S-350 system's substantial striking power and its mobility (which enables it to switch from marching to combat position in less than 5 minutes), the Russian Vityaz is pricy to manufacture. This is why the army currently only has a few units of this weapon. It is estimated that a single system costs approximately $135 million.
If the US (60 billion) and Europe (50 billion) would release the funds Ukraine may be in a position to try another summer offensive in 24. Like you, I am optimistic that the F16's will be effective in Ukrainian hands. They seem to be very creative with maximizing the productivity of NATO supplied armaments. Regarding Russia, I don't think it should be that shocking that they were able to stabilize the front and have shown they are able to "learn" some lessons. Apparantly they still don't mind accepting tremendous casulties with their manuevers around Andivka and other areas but their gains are very slow. Neverthless they have stockpiled artillery, trenches and physical barriers, and are becoming more expert in their drone warfare techniques. Hopefully Ukraine turns the front red with fruitless Russian counterattacks into highly defended areas. Lets see just what the Russian tolerance is for pain.
Probably disappointingly low for most on this thread … Mediazona confirms identities of over 43,400 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine
Stormshadows hit a major radar installation in a bunker in Crimea which should help blind the Russian operations in the black sea. Keep eliminating their radar and control facilities along with sams to make life better when the f-16's do arrive. Reading reports elsewhere of more SAMS being moved to Moscow. UK Intel confirms: Ukraine struck Russian radar in occupied Crimea - Euromaidan Press Britain’s military intelligence has confirmed Ukraine’s missile strike on the Belbek airbase radar in Russian-occupied Crimea on 31 January. Up until now, details of damaged targets originated solely from anonymous Ukrainian Telegram channels, while Russia claimed all incoming missiles had been intercepted. “On 31 January 2024, Ukraine conducted a strike on Russia’s Belbek airbase in Crimea, resulting in the destruction of a radar control coordination facility bunker. This will almost certainly degrade Russia’s ability to coordinate air activity in the Black Sea region,” the UK defense ministry report states. Analysts assess the loss will further tax Russia’s fleet of A-50 Mainstay command and control aircraft, in addition to reducing the pool of trained air controllers. Russian military doctrine leans heavily on ground-based air coordination centers to coordinate its airborne assets – a dependence that becomes exaggerated amidst intense air warfare.
Haven't watched it, but for anyone who might dare to expose their minds--Tucker's interview with Putin: (...but whatever you do.....DO NOT VIEW IT! It will literally melt your brain!!! LOL!).
I’m very curious how they will use the f16s. Mostly a defensive role? Taking out cruise missiles and on occasion air to air with Russian jets.
