I'm not disagreeing with the idea of "war crimes are for losers" concept. My concern is how the world jumps through various mental gymnastics to clarify when they are willing to respond to a country historically known for its aggression. I'm not saying you are saying this, but how this looks to those populations around the world who were also affected by Russian aggression is that their lives don't matter. This translates not only to the world's utter disregard for their plight while being bombed and lives destroyed, but how they are received as refugees by other countries. Russia saw the world's reaction and assumed this indifference would continue. Maybe we should frame it in that context. The real tragedy is the invasion, not the lives lost. Using the rationale above, what I'm gathering is Russia's real mistake was of communicating their rationale. They should have framed this not as an invasion, but rather an invitation at the behest of Ukraine (a la Syria). I'm sure they could have propped up some puppet in Ukraine in the Donbas region (as rightful leaders) to put the world at ease. Edit: I forgot, I think that's what he did say: Russian President Vladimir Putin last week recognized the independence of the self-proclaimed People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, saying he sent Russian troops into Ukraine to keep the peace at the request of rebels in the region.
Do you think that this is the lesson China is learning. We have not sent even a fraction of a percent of our stockpiles to the Ukraine. What China should and I think is learning is that American military power is real and the Russian is illusory. Russia supplied a lot of heavy military equipment to China.
What I don't like is I saw where a request from Taiwan for equipment was put on hold because our supplies were tied up with Ukraine. I would hope that's just to take fresh inventory and not that we're *actually* out of stuff.
Looks like some quiet diplomacy is making progress on Brittany Greiner, although we probably will have to trade. When she is back home safely, that seems take a good source of humor about the trade terms given that she is an athlete
Retired Marine colonel is teaching Ukrainians how to fight Retired Marine colonel is teaching Ukrainians how to fight Andy Milburn fought ISIS. Now he leads a team of special operations veterans that trains and equips Ukrainians in the battle against Russia.
I say the Russians are on course for Afghanistan Pt 2. It’s a quagmire that will swallow up Russians. Intel and field reports are showing the conscripts in 2022 are no different than the conscripts of 1980.
Putin is past due for serious cancer surgery. Hopefully the stars are aligning Putin To Undergo Cancer Treatment, Hand Over Power, Claims US Media Report
China has always made clear their objectives on the world stage. They also realize their military is no slouch ranked at #3 when combined with Russia ranked at #2. We on the other hand just gave President Biden carte blanche in a lend/lease military equipment of our arsenal not to mention the financial aid we are pouting in the Ukraine. You might find this information of interest. The comparison is the US ranked #1 against Russia #2 and China #3. Of course that is not to say other nations wouldn't join in the fray on both sides of the equation. What will be most challenging is for the US to mobilize forces an ocean away. Comparison of United States and China Military Strengths (2022) Comparison of United States and Russia Military Strengths (2022)
I realize you are not suggesting this is true, but if it is I would think it is not a good idea to announce in advance you are going to have a coup.
Numbers are meaningless when the quality and training isn't there. We spend 3 times what China does per year and close to ten times what Russia does. If we send the 35 billion that Biden is proposing. We will have sent 5 per cent of one year's budget. Or 50 percent of russias annual budget
I would agree but the Russians continue to make advances and hold ground. Afghanistan was very different concerning landscape and natural barriers. Ukraine offers minimal resistance in this regard.
I don’t think they’re announcing it. But I would put it a different way. If it’s already leaked out, whether you intended it or not, it’s not going to succeed. Some of the comments stated that they believe the rumor because they were obvious defensive preparation to prevent that from occurring. I just thought it was worth noting but of course I qualified that I have no way of even making an educated guess as to how valid it is
I think this is a possible outcome but it certainly isn't assured. Remember Afghanistan was the end of the Soviet Union. Let's hope there is a similar outcome to this. Rebuilding Ukraine and Russia would be money well spent. Hopefully funded by money liberated from the kleptocrats.
