|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 0:20:32 GMT -5
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 22, 2022 0:20:32 GMT -5
Give the Sam system and the nlaw to the freedom fighters so they can pummel some soviet ass. Check this one out when you have the time ... the clip conveys a lot more than just an exceptional weapons system ... |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 2:06:26 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 2:06:26 GMT -5
Dis,
I have no doubt the American military can mince meat the Russians military.
I have no doubt that from brass on down, the American military is ready willing and able.
I have enormous doubt of the current regime political will to use it. Or ability and fortitude to formulated a smidgen of a proactive foreign policy. One that has a strategy of containment and deterrence that will counter what is clearly a man with Hitler level of ruthlessness and ambition.
As for Canada, I heard on the news that we don't have any more lethal arms to send to Ukraine and we have to buy some for them but we can't find any. As a military person who put your life on the line for Canada, just let that run through your mind. How is that even possible? All we had on hand was...a partial plane load?
Just a few days ago I posted a CBC article and was highly suspicious about it's timing and content. It's warned about Canadian arm shipment possibly falling into undesirable hands....when in fact it was fully intended political propaganda to cover up that we have nothing more to send
I don't know about you but frankly, while our man and woman are top notch, our military preparedness is a sick joke.
BTW...another tidbit about Liberal double speak...from the CBC.
A previous version of this story noted that Canada was providing around 4,000 troops to NATO's response force in Europe. It has been clarified to indicate that Canada has committed 3,400 troops to the recently activated NATO response force, while approximately 500 troops are already present in Latvia as part of a NATO battlegroup.
Mar 19, 2022 4:55 PM ET
I have a pretty good grasp of the English language and this means we are not providing 4,000 troops, but rather committed 3,400 more. Get that? Committed doesn't mean we have them there or will be there any time soon, just "pledged" them. Tell me I'm wrong because this is exactly the fear I had posted earlier about "you first"....and potentially NATO falling apart at the seams.
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 3:16:50 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 3:16:50 GMT -5
Give the Sam system and the nlaw to the freedom fighters so they can pummel some soviet ass. Check this one out when you have the time ... the clip conveys a lot more than just an exceptional weapons system ... If I was 80 years younger, I'd marry her...  Too many in the military (and civilian) still have this macho man mentality and think woman are not capable. Damn right they are. They are capable of everything man are capable, good and bad....except lifting. Big deal. I've written about this before... About 30 years ago I was working as a plant manager and hired a fellow right out of the Israeli military. His job was to see things that I wanted to be done, get done. Nothing more complicated then...we need X component to be done on time so Y product can begin. Well, he scared the hell out of me. He hadn't come out of his military mode. To me it was instructions, to him it was mission commands. If I was mad at my boss and accidentally said that he's a problem that I wish I could get rid of...I suspect I wouldn't have a boss the next day. Anywho..we talked a lot about the Israeli military and also about woman in it. He left no doubt in my mind that woman were very capable, but also capable of doing everything man can do. Good or bad. EDIT...one more little story about my very own military! I hired a few of the first Sri Lankans that came to Canada in a rusted cargo boat. A big deal at that time. A reporter and a cameraman walked into the plant and demanded to interview them but they didn't want to be interviewed. The first one they met was my guy who stopped them in their tracks and when I came to talk to them, he went quietly behind them. I guess for him it was a "natural" reaction of encircling the enemy....and he made the cameraman very nervous. They left..and fterwards I thought that maybe I should keep an eye on sharp objects...lol |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 5:44:29 GMT -5
Post by Polarice on Mar 22, 2022 5:44:29 GMT -5
I wouldn't dismiss the Russian Military just yet....as one of my relatives (who is currently an officer in our Military) said that most of them believe that Russia is just messing around, using old surplus, that is mostly expired. watching the worlds reaction, pondering their next moves. Most of the NATO countries already gave whatever they had to the Ukraine and have nothing left to give. Like he said, he wishes the US or Britain would just step up and end it or just let Russia take them. This messing around is just killing more people.
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 6:47:36 GMT -5
Post by Willie Dog on Mar 22, 2022 6:47:36 GMT -5
Give the Sam system and the nlaw to the freedom fighters so they can pummel some soviet ass. Check this one out when you have the time ... the clip conveys a lot more than just an exceptional weapons system ... II saw that, she is a hero... one of many fighting Putin |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 7:30:47 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 7:30:47 GMT -5
This is a very long read but worth it.
Here is the conclusion that I have also come too.
The scared and incompetent Biden administration is indeed feeding Ukraine weapons but ignoring the enormous destruction of Ukraine. Putin simply does not care and if anything, if he can't own it, he's completely destroying his competition in wheat and energy. There is literally not going to be anything to live in for tens of millions...while Biden thinks he's permanently destroying the Russian war machine, which is paid for by the West and can be replaced in a year of two by Russia.
The other blind and gross miscalculation is that sanctions are working. Absolute bullcrap. It's stories that the garbage media is feeding the easily swayed masses. There is no interest by the headline reading masses to understand that those sanctions are only western based, non binding to the rest of the world and the worst thing, actually feeding the Putin regime multiple billions of Euro/Dollars a day. In FACT, there is MORE going into the Russian cofers then before the invasion.
Putin is winning. Will come out on top of a demolished Ukraine and we are going to live with him being able to shake our economic at whim. Dealing with him later will be worse then dealing with him now.
It is 1938....
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 7:50:50 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 7:50:50 GMT -5
Propaganda...
I was watching a very recent documentary, maybe days old, about a woman protesting in Russia. I don't remember which program. She was a single mom and a blogger.
She was walking around talking about protesting and it showed a perfectly functioning Russian society, which the program completely ignored. All the while selling the western propaganda that there is war protests in Russia. They even had a shot of her pointing to bananas rising by 40%. Wow, bananas rising in price. In Russia. In winter. Who knew? The program completely ignored that the food store was full of.....food. No line ups. No empty shelves. Lots of food.
We need to be a lot more critical of our own western medias propaganda. All too often we think that only the other side that is feeding us propaganda and completely ignore our own. It's feeding a self-delusion, un-questioning, un-critical thinking that we should NOT have.
Remember the meaning of the word propaganda...information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
The word itself is neither exclusive nor selective nor inherintantly biased to any side.
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 11:13:27 GMT -5
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 22, 2022 11:13:27 GMT -5
I wouldn't dismiss the Russian Military just yet....as one of my relatives (who is currently an officer in our Military) said that most of them believe that Russia is just messing around, using old surplus, that is mostly expired. watching the worlds reaction, pondering their next moves. Most of the NATO countries already gave whatever they had to the Ukraine and have nothing left to give. Like he said, he wishes the US or Britain would just step up and end it or just let Russia take them. This messing around is just killing more people. A Canadian soldier, on the ground in Ukraine, weighs in with his experiences ... Attacks by Russian troops have not been sophisticated, he said.
“The whole war effort is amateur. [The Russians] are not awesome. They don’t have the capabilities of NATO forces. Russia is a poor country and it reflects in their weapons. They destroy everything, they just keep shooting at houses again and again,” he said. |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 11:25:59 GMT -5
Post by Polarice on Mar 22, 2022 11:25:59 GMT -5
I wouldn't dismiss the Russian Military just yet....as one of my relatives (who is currently an officer in our Military) said that most of them believe that Russia is just messing around, using old surplus, that is mostly expired. watching the worlds reaction, pondering their next moves. Most of the NATO countries already gave whatever they had to the Ukraine and have nothing left to give. Like he said, he wishes the US or Britain would just step up and end it or just let Russia take them. This messing around is just killing more people. A Canadian soldier, on the ground in Ukraine, weighs in with his experiences ... Attacks by Russian troops have not been sophisticated, he said.
“The whole war effort is amateur. [The Russians] are not awesome. They don’t have the capabilities of NATO forces. Russia is a poor country and it reflects in their weapons. They destroy everything, they just keep shooting at houses again and again,” he said.That is almost exactly what he described, however, he thinks they are just using up old weapons and ammo. He doesn't buy that the Russian army is broke and that is all they have. |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 12:18:51 GMT -5
Post by PTH on Mar 22, 2022 12:18:51 GMT -5
A Canadian soldier, on the ground in Ukraine, weighs in with his experiences ... Attacks by Russian troops have not been sophisticated, he said.
“The whole war effort is amateur. [The Russians] are not awesome. They don’t have the capabilities of NATO forces. Russia is a poor country and it reflects in their weapons. They destroy everything, they just keep shooting at houses again and again,” he said.That is almost exactly what he described, however, he thinks they are just using up old weapons and ammo. He doesn't buy that the Russian army is broke and that is all they have. Dictatorships are notoriously inefficient, and unsexy tasks like truck maintenance get downgraded to such an extent that the fleet is unable to support real life operations. The invasion of Ukraine is very similar to that of Finland in 1939: a large army that thought it would impose its will. Only Ukraine is far larger, more modern, and has more support from the rest of the world than what Finland got in 39-40. |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 12:25:54 GMT -5
Post by jkr on Mar 22, 2022 12:25:54 GMT -5
Propaganda... I was watching a very recent documentary, maybe days old, about a woman protesting in Russia. I don't remember which program. She was a single mom and a blogger. She was walking around talking about protesting and it showed a perfectly functioning Russian society, which the program completely ignored. All the while selling the western propaganda that there is war protests in Russia. They even had a shot of her pointing to bananas rising by 40%. Wow, bananas rising in price. In Russia. In winter. Who knew? The program completely ignored that the food store was full of.....food. No line ups. No empty shelves. Lots of food. We need to be a lot more critical of our own western medias propaganda. All too often we think that only the other side that is feeding us propaganda and completely ignore our own. It's feeding a self-delusion, un-questioning, un-critical thinking that we should NOT have. Remember the meaning of the word propaganda... information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. The word itself is neither exclusive nor selective nor inherintantly biased to any side. I saw that too. It was W5. Even the simplest of protests, like wearing a ribbon on your backpack, was enough to get you stopped by police. People are intimidated into silence. |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 14:46:14 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 14:46:14 GMT -5
I wouldn't dismiss the Russian Military just yet....as one of my relatives (who is currently an officer in our Military) said that most of them believe that Russia is just messing around, using old surplus, that is mostly expired. watching the worlds reaction, pondering their next moves. Most of the NATO countries already gave whatever they had to the Ukraine and have nothing left to give. Like he said, he wishes the US or Britain would just step up and end it or just let Russia take them. This messing around is just killing more people. A Canadian soldier, on the ground in Ukraine, weighs in with his experiences ... Attacks by Russian troops have not been sophisticated, he said.
“The whole war effort is amateur. [The Russians] are not awesome. They don’t have the capabilities of NATO forces. Russia is a poor country and it reflects in their weapons. They destroy everything, they just keep shooting at houses again and again,” he said.WALI IS ALIVE....great news. Please keep giving the 50 cent gifts to the f*****s. ----- I think it was vietnam where snipers were affectionally called "13 cent boys", the cost of a sniper round. Sadly, inflation has risen that to 50 cents. Snipers are the ground troops best friend and conversly the other sides worse enemy. They deliver death and some times the enemy is dead before the sound of the shot reaches him. ----- Guys....we need to seperate tactics from munitions. A 50 year old artillery shell is still going to obliterate a house. Tactics is another matter. Shelling the same house 21 times wont turn rubble into more rubble. It speaks of uncoordinated attack where it's just a bunch of guys with too much equipment and no tactical leadership. Great news...but doesn't help the Ukrainians who are getting demolished. |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 15:18:29 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 15:18:29 GMT -5
Propaganda... I was watching a very recent documentary, maybe days old, about a woman protesting in Russia. I don't remember which program. She was a single mom and a blogger. She was walking around talking about protesting and it showed a perfectly functioning Russian society, which the program completely ignored. All the while selling the western propaganda that there is war protests in Russia. They even had a shot of her pointing to bananas rising by 40%. Wow, bananas rising in price. In Russia. In winter. Who knew? The program completely ignored that the food store was full of.....food. No line ups. No empty shelves. Lots of food. We need to be a lot more critical of our own western medias propaganda. All too often we think that only the other side that is feeding us propaganda and completely ignore our own. It's feeding a self-delusion, un-questioning, un-critical thinking that we should NOT have. Remember the meaning of the word propaganda... information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. The word itself is neither exclusive nor selective nor inherintantly biased to any side. I saw that too. It was W5. Even the simplest of protests, like wearing a ribbon on your backpack, was enough to get you stopped by police. People are intimidated into silence. She was saying that there were less protests every day. Sorry, i have a huge issue with that. Cowards. I was right in the middle of one in 73. Up close and personal with tank barrels and soldier shooting at us. 40 dead. But never backed down. I got pretty stiches stopping a gun butt or a baton with my head (concussion) and a bullet fragment in my leg. Arrested multiple times. They couldn't kill all of us and they couldn't stop hundreds of thousands on the streets. I was no hero looking for trouble. My parents "wise" decision to go back to Greece in '73 put me right smack in the middle of it. I actually enrolled into Politechnio and fresh from Canada, oblivious of their current politics. I wanted to be a civil engineer, not a revolutionary Canuck. For a boy who grew up in the slums of Montreal and uber proud of my Spartan heritage, I'd be damned if i bent a knee to the man. See the link and google for images "greece 1973 student uprising" We WON Do you see that from Russian student? Populace? So i don't care what happens to them. Nor buy their bullcrap bravery about "protest". A few, sure but any claims of country wide protests are just western propaganda that they are on "our side". en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Polytechnic_uprising |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 15:31:20 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 15:31:20 GMT -5
That is almost exactly what he described, however, he thinks they are just using up old weapons and ammo. He doesn't buy that the Russian army is broke and that is all they have. If "broke" means money, how the hell can the Russian army be broke when thet are getting over a billion dollars a day just from EU? Never mind that their overall exports are higher now then ever before. Oh wait....Bidens and Western "sanctions". And all those shoes..err yachts they confiscated. Western masses are angry and scared....so we get daily doses of propaganda lollipoops.... |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 16:57:09 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 16:57:09 GMT -5
Here is an article about detonating a nuke. I like Rubio a lot. He's America's Harper which given the worthlessness and wackiness of current politicians, makes him the best choice...in my eyes. They are talking about Puta detonating a battlefield nuke. Doubt it. Much higher probability Puta detonated an underground nuke which will cause many filled Depends in western leaders. To be wide eyed and absolutely clear, I do not want the extra nuke glow and I really, really like to die from natural causes in half a century...but....if the calculation is really a choice of it happening now or in 10 years...with years of economic turmoil in between, let's get over calling his bluff. Because bullies bluff. A lot. www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senators-mull-unthinkable-putin-detonating-nuclear-bomb-rcna21048 |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 17:18:02 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 17:18:02 GMT -5
Can't disagree with even one line of this article. I really thought that the West was going to squeeze Russia where it hurt the most...oil and gas. Nope. Not even close. Business as usual by Germany and many "allies". Although politicians certainly know how to get face time on cameras and selling us plenty of propaganda lollipoops lollipops. Why is ANYONE taking our latest "sanctions" against Russian oligarchs and officials seriously? It looks pretty on TV but as effective as an aspirin on a decapitation. Although our recent real commitment to get F-21s and bolster our northern defenses is concerning the Russian. Yup. For sure. And of course buying arms from the Dollar Store...because we seem to have none and they are "hard to get". Arms. Hard to get. In peacetime. Ten billion allocated for years...but "hard to spent". Who believes that? And Santa? (Sorry...my frustration is clouding my mind) www.wsj.com/articles/the-west-vs-rest-of-the-world-russia-ukraine-dictators-south-america-asia-africa-11647894483?mod=djemalertNEWS |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 21:11:21 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 21:11:21 GMT -5
Good news and bad news....
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 22, 2022 21:26:24 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 22, 2022 21:26:24 GMT -5
GREAT NEWS.....Biden can stop worrying and filling his adult diapers....
Defensive weapons are not a threat to Russia so please Mr Biden, Germany, Canada and other rich NATO countries, please give Greece, Slovakia and a few other countries the Patriot systems so they can send their S-300 systems to Ukraine. In case you don't know what that is, ask Anita Anand, our lawyer Defense Minister to give a power point presentation on S-300 and the undesirable outcomes it can do to MIGs and missiles.
Also, for the record and highly desirable for progressives, clear skies means less CO2.
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 1:13:58 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 23, 2022 1:13:58 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 6:57:34 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 23, 2022 6:57:34 GMT -5
There is a documentary on Prime video of what has turned into trench warfare in Donbas region, the far eastern part of Ukraine. Because of that, there are a lot of good snipers in the Ukraine army.
The problem I have with this interview is that if he's killed, there will a lot of Russian propaganda and a bit of a downer for Ukrainian moral.
And....snipers are suppose to be deadly ghosts so I'm not thrilled he's doing these videos. He's also putting members of his unit in jeopardy of getting caught and torture to give up his position. Low key, say a discrete and covered up public hello and remain a mystery.
My father never revealed what he was doing. His rifle was left in the mountains when he went into the villages for supplies. Very few people knew what he did and even fewer knew where he was. Besides putting anyone he contacted in danger, there were people so desperately hungry to feed their children and themselves, that they could barter his wareabouts for food. Needless to say, snipers were the top of the Germans must kill list.
Wali is enjoying his notoriety. Not good.
I hope the best for him and hope he returns home safely.
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 12:47:49 GMT -5
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 23, 2022 12:47:49 GMT -5
Check this one out when you have the time ... the clip conveys a lot more than just an exceptional weapons system ... II saw that, she is a hero... one of many fighting Putin She reminds me of a college/university student and when I hear her voice, I know morale is good on the Ukrainian side ... or at least it's a heck of a lot better than Russian morale, anyway ... Cheers. |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 15:59:41 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 23, 2022 15:59:41 GMT -5
Guys....anyone who is interested in following the hardcore action in Ukraine.... twitter.com/UAWeaponsI know I laughed at twitter, and still do, but the reason I'm in it is to find sites like the one I linked. Interesting thing is that I keep seeing how Ukrainians are taking out T-72's. While it's a capable tank, it's cheap target practice for the Abrahms or Leaord2's. The Russians have maybe 10,000 of these and while no match for NATO, turkeys in a pen shoot for A-10s, it's a big problem for Ukraine just because of the shear number of them. We need to send them a hell of a lot more anti-armour rockets so they can convert the Russian armour into usable scrap metal. Note 1.....it seems to be a pastime for Ukrainian farmers to tow away Russian hardware. "Hi honey, I brought home a T-72 for those pesky flies".  Note 2.....LOTS of captured Russian weapons. It seems that the Russians are supplying the Ukrainians as much as NATO. Best of all, they are familiar with those weapons because they are in their own armories. If it was the US capturing them, they would be obliterated. If it was Canadians, they would ship them back because it seems we don't have any, because you know, "finding" weapons to buy to defend ourselves is "hard to do" for Canadian governments. BTW....there is a story of a Russian tank commander asking for $10,000 and a passport for his functioning tank. I'm good for that. I'm thinking that it would be a great conversation piece in my driveway and I DARE the cops to stop me for speeding. Parking? Anywhere I WANT! |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 17:21:50 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 23, 2022 17:21:50 GMT -5
As usual, good news and bad news about Americans opinions and it wont change much in the Biden administration.
Here is my problem with the Biden administration...
The absolute and beyond question Biden administration policy and strategy is to bleed Russia economically into submission like Afghanistan.
IT WILL NOT WORK
When Russia is receiving a billion dollars a DAY just for energy from the EU, there is no "bleeding" them out economically. Then add all the rest of their incomes from all over the world in more energy sales and other commodities. Add to this their economic relationship with China and India and the money exchanges to bypass Western sanctions.
Repeat....the current "sanctions" policy WILL NOT WORK
The media is treating us like stupid fence post telling us how the Russian people are suffering economically, which is an absolute, bold face lie. If you skip past the propaganda and look at life in Russia, even from western videos like the one on W5, other then a few inconveniences, there is no war going on for them. No different from downtown Toronto. Actually, more accurately, it's FAR less of a social upheaval issue then what Greece went through with their economic issues.
So the Biden policy boils down to the simplest terms....give Ukrainians arms and let them kill each other. That's what a "win" is for his administration. Any domestic hardship is not that serious and if it drives energy prices to the moon, his left wing "climate catastrophe" crowd is celebrating. Biden has repeatedly said that if gas prices are too high, buy electric cars. Is there anything more callous then this? Our "leader" is not far behind in that thinking.
"Let them kill each other" is NOT a policy that I can stomach. Not in the least. So that is why I'm spiting chiclets on that policy.
What I want and what I think can be done....actually, I KNOW it can be done.....
1...Stop talking about "WW3" like he has his adult diapers full. Stop encouraging more threats by showing the enemy that you are scared sh****** of them. It only encourages Putin to do whatever the hell he wants in Ukraine and to make MORE threats. How stupid is his administration to not see this?
2....create an atmosphere of doubt. Make use of what the enemy fears. Transfer some A-10's to Poland. Their reputation precedes them as tank killers and convoy demolishers. Make it clear that it's about fears of what may happen, not what you want to happen. For crying out loud, introduce a bit of doubt in the enemies mind, not this "we're scared so please don't fart at us". Or even worse, do what Trudeau is doing and send 500 troops and then "clarify" that the rest are not coming but some abstract "committed" to send.
3....stop SWIFT in ALL banking. Make trading rubles impossible. NO company can exchange rubles for dollars or Euros. Russia can receive payments in dollars or Euros but they can't send them back out through any western bank. They can't buy goods with them. Basically, they got lots of...nothing. Of course this will result in Russian threatening to shutting off their energy supplies but then, they will have NO income. Sure, it's going to hurt German and a few EU countries but Biden should not care about that. Germany knew they were getting in bed with the devil but their greed was greater then their caution. Pay for it now.
4....don't "freeze" Russian and oligarch assets. CONFISCATE them. Sell them off to buy and send weapons. These "frozen" assets are nothing more then show, to fool the stupid Western masses into believing that Russia has lost them. Nothing can be further from the truth. The US gave back billions to Iran decades after "freezing" them.
I'm sorry but a month into this and there is no ambiguity on what Biden and most of the west is doing, or more correctly, NOT doing. I'm getting fed up with what is no more the propaganda lollipops on how the "brave and united" west is helping Ukraine. What we are really doing is putting their lives and their country in a annihilations path while pretending we are the white knights that are going to help save them.
Lastly, wars are not fought reactively, with hot air, with off the cuff policies and political selfies. Wars or more correctly, not getting into wars is only done through thought out policies of containment and deterrence.
This is my opinion.....
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 18:58:38 GMT -5
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 23, 2022 18:58:38 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 19:40:55 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 23, 2022 19:40:55 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 19:49:03 GMT -5
Post by BadCompany on Mar 23, 2022 19:49:03 GMT -5
With nothing more than a gut feeling and an excitable mind, my opinion on this is that the worst thing to happen to the West was not the Russians, but the Ukrainians. Yeah, the Ukrainians… Up until the shooting started the West, the US in particular, were having themselves a nice little war. Like him or not, Biden’s cy-ops operation was a rather brilliant stroke of politicking. Rather than keeping their secrets secret… they broadcast them for the world to see. All those satellite images showing troop movements, the “secret message intercepts”, even leaking the actual date when they thought the Russians would invade. They completely and totally won the pre-war information battle. The Russians wanted to pretend this was a rescue operation, the West completely and unequivocally disproved that notion, with little room for doubt.
Good job.
Then the shooting started. And if you want to be brutally honest, I think this is where the West lost the war. And I realize the war isn’t over. Pre-war, most analysts, military or otherwise, gave the Ukrainians little chance of winning. The prevailing wisdom was the Russians would take Kyiv in 10-12 days, and the country in 30 or so. The war wouldn’t be over, nobody doubted Ukrainian courage, but most if not all thought it would dissolve into a low-to-medium grade insurgency, somewhere between Baghdad and Bosnia. Sad, but you know, what are ya gonna do? This would have been the optimal result from a “world stability” point of view. Putin claims victory, but is tied down enough that any future imperialist plans are put off until at least the next round of Western leaders, and the West can self-righteously impose some sanctions that may or may not cause anybody any harm (and certainly not to any significant number of voters). Win, win, win. For everybody save the Ukrainians, of course. But as Tucker Carlson famously said, why should any of us care about them?
Oh, but those pesky and plucky Ukrainians. Dying for their country and all that. And their cursed leader. Isn’t he supposed to be some sort of foreign Jim Carrey? The guy doesn’t even speak Ukrainian! What the heck is he doing, guaranteeing himself a million future statues and a whole lot of name-sake schools? See, the Ukrainians didn’t fold, they didn’t lose Kyiv in 10-12 days, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to lose the country any time soon. Which is, from a realpolitik point of view… unfortunate. It forces the West to confront not only it’s inaction, but it’s hypocrisy. And it’s softness. It also splits them (us). In a war of escalating grocery store prices some of the, let’s say “more fortunate” members of this so called alliance are going to be staring at populist opposition politicians screaming about high gas prices and soaring interest rates. And as our democracies get bored of the latest reality TV war show it will be all too easy for today’s politicians, ruling and opposition, to play politics instead of geo-politics. But other countries in this alliance don’t have the luxury of safe borders, or institutionalized amnesia. Any wonder why Poland has been one of the loudest backers of Ukraine? Constantly coming up with new and creative ways to arm and defend its battered neighbor? They know what it’s like to live under the jackboot of Russian authoritarianism. It’s not ancient history to them. It’s not even history, really. Romania, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Georgia, these countries know hardship in a way non-vaccinated truckers can only dream of. They can tolerate small mortgages for a tank of gas, because they know what the alternative is. As the fat-cats of the West drift off into November primaries and parliamentary drama the resentment from those on the real front lines will only grow. As will the anger.
And finally, this war backs Putin into a corner from which he can only come out shooting (either at the West, or his own inner circle). There is no off-ramp for him. A two week war, he comes out of this a hero. A month-long war is an annoyance to Russia, but not worth a military coup. A national embarrassment that ultimately cripples the army and decimates a generation? That’s not gonna be good for his legacy. Or his neck.
And all this because the Ukrainians had the audacity to fight back. And sadly, so, so, sadly, this is going to be for nothing. Sure, the unbelievable may happen, and they may actually win, but then what?? They’re so brave, blowing up bridges to stop Russian tanks… but who is going to rebuild those bridges?? And at what cost? How much money is it going to take to rebuild this once and future beacon of courage and heart? Hundreds of billions, for sure. Trillions more likely. Where is that going to come from? There will be no political will in ANY Western country to pony up that kind of cash. We gotta hit our 2% NATO commitments as it is, and haven’t you heard? COVID completely exposed our health care system for the house of cards it is. We’d love to help you kid, but…
I love what Ukraine is doing to the Russians. It’s an epic story that they will sing songs about from now until the end of time. I did not want them to fall in 10-12 days. But this is not going to end well for them regardless of the ultimate outcome of the war. And sadly, that’s because of us. We’re not going to care. I think that’s why Zelensky so desperately wants a no-fly zone imposed by NATO. Not because it will help turn the tides in any way (it’s the Russian artillery that is doing all the damage), but because it gets NATO skin into the game. Canadian boys died there, let’s not let that be in vain. If all it costs us is some outdated equipment, then oh well. Too bad, so sad, and did you hear the Habs traded Lehkonen? Not only will our conscience be clean, but we won’t actually have to, you know, do anything.
I do not know how this is going to turn out. I suspect not well. And it could have been all avoided if the Ukrainians weren’t so darn brave… and we weren’t so darn soft.
(Or, you know, if before the war started we had of parked a couple of aircraft carriers in the Black Sea. And maybe a few dozen brigades in and around Kyiv. That might have stopped Putin)
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 20:10:55 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 23, 2022 20:10:55 GMT -5
I do not know how this is going to turn out. I suspect not well. And it could have been all avoided if the Ukrainians weren’t so darn brave… and we weren’t so darn soft. (Or, you know, if before the war started we had of parked a couple of aircraft carriers in the Black Sea. And maybe a few dozen brigades in and around Kyiv. That might have stopped Putin) THANK YOU....and WELCOME BACK Once again, one more time, we may cross foam bats intentionally or for fun, maybe chide each other, but we never see a different light, a different dusk or a different dawn. |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 20:41:17 GMT -5
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 23, 2022 20:41:17 GMT -5
He wouldn't be representing Canada unless he had orders to ... as it is now, he's a mercenary, soldier of fortune, etc, who has yet to fire a shot, and who is now being sent home ... I mean, it's just as well ... if I was a mercenary the last thing I'd want is to have my photo and mini-bio published by the media (why Wali allowed this is beyond me) ... all that info/photo(s) would go into a new Russian intel file tagged "WALI" ... Lord help you if you end up getting captured, and they have a dossier started on you ... as for the guy I was talking to last night, he was actually one of Wali's instructors on his Basic Sniper's course, and he explained to me that this was an ongoing thing with him even when he was in uniform ... I don't know the guy from Adam, but just on what I've read/discussed, I wouldn't want him in my section just for his reluctance to follow orders ... that's just me, though ... Cheers. Wait what? First question....a mercenary? He's getting paid? Do we know by whom? Good catch ... I even knew he was a volunteer, and I think I misused "mercenary" when trying to describe the Ukrainian Foreign Legion (or whatever it's called) ... all that said, here's an article on mercs/Ukraine ... Correct ... once I find the reference, I'll post it ... if I can't, I'll strike it out ... I'm thinking it might have been part of the conversation I had last night ... According to his instructor, he's being pulled right out of the war and being sent home ... we'll see either way ... Not so much, I find ... what causes a red flag to go up was that photo of him in full fighting order, only the photo makes him look more like a big-game trophy hunter than a soldier ... why he'd have his photo and mini-bio published beyond me ... . At the very least, they'll have a dossier on him ... that's easy to put together when his bio, photos, and YouTube clips are easily accessible, and he likes to be seen ... he wouldn't be the only one on their list, though ... intel units around the world compile lists and dossiers ... Another entry for the dossier ... members of the JTF2 unit in Canada, as policy, don't associate themselves with the unit for security purposes ... finding out the name of an assaulter or sniper, by an enemy, would also put their families in harms way, as well ... this is common practice for any intel community, and if you want to see a Hollywood equivalent, watch the movie "Hanoi Hilton," which is based on a true story ... the Vietcong used a magazine article when interrogating one of their American POWs ... |
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 23, 2022 21:04:33 GMT -5
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Mar 23, 2022 21:04:33 GMT -5
Good post, BC ... cheers, mate ...
|
|
|
|
Ukraine
Mar 24, 2022 6:34:46 GMT -5
Post by Cranky on Mar 24, 2022 6:34:46 GMT -5
When will our government and their propaganda lap dogs like the CBC and CTV stop shoveling lollipoops about sanctions?
I should sue Bloomberg for pladgerism because I've been saying this for weeks....
Think of how mouth drooling stupid our federal government thinks we are coming out and declaring they are devastating the Russian economy by sanctioning Russian oligarchs/officials and freezing their shoes assets. Then the CBC/CTV yelping that message 24/7.
|
|
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/6F6VF25GCFF2HFJCOITRJSGNPE.jpg)
