Or Thermopylae.
The Russians have gone in
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Putin prepared for 'prolonged' conflict, U.S. intelligence chief says
Free WaPo article here.
Free WaPo article here.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, betting that Russia is more willing and able to endure the longer-term effects of the war than Moscow's adversaries, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told senators on Tuesday.
But the war may grow more volatile in the next few months, she said. Both Ukraine and Russia appear confident in achieving battlefield progress, making a diplomatic path unlikely. That, combined with the mismatch between Putin's ambitions and the Russian military's capabilities, means the war could become more "unpredictable and escalatory," she said...
"The current trend increases the likelihood that President Putin will turn to more drastic means," Haines said. Putin "is probably counting on U.S. and E.U. resolve to weaken as food shortages, inflation and energy shortages get worse," she added.
In the short term, she told senators to prepare for more "ad hoc" decisions from Russia as it figures out how to achieve its aims in the face of fierce resistance by Ukrainian forces..
But the war may grow more volatile in the next few months, she said. Both Ukraine and Russia appear confident in achieving battlefield progress, making a diplomatic path unlikely. That, combined with the mismatch between Putin's ambitions and the Russian military's capabilities, means the war could become more "unpredictable and escalatory," she said...
"The current trend increases the likelihood that President Putin will turn to more drastic means," Haines said. Putin "is probably counting on U.S. and E.U. resolve to weaken as food shortages, inflation and energy shortages get worse," she added.
In the short term, she told senators to prepare for more "ad hoc" decisions from Russia as it figures out how to achieve its aims in the face of fierce resistance by Ukrainian forces..
UncleEd
Member
Oldbrownhat,
Sadly, Putin may be correct in
estimating the West and in
particular the US. Once
Americans personally feel
some cost to their comfort,
it'll be game over. Maybe I'm
too cynical.
Sadly, Putin may be correct in
estimating the West and in
particular the US. Once
Americans personally feel
some cost to their comfort,
it'll be game over. Maybe I'm
too cynical.
I doubt you are "too cynical". This war/invasion is not just costing Ukraine and Russia but Europe and N. America as well. Once we over here really begin to feel the pinch I think we will become even more overt in supporting Ukraine, with the possibility of a real "war". My gf, who is of Russian descent and therefore somewhat pessimistic by nature, has occasionally said, "we're overdue for one"
The question is, how much are we willing to do? Biden has suggested that US support isn't limitless, and the gov. of Alaska has taken Canada (and others) to task for not doing enough. We (Canada) haven't done as much as we could have, although were are taking in a lot of refugees. But this has been a wake-up call for us to revitalize our military, which has been largely been sidelined over the last few years while our gov't. lurches ever further "woo-ward"
The next while is going to be uncomfortably "interesting". My gf and I realize how very lucky we are that we are living, comfortably, in a stable society, despite its faults. Many are not so lucky.
Lots of Americans would prefer $2 gas to a free Ukraine. I'm not one of them.
DWalt
Member
Protocall_Design
Vendor
They are probably being killed so Pukin can confiscate their fortunes for himself and/or the Russian treasury. He can probably use a few spare rubles right now to help fund the war.
Quite the coincidence...
Here's a WaPo article on how the US makes a distinction between providing targeting info and info useful for defense when providing intel to the Ukrainians.
https://wapo.st/3ytvkPF
I think, for practical purposes, there is little distinction between the two, but understand, of course, why we claim there is.
https://wapo.st/3ytvkPF
I think, for practical purposes, there is little distinction between the two, but understand, of course, why we claim there is.
From an op-ed piece in the NYT cautioning that the risk of a greater conflict is increasing:
...Whereas once the primary Western objective was to defend against the invasion, it has become the permanent strategic attrition of Russia. The outline of the new policy began to emerge on April 13, when the Pentagon called a convocation of the eight biggest American arms companies to prepare arms transfers on a grand scale. The result was the pledge made by President Biden on April 28 that the United States would provide four times as much military aid to Ukraine as it had already supplied since the beginning of the conflict — a promise made good by a proposed aid package for Ukraine worth $39.8 billion....
...the longer the war, the worse the damage to Ukraine and the greater the risk of escalation. A decisive military result in eastern Ukraine may prove elusive. Yet the less dramatic outcome of a festering stalemate is hardly better. Indefinite protraction of the war, as in Syria, is too dangerous with nuclear-armed participants.
Diplomatic efforts ought to be the centerpiece of a new Ukraine strategy. Instead, the war's boundaries are being expanded and the war itself recast as a struggle between democracy and autocracy, in which the Donbas is the frontier of freedom. This is not just declamatory extravagance. It is reckless. The risks hardly need to be stated.
America and Its Allies Want to Bleed Russia. They Really Shouldn't.
Opinion | America and Its Allies Wants to Bleed Russia. They Really Shouldn't. - The New York Times
...Whereas once the primary Western objective was to defend against the invasion, it has become the permanent strategic attrition of Russia. The outline of the new policy began to emerge on April 13, when the Pentagon called a convocation of the eight biggest American arms companies to prepare arms transfers on a grand scale. The result was the pledge made by President Biden on April 28 that the United States would provide four times as much military aid to Ukraine as it had already supplied since the beginning of the conflict — a promise made good by a proposed aid package for Ukraine worth $39.8 billion....
...the longer the war, the worse the damage to Ukraine and the greater the risk of escalation. A decisive military result in eastern Ukraine may prove elusive. Yet the less dramatic outcome of a festering stalemate is hardly better. Indefinite protraction of the war, as in Syria, is too dangerous with nuclear-armed participants.
Diplomatic efforts ought to be the centerpiece of a new Ukraine strategy. Instead, the war's boundaries are being expanded and the war itself recast as a struggle between democracy and autocracy, in which the Donbas is the frontier of freedom. This is not just declamatory extravagance. It is reckless. The risks hardly need to be stated.
America and Its Allies Want to Bleed Russia. They Really Shouldn't.
Opinion | America and Its Allies Wants to Bleed Russia. They Really Shouldn't. - The New York Times
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Putin's military engineers put a pair of temporary Russian pontoon bridges across the Siverskyi Donets River near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk oblast on May 8th.
Two days later, a satellite image collected by geospatial intelligence firm BlackSky shows the wreckage of the Russian pontoon bridges on May 10 shortly after a Ukrainian artillery barrage hit the surrounding area.
Reports are that almost an entire Russian battalion was destroyed in the barrage. The photo is clear enough to see some of the damage, including the black area of the river's edge in the lower right, being strewn with burned-out armor hulks.
Edit: Apparently, a unit of Russians crossed the river before the bridge was destroyed, leaving them cut off, judging by this report from the field;
"Clean-up ops continue on the company of Russian troops that cross the Donets."
Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk
Two days later, a satellite image collected by geospatial intelligence firm BlackSky shows the wreckage of the Russian pontoon bridges on May 10 shortly after a Ukrainian artillery barrage hit the surrounding area.
Reports are that almost an entire Russian battalion was destroyed in the barrage. The photo is clear enough to see some of the damage, including the black area of the river's edge in the lower right, being strewn with burned-out armor hulks.
Edit: Apparently, a unit of Russians crossed the river before the bridge was destroyed, leaving them cut off, judging by this report from the field;
"Clean-up ops continue on the company of Russian troops that cross the Donets."
Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk
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As for the size of a Russian battalion, "between 700–800 personnel, but a few have around 900. "
Getting to Know the Russian Battalion Tactical Group | Royal United Services Institute
Getting to Know the Russian Battalion Tactical Group | Royal United Services Institute
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Read about the defense of the Elsenborne Ridge during The Battle of the Bulge, then St Vith or many other place nearby…
Uncle Ed, I would tend to agree with you, but I do see signs of hope.
We Americans tend to side with underdogs, and we really hate bullies. A lot of people I know who really don't get wound up over politics or international news stories are seriously angry over this whole situation, and eagerly anticipating Putin getting his nose bloodied but good.
I hope the news media keeps this story on the front burner, and I have the feeling that if they do that, public support here for Ukraine will remain strong.
UncleEd
Member
Ukraine is going to try a
young Russian soldier
for war crimes.
Not a good idea, I think.
The Russians will just do
the same even if it takes
false charges. It would
be good theater to sway
the Russian populace.
Talk of war crimes and
trials should be put on the
back burner.
First hopefully win the war.
young Russian soldier
for war crimes.
Not a good idea, I think.
The Russians will just do
the same even if it takes
false charges. It would
be good theater to sway
the Russian populace.
Talk of war crimes and
trials should be put on the
back burner.
First hopefully win the war.
Several years ago, I bought a book on the 82nd Airborne to give to the wounded nephew of a co-worker. This great anecdote was on the back cover...
Attachments
Everything Russia has done from the moment its army crossed the Ukrainian border has been a war crime.
It is a war crime to invade another nation that has not attacked you.
It is a war crime to target civilian structures and communities for attack.
It is a war crime to kill unarmed non-combatants.
It is a war crime to kidnap people and forcibly deport them from their homeland.
There is no question about Russia's having committed war crimes in Ukraine; the true question is whether the world will ultimately do anything about it.
John Patrick
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We can have both. Well, maybe $2.50/gal.
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Several years ago, I bought a book on the 82nd Airborne to give to the wounded nephew of a co-worker. This great anecdote was on the back cover...
Find and read Charles B McDonald's ," A Time for Trumpets".. He was a Company Commander( another named book he wrote) during the Battle of the Bulge. One of the best and most comprehensive books on the battle.
BTW, he was writing a book on the Vietnam War when he passed in early 90s. Our group re enacted his unit and we had talked to him regarding his guided tours to Belgium.
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