If you are looking for sound military analysis of the situation on the ground in Ukraine set aside an hour or so and watch Gonzalo Lira’s interview of Scott Ritter. Scott has the best grasp of the military strategy and tactics at play in the Donbas.
I want to focus on the Ukrainian’s desperate attempt to stage horrific attacks to gin up Western hatred of Russia. This has been the most “effective” component of Ukraine’s failing effort to fight Russia. But I put “effective” in quotes because the propaganda pushed about Bucha and the missile attack on Kramatorsk has not compelled NATO to intervene with ground and air forces inside Ukraine. The big show of sending tanks, outdated air defense systems and weapons to Ukraine is not changing the tactical situation on the ground. It just makes us feel better.
Unless NATO adopts the suicidal tactic of entering the battle on the ground, the United States and NATO will watch helplessly over the coming weeks (and possibly months) as the Ukrainian military capability bleeds out. At the same time the Ukraine economic situation will grow worse. What do I mean? Scarce fuel, limited hospital care and food shortages. The only avenue for imports and exports is over the western border with Poland. Assuming that some imports and exports could find their way over that border, it represents only a fraction of what Ukraine moved through its southern ports on the Black Sea. Normal life in Ukraine is kaput.
Scott Ritter correctly observes that the Ukrainian army pinned down in the east (i.e. Donbas) are entrenched in underground bunkers. While this offers the Ukrainian soldiers some measure of protection, it also means that these soldiers are not mobile and lack the armor and other motorized vehicles to mount a counter-offensive. In fact, any column of trucks or tanks is highly vulnerable to attack from Russian air assets, artillery and cruise missiles and would likely be quickly eradicated.
While the political class in Washington is engorged with desire to ratchet up support for Ukraine and take stronger action, the majority of the American public is not demanding action. Yes, there is sadness and anger about the suffering of the Ukrainian people, but the American public is not lining up to join a new war in a distant country. Instead, inflation, illegal immigrants flooding across the southern border and rising crime in urban areas is their worry and focus. In short, the propaganda war is failing.
I am both amused and sickened by the spectacle of the pundit Generals populating the cable news channels. They offer a harsh, delusional criticism of Russia’s lack of progress on the ground in Ukraine without conceding their own failures to pacify Iraq and Afghanistan. Notwithstanding an 800 billion dollar defense budget, the U.S. military failed to defeat the Taliban and failed to secure Iraq. Spending lots of money does not guarantee military success. And the good Lord knows we spent a ton. To what end?
I would hope that our nation will engage in some serious reflection and re-think the failed policies we have pursued for forty years. For example, sanctions do not work. If severe economic sanctions sufficed to cause regime change Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq and Syria failed to understand that message. Imposing sanctions may play well politically in the States, but they have not worked to produce the political changes U.S. politicians hoped would occur.
The sanctions the United States have imposed on Russia have exposed the limits of U.S. power. The once almighty dollar’s dominance in the international economy is now in question. Russia did not curl up in a fetal position and die. It is forging new economic ties with the two largest countries in the world–China and India. We cannot ignore the new emerging economic order that is likely to constrain severely the ability of the United States to throw its weight around on the world stage.
It is time for the American people to put their own house in order. Rather than chase shiny objects in foreign lands, we should be rebuilding our infrastructure, securing our borders, reforming our justice system so that all Americans are treated equally and fairly, and demanding that the children who are imprisoned in dysfunctional urban centers are actually given a chance to be properly educated. Worrying about the welfare of Ukraine is insane when our own abode is on fire and rotted through with corrupt politicians who go to Washington and become wealthy. Those who insist we are still the most free country in the world should ask the political prisoners being held in American jails for daring to protest a stolen election what they think.
That is an excellent talk by two actual experts not the ninnies on the mainstream TV channels.
I have had a lot of people asking why I am taking the Russian side on this. Besides the fact the Ukraine is the clearing house for money laundering and illegal activity to the Deep State there is a serious tell here:
Examine who are the biggest supporters of Ukraine:
who is pushing for Ukraine?
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
Barry Soetero
George Soros
Bill Gates
The Atlantic Council
Vanity Fair
The NYT
The Washington Compost
ABC NBC CBS PBS MSNBC CNN
Bojo the Clown
Macron
Little Fidelita
The View staff
Stephen Colbert
Max Boot
Robert Kagan
Bill Kristol
Victoria Nuland
Cindy McCain
Mitt Romney
Nancy Pelosi
Adam Schiff
Adam Kinzinger
Liz Cheney
Joe Scarborough
Mika Bryzinski
Lisa Murkowski
Lindsey Graham
Mitch McConnell
We can add a few more here but this is enough to make the point.
All of Congress and Senate are on board. And all MSM
Larry your comment ” Those who insist we are still the most free country in the world should ask the political prisoners being held in American jails for daring to protest a stolen election what they think.” is spot on. We don’t hear a word about those unfortunate souls locked up in DC gulag from the estimeed Republican leaders Mitch/McCarthy but they sing in unision with Shumar/Pelosi about the awful Putin and Xi. With these political leaders at the head of Uniparty (even Stalin’s Politburo didn’t give him carta blanche I think) how are we supposed to “It is time for the American people to put their own house in order. ” I cringe at the thoughts that our country is doomed with no real leadership to take care of the people but to line their pockets as well as their cronies.
I have heard high hopes regarding the Red Tidal Wave in November.
Sorry but I don’t think we are going to vote our way out of this. The Republicans are no more reliable than them Dems and have even less back bone.
McConnell, et al are likely to as bad or worse than the Dems.
They have not lifted a finger to help or defend the Jan 6 political prisoners, and probably will never no matter how red the congress gets.
I wholeheartedly agree, with the minor exception of the Republicans having no backbone.
From what I see, the Republicans are colluding with the Democrats on everything that matters to the globalist/deep state swamp. They depend upon double-talk and a water-carrying “conservative” section of the media to provide cover.
They are busily destroying themselves, they hardly need our help. What was it Napoleon said about never interrupt the enemy when he is making a mistake.
Protests are worthless. Best way to monkey wrench is just don’t cooperate. Do a John Galt. They need us to continue, just withdraw consent. Ignore their stupid little diktats. If they make an aggressive move, respond with appropriate violence, but best leave them alone. They are busily burning down their own house.
Turn in your guns, they say?
Molon Labe assholes, come and make me.
They are going to call Russia a war criminal with no trial. UK even stopped Russia giving evidence in UN.
Where did they practice this first? On their own populations. Canada truckers, 6 Jan protesters, the fact there were and ARE no widespread protests about what is happening to these people is why IT IS happening.
Why aren’t tens of thousands on the right who believe in justice and proportionality and freedom of expression getting up and getting in the faces of politicians on DC?
All it takes is us to sit our asses down for this to become mainstream and acceptable m
Freedom requires vigilance AND courage.
“I am both amused and sickened by the spectacle of the pundit Generals populating the cable news channels. ”
***
exactly what Colonel Douglas MacGregor points out – just check the number of the US Army generals vs soldiers in WW2 vs 2022
they are too busy to promote other interests than the safety of this country
Yup, we are full into the “boots on the ground or STFU stage” and the only correct answer is STFU.
A no-fly-zone? Sure, that will be an “air war” for about 45 minutes after the first jet enters Ukranian air-space — and then the pararescue PJs and pilot rescue teams will make it boots on the ground.
Hi Larry, you last paragraph is the best summary that I read in the recent time, and it’s applicable to every country of the West. We’re rotted and need to reborn.
I also highly recommend Gonzalo Lira and Scott Ritter, the former is one of the best analysis about what’s going on. In the way of recommendations, The Duran in YT are one of a kind, Andrei Martyanov’s Blog (https://smoothiex12.blogspot.com) and yours are excellent, and don’t let me forget Moon of Alabama, https://www.moonofalabama.org/.
Thank you for your sharing your thoughts and analysis
L.
This was great!
Makes you think Russia hoax was just to keep Trump from changing adversarial dynamic so they Nuland Sullivan Clinton bunch could get back in and finish the job they planned on Russia/ world.
The fact they overrode Fed on sanctions shows they always had their own plan.
Why? That’s deeper and darker than I can even process.
I read an item today in wonderment that I, essentially a conservative, was pretty much in agreement with anything written in Salon, and by a former NYT reporter no less, but there it is – asshole neocons and warmongers can create Strange Bedfellows. I also agree with other leftists like Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi when it comes to IC/Deep State, war, censorship and media issues. It’s rare to read brave, even brazen news and opinions these days of hyper-imposed conformity. Being leftist – or better – being socialist like these guys seems to shield them from cancellation, doxxing or worse. I doubt if many conservatives in the MSM would be as tolerated and indulged as they are, that is if they bothered. A popular site like The Gateway Pundit, to which our host Larry is a guest contributor, is vilified for its boldness by Democrats I know, and even some Republicans.
Anyway, here is the Chris Hedges article in all of its glorious repulsion:
https://www.salon.com/2022/04/12/pimps-of-war-neocons-fueled-20-years-of-carnage-in-the-middle-east-are-back-for-more/
Great picture of a Palestinian kid against a Tank. Palestinians are the real life version of what CNN and MSNBC want you to believe the Ukraine resistance is.
That was the point of using that picture.