The level of crazy in the United States and Europe keeps growing Are you familiar with the expression, “Denial ain’t a river in Egypt?” Lots of denial in Washington and the European capitals. Yet, some bits of very uncomfortable truths are being acknowledged.
Pentagon, for example, admits, “It will be difficult for Kiev to maintain the combat capability of “Abrams” tanks.” When I was at the CIA we called this NSA (No Shit Analysis). Thank you Captain Obvious.
The Pentagon also admitted the following:
US currently does not have additional M1A2 Abrams tanks in its arsenal to send them to Ukraine, so the transfer process will take several months – these tanks will need to be purchased from manufacturers, said Deputy Pentagon Spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
I think (at least I hope) that the readers of my blog understand that just because a tank is heavily armored and has some nifty technology for shooting while moving is worthless without a properly trained tank crew. And training takes months, not weeks. The Ukrainians do not have the luxury of time. Russia’s current offensive is larger than most of the commentariat realize. Compounding the problem presented by an absence of trained crews, the logistics supply line to provide munitions, spare parts and personnel with the ability to repair battle damage tanks (or provide basic maintenance) is not in place. This is a recipe for chaos for the Ukrainian military.
Sane, responsible policymakers should be looking for an off-ramp. But those people do not reside in the Biden Administration. They are doubling down like a deranged gambler that has lost all of his money and is borrowing new capital from the Mob>
United States does not exclude the possibility of supplying F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine – Deputy Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh.
“We are not going to withdraw anything from consideration <…> I will not get ahead of any packages (of military assistance) that have not yet been announced, or decisions of the president or the Minister (of Defense),” she replied to a question about the possible dispatch of F-16 fighters to Ukraine.
https://t.me/azmilitary11/35117
The insanity is not confined to the corridors of Washington. Key European states are embracing the madness espoused in Washington:
France and Italy are close to finalizing the technical details for the delivery of SAMP-T air defense systems to Ukraine. This was reported by Reuters on Thursday, citing diplomatic sources.
The Defence minister, Guido Crosetto evokes the specter of a devastating conflict and much more enlarged than the current one, the Third world war, which “starts in the moment when Russian tanks arrived in Kiev and to the borders of Europe. Make sure that they arrive is the only way to stop it”. He says at an event, in Rome, after having participated in a bilateral with his French colleague, Sébastien Lecornu,received at villa Madama in rome in the afternoon.
https://translated.turbopages.org/proxy_u/it-en.en.237d4f36-63d43f2f-a4a2367c-74722d776562/https/www.rainews.it/articoli/2023/01/incontro-roma-crosetto-lecornu-ucraina-mediterraneo-965688c3-4ae5-4399-b2b9-1cf021474977.html
Not content with burning their bridges of reconciliation with Moscow, the Europeans want to punish Belarus as well, apparently not considering the likelihood that such an action will solidify ties between Russia and Belarus:
Is no one in any of the Western intelligence agencies briefing on the fact that the historical record on the “effectiveness” of sanctions shows that sanctions are impotent in effecting regime or policy change.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian sources claimed there were major explosions at the Zaprozhye Nuclear Power plant. The Russians say, “Nyet!”
The IAEA’s information about powerful explosions near the Zaporozhye NPP is a provocation to convince the public that Russia cannot ensure nuclear safety, Renat Karchaa,” adviser to the General director of Rosenergoatom
The reality on the ground for Ukrainian troops is grim. Last year I posted a number of videos of Ukrainian soldiers who posted their pleas on social media begging the political and military leadership to provide support. Since July there have been very few such videos. A new one came out this week from a decimated company of the 144th Territorial Defense Battalion. This appears to be a legitimate plea for help and provides a bleak picture of what the Ukrainian units in the Donbas are facing:
“At the time of the large-scale offensive and armed aggression of Russia, I and hundreds of men and women joined the ranks of the 144th Territorial Defense Battalion. We were sympathetic to the lack of VVK, the lack of adequate weapons and uniforms. From February to December, about 5 shootings with AKs and training in tactics took place in my unit. Although, according to papers, we almost every day had fire training for the development of different types of weapons.
In January, we were sent to the combat zone in the Soledar operational-tactical formation. The first combat clash took place with elements of an assault, for which we were not prepared. We were without communication with the command of the mortar battery, we suffered losses in the dead and wounded. We encountered tank fire, which broke up our group.
After 2 days, without proper medical assistance, the remnants of my platoon and other platoons were again sent to the line of contact with combat contact and direct artillery shelling, which did not allow us to raise our heads. We were sent there wounded, shell-shocked, without providing the things that we had lost. We again had the wounded, and the condition of the previously wounded worsened. And besides, our base was destroyed by artillery fire.
Some of us were left without winter things, without everything that we had on at the time of the operation, that is, bulletproof vest, unloading, machine gun. Some of us have in our hands hospital certificates about the need to be released from duty for 5 days.
None of us refused and does not refuse to perform combat missions, most of us are simply not combat-ready due to injuries, lack of support, communication and coordination.”
https://t.me/azmilitary11/35112
I do not believe this is an isolated, exceptional case. I think their message reflects a broader problem that highlights the inadequacy of the Ukrainian military commanders to adequately supply and support their troops in the field.
“Not content with burning their bridges of reconciliation with Moscow,…”
At this point, I believe the Russians have no intentions of ever letting the U.S. or Europe cross any “bridge” again. When this war is done, I truly believe Russia will no longer deal with Europe in any significant manner, even the sale of natural resources will be at the convenience of Russia. What ever Europe wants from Russia in the future, Europe will have to come to Russia, near begging for it. I don’t believe that Russia will go to Europe looking for a place to sell their resources or products.
Yep, agreed. And if Russia has any resources that are scarce elsewhere they must charge EU,USA,UK and their minion states like wounded bulls, no discounts.
Or not sell them at all….
Has anyone else noticed the remarkable resemblance Olaf Scholz has to Elmer Fudd, esp. in this video?
Elmer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZTE9MDoaLs
Olaf:
https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230127122753-02-mood-in-germany-intl-restricted.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill
💯
“When this war is done, I truly believe Russia will no longer deal with Europe in any significant manner, even the sale of natural resources will be at the convenience of Russia …”
Yes, at the convenience of Russia … or both Russia and Germany, as in the past:
https://www.dw.com/en/russian-gas-in-germany-a-complicated-50-year-relationship/a-61057166
Interesting reading from MSM, I particularly this passage:
“West Germany had started providing pipes for the Druzhba pipeline (“Friendship Pipeline”), the world’s longest oil pipeline linking Russia with much of eastern Europe, which eventually came into operation in 1964. However, the Kennedy administration in the US was spooked by the Soviet Union’s growing energy sector and managed to push through, via NATO, an embargo on pipe exports from Germany to the Soviet Union ….”
I agree, I will miss Russia, it is a wonderful country full of warm and friendly people. I was hoping for one more trip to St Petersburg, but probably my US passport won’t be well recieved despite plenty of previous stamps.
I’ve never been, and now fear that I’ll never be able to – because American foreign policy is run by psychopaths. I’d hoped to fish for zander there someday – and to see Lake Baikal. We’ll be lucky to avoid nuclear war.
It’s ironic that, according to the latest Rand Institute prescription, the reason the US should give up its strategy of using Ukraine to weaken Russia is so that the US can better instigate war with China. Psychopaths, I tell you.
Russia is a spectacular country. The Moscow Metro is a joy with stations so beautiful they should be in a museum.
The state department has warning about the crime rate in Moscow but I felt safer there after a late night concert and a walk home than practically any city i have ever been to. Way safer than Paris or London much less NY or Philly.
Lake Baikal needs to be on everyone’s bucket list, same for The Hermitage.
Hearing Tchaikovsky performed in a stunningly beautiful concert hall is a life enriching experience. My wife wanted to attend ballet, I ground my teeth and agreed but my God the skill and the beauty of those dancers literally brought tears to my eyes.
Russian art, music and culture is equal or superior to any I have seen, and I have been to dozens of performances in Vienna, Rome and other places, but Russia, such heart.
i get the impression that if yu go to russia know it is a one way trip and there is no point in coming back to your west country of orgin again.
Well, Lou, Russian gas is still flowing to the West as we speak, the country also keeps selling rare earth to the US via China, and one can buy shares in Martin Lockheed on the St Petersburg stock exchange.
What do you make of it then?
Source: Anatolij Sharij (a u-tube blogger in Russian).
That is at the convenience of Russia. Russia does not need to sell their resources to Europe but have done so for very good reasons that benefit Russia. Now that the West have robbed Russia of essentially 300 billion dollars of banking and other assets I do not see where Russia will be motivated to deal with the West in the future.
Putin, and Russia at large have for years attempted to be a friend and partner of the West, only to repeatedly be lied to and stolen from. The Ukraine war is Russia’s way of letting the West know that Russia is finished with the West.
Of course Russia will sell to the West but only at Russia’s convenience. Already Russia will not sell their resources below market prices, and they deal with unfriendly countries in Russian currency. Those financial trades are at the convenience of Russia.
The continued flow is due to previous signed contrats for oil/gas. The Russians have always, other than force majeure events, honored their business contracts for natural resources with the west. Never have Russia or the Soviet Union ever used oil or gas or any natural resource for military or political leverage. Never.
The Ukrainians have, on the other hand, restricted a pipeline that sends gas into Europe only because Russia not controls one end of the territory the pipe line is in. In short, Zelensky is screwing over Europe by restricting the flow of fuel but at the same time is begging Europe for help.
Russia has always favored long term contracts but last year Europe began wanting short time or spot pricing contracts. With no contracts or spot pricing the fuel costs goes up and Russia can not rely on long term or even short term contracts. Without knowing the quantity of sales to Europe Russia will be more motivated to sell larger know quantities to China and others. Of course Russia will continue to sell to Europe but again, it will be at the convenience of Russia with Russia setting all the terms.
The West, have totally screwed themselves.
Yes. It is all rather odd.
Is Russia really That desperate for money, is this war a bit of a sham, or is Russia just buying time until it can replace income streams?
The lack of Russian economic or strategic retaliation is off.
I’ve entertained the idea that the whole war is a scam and Putin is on it.
It would explain a few things. On the Russian side you get some convicts, clearing the prisons a bit in the process, and eastern Ukrainians in Donbas militias to slug it out on the battlefield against western Ukrainians.
$Billions flow into Ukraine. Zelenksy and his bosses + their favorites get a big cut. Putin gets a nice slice for playing along the right way (like not going all shock and awe and not actually smashing the country, ending the war and winning) and from backdoor “taxing” the arbitrage of oil and minerals being sold to western customers via countries like India and China. Biden gets a kickback. Soros gets a kickback. The MIC gets funded. Weapons systems get tested.
The only big losers in the game are the Nazis + the stupider manhood of Ukraine that stuck around and got conscripted – and, of course, the US tax payer funding the whole scheme and getting nothing in return.
Now, I’m not really seriously thinking that’s what it’s all about…….on the other hand…..it’s not not about that either
well said,I am confounded by the collective West constantly saying Russia is lying about this,Russia is lying about that.For over 8 years now i have been reading everything ican find said by Russian officials ,quotes not interpretations by westerners.I have learned one thing for certain,Russians do not LIE!Puti ,Lavrov,Medvedev,Shoigiu you name him/her they do not lie.WhenLavrov said we cannot believe anything th west says,any agreement we sign is not worth the paper it is written on,he means what he says.When Putin says the WEst is our ENEMY,our ADVERSARY,he means just that.
What will happen after the war and the newly resurgent Wagner group gets free and Gulf countries enforce a energy ban on Europe and US?
It will be hilarious to see. Wagner, Russian Kinzals stationed in Persian Gulf or Iran and see if US attempts anything.
Russia should have been richest country on earth with its resources. It was on the way pre-1914 to being the pre-eminent manufacturing power in Europe which was why the German Reich had to do what US is trying to do to China
Good point. The US also seems to have adopted the Second Reich’s watchword Weltmacht oder Niedergang (World Power or decline).
La Russie n’a pas remis en cause les contrats sur les fournitures de combustibles nucléaires et d’autres produits sensibles, au moment elle subit la plus dure campagne de sanctions de l’Histoire !!! alors, demain, après que le conflit sera dépassé !!!!
I’m not so sure. It was a few days ago IIRC that Putin said that Europe would get its sovereignty back ‘sooner or later’
https://tass.com/politics/1566973
I feel very bad for the conscripted and their famillies. Perhaps if we only had women soldiers the polititions and press would not be able to start such stupid wars. Men seem to be disposable cannon fodder.
Agreed! Women despite their constant whining have it incredibly easy compared to men. This war and ever war preceding it prove it. Of course a counter argument would be to ask who starts the wars?
“Away from Me, Satan” (Matthew 4:9)
Incredibly easy, you said…? Get your facts right a show more respect for the female solders who have been killed in action in this war!
Col. Olga Kachura (R.I.P.):
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/69585
>”show more respect for the female solders who have been killed in action in this war!”
Why? Do women fill half of all the military cemeteries?
How many women were drafted?
Fact: no war has EVER been fought without the support of…and often urging by…women. NONE! In democracies, women vote for leaders who vote for war. In other societies, women raise boys to be soldiers. They teach them to stuff feelings, continue when hurt, and sacrifice their lives for females.
Women also goad their men to fight. Look how many times they play “Let’s you and him fight!”
Also, go to any Family Court and see how kind-gentle-fair wives are who get a taste of power.
I’m sick of women claiming unearned kudos. If media photograph 10,000 military men, they will stick 3 women front-and-center to give the illusion of equality.
Insane.
“Serving” coffee is not the same as serving on frontlines. Back-area support is necessary to wage war, sure, but still: I’ve never heard a man brag about pushing papers while stationed away from the front.
Men are seen as being less human, less sentient, and less intelligent than women…so more expendable.
Finally, watch the superb ALL’S QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT on Netflix. Then tell me how “oppressed” women are.
I never wrote anything claiming women being “oppressed”. Just mentioned one female soldier who has been killed in action and should deserve respect.
Are you asking me how many women were drafted in WWI? Women were banned from the military.
If you are sick, take an aspirin…
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/12/31/putin-visits-russian-troops-claims-moral-rightness-in-new-year-address-a79859
It is estimated that Tito had 650K partisans by 1944 and about 800K by 1945. Contemporary accounts state that 25% of these were women (Wikipedia, if you believe it, states 100K). They were fighting about 30 Axis divisions and nowhere have I read it suggested they were playing patty cake. My father who (while serving with NZ forces) saw them in Trieste in 1945 told me the Yugoslav women soldiers were the scariest thing he saw in the whole war.
Not so much women who have been killed, but I would like to know about production of female prosthetics for those injured……….be interesting to know about the maimed rather than the dead since they are the ones that will be with us for 20-50 years ahead
What about :
Victoria Nuland and
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen
Lizz Truss
Sanna Marin
?????
>Hillary clinton
>>Jeanine Anez (bolivia’s)
>Madeleine It wasworththeprice Albright
Victoria Nuland started this war. Whether she is a woman or not, is another question (since the western world don’t know what is a woman any more).
Send them to the front! The granddaughter of Nazis first.
Wait, who do they work for again you say?
If you think Nuland started this war and no CIA involved, no Obama or Biden or Pelosi, MIC or Soros or banks etc, then you really don’t understand US power structures. She is not at the top. She is their attack dog. That’s all. Not a decision maker. An attack dog for special interests.
You are displaying a typically Western disrespect for women that is far less common in more advanced cultures. You should think twice about you ability to face either Russian men or women, both of whom are quite capable of cutting you to ribbons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOfly-BHQws
You are displaying a typically Western disrespect for women that is far less common in more advanced cultures. You should think twice about you ability to face either Russian men or women, both of whom are quite capable of cutting you to ribbons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOfly-BHQws
You are displaying a typically Western disrespect for women that is far less common in more advanced cultures. You should think twice about you ability to face either Russian men or women, both of whom are quite capable of cutting you to ribbons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOfly-BHQws
Their stupid psychopathic wars will only cease when the architects of such slaughter, themselves and their families, have to go to the front line. It’s easy to send someone else’s son to die, not so easy your own kith and kin.
Women are the biggest warmongers. Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, said Europe is at war with Russia. For the first time since then, German tanks are going east. So be it, because, from 16 April – 2 May 1945 Russia destroyed Berlin to defeat Germany in WWII. Russia is more than capable of doing it again if need be.
“For the first time since then, German tanks are going east.”
This is not true. German tanks already invaded Yugoslavia as a preparation for invasion of Russia (just like they did in 1941). It seems that Germans just can’t stop spilling Slavic blood. I hope it ends the same as it did last time.
For the first time since Barbarossa …
True, Panzer divisions attacked Yugoslavia in April 1941 (1st Panzer Group perhaps…?) …
German tanks invaded Yugoslavia in 1990s. I believe they are still there. Lufwaffe did some killing too. Germany already restarted WWII by destroying Yugoslavia again, and now it’s time to move tanks towards Russia again.
(East) German tanks invaded Czechoslovakia 1968
You’re mistaken — East Germans were the only signatories of the Warsaw Pact who did not participate in the attack (no GDR tanks rolled on the roads of then CSSR)… Czech it out:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Pact_invasion_of_Czechoslovakia
Cheers, JaKo
Isn’t it their national interest?
Yeah ofcourse they are sweetheart, Taliban, Hitler, Napoleon, Bush, Britain’s mad kings, Netanayahu, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, ISIS, IRA, RSS, Mafia, Etc etc all a bunch of flower girls.
These women are the mouth piece of men. They are fronts. Do you not even understand that much. They are hired like prostitutes. They need to perform to get these positions.
Only a complete moron would think Biden is the best the US has. Only a complete moron will think the few women in prominent positions represent all women any more than Biden, Blinken, Trump, Boris, Macron, Zelensky, represent all men.
90% of violent crime is committed by men. 99% of rapes. 99.99% of wars, 99% of paedophiles. Deal with it.
Thanks for that Ash.
I really like Larry’s sight but I struggle with the Black hate, Latino hate, and hate of women. It threads it’s way through the posts a lot
It’s not hatred, it’s recognizing them for what they actually are as opposed to modern Western brainwashing.
And the reason you are “straggling” with it is that you have no rational and factual counter-argument.
Biology is reality and demography is destiny.
Hence Jewba the slut
Anything for the money and proximity to true earthly power
Britain’s mad kings,
and who pray were they ? George III, Hanoverian who suffered from porphyria………..I doubt you can find “mad kings”
The US government controls the German government via blackmail and bribery. This has been documented as explained in this short video: “The American Colony Called Germany” that includes a clip of Baerbock saying she fully supports Ukraine and doesn’t care what her German voters think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adfyCJLmPM8
“Perhaps if we only had women soldiers …”
Sure. Like Joan of Arc who was burned at stake for being a soldier …
Joan was a soldier alright, but she was burned for being a “heretic” in a typical kangaroo court set up by the english. Although now she is a saint. Seems the “unchanging” mother church changed somewhere along the way…
Was her “stake” burned medium-rare or well-done? (<:)
Alas, Joanie never fought. She never killed anyone in combat.
She was a figurehead.
JoA was a religious fanatic that lead others into battle, but she was far short of being a “soldier”.
I have a niece that served in the U.S. Navy, on carriers during one of the gulf wars. We are proud of her but at 5′ 1″ she is better behind the mounted gun than she would ever be in the trenches fighting hand to hand with a male.
The physics of size, strength and male aggression in combat will almost always overcome a female opponent. It is nothing personal against women, nothing misogynistic on my part but, after seeing a number of short, stocky, pudgy U.S. Army female soldiers…I have very little confidence in their ability to go “man to man” on the battlefield.
A woman discovered radioactivity and paved the way to nuclear weapons. Marie Curie. Most lethal weapon on Earth.
Not so useless.
The science behind hypersonics is developed by a woman.
The non MRNA vaccines also.
And Cleopatra had lethal poisons. Same as Queen of Sheeba.
“… size, strength and male aggression in combat will almost always overcome a female opponent …”…
So what is the point in sending “short, stocky, religious fanatic …” (and what else) women to war?
And complaining if they do not volunteer to fight?
Lou, what is your point? That men are stronger? Of course most men are.
But you seem to see the Army in the stone age. Anyone working with drones knows statistically women are more accurate and kill less civilians using drones. Modern warfare. They are also better able to identify what they are seeing and process risk. They are excellent medics on the ground and many sharp analysts.
How likely are people in modern warfare to go hand to hand? In that scenario yes most women can’t beat men.
The risk,including of rape, to women in the Army is far far higher. You have to be incredibly tough to put up with some of the shit these women get. Hats off to them.
It is never a waste to have military skills. That female army officer is the same person who can take out a mass shooter at a mall, handle intense situations and provide trained back up.
In Israel all the women go through Army. Hasn’t made them a crap military. Hasn’t made the men more feminine. They are women in mossad. Hasnt messed them.
From what I have seen, modern male squaddies are generally thick as two planks and weak mentally as well lazy physically. But needed where brute force needed.
Women have a role in combat and with modern technology that role will grow. Good honest tough women going through the shit ive seen them get in the Army,hats off.
Proud of a war criminal? Wow, what a warped sense of values your family has.
You would think there was a surplus of women in Ukraine now. Not so. There is a vast surplus of men since women have been able to flee.
Bimbos and hags in leading positions all over the West gladly send men to their certain death while they party with their girl friends, sun bathe in Dubai or cash in on their war stocks.
Not that there are fewer evil or stupid male politicians, but it’s very hard to find any female politician with a sane and steady head.
In Russia and Britain they have had some samples of what SOME female statesmen can achieve.
Politicians are a bad lot no matter if male or female.
What we need is statesmen regardless of sex.
Just my opinion for what it’s worth
Agreed, they’re all sociopaths, that is how they got there in the first place, no sane person would dream of implementing half the things they have.
Male or female they’re all evil to the core.
We need to start vetting these people before giving them ANY position in Governments or local authorities, do away with life peers and limit their terms within these positions.
You mean Elizabeth I………..yes…….Katherine of Aragon was no slouch either and led troops into battle……1513. Catherine rode north in full armour to address the troops, despite being heavily pregnant at the time.
You mean Elizabeth I………..?
and yes…….Katherine of Aragon was no slouch either and led troops into battle……1513. Catherine rode north in full armour to address the troops, despite being heavily pregnant at the time.
Tulsi Gabbard would have made up for a dozen deadheads, had she not be McCarthyed.
Which men are sane and steady?
The Russian senior female politicians are actually very impressive. It’s just the western men and women in leadership that are nuts.
True, very true. I enjoy watching the Russian female politicians and their mature and level headed approach to a matter. Maria Zakharova is my favorite, she cuts to the chase, speaks clearly and to the point. This is a woman that you know will not put up with “stupid” and will let someone know in kind words that they are fools.
America would be lucky to have Maria Zakharova as a leader.
I don’t believe that women are any less dispensable or more respected than men, especially when it comes to war sadly.
As you say “they are doubling down like a deranged gambler…”
Exactly that
We are trapped in a giant casino run by unhinged androids
Thanks for pointing out
1. Months not weeks to train a tank crew? Try 10 years to develop the Armour doctrine inc Logistics, then train the army to operate, maintain and implement the repair and support element that keeps them fighting successfully.
2. As for the idiot Lt Col who claims that victory over T72s in Iraq implies similar success in Ukraine, you might expect that from a Corporal! Words fail me.
3. Why continue to provide Russia with isolated unsupported weapon systems? Any “game changing” weapons NATO sends are effectively only Target Drones for the Russians to practice on, after all Hitler’s Wunderwaffe didn’t do him much good did they. The concept of Wunderwaffe is utter nonsense.
4. Professionals should not be talking like this.
Murray said “after all Hitler’s Wunderwaffe didn’t do him much good”
The He 176 was the first aircraft in history to fly using only liquid-fueled rocket power. Design work was begun in late 1936, with detailed engineering drawings being completed around July 1937. Construction of the prototype began at the same time… The first official flight was on June 20, 1939 flown by Flugkapitän Erich Warsitz. On the next day, the He 176 was demonstrated in front of some of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium leaders (including Ernst Udet and Erhard Milch)… On July 3, 1939, a demonstration was arranged at Roggentin for Adolf Hitler.
The world’s first (turbo)jet fighter, the Heinkel He 178 was successfully flown on August 27, 1939. Heinkel demonstrated its capabilities to the Air Ministry on November 1, 1939, but Milch/Goering/Hitler showed no interest in it.
An even more advanced jet fighter, the Heinkel He 280, was successfully demonstrated on April 5, 1941.
In early 1942, it proved its excellent maneuverability and tremendous potential during a mock dogfight with a Focke-Wulf 190 (the best German fighter at the time) which the He 280 easily won. Consequently, the Jews Milch/Goering/Hitler were forced to promise a production run of 300 aircraft. However, the Jews were so successful in sabotaging the development that no Heinkel jet ever saw combat (however, Messerschmitt jets did).
It is interesting that as few as one hundred of these jets could have shot down every bomber sent (by the vicious British and Americans) to incinerate millions of German civilians. But Hitler didn’t want this.
How do you explain the fact that the Nazis had jet fighters (Wunderwaffe) flying in 1939,… yet they never used jets in combat till late in the war?
It’s called World of Warcraft, man . Where you been? …
This is all getting very ugly.
When you listen to Western European leaders talk they all.parrot the same group think propaganda.
For Europe it’s insane as Europe can’t beat Russia.
Therefore one assumes this is all done on the basis of 100% pressure and reassurance by the US that it has Europe’s back.
Does it?
Will the US really get into
A nuclear or IBM war with Russia?
Or are the Europeans just the new Ukranians.
Perhaps the US thinks nato’s weak non binding Article 5 obligation is enough to deter Russia until the provocation becomes a threat to it’s mainland.
The Pentagon will have gamed an end game and off ramp but the Pentagon is not the government.
To me it looks like the US is pushing Europe into a war it itself is backing away from. How backing away?
Well, where are the new money packages? Biden scandal and immigration on top table plus a split party government.
Look at weapons supply, the US does not appear to be loading them up right now and they prepared all of this.
How serious is the US? If they were serious would they not have followed up on monitoring weapons supply, tackled corruption and illegal sales.
It looks to me like at present the US hawks are losing influence. The US is just going through the motions but really not doing anything significant. Where it’s giving the neocons free range is on destroying Europe, politically, economically and militarily. The US itself must be surprised at the degree of European subservience and how easily the big fish in Europe are manipulated. Also the absolute control of EU leadership the States exercises.
“What we had this puppet all along? Just needed to pull these strings, whoa…! Who’d have thought? Take a knee Europe, kiss the ring you bootlickers.’
Looks like US going for one last hurrah using Europe and will then focus on next election. I just don’t see signs of serious effort to help Ukraine win.
“Serious effort” on behalf on NATO isn’t required here — their goal is not “quick victory in Ukraine”, rather it is just to keep the money laundry / embezzlement flowing without giving the Russians too much territory (and/or too quickly).
And so far, with Russia pinned down into a little corner of Ukraine and forced to play a war of “attrition” (albeit from a more defensible corridor), NATO’s strategy of keeping the war flowing is technically succeeding as far as NATO’s own goals are concerned anyway.
And yet, however, Russia’s goals of gaining additional time are also likewise being met as well. Just like how NATO has been diligently expanding itself for quite some time now already, Russia is now herself trying to more aggressively take the reigns of geopolitical expansion as well. Except that now, this “extra time” may help NATO only marginally, with Russia standing to benefit relatively a whole lot more. Not to mention — while helping the seeds of NATO’s own internal corruption sow even more decay and disintegration in favor of Russia as well.
So in short — forget any major offensives by the Russians, and just expect them to simply “hold back” to gain Russia whatever time they can. Just because NATO has been expanding a lot more aggressively and for a longer time than Russia, does not mean Russia is just going to throw up its hands and give up on its own geopolitical ambitions (and expansion) as well. It’s just that Russia’s time to “act up” has come, and with the stakes even higher, they will try to acquire any extra time they can**
Don’t thing that was their goal. Their goal was Russian wealth.
No, Russian wealth is but just one of those goals (what all the “price cap” commotion in the EU was about)…
I guess the situation is pretty much the same on the Russian side else there wouldn’t be this snail pace of attrition.
And yet, Ukrainian claims of Russian KIA’s continue to increase, literally exponentially.
Jun-22 5,100
Jul-22 5,230
Aug-22 7,070
Sep-22 11,180
Oct-22 12,740
Nov-22 17,060
Dec-22 17,080
Jan-23 18,750 to date, average 694 per day, extrapolate to 21,526 for the full month.
This is an average rate of increase of 22.8% per month. 50k per month by June. Absurd!
And considering the length of the front and the number, quality (training) and equipment of the Ukrainian forces, it is proportionately a higher rate of casualties than the Wehrmacht inflicted on the Red Army in WW2:
6,300,000 Soviet combat deaths (excl disease and accidents) in 46 months = 137k per month.
http://lib.ru/MEMUARY/1939-1945/KRIWOSHEEW/poteri.txt#w04.htm-008
Ukrainian front today is about 25% to 30% as long as the front in WW2, and the forces today are much smaller, manpower density is much less.
Shorter front: 137k * 25% = 34k per month.
Adjust for lower manpower density:
Germany had 4 to 5 million, Soviets about 6 million, call it 1 million v 1.5 million in Ukraine.
Ukraine has maybe 500k under arms, mostly poorly trained, the better trained are mostly KIA.
Russia has maybe 400k in the operational area, maybe only 200k engaged at the front, but boost it to 300k.
34k per month * 300k deployed / 1.5 million in WW2 = 6.8k per month
Adjust for level of training for current mobilised Ukraine forces, let’s be generous and say 1 untrained Ukrainian is half as effective as a trained Wehrmacht soldier was:
6.8k * 50% = 3.4k
Next adjust for the fact that the Ukrainian are totally outgunned in artillery and air. Factor this as 50%
3.4k * 50% = 1.7k
And 1.7k * 11 months = 18.7k KIA. Interestingly, this fits well within LtCol McGregor’s estimate of Russian KIA.
This estimated benchmark is very fuzzy, but certainly anything over 7k Russian KIA per month would imply the Ukrainians are more combat effective than the Wehrmacht was.
The KIA values claimed by Ukraine over the past three would would mean the average Ukrainian soldier is 2 to 3 times more combat effective that the average Wehrmacht soldier.
If the crazy’s of the EU sanction Bellarus, Bellarus should kick out all of the Western Diplomats and NGO’s. They should give them two days to get out and if they don’t, send them to the Ukraine front with a Ukrainian flag shoved up their backsides.
I had some hopes, that the Gov. under MP Meloni would change the fate of the europeans and the EU, together with Orban and else.
But that seems to be wrong or disappointed.
mr. «johnson- heard in canada they are sending 4 leopard 2 tanks to the ukraine to help them take back their country. am posting the part of the article that is quite telling. if the canucks are having a hard time in peactime; imagine the fun on an actually battlefield. time will tell; but one reason why i think these vehicles will not go east of the dnieper river.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/anita-anand-ukraine-military-assistance-1.6726949
The Canadian Armed Forces has 112 Leopard 2s in its inventory. They include 82 designed for combat and 30 that are used for engineering purposes and recovering disabled vehicles. Many are not battle-ready because of maintenance issues.
According to a paper published last year by the Royal Military College, “the poor serviceability rate of the Leopard 2 main battle tanks is an endemic issue and a strategic-level concern since implementation.”
The paper blamed the maintenance problems on a lack of infrastructure, technicians and spare parts.
Anand said that Canada’s contribution to Ukraine’s tank fleet will be assessed to ensure the tanks can be maintained on the battlefield.
“I want to stress that maintaining tanks is difficult, especially in light of the complexity of this vehicle,” she said.
—————————————————————–
in my working life i was responsible for the design of a new type of equipment to be used on our facilities. a german company did the design. i told them i wanted a t34 tank; not a panther. if yu know the difference; in my opinion the panther was a superior tank when fully functioning but way too complex for what was actually needed on the ww2 battlefield when the lifetime of a tank was usually months and not years. it looks like the germans with the leopard 2 never learnt and put out an updated panther instead.
—————————–
this is what putin just said about germany. it is quite telling.
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/putin-calls-us-troops-in-germany-occupation-forces-in-legal-terms-and-in-effect-3659582
Russian president recalls that after end of World War II, US never canceled occupation status of its presence in Germany
do not think it is any different with japan ; especially okinawa
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/explainer-why-frustration-lingers-in-okinawa-50-years-later/3687529/
U.S. troops, in their push for mainland Japan, landed on Okinawa’s main island on April 1, 1945.
regards,
ralph
As long as ideological criminals like zalzhuny heads the armed forces, this forced sacrifice of lives will never stop – The fact that he has willingly got around 300,000 plus soldiers killed, wrecked the entire country and is still retreating at every front would have got anyone else in any other country fired and then court martialled for gross incompetence – But he still remains along with his top commanders meaning that for the US hegemon, ideology matters most
I have been struggling to understand the steady losses of Ukrainian gear in relation to the size of aid packages.
We get daily reports from the Russian MoD that seem fairly accurate based on other numbers we see that correlate, but they’re a wall of text (like this comment haha).
I just went through and typed up each daily report I could get for this month (3 days missed between 1 Jan and 27 Jan) to get some idea of the burn rate.
First thing I noticed was that there is sometimes a mismatch between the cumulative totals reported and the individual unit counts reported. There appear to be some ghost plane kills, just one or two. The armoured vehicle counts don’t always line up with the individual sums, which could be because each area of the front seems to categorise slightly differently.
Two days in a row this month (10th jan) had the same reporting date, and there were some kills claimed in the flavour text that weren’t reported in the line by line. One day (20th jan) had cumulative totals reported that seemed to be from an earlier month, but they flicked back into line the next day.
Anyway that’s the data hygiene stuff. Here’s the meat of it.
Based on the reported cumulative totals, this was Ukraine’s January burn rate based on Ru MoD reports. Slope = lost per day.
Cumulative totals Slope
Total Airplanes 0.77
Total Helicopters 0.13
Total UAVs 5.25
Total AD 0.08
Total Armour 8.81
Total MLRS 0.85
Total Artillery and Mortars 5.81
Total Military Vehicles 10.09
Based on the individual reports from each area of the front, we get daily average losses as follows. This is useful because it breaks out high value items like tanks, M777s, HIMARS, and self propelled guns.
Sum_Jan(25 days) Avg_Daily
Men 5510 229.58
M777 23 0.96
Caesar 3 0.13
SPG 57 2.38
Other Artillery 83 3.46
Counterbattery Systems 41 1.71
HIMARS 5 0.21
Other MLRS 26 1.08
Tanks 25 1.04
IFVs 37 1.54
AFVs 201 8.38
Other vehicles 258 10.75
Aircraft 22 0.92
Helicopters 5 0.21
UAVs 185 7.71
Boats 2 0.08
S300 2 0.08
S300 Radar 1 0.04
Other SAM 2 0.08
Int HIMARS & Uragan 156 6.50
Int HARM 10 0.42
Int Other 1 0.04
Hope this is interesting to other people, I haven’t seen the data in this format elsewhere.
TLDR; Roughly, for January, Ukraine is losing every single day:
– almost one plane
– half a dozen UAVs
– one tank
– about ten armoured vehicles
– an M777
– a couple of self propelled guns
– a few other artillery
– a couple of counterbattery radars
And every five days on average, Ukraine loses a HIMARS launcher.
Larry, if you want the spreadsheet hit me up at the email attached to this comment.
One other thing that jumped out at me – you can’t see Bakhmut in those numbers. I think the reported totals are excluding some things, Wagner maybe?
Couldn’t guess what it is, but we know there were a few hundred more losses for the AFU every day for a while there, and it’s not in the reported figures.
I read somewhere that Wagner’s exploits are not reported but they are included in the totals. It may explain some of the “ghosts”.
I suspect neither Wagner nor Chechen numbers are included.
Chechen units are part of the Russian Army are they not. Like Cossacks they are semi autonomous..Wagner are state backed mercenaries .
I am always a little fuzzy on this as well. We read that Wagner PMC is doing the bulk of the fighting along with the Chechens so I have assumed, perhaps wrongly so, that total numbers included Russian Army/Air, Chechens, and Wagner forces.
wowsers; yu must have put allot of work into this. this is why i like this site.
cheers,
ralph
Over a longer period, the aircraft losses show a cyclical pattern.
I believe this is due to a combination of:
1. Pre-war inventory included large numbers of unserviceable aircraft
2. In the early days most of the serviceable aircraft were shot down or damaged
3. Unserviceable aircraft were repaired sufficiently to make them minimally airworthy for a few hours.
4. Insufficient spares and skilled technicians limit the pace at which aircraft can be repaired.
5. Repaired aircraft and replacement ex-NATO aircraft may be held in reserve until sufficient numbers are available for operations.
The following table shows claimed intercepts by identified aircraft type per month. Many aircraft were claimed in the air and on the ground in Feb-April but were not identified by type. These are not included.
Assuming Russian claims of aircraft shootdowns correlates well with UKR air activity, April, August and November were periods of limited air activity by UKR.
The cyclical pattern is more obvious when tabulated weekly, but space and formatting prohibit here.
Year Months Mig-29 Su-24 Su-25 Su-27 Grand Total
22 Feb 2 2 4
Mar 5 12 12 14 67
Apr 7 1 3 2 13
May 8 7 18 5 38
Jun 12 24 1 37
Jul 10 2 23 35
Aug 3 2 9 3 17
Sep 11 3 14 28
Oct 9 5 3 1 18
Nov 2 1 3 6
Dec 11 3 7 1 22
Jan 3 3 16 3 25
Grand Total 81 41 132 32 310
Note: totals for Mig-29 and Su-25 both appear to exceed estimates of pre-war inventory plus potentially available ex-NATO aircraft.
Aircraft claims have always been very unreliable. While extensive radar coverage and control of both interceptors and AA missiles can be expected to improve accuracy, it is still likely that in a proportion of claimed intercepts, the target evaded or was only lightly damaged and escaped at low altitude.
Thanks for this. My goal is to work back as long as I can before the reports get garbled, I recall they took a few months to settle on a format.
I expect we’ll see what you’re commenting on – peaks as new gear comes in, higher depletion rates for a while, and then almost nothing until new gear arrives. But I’m not sure, so I’d like to look.
With aircraft, there are rumours that Poland supplied some sneaky migs as “spare parts”, which might cause blips outside the known transfers.
I have done it already, started last April, it would be a huge job to start from scratch.
Unresolved glitches due to changes in initial reporting formats and descriptions, probably some double entries that I haven’t time to resolve, but almost 6,000 lines of data since Feb 24 22.
All briefings since 24.2.22 are available on the Russian MoD Telegram channel.
Anyway, formatting doesn’t work in comments, so here is the weekly tabulation for claim aircraft shootdowns:
Week# Mig-29 Su-24 Su-25 Su-27 Grand Total
1 2 2 4
2 3 3 13 19
3 2 3 6 11
4 1 1
5 8 3 1 12
6
7 1 1 2
8 6 1 1 8
9 1 1
10 1 1 1 3
11 4 4 6 4 18
12 1 3 3 1 8
13 1 5 6
14 1 5 6
15 4 1 5
16 4 6 10
17 2 6 8
18 2 8 10
19 1 9 1 11
20 4 1 10 15
21 4 1 5 10
22 1 1
23 1 1
24 2 3 1 6
25
26 1 1
27 1 2 6 1 10
28 3 9 12
29 1 1
30 1 1 2
31 6 2 2 10
32 4 1 2 7
33 3 3 6
34 1 2 1 4
35 2 2
36 3 1 4
37 1 1 2
38 1 1
39
40 1 1
41 3 1 3 7
42 2 2
43 3 2 5
44 2 1 1 1 5
45 2 1 2 5
46 2 2 8 2 14
47 2 2
48 1 2 1 4
49 1 3 4
Grand Total 82 41 132 32 287
Excellent work. Thank you.
Thanks for taking the time, interesting break up.
When the “West” can’t see it’s being robbed blind, or better, the owners of the money can see, have organized the game, and are celebrating big time. Meanwhile nobody cannon fodder and nazi warmongers die – this is the insanity of humanity for the money .. stuck in a grove for eternity
One has to wonder about the poor Ukranian soldier in the field: Nato is at war with Russia? (But where is Nato?) Tanks are on their way. (But they haven’t been built yet). Ukraine is in a proxy war with Russia on behalf of Nato. (Where is Nato – who am I fighting for and what am I fighting for again?) Russia is running out of missiles, ammo, and manpower. (Say what?) The USA will be dictating negotiations on Ukraines behalf as long as it takes. (Biden, Nuland, and Blinken are great morale boosters.)
In any case, not to worry, the USA will be going to war with China (Gen. Michael A. Minihan) as soon as Ukraine is turned into a wasteland.
There’s nothing to go to war with China over (at least in the near future). Taiwan is just a red herring for political purposes designed to make US politicians look “strong” by visiting some island and gloating about how they “made a statement against China”. Newsflash — China is in on this stupid game too and for a few $$$ will more than gladly play along and say “Ohh no!! Some American went to Taiwan!! We will stand against them” while doing simply nothing (besides a fake little military drill or some other crap like that — a little “fireworks show” if you’d like to call it that).
Like Larry, I like to read between the lines and draw conclusions. What is obvious is the desperation and impotence of the deep state. The whole PR campaign with tanks is an attempt to give extra morale to Ukrainians and their fans in the world.
“Like you, I am, and I think the administration is, very gratified to know that Nord Stream 2 is now, as you like to say, a hunk of metal at the bottom of the sea”, Undersecretary for Evil Victoria Nuland said yesterday. This statement shows how powerless they are. Roughly, OK folks, it’s not that we can’t do anything to Russia, because we still managed to destroy the gas pipeline for the EU with a terrorist attack.
This morning I woke up and saw that the British intelligence officers, in the absence of Ukrainian “victories” and “disruptions” among the Russians, were recycling the New Year’s attack on Makeevka.
And BoJo does not agree with Merkel and Hollande that the Minsk agreement was a good thing because it bought time for arming the Ukis, but he thinks that it is a mistake and that this whole madness should have been started in 2014. Obviously the British can’t get over the loss of Crimea…
“Reading between the lines”, a tried and true Soviet citizen’s method of interpreting Pravda, and now an indispensable habit for readers of the NYT and WaPo et. al.
Yet more evidence that the USA has become the new USSR.
Bonking Boris the fatty toff who would never be fit enough to go to the front, is very fond of swimming in the blood of others, just cross his podgy paws with a bit of silver or give him a mirror and he’s yours.
Unfortunate fools replaced Russia with Serbia and forgot that they themselves are no longer as strong as they were in the case of Milosevic. Their main mistake can be the destruction of Germany, the main payer to the European budget. Germany can become a net recipient, and then we will see a lot of fun.
https://thegrayzone.com/2022/12/30/declassified-intelligence-files-bosnian-war/
Zelensky is already asking for fighter jets and long range missiles. What’s next, nuclear weapons?
I admire the reason from Russia. I wouldn’t have the patience to take counter measures.
1) Invade Ukraine from belarus to cut off supply lines from NATO.
2) Use tactical nukes in west Ukraine to create a nuclear fall out wall to cut off supply lines.
3) Shoot down military cargo plane or ship in international airspace of waters.
4) Use hypersonics to hit training facilities on NATO territory. Yes I would do it. Why?
I watch western media and everyday the same story. Yes we escalte but… It’s an escalation but… Russia puts down red lines and each time we cross it without consequences… all because Russia can’t use nuclear weapons, they know it so we do what we want.
Turn this around, Russia can hit NATO and they can’t use nuclear weapons neither. What can they do? Go to full war with Russia? Hell no, NATO is not ready.
In our media they never talk about a long term strategy because they have none. hey still talk about a Ukrainian counter offensive in the making (can’t stop laughing), that the only solution is victory (how?), Russia has to return all territory inlcuding Crimea (wake of from dreaming). That would return us before it started, NATO putting it’s tentacles around Ukraine and missiles up to 300 km from moscow, which Russia can never allow.
It can only end in a full escalation because the west has reached it final stage, that of self destructive nihilistic narcism.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/depleted-uranium
” Russia Warns US Delivery of Depleted Uranium Arms to Ukraine Would Be Akin to Use of Nukes
“We would regard it as the use of ‘dirty nuclear bombs’ against Russia, with all the consequences that entails,” a Russian official said as the U.S. and Germany prepare to send tanks and armored vehicles capable of firing depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine.”
xhttps://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/depleted_uranium/index.asp
The US may withhold the uranium ammunition and supply alternative AP rounds. There are also reports that the delay in delivering Abrams is partly because in addition to replacing the most advanced electronics that are in the versions used by the US Army, they also want to install export version turrets that don’t incorporate depleted uranium armor.
The Ukrainian request for tanks suggests they concede they are losing the static war fought a la WW 1 from behind entrenched fortifications and when the Russians break through there will be large open spaces where the warfare of manoeuvre and tank battles can take place. I seem to remember the Russians are rather good at that too.
Official statement from Russia MFA ”Germany prepare for war”
https://sonar21.com/the-u-s-and-europe-like-thelma-and-louise-are-driving-off-a-cliff/
The arguments about the need for training tank crew and the delays inherent in that only hold water if
1. Said training has not already been going on in secret long before the decision to transfer tanks was publicly announced and
2. The tanks are not crewed by already trained and experienced NATOstani Panzerwaffe personnel in Ukranazistani uniform.
The problem with crewing NATO tanks with western operators is finding the men crazy enough to knowingly operate a tank for a military which does not have air and fires superiority over the location they will be fighting.
Its like the argument that western pilots will fly F-16s for Ukraine. There isn’t a single NATO pilot I know who would willingly fly a 4th gen fighter into a Russian SAM ring without massive SEAD support, which Ukraine doesn’t have.
What troops? Ukraine lost the conflict after 8 weeks. Most of their military equipment was destroyed or fell into Russian hands.
This now is nothing else than pure desperation. The military and political leadership is throwing everyone they can get their hands on into the well functioning Russian meat-grinder. All they have to do is to withdraw from Russian territory.
While Russia is shaping reality every minute that passes by, the idiots in the west and the criminal regime in Kiev are still living in a parallel world, where they believe they somehow can weaken their opponent. At some point they will be handed over to be prosecuted for what they have done and are responsible for. They still have no idea what all of this is about and how it is changing the world we live in. There will be a terrible awakening for many people in the west.
While Russia is shaping reality every minute that passes by…….
Has Karl Rove been checked into a mental health clinic yet?
I guess those sanctions the west imposed upon Russia and the daily defeat of the remains of the Ukrainian army are exactly what Nato and the west have planed and wished for.
This is wishful thinking on your part. The changes you are imagining will take take generations to accomplish, and the bad actors involved at present will be long dead once they occur. The “terrible awakening” will come from the grandchildren of people alive now who have no memory of what came before and wonder why they are required to live in shit. It will be the last quarter of this century before all of this plays out. Keep your emotions in check.
Ukraine in fact is only fighting because they get help from Nato, EU and US. Ukraine was defeated long time. Lots of videos on TG-channels showing how Ukie military is now actively abducting people from the streets. Meanwhile Russia is moving forward liberating one settlement after another eliminating what is left of the Ukie army.
The awakening will come much sooner as the west has only two options, to declare defeat and retreat or escalate further. In my option they will escalate further as they are unwilling to accept an Ukrainian defeat.
Where do you see emotions is beyond me. I assume you projecting your own state. We will see. So far it looks like a Russian victory is inevitable and the west has no real way out of this mess. Doubling down on chaotic weapons supplies tells everyone what state they actually are in. This will be the next major failure for them. No surprise here.
It is made manifestly worse with Victoria Nuland at the US State Department who has personal grudges and a visceral pathological hatred of Russia.
https://abeldanger.blogspot.com/2023/01/ancient-hatreds-run-deep-reflected-in.html
This is done on purpose
A regular pattern of the US foreign policy is to arrange for regime change through the agency of people with a family history and community background.
See Iraq, Iran, China
And the Poles as used by MI6 & others
Ukraine is following the same pattern
Excellent article Larry. Yes, a hodepodge of weapons with a vast and odd supply train. And it’s ultimate weakness? Who to man them? Watch the videos of the Ukrainian chaingang kidnapping men at gunpoint. Ukraine demanding that the EU deport draft aged men (12 to 90) back to Ukraine. There is a dirty little secret in Europe. Depopulation. The cost of living is too high for people to want children. That is why the WEF and Soros wanted unlimited immigration. They thought they would get slave labor for the factories. Instead, they just squat in their new Mogadishu shanties and live on the dole. Ukraine had a terminal birthrate before the war. There are only so many Poles and Romanians that will take the mercenary money. They are running out of cannon fodder to feed the blood pump of Raytheon. And as the Russian victory begins apparent over the media propaganda? Less and less mercenaries will show up. Ukraine dies as a country this year. Europe and the EU die as an economy. And the USA moves on to war with China.
I can’t wait to see EU countries trying to deport draft aged men back to Ukraine (or anywhere else for that matter). That would be a shitshow worth watching.
A gift to the troopers of the Ukrainian Army from the darling of the West Zelensky – a new law 8271 that stipulates the penalties for:
Failing to obey – 3 to 10 years
Failing to fulfil orders – 3 to 7 years
Threatening the officers – 5-10 years
Abandoning a military unit on own volition – 5 to 10 years
Deserting – 5 to 10 years
Leaving the battlefield on own volition, or refusing to use a weapon – 5 to 10 years
What does that tell one about the morale in the Ukrainian forces, more importantly, what will it do to the morale of the fighting troopers?
They are usually just executed on the spot, so this does look like a plus. Spending rest of the war in jail is not that bad of a proposition, considering the alternative.
As far as the morale goes, the beatings will continue until morale improves.
Just out of curiosity how come woke Ukrainian feminists are not fighting for equal rights for women in fighting with the Russians? Where are the 11+ different sexes raring to go to fight with Russia? What if an able bodied fighter suddenly develops an urge for sex change operation on the field, are there human rights advocates tending to his innate urges? Are there any pink dressed NATO/EU generals in high heels on the field supporting dear Ukrainians in cognito? Are there pronoun inspectors in ditches and foxholes making sure no one uses offensive pronouns?
UA women are also fighting against the Russian armies:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/17/meet-the-women-joining-ukraines-military-amid-russias-invasion
Russian military forces are highly integrated electronically and on a communications level. Martyanov recently posted a video showing white clouds emerge as a russian tank mercilessly was “logging wood” . How is Ukraine going to integrate a hodgepodge of western tanks on such a level?!
“Think of the propaganda victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin if pictures emerge of disabled American tanks on a Ukrainian battlefield…which is why”, CNN should add, “we definitely prefer that to happen to the Germans instead of us”.
“Think of the propaganda victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin if pictures emerge of disabled American tanks on a Ukrainian battlefield
Sounds like CNN is preparing the way for a MSM pressure campaign on a ‘negotiated settlement’, because when (not if) this happens, they’ll be ready to roll (over).
BTW: anyone notice that Nuland was following the least fatalistic recipe from a recent Rand study, about removing some sanctions ‘if Russia blah, blah, blah’. Anemic trial balloon, obviously meant to appease certain Washington naysayers, before the SHTF. All to no avail because frankly, the neocons are becoming less relevant by the day….and good riddance to them.
I am split between “existential fight” and “super stupid” on the topic of the collective west.
On one hand – economies that produce nothing except rip-off services (did you know that 20% of American GDP are healthcare expenses?), militaries that only fight guys in sandals from a distance, weapons that don’t last more than a few weeks on the battlefield, losing political/diplomatic presence in 90% of the rest of the world (don’t forget the whole of “west” is 800 million people), so on and so on. Coupled with colonial-past arrogance that produced failed sanctions that backfired spectacularly and showed the world the level of our duplicity and disregard for our own laws (illegal currency reserve seizures and private property seizures of alleged “oligarchs”) – well, it is truly now an existential fight. If the west stopped now – what would they have to do? Apologize publicly? Abandon 404 after all the money spent and all the rhetoric and doubling down? It is nigh impossible, I am afraid. Anyone who doesn’t understand that….
Now, that’s one view I have. The other is that everything in the West has become ephemeral. Your bread maker breaks, you throw it into the garbage can and order another one made by a slave in Vietnam. You get a job, pardon, a gig and are already looking for a better job before you even started the new one. You are an executive in a weapons producer and then you become secretary of defense for a few years and then you become again something else that relies on your previous positions. You buy a house and before you get to know the neighbors, you are moving to a different place with a bigger house. You buy a car and 3 years later you buy a new car. It is all kind of “virtual” and transient. This also applies to what you say and do – it has reached theatrical proportions. You can get elected on a campaign on helping the poor and promising healthcare for all and then you keep voting multi-billion dollar packages for some faraway place while your constituents still don’t have healthcare you promised. You then say “well, let’s print some more money and we can do both” – ’cause money too is ephemeral and changes hands so quickly, you don’t even notice or care anymore.
So, it might be that the Europeans and Americans are in a bubble of “everything is theater and everything is temporary and we all play the game”. They may be imagining that the Russians and the Chinese and the rest of the world is the same. No values, no belief in anything, whatever pays this month. You know, everyone is a “Youtuber”/influencer kind of a deal, nobody actually makes anything but we have an “economy that keeps growing”.
If you look at it from this perspective, it truly is a cultural clash. The poor “collective west” may think that to Putin this is all about ratings just like it is to Macron and Scholz and Biden and the rest of them. The west may genuinely believe that the Russians are the same and that when hostilities end, there will be business as usual. They may genuinely not understand that this is not how the rest of the world rolls.
Anyway, you see the dilemma.
Oddo, the part about “everything in the West has become ephemeral” is the best description of the current “West” I’ve ever come across!
The saddest part is people, who are now sleepwalking, instead of “living” don’t even realize it that they and their kids have become these “zombies”. And the only thing sets people apart from some “virtual computer game avatars” is the fact they are still consuming food. Take that away, and the “West” is basically a virtual world, a Meta, or, a Matrix.
And unfortunately, I don’t see a Neo on the horizon coming to the rescue of this zombified neverland any time soon.
Thank you Oddo, your post is well thought and well expressed. The two propositions are not exclusive; stupidity and normalcy bias make a heady cocktail, particularly when there is no sense of honor or responsibility. This toxic blend is a characteristic of most western politicians.
“I think their message reflects”… the fact that IF they get out of this mat grinder alive they’ll feel more hatred against their political and military leaders than they feel against the Russian army.
A Ukrainian civil war might happen later this year?
That’s a metaphor I’ve been using for several years now. The Democrats are heading directly towards the cliff with the accelerator floored, while the Republicans head for the same destination driving at the posted speed limit.
Imagine how the Ukrainians will feel after this war is over. To be mercilessly and cynically used as cannon fodder to push a neocon agenda hatched by some rich A-holes wanting to play at world politics.
Western Ukrainians would still blame Russians for everything, and wait for another chance to kill Russians again. Eastern Ukrainians would be glad that they can be Russians again.
Western intelligence, the perfect oxymoron.
You say ” Russia’s current offensive is larger than most of the commentariat realize.”
Yes. Both sides are filtering the battlefield state for their own reasons. But a real uptick is there now and will soon be apparent.
“Victoria Nuland, Van Der Leyen…” Women. Reminds me how Maria Louisa, Queen of Prussia, was a big leader of the war party in 1805 that led Prussia to fight Napoleon, only to see Prussia crushed at Jena/Auerstadt.
As for the plethora of equipment arriving in Ukraine, this recalls the Germans having to grab any tank and truck they could find to keep fighting in Russia when their eight week Blitzkreig went longer. The Germans used Czech, French tanks, civilian trucks that weren’t up to battlefield standards, and getting the parts and handling breakdowns was a real problem.
Gernany’s army and Air Force was designed for short, fast wars, not for a long term slugfest.
As for all the new tanks, the obvious solution for untrained Ukrainians is just bring inn NATO/US crews. I actually was in an Abrams simulator, and it’s remarkable. The driver actually is almost prone, and firing it is pretty nifty, but I imagine the training must be very intense with all the computers inside.
I wanted to talk to the NCO about training, but he was making a play for two girls in tight tops, trying to get them to do the simulator, and I left.
The tank supply is just to bring in western troops. Somehow, the US is satisfied doing war piecemeal.
There is a sense “we can tough it out”, and as one post noted, everything in the west is throwaway. Why shouldn’t war be the same? Everything here is solved by throwing money at it. Again, as many have said, the way to end all this is break the dollar. no money, no battle…the motto of mercs.
Let’s face it, the “crazy’s in the basement” were unleashed 25 years ago , they’re no more crazier now then 2000… Right now all I see is another banker war… a global financial reset.
When missiles actually hit the UK (London), I’ll believe “the peril” part… until then…. YAWN… !!
Whatever happened to all those Abrams tanks from USMC turned over to US Army as USMC returned to being a maritime rather than an Expeditionary Force ?
USMC had 452 Abrams tanks
“None of us refused and does not refuse to perform combat missions…”
Well, god helps those…
Larry,
Just a thought …
Maybe the goal has changed drastically. Maybe we are reading the tea leaves incorrectly.
Given that the original NATO mission appears to be failing on multiple fronts, the game plan may no longer be about defeating / weakening of Russia or Russians, but instead to ensure the complete destruction of Ukraine so as it can never be a potential future enemy of Europe.
What does one think will happen when scores of Ukies realize they have been used. The blowback to Poland and Western Europe (incl. the US) will be severe.
Ukrainain frenemies such as Poland, Romania and the Baltics should be worried.
Britain’s Alastair Crooke has a spot on analysis of why the US and it’s NATO vassals are insanely supporting the UKR…Larry you may enjoy how Mr. Crooke ties in “an Intelligence failure on a par with the non-existent Iraqi weapons of mass destruction…” with how “The U.S. government is hostage to its financial hegemony in a way that is rarely fully understood…”
Here’s the analysis: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/most-egregious-mistake
This is all about dollar hegemony folks and make no mistake–the US will burn Europe to the ground to maintain it–the US economy and political elite system depends on it.
In addition to all of the problems you mentioned with the Abrams tank, there is also the problem of supplying it with fuel. From what I read, it requires about 3 gallons of gas for every mile traveled. So that means fuel trucks up the wazoo and fuel storage depots to supply the fuel trucks and, um, well, actual fuel to put in the storage tanks. I assume it also requires electricity to pump said fuel out of the storage tanks.
Gee, do you think the Russians know this?
Well, this must just be a coincidence ,,,
U.S. Army supports Polish allies with Abrams tanks and training; U.S. Army Public Affairs
The U.S. Army recently awarded a $1.148 billion contract to General Dynamics Land Systems for 250 M1A2 System Enhancement Program version 3 (SEPv3) Abrams tanks for the Polish army. In addition, the Army has begun training Polish soldiers on 28 Abrams tanks transported to Poland in July 2022.
https://www.army.mil/article/259640/u_s_army_supports_polish_allies_with_abrams_tanks_and_training
We are starting to see a change in the narrative – Rand Corp. now arguing that (try not to laugh) that the US/NATO goals of weakening Russia have worked, and a long war isn’t in US interests. Apparently their view boils down to declare victory and let Ukraine fend for themselves. You can’t make this stuff up:
https://www.newswars.com/rand-corporation-warns-against-long-war-in-ukraine/
Meanwhile, the hegemony crowd, dependent on the dollar, is stuck with defending Ukraine against the new realignment taking place, as everything hinges on the dollar as reserve currency. They crapped their own bed when the weaponized the dollar, and seem committed to the was having no alternative.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/most-egregious-mistake
The key weakness in the US dollar denominated system is that it’s a Ponzi scheme, and requires constant growth to work. We’ve been told that the switch away from dollars has been small and slow, so not important. That’s just not true – a Ponzi scheme falls apart when growth stops. That’s all it takes as it’s a fragile system. The above article closes with an interesting question: ‘What if Russia decisively wins – yet the western press is directed to not notice?’ Presumably, in such a situation, the economic confrontation between the West and New Global Order states must escalate into a wider, longer war.
Interesting cross-currents already at play. Some narrowly focused on the military side looking for the exists, others, like the financialized system, have no second option. Like bacon and eggs – the chicken’s involved, but the pig’s committed.
Were they getting pronouns right as Russia mobilized?
No building the CCCP back better without burning it all down.
The comrades are so terribly oppressed as they burn this mofo down.
The forces of evil would be stupid not to take advantage of Peak Stupidity.
The FUSA is the sewer pipe of evil to the world and there will be Sodom and Gomorrah consequences.
The Biden Administration is like a poker player who starts bluffing on a pair of twos and despite numerous opportunities to fold and bow out gracefully, keeps upping the bet until he finds himself all in in a pair of twos. It’s insane. But what did you expect. Stolen elections have consequences.
I do wonder if the supplying of Abrams to Ukraine is for after the war? Perhaps the West still believes that Ukraine will retain much of its territory and can still be a threat to Russia once the current conflict is finished?
Of course, I am one of those that believes most of Ukraine west of Kiev will go to Hungary, Romania and Poland. The Transnistria, Odessa and remaining southern areas eastward go to Russia. In that case, a western long term expected use of tanks in Ukraine will be a waste…unless it is actually intended to give them to Poland for their use.
Ukraine is a wickedly woven web whose final design is yet to be seen.
I enjoy this recently-found web site a lot, so many people with deep understanding here. I can only offer something anecdotal about Russia and Russians and how they do business. I’m a retired electronics engineer, came up designing with vacuum tubes. Now I design and build about 3 or 4 custom vacuum-tube based guitar amplifiers a year for players. Vacuum tube guitar amps feel and sound far superior than solid state amps, musicians covet the best amps. Well, most currently manufactured vacuum tubes come/came from Russia. Russians are fanatically ethical in business, they bend over backwards, honor contracts, pricing, value and satisfaction. Unlike the Chinese, who will sell you the crappiest components they can get away with. The USA embargoed me from purchasing Russian tubes since Feb 2022. The retail supplies here are dried up, what’s left costs an arm and a leg. But I do have two suppliers in Russia that I use, surprisingly Russian post and US post still deliver to me direct from Russia. So I’m getting my Russian guitar Amp tubes. Russians are warm, friendly, patient, businessmen. Too bad the US even made eBay take down all Russian sellers of new-old-stock electronic components. It’s a damn shame all the propaganda against Russia, and for what?… not wanting an army on their border. Makes no sense. It’s a worse shame all the Americans believing the propaganda.
I’m beginning to believe that NATO is like the Harlem Globetrotters.
They practice / play in a bubble and convince themselves that they are a force to be reckoned with because they got to choose their opponents.
Then along comes a professional team united in their desire to expose the fake team
But the fake team has an ace up their sleeve, they are partnered with the bank of printer go brrrrr
What can the pros do? Expose the counterfeit banksters so the rest of the neutral world to see.
So here we are with a rag tag group of fake players backed by fake money thumping their chests out of tune and out of sync. It’s a symphony of shrieks and wailing and threats…
Kinda like the identity politics movement.
And once they realize they are only united by thread, they unravel and form a pile of useless debris.
Am I on the right track Larry?
Cheers
“World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
Albert Einstein
The West’s going frantic because its “unbeatable” strategy of a coordinated full spectrum assault on Russia failed. A strategy born of delusions of grandeur, the West was 101% sure that its matrix of interlocked global economic, financial, political and military institutions formed an irresistible juggernaut that would surely overwhelm Russia and cow China without getting its hair mussed.
Only a megalomaniac can imagine he has full spectrum dominance and any strategy based on it will inevitably fail. When it does, only a comprehensive strategic withdrawal can salvage what hasn’t been lost. That reality has yet to penetrate the West’s delusions of grandeur.
The West has but two options. Stop and sue for peace on all fronts, or keep fighting tactically (which looks “crazy”) hoping something turns up before the strategic catastrophe overwhelms it completely.
I don’t know if or when the West will abandon the latter for the former.
Due to the problem of training ukrainians and servicing their equipment, those western tanks, aiplanes and whatever will be probably manned with western soldiers.
The West wants to have its cake and eat it too:
They think that once they put a ukrainian flag sticker over the american/british/german/polski one, they shall be considered ukrainians – regardless of being american/british/german/polski!
It does not work this way – and if russians decide not to pretend it does, escalation will be fast and horrible!
Obviously. Ukraine is desperate to get German manpower fighting in Ukraine – that is the playbook London, Washington and Warsaw dreamed up to destroy German exports.
Just as London Conference 1953 guaranteed West Germany perpetual trade surpluses and the 1957 Convertibility of D-Mark (as part of EEC 1957) gave Germany an undervalued currency until 1972……….so now United Germany is to be brought to heel and EU Trade Deficits by eliminating cheap energy input prices and embroiling Germany in conflict with Russia and China and Turkey