Yes even bloggers in general have humor:
Breaking: historians discover true reason behind Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia Soviet military got lost during border patrol.
David--here is a perfect example of the current Putin/Russian altered state of reality.
For seven months they have been calling the Ukrainians---juntaists, Nazi's, ultra national radicals, Banderites, fascists---and then today in Putin's speech to the school -----
He stated "Russians and Ukranians are one people"
What delusional world is he really in?
Yes even bloggers in general have humor:
Breaking: historians discover true reason behind Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia Soviet military got lost during border patrol.
Outlaw09,Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09
I do not understand US politics within 'The Beltway' enough to even hazard a guess why President Obama and others cause you to ask such questions.
After a few moments thought recent history and strategic shifts since the end of the Cold War help to explain the personal factors involved.
The USA has gradually withdrawn from continuous engagement with Western Europe (a broad term) and has drawn down its military deployments. There has been an expectation, even after Bosnia, that Europe would remain at peace even if conflicts persisted. Now whether the Ukraine and Russia are considered to be within Europe is a moot point.
Instead the USA has been engaged heavily in the Middle East, mainly Iraq & Iran, and South Asia, mainly Afghanistan. It's energy and attention has been there. Not to overlook the complexities of countering Jihadists and the potential for an attack within the USA.
Then there is the strategic shift to the Pacific.
Above all thinking, let alone planning for a conventional war in distant Ukraine, is simply too difficult and against Russia - an 'old enemy'.
davidbfpo
http://www.foi.se/report?rNo=FOI-R--3892--SEA Rude Awakening. Ramifications of Russian Aggression Towards Ukraine.
June 2014
David---agree with the answers but here is the theory that has been ignored by all Presidents since 9/11.
The backbone of the US defense strategy was the ability to fight a 2 to 2.5 front war at the same time---maybe not totally effectively but have the capacity to fight the 2 to 2.5 fronts at the same time.
Here is where Russian comes in---after 1994 the US presidents "assumed" that Russia would go the way of modernizing their own economy in the attempt to provide an ever increasing standard of living for their own population which would flow from the oil/gas revenues. Which is a typical western thinking pattern.
Remember all the European slogans --peace has broken out thus we can finally reduce defense costs and invest in our internal developments and growth our economies for the global economy.
This was the argument used also by the US after Desert Storm---the first Bush promised a "peace dividend" and that is where I got my buy out---then along came 9/11 and the ramp up all over again.
But in the background was the same thoughts---all quiet on the eastern front--Russia is growing and progressing so from there no threats--so let us slowly disengage our strategic stationed armored troops and start the thin out which began almost immediately after the wall came down.
This was also the background thinking in the 80s/90s with the Reforger concept---forward depoting of equipment just fly in the troops.
But by 2012, the drawdown of personnel and bases had reached a point of no return---basically most of the bases today in say Germany provided deployment ramps for troops and equipment going to and from Iraq and AFG.
There is one Cav Bdr, one Airborne Bde and a helicopter lift/attack Bde and that is it--and that gets no ones attention thus the swing to moving aircraft in order to impress people which it does not any more these days if one watches the constant Russian provoking overflights. Besides Russia moves in S300s and the air thing is history such as in Kaliningrad, but the US AF does not mention that in their press releases.
But Obama has no strategy, no available combat power in order to project one's intent and he does not have the will for fighting if that is needed--all those red lines and statements on using air power then nothing.
That is exactly why Putin views Obama to be weak willed and afraid of his shadow in the game of power politics.
If one really reads Putin's written comments and those of his current hardliners---they hate the west and western values and feel Russian is supreme in it's quest to rejoin as a superpower---thus the ethno nationalist imperialism tunes coming out of Moscow these last three years.
Now when the Crimea and Ukraine events hit there is nothing there to project and the "theory" of a 2 to 2.5 front war is virtually non existent in DoD planning---they are lucky to be able to do 1 to 1.5 if that at all.
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 02:53 PM.
There is something interesting developing within the UA and independent BNs---they gave ground, and the Ukrainian SF has deployed into a guerrilla fighting mode which from some comments coming in is hitting the various Russians units hard as they are spread out, not sure of the environment and confused by the messaging given them prior to the invasion and are extremely vulnerable to guerrilla attacks on small and single units. Some SF are talking about "target rich environments"---they have been around USSF to long.
It has dawned on the UA and independent BNs that by giving ground up they have shortened their lines and have to a degree really slowed down the Russian units which up to now have been mostly GRU/SF and airborne types.
The concern now is if they in fact slow down and stop these units---does Russian heavy armor then come in.
This might in fact be the case right now---there is a large number of surrounded UA/independent BNs near Donetsk that Putin offered safe conduct to and the mercenaries said only if they lay down their arms.
This pocket is well supplied with ammo and food and seems to be throwing back attack after attack by Russian airborne types and taking Russian prisoners in the process. Journalists are still getting into and back out of the pocket as of late today.
Putin was extremely surprised/actually startled that the Ukrainian military turned down the offer--IMO he does not get the fact that these UA/Independent BNs have been fighting the mercenaries and irregulars for over five months now and it is all about pride and nation not about some wild idea about "New Russia"--remember this was a rag tag group of units with little to no supplies and equipment and they have grown in capacity and abilities.
The problem is that the Russian Army might be good at fighting in large scale unit formations--but this fighting style is in small towns, villages and in various types of environments not conducive to large unit ops which is playing to the UA strengths.
There has been a solid rumor that the Russians are struggling with KIAs and WIAs from what they had assumed to be a cake walk--currently all St. Petersburg hospitals are filled to capacity with WIAs being flown out daily from the Rostov airport that was closed recently to commercial air.
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 03:09 PM.
kaur--the summary is correct--IMO Putin miscalculated badly as some former advisors to him have also stated just recently.
One stated he was totally taken back by the speed and depth of the sanctions as they had not seen that reaction during Georgia and Moldovia.
IMO Putin assumed wrongly the West would again roll over and go back to business as usual after several months.
Was struck by Obama stating yesterday that the West had given Putin a definitive number of face saving and exit ramps to get him out of his boxed in predicament--and he took none of them.
And I thought the Iraq insurgent fighting videos were crazy to watch--watch the Russian irregulars as they fight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLT9Mif_y-o
Here comes the next threat to Europe about gas in the winter--but no gas to the West also means no cash flow to Russia--a quite simple economic fact which Russians seem to have a problem in understanding.
BREAKING : Russia warns of high risk to gas deliveries to Europe this winter - Channel NewsAsia
http://cna.asia/1rE9WzY
You have got to give this UK journalist his dues---he was the first to report Russian convoy going in that got badly shelled and now he is in the south.
In the last few hours @Telegraph journo @RolandOliphant drove W and NW of #Mariupol: no sign of fightings and/or Rus/(Pro)Rus units presence
Putin while trying to control Ukrainian political moves towards the West has in under 24 hours basically assisted the Ukrainians in making their decisions.
1. dropping of the non aligned status
2. thus being able to apply to NATO which has signaled they would accept a request to join for review now
And two more Russian prisoners were taken today near Rostov crossing.
There seems to me that the Russian Army has got to improve their map reading and tracking classes---far to many are getting "lost" inside the Ukraine.
Notice in the video---no names, rank or unit insignias---thus not Russian soldiers ---it is so easy for Putin to lie.
2 more #Russia soldiers captured in #Ukraine, say were told were going on exercises, crossed into Ukraine near Rostov
http://goo.gl/nGQBSv
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 03:43 PM.
More armored vehicles and tanks headed to Donetsk. On one tank---written "Greetings from the Motherland"
Hidden invasion?!?
Russian army T-72 tanks, rolling towards #Ukraine marked with "#TO_DONBASS
http://youtu.be/CJm5bjM3Z5c
pic.twitter.com/a7JlFALFvH
http://youtu.be/CJm5bjM3Z5c
pic.twitter.com/1v4J8GrcBc
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 05:50 PM.
This is Russian democracy and the rule of law at work.
When truth becomes an enemy...
Russia names assoc of soldiers' mothers - 'foreign agent'
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/506142.html
This is the fear of the FSB---mothers finding out their sons being sent to the Ukraine.
Dozens of mothers approach Soldiers' Mothers Committee, alarmed their children forced 2 sign contracts (="volunteer" 2 b sent 2 #Ukraine)
@tvrain: 200 army conscripts in Russian region bordering Ukraine being "forced to sign contracts". Assumption in order to fight in Ukr
Russian Soldiers' Mothers groups worried about 1000s of soldiers sent to Ukraine, of whom 100s returning in coffins.
pic.twitter.com/CK2qjE3H8O
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 05:56 PM.
BREAKING #Russian regular army soldiers fr #Chechnya in #Donetsk region #Ukraine on August 29.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_IfvhrnwKE …
Gazeta.ru (WOW!) runs a story of 9 killed #RUS army scouts in #Ukraine inc a col. lieutenant.
http://www.gazeta.ru/social/2014/08/26/6190369.shtml …
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 06:01 PM.
First evidence that Russia is now recruiting ethnic Russians in the Baltics---once the New Russia project is completed then next the Baltics using the same UW doctrine.
BREAKING 1st solid evidence of #Russian terrorists fr #Latvia - call sign "Vasyok" (Ludza)
pic.twitter.com/Lj5nrD1oXo
pic.twitter.com/AHUk6h54l7
A great article and indicates that at a recent polling only 5% of those asked supported war in the Ukraine--goes into detail on a growing internal resistance to Russia being in the Ukraine.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/0...0GT1CB20140829
More internal pressure on Putin by Russian media:
"Bold move by @tvrain: Puts up a list of Russian soldiers recently detained or killed. "
Will be extremely interesting to see the impact in Russia after this airing of the interviews with the captured Russian paratroopers.
From that interview:
Captured Russian paratroopers don't seem to be under pressure to say that they are being treated well and want to quit the service @tvrain
Breaking: #Russia's Dozhd channel says it talked with Russian paratroopers detained in Kiev, to air at 9pm Moscow time
The Ukrainian national guard says it destroyed 2 T-72 in Ilovaisk and captured 7 more Russian soldiers.
BREAKING 2 #Russian army POWs in #Ukraine after discussing over the phone w next of kin want to denounce fr #Russian citizenship.
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 06:55 PM.
From Moscow Military Review--concerning fighting in the Ukraine.
http://www.interpretermag.com/moscow...n-novorossiya/
Straight from the horses mouth--this is the deep reason I keep repeating--one must read everything--it is all there and in the open:
August 29 – Voyennoye Obozreniye, an online Moscow journal directed at the Russian military and military analysts, has published a list of seven targets Russian forces are likely to attack in the course of what it describes as “the probable future of the war for Novorossiya.”
Of course, which ones the Kremlin and Russian commanders will attack and in what order depends not only on Ukrainian resistance but also on the reaction of the West to Moscow’s moves. But this list itself says something about the nature and scope of Vladimir Putin’s intentions in Ukraine.
While the fighting in eastern Ukraine is intense and while not everything is going well for Russian and pro-Moscow forces, the post suggests that it is nonetheless possible to speak about “major breakouts” as it describes these actions or attacks as they would certainly be perceived by the Ukrainian side.
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 06:31 PM.
The worst excuses Russia has given for its forces being in Ukraine
1. They were volunteers
“
There are Russian volunteers in eastern parts of Ukraine. No one is hiding that„
•Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin
2. They are from video games
Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, commenting on reports about the satellite images on Friday said previous imagery was from video games and the Nato photos “happen to be much the same quality”.
“It’s not the first time we’ve heard wild guesses, though facts have never been presented so far,” he said according to Russia Today.
3. It was an aid convoy
Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia of a “flagrant violation of international law” when its aid convoys entered Ukraine without its permission, the BBC reports.
4. It was an accident
After Ukraine said they had captured ten Russian soldiers in Ukraine, near the Russian border, Russian officials said the whole thing was a misunderstanding, reports the BBC.
“
The soldiers really did participate in a patrol of a section of the Russian-Ukrainian border, crossed it by accident on an unmarked section, and as far as we understand showed no resistance to the armed forces of Ukraine when they were detained.„
•Russian defence ministry source to Russian news agency RIA Novosti
5. They were on holiday
Pro-Russian separatist Alexander Zakharchenko claimed Russian soldiers in Ukraine were just “on holiday, the Guardian reports.
“
And moreover, I’ll say it openly, we also have current soldiers, who decided to take their holidays not on the beach, but among us. „
•Alexander Zakharchenko
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 06:51 PM.
kaur---another Russian SOF team killed west of Kiev.
BREAKING The eliminated #Russian RDG (Разведывательная-Диверсионная Группа) team 4 was killed in south.
pic.twitter.com/8IIIQQaPbJ
The #Russian RDG unit was eliminated in #Lysyche, near #Amvrosiivka, #Donetsk region, NOT west of #Kiev.
pic.twitter.com/raa1V2frZw
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 08-29-2014 at 08:13 PM.
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