Quote Originally Posted by BrentWilliams View Post
Calling it not an invasion doesn't mean we don't have a strategy. It means that we are trying to allow Russia the ability to walk this back. Disagreement with a strategy is not the same thing as not having one.
BW--like your thoughts but you tend to overlook the oblivious.

I have counted using both the EU and US offers roughly six different "off ramps" and "three trial balloons solutions" in order to "help" Putin "save face" or "find an exit".

Have you seen him take those offers--if in fact he was even interested--I for one have not.

One of the remaining serious Russian political scientists with a following in the West stated today in Moscow---Putin has made a clear decision and that is to create the "New Russia"---end of story

In fact the more the West offers in "face saving" the more he doubles down -ie four major aggressive political statements in less than four days all of which are aggressive in tone/word and focused against the Ukraine, the West, and Kazakhstan.

Does that sound like he really wants "an off ramp"?

Again go back and reread his New Generation Warfare and do the same for the topic "political warfare" and you will see where he is coming from---he is definitely not looking for "an off ramp".

If anything it is the US.EU/NATO trying desperately to "find the off ramp" before they have to truly get serious about his aggression in central Europe.

Come on BW---ego or serious threat when Putin tells the EU President he can be in Kiev in two weeks?

I would modify the Russian stance "of it ain't me" sending troops money and mercenaries into the Ukraine to "it ain't about my ego or me not understanding my own strategy".

This is the difference between Putin and say the entire West right now---he has a strategy with an end state and he is executing it to a T---the West has absolutely nothing and that includes this current President and sanctions in itself does not a strategy make.