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This might be a little tougher than Putin thought...

As we have seen over and over, though, every country moves these "red lines" constantly. Technically, Putin said NATO/U.S. has already declared war on Russia due to arming Ukraine.

I think I could get behind a limited escalation -- start with providing Patriot batteries and those Polish MiGs and maybe more high-tech U.S. stealth drones and a limited NFZ.

At some point, Putin's bluff must be called and I'd rather do it while the Russian army is weak/distracted/engaged.
I don't know why we won't provide the Mig's requested with as much other things as we've given. I don't know that the Patriot package does them any good without also supplying trained people to operate them.

I would love to see us provide them Migs and some drones to start taking on entrenched Russian positions however.
 


Well this would explain why you see so few bodies in those videos of destroyed Russian columns. Most casualties are probably crispy critters stuck inside :oops:
He was on CNN yesterday. He basically said the same thing. Each vehicle kill is a minimum of three people dead. They’re burning up inside and it’s got to be incredibly demoralizing for the remaining crews, which is why they abandon vehicles so easily.
 
I don't necessarily disagree with your position -- I keep vacillating between "do more" and "be prudent."

But I would ask you to answer this question honestly:

If the mere suggestion/threat of Russian nukes can paralyze all of NATO and the West, what is to stop Putin from picking off one country after another while saying "And you can't do anything about it, because we have nukes."

Do we allow him to conquer every single non-NATO former Soviet republic?
My opinion?

We do exactly what we're doing now. This administration has handled this very well so far, IMO.

1) Support for the non-NATO countries, weapons, rations, aid, intelligence, and financially.
2) Keep sanctions in place, putting more restrictive ones as need be. We're just starting to see their impact on the supermarkets there, wait a few more weeks and see what it looks like.
3) Keep putting pressure on what remaining allies they have.
4) Do what we can for opposition groups inside of Russia, getting non-state approved information out.
5) The POS is 70 and likely in bad health from many reports. I guess at some point you cross your fingers and pray someone takes him out or dies in his sleep, and someone less bad (hard not to be) takes over.

If we stick to these, they're going to have a hell of a time opening up other theaters in other fmr. Soviet states. They'll likely only bleed out faster.

Another question -- if we are so afraid to use our military against a global bully that is murdering babies, the elderly, targeting hospitals and schools -- why the F---K are we spending BILLIONS on conventional weapons if we aren't willing to use them to stop humanitarian atrocities and the attack on a sovereign state?
Are we keeping them to ourselves? Also, if a NATO country is attacked, we would very much be using them, IMO. That has clearly been NATO's line in the sand stance since this started.

90gr4eao_us-javelin-missiles-ukraine-reuters_625x300_20_March_22.jpg



Also, I could post 40 news stories on atrocities by other POS dictators in East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Are you suggesting we roll in with M1A1s, F-22s and our big swinging dicks to take care of them all? Serious, that's my honest question to you.
 
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Do you have any relevant training? If not, it'd probably be better for everyone if you stay away.

Ukraine requires it:


My friend, I spent 2003-2004 in Baghdad. I have relevant training. Now am I in shape to be a young soldier? No. But I still have my wits and if I can help, I will.

I earned Combat Army Badge. Have you ever had shots fired at you? Rockets? Mortars?
 
He was on CNN yesterday. He basically said the same thing. Each vehicle kill is a minimum of three people dead. They’re burning up inside and it’s got to be incredibly demoralizing for the remaining crews, which is why they abandon vehicles so easily.
Human remains, at high temp, basically leave bones only. These bones are grey in color. Look closely. You can see them. You should see parts of the rib cage. These are what is usually left post cremation and what are crushed to make "ashes." Look closely. You can see them ;)
 
My friend, I spent 2003-2004 in Baghdad. I have relevant training. Now am I in shape to be a young soldier? No. But I still have my wits and if I can help, I will.

I earned Combat Army Badge. Have you ever had shots fired at you? Rockets? Mortars?
Good news, my friend's wife needed a new passport for their upcoming Dominican trip. Sounds like you can get a super rush on your passport if you show them proof of travel within 5 days.

Good luck.
 
The below suggests that they need to be close to the front because their communications are jammed, the NCOs will not initiate combat on their own, and Ukrainian snipers are quite talented.


I saw this too. . . I think it goes along with the general theme of their military being poorly trained. The NCO's won't move their troops without explicit orders where as better trained troops and NCO's would take intiative and act in the absence of orders.
 
Also, I could post 40 news stories on atrocities by other POS dictators in East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Are you suggesting we roll in with M1A1s, F-22s and our big swinging dicks to take care of them all? Serious, that's my honest question to you.
I'll answer honestly with my opinion - I actually DO have a double standard when it comes to Europe. The U.S. is part of the "West" and this attack on a sovereign democratic, Western nation demands more response from us than tinpot dictators and warlords in third world countries and areas of the globe not as impactful to U.S. strategic needs.

Maybe that makes me "racist" but I don't think so. I think it makes me a pragmatist.
 
My friend, I spent 2003-2004 in Baghdad. I have relevant training. Now am I in shape to be a young soldier? No. But I still have my wits and if I can help, I will.

I earned Combat Army Badge. Have you ever had shots fired at you? Rockets? Mortars?
You also have a sweet camel tooth jacket -- perfect Ukrainian spring wear.
 
I'll answer honestly with my opinion - I actually DO have a double standard when it comes to Europe. The U.S. is part of the "West" and this attack on a sovereign democratic, Western nation demands more response from us than tinpot dictators and warlords in third world countries and areas of the globe not as impactful to U.S. strategic needs.

Maybe that makes me "racist" but I don't think so. I think it makes me a pragmatist.
Hey, at least you're honest.
 
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I don't necessarily disagree with your position -- I keep vacillating between "do more" and "be prudent."

But I would ask you to answer this question honestly:

If the mere suggestion/threat of Russian nukes can paralyze all of NATO and the West, what is to stop Putin from picking off one country after another while saying "And you can't do anything about it, because we have nukes."

Do we allow him to conquer every single non-NATO former Soviet republic?

Another question -- if we are so afraid to use our military against a global bully that is murdering babies, the elderly, targeting hospitals and schools -- why the F---K are we spending BILLIONS on conventional weapons if we aren't willing to use them to stop humanitarian atrocities and the attack on a sovereign state?
The suggestion that NATO is paralyzed is nonsense.

All of you saying to bring on the NFZ and other more aggressive tactics because Putin will never launch nukes - what if your wrong?
 
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My friend, I spent 2003-2004 in Baghdad. I have relevant training. Now am I in shape to be a young soldier? No. But I still have my wits and if I can help, I will.

I earned Combat Army Badge. Have you ever had shots fired at you? Rockets? Mortars?

No.

Do you have a wife and kids?

If so, I'd stay home for them.
 
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I'll answer honestly with my opinion - I actually DO have a double standard when it comes to Europe. The U.S. is part of the "West" and this attack on a sovereign democratic, Western nation demands more response from us than tinpot dictators and warlords in third world countries and areas of the globe not as impactful to U.S. strategic needs.

Maybe that makes me "racist" but I don't think so. I think it makes me a pragmatist.
I do buy your "impactful to US strategic needs" as a reasonably pragmatic and sufficient reason. Rest of your post imo though paints your humanist attributes in less than favorable light. That said, even from a pragmatic pov, considering that the russians are reported to have 20K+ dead and at least 40K (inferred) out of action leaving putin with a littleover of half his forces, we should just stay the course without committing troops.
Also, if we get bogged down here and internal public opinion whip saws, we might end up seeing a much worse situation arise wrt china (who would pragmatically assess that we are less capable of addressing anothing front and proceed accordingly.) Keeping our powder dry (particularly after coming out of so many years of engagement) and consolidating is in our best interest.
 
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I appreciate the advice. It's going to take some time to get updated passport. But I have always done service, and I think that my posts on here are not doing enough. I feel compelled to serve the greater world. Am I crazy? probably. Would I find death alright knowing I did humanity a fist bump good. Yes.
Wife just renewed her passport. The website says 8-10 weeks I believe, but she got her new passport within 2-3 weeks, fyi. She did not pay for the expedited service.
 
I'd be in favor of a European-led (and 100% European manned) peacekeeping force. Have the coalition be a mix of NATO and non-NATO members. Let the Europeans clean up their own backyard by themselves with us providing materiel and intelligence assistance only. Heck, have it be only non-nuclear states (believe only France and UK are known nuclear powers in Europe no?)

I think that is a more prudent level of escalation and involving non-nuclear states only would send the message the coalition is committed to conventional warfare only.
 
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