It’s also the spring rain season so they are really confined to the roads.
I think we Americans fall into the trap of thinking we control events….or could control them if we “just did things differently”.Many mistakes were made:
Other errors followed, flowing largely from the impulse to maintain a positive US-Russia relationship. President George W. Bush, who famously said he had peered into Vladimir Putin's soul, reacted cautiously to Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia. President Barack Obama, who sought a "reset" with the Kremlin, did the same after Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine.
"Both administrations fell short in realizing the threat," Popadiuk concludes.
President Donald Trump exacerbated domestic divisions that Putin has counted on to weaken America's response to his aggression. That included Trump's own impeachment over his attempt to squeeze Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for political favors.
But Popadiuk doesn't think Trump's presidency fundamentally affected Putin's calculations. Nor does he blame President Bill Clinton's support for expanding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to include Ukraine, among other nations in Eastern Europe.
Russia's historic desire to control Ukraine, he explains, runs deeper than any of those developments. That's why he faults President Joe Biden, who released so much accurate intelligence about Putin's intentionbefore the war, for not acting on it by preemptively providing more military aid.
"If you knew they were going to attack Ukraine, why didn't you give them everything they needed ahead of time?" Popadiuk says. "We needed to get ahead of him."
What are you, a Sith Lord?I think we Americans fall into the trap of thinking we control events….or could control them if we “just did things differently”.
Twitter wouldn't translate that one in my browser:
The Pentagon had the same assessmentReally? Ukraine did not really have a chance? Whatever, Keane.
This! Living in Europe made me believe that America could cease to exist and the rest of the world would make very minor adjustments and be fine.I think we Americans fall into the trap of thinking we control events….or could control them if we “just did things differently”.
Yeah, I would think this is a quite normal feeling in Europe. Not sure it's a smart sentiment given current conditions though.This! Living in Europe made me believe that America could cease to exist and the rest of the world would make very minor adjustments and be fine.
[wink wink]This is a VERY good thread. If the US really wanted to help Ukraine with more modern NATO weapons, they could do it quickly with private military contractors. Zelensky could declare them as part of the Ukraine Foreign Legion for legal purposes, etc. All it takes is money.
At least do it for Patriot anti-missile defense, Abrams tanks, and artillery. Maybe dust off a few A-10s😎.
JFC. I see stuff like this and get so mad. A man murdered. His wife and some brutalized. F******s even shot the family dog before torching the place. I’d love to sit every weak willed Western politician down and force them to watch that. Then I realize that’s barely half the issue. All those ME leaders that are enabling Russia. The asss monkeys at Goldman Sachs working angles to make a buck off of this war. China. The ass monkeys at Fox…
In fairness, they're trying to justify a really big budget, and that's easier before the other guy puts on a clown show.The Pentagon had the same assessment
If judging just by the info in this thread, Ukraine is winning this war and might be able to expel Russia from all territories pre 2008. Wars are a bitch however. Who knows what can transpire moving forward. How far will Russia go? I think it’s impossible to come to a conclusion, especially considering we are all armchair viewers of this war.Again, thanks to everyone for sharing so much in this thread.
For those that are able to get a good sense of what's happening, who do you think will ultimately win this war? At this point is Ukraine doing what they need to do, with help from others, to hold onto their country?
Keane is Michael Flynn’s wingman. He is a moron.Really? Ukraine did not really have a chance? Whatever, Keane.
I’ve seen other reports on this convoy. Hopefully the Ukrainians have the capability to exploit this. The Russians are still making Day 1 logistical mistakes.
For the most part I agree. For Putin, I disagree. What you wish for us utopian in nature. It won’t happen. Putin controls his environment. There won’t be anyone from within to be the savior. They are either brainwashed to believe he’s the one or lack the conviction to make an attempt on Putin’s life out of fear.Battlefield killing is different than “nation building” killing. The Russians need to determine the time and place of leadership change.
Imagine our reaction to Presidential assassination by a foreign entity…
What would Putin do about it?[wink wink]
"Here's a Patriot missile battery, some F-16s, and some M-1 tanks"
"Uncle Sam is paying the guys using this equipment and yesterday they were in the US military."
"But the US isn't involved and this totally shouldn't be seen as the US getting directly involved."
[wink wink]
What if Putin doesn't accept the charade as presented?
BTW, is this any different than what Erik Prince was trying to sell Trump for a permanent 'non-US' presence in Afghanistan?
Sure. A four star moron.🙄Keane is Michael Flynn’s wingman. He is a moron.
Flynn had 2 stars. Keane was a general who retired 20 years ago and now gets paid for political commentary. He also has extensive business ties that are a little on the icky side, especially in trying to transfer nuclear technology to SA.Sure. A four star moron.🙄
Keane is Michael Flynn’s wingman. He is a moron.
Does the foo shit? (Shoe fit?)I thought Flynn was a Putin apologist? You're saying Keane is as well?
Keane is most certainly not a Putin apologist.Does the foo shit? (Shoe fit?)
Some of the military experts insist the training curve on these make them much less effective than supplying them Soviet era arms they are used to.This is a VERY good thread. If the US really wanted to help Ukraine with more modern NATO weapons, they could do it quickly with private military contractors. Zelensky could declare them as part of the Ukraine Foreign Legion for legal purposes, etc. All it takes is money.
At least do it for Patriot anti-missile defense, Abrams tanks, and artillery. Maybe dust off a few A-10s😎.