War

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
I want you to be right. I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other.

Just putting this out there to show a different side to the story.


Ukraine proves it can beat Russia. But don’t expect a quick victory.
No one should think these recent successes mean Putin will be conceding any time soon.

The good news:

Over the past week, a surprise offensive by Ukraine in northeastern Kharkiv province liberated more territory in six days than Russia captured in months of slow-paced warfare this summer. The advance, spearheaded by tanks and motorized infantry, was the sort of fast-paced mobile warfare that Russia tried and mostly failed to pull off in the first month of its invasion of Ukraine.
It was also an effective deception operation. Kyiv had loudly touted plans to counterattack in southern Ukraine’s Kherson province, and it did actually initiate that campaign on Aug. 29. But all the while, Ukraine’s military quietly mustered a second force of elite brigades in Kharkiv province in the east, even as Russia was pulling its best troops out of the region to prepare for the Kherson attack.

That meant once Russian defenses in Kharkiv were overrun, the Kremlin had no substantial local reserves to break the counteroffensive’s momentum. Now pro-Russian military bloggers even fear that Ukraine has quietly husbanded a third counteroffensive force aimed at cutting President Vladimir Putin’s coastal land corridor to Crimea and Kherson in the south.


The counter argument for a rapid victory:

Some of Ukraine’s strategy, as well, could extend the timeline to allow the country to capitalize on certain opportunities. While Ukraine’s counteroffensive in Kherson has made some progress, it has gone more slowly than the rapid gains in the east because of the heavier concentration of Russian forces. An optimal strategy would give time for Russian defenses to corrode from within and collapse, as Ukraine has repeatedly knocked out the bridges these forces depend upon for resupply and reinforcement. An overly rushed assault risks heavy casualties and more destruction of Kherson itself.

The risk that the coalition could soon change shape:

The winter could also provide Moscow with opportunities to cut down Western military support. In retaliation for sanctions the European Union has imposed on Russia’s energy sector, Moscow has accelerated restrictions on fuel going to Europe and no doubt hopes that the coming cold weather will cause shortages and skyrocketing bills while people need to heat their homes. Russian gas has already declined from 40% to roughly 15% of the E.U.’s total consumption, and the Kremlin hopes further reductions could compel European states to come begging for reduced prices in return for lifting economic sanctions and decreasing military aid to Ukraine.

It’s also possible the Republican Party could recapture the U.S. House and even the Senate in the midterm elections in early November. While some in the GOP have supported military aid to Ukraine, a significant contingent on the Trumpian right is inclined to follow the former president in objecting to such support and could more effectively obstruct U.S. aid packages if it gains power. Moreover, a worsening economy could make sustained military largesse for Ukraine harder for Democrats to back, as well.
At this point it's all opinion, mine included, I tend to follow US retired general Ben Hodges, he's been right on a few occasions. The point is, opinion varies among the experts, so that allows a bit more freedom in speculation. Putin already lost the war, how badly remains to be seen, this is now a completely different war than the early days when everybody was scrambling and innovating as best they could. I think the Ukrainians are blessed with brilliant military leadership, that's what many of the pros say about the guy running their show, they didn't just get lucky with Zellenskiy. The quality difference in military organization and leadership is stark between the Ukrainians and Russians, so is the morale, people have to believe in what they are fighting for.
 

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
Actually they were staging points for MacArthurs return to the phillipines and would have easily been avoided with Nimitz’ plan to go around them.
I won't get into the details of the Pacific campaign, but at the time someone was convinced enough to waste life and treasure on them. A better example might be the Aleutians, the only US territory invaded by Japan.
 

printer

Well-Known Member
Are you busy?
I would like to be a part of the project but could use some people that get the chemical reaction side of the story. When I did work at a rocket plant one of the chemists took me outside and showed me him getting rid of a formulation into the snow. He had a syringe full of fluid and as he squirted it out it began to combust in the air. They were coming up with a new formulation to be used as flares to protect fighters from missile attacks.
 

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
This illustrates the disorganization, callousness and stupidity of the Russians and why they are losing in Ukraine. They need to unload those cars and send them back to Ukraine for another load, because there will be a lot more trainloads coming. Dig a trench along the side of the track and dump them in it at least. Do the minimum FFS

 
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printer

Well-Known Member
Antonov called the condition of the military conflict between the Russian Federation and the United States over Ukraine
Deliveries of ATACMS operational-tactical missiles to Kyiv could lead to a war between Russia and the United States. This was stated by the Russian Ambassador to the States Anatoly Antonov.

“Of particular concern is the fact that Ukraine has been seeking the supply of ATACMS operational-tactical missiles for many months, which are designed to strike targets at a distance of up to 300 kilometers <…> Such a scenario would mean direct involvement of the United States in a military confrontation with Russia,” Antonov believes, his words are reported by RIA Novosti.

Since February 24, Russia has been conducting a special operation in Ukraine in order to protect the civilian population of Donbass. The United States and Western countries during the NWO provide financial and military assistance to Kyiv. In particular, the Pentagon purchased NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) for Ukraine for $182 million. In addition, the United States will continue to supply Kiev with weapons " for the future."

WSJ: Ukraine sent the US a request with a list of necessary weapons to continue the counteroffensive. The list includes ATACMS systems
Ukraine sent the USA a request with a list of the necessary weapons to continue a successful counteroffensive in 2023.
This was reported by the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal with reference to a document that the Ukrainian government provided to American congressmen. Ukraineʼs requests came as its troops routed Russian troops in northeastern Ukraine.


The list of needs of Ukraine for offensive operations includes 29 types of weapons systems and ammunition. Among them are tanks, drones, artillery systems, more Harpoon anti-ship missiles and two thousand missiles for HIMARS. Also on the list is the ATACMS tactical missile system, which has a range of about 300 km. The Biden administration has not yet provided the system due to fears that Ukraine could use it to strike Russian territory and ignite a wider conflict with the West.

Ukraineʼs Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov told The Wall Street Journal in July that his country needed the ATACMS because Russia has longer-range rocket launchers and Ukraine has "passed the test" with the successful deployment of HIMARS, which has a range of more than 60 kilometers.

 

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
Part of the European energy plan might be developing Ukrainian oil and gas, since the pipelines pass right over the undeveloped gas fields. It might not help this year, but could have a steadily increasing impact by next year. If it's not in the plan now, high energy prices in Europe will make it part of one as the Russian threat recedes, much of the recently liberated territory has gas fields and pipelines run right over them. There will be money to be made and gas to be had, nature will follow the usual course, someone will take on the risk for the profit. We are talking about a lot of money here, hundreds of billions in potential sales to Europe per year over existing pipeline infrastructure for the most part.

 
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cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
how about the sins of the soldiers who carried out illegal orders, willingly bombed civilians, raped little girls and old women, looted homes, and tortured and killed hostages?
let’s try this.

Your neighbor’s house has been found with the dismembered corpses of a dozen schoolchildren in its basement. They then arrest and imprison you for it. Good? Bad? Why?
 

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
I think this illustrates the attitude of generations of Ukrainians, including those yet to come. Any Russian in Ukraine better make their politics crystal clear, there are a lot of angry people there and they are gonna stay angry for a long time. A generation of younger Russians is humiliated by their country's actions and it's incompetence, those online who can avoid the censorship and of course there are always radio broadcasts from the west.

 

Roger A. Shrubber

Well-Known Member
let’s try this.

Your neighbor’s house has been found with the dismembered corpses of a dozen schoolchildren in its basement. They then arrest and imprison you for it. Good? Bad? Why?
no one is responsible for the crimes that others commit, unless they expressly aided or encouraged them...
that being said, i still wouldn't let one step in my house. if that makes me a bigot, then i'm a bigot.
 
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