I don’t even know what to think anymore

[Dogheaded]

The assertion that the Ukrainians are struggling in a very difficult and overwhelming scenario is valid and 100% true.

However, the assertion in the article that somehow western training has not served the Ukrainians well and they are having to find other tactics- rather than western approaches is completely and totally bogus.

The success of Ukraine against Russia- in a clearly David and Goliath scenario- confirms beyond doubt that the combination of western training and western equipment with western leaning/receptive troops has been very powerful. The problem is not in the "western methods not working". The problem is that the Ukrainians do not have the equipment needed to carry out what the western approach would be if not constrained. The Americans and/or NATO would not spend a minute trying to clear a minefield without air support and would use long range missiles to take out Russia's air support and ammo depots well into Russia before it reached the front lines. Ukraine does it but is limited to Ukraine. Ukraine is not attempting other ,methods because western ones do not work. They are doing it cause they do not have air power and long range missiles to go with the methods. Subject to change.

Further, it should be noted, that the Russians have also been trying to carry out counteroffensives themselves in the areas they lost in winter, and have not gained an inch. And they are about to lose Bakmut before the month is over. So even though they have the overwhelming advantage in troop numbers, air power, artillery, they are making no progressive with counteroffense either. They are doing well on defense because they are dug in and heavily mined. And that is what it is and I don't try to pretty that up. But if Ukraine breaks through to the land bridge and then they dig in and set mines to defend the land that severs the land bridge while the Ukrainians take down the Crimea/Kersh Bridge, then they will be the ones with the problem.

Ask the Ukrainians what they want and they say they want air cover and long range missiles to do exactly what NATO would do, Not to abandon western training and approach but to carry it out. The west is sending in the newer tanks and has lost quite a few but the Americans/NATO would not even think of or train any Ukrainians to deploy tanks without air cover. As in any war, the militaries fight with what they are given to work with. This is true for both sides.

More to come. Subject to change from week to week. Ukraine is developing more and more home grown drones and long range missiles with each week that goes home. Let's just say,, they are not all as home grown as is represented but if they look like they were developed in Ukraine then it gets NATO off the hook. Similarly, as a colony of China now, Russia is importing supplies from China that they don't want to talk about in the light of day.

One of the countries has invaded a sovereign country as part of their war of choice. The other is a sovereign country fighting and defending their homeland. The one that is fighting a war of choice, should go home, and send a check for one trillion (Usd, not rubles) for a start on reparations.

What success? You are arriving at an apparent tautology.

 

[Dewi Sant]

Similarly, as a colony of China now, Russia is importing supplies from China that they don't want to talk about in the light of day.

I don't think Russia is embarressed by its special relationship with the PRC.
They kind of make a big deal about the BRICS economic grouping
[Brazil, Russia, India, China, S. Africa]

 

[Nick1000]

I don't think Russia is embarressed by its special relationship with the PRC.
They kind of make a big deal about the BRICS economic grouping
[Brazil, Russia, India, China, S. Africa]

True about BRICS but China desperately does not want to be sanctioned for providing war materials to Russia. They are the ones who want Russia to keep things hush-hush in that department and Xi will deal with Putin directly if he violates it. If it is not war material, then yes, they can talk up their buddy buddy relationship. China is even building Lada's for the Russians now. Such is life on China's Russian colony now,.

 

[Dewi Sant]

I would protest, but as the UK and much of Europe is a colony of the USA, I can't really comment

 

[Nick1000]

In regard to where Ukraine has been successful, Putin set out to take all of Ukraine or more.

Ukraine has successfully defended 80% of the country and stopped Russia from going beyond Ukraine.

In addition it has been part of a coalition to generate two new Nato members with more to come, including Ukraine at some point, and quadrupled Nato power in the region to ensure its survival as a nation even if it loses a piece.

Other than that, and the mass exodus from Russia with more to come as the next round of moblilization gets closer, Putin's 3-Day war has been a great success for Russia. Whan the war broke out, the best and the brightest of Ukraine lined up around the blocks to enlist. In Russia, the best and the brightest fled the country and they recruited from the prisons.

 

[Dogheaded]

In regard to where Ukraine has been successful, Putin set out to take all of Ukraine or more.

Ukraine has successfully defended 80% of the country and stopped Russia from going beyond Ukraine.

In addition it has been part of a coalition to generate two new Nato members with more to come, including Ukraine at some point, and quadrupled Nato power in the region to ensure its survival as a nation even if it loses a piece.

Other than that, and the mass exodus from Russia with more to come as the next round of moblilization gets closer, Putin's 3-Day war has been a great success for Russia. Whan the war broke out, the best and the brightest of Ukraine lined up around the blocks to enlist. In Russia, the best and the brightest fled the country and they recruited from the prisons.

Your first sentence is demonstrably wrong. Where is such a plan?

 

[Dorothea]

They're both erasing each other. One side erasing the other's history does not automatically mean the other isn't doing it either.

Fair point! It just seemed I took your comment as only Russia was doing that. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[E.C.]

Fair point! It just seemed I took your comment as only Russia was doing that. Thanks for the clarification.

Not a problem, I'm always happy to clarify! It beats arguing over misunderstandings any day.

 

[rusmeister]

Not a problem, I'm always happy to clarify! It beats arguing over misunderstandings any day.

I’m restoring the use of the word “quarrel”, rather than the modern usage of “argue”, which confuses intelligent argument by people who disagree seeking to arrive at common truth with the unpleasant kind that aims to ignore the arguments of the other. In Russian, there are two distinct words: sporit’, and ssorit’s(uh). In our time, people are losing the ability to intelligently and politely disagree (an inevitable consequence of failing to teach logic, dialectic, and rhetoric in education), and seeing disagreement only in terms of quarreling and trying to avoid it altogether, thus the rise of popularity of the inane expression, “Let’s agree to disgree”. True argument is an effort to honestly arive at common truth; “Let’s agree to disagree” puts an end to that and ensures permanent division and superficial and short-lived peace.

Since we have a perfectly good word to express the nasty kind of disagreeement, I’m doing CPR on “quarrel”. GK said, “Never let a quarrel get in the way of a good argument”.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I’m restoring the use of the word “quarrel”, rather than the modern usage of “argue”, which confuses intelligent argument by people who disagree seeking to arrive at common truth with the unpleasant kind that aims to ignore the arguments of the other.