The excuses are already beginning as to why the Ukrainian couneroffensive has amounted to nothing other than more stalemate after receiving billions in military aid. What does that mean? You guessed it. They need more American money and weapons including cluster munition warheads designed to maximize casualties. That means lots more civilian deaths. Way to go Joe! This is working out well. No need to find a solution. Just let the war go on and on.
The Great Fun the Russians had last weekend make me believe the war won't go on an on. A 480 mile drive from Rostov to Moscow, stopping 120 miles short. 80 % of the way. Until Prigozhin lost his nerve. It takes more than ordering men to be murdered with a sledgehammer to show your tough. Prigozhin showed to history that he is not tough. Not tough the way Zelensky is. Or even Mike Pence.
Where was the Russian army? Where was the Russian National Guard? Where was the Russian Air Force. A moderate amount of air power should have been able to stop a moderate size force like that. An army force is most vulnerable to air power when it is on the move. Only a minimum response was made by the air force, and less by the army.
The armed forces have no loyalty to Putin. They were just standing around to see what would happen. No wonder Putin sounded so panic, comparing himself to Nicolas II. Fearing another 1917.
Question:
In all of history, where have we seen an army go through what the Russian army did last week, and continue on to fight a "Forever War", for another 10 years? For another 5 years? The British had nothing like this happen in the American Revolution, but managed to fight on for 6 years before throwing in the towel.
I can't think of anything similar. Can anyone?
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I don't think the Ukrainians have started the real offensive yet. If they have, they have made a mistake. They should wait until the ground dries out from the flood caused by the Russians blowing the dam. Along the Dnipro river. And maybe the ground where the reservoir was upstream may dry out under the hot Ukrainian sun. Once the ground has dried out as much as possible, Russians will have to send forces back to the west to defend these regions. Only then will the Russian lines be thinned out enough to give Ukraine it's best chance. I hope Ukraine waits till the best moment and don't rush things just to get something to happen before some NATO meeting.