Russia, Ukraine and NATO 2022

[Double Switch]

Nukes....On the table?

No. It's bluster, and Biden didn't fall for it. Even on regular alert, our nuke forces and theirs get up to speed pretty quickly.

This Russia expert doesn't take nukes off the table: (long, but offers a complete picture of Putin and how he thinks)
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/ ... e-00012340

There’s lots of danger ahead, she warned. Putin is increasingly operating emotionally and likely to use all the weapons at his disposal, including nuclear ones. It’s important not to have any illusions — but equally important not to lose hope.
“Every time you think, ’No, he wouldn’t, would he?’ Well, yes, he would,” Hill said. “And he wants us to know that, of course. It’s not that we should be intimidated and scared…. We have to prepare for those contingencies and figure out what is it that we’re going to do to head them off.”

Later

Thanks, MFS62, for providing this Politico interview with Dr. Fiona Hill, whose insights and vast knowledge need wider dissemination. I agree with you that many US citizens are only vaguely aware that there no longer is an entity known as the United Soviet Socialist Republics. As for "commies," all those obedient GQPers chant "commie, commie, socialist, socialist" in that twangy monotone they affect so efficiently. They've been fact-deficient for so long, they can't keep their memes straight. I appreciate your own insights so keep them coming.

[kcmets]

Oh, my gosh. Put on a bib if you're gonna slobber on him!

[Lefty Specialist]

Pat Robertson says Putin was ‘compelled by God’ to invade Ukraine to fulfill Armageddon prophecy

When I see that headline, I can't help thinking about this:

[Edgy MD]

Pat Robertson is a serial failure when it comes to predicting Armageddon.

I think his show is called The 700 Club in honor of the number of apocalyptic events he's incorrectly predicted.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Pat Robertson is a serial failure when it comes to predicting Armageddon.

Just Pat Robertson?

Back to the war in Ukraine: The best thing that could happen is for some insider with access to Putin to take him out. Like permanently. I'd say the exact same thing for a specific certain aspect of our Domestic political situation right here in the ol' USA, but I won't.

[Edgy MD]

Pat Robertson is a serial failure when it comes to predicting Armageddon.

Just Pat Robertson?

His prediction was the one brought up above.

[Lefty Specialist]

Pat Robertson is a serial failure when it comes to predicting Armageddon.

Just Pat Robertson?

Back to the war in Ukraine: The best thing that could happen is for some insider with access to Putin to take him out. Like permanently. I'd say the exact same thing for a specific certain aspect of our Domestic political situation right here in the ol' USA, but I won't.

Vlad has been thinking about this too. It's why he has those cartoonishly-long tables for meetings.

[Edgy MD]

That a foreign head of state or head of government would allow that sort of garbage only feeds President Putin's narcissism.

[kcmets]

"I got the button right over there."
"Right, but no one person controls the button. There are safe guards."
"Maybe, perahps."

[MFS62]

Knowing how effective this would be against oncoming Russian tank and equipment columns, I think this is a great idea.
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/com ... raine-now/
That plane is exactly what is needed, now!

Later

[Double Switch]

Knowing how effective this would be against oncoming Russian tank and equipment columns, I think this is a great idea.
https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/com ... raine-now/
That plane is exactly what is needed, now!

Later

Again, thanks for providing a great link and an informative read. My only question to the writer would be why he thinks the USA still has a moral compass. It's not been in evidence for many years. Nevertheless, I have bookmarked your source.

[MFS62]

We're getting announcements of US companies no longer doing business with Russia.
What I'd like to see is a list of US Fortune 500 companies that are still doing business with Russia.

Later

[metsmarathon]

while on the face of it, i applaud the idea of "just give ukraine warplanes" it really, REALLY falls flat in the face of realistic implementation.

it's not like pulling up to the local hertz and figuring out the new rental car in the parking lot - these planes, even the venerable a-10, require a tremendous amount of training, and a huge logistical tail. you don't just pick 'em up over the weekend. to say nothing about spare parts and maintenance, and connected systems, and all the weapons and electronics and communication and targeting systems and what not.

also, not minimal is the fact that a-10s would be sitting ducks flying in contested skies against more advanced fighters. as ground support platforms they're outstanding and awesome. but they're slow, and would get shot down without air superiority in place. but more importantly, i don't know that they'd ever get into the air in the first place, given how long it would take to get a crew flightworthy.

it's really the huge advantage of handing out manpads and anti-tank missiles to ukraine - these weapons are standalone, can really be used by anyone with minimal training, and can make mincemeat of the russian armor, especially when employed by irregular combatants against an invading/occupying force.

the only way giving air support to ukraine works is by having those planes flown by their own nations. if ever the un were looking for an excuse to demonstrate their relevance, this is that time. take a stand against the unprovoked invasion of one nation against the other, and impose a no-fly zone against russia, backed by UN airpower.

[batmagadanleadoff]

With the war in Ukraine, there's hardly any Covid or Trump talk on cable TV news lately.

[Edgy MD]

it's not like pulling up to the local hertz and figuring out the new rental car in the parking lot - these planes, even the venerable a-10, require a tremendous amount of training, and a huge logistical tail. you don't just pick 'em up over the weekend. to say nothing about spare parts and maintenance, and connected systems, and all the weapons and electronics and communication and targeting systems and what not.

According to that article, (a) the airplane was designed to operate in Europe from ill-prepared facilities, and (b) pilot retraining is minimal.

I assume the readership of Defense News are frequently folks with an interest in the defense industry, and certainly an interest in old equipment finding new purpose and marketability, so take those claims with whatever amount of salt suits your taste. I can't pretend to know much of anything on the matter.

[kcmets]

What I'd like to see is a list of US Fortune 500 companies that are still doing business with Russia.

Coca-Cola and McDonald's are getting bottom scrolly bar attention on BBC.
I haven't been to an American news station or outlet in about five days now.

[metsmarathon]

it's not like pulling up to the local hertz and figuring out the new rental car in the parking lot - these planes, even the venerable a-10, require a tremendous amount of training, and a huge logistical tail. you don't just pick 'em up over the weekend. to say nothing about spare parts and maintenance, and connected systems, and all the weapons and electronics and communication and targeting systems and what not.

According to that article, (a) the airplane was designed to operate in Europe from ill-prepared facilities, and (b) pilot retraining is minimal.

I assume the readership of Defense News are frequently folks with an interest in the defense industry, and certainly an interest in old equipment finding new purpose and marketability, so take those claims with whatever amount of salt suits your taste. I can't pretend to know much of anything on the matter.

there's a difference between an ill-prepared facility and an under-equipped facility, i think. i dunno.... i read that op-ed and was just scratching my head about it. even minimal training is weeks-to-months to learn and relearn new flight systems, so that you don't have to think about it when a target starts shooting back.

it's why the idea of transferring cold war era planes from other european nations has so much appeal. they already fly those planes. but even that is fraught with difficulty as those planes are all different revisions. again, those little changes can make the difference between life and death when you have to fall back on muscle memory. and flying fighter jets in combat is definitely one of those muscle memory type things.

yes, when it comes down to it, i'm finding reasons not to save lives. but thats because i believe there are better ways to achieve the same goals that will not be as wasteful of both equipment and valuable pilots.

but i could be wrong. i'm hardly an aviation expert. just know that as interconnected as our military systems are, and as specialized as the versions we sell to foreign nations are, it's just not as easy or as quick as handing over the keys.

[Edgy MD]

Intuition would have me agree with you. As I suggested, I'm guessing that there's at least a little bit of wishful thinking sewn into that essay.

[ashie62]

The banning of Russian oil is primarily targeting the US consumer.

200-300 a barrell

[kcmets]

McDonald's is temporarily closing 8500+ Putinssarnts in the mutha land.

Uh, make that 850+... I got carried away.

[Edgy MD]

The banning of Russian oil is primarily targeting the US consumer.

200-300 a barrell

You don't actually think your government is targeting you, do you?

[kcmets]

Charging $.75/gallon more for gas an owner already had in his tank is kinda
price gouging and unpatriotic. Or a windfall, depends...

[batmagadanleadoff]

McDonald's succumbs to public pressure, shuts down all of its Russian located McD's restaurants.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/08/mcdonal ... raine.html

[batmagadanleadoff]

McDonald's succumbs to public pressure, shuts down all of its Russian located McD's restaurants.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/08/mcdonal ... raine.html

And get their quarter-pounder. It's fresh; not frozen anymore.

ttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article ... chain.html

[MFS62]

Poland has agreed to place their old MiG-29 fighters at the disposal of the US which is the first step for sending the fighters to Ukraine.
That model has been used by the Ukraine Air Force before and little, if any, training will be needed.

Later