Originally Posted by
CLazarus
Maybe dumb Americans really think Ukraine can push Russia out, there's arguably around 50% of Americans who fall into that general category. I've never expressed much hope for Ukraine to actually push Russia out. What I'm hoping for is that Russia comes apart at the seams. I read an article just the other day that talked about how that becomes increasingly likely the longer this war continues
Well, most people thought that.
An often repeated sentiment, "Hope is NOT a strategy/plan". People thought the sanctions, as well as man/material sacrifice the Russians have expended would have come to fruition by NOW.
And yet Russia continues on.....
Originally Posted by
CLazarus
especially as Russia sacrifices upwards of five soldiers for each Ukrainian one and its future economic potential is strangled by the coming decline of hydrocarbons.
And it's a well known FACT those casualty/kill ratio numbers are ALL OVER THE PLACE. I venture to gather the U.S. intelligence apparatus has a better grasp of those number than any of the reporting sources out there.
And yet, Russia continues on.....
Originally Posted by
CLazarus
Anyways, here's another development that I've noticed but have not seen anything really written about. A big advantage Ukraine now has vs. Russia is a fairly "secure" rear echelon, i.e. - Western Europe.
And its about damn time, we're almost 4 years into this conflict, with the current "hope" strategy NOT exactly working out. "Hindsight is 20/20", but imagine if that strategy was tried much much sooner? If western Europe stepped the eff up in a timely fashion, vs. simply trying to continuously throw billions of dollars (to the tune of only about 42% making it to Ukraine) at the problem?
Russia continues on.......
Originally Posted by
CLazarus
Because from here on out Russia only has its Far East, with pretty much anything to the west at risk. Lots of examples from American military history of how tough it is to defeat an enemy who has a secure rear echelon. While Ukraine is not capable of laying waste to entire factories or refineries at will, it has been doing a remarkable job of striking what Russia can't defend. It will take time for the effects to compound, but compound they will and the pressure at the seams will keep increasing.
It's been argues in the previous threads that this "isn't a proxy war". Well, just the definition of "recession", the definition of proxy war can EASILY be changed. This is VERY MUCH a proxy war, with Ukraine as the pawn of the western world trying to dismantle/destruct the Russian system. With the strategy that worked in the Cold War, we'll simply outspend them and drive them into ruin....
In the words penned by Geoff Downes and John Wetton (R.I.P.), put into music by the 80's supergroup ASIA, "only time will tell"
Russia continues on.......