this is a great piece. I read it and it renewed all the anger I've tried to keep down for American leadership.
Incredible to imagine that the U.S. and western Europe were handed an opportunity with a developing, investment-ready, democracy yearning nation with both the courage and the martial skill to fight the Russians, something that could have (and still can be!) a new bulwark of NATO, and so far we've treated it like an afterthought.
Or worse, some are eager to give it to the Russians.
On a totally random note, does anyone else think that Senator JD Vance probably reeks of cheap vodka from St. Petersburg?
I care not for either Ukraine or Russia, it is their little war not mine, not my grandsons and not on my dime. Both can go urinate up a line made of rope.
The fate of Ukraine is not up to a wishy-washy USA, but a test of Europe's resolve and will. It's up to them if Russia will be allowed to do this, as they will inevitably endeavor to do again and again if given the chance. Poland and Lithuania know what's at stake, but the fat and comfortable nations to their west are always more than capable of ignoring evidence.
This is the gist of it...”At a relatively modest cost in our treasure and almost none of our blood, we are wearing down Russia’s ability to project power for a generation, perhaps two.”
Ukraine being part of NATO was an existential threat for Russia.
Please note that countries decide what constitutes an existential threat for themselves. In 2014, when Ukraine asked for NATO membership, Russia was very clear on this being unacceptable.
I don’t excuse or support Russia invading Ukraine, but if we had told Ukraine “No NATO” in 2014 (or later) this war wouldn’t have happened.
Now that they have, and Ukraine can’t throw Russia out, they need to make a deal, and wait for another day.
I don’t fear Russia invading a NATO country, because NATO is a nuclear armed peer competitor.
Further, Ukraine lost my support (which I thought would be impossible given what the suffered under the USSR) when they told the FBI to lean on social media companies to censor Americans.
Ukraine is in Europe, so Europe must step in. Germany, France, Spain, Poland, all the eastern Europe nations, must act, because the United States cannot do it ALL. Germany, especially, (but really ALL of them) have been free-riding on the US to keep NATO running. But with our own economy in the tank (FJB) and the US under literal invasion from the south, we can't strip our own defenses bare to give Zelinskyy another yacht (he has two!) and another million dollar shopping spree for his wife.
And it's terrible that the Democrats had been using Ukraine as the place to launder their money. But I can't manage to feel sorry for them there.
There was maybe an argument for slow walking certain types of aid in the name of caution and salami-slicing, but at this point I think that's run through most of not all the credibility it had.
This will be a long war. Ukraine should have all the material it needs.
I think European and American reserves of support are deeper than the commentariat can make it seem, but that doesn't excuse our sloth.
Russia was, and is, our greatest enemy. There are few better uses of our tax dollars than using them to murder Russian soldiers occupying another nation's land.
Well done, CDR S. Why we, as a nation, are burdened with elites who have an unbreakable record of mishandling war, I’ll never understand. The recent release of intelligence that the Russians continue to experience great losses of troops and equipment makes a very strong case that Russia may be crazy to persist in loosing people and gear. So, let them be crazy! The sad case is national leaders who have no understanding of the value of an enemy bleeding and bleeding without a single American fatality.
The price is cheap for an effective cost-imposing strategy.
America, be patient. Help the democracy (at least an attempted democracy) with war material. Stalling hasn’t and won’t help. At best, it will only contribute to our stupidity in allowing the Hamas fans to work on the anti-Semitic urges of that same American elite.
Thank you for such a lucid statement. America is being hijacked by third-rate, self-serving "writer-politicians" like JD Vance, pseudo-Ukrainans like Victoria Spartz, and ignoramuses who worship the ground the Orange Menace walks on. We need lucidity and boldness.
Whilst I tend to align with CDR Sal on stopping Russia (who still uses the maps of 1988), our current level of funding Ukraine winds up being a cost of $336, 507 per Russian soldier killed/seriously wounded and out of commission. Can we just pay them $400K per and call it a day? We don't need to send M-1 Abrams, just send them 1000 drones per day and eventually Putin will realize that 30,000 casualties per month is not sustainable.
And in a "Eureka" moment (doubtlessly enabled by a generous pouring of Henry McKenna 10 yr - thanks Matt-add another log please) why don't we corral all the 18-30 year old illegal immigrants on the southern border and ship them to Ukraine? Including all those 20-something Chinese). 2 weeks of basic and off to the trenches they go.
Sending F-16s, M1 Tanks, ATACMs, Patriots, and all the DPICMs (i.e., cluster munitions) that Ukraine can take is low risk to the US. It is a cliché, but Iran and China is watching -- we need to stop looking weak
Sorry. We've being invaded here in Texas and that should be our number 1 national defense priority.
As for Ukraine, George Friedman, Founder and CEO of Stratfor, said the overthrow of Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014 "... really was the most blatant coup in history.”
I'd have to agree.
Obama, Brennan, and team Davos were behind the coup which used so called "neonazis" as the street muscle. And just as the CIA support- albeit via our good, pro west, friends in the ISA - to Al-Quaeda brought increased islamic terrorism to the US, the CIA supported training of nazis in Ukraine has brought us 'Boneface' McLellan and, in New Zealand, the Mosque shooter.
Now the FBI (conviently) says white supremicists are the greatest threat to the US.
As Ambassador Molari would say, "Good job".
Let Zelenski and Victoria Nuand pass a hat among the billionaires for support.
this is a great piece. I read it and it renewed all the anger I've tried to keep down for American leadership.
Incredible to imagine that the U.S. and western Europe were handed an opportunity with a developing, investment-ready, democracy yearning nation with both the courage and the martial skill to fight the Russians, something that could have (and still can be!) a new bulwark of NATO, and so far we've treated it like an afterthought.
Or worse, some are eager to give it to the Russians.
On a totally random note, does anyone else think that Senator JD Vance probably reeks of cheap vodka from St. Petersburg?
Spectacular, my friend.
I care not for either Ukraine or Russia, it is their little war not mine, not my grandsons and not on my dime. Both can go urinate up a line made of rope.
Cogently put. I agree with all f the points made. Thank you.
The fate of Ukraine is not up to a wishy-washy USA, but a test of Europe's resolve and will. It's up to them if Russia will be allowed to do this, as they will inevitably endeavor to do again and again if given the chance. Poland and Lithuania know what's at stake, but the fat and comfortable nations to their west are always more than capable of ignoring evidence.
This is the gist of it...”At a relatively modest cost in our treasure and almost none of our blood, we are wearing down Russia’s ability to project power for a generation, perhaps two.”
Ukraine being part of NATO was an existential threat for Russia.
Please note that countries decide what constitutes an existential threat for themselves. In 2014, when Ukraine asked for NATO membership, Russia was very clear on this being unacceptable.
I don’t excuse or support Russia invading Ukraine, but if we had told Ukraine “No NATO” in 2014 (or later) this war wouldn’t have happened.
Now that they have, and Ukraine can’t throw Russia out, they need to make a deal, and wait for another day.
I don’t fear Russia invading a NATO country, because NATO is a nuclear armed peer competitor.
Further, Ukraine lost my support (which I thought would be impossible given what the suffered under the USSR) when they told the FBI to lean on social media companies to censor Americans.
We shouldn’t give them any more money.
They should cut a deal and build nuclear weapons.
Ukraine is in Europe, so Europe must step in. Germany, France, Spain, Poland, all the eastern Europe nations, must act, because the United States cannot do it ALL. Germany, especially, (but really ALL of them) have been free-riding on the US to keep NATO running. But with our own economy in the tank (FJB) and the US under literal invasion from the south, we can't strip our own defenses bare to give Zelinskyy another yacht (he has two!) and another million dollar shopping spree for his wife.
And it's terrible that the Democrats had been using Ukraine as the place to launder their money. But I can't manage to feel sorry for them there.
Absolutely.
There was maybe an argument for slow walking certain types of aid in the name of caution and salami-slicing, but at this point I think that's run through most of not all the credibility it had.
This will be a long war. Ukraine should have all the material it needs.
I think European and American reserves of support are deeper than the commentariat can make it seem, but that doesn't excuse our sloth.
Russia was, and is, our greatest enemy. There are few better uses of our tax dollars than using them to murder Russian soldiers occupying another nation's land.
Godspeed
Well done, CDR S. Why we, as a nation, are burdened with elites who have an unbreakable record of mishandling war, I’ll never understand. The recent release of intelligence that the Russians continue to experience great losses of troops and equipment makes a very strong case that Russia may be crazy to persist in loosing people and gear. So, let them be crazy! The sad case is national leaders who have no understanding of the value of an enemy bleeding and bleeding without a single American fatality.
The price is cheap for an effective cost-imposing strategy.
America, be patient. Help the democracy (at least an attempted democracy) with war material. Stalling hasn’t and won’t help. At best, it will only contribute to our stupidity in allowing the Hamas fans to work on the anti-Semitic urges of that same American elite.
Thank you for such a lucid statement. America is being hijacked by third-rate, self-serving "writer-politicians" like JD Vance, pseudo-Ukrainans like Victoria Spartz, and ignoramuses who worship the ground the Orange Menace walks on. We need lucidity and boldness.
Whilst I tend to align with CDR Sal on stopping Russia (who still uses the maps of 1988), our current level of funding Ukraine winds up being a cost of $336, 507 per Russian soldier killed/seriously wounded and out of commission. Can we just pay them $400K per and call it a day? We don't need to send M-1 Abrams, just send them 1000 drones per day and eventually Putin will realize that 30,000 casualties per month is not sustainable.
And in a "Eureka" moment (doubtlessly enabled by a generous pouring of Henry McKenna 10 yr - thanks Matt-add another log please) why don't we corral all the 18-30 year old illegal immigrants on the southern border and ship them to Ukraine? Including all those 20-something Chinese). 2 weeks of basic and off to the trenches they go.
Great Essay -- thanks Sal!
Sending F-16s, M1 Tanks, ATACMs, Patriots, and all the DPICMs (i.e., cluster munitions) that Ukraine can take is low risk to the US. It is a cliché, but Iran and China is watching -- we need to stop looking weak
Sorry. We've being invaded here in Texas and that should be our number 1 national defense priority.
As for Ukraine, George Friedman, Founder and CEO of Stratfor, said the overthrow of Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014 "... really was the most blatant coup in history.”
I'd have to agree.
Obama, Brennan, and team Davos were behind the coup which used so called "neonazis" as the street muscle. And just as the CIA support- albeit via our good, pro west, friends in the ISA - to Al-Quaeda brought increased islamic terrorism to the US, the CIA supported training of nazis in Ukraine has brought us 'Boneface' McLellan and, in New Zealand, the Mosque shooter.
Now the FBI (conviently) says white supremicists are the greatest threat to the US.
As Ambassador Molari would say, "Good job".
Let Zelenski and Victoria Nuand pass a hat among the billionaires for support.