[tomder55]

So you thought the ultimate goal of the NATO alliance was the expulsion of Russian forces from Ukraine ? Guess again.

There are many of our allies and some of the compliant press who believe the goal should be the partition and break up of Russia.
It is not just the break up of former Soviet satellite nations as the Atlantic recommends.
Decolonize Russia - The Atlantic

It was discussed at the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe at Helsinki .

Serious and controversial discussions are now underway about reckoning with Russia’s fundamental imperialism and the need to “decolonize” Russia for it to become a viable stakeholder in European security and stability.

Decolonizing Russia | CSCE


The 'Free Nations of Post -Russia Forum' have had 4 meetings in the last year;with a 5th planned for the end of January. planning for the break up of Russia.

Free Nations of Russia Forum - Wikipedia

At the 4th Forum, which took place in Sweden in December, the leaders of the nations of the post-Russian space signed a declarative but important symbolic act – “Memorandum on the termination of the Russian Federation.”

The 5th Forum of Free Nations of Post-Russia will be held in the European Parliament - Russia Vs World

Does anyone pretend to think that Russia is not aware of these discussions throughout the western world ? How could they possibly be enticed to the peace table knowing what the ultimate plan for Russia really is ?

[tomder55]

Meanwhile Germany ;a nation that had difficulty delivering 5,000 helmets to Ukraine , is balking at sending even the small number of Leopard tanks to Ukraine that was mentioned , Yesterday under extreme pressure from the US war party ;they reluctantly agreed that Poland should send some of their Leopard tanks .Combined if Germany approves would be the delivery of 100 Leopard tanks from all allies . Even that number would make a minimal impact on the war IF used correctly in joint arms operations .

Ukraine would accept delivery . But in truth they would prefer the gas guzzling Abram M1 tanks .
The war party Senator from my state Lindsey Graham wants the US to send some. Def Sec Austin and Joint Chief's chair Milley oppose it . Germany sees our reluctance as a signal that they should balk about the Leopards .

Milley and Austin have correctly cited how long it takes to train personnel to operate the tanks and how difficult the tanks are to maintain. The M1s will end up in the bone yards of Ukraine. They most likely do not even have sufficient fuel to operate them long term.

Clueless Joe 's position is that he will do anything to prolong the war to slowly bleed Russia and Ukraine ;as long as it is not escalatory . So another new $1.08 billion military aid package for Ukraine is on the docket

Significant New U.S. Military Assistance to Ukraine - United States Department of State

money money money money money money ......................................

[jlisenbe]

We'll see how willing the repubs are to take a stand on the issue of deficit spending and pretending we have money that, in fact, we have only in the fantasies of politicians.

[tomder55]

I'm hearing that the real German reluctance is that the German defense establishment is concerned that it would expose the fact that their expensive weapon systems have a low rate of readiness . Poland is more than willing to dump their arsenal on the Ukrainians but only if the US replaces them with M1A1 Abrams .

This is a poker game where the players are using everyone else's cards . It is the western nations virtue signaling that they are more committed to the defense of democracy than their neighbor. The Brits will contribute a whole 14 Challenger II from their arsenal.


What value are they to Ukraine ? Almost none. They use a lot of fuel that Ukraine does not have. They take extensive training . They need a lot of logistical support on the battlefield .

Let's say some Ukraine soldiers could be trained to operate them ..... who is going to do repairs in the battlefield ? Are we sending contractors to service the tanks ? And we are not talking one model of tanks .We are talking 3 ;a hodgepodge collection that is supposed to be forged into a joint operation force on the fly.

The reason the Ukrainians have had a degree of success to date against old Soviet era Russian tanks is that the battlefield has favored defensive operations . As previously mentioned ;the tank does not stand up well against precision guided anti-tank weapons and drones .

So the Ukrainians get these new expensive toys from the West ;rushes them to the field with barely trained troops operating them against a dug in Russian force who are armed with their own anti-tank weapons(Kornet) ,

Russia Using Its Kornet Anti-Tank Missiles on Battlefields in Ukraine (businessinsider.com)

The Ukrainian tank units will be extremely vulnerable .



The longer this war drags on the more the reality plays out . Russia is bigger ;has strategic depth ;has food and energy production . It has not come close to full mobilization ,

Contrast that with Ukraine. They are sacrificing a generation ;their cities ;their infrastructure . Ukraine cannot win this war militarily . It would take massive NATO intervention including NATO armed forces to change that reality .

So when do the 2 sides get to the negotiation table ? Zelensky ;bolstered by western war party promises , speaks in terms of total victory .
Why haven't they had peace talks ? Because Zelensky knows that the second this war comes to a conclusion ;win or lose ,is the time he is out of a job.

He will be held to account. There is a ton of money flowing into Ukraine . How much of it has been used on the battlefield ;and how much has been pocket lined ?

Volodymyr Zelensky dismisses several ministers in crackdown on war-time graft (telegraph.co.uk)

The most prominent head to roll was that of Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Mr Zelensky’s presidential office, who said on Tuesday morning that he had tendered his resignation but did not give a reason.
A charismatic and prominent member of Mr Zelensky’s team, he has built up a considerable social media following since the war began and had been responsible for rebuilding infrastructure destroyed in Russia’s winter bombing campaign.
But he had faced allegations of misusing foreign aid, after a Ukrainian media outlet reported in October that he was driving a new Chevrolet Tahoe SUV that had been donated by General Motors for use in humanitarian evacuations......................

Viacheslav Shapovalov, a deputy defence minister also left, days after Ukrainian media published a procurement contract showing his office was paying two to three times market price for basic foods for the army.

His government is one in disrepair. As more examples of this come forward will Europe continue to give it's support ? .....Will America given Quid Pro Joe's domestic distractions ?

Zelensky ran for office on an anti-corruption platform . His government is proving to be as corrupt as the former. Will a few heads rolling make a difference ?

[tomder55]

Meanwhile in Romania the US is preparing to deploy the elite 101st Airborne Division to face off across Russian troops in Moldova (Transdniester )

Army units are gearing up for a potential deployment to Europe, where they are expected to be tasked with deterring Russian aggression in the Black Sea region.
Elements from the 101st Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team and the 10th Mountain Division headquarters are preparing for the mission, the Army said in a statement Saturday.

Soldiers from 101st Airborne, 10th Mountain divisions expected to deploy to Romania | Stars and Stripes

Moldova has also requested US air defense systems .

Moldovan Defense Minister Confirms Chisinau Has Asked West For Air-Defense Systems (rferl.org)

Moldova is neutral but applying for EU status and cooperates with NATO .It also indicated last week that it wants to join NATO . NATO nations have indicated they will come to her defense. Russia is using the energy card on her .

[tomder55]

Those weapons just keep on coming . Quid just approved sending 31 Abrams M1A1 tanks . Each tank costs around $9 million How much does a round of ammo cost ? The most basic training round costs around $1,100 /shell . The more advanced are closer to $8-9,000 /round

[tomder55]

And it appears that we are arming both sides of the conflict

Putin plotting to 'grab US weapons left behind during Afghan evacuation and seized by Taliban’, Kremlin insider claims | The US Sun (the-sun.com)

It is thought Taliban fighters may have stolen as many as half a million US weapons and up to 50,000 vehicles.

The US spent an estimated £62billion on weapons and equipment to arm the Afghan army as they propped up the government after toppling the Taliban in 2001.
US documents reveal staggering numbers of guns, vehicles and military gear were handed over to Kabul - only for the Afghan forces to be washed away against the tide of Taliban advance.
Estimates state 22,174 Humvees, 634 M1117s armoured cars, 115 Maxx Pros trucks, and 549,118 machine guns, assault rifles and pistols were given over by the US.
Some 33 Black Hawk helicopters, 23 Super Tucano fighter planes and 4 C-130 transport planes were also given to the Afghan Air Force.

Other support gear was also given over, with some 16,035 pairs of night vision googles, 162,043 radios and some 8,000 trucks.

[tomder55]

In addition ;Clueless Joe is promising new US weapons to US enemies in exchange for them sending old Soviet era weapons to Ukraine.



Citizen Free Press on Twitter: "Biden has asked Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and six other Latin American nations to send their old Russian weapons to Ukraine in exchange for new U.S. military equipment. https://t.co/fyclCaM7Ji" / Twitter

[tomder55]

Now tanks are not enough . F-16s are now on the docket .

At the Pentagon, push to send F-16s to Ukraine picks up steam - POLITICO

This is ramping up quickly by my own observation of living near a Lockheed Martin production plant and the number of times in the last few days that test flights have been conducted over and around my neighborhood.

Ukraine pilots are already in the US training .I will briefly touch on the logistics .Besides pilot training ,aviation engineers need extensive training Airfields need upgrades to receive the new aircraft and made free of Russian strikes. The planes in the air are lethal . The planes on the ground are sitting ducks.

These planes do not represent a game changer for Ukraine. They typically have eyes in the sky support from AWACs The F22 and F35 have long range radar . F-16s don't . If AWACs are deployed they will be flown by American pilots giving targeting information to the Ukrainian pilots . They would have to fly in the war zone. This makes US troops active combatants .Dmitry Medvedev ;when speaking of possible deployment of the Patriot system ,warned last year that NATO personnel actively participating in the conflict will become “a legitimate target” for the Russian armed forces.

Russia Warns of “Consequences” if U.S. Missiles Go to Ukraine - NowThis (nowthisnews.com)

Without AWAC cover the plane is vulnerable to Russian air defenses .