Ukraine - somebody explain to me

[Jeff Lebowski]

Smacks of desperation.

[Goatnapper'96]

Based on the people you retweet ad nauseam, one can assume you're rooting for the North Koreans again the Ukrainians and their woke NATO friends.

But hey, Trump did salute a North Korean military officer but John McCain was a loser ... The voices you trust are the same side of the war as the North Koreans.

Seriously, Republicans can quit bitching about this admins handling of Russia the minute they push back against Trump's subservience to Putin.

But on point, I think the US ought to allow Ukraine to nail targets inside of Russia with US long range missiles.

[Bo Diddley]

This is so strange. It can't be a good sign for Russia that they need North Korean support, right? Has North Korea ever been in a position where anybody has asked for their support? I wonder what China's involvement is in this.

Russia can't sustain their war effort indefinitely with the rate of attrition of their soldiers. Estimates vary. This is a way to feed the meat grinder and buy them some more time. Maybe Iran could field some help in the bad boy coalition, but they have their hands full with Israel right now.

I know it didn't happen this way so please don't spread this misinformation on the socials, but in my mind I have this scenario where Putin is offering to pay for North Korean troop support with trainloads of apples. KJU is like 'throw in some vodka and you have yourself a deal.'

[Goatnapper'96]

This is so strange. It can't be a good sign for Russia that they need North Korean support, right? Has North Korea ever been in a position where anybody has asked for their support? I wonder what China's involvement is in this.

I know it didn't happen this way so please don't spread this misinformation on the socials, but in my mind I have this scenario where Putin is offering to pay for North Korean troop support with trainloads of apples. KJU is like 'throw in some vodka and you have yourself a deal.'

The only fat guy in NK wants more than just apples.

I wonder how they will use the NK troops? Will they just be cannon fodder like Russia has been using their own in their war of attrition where they sacrifice infantry in mass wave attacks that identify where the Ukrainian forces are and then the gawdless commies attempt to cover it with their artillery.

[PaloAltoCougar]

This is so strange. It can't be a good sign for Russia that they need North Korean support, right? Has North Korea ever been in a position where anybody has asked for their support? I wonder what China's involvement is in this.

I know it didn't happen this way so please don't spread this misinformation on the socials, but in my mind I have this scenario where Putin is offering to pay for North Korean troop support with trainloads of apples. KJU is like 'throw in some vodka and you have yourself a deal.'

Agreed that it's not a good sign for Russia or for the imported North Korean soldiers who aren't battle-trained, don't speak the language of their military overseers, couldn't care less for the cause they're fighting for, etc.--they're more cannon fodder for Putin and his Stalinesque military strategy. Ukraine can plan on receiving a passel of NK defectors. But it may not be good for the U.S., either as I wonder if instead of apples and Stoli, Pooh Bear Kim insisted on Russian ballistic missile technology to improve his arsenal. [Edit: obs I was channeling my inner Goatnapper]

[Bo Diddley]

Agreed that it's not a good sign for Russia or for the imported North Korean soldiers who aren't battle-trained, don't speak the language of their military overseers, couldn't care less for the cause they're fighting for, etc.--they're more cannon fodder for Putin and his Stalinesque military strategy. Ukraine can plan on receiving a passel of NK defectors. But it may not be good for the U.S., either as I wonder if instead of apples and Stoli, Pooh Bear Kim insisted on Russian ballistic missile technology to improve his arsenal. [Edit: obs I was channeling my inner Goatnapper]

This has been my fear ever since NK and Russia started their collaboration.

[PaloAltoCougar]

This has been my fear ever since NK and Russia started their collaboration.

I'll be sitting in a lecture room Monday evening with Michael McFaul (former U.S. ambassador to Russia and of whom I'm a fan) and Condoleezza Rice. I'll probably ask them what they think about this.

[Bo Diddley]

I'll be sitting in a lecture room Monday evening with Michael McFaul (former U.S. ambassador to Russia and of whom I'm a fan) and Condoleezza Rice. I'll probably ask them what they think about this.

Oh wow, I'm jealous! Would love to hear a report later.

[frank ryan]

I'll be sitting in a lecture room Monday evening with Michael McFaul (former U.S. ambassador to Russia and of whom I'm a fan) and Condoleezza Rice. I'll probably ask them what they think about this.

Neither of them like Trump. Even though no one should question their patriotism of expertise, I'm sure they are part of the deep state.

[YOhio]

I wonder what the ratio is of North Korean troops to North Korean armed minders. Like if they send a thousand troops, do they have to send another thousand minders to make sure those troops don't defect? And who makes sure the minders don't defect?

[frank ryan]

I wonder what the ratio is of North Korean troops to North Korean armed minders. Like if they send a thousand troops, do they have to send another thousand minders to make sure those troops don't defect? And who makes sure the minders don't defect?

Good question. I think the deployment is about 10 k. The strategy seems to be trying to relieve other Russian soldiers and border guards because the North Koreans aren't great soldiers.
I'm some of them have already died in combat:
Part of what Putin has been doing has been trying to avoid deploying wealthier and ethnically White Russians when possible. That's becoming more difficult each day. Russia has lost 600 k men already in their battle against Ukraine's aggressive wokeness and simultaneous Nazi-ness.

[The_Tick]

Good question. I think the deployment is about 10 k. The strategy seems to be trying to relieve other Russian soldiers and border guards because the North Koreans aren't great soldiers.
I'm some of them have already died in combat:
Part of what Putin has been doing has been trying to avoid deploying wealthier and ethnically White Russians when possible. That's becoming more difficult each day. Russia has lost 600 k men already in their battle against Ukraine's aggressive wokeness and simultaneous Nazi-ness.

Say what?

[frank ryan]

Say what?

That's Russia's stated rationale for the invasion; and it's also being parroting by social media puppets,

It's the first time I've heard the term deNatzification.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Oh wow, I'm jealous! Would love to hear a report later.

Just got back from what may have been the best class session I've had at Stanford. Both Condie Rice and Michael McFaul were sharp, concise, and obviously very knowledgeable. They held forth on Ukraine, the Middle East, and the state of democracy in the world today which after looking so promising in the early '90s has been fading recently, due in part to what Rice has called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Nativism, Populism, Isolationism, and Protectionism. They didn't mention them, but pretty clearly one presidential candidate is more inclined toward those principles than the other. She also noted that true democracy is the institutionalization of freedom, and the protection of a society's institutions (governmental entities, a free press, etc.) is more important than individual leaders--populism isn't necessarily anti-democratic, but it's very anti-institution.

I spoke with both of them after the class and they were friendly and engaging. I told Condie (we're now on a first name basis, although sadly I'll likely never speak with her again) that I wish Mitt had chosen her as his running mate in 2012 (how cool would that have been?)--she laughed and said she'd be a terrible politician. She's probably right as her humility, sincerity and forthrightness would probably be disqualifying.

[Shaka]

Just got back from what may have been the best class session I've had at Stanford. Both Condie Rice and Michael McFaul were sharp, concise, and obviously very knowledgeable. They held forth on Ukraine, the Middle East, and the state of democracy in the world today which after looking so promising in the early '90s has been fading recently, due in part to what Rice has called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Nativism, Populism, Isolationism, and Protectionism. They didn't mention them, but pretty clearly one presidential candidate is more inclined toward those principles than the other. She also noted that true democracy is the institutionalization of freedom, and the protection of a society's institutions (governmental entities, a free press, etc.) is more important than individual leaders--populism isn't necessarily anti-democratic, but it's very anti-institution.

I spoke with both of them after the class and they were friendly and engaging. I told Condie (we're now on a first name basis, although sadly I'll likely never speak with her again) that I wish Mitt had chosen her as his running mate in 2012 (how cool would that have been?)--she laughed and said she'd be a terrible politician. She's probably right as her humility, sincerity and forthrightness would probably be disqualifying.

She is my number one wish for a presidential candidate. I've met her and she is very engaging.