Ukraine - somebody explain to me

[myboynoah]

Imagine the logistics nightmare presented by a 40-mile vehicle back-up. No doubt some of those vehicles are breaking down and most are running out of fuel. Where do you start to solve that issue?

I am struck by the daily images of UA troops and civilians happening upon abandoned Russian military vehicles; and not just one or two, but several. How can an army survive that many losses? Where did the troops go? Where is the discipline?

[myboynoah]

Things not going well for the Russians. Could they be any dumber?

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[myboynoah]

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[Jeff Lebowski]

Russian front has t moved much in a week.

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[Clark Addison]

Russian front has t moved much in a week.

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As I've said before, I really don't know how much to trust a lot of the analysis and commentary, but I really hope he is right, especially on his last tweet. A couple of weeks ago, people were saying "This will show countries like China how easy it is to invade other countries and acquire territory" (with Taiwan being the obvious main target). Maybe this will actually do the reverse, and remind governments (including our own!) how messy and unpredictable wars can be.

[Jeff Lebowski]

As I've said before, I really don't know how much to trust a lot of the analysis and commentary, but I really hope he is right, especially on his last tweet. A couple of weeks ago, people were saying "This will show countries like China how easy it is to invade other countries and acquire territory" (with Taiwan being the obvious main target). Maybe this will actually do the reverse, and remind governments (including our own!) how messy and unpredictable wars can be.

Yeah, I really want to believe all this stuff but you have to be a little skeptical. On the other hand, the Russian military is mostly stalled. That seems like a fact.

[Northwestcoug]

This article details a lot of the US help to Ukraine. I think given the history of Europe and Russia, I support the Ukrainian war more than I would another region of the world, but even this level makes me a little nervous.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/06/u...e-weapons.html

[BigFatMeanie]

Taiwan is an island. An island that the United States has been selling weapons to since 1979. An island where the US Navy regularly patrols the seas around it.

China could probably obliterate Taiwan and reduce the island to rubble with relative ease, but that's a different story than invading it, subjugating the people, and installing a government controlled from Beijing. What I guess is probably most concerning to China is the international response against Russia. Having China see what's happening with Russia right now is probably one of the best things that could happen to Taiwan.

Things that aren't in Taiwan's favor are their diplomatic isolation and, frankly, racism/culturalism. The combination of diplomatic isolation and racism/culturalism make the people of Taiwan much less sympathetic to the Western world. They would be unlikely to gain as much diplomatic/corporate/cultural support as Ukraine. In addition, the economic impact felt in the west from harsh sanctions on China would be 100x the impact felt by harsh sanctions on Russia. Given the fact that most Western countries don't have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan and the economic damage the West would feel, it's unlikely the same level of sanctions would be applied and certainly not with the swiftness and unity that has characterized the sanctions against Russia.

Still, it makes no sense for China to attempt to take Taiwan by force, just as it made no sense for Putin to do in Ukraine. Unfortunately, dictators/tyrants and the toadies that support them are usually not rational actors, especially in a state-controlled information bubble like in Russia and China. So I would never put it past them to attempt a takeover by force even if it isn't rational.

[Jeff Lebowski]

This article details a lot of the US help to Ukraine. I think given the history of Europe and Russia, I support the Ukrainian war more than I would another region of the world, but even this level makes me a little nervous.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/06/u...e-weapons.html

Yes that is the article I was talking about.

[Northwestcoug]

Yes that is the article I was talking about.

Oops I missed that.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Definitely some smoke here:

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Full translation of the 2000-word document here. Fascinating.

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[originalsocal]

Definitely some smoke here:

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Full translation of the 2000-word document here. Fascinating.

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Wow! Thanks for posting this. Very interesting indeed. I read on it is that perhaps this is the FSB's way of starting the internal engine to oust Putin. Enough of the internal government that sees the ineptitude of this tyrant might bring about the change needed.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Wow! Thanks for posting this. Very interesting indeed. I read on it is that perhaps this is the FSB's way of starting the internal engine to oust Putin. Enough of the internal government that sees the ineptitude of this tyrant might bring about the change needed.

Yeah, that is the most informative thread I have seen thus far. Because it is from the other side and has a ring of truth.

[myboynoah]

Must have been one of those multiple rocker launchers that the Russians are using to carpet bomb civilians.

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[SeattleUte]

This article details a lot of the US help to Ukraine. I think given the history of Europe and Russia, I support the Ukrainian war more than I would another region of the world, but even this level makes me a little nervous.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/06/u...e-weapons.html

Wrong. We can't give Ukraine enough help short of direct engagement with Russia. The stakes could not be higher.