asurob

It's war. Unexpected consequences occur in war all the time. This is one. It's sad, but I wouldn't expect anyone with half a brain to jump off the Ukraine side in terms of full support who wasn't already looking for excuses (Hungary) to do that. Most countries will remember that Ukraine was trying to defend itself from a missile attack by Russia. This, while unfortunate, will be looked at that way by all of Ukraine's allies.

This. Yes, the more extremes of the right certainly are crying about the billions going to Ukraine rather then their pet projects like the border security. But it is the extreme and vocal right. Despite the usual war between parties...both seem to agree (as do most Americans) Putin bad, Ukraine good. More bullets for Ukraine now means not having to deal with Russia later.

Ukraine's Plan to Win the War I love the infographics channel, they break things down for the most common youtube user. This was written and produced prior to putin's old man mobilization.

Not what I am saying at all. There are those who are saying if Putin toss a tac we should sit back and shrug and say oh well. "Let's not risk the world for Ukraine's freedom." Those folks don't recognize the actual struggle that is going on here. If he goes this route I more than expect the west to make him pay. I'm certainly not advocating a full Nuclear war. No one wins in World War 3. But no one won when Chamberlain came home wave paper around saying peace in our time. Russia will need to pay a steep price. Otherwise we will do this again in a couple of years with the next Putin.

He's not far off. Honestly, if you give into little vlad's nuclear blackmail...this will not be the last time he wields that tool. Next up the Baltics, or Poland or...well you get the idea. If you give into little Vlad's nuclear blackmail, next up....North Korea, or Iran when they finally sort out the details of nuclear fission. This will be the results of not responding and responding hard to Russian threats of nuclear escalation... Do you want to live in "that" world? I do not.

Biden already warned some months ago that if Chemical weapons are used in Ukraine there would be a NATO response. He kept very close to the vest what. But I'm sure he made it very clear to Russia exactly what would happen. Back channels are no doubt on fire right now.

Negative. If Russia goes nuclear, then bank on Russia being sans an air force or navy within hours after that. If Vlad tosses one, things will get interesting quickly. Unlike Vladimir's red lines, the west and NATO don't make false threats. We all may end up losing in this, but Putin most certainly will be the first loser

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have started to take the first prisoners of war from the mobilized vatniks.  The time from forced conscription to POW status is one week.

Maybe but this is at least the 2nd or 3rd time I have read that as the response to a single tac nuke. So maybe it has teeth?

If Russia uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine, the US will destroy the Black Sea Fleet, said the former commander of US forces in Europe, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges. Linky

So then Putin is closer to the window then we suspect?

I feel like we are inching towards either a battlefield nuke by the Russians or a coup and the ouster of Putin in the next week or so. It just feels like there is absolute chaos at the Kremlin right now and the idea that Putin will announce a full mobilization that would make him look bad (If things are going well comrade why do we need more troops?) given that this was a simple special military operation that has gone horribly wrong. I think we are closer to seeing tactical nukes used on the battlefield right now than anytime in my lifetime. Why am I wrong?

Not unexpected at all. Russia has been revealed to be a paper...."bear"...This is the first of many Russian client states to act up. Frankly I wouldn't be surprised to see Georgia poke the bear next.

https://twitter.com/RawStory/status/1569041954679177218?s=20&t=sFi377KZVlsru_2PKAXxJw Raw story so who knows if there is any truth to it.

AH those airfield attacks all part of what is shaping up to be a brilliant offensive...something I can't wait to hear about down the road. I gotta be honest. I have been bouncing about the house for the last week. I cannot thank you guys enough for breaking this offensive down to simpler terms (you guy predicted it a month or so ago) never mind the war down for swabbies like myself. I really appreciate it.

I wonder how far we are away from a complete collapse of Russian forces and just what that looks like. If I was Vlad I'd wonder where the hell is my Air Force and why they aren't stemming the tide here

https://twitter.com/Heroiam_Slava/status/1567935286813786112?s=20&t=OzWdpbMQq-K5BilQSQ7nbQ

So say we all!

I think it was reddit where I read Putin was looking to start some negotiations (so the reliability of the source can certainly be questioned) but given what we think the state of his army it wouldn't surprise me. I could see the Russians wanting to freeze the war right where it is...and rebuild their army for the next round. Honestly, Its his best move at this point in a sea of absolute terrible decisions if true. I think the next couple weeks is going to really be telling...but I'd love to see the invaders driven to the border...which includes all their ill gotten territory grabs from 2014.

Between this and reports that Pootler is asking for neogotians ..is it too early to begin to feel some serious optimism about how things are going?

So, Russia is learning that when you have to defend everything, really, you are defending nothing.

shrug. I could care less what sort of humor the Russians take it in. They are in the find out phase of this war. If they want the war to end all they have to do is withdraw back to pre 2014 borders. It's pretty simple.

The fact that the Ukrainian Air Force is still flying 5 months into this war shows exactly how big of a failure Putin's imperial conquest has been. Russia will never be respected for its military prowess in the world...ever.

Yeah I just read it. Thanks!

Can a quiet observer get a ballpark estimate as to what you think could happen should that trouble go hot? I know Kosovo has a very small army, but I imagine with NATO troops and air on the ground there and given the fact that Serbia's neighbors aren't big fans that could be the start of a domino that inflames the region...yet again.