Andy_101

Steve, I don’t disagree with your assessments, but feel they’re a bit too Utopian. Here in the U.S., we also suffer some of the same “Toadies.” I worked for 20 years for a Federal Agency that is charged with safety. I watched as a Director removed a manager who refused to certify a product his test group said wasn’t ready for certification, and replaced him with a manager he knew would follow his order to certify the product. That the Director had promised the Applicant (take note of that term), that the product would be certified by a certain date. The Director always referred to the Applicant as the “Customer.” Fortunately, the removed manager (it’s very difficult to fire someone for doing their job) resigned and contacted a Senate Oversight Committee. What resulted from the investigation and Oversight Committee was the Director’s boss, an Associate Administrator, a co-responsible Director of our sister organization both “retired,” and our Director was removed from his position of responsibility. Additionally, Congress also forbid using the term “Customer” to be used for  an “Applicant.” It was a case of the “lower-level” employees standing up to them at the risk of their own careers and pay. We were very happy to see that Congress listened to us for once instead of the Lobbies It doesn’t’ always work that way.

This is one thing - so called "Russian great-state chauvinism". Russian ideology (in Russian Empire times, or in modern Russia) rejects any thought that Ukrainians are separate nation with own hystory, language and culture. Any ideas about Ukranian statehood, independent from Russian influence summons in Russia the flow of angry. Russian ideology confess a conception of "Trynity nation of Holy Rus" - Great Russians or "Velikorosy" (Russians), Minor-Russians or "Malorosy" (Ukrainians) and Belorussians (Belarusian). Russians recognized some diffrences between them, but like minor details. For example, Ukrainian languge for them is just "rural southern Russian dialect, junked with Polonisms". So, since 17th century, Moscovian tsars, Russian emperors, Soviet leaders always opressed Ukranians, trying to turn them into Russians or later in some sort of denationalized "Soviet people". They denied Ukrainan language, repressed our cultural figures, we had many wars with Moscovia since 14 century and three in last 100 years, including the current. 
They consider independent, pro-western Ukraine as direct threat to Russia and their "trinity nation ideology". Russia consider itself like a heir of Ancient Rus' (but Rus' is not a Russia!), but there is one big problem. Hystorical core of Ancient Rus' is Ukraine - Kyiv, Chernihiv. From Kyiv the Rus' was baptized. Kyiv alredy existed, when on the place of the Moscow there was a swamps. Without Ukraine Russian conception is flawed. 
From there are weird theories, that "Ukraine ideology was invented by Austo-Hugarians (like variant by Poles) to destroy unite Russian nation". Putin tells almost the same - as if the West created modern Ukraine like "anti-Russia project"
 

I hope that the current western resupply effort included chemical weapons defense equipment and training provided.
There is a general consensus that Russian troops don’t have the training , expertise or will to engage in close urban combat. Shelling probably isn’t enough to dislodge a determined resistance and history has shown blasting built up areas creates more problems for attackers.
Some have said the Russians are recruiting Syrians because they have experience in urban warfare. These same troops may also have experience in dealing with fighting in a chemical environment too.
When Russia was warned that chemical weapons was a red line that was not to be crossed in Syria, nothing happened and who was VP then?
Syria was not the first time Russia used chemical agents. A while back they had a hostage incident and used a sleeping agent to incapacitate before going in…
Chemical or a sleeping agent would seep down low into basements and buildings.
At this point nothing should be ruled out. 
 
What about irritants commonly used in the West like tear gas, CS or pepper spray based irritants. If you’re not prepared to deal with that it can be a big disadvantage.
 
How is the west prepared for a use of chemical sleeping agent or widespread use of non lethal agents to tip the battlefield by Russia?
 
What sort of response would take place? Especially in light of Putins nuclear threat?

It is very hard to argue with this, under the circumstances. The *Russian people* are ultimately responsible for stopping this unconscionable aggressive war that their leaders have unleashed. If they do not, it is they who will bear the terrible consequences of failure.
[Sigh, I've bit my tongue on this one for a while now. Feel free to kick me out for a bit, @BFCElvis]
....That being said, I feel I must say that, like many others here, I am tired of you using your country's righteous anger as a cloak for beating the drums of anti-Russian bigotry on this board, which you have doing now, for page upon page:
- that Russians as a people are an ignorant easily gulled mob of Mongolized barbarians or bandits, deeply alien, with no indigenous culture
- that they 'live and breathe war', and that their neighbours have received nothing from them for centuries but invasion and rapine.
- Ergo, nothing but violence and treachery can be expected of such people, now and forever.
These are ancient slanders, and within living memory they carry the vile stench of Hilfswillige and gas vans.
(as noted, I have dear personal relationships who are all too familiar with where this kind of thinking leads)
...To take it further, I am a honestly a little suspicious you are presetting the table for the vengeful 'cleansing' of millions of ethnic Russians out of Ukraine once this invasion collapses and is repelled, as it will be.
I have never credited the 'neo Nazi / Banderist / Azov SS' agitprop pushed by Putin et al., nor its '2 headed coin' dog whistle, but it is surely true no side has a monopoly on bigotry, and I regret you are showing it here now.
Your anger towards Russians now is quite understandable, and I hope you are doing your bit for the defence -- but know that such binary Us/Them thinking ultimately undermines and retards the Ukrainian nation, condemning it to remain an 'Okrajina', disputed borderlands. Bloodlands.
Feel free to refute any of the above!
...Finally, in this time of crisis, I suppose the ultimate proof (or refutation) must be: how many ethnic Russian boys and Russian speakers are out there right now, fighting and dying for the blue and gold?
Slava Ukraine!  But keep your wits, remain civilised, and don't lose the peace!

OK, I’ve read just about enough of this that I can stand without commenting. While I completely understand why you feel this way, and not being one of the “boots on the ground” in Ukraine or Russia, have no place to exalt or vilify your comments. This attitude is is a prime example of the vindictiveness that led the “Victors” of WWI to level such severe reparations and conditions on Germany that it caused WWII. 
 Please try to tone it down a bit, or unfortunately, I’ll have to put you on ignore, because I don’t believe in “Stirring the S*#t.” It really is nothing except extreme prejudice of the Russian people, and no peoples anywhere deserve that attitude.

I don't know about you guys but the past days have played havoc upon my blood pressure. Never forget this, people, never forgive this.

Please don’t post Sun nonsense.  They can’t even spell “fueling.”

I wonder if the invasion of Ukraine has an unifying effect on the politically divided American population. 

When I was studying Spanish (Castilian) in high school (secondary school in some countries),I learned a poem by a Spanish poet. As it was about 54 or 55 years ago, I don’t remember the poet’s name, or even if it was written before the Franco regime. I ask in advance that Spanish speakers forgive any spelling or syntax errors. The poem, and it’s translation goes like this; “En esta Mundo tratador, nada es verdad ni mentido. Todo es la color del crystal buscamos habias.” “In this traitor world, nothing is truth nor lie. All is the color of the glasses through you look. Additionally, please look at the number 6. Remember that from a different perspective or point of view, it might also be a 9.
 
please keep those things in mind when you post, and provide actual proof from a known, reliable source when making accusations on either side of the argument.

Very interesting twitter thread here relating to Aleksandra Dugin who has apparently been a big influence on Putin's ideology/philosophy . 
https://twitter.com/TobyVenables/status/1497916322469928960?s=20&t=KzqCcXBuSmZk5cIOLfX35w

At this point I think the best thing for everybody would be if the Oligarchs took Putin out themselves.

@HaidukI'm glad to hear your okay, mate.  I can't believe what I'm seeing on the news and various other outlets, and I can't imagine how it must be for you and your family, and your country.  
I'm an amateur historical war buff with an interest in gaming, but the reality of your situation in Ukraine has really shocked me, and it's taken me from that distant academic interest to a hard and unrelenting reality.  I'm not entirely sure what I'm trying to say here.  
Please keep your head down and stay safe!  Many are thinking of you.

Easy to keep them in the dark...
Let's hope these reports are true and that Ukraine treats any prisoners well as they will return to Russia and you want them to know the truth. 

@HaidukI'm glad to hear your okay, mate.  I can't believe what I'm seeing on the news and various other outlets, and I can't imagine how it must be for you and your family, and your country.  
I'm an amateur historical war buff with an interest in gaming, but the reality of your situation in Ukraine has really shocked me, and it's taken me from that distant academic interest to a hard and unrelenting reality.  I'm not entirely sure what I'm trying to say here.  
Please keep your head down and stay safe!  Many are thinking of you.

On a little side note about perceptions:  I have heard from so many folks my generation or older how soft and weak young people are today, they're pansies who can't stop staring at phones, blah blah blah.  Yet thousands of those pansies are lining up to recieve AK47s and will probably die in the hundreds over the next few days.  Every generation has the ability to be tough and brave, it just doesn't show until they are tested.  Like all those kids who signed up for the military after 9-11.  I salute all them all. 
Now if one person could just somehow find a way to put a bullet through Putin's face.  What a monster.  Threatening nukes, threatening Sweden & Finland, threatening everyone.  He is completely insane and out of control.  I hope the russian people rise up and their brave soldiers refuse to fire on the crowds.  Those soldiers are the only thing between Putin being in charge and Putin strung up on a lamppost. 
I guess I'm just upset seeing what is happening to the good people of Ukraine, minding their own business, living in an independent country w a lot of freedom & culture & history.

with all due respect to my friend Aragorn (et al), I don't agree this is somehow the fault of the west from a military perspective.  No majority in any country in the west was ready to go to war over Ossetia or Crimea.  The only thing we could've done was sanctions.  And now Putin is warning us that he has nukes if we interfere. 
The choice for the west was get into WW3 or not over Putin's previous agressions.  So exactly what was the west supposed to do other than sanctions? 
Wokeness?  Really?  are we really talking about this absurd strawman when a megalomaniac is invading other countries?  This is all about Putin. 

Really enjoying this!

Hi, thanks for all the responses.  I'm a dunce!  I had to dismount them first.  I thought they were mobile vehicle mortars and could shoot straight from the vehicle.  Thanks again for all the help!  :)

Is this the new module?

Is this the new module?

Sorted!  Thanks Ultradave!  & Thanks Elvis!  

Aha,  you're right!  The troops are indeed there and when the vehicles arrived at their destination, out they popped!  

Thanks for the clarification @ASL Veteran
 

Thanks Ian!  I obviously wasn't paying attention!  

I played Passage At Wilcox a second time around and bossed it (prior knowledge of enemy positions helped!).  Breaking the Bank is so much harder but I'm persevering!

I played Passage At Wilcox a second time around and bossed it (prior knowledge of enemy positions helped!).  Breaking the Bank is so much harder but I'm persevering!