I respect both commentators, so it's hard to see who's more correct. I'm not sure about the Poles. Sure, the majority of Polish people, and some officers who probably don't care too much about promotion, might be against intervention. But since when has that stopped neocon leaders from committing their nations to stupid wars?
Mearsheimer must have been picked up on somewhere along the line in Russian media or punditry (would stand to reason, as he was probably the earliest Western critic of America's role in Maidan), because, every time one of my friends or former colleagues over there (from different places and contexts, so they're not just singing from the same sheet) sends around a piece explaining the complexities of the situation to those of us in the West, it's Mearsheimer. While I sometimes think M doesn't go far enough, his softening of the rougher edges is probably a good thing in terms of winning over those with even a sliver of an open mind.
Mark, FYI. I took out an annual paid subscription a couple of weeks ago, and it never hit my CC. Thought you should know and had no other way of letting you know besides comments....
Ah, that's because I've never enabled payments of voluntary pledges, so you're not alone. I can't really explain why I haven't accepted the voluntary donations. Maybe it's because I don't want anyone to think I've staked out a position to please a constituency that pays me. I don't really know my own mind on that. As of this morning--I just checked--there are 62 pledges totaling ~$5300. I really do appreciate the intended support. Kinda funny. I didn't know how to check those numbers until yesterday. I had my grandson sitting on my lap (4 yr old) and he loves to have me navigate the Dashboard settings, and came across that page. It doesn't pop on the regular subscriber list.
I also made a pledge, but I never saw it hit my account. Thanks for updating us on this. I don’t feel I am paying you as much as I wanted to assure the great info you provide keeps flowing. Based on the many compliments from your readers you are providing an essential service that benefits us all, except perhaps Darek, he seems perturbed we are not beating up on Putin and blaming him for this mess the West is in. 🤦♂️
The catastrophic losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are announced: on average, 400 obituaries of Ukrainian soldiers are published per day
"A lot of soldiers die in Ukraine. On average, about 400 obituaries a day. November last year was the peak. About 1,100 obituaries for soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were published there in one day. In total, I counted 284,000 dead," the military expert said. Ruslan Tatarinov.
The expert obtained these data from obituaries published in the Ukrainian media and social networks: "It was enough to combine these sources. Everything is clearly visible at once."
If you think about this a bit, I think you'll see that this is all about ideology and the normalization of the concept of trans-humanism far more generally.
It's amazing to see them doubling down. Maybe they haven't heard about Disney, Bud, Target, Gillette and all the others who got stomped by going Woke. Incredible.
My Father had what they used to say back then a "good war." He was the head of MacArthur's motor pool and spent the war in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He saw no action until he met my Mother...;o) He married my Aussie mother and my eldest sister was born there and the two of them followed dad home well after the war due to issues with immigration. How different from today! Mac was highly regarded and Dad had nothing but good things to say about him.
Russia seems to be increasing its military’s ability and strength with increased modern weapons availability for its military. From missiles, ECM, missile / drone defenses, drones, tanks, artillery, etc. all the while getting valuable battlefield experience and adapting to the conflict.
Ukraine is getting weaker every day due an unsustainable casualty rate, destruction of military hardware, and lack of ammunition. And the West due to de-industrialization can’t replenish all the military hardware that has been destroyed, from stocks that were minimal to begin with.
Russia’s strategy of slowly grinding through Ukrainian forces is working, why should they change?
I'm sure the neocons will try and string it out for as long as possible. This is, after all, part of a much broader fight to the death. However, an overwhelming Russian victory in Ukraine will limit what further action the neocons can take. I would think the Russians could probably handle a few years of occasional drone strikes and terrorist acts if Ukraine is neutralised.
Mearsheimer appears to now be accepting the grossly disproportionate exchange ratio, and I believe that that realization is what has him tempering his previous position to some degree.
I saw that horrendous video about a month ago of those poor buggers trapped in a Russian minefield. I was wondering just today how the man is getting on who managed to apply a tourniquet and clamber back into the APC. I hope he survived.
I see you are trying to be the controlling opposition here. Most of us have heard your propaganda for decades. We were more ignorant then or it was better disguised than it is now, or both.
But we have watched what is wrong in D.C. stagnate and continue to get worse for generations. We can't protect our own borders, but we can help Ukraine protect hers? BS! Regurgitating MSM talking points is not going to get you agreement here. We are seeking truth, not political lies. If you want agreement, go hang out with the Washington Post crowd, or the Huffington Post crowd, or CNN's (former) crowd, etc. You know where to go - where you agree with them and they agree with you, and you can hang out there and be happy. If you do stick around here, read and try to understand how we see things. You might find yourself coming into agreement with at least some of our considered POV's. And if not, so be it.
It is clear that Russia invaded Ukraine. The murk begins with sorting out why. The Origins of War are always hidden in the mist and require great efforts by great historical to sort out. Achieving clarity will take decades assuming access to archives and interviews of participants. Is it true that we supported Ukraine’s artillery attacks on ethnically Russian people over the last 6-8 years in Eastern Ukraine? Was Putin’s hand forced by the possibility of our nuclear weapons minutes from his nuclear deterrent? Or was he just feeling jaunty one day and decided to have a war? This is decades in the making and as the old guard died off the neocons continued to push against Russia. Why choose the route of conflict with Russia? Why not attempt to bring Russia into the fold and build commerce? Was an honest approach ever tried or has it always been about domination and exploitation? Was Russia thought a defeated enemy? At the end of the Cold War was there a Marshall Plan as after WW2 or a punitive/exploitative approach as after WW1? We need them to help balance China but have forced them toward China. Is this the behavior of a commercial republic or an empire? What is the nature of our current regime? Has is needlessly sacrificed hundreds of Ukrainians in a futile war? From a moral perspective does all of this killing warrant the goals discussed? Has our leadership been demoralized and made nihilistic? If so what does this mean for us? Is it possible for Ukraine to achieve stated goals (reclaim Crimea) with inadequate material support? Russia has thousands of nuclear weapons, tactical and strategic. Ukraine was never going to win. One goal was to damage Russia? Rubble the Ruble? Was this ever realistic? What did our leadership not know? Is our intelligence this bad or did they ignore it? Russia appears stronger domestically and internationally with China supplying them a lot of war materiel. We appear weaker with inadequate defense manufacturing. Was this thought through?
Almost all news is opinion these days and the opinion starts with what news stories to discuss. Please provide examples of things that are propaganda on this substack. It seems it is meant as a counter to mainstream news where MacGregor, Mearshimer and other like them are not heard. Given the censorship that has taken place over the last few years alternatives where Mearshimer and others like him can be heard is needed. This is war with Russia, a nation with thousands of nuclear weapons and a large military industrial base. This should be debated in Congress in a serious way. Is that happening? If it was we would not be here at this Substack. Please provide other Substack that are free of propaganda, opinion and speculation that we can look at.
I respect both commentators, so it's hard to see who's more correct. I'm not sure about the Poles. Sure, the majority of Polish people, and some officers who probably don't care too much about promotion, might be against intervention. But since when has that stopped neocon leaders from committing their nations to stupid wars?
Mearsheimer must have been picked up on somewhere along the line in Russian media or punditry (would stand to reason, as he was probably the earliest Western critic of America's role in Maidan), because, every time one of my friends or former colleagues over there (from different places and contexts, so they're not just singing from the same sheet) sends around a piece explaining the complexities of the situation to those of us in the West, it's Mearsheimer. While I sometimes think M doesn't go far enough, his softening of the rougher edges is probably a good thing in terms of winning over those with even a sliver of an open mind.
Mark, FYI. I took out an annual paid subscription a couple of weeks ago, and it never hit my CC. Thought you should know and had no other way of letting you know besides comments....
TG
Ah, that's because I've never enabled payments of voluntary pledges, so you're not alone. I can't really explain why I haven't accepted the voluntary donations. Maybe it's because I don't want anyone to think I've staked out a position to please a constituency that pays me. I don't really know my own mind on that. As of this morning--I just checked--there are 62 pledges totaling ~$5300. I really do appreciate the intended support. Kinda funny. I didn't know how to check those numbers until yesterday. I had my grandson sitting on my lap (4 yr old) and he loves to have me navigate the Dashboard settings, and came across that page. It doesn't pop on the regular subscriber list.
I also made a pledge, but I never saw it hit my account. Thanks for updating us on this. I don’t feel I am paying you as much as I wanted to assure the great info you provide keeps flowing. Based on the many compliments from your readers you are providing an essential service that benefits us all, except perhaps Darek, he seems perturbed we are not beating up on Putin and blaming him for this mess the West is in. 🤦♂️
Spriter Team
@SpriterTeam
The catastrophic losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are announced: on average, 400 obituaries of Ukrainian soldiers are published per day
"A lot of soldiers die in Ukraine. On average, about 400 obituaries a day. November last year was the peak. About 1,100 obituaries for soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were published there in one day. In total, I counted 284,000 dead," the military expert said. Ruslan Tatarinov.
The expert obtained these data from obituaries published in the Ukrainian media and social networks: "It was enough to combine these sources. Everything is clearly visible at once."
4:50 PM · Aug 1, 2023
https://www.foxnews.com/media/popular-coffee-brand-outrages-consumers-image-post-op-trans-man-glorification-breast-mutilation
If you think about this a bit, I think you'll see that this is all about ideology and the normalization of the concept of trans-humanism far more generally.
It's amazing to see them doubling down. Maybe they haven't heard about Disney, Bud, Target, Gillette and all the others who got stomped by going Woke. Incredible.
I believe you meant Douglas MacArthur in the first paragraph.
Yes. I corrected it, but that's only online.
I'm always confusing Douglas MacArthur with Douglas MacGregor! One was a great soldier.
Thanks, got it. BTW, I believe Macg has said that he's distantly related to McA.
My Father had what they used to say back then a "good war." He was the head of MacArthur's motor pool and spent the war in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He saw no action until he met my Mother...;o) He married my Aussie mother and my eldest sister was born there and the two of them followed dad home well after the war due to issues with immigration. How different from today! Mac was highly regarded and Dad had nothing but good things to say about him.
Russia seems to be increasing its military’s ability and strength with increased modern weapons availability for its military. From missiles, ECM, missile / drone defenses, drones, tanks, artillery, etc. all the while getting valuable battlefield experience and adapting to the conflict.
Ukraine is getting weaker every day due an unsustainable casualty rate, destruction of military hardware, and lack of ammunition. And the West due to de-industrialization can’t replenish all the military hardware that has been destroyed, from stocks that were minimal to begin with.
Russia’s strategy of slowly grinding through Ukrainian forces is working, why should they change?
McArthur, not McGregor.
Aaaargh!
At least I got the Mc right.
Woops! Got that wrong, too.
Me, too.
I'm sure the neocons will try and string it out for as long as possible. This is, after all, part of a much broader fight to the death. However, an overwhelming Russian victory in Ukraine will limit what further action the neocons can take. I would think the Russians could probably handle a few years of occasional drone strikes and terrorist acts if Ukraine is neutralised.
Mearsheimer appears to now be accepting the grossly disproportionate exchange ratio, and I believe that that realization is what has him tempering his previous position to some degree.
I saw that horrendous video about a month ago of those poor buggers trapped in a Russian minefield. I was wondering just today how the man is getting on who managed to apply a tourniquet and clamber back into the APC. I hope he survived.
I see you are trying to be the controlling opposition here. Most of us have heard your propaganda for decades. We were more ignorant then or it was better disguised than it is now, or both.
But we have watched what is wrong in D.C. stagnate and continue to get worse for generations. We can't protect our own borders, but we can help Ukraine protect hers? BS! Regurgitating MSM talking points is not going to get you agreement here. We are seeking truth, not political lies. If you want agreement, go hang out with the Washington Post crowd, or the Huffington Post crowd, or CNN's (former) crowd, etc. You know where to go - where you agree with them and they agree with you, and you can hang out there and be happy. If you do stick around here, read and try to understand how we see things. You might find yourself coming into agreement with at least some of our considered POV's. And if not, so be it.
You haven't understood a thing, have you?
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2023/07/who-can-guarantee-ukraines-security.html
Some recent history put things into perspective.
What the hey! Who knew there was an Oracle of Darek?
MSNBC’s finest at work.
It is clear that Russia invaded Ukraine. The murk begins with sorting out why. The Origins of War are always hidden in the mist and require great efforts by great historical to sort out. Achieving clarity will take decades assuming access to archives and interviews of participants. Is it true that we supported Ukraine’s artillery attacks on ethnically Russian people over the last 6-8 years in Eastern Ukraine? Was Putin’s hand forced by the possibility of our nuclear weapons minutes from his nuclear deterrent? Or was he just feeling jaunty one day and decided to have a war? This is decades in the making and as the old guard died off the neocons continued to push against Russia. Why choose the route of conflict with Russia? Why not attempt to bring Russia into the fold and build commerce? Was an honest approach ever tried or has it always been about domination and exploitation? Was Russia thought a defeated enemy? At the end of the Cold War was there a Marshall Plan as after WW2 or a punitive/exploitative approach as after WW1? We need them to help balance China but have forced them toward China. Is this the behavior of a commercial republic or an empire? What is the nature of our current regime? Has is needlessly sacrificed hundreds of Ukrainians in a futile war? From a moral perspective does all of this killing warrant the goals discussed? Has our leadership been demoralized and made nihilistic? If so what does this mean for us? Is it possible for Ukraine to achieve stated goals (reclaim Crimea) with inadequate material support? Russia has thousands of nuclear weapons, tactical and strategic. Ukraine was never going to win. One goal was to damage Russia? Rubble the Ruble? Was this ever realistic? What did our leadership not know? Is our intelligence this bad or did they ignore it? Russia appears stronger domestically and internationally with China supplying them a lot of war materiel. We appear weaker with inadequate defense manufacturing. Was this thought through?
Almost all news is opinion these days and the opinion starts with what news stories to discuss. Please provide examples of things that are propaganda on this substack. It seems it is meant as a counter to mainstream news where MacGregor, Mearshimer and other like them are not heard. Given the censorship that has taken place over the last few years alternatives where Mearshimer and others like him can be heard is needed. This is war with Russia, a nation with thousands of nuclear weapons and a large military industrial base. This should be debated in Congress in a serious way. Is that happening? If it was we would not be here at this Substack. Please provide other Substack that are free of propaganda, opinion and speculation that we can look at.
Outstanding riposte. Like good counter-battery fire. He fired, stayed in place too long and 💥. Well done.
?
Historians not historical. Apologies for the typo.
Ugh. More typos. Apologies.
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians not hundreds.
"Putin is the POS"
I get that the S stands for "Statesman," but the PO?
Particularly Obstinate?
How did I miss that?