Let’s start with rumors that Douglas Macgregor’s speculation—seconded by hints from Ukrainian General Zaluzhny in his recent interview with The Economist—is about to come true:Thanks for reading Meaning In History! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
"All the above is speculation—but it’s informed speculation. There’s a reason for what’s going on, even if it’s a diversion. Lviv, of course, is the hub of weapons shipments to western Ukraine across the border from Poland. In that regard, it’s worth pondering this from Tass—Russia appears to be issuing a very point warning. Note, too, that DoD appears to be walking back that talk of sending Patriots:"
The only thing I can read into this is that in Washington, no one really is in charge. We've been all over the map on this issue. Washington started off saying that Patriots would not be provided, then they were to be provided, and then again maybe not. I don't think any of this shows any change of policy so much as a lack of it. Is it even possible to get Patriots operational in Ukraine and crews trained up and useful quantities of missiles supplied on any reasonable time scale? I have no idea and the people pushing this may not themselves know or care. Tune in to our next exciting episode and find out.
One of the wisest statements I ever read about international relations was something that A J P Taylor said in The Struggle for Mastery in Europe. When one state is dependent on another for its very existence it is the dependent power that calls the shots. It can threaten to collapse if it is not supported and the supporting power has no answering threat. I have seen the truth of this demonstrated repeatedly. In Washington no one is in charge, and the degree to which Washington is even in control of its own war policy is open to question. The crazy train of American strategy in Ukraine will be lurching along for some time barring a change in the military situation. When that might occur I can't say.
When Trump wanted to be done w/NATO, the neocons, MIC, media, etc were all aflame. Now NATO is aflame & cd soon be a smoldering heap of ashes. All the above done it to themselves. Rich.
Meanwhile Mrs. Zelenskyy is happily shopping at all the best shops in Paris. I wonder if she’ll go back home or has a comfortable hid away someplace warm and cozy? With her stolen billions.
This passage quoting a Ukrainian soldier from The Kyiv Independent is a bit mind boggling:
“Our first and second lines of defense are relatively stable, but it comes at a great cost,” said Ivan, whose unit and exact posting have been kept undisclosed for security reasons.
“Some units are simply running out of people. From what I saw, in only one fight, we had around 10 of our guys killed, never mind the number of wounded. Not everyone could be extracted from the battlefield, some just bled out where they lay.”
That's stability? The soldier goes on to suggest that the Russians aren't actually suffering many casualties.
#Finland is effectively approaching a state of collapse.
Our medical services have been over-run (lack of nurses), sky-high electricity prices have forced people to live in cold houses and mass bankruptcies loom.
You know, I have no idea how this war is going for either side, but I have a strong suspicion, supported by years of observation of western media, that it is the Russians who are more likely to win this thing (nothing different from what I believed 10 months ago). So, I would not be surprised to find Youtube filled starting in February/March of 2023 with "Bunker Hitler" spoofs of Biden asking about imaginary armies and equipment riding to the rescue.
You can find a teed up Youtube of Macgregor here:
https://sonar21.com/could-not-have-said-it-better/
"All the above is speculation—but it’s informed speculation. There’s a reason for what’s going on, even if it’s a diversion. Lviv, of course, is the hub of weapons shipments to western Ukraine across the border from Poland. In that regard, it’s worth pondering this from Tass—Russia appears to be issuing a very point warning. Note, too, that DoD appears to be walking back that talk of sending Patriots:"
The only thing I can read into this is that in Washington, no one really is in charge. We've been all over the map on this issue. Washington started off saying that Patriots would not be provided, then they were to be provided, and then again maybe not. I don't think any of this shows any change of policy so much as a lack of it. Is it even possible to get Patriots operational in Ukraine and crews trained up and useful quantities of missiles supplied on any reasonable time scale? I have no idea and the people pushing this may not themselves know or care. Tune in to our next exciting episode and find out.
One of the wisest statements I ever read about international relations was something that A J P Taylor said in The Struggle for Mastery in Europe. When one state is dependent on another for its very existence it is the dependent power that calls the shots. It can threaten to collapse if it is not supported and the supporting power has no answering threat. I have seen the truth of this demonstrated repeatedly. In Washington no one is in charge, and the degree to which Washington is even in control of its own war policy is open to question. The crazy train of American strategy in Ukraine will be lurching along for some time barring a change in the military situation. When that might occur I can't say.
When Trump wanted to be done w/NATO, the neocons, MIC, media, etc were all aflame. Now NATO is aflame & cd soon be a smoldering heap of ashes. All the above done it to themselves. Rich.
Promise made, promise kept. On THEIR watch. 😂
Astonishingly good summation of the situation, great writing as usual!
Hopefully, we'll see the end of Nato, closely followed by the end of the EU. Then we can turn our attention to the neocons. Deus vult!
Meanwhile Mrs. Zelenskyy is happily shopping at all the best shops in Paris. I wonder if she’ll go back home or has a comfortable hid away someplace warm and cozy? With her stolen billions.
Two articles offering somewhat differing perspectives, but from similar premises:
https://sonar21.com/western-hysteria-ramps-up/
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/12/ukraine-sitrep-more-missiles-attack-plans-artillery-hits-morale.html#more
This passage quoting a Ukrainian soldier from The Kyiv Independent is a bit mind boggling:
“Our first and second lines of defense are relatively stable, but it comes at a great cost,” said Ivan, whose unit and exact posting have been kept undisclosed for security reasons.
“Some units are simply running out of people. From what I saw, in only one fight, we had around 10 of our guys killed, never mind the number of wounded. Not everyone could be extracted from the battlefield, some just bled out where they lay.”
That's stability? The soldier goes on to suggest that the Russians aren't actually suffering many casualties.
It's only December:
Tuomas Malinen
@mtmalinen
·
Dec 15
#Finland is effectively approaching a state of collapse.
Our medical services have been over-run (lack of nurses), sky-high electricity prices have forced people to live in cold houses and mass bankruptcies loom.
The culprit? The government of @MarinSanna .
#WEFpuppets
Heh:
https://www.spektreworks.com/about-us
And, if the Russian do win decisively, it might a year before the media in the west even acknowledges it.
You know, I have no idea how this war is going for either side, but I have a strong suspicion, supported by years of observation of western media, that it is the Russians who are more likely to win this thing (nothing different from what I believed 10 months ago). So, I would not be surprised to find Youtube filled starting in February/March of 2023 with "Bunker Hitler" spoofs of Biden asking about imaginary armies and equipment riding to the rescue.