Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Blue Mist]

Possibly the most impressive leader in the world today was a comedian and TV personality up until he started his presidential campaign in Ukraine in 2018/19.

There is a difference as has been pointed out before on here. One started out as a comedian and ended up as a politician, the other.......

 

[metalblue]

Nothing more dangerous than an embarrassed tit.

Gail Platt likes this post

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I think what we need is people with both integrity and charisma whatever their background.

Reporting for duty!

 

[BobKowalski]

CER Group breaking down the EU Strategic Compass Proposal. Some highlights.

‘The proposals on capability development are the most concrete and promising, especially waiving VAT on defence, a new bonus system for EDF-funded projects, new financing mechanisms for defence, and possibly increasing the size of the EDF

The SC aims to strengthen the EU’s ability to carry out military ops. The key proposal is a 5000 ‘rapid deployment capacity’ (RDC), ready by 2025. It will be made up of EU Battlegroups, additional forces and will include strategic enablers until now provided by the US.

The components of the RDC would regularly train together in live exercises to increase their readiness and interoperability. The EU also wants to strengthen its HQ, to plan and command larger military operations.

The SC identifies some good ways of strengthening EU ops. The most promising is increasing coordination between CSDP ops and ad-hoc coalitions operating in the same area. Using EU € to pay for exercises would also contribute to greater interoperability and readiness.

The SC will not end the debates about the EU’s role in European security. The SC does not in any way pitch the EU as an alternative to NATO. But the EU’s ambitions to be a military player endure and could create EU-US friction and intra-EU tensions.’

 

[metalblue]

Possibly the most impressive leader in the world today was a comedian and TV personality up until he started his presidential campaign in Ukraine in 2018/19.

Agreed. He has impressed many, myself included - he’s also made the odd mistake or two but he’s under intense pressure and is frustrated. I don’t think he was entirely popular domestically until this war. A good war time leader does not necessarily make a good peace time leader - as Churchill would attest to.

 

[metalblue]

CER Group breaking down the EU Strategic Compass Proposal. Some highlights.

‘The proposals on capability development are the most concrete and promising, especially waiving VAT on defence, a new bonus system for EDF-funded projects, new financing mechanisms for defence, and possibly increasing the size of the EDF

The SC aims to strengthen the EU’s ability to carry out military ops. The key proposal is a 5000 ‘rapid deployment capacity’ (RDC), ready by 2025. It will be made up of EU Battlegroups, additional forces and will include strategic enablers until now provided by the US.

The components of the RDC would regularly train together in live exercises to increase their readiness and interoperability. The EU also wants to strengthen its HQ, to plan and command larger military operations.

The SC identifies some good ways of strengthening EU ops. The most promising is increasing coordination between CSDP ops and ad-hoc coalitions operating in the same area. Using EU € to pay for exercises would also contribute to greater interoperability and readiness.

The SC will not end the debates about the EU’s role in European security. The SC does not in any way pitch the EU as an alternative to NATO. But the EU’s ambitions to be a military player endure and could create EU-US friction and intra-EU tensions.’

Wait so they will have a 0% tomahawk tax but not a 0% tampon tax? Worlds gone officially mad.

 

[BobKowalski]

To be fair, taking a telephone call when your bollocks are being nailed to a plank of wood is added stress you don’t need.

‘Russia’s defence minister (Shoigu) and military chief (Gerasinov) have reportedly declined all calls from American counterparts since the invasion. Deeply irresponsible.’ @TheEconomist @wapo

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

If Russia had no nukes this conflict would have been finished by now

Imagine what the Americans would do to them in a conventional war!

I'd argue the Chinese would also be like Russia, no real experience of war outside of manpower.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Given the obvious lack of supplies, training, leadership and morale in the Russian forces, you do have to wonder how much "digging in" is going to protect them vs. making them a very visible stationary target.

Maybe some of the military types can comment on how effective a foxhole and some sandbags are against modern laser guided bombs and artillery.

I've been reading a lot of WW2 books recently and its striking how similar the significant issues are. In fact you could argue that the fighting in Normandy by the allies was more sophisticated.

In 1944 the allies had massive air superiority and they were working on tactics to better use this to their advantage. They eventually developed a system called the taxi rank. The tank crews would have a pilot / navigator join them in the tank and they put them on the radio. Tanks then became more of a reconnaissance roll - they would push forward untill they came under fire. Then they pulled back and called in the dive bombers. They would fire coloured smoke at the enemy position to mark them. The call for the fighter bombers would be relayed back but once close enough the tank would speak directly to the pilot giving them very detailed instructions. By this point they even had missiles so the accuracy of the air to ground was almost as good as today.

What they didn't have to face was smart air defence weapons. That is the game changer and why in some ways this fighting is more primitive. The Russians dont seem willing to use air superiority as the weaponry available to the ukranians will do significant damage. So its very much a ground war with the old issues of logistics and holding large areas by putting boots on the ground and then supplying that massive area with fuel / food / ammo. That was the issue in WW2 and where the Germans eventually lost essentially due to lack of supply reaching the fronts.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Quite incredible, simply standing there unarmed and singing/shouting at fidgety russian troops who are pointing guns at them and they don't even flinch when live rounds are fired over their heads.

They were singing the Ukraine national anthem.