David Petraeus former head of allied forces Europe and later, head of the CIA on the war in Ukraine.
TL;DW EDIT:
Essential Points / Takaways for those with no time to watch it (but you really should):
- He and other former Western military leaders are operating in an advisory/consultancy role to Ukraine.
- The evolution of the battlefield. You can now see everything even behind the lines and this war is proving that what you can see can be taken out. This was only an asparation previously - even in the 2nd gulf war - and needed air superiority to achieve (as vehicles move). Now it can be taken out at longer ranges in real-tine without air superiority. Satalite technology, Drones, Hypersonics and AI will totally change the future battlefield.
- Putin totally under estimated the Ukrainian military response AND the western response to support Ukraine.
- Putin still thinks he can out suffer Ukraine and the West. As Russia did in the past with Franch and Germany. Putin is betting on the West losing the will to fullly back Ukraine.
- Putin has not yet introduced full conscription and doesn't want to, as this would threaten his position in the Russian eithnic homelands if the Russian losses are applied to his core ethnic Russian support base (that total mobilation would cause).
- No sign of a total Russian collapse that Ukraine wants to precipitate (yst), but there are signs of cracks everywhere.
- The Ukrainian offensive is degrading Russian forces. Kit, Command, GLOCs and logistics and every week tge Rissian position gers worse.
- 'Rasputia' (mud season) will have some effect on Ukrainian forces but it happens later in the south and isn't as damaging to vehicle movement.
- It is HIGHLY LIKELY that by the end of this year Ukraine will have AT LEAST fire control over the Crimea land bridge.
- Why Afghanistan failed for the US and the west. The education level of Afghans and the inability to maintain modern Western kit (eg helicopters).
- The Taliban out suffered the US and the West.
- This jed to the disastrous Doha agreement precipitated the phycological collapse of Affhanistan forces.
- Threats to the US and the West. China, Russia and others are trying to break the 'Rules Based concensus' of the last 70 years.
- China's aspirations will be a huge threat to the west. We have to convince China that cooperation is far better than confrontation.
