posted by majorspark

So it looks like Poland is going to fly its Mig-29's to a US base in Germany.  Where they are likely to be stripped of their decals and eventually end up somewhere in Ukraine.

Poland gets plausible deniability and a great deal on some used F16's.

Great move. I like it and hope other allies can do the same. 

posted by gut

That's laughable in this instance.  I assume the shenanigans must have something to do with specific, technical treaty language.  Otherwise, I don't know why you bother when it's blatantly obvious what is going on.

And the US involvement as a intermediary/middleman actually taking temporary possession of the Migs seems like going right up to the line of aggression...

Not really. We have been arming Ukraine directly, and this is an indirect arming. 

Also, it is not actual NATO arms or soldiers. 

This is classic Cold War tactics. 

Again, I'm sure we have CIA case officers with arms and cash over there like in Afghanistan.

posted by ptown_trojans_1

Not really. We have been arming Ukraine directly, and this is an indirect arming. 

Also, it is not actual NATO arms or soldiers. 

This is classic Cold War tactics. 

Again, I'm sure we have CIA case officers with arms and cash over there like in Afghanistan.

You appear to have a hard on for the Cold War.  Nothing like this occurred in Europe during the Cold War.  We are in a different time.

posted by majorspark

You appear to have a hard on for the Cold War.  Nothing like this occurred in Europe during the Cold War.  We are in a different time.

I see what you did there....good point. 

posted by ptown_trojans_1

Not really. We have been arming Ukraine directly, and this is an indirect arming. 

Also, it is not actual NATO arms or soldiers. 

This is classic Cold War tactics. 

Again, I'm sure we have CIA case officers with arms and cash over there like in Afghanistan.

Well, turns out the deal WAS a problem for NATO, afterall.  Fighter jets aren't exactly the same thing as guns and ammo (and, yes, I realize it's a good bit more than that).

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/03/poland-wanted-to-send-mig-29-fighters-to-ukraine-that-deal-is-now-dead/

posted by Ironman92

posted by BR1986FB
Notice how COVID's over? On to Ukraine !!!

Need an excuse for inflation. 

I read some Russian generals were "fired".

This war is turning out to be puzzling.  It’s like a war but then it’s not.

Russian play book have plays?  They seem to have no strategy.  

WTF is the western world and NATO doing?  Seems like everyone is just watching little kids get shot and killed and all the worlds powers are just chatting.

But yea I know,  they have nukes.

posted by majorspark

This 40 mile convoy from what I am reading sounds more like a traffic jam.

Well CNN reporting on this 40 mile long convoy today.  So I guess you are wrong

posted by Fletch

Well CNN reporting on this 40 mile long convoy today.  So I guess you are wrong

Well given the credibility you have given CNN in the past quite ironic you cite them as a source for proving anyone wrong. 

Also that report stated they dispersed to tree cover.  A sign of fearing attack.  A defensive move

The Russians do not own Ukrainian air space.  It is a sovereign nation.  Why are we not air dropping food ,medicine, and water into Mariupol.  Like we did in West Berlin.

Too busy cleaning up the Mig issue and Harris' embarrassing presser in Poland.

posted by QuakerOats

Too busy cleaning up the Mig issue and Harris' embarrassing presser in Poland.

She reminds me what it would be like if we suddenly sent my mother-in-law over there.  She seems to have a similar grasp on history, geography and events.  This is a Sarah Palin situation come to life.  At least Trump had a competent person behind him.

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

She reminds me what it would be like if we suddenly sent my mother-in-law over there.  She seems to have a similar grasp on history, geography and events.  This is a Sarah Palin situation come to life.  At least Trump had a competent person behind him.

She's a blathering idiot. She gets asked serious questions and she starts giggling like she's being tickled or something.

posted by BR1986FB

She's a blathering idiot. She gets asked serious questions and she starts giggling like she's being tickled or something.

A typical reaction when you don't know anything about what you're being asked.  

posted by Dr Winston O'Boogie

She reminds me what it would be like if we suddenly sent my mother-in-law over there.  She seems to have a similar grasp on history, geography and events.  This is a Sarah Palin situation come to life.  At least Trump had a competent person behind him.

Well, competent when he was doing more useful things than "attending" an NFL game solely to stage a PR walk out.

If half the shit we have seen is true with this war, have drastically overestimated Russian military prowess for decades.

Some of the shit they are doing is just baffling. I just saw their third general was killed. (If true) generals are not supposed to be getting killed during wars.

posted by like_that

If half the shit we have seen is true with this war, have drastically overestimated Russian military prowess for decades.

Some of the shit they are doing is just baffling. I just saw their third general was killed. (If true) generals are not supposed to be getting killed during wars.

Agreed. Russians are getting their tanks stolen by farmers on tractors. Seems like the only "ace" up Putin's sleeve are nukes.

If I were to guess I would say Russian troops are fearful to advance.  I read were the Russians have lost more tanks than are operational in the entire German army.  If true you have to be shitting your pants if you are a tank crew.

Have you seen the video of a tank column packed together on a main road like sitting ducks getting hit with artillery?  A couple of vehicles hit and u-turns.  From what I read the tank commander was killed.  By luck or intelligence who knows.  It looked to me like when that happened "lets get the fuck out of here".

You have to remember Russia is half the size (by population) of the USSR, which was borrowing pretty heavily at the end and directing most of its resources into being a military superpower.

Russia today has a GDP of $1.7T.  While that ranks 11th globally, US military spending is more than HALF their entire GDP.

So, in hindsight, maybe it's not that hard to see why everyone overestimated them.

posted by majorspark

IHave you seen the video of a tank column packed together on a main road like sitting ducks getting hit with artillery? .

posted by BR1986FB

Seems like the only "ace" up Putin's sleeve are nukes.

Russia is not going to use nukes.  It's a scare tactic meant to get the West to wet themselves.  That would only occur if Russia itself faced imminent destruction.