Stormy Daniels
Gold Member
- Mar 19, 2018
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It's pretty clear at this point that NATO giving Ukraine MiGs is a terrible idea.
The suggestion simply does not offer realistic assistance, nor is there a realistic method to implement it anyway. And at this point, Zelensky is starting to do himself more harm than good by continuing to ask for it. The same is true by asking for a no-fly zone. He should stop asking for either, because the continued requests are starting to erode the image he has built up for himself thus far, and are betraying a weakness that he would be wise to avoid showing.
Zelensky came to his office as a former entertainer turned politician. And his artistic ability has certainly been an asset in these times. He understands how to appeal to people's emotional sides, how to portray the image that other people may need to see of him, and this has made him an inspirational, even romantic, figure of steely courage to his countrymen and the world. No doubt he is inspiring his people, citizens and soldiers alike, to remain steadfast in the face of Russia's overwhelming assault. He's clearly been effective at influencing the global narrative to see Russia's invasion as a prelude to greater continental, even global, war if Russia succeeds.
But the question remains whether he is more than an actor playing a role, or whether he is a capable commander-in-chief. The continual requests for MiGs and a no-fly zone would imply the latter. It sounds amateur. It's starting to make Zelensky look like he's exhausted the extent to which is skills can provide worthwhile leadership to continue resisting the Russian assault. It should be clear to anyone that asking NATO to implement a no-fly zone is asking them to fully enter the war against Russia, and to do so in a clumsy manner. Asking for MiGs is not only asking NATO to take a huge risk to clumsily enter the war against Russia, but it also makes Zelensky look like he doesn't understand the actual military situation. By communicating these things to the world, Zelensky is likely enboldening Putin. Putin is seeing this sense of continual desperation and smelling blood in the waters. Especially in combination with Zelensky's continued engagement in Russia's phony peace overtures.
- Ukraine is barely using the fighter jets they currently have, so it doesn't make much sense that they would need more.
- Russia has heavy anti-air defense systems in place inside Ukraine right now, making air missions by Ukraine very high risk compared to other methods of attack and defense (possibly part of the reason Ukraine is engaging in relatively few air missions).
- Flying military aircraft isn't like driving a car, and it takes entire teams of trained personnel to get a single aircraft into the air, and the necessary training are not universal among types of aircraft.
- There are a variety of other technical matters, from radar to system communication protocols, that need to intertwine effectively to integrate a certain type of aircraft into Ukraine's broader military systems, and there is currently no indication that the aircraft would be readily available for Ukraine to even use any time soon (thanks Sen. Kelly for explaining that fact).
- The logistical challenges to even getting the aircraft into Ukrainian hands make it a near impossibility because any aircraft flying from a NATO facility into Ukrainian airspace (even if flown by Ukrainian pilots) would likely be treated but Putin as a NATO attack, and would give him an excuse to extend his war to all of NATO.
- And finally, perhaps the most important reason: UKRAINIAN AIRSPACE REMAINS CONTESTED. Yes, this means that Ukrainians are currently engaging in effective air defense, but it also indicates that the Russians have been effective at preventing Ukraine from maintaining air superiority. Russian aircraft are largely operating from within Russian airspace. It would be ill advised for Ukraine to attempt all out air offensives, simply to be slaughtered by Russian anti-aircraft SAMs. In the long term, there is a very strong possibility that this war will entangle NATO at one point or another, and NATO should therefore avoid wasting important resources like aircraft in such a way.
The suggestion simply does not offer realistic assistance, nor is there a realistic method to implement it anyway. And at this point, Zelensky is starting to do himself more harm than good by continuing to ask for it. The same is true by asking for a no-fly zone. He should stop asking for either, because the continued requests are starting to erode the image he has built up for himself thus far, and are betraying a weakness that he would be wise to avoid showing.
Zelensky came to his office as a former entertainer turned politician. And his artistic ability has certainly been an asset in these times. He understands how to appeal to people's emotional sides, how to portray the image that other people may need to see of him, and this has made him an inspirational, even romantic, figure of steely courage to his countrymen and the world. No doubt he is inspiring his people, citizens and soldiers alike, to remain steadfast in the face of Russia's overwhelming assault. He's clearly been effective at influencing the global narrative to see Russia's invasion as a prelude to greater continental, even global, war if Russia succeeds.
But the question remains whether he is more than an actor playing a role, or whether he is a capable commander-in-chief. The continual requests for MiGs and a no-fly zone would imply the latter. It sounds amateur. It's starting to make Zelensky look like he's exhausted the extent to which is skills can provide worthwhile leadership to continue resisting the Russian assault. It should be clear to anyone that asking NATO to implement a no-fly zone is asking them to fully enter the war against Russia, and to do so in a clumsy manner. Asking for MiGs is not only asking NATO to take a huge risk to clumsily enter the war against Russia, but it also makes Zelensky look like he doesn't understand the actual military situation. By communicating these things to the world, Zelensky is likely enboldening Putin. Putin is seeing this sense of continual desperation and smelling blood in the waters. Especially in combination with Zelensky's continued engagement in Russia's phony peace overtures.
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