There is just too much battlefield prowess for me to believe the Ukrainians are fighting by themselves. While the Russian army may certainly have suffered some financial lapses over the past several years the level of incompetency that the press is trying to put on them doesn't fit the real picture.
Yes, of course! The foreign fighters have to be there but need to be known as mercenaries by their respective governments. The sinking of Russia's missile cruiser would have not been Ukrainians responsible. And Russia's response will be on what they will know as the truth.
I believe when Putin ran across the border he ran into combined forces that were waiting for him in advance. I don't think he was expecting that. Additionally the sophistication needed to sink the Russian warship is most likely not available right now in Ukraine. If the Russian military plan is had thought that the Russian battleship would have been much farther offshore than it was. So I think yes American forces are there without the American flag and not in mercenary style either. That of course would be a betrayal of the American people. Not a stretch at all for this administration. Biden slipped more than once indicating that troops were there....
If an American soldier gets shot and sent home in the body bag I imagine we'll find out the hard way what they've been up to.
Are you saying that there is a position somewhere between a 'mercenary' and an official military member? Am I not using the term correctly?
I've noticed claims on the ship's position being 60 miles and also 80 miles. I'm not aware of each missile's capability?
Fwiw, do we take it that a missile cruiser of that vintage is so easily sunk? Or do we buy Russia's story?
If Russia intends equal consequences as revenge, I can imagine them wanting to stay with the 'fires sinking it'.
Putin has shown a remarkable amount of restraint so far despite the fact that he's taken a pretty good black eye on the battlefield.
I just don't know if it's a black eye for Russia that's out of proportion to what would be expected?
Al Jazeera has reported mass arrests throughout the top military brass. I'm waiting to hear more about that. The west seems to have underestimated Putin's staying power politically. Then again they have done precious little to inform the American public of the atrocities committed against the Russian speaking Nationals in the two provinces currently being contested. Russian citizens on the other hand are probably very well aware of these things.
I think that if we can take into consideration the immense consequences on winning or losing this war for both sides, (not ukraine) then nothing can be underestimated!
I'm not of any firm opinion on the Russian speaking people of the Donbass being so important? I lean heavily toward the territory being the issue for Russia, as it pertaiins to Russia being able to hold it's borders as the final red line.
This really is WW3 in my opinion!
The new sitzkreig so to speak.
As always Jo, thanks for your comments and opinions!