With the war in Ukraine not going as expected—it is now in its fifth day without Kyiv or any other major city in the country yet falling to the invading Russian forces—Putin’s frustrations are becoming apparent.
Thanks for referencing the incident surrounding Stanislav Petrov. To expand upon it, that same autumn during NATO manuevers in operation Able-Archer the Soviet generals became convinced (because NATO was stupidly ordered to use real communication codes) that the West was about to attack and sent all 60 Warsaw Pact tank divisions heading towards the German border. We came even closer to WWIII than in the Cuban Missile crisis.
It illustrates the potential for miscalculation during periods of heightened alertness. One suspects that Putin may feel that he has no other card to play, but it is one fraught with hazards.
A "1939 Moment". Ukraine has applied for EU membership ( a long process ) immediately supported by Poland. Sanctions are working as the Ruble is largely unbankable from Australia to London, to Dubai. Ukraine is a very large country & tactics are changing daily.
Biden’s measured response has been prophetic & basic so USA involvement is peripheral to Putin‘a naked grab of land. Embargo & Sanctions making Putin visibly inept but KGB homework has USA Republican allies supporting his invasion for TLG. State of the Union requires a coming together against Russian foe like Ronald Reagan of 1981.
Why did Putin not invade Ukraine while the Former Guy, his loyal lap-dog, was still in office in the US, and he would have encountered a lot less, if indeed any, resistance from the US?
I think the best guess is that he never planned for the former guy to lose and was counting on more destabilization of NATO before making a move. With Biden restrengthening allied ties, I think Putin took a gamble that he could catch the west napping. Now, he’s slowly being backed into a corner. I fear what he’ll do if he feels the walls closing in.
Thank you! Yes, that makes sense. It sure is scary. I am hoping that as his power, especially the financial one, weakens, the opposition in Russia may be able to finally remove him from his throne.
It’s good to see the people pushing back against this bully
Thanks for referencing the incident surrounding Stanislav Petrov. To expand upon it, that same autumn during NATO manuevers in operation Able-Archer the Soviet generals became convinced (because NATO was stupidly ordered to use real communication codes) that the West was about to attack and sent all 60 Warsaw Pact tank divisions heading towards the German border. We came even closer to WWIII than in the Cuban Missile crisis.
It illustrates the potential for miscalculation during periods of heightened alertness. One suspects that Putin may feel that he has no other card to play, but it is one fraught with hazards.
A "1939 Moment". Ukraine has applied for EU membership ( a long process ) immediately supported by Poland. Sanctions are working as the Ruble is largely unbankable from Australia to London, to Dubai. Ukraine is a very large country & tactics are changing daily.
Biden’s measured response has been prophetic & basic so USA involvement is peripheral to Putin‘a naked grab of land. Embargo & Sanctions making Putin visibly inept but KGB homework has USA Republican allies supporting his invasion for TLG. State of the Union requires a coming together against Russian foe like Ronald Reagan of 1981.
Why did Putin not invade Ukraine while the Former Guy, his loyal lap-dog, was still in office in the US, and he would have encountered a lot less, if indeed any, resistance from the US?
I think the best guess is that he never planned for the former guy to lose and was counting on more destabilization of NATO before making a move. With Biden restrengthening allied ties, I think Putin took a gamble that he could catch the west napping. Now, he’s slowly being backed into a corner. I fear what he’ll do if he feels the walls closing in.
Thank you! Yes, that makes sense. It sure is scary. I am hoping that as his power, especially the financial one, weakens, the opposition in Russia may be able to finally remove him from his throne.
Can you offer any perspective as to why they wanted to capture Chernobyl?
Perhaps a command center knowing it wouldn’t get bombed? IMO…
I like how you used quote marks around “polling station” in Belarus. That was brilliant!
Prayers for peace continue. Gospodi pomiluj. Gospodi pomiluj.
bellocity