S-300s - a good idea, but MiG-29s, not so good, Russia has excellent air defenses and can shoot down MiG-29s. Not so for those Turkish drones, one of which shot up that tank column in Brovary, the Russians couldn't see it or hear it - and couldn't target it. More of those would be a good thing. And the S-300s could enforce a no-fly zone from the ground for high flying aircraft, Javelins and Stingers for lower-flying aircraft, no need for fighter planes.
Ukraine wants MIGs for use over Ukraine though. Coupled with Bayraktars to take out Russian ground-to-air missiles they brought in would make a lot of sense. S-300s may be more expensive to operate and dependent on the supply of missiles. Whereas MIGs are already integrated into Ukraine's military supply chain.
The trouble with that is that a lot of those Russian missile positions are inside Russia or Belarus, which means that those MiG-29s could easily cause a broader war. I'd stick with the drones, only. The point is to deny or deter Russian use of Ukrainian airspace, and the missiles and drones would accomplish that. And apparently it's possible - though rather expensive - to shoot down cruise missiles with tank rounds - https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/09/army-and-navy-cannons-shoot-down-drone-cruise-missiles-heres-a-video-of-the-cannons/ and a Ukraine Army unit claims to have done so with machinegun fire...
The broader war cannot be averted by "understanding" the aggressor. They only understand the language of brute force - demonstrated that time and again. So, showing weakness to Russians throws us back to 1976, if you know what I mean. While we need some healthy dose of 1980 at this time.
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
I enjoy reading your commentary, but I am opposed to your comment: "The only group of supporters Russia will never lose are people who don’t get the message...The truckers and Putin"
I was in Ottawa and know better than most Canadians and certainly the biased mainstream media. The only violent people in the crowd that we witnessed over the course of several weeks were the "counter-protestors". I'm afraid you are over your head drawing this reference and making such comments makes me wonder how factual are your reports.
Let me explain.
In June 2020, Justin Trudeau took a knee and pledged his allegiance to Black Lives Matter (BLM). This is the same organization who is self-admittedly Marxist and was behind large-scale protests that shut down major cities in Canada. In the U.S.A., BLM caused widespread looting, rioting, arson, and violence. Trudeau didn't just pledge his allegiance to BLM publicly, he also sealed his loyalty to BLM with our money in the form of a grant.
Just before Christmas in 2020 our First Nations people blocked key railways and held the country hostage which caused heavy economic losses and prevented shipment of fuels. Yet, our Prime Minister claimed that “we must be conciliatory”. Not a single fine was issued – no bank accounts frozen. In fact - our First Nations received billions of dollars in settlement.
The tablet outside Ontario's Courtroom states "every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination". The importance to human freedom is underlined. All citizens of Canada are entitled to unprejudiced conduct from our government. This did not happen with the Freedom Convoy who stands for at least 1/4 of Canada's population, fed up with lock-downs whose effectiveness have been dis-proven by Makary at John Hopkins University. Further, Canadians have a right to chose what they put into their body. This is called "freedom". Trudeau would not even meet the truckers to hear them. Our charter is there to protect every Canadian citizen, not just those who are vaccinated or those which fall within a specific political agenda.
Freedom is easy to give up but hard to win back. My mother, who is a Holodomor survivor says Trudeau's government in Canada is behaving like the totalitarian state of Joseph Stalin of her time.
Please do not let this go any further; you are festering fear of the wrong kind. If you are going to make or quote such pronouncements, you should be prepared to provide facts. There is no parallel between peaceful truckers protest and what Putin is doing in Ukraine.
Well, quiet EXCEPT for successful taking out of a Russian rocket outside of Kyiv by the Ukrainian military. I'm told that was pretty loud.
War is a very local thing. What is a dull thud to me is fatal to the poor guy underneath it.
Too true. In any case, very happy this interception resulted in no casualties!
S-300s - a good idea, but MiG-29s, not so good, Russia has excellent air defenses and can shoot down MiG-29s. Not so for those Turkish drones, one of which shot up that tank column in Brovary, the Russians couldn't see it or hear it - and couldn't target it. More of those would be a good thing. And the S-300s could enforce a no-fly zone from the ground for high flying aircraft, Javelins and Stingers for lower-flying aircraft, no need for fighter planes.
Absolutely agree. We are almost at the point of fighting the last war. Russia is exhausted. S300s right now would, however, be very good insurance.
Ukraine wants MIGs for use over Ukraine though. Coupled with Bayraktars to take out Russian ground-to-air missiles they brought in would make a lot of sense. S-300s may be more expensive to operate and dependent on the supply of missiles. Whereas MIGs are already integrated into Ukraine's military supply chain.
The trouble with that is that a lot of those Russian missile positions are inside Russia or Belarus, which means that those MiG-29s could easily cause a broader war. I'd stick with the drones, only. The point is to deny or deter Russian use of Ukrainian airspace, and the missiles and drones would accomplish that. And apparently it's possible - though rather expensive - to shoot down cruise missiles with tank rounds - https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/09/army-and-navy-cannons-shoot-down-drone-cruise-missiles-heres-a-video-of-the-cannons/ and a Ukraine Army unit claims to have done so with machinegun fire...
The broader war cannot be averted by "understanding" the aggressor. They only understand the language of brute force - demonstrated that time and again. So, showing weakness to Russians throws us back to 1976, if you know what I mean. While we need some healthy dose of 1980 at this time.
"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle." ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
I said "understanding", not understanding. Like condoning.
By no means is the US - or EU or UK condoning this conduct, if by nothing else than sanctions, let alone weapons aid.
"Often, Russia accuses a Ukrainian of being a “Banderite.” Obviously, the name, Banderamobile, is deliberately used to infuriate Russians. "
“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him.” (Sun Tzu – Author of The Art of War).
Bob,
I enjoy reading your commentary, but I am opposed to your comment: "The only group of supporters Russia will never lose are people who don’t get the message...The truckers and Putin"
I was in Ottawa and know better than most Canadians and certainly the biased mainstream media. The only violent people in the crowd that we witnessed over the course of several weeks were the "counter-protestors". I'm afraid you are over your head drawing this reference and making such comments makes me wonder how factual are your reports.
Let me explain.
In June 2020, Justin Trudeau took a knee and pledged his allegiance to Black Lives Matter (BLM). This is the same organization who is self-admittedly Marxist and was behind large-scale protests that shut down major cities in Canada. In the U.S.A., BLM caused widespread looting, rioting, arson, and violence. Trudeau didn't just pledge his allegiance to BLM publicly, he also sealed his loyalty to BLM with our money in the form of a grant.
Just before Christmas in 2020 our First Nations people blocked key railways and held the country hostage which caused heavy economic losses and prevented shipment of fuels. Yet, our Prime Minister claimed that “we must be conciliatory”. Not a single fine was issued – no bank accounts frozen. In fact - our First Nations received billions of dollars in settlement.
The tablet outside Ontario's Courtroom states "every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination". The importance to human freedom is underlined. All citizens of Canada are entitled to unprejudiced conduct from our government. This did not happen with the Freedom Convoy who stands for at least 1/4 of Canada's population, fed up with lock-downs whose effectiveness have been dis-proven by Makary at John Hopkins University. Further, Canadians have a right to chose what they put into their body. This is called "freedom". Trudeau would not even meet the truckers to hear them. Our charter is there to protect every Canadian citizen, not just those who are vaccinated or those which fall within a specific political agenda.
Freedom is easy to give up but hard to win back. My mother, who is a Holodomor survivor says Trudeau's government in Canada is behaving like the totalitarian state of Joseph Stalin of her time.
Please do not let this go any further; you are festering fear of the wrong kind. If you are going to make or quote such pronouncements, you should be prepared to provide facts. There is no parallel between peaceful truckers protest and what Putin is doing in Ukraine.
thankyou