Hmmm. Robert McNamara and Curtis Lemay would have been tried as war criminals had the US lost WWII. You used the word "War." In fact, Israel is not fighting a "Police Action" as Harry Truman once put it. No, they are in a war. Now, if Israel somehow loses this conflict and Hamas and Hezbollah prevail, you can be sure when they capture Netanyahu he will be tried and hanged. On the other hand, should he win what he seems to be trying to do, the slaughter of Israeli citizens will likely be put on hold or cease for two or three generations. War is ugly. There are no balancing acts when you're faced with extinction. River to the Sea says it all.
Israel is not in an existential struggle against Hamas (a creation largely of its own making). Israel is using the terror attack of last year as an excuse to conduct what Netanyahu has been itching to do for decades -- expulsion or extinction of the Palestinians from the lands that Israel wants for its own. Not unlike how the US/Dubya Bush used the 9-11 terror attacks as an excuse to run wild across the globe and invade other countries contrary to international law under fictional pretenses.
And create Dick Chaney's "Homeland Security" to keep tabs on all opposition to the military power structure, his good buddies.Those who gained more sigificant wealth than from the Viet Nam invasion. Likud wants" River to the Sea" also, so where are we now?
We are at the point where we must adapt to renewable energy resources or face extinction. Its not news. Scientists have been telling us this for over a century.
Isreal is surrounded by 47 Muslim countries whose purpose is to eliminate all Jews, and that is non-negotiable. Unless they are hit with a catastrophic trauma, they won't change. They are victims of their religion, and have brought these troubles on themselves. No other country wants to take in anyore Palestinians, because they don't accept reality and try to adapt. I don't blame Israel at all. I
Great post Lucien. With all the election stuff going on, this is a very important story and should continue to remain top of mind. The brave Ukrainian people are fighting their butts off. They need our wholehearted support. Putin can’t win this one
12 million Russians died in World War II. Germany invaded the southeast part near Ukraine. The Russians used crash and burn techniques to deprive the Germans of supplies. So it had a lot of damage but most of it was untouched by the war since it is enormous and the Germans never got to Moscow.
"At some point, the U.S. is going to have to take the gloves off and allow NATO and the Pentagon to fully equip the Ukrainian military with everything it needs to defend itself." I hope so.
Thanks, Lucian, for your thorough, if thoroughly dispiriting, column. Another reason, one of let-me-count-the-grains-of-sand-on-the-shoreline-of-the-United-States many reasons, that we must elect Kamala Harris **and** extend that majority to the "down ballot" choices for the U.S. Congress, as well as state representation. Let Mr. Vance and his ilk (but certainly not elk) chase down the alleged perps purportedly feasting on Fido and BooBoo.
They ARE chasing down the alleged perps, through stochastic methods, and it's not a laughing matter. Those people are here legally and now they are afraid for their lives. It is a dangerous game they are playing. Once again, lives are ruined, people will get hurt or killed.
Different values? Ukraine or Israel? Ukraine is defending itself against an invader. Israel is, as Kozmo posted, fighting to take land it wants for itself, and is willing to murder children to do so. Yes, the hostage taking was horrible, but even family members are angry with Netanyahu because his goal is not to find the hostages and bring them home. Additionally, Netanyahu is prolonging the "war" to avoid going on trial for corruption.
We should have shocked and awed them from the very outset and in the long run we'd probably have come out spending less and with fewer dying and less damage to the beautiful countryside and ancient architecture in Ukraine. There is so much wrong with the way Putin and his oligarchy runs Russia, but he is right in one respect - a dictatorship can turn on a dime (if corruption hasn't eaten away the innards of what they're turning), while a democracy tends to be slow, transparent, and cumbersome. Some of those aspects can be improved upon.
Great column, Lucian. Unfortunately, politics gets in the way of what should be done. Shame on the GQP idiots who back Putin and refuse to help Ukraine. But you are right to broadly place the blame for foot dragging. Hope that changes soon
A great piece, Lucian, it says it all. Unfortunately all the generals that have been also critical of the administrations timidity are all retired. If Ukraine falls, not only will all the billions spent already be down the drain but it goes without saying Putin will be emboldened to go further. Before all this extra help he is getting from Iran, etc., Putin was in a much weaker position militarily and that would have been the time to move against him. We have to clash eventually and it will be at much greater cost.
Make sure every one of these missiles is used to strike Russian airbases, missile launch sites, ammuntion dumps, supply depots and marshalling yards for the transport of munitions to the front. And, ,yes, if they can find a Command and Control center full of Russian generals that , too, is a legitimate target.
So far Russia has had safe harbor for use of its terror weapons. Let Ukraine do what it has been wanting to do from Day One. Take away the only advantage Putin has and force his soldiers to fight one on one against the Ukrainians. We have already seen what happens when that is the equation.
Robert, I agree with your every word. I wouldn't mind seeing one or two of those big missiles also used to target Putin's palace in Crimea, preferably with him inside. I consider that a legitimate leadership target.
The Ukrainians need to be allowed to hit the areas in Russia that support the Russian effort in Ukraine. The best way to protect their civilians is to blow up Russian missiles, drones, and aircraft on the ground. Allowing strikes into those regions of Russia will accomplish this. NATO also needs to provide more armor and artillery to exploit their offensive. Putin gets nothing but pain.
Hello Lucian. My sister Candace got me a subscription after I talked to her about your grandfather. Our father was a navy officer who served on the USS Alabama. I especially enjoy your columns about military movements and tactics since as a layman, I depend on clients or columns like yours. Wonderful writing; thank you!
Trump has bragged that he could stop the war in a day if elected.I wonder if things escalate, how this would affect the election, he is sure to use this to garner support.
If it's the sensible thing to do to help Ukraine, then it needs to happen. election or no election
It does’’t. I think he would hand UKraine to Putin on a platter. A gift for the propaganda that Putin spread for him. I am wondering if it would affect the election in a negativ e way here at home. If so, we need to get ahead of that backlash., right?
I've always thought the U.S. was afraid that its weapons striking Russia would trigger not just a nuclear attack on Ukraine, but at least one on a NATO country if not on the U.S. itself, either of which could lead to nuclear annihilation of all of us on both sides.
I wish Biden would give, proportionately, the same level of aggressive offensive weapons to Ukraine that he gives to war criminal Netanyahu.
Those are for children in tents. Come on!
Hmmm. Robert McNamara and Curtis Lemay would have been tried as war criminals had the US lost WWII. You used the word "War." In fact, Israel is not fighting a "Police Action" as Harry Truman once put it. No, they are in a war. Now, if Israel somehow loses this conflict and Hamas and Hezbollah prevail, you can be sure when they capture Netanyahu he will be tried and hanged. On the other hand, should he win what he seems to be trying to do, the slaughter of Israeli citizens will likely be put on hold or cease for two or three generations. War is ugly. There are no balancing acts when you're faced with extinction. River to the Sea says it all.
Israel is not in an existential struggle against Hamas (a creation largely of its own making). Israel is using the terror attack of last year as an excuse to conduct what Netanyahu has been itching to do for decades -- expulsion or extinction of the Palestinians from the lands that Israel wants for its own. Not unlike how the US/Dubya Bush used the 9-11 terror attacks as an excuse to run wild across the globe and invade other countries contrary to international law under fictional pretenses.
You speak a truth others don’t want to hear or acknowledge.
Gracias.
And create Dick Chaney's "Homeland Security" to keep tabs on all opposition to the military power structure, his good buddies.Those who gained more sigificant wealth than from the Viet Nam invasion. Likud wants" River to the Sea" also, so where are we now?
We are at the point where we must adapt to renewable energy resources or face extinction. Its not news. Scientists have been telling us this for over a century.
The US has all the oil it needs while it converts to green tech. This isn't about oil.
The US is not in a bubble. NATO countries needs oil too. (All countried need oil.)
Isreal is surrounded by 47 Muslim countries whose purpose is to eliminate all Jews, and that is non-negotiable. Unless they are hit with a catastrophic trauma, they won't change. They are victims of their religion, and have brought these troubles on themselves. No other country wants to take in anyore Palestinians, because they don't accept reality and try to adapt. I don't blame Israel at all. I
Great post Lucien. With all the election stuff going on, this is a very important story and should continue to remain top of mind. The brave Ukrainian people are fighting their butts off. They need our wholehearted support. Putin can’t win this one
This isn't about helping Ukraine. It's an attempt to
cripple Russia, a country which has only grown stronger with every American attempt to take it down.
WAS Russia ever smashed like Germany after WWII?
12 million Russians died in World War II. Germany invaded the southeast part near Ukraine. The Russians used crash and burn techniques to deprive the Germans of supplies. So it had a lot of damage but most of it was untouched by the war since it is enormous and the Germans never got to Moscow.
"At some point, the U.S. is going to have to take the gloves off and allow NATO and the Pentagon to fully equip the Ukrainian military with everything it needs to defend itself." I hope so.
Thanks, Lucian, for your thorough, if thoroughly dispiriting, column. Another reason, one of let-me-count-the-grains-of-sand-on-the-shoreline-of-the-United-States many reasons, that we must elect Kamala Harris **and** extend that majority to the "down ballot" choices for the U.S. Congress, as well as state representation. Let Mr. Vance and his ilk (but certainly not elk) chase down the alleged perps purportedly feasting on Fido and BooBoo.
They ARE chasing down the alleged perps, through stochastic methods, and it's not a laughing matter. Those people are here legally and now they are afraid for their lives. It is a dangerous game they are playing. Once again, lives are ruined, people will get hurt or killed.
A great article and thanks. I agree with Peter's comment below: Why don't we give the same weapons to Ukraine that we give to Netanyahu?
Perhaps, because they are different countries with different enemies and have different values to us? I think that might be it.
Different values? Ukraine or Israel? Ukraine is defending itself against an invader. Israel is, as Kozmo posted, fighting to take land it wants for itself, and is willing to murder children to do so. Yes, the hostage taking was horrible, but even family members are angry with Netanyahu because his goal is not to find the hostages and bring them home. Additionally, Netanyahu is prolonging the "war" to avoid going on trial for corruption.
The question on the table, to which I replied, was "Why don't we give the same weapons to Ukraine that we give to Netanyahu?"
What I wrote suggested that looking for the same military aid to two countries that are so different in our orbit did not make sense.
I have no idea what you're taking objection to.
We should have shocked and awed them from the very outset and in the long run we'd probably have come out spending less and with fewer dying and less damage to the beautiful countryside and ancient architecture in Ukraine. There is so much wrong with the way Putin and his oligarchy runs Russia, but he is right in one respect - a dictatorship can turn on a dime (if corruption hasn't eaten away the innards of what they're turning), while a democracy tends to be slow, transparent, and cumbersome. Some of those aspects can be improved upon.
Great column, Lucian. Unfortunately, politics gets in the way of what should be done. Shame on the GQP idiots who back Putin and refuse to help Ukraine. But you are right to broadly place the blame for foot dragging. Hope that changes soon
A great piece, Lucian, it says it all. Unfortunately all the generals that have been also critical of the administrations timidity are all retired. If Ukraine falls, not only will all the billions spent already be down the drain but it goes without saying Putin will be emboldened to go further. Before all this extra help he is getting from Iran, etc., Putin was in a much weaker position militarily and that would have been the time to move against him. We have to clash eventually and it will be at much greater cost.
Make sure every one of these missiles is used to strike Russian airbases, missile launch sites, ammuntion dumps, supply depots and marshalling yards for the transport of munitions to the front. And, ,yes, if they can find a Command and Control center full of Russian generals that , too, is a legitimate target.
So far Russia has had safe harbor for use of its terror weapons. Let Ukraine do what it has been wanting to do from Day One. Take away the only advantage Putin has and force his soldiers to fight one on one against the Ukrainians. We have already seen what happens when that is the equation.
Robert, I agree with your every word. I wouldn't mind seeing one or two of those big missiles also used to target Putin's palace in Crimea, preferably with him inside. I consider that a legitimate leadership target.
Yes on more military articles.
When you go to a knife fight the last thing you want to have in your possession is a plastic knife.
The Ukrainians need to be allowed to hit the areas in Russia that support the Russian effort in Ukraine. The best way to protect their civilians is to blow up Russian missiles, drones, and aircraft on the ground. Allowing strikes into those regions of Russia will accomplish this. NATO also needs to provide more armor and artillery to exploit their offensive. Putin gets nothing but pain.
Hello Lucian. My sister Candace got me a subscription after I talked to her about your grandfather. Our father was a navy officer who served on the USS Alabama. I especially enjoy your columns about military movements and tactics since as a layman, I depend on clients or columns like yours. Wonderful writing; thank you!
- Andy Baker
Thanks Andy, glad you are enjoying the column.
Thank you for this Lucian.
With the politicians and sad
to say, diplomats, involved,
SNAFU! Please keep posting
these cold, hard facts.
Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦! Take it to
Putin with anything and
everything!
Trump has bragged that he could stop the war in a day if elected.I wonder if things escalate, how this would affect the election, he is sure to use this to garner support.
If it's the sensible thing to do to help Ukraine, then it needs to happen. election or no election
Sure, Trump means that he would pressure Ukraine into surrender of all territory that Russia wants, problem solved. How does that help Ukraine??
It does’’t. I think he would hand UKraine to Putin on a platter. A gift for the propaganda that Putin spread for him. I am wondering if it would affect the election in a negativ e way here at home. If so, we need to get ahead of that backlash., right?
Absolutely, it will help Trump.
Well, someone with more experience than I have, needs to help voters understand this.
I've always thought the U.S. was afraid that its weapons striking Russia would trigger not just a nuclear attack on Ukraine, but at least one on a NATO country if not on the U.S. itself, either of which could lead to nuclear annihilation of all of us on both sides.