4 ms·

This seems phyrric. Russia will win this war but the lower and more barbaric it stoops, the weaker it seems.

onlyrealcuzzo 5y ago
This is an unwinnable war. The US and Russia could not even conquer Afghanistan - with a virtually non-existent army, and no allies to help Afghanistan. As Ukraine is showing - they have a strong, well organized military. Beside a lack of anti-bomber missiles (Patriots) - they have everything they need to defend themselves. They now have full support from almost the entire advanced world beside China and India. And it looks like they'll be getting some Patriot missiles within 24 hours. Russia doesn't even have partial support from anyone. The best they can get is China and India trying to stay neutral - and it looks like China is starting to side with the rest of the world, with reports it has blocked all banks from lending money to Russia.
- srvmshr 5y ago
  As an Indian guy married to a Chinese, I am deeply ashamed of how our governments lack a spine to voice the morally correct opinion in time. (Such events might actually make my resolve firmer to acquire Japanese citizenship from my current PR status)
  - reducesuffering 5y ago
    Even worse, Chinese Foreign Minister rebuked a reporter that "it wasn't an invasion."
- alephxyz 5y ago
  I can't even imagine how much worse Afghanistan would've been if the Taliban had access to modern antivehicle weaponry. Something like an NLAW or Javelin costs about 1/100 what a modern Russian tank costs and takes little training to use.
  - onlyrealcuzzo 5y ago
    Let us all be glad that - at least for now - it is several orders of magnitude cheaper to defend than to attack (beside crazy things like nuclear weapons). Example: stingers have 95% accuracy on jets - cost ~$20k. Jets cost $40m+. Tank cost $5m+. Javelins cost ~$180k. Patriot missiles cost $1m. Bombers can cost $500m+
  - MrRiddle 5y ago
    Well, they definitely have now.
- belter 5y ago
  Do you have a reference for the Patriot missiles? I guess Russia could see that as another major escalation. Or do you mean Stinger?
  - stjohnswarts 5y ago
    I definitely heard on a radio report that Germany is giving Ukraine stinger missiles
    - belter 5y ago
      Stinger yes. Patriot last I heard the United Stated did not want because they considered it would upset Putin too much. "Germany to send Ukraine surface-to-air missiles and anti-tank weapons" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30480526 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30480526 "Why didn't the U.S. and allies provide Ukraine with a better air defense system?" We didn't want to provoke Putin," said an official. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/didnt-us-allies-provide-ukraine-better-air-defense-system-rcna17317 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/didnt-us-...
- reducesuffering 5y ago
  You're forgetting how Pakistan PM Khan immediately landed in Moscow after the invasion, declaring to his Russian welcomers "what a time I have come. So much excitement." They're trying to work out a gas pipeline deal. Pakistan is probably the most supportive of Russia by trying to be opportunistic. https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/pakistan-moscow-imran-khan-prime-minister-b2022105.html https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/pakistan-mosco...
- justin66 5y ago
  > Beside a lack of anti-bomber missiles (Patriots) - they have everything they need to defend themselves. After acquiring a modern SAM capability like the Patriot, they could sure use some modern main battle tanks.
- stjohnswarts 5y ago
  Afghanistan is unwinnable by any country unless they are willing to declare total war and wiping out all resistance without any attention to human rights.
- senectus1 5y ago
  could it be that him killing the leadership of ukraine, inserting his own puppets then leaving the country is his idea of "win" ? leaving a buffer state in a mess is a good situation for him.

This is an unwinnable war. The US and Russia could not even conquer Afghanistan - with a virtually non-existent army, and no allies to help Afghanistan. As Ukraine is showing - they have a strong, well organized military. Beside a lack of anti-bomber missiles (Patriots) - they have everything they need to defend themselves. They now have full support from almost the entire advanced world beside China and India. And it looks like they'll be getting some Patriot missiles within 24 hours. Russia doesn't even have partial support from anyone. The best they can get is China and India trying to stay neutral - and it looks like China is starting to side with the rest of the world, with reports it has blocked all banks from lending money to Russia.

srvmshr 5y ago
As an Indian guy married to a Chinese, I am deeply ashamed of how our governments lack a spine to voice the morally correct opinion in time. (Such events might actually make my resolve firmer to acquire Japanese citizenship from my current PR status)
- reducesuffering 5y ago
  Even worse, Chinese Foreign Minister rebuked a reporter that "it wasn't an invasion."
alephxyz 5y ago
I can't even imagine how much worse Afghanistan would've been if the Taliban had access to modern antivehicle weaponry. Something like an NLAW or Javelin costs about 1/100 what a modern Russian tank costs and takes little training to use.
- onlyrealcuzzo 5y ago
  Let us all be glad that - at least for now - it is several orders of magnitude cheaper to defend than to attack (beside crazy things like nuclear weapons). Example: stingers have 95% accuracy on jets - cost ~$20k. Jets cost $40m+. Tank cost $5m+. Javelins cost ~$180k. Patriot missiles cost $1m. Bombers can cost $500m+
- MrRiddle 5y ago
  Well, they definitely have now.
belter 5y ago
Do you have a reference for the Patriot missiles? I guess Russia could see that as another major escalation. Or do you mean Stinger?
- stjohnswarts 5y ago
  I definitely heard on a radio report that Germany is giving Ukraine stinger missiles
  - belter 5y ago
    Stinger yes. Patriot last I heard the United Stated did not want because they considered it would upset Putin too much. "Germany to send Ukraine surface-to-air missiles and anti-tank weapons" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30480526 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30480526 "Why didn't the U.S. and allies provide Ukraine with a better air defense system?" We didn't want to provoke Putin," said an official. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/didnt-us-allies-provide-ukraine-better-air-defense-system-rcna17317 https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/didnt-us-...
reducesuffering 5y ago
You're forgetting how Pakistan PM Khan immediately landed in Moscow after the invasion, declaring to his Russian welcomers "what a time I have come. So much excitement." They're trying to work out a gas pipeline deal. Pakistan is probably the most supportive of Russia by trying to be opportunistic. https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/pakistan-moscow-imran-khan-prime-minister-b2022105.html https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/pakistan-mosco...
justin66 5y ago
> Beside a lack of anti-bomber missiles (Patriots) - they have everything they need to defend themselves. After acquiring a modern SAM capability like the Patriot, they could sure use some modern main battle tanks.
stjohnswarts 5y ago
Afghanistan is unwinnable by any country unless they are willing to declare total war and wiping out all resistance without any attention to human rights.
senectus1 5y ago
could it be that him killing the leadership of ukraine, inserting his own puppets then leaving the country is his idea of "win" ? leaving a buffer state in a mess is a good situation for him.