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Am I missing something? Russia can barely defeat Ukraine and put up enormous losses doing it? Can't imagine a world war type situation could play out with Russi

Am I missing something? Russia can barely defeat Ukraine and put up enormous losses doing it? Can't imagine a world war type situation could play out with Russia as the main adversary? Either he's exaggerating Russia's military strength, or he's talking about other potential enemies?

coldtea 3y ago
It's about warmongering. He is as truthful as any average career politician.
- wolverine876 3y ago
  It's a general, not a politician. Also, what career politician (of any prominence) is saying anything like that?
  - coldtea 3y ago
    >It's a general, not a politician. A general rising at that role and level is basically a politician. >Also, what career politician (of any prominence) is saying anything like that? Almost all prominent ones have been pushing warmongering for at least 2 decades (remember Bush, Rice, Albright, Blair, and co?), and the UK and European ones, increasingly so in the last years.
    - wolverine876 3y ago
      > Almost all prominent ones have been pushing warmongering for at least 2 decades (remember Bush, Rice, Albright, Blair, and co?), and the UK and European ones, increasingly so in the last years. They didn't say their citizens needed to prepare for an attack. > A general rising at that role and level is basically a politician. It's just an offhand comment, but there is only slight overlap. Generals are treated as professionals who give professional, expert advice.
wolverine876 3y ago
Also, between the UK and Russia is all of NATO, including large segments of the US military. They far outweigh Russia in wealth and power (15x?) - IIRC, Russia's economy was the size of Spain's, before the sanctions. The Baltics, Hungary, and Poland have concerns, and NATO needs to defend them. How will Russia attack the UK with ground troops?
- anigbrowl 3y ago
  Russia's grand strategy is to foster domestic unrest and civil strife in other countries and leverage them as proxies. Their ground warfare game is mediocre, but they excel in information and electronic warfare.
  - dukeyukey 3y ago
    Although the UK is less vulnerable than most Eastern/Central European countries. No Russian minorities to rile up, no local history of Russian anything (other than dissidents and wealth stashing) really.
  - wolverine876 3y ago
    I agree, but arming (and alarming) the British public and preparing them for war won't protect them. In fact, it would seem to futher Russia's aims of fostering uncertainty and fear.
    - anigbrowl 3y ago
      Seems to have worked out OK for the Ukrainians. It's better to be prepared than not.
      - wolverine876 3y ago
        It's a completely different situation. Ukraine was under threat from a powerful, threatening enemy on their border. The UK is not. The UK could also invest in desalinization plants and massive solar farms like some mideast countries, but it's a completely different situation. It's better not to use resources for more valuable endeavors - almost anything, really.
rippeltippel 3y ago
Unfortunately Russia benefits from a massive support of China.
rasz 3y ago
Ukraine ran out of artillery ammo and are barely holding on right now with drones. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67714719 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67714719 https://twitter.com/JosephAtaman/status/1749528161786704157 https://twitter.com/JosephAtaman/status/1749528161786704157 https://twitter.com/fpleitgenCNN/status/1749519849074639180 https://twitter.com/fpleitgenCNN/status/1749519849074639180 CNN: "Ukraine’s ammo shortage becoming more difficult by the day. Around Bakhmut an M109 position we visited only got smoke rounds." russia doesnt care about its own casualties, thats why they keep taking territory one costly tree line after another. NATO and EU inability to agree to anything to actually help Ukraine is only emboldening putin into planning for Estonia, Poland or Lithuania next.

coldtea 3y ago

It's about warmongering. He is as truthful as any average career politician.

wolverine876 3y ago
It's a general, not a politician. Also, what career politician (of any prominence) is saying anything like that?
- coldtea 3y ago
  >It's a general, not a politician. A general rising at that role and level is basically a politician. >Also, what career politician (of any prominence) is saying anything like that? Almost all prominent ones have been pushing warmongering for at least 2 decades (remember Bush, Rice, Albright, Blair, and co?), and the UK and European ones, increasingly so in the last years.
  - wolverine876 3y ago
    > Almost all prominent ones have been pushing warmongering for at least 2 decades (remember Bush, Rice, Albright, Blair, and co?), and the UK and European ones, increasingly so in the last years. They didn't say their citizens needed to prepare for an attack. > A general rising at that role and level is basically a politician. It's just an offhand comment, but there is only slight overlap. Generals are treated as professionals who give professional, expert advice.

wolverine876 3y ago

Also, between the UK and Russia is all of NATO, including large segments of the US military. They far outweigh Russia in wealth and power (15x?) - IIRC, Russia's economy was the size of Spain's, before the sanctions. The Baltics, Hungary, and Poland have concerns, and NATO needs to defend them. How will Russia attack the UK with ground troops?

anigbrowl 3y ago
Russia's grand strategy is to foster domestic unrest and civil strife in other countries and leverage them as proxies. Their ground warfare game is mediocre, but they excel in information and electronic warfare.
- dukeyukey 3y ago
  Although the UK is less vulnerable than most Eastern/Central European countries. No Russian minorities to rile up, no local history of Russian anything (other than dissidents and wealth stashing) really.
- wolverine876 3y ago
  I agree, but arming (and alarming) the British public and preparing them for war won't protect them. In fact, it would seem to futher Russia's aims of fostering uncertainty and fear.
  - anigbrowl 3y ago
    Seems to have worked out OK for the Ukrainians. It's better to be prepared than not.
    - wolverine876 3y ago
      It's a completely different situation. Ukraine was under threat from a powerful, threatening enemy on their border. The UK is not. The UK could also invest in desalinization plants and massive solar farms like some mideast countries, but it's a completely different situation. It's better not to use resources for more valuable endeavors - almost anything, really.

rippeltippel 3y ago

Unfortunately Russia benefits from a massive support of China.

rasz 3y ago

Ukraine ran out of artillery ammo and are barely holding on right now with drones. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67714719 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67714719 https://twitter.com/JosephAtaman/status/1749528161786704157 https://twitter.com/JosephAtaman/status/1749528161786704157 https://twitter.com/fpleitgenCNN/status/1749519849074639180 https://twitter.com/fpleitgenCNN/status/1749519849074639180 CNN: "Ukraine’s ammo shortage becoming more difficult by the day. Around Bakhmut an M109 position we visited only got smoke rounds." russia doesnt care about its own casualties, thats why they keep taking territory one costly tree line after another. NATO and EU inability to agree to anything to actually help Ukraine is only emboldening putin into planning for Estonia, Poland or Lithuania next.