Comments: The Tsar
Not too happy with what I saw from Gen Dempsey today at The Beast. He says that Putin may light a fire that he cannot put out.
The reason I'm unhappy is that is too timid of Dempsey. The better strategy will be an active defense in Europe, not one driven by the fear of spreading the conflict. Why hasn't Putin already driven into Ukraine? He's held back by something (hint: the American people). Disagree? Then use your logic and rule out everything that does not apply. In the end you see he wants to avoid widening the conflict up to a point.
Of course, the more non-response Putin gets, the better his hand going forward.
Build up Europe militarily. Then, put a full armored division in Poland. Then, place a Ranger battalion and an SF Group in Ukraine and start training Ukes to stop tanks en masse. A US Ranger battalion, properly supported, can stop a Corps of Russian tankers on the move. Note to Obama: that's pronounced "core."
Posted by Casey Klahn at July 25, 2014 8:34 AM
A more immediate and pressing threat comes from Muslims. The armored division and Rangers and SF would be better deployed against any and all Muslims.
The reasoning that justified bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not invalid. Never mind collateral damage and world opinion, Muslim cities should be laid waste to such that no stone remains standing atop another.
Posted by chasmatic at July 26, 2014 5:22 AM
chas - There was a time when we could have done both. But we pissed that strength away and are having an EBT party instead.
Posted by BillH at July 26, 2014 8:09 AM
Can anyone tell us how Putin is any different from Hitler? Anyone?
Hitler blustered, and then invaded the Sudetenland on the pretext that there were German speakers there. WWII resulted. Fifty million dead.
Putin is doing the same thing re: Ukraine. If Europe and the U.S. don't man up, WW3 is entirely possible. Fifty million in WWIII would be just the opening gambit; the first 12 hours.
"Power does not back down, except in the face of more power." ~ Malcolm X
History repeats. Obama is spineless, which doesn't bode well. The Europeans are little better.
Also, re: Israel & the Islamists. In WWII, civilians were destroyed with bullets, bombs and fire just as fast as the enemy's military. You are either with us, or against us. Crocodile tears over civilians don't matter, when the opposition presents an existential threat.
Posted by Smokey at July 26, 2014 7:47 PM