I'll use the comment mechanism to link to this rather long but very informed discussion at the London Times with a former British Air Marshall and very experienced jet pilot on a number of aircraft, but especially the F-16's we are supposed to be sending them. The piece is full of British understatement and politeness, but I couldn't help but draw the conclusion the Air Marshall laments the late delivery, the long training period (six months at least and maybe more to handle the updates for radar and weaponry...another layer beyond just flying the aircraft skills. It sounds like, with resignation the conclusion is they'll be there in time to protect Ukraine in the future after the ground forces push the Russian back. My round about way of saying I'm not sure Ukraine can win without the type of air power, in layers that should go with the ground offensive. This compliments where I was and was going on June 11th....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuudTiYdsEk
Editor's Update Sat. June 24...12:05 PM. From the London Times podcast at You tube relying on reporter Askold Krushelnycky in the Eastern Ukraine. Essentially that there has been no Putin-leaning military opposition blocking Wagner-Prigozhin forces from moving some 400 miles up M-4 highway towards Moscow. No air forces able to strike? A few indications there were, but shot down or beaten off. Has Prigozhin been able to behind the scenes, win complicity to "stay in the barracks" from key Russian military leaders who would be the likely source of opposition to Putin's war conduct? The next 48-72 hours should make that clearer. As to the US Senate Resolution I referred to in yesterday's (6/23) update to this main posting, my ask to broaden and strengthen it I think is more needed than ever to foreclose desperate moves on the battlefield more likely in my take to be in the form of blowing dams, leaking radiation or chemicals than any traditional military thrust...the amended resolution can make it clear that there will be no attempts to capture Russian territory on the russian side of the 1991 boundaries. Defensive airstrikes to head off Russian offensives moves excepted. One doesn't capture territory with air power alone. So that should be clear.
8:26 pm Friday, June 23rd: the only footage I saw on You Tube of the alleged Russian/Putin attack on the Wagner groups encampment was not very convincing. It looked like someonw set off a land mine which sprayed pellets around in heavy undergrowth. No bodies, dead or wounded, and not a trace of blood. Following the camera to a rocky area with large boulders, a few flames, very unconvincing equipment lightly scattered about, one rifle, again, no blood or bodies. Not buying it whomever is putting it forward (Wagner group's allegations). Another commentator suggested "hiring Spielberg."
It's going to take a few days to make sense of the early reports. Acting prematurely, as many historical coup attempts demonstrated, is the sure way to failure.
Breaking news I saw first at You Tube sites: who struck first, the Kremlin in a modern version of the "night of the long knives" (Hitler's SS led attack on the SA Brownshirts - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives, attacking the Wagner group by missiles, or a coup attempt using that attack (real or fabricated) to try to overthrow Putin.
Too early to say. June 23rd, 2023, 7:05 PM. Surely this is news, not good for Putin although my feel is that Wagner does not have the means to overthrow anyone at this point. But I'm 5,000 miles away. So caution in interpreting is in order. Please see the Editor's Note today, June 23, my letter to the Maryland delegation asking them to support a revise and tougher Senate Resolution threatening direct NATO intervention if Russia commits further war crimes such a blowing up dams, creating nuclear spills or chemical releases, or, of course, using tactical nukes. Time to stop treading water - or doing the Biden "backstroke."
I'll use the comment mechanism to link to this rather long but very informed discussion at the London Times with a former British Air Marshall and very experienced jet pilot on a number of aircraft, but especially the F-16's we are supposed to be sending them. The piece is full of British understatement and politeness, but I couldn't help but draw the conclusion the Air Marshall laments the late delivery, the long training period (six months at least and maybe more to handle the updates for radar and weaponry...another layer beyond just flying the aircraft skills. It sounds like, with resignation the conclusion is they'll be there in time to protect Ukraine in the future after the ground forces push the Russian back. My round about way of saying I'm not sure Ukraine can win without the type of air power, in layers that should go with the ground offensive. This compliments where I was and was going on June 11th....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuudTiYdsEk
Editor's Update Sat. June 24...12:05 PM. From the London Times podcast at You tube relying on reporter Askold Krushelnycky in the Eastern Ukraine. Essentially that there has been no Putin-leaning military opposition blocking Wagner-Prigozhin forces from moving some 400 miles up M-4 highway towards Moscow. No air forces able to strike? A few indications there were, but shot down or beaten off. Has Prigozhin been able to behind the scenes, win complicity to "stay in the barracks" from key Russian military leaders who would be the likely source of opposition to Putin's war conduct? The next 48-72 hours should make that clearer. As to the US Senate Resolution I referred to in yesterday's (6/23) update to this main posting, my ask to broaden and strengthen it I think is more needed than ever to foreclose desperate moves on the battlefield more likely in my take to be in the form of blowing dams, leaking radiation or chemicals than any traditional military thrust...the amended resolution can make it clear that there will be no attempts to capture Russian territory on the russian side of the 1991 boundaries. Defensive airstrikes to head off Russian offensives moves excepted. One doesn't capture territory with air power alone. So that should be clear.
8:26 pm Friday, June 23rd: the only footage I saw on You Tube of the alleged Russian/Putin attack on the Wagner groups encampment was not very convincing. It looked like someonw set off a land mine which sprayed pellets around in heavy undergrowth. No bodies, dead or wounded, and not a trace of blood. Following the camera to a rocky area with large boulders, a few flames, very unconvincing equipment lightly scattered about, one rifle, again, no blood or bodies. Not buying it whomever is putting it forward (Wagner group's allegations). Another commentator suggested "hiring Spielberg."
It's going to take a few days to make sense of the early reports. Acting prematurely, as many historical coup attempts demonstrated, is the sure way to failure.
Breaking news I saw first at You Tube sites: who struck first, the Kremlin in a modern version of the "night of the long knives" (Hitler's SS led attack on the SA Brownshirts - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives, attacking the Wagner group by missiles, or a coup attempt using that attack (real or fabricated) to try to overthrow Putin.
Too early to say. June 23rd, 2023, 7:05 PM. Surely this is news, not good for Putin although my feel is that Wagner does not have the means to overthrow anyone at this point. But I'm 5,000 miles away. So caution in interpreting is in order. Please see the Editor's Note today, June 23, my letter to the Maryland delegation asking them to support a revise and tougher Senate Resolution threatening direct NATO intervention if Russia commits further war crimes such a blowing up dams, creating nuclear spills or chemical releases, or, of course, using tactical nukes. Time to stop treading water - or doing the Biden "backstroke."