Russia on brink of ... NOPE! Russia INVADES Ukraine!

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Pens1566

Lifer
Oct 11, 2005
13,503
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While a bit of overkill, it may just be helping run Ukraine supply logistics safely while watching out for Russian movements. At least 2-3 US Army blackhawks running trips along Polish side of Ukraine border also, and there were at least a couple large military transport deliveries into the area in eastern Poland over past 12 hours, possibly more.

Possible, but kinda negates the purpose/strength of it in the first place. There would need to be a pretty cumbersome "translation" in order to get that info to a non-mated system

I have to wonder how much of this is cat and mouse and how much is "hey, look we're up here and we know what you're doing". They're sometimes showing certain platforms and sometimes not. Like the disappearing global hawk coverage in the black sea ... Also, if JSTARS is up there's a whole slew of units that feed on their target data. But none of it is Ukrainian. At least not in an automated fashion.
 
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Pens1566

Lifer
Oct 11, 2005
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Why not fast track the Ukraine's membership into NATO. Like before the end of today. Then let NATO do their thing to the Russian forces surrounding the country.

Won't see it, just not in the cards. Sweden and Finland are a different story though.

I'm not even sure NATO is around (in it's current mission) after the long term consequences of this shake out. One way or another, this is going to radically change the power structure in Europe.
 
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ivwshane

Lifer
May 15, 2000
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I don’t think I’ve seen the world united this much before in my life time. No matter what Putin does at this point he’ll be a loser. If his plan was to build up Russia to what it once was, well he fucked that up under his tenure. If it was to test the US, nato, or whatever other entity he perceived as a threat, he fucked up. Even if he succeeds in overtaking Ukraine he’ll suffer in the long run. In fact the only thing he’s succeeded in is killing people needlessly.
 

Ajay

Lifer
Jan 8, 2001
16,094
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There's a JSTARS over Poland right now. First I've seen so far ... that seems to be a shift in our posture. They're really close to the border, might be expecting some spillover. Because I don't think Ukraine has anything that would be compatible. I guess they could be relaying target info old school, but ... that's a stretch to use JSTARS for.
With a 250km range - this is for NAT0 purposes; which may include scanning delivery routes for moving NATO weapons into Ukraine. Curious what sort of penetration we have with CIA handlers into eastern Ukraine.

Eh, @Dave_5k scooped me.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
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I don’t think I’ve seen the world united this much before in my life time. No matter what Putin does at this point he’ll be a loser. If his plan was to build up Russia to what it once was, well he fucked that up under his tenure. If it was to test the US, nato, or whatever other entity he perceived as a threat, he fucked up. Even if he succeeds in overtaking Ukraine he’ll suffer in the long run. In fact the only thing he’s succeeded in is killing people needlessly.

Driving his economy into the ground. Chewing through billions in military hardware. Destroying billions in personal property.

Only to get punched in the face on the global stage.
 
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fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
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Just read something that reminded me - while of course the idea that Putin wouldn't have done this because he was scared of Trump's unpredictability is ludicrous, it would have had a lot of impact on what we're seeing now. What actions/sanctions would other countries be willing to implement if they thought the US would betray them at any moment? Probably a lot less. One of the less frequently mentioned weaknesses of the Trump administration was that it was incapable of making binding commitments because nobody believed them.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
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Former NATO strategic air commander of Europe (SACEUR), a retired 4 star US Air Force general, in favor of no-fly zone:
As this article mentions this is essentially a declaration of war on Russia. If you guys want to declare war just say it, don't pull this half-ass no fly zone shit.

I'm going to say war with Russia is a bad idea.
 

Dave_5k

Platinum Member
May 23, 2017
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As this article mentions this is essentially a declaration of war on Russia. If you guys want to declare war just say it, don't pull this half-ass no fly zone shit.

I'm going to say war with Russia is a bad idea.
Agreed, I don't favor war with Russia.

However, from Russian side, the extreme economic sanctions are bordering on an act of war already. They may not see as bright of a line between economic and military actions as does the West.
 
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fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
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Agreed, I don't favor war with Russia.

However, from Russian side, the extreme economic sanctions are bordering on an act of war already. They may not see as bright of a line between economic and military actions as does the West.
I don’t agree and even if they did what is Russia going to do? Are they going to invade NATO countries? That would get them obliterated. Are they going to launch nukes? That gets Putin taken out back and shot.
 
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kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
30,932
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As this article mentions this is essentially a declaration of war on Russia. If you guys want to declare war just say it, don't pull this half-ass no fly zone shit.

I'm going to say war with Russia is a bad idea.

I'm with you. Feels like Putin's folly is making some people get a little too cowboy here. I think they're already pushing it with a NATO AWACS they sent over Ukraine.

Say Russia shoots that down, killing 20-30 NATO crew members? Now what? Drones can't compete with the view of an AWACs, but they could still help give Ukrainians recon and warning.
 
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Pens1566

Lifer
Oct 11, 2005
13,503
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I'm with you. Feels like Putin's folly is making some people get a little too cowboy here. I think they're already pushing it with a NATO AWACS they sent over Ukraine.

Say Russia shoots that down, now what? Drones can't compete with the view of an AWACs, but they could still help give Ukrainians recon and warning.

I haven't seen anything about AWACS over Ukraine. JSTARS is over Poland right now, but that's a different thing entirely.
 
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pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
15,034
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I'm with you. Feels like Putin's folly is making some people get a little too cowboy here. I think they're already pushing it with a NATO AWACS they sent over Ukraine.

Say Russia shoots that down, now what? Drones can't compete with the view of an AWACs, but they could still help give Ukrainians recon and warning.

I don't feel as confident as some seem to that Putin couldn't survive giving an order for nuclear strikes. I don't see how anyone not part of the (decidedly opaque) Russian state apparatus can be that certain how people involved would react. I feel very nervous about any measure that could risk starting a gradual escalation to that point.

On the other hand, I am now feeling as if, after decades of the West crying Wolf, and comparing every enemy of the day - from Nasser to Saddam, by way of Milosovic and Kim Jong Ill - to Hitler, maybe Putin is actually the real thing. A nutcase with near-absolute control of a genuinely dangerous military power - if only because of the nuclear arsenal.
 

ccryder

Member
Nov 20, 2008
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I'm with you. Feels like Putin's folly is making some people get a little too cowboy here. I think they're already pushing it with a NATO AWACS they sent over Ukraine.

Say Russia shoots that down, killing 20-30 NATO crew members? Now what? Drones can't compete with the view of an AWACs, but they could still help give Ukrainians recon and warning.
Where did you see there was AWACS over Ukraine?
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
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Just read something that reminded me - while of course the idea that Putin wouldn't have done this because he was scared of Trump's unpredictability is ludicrous, it would have had a lot of impact on what we're seeing now. What actions/sanctions would other countries be willing to implement if they thought the US would betray them at any moment? Probably a lot less. One of the less frequently mentioned weaknesses of the Trump administration was that it was incapable of making binding commitments because nobody believed them.

It also helps not having a President compromised and backed by Russian funds that are getting locked right now.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
30,932
46,399
136
Looks like Russians are hitting back. Toyota just suspended domestic factory operations as one of their main suppliers just got cyber attacked.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
30,932
46,399
136
Where did you see there was AWACS over Ukraine?

My source was incorrect looks like (and I'm thrilled) there's 2 of them and they are not allowed to leave Polish and Romanian airspace. SAMs don't care about international borders though, I hope Putin doesn't shoot at them anyway and give the standard encroachment/location dispute. He's looking for a way to arrest his descent into failure and spread some it the opposition.

Hurry up and off this guy Russia.
 

Motostu

Senior member
Oct 5, 2020
576
595
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I'm with you. Feels like Putin's folly is making some people get a little too cowboy here. I think they're already pushing it with a NATO AWACS they sent over Ukraine.
...
I have a feeling this is a term that is going to stick when people refer back to this event.
 
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IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
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With a 250km range - this is for NAT0 purposes; which may include scanning delivery routes for moving NATO weapons into Ukraine. Curious what sort of penetration we have with CIA handlers into eastern Ukraine.
At this point, I think the CIA could random dial Ukrainian numbers and ask folks what's going on in their areas.
 
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sportage

Lifer
Feb 1, 2008
11,492
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What the hell happened over at Fox? Suddenly, they are actually dumping on Putin, praising Ukraine, cheering the Biden sanctions, and acting like a news organization should act. Have they lost their mind? This is not like Fox, not at all. Mommy, they're scaring me.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,516
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Driving his economy into the ground. Chewing through billions in military hardware. Destroying billions in personal property.

Only to get punched in the face on the global stage.
The man is indeed a cautionary tale.