News from Ukraine Conflict

[Gusington]

Sounds...not good.

[Centurion40]

So, is Pawel correct?  Should Putin get slapped-down now before there is a re-run of 1939?

Personally, I think (which is easy for me to say, as I am not Ukrainian) that Kiev should give-up Luhansk and Donetsk.  Maybe even Kharkiv and Zaporizhia for good measure.  Pull out and consolidate defences in what is left of eastern Ukraine.  Deport any remaining pro-Russian citizens.  Dig in.  Ally as much as possible.  Pray that the US does not implode.

If push comes to shove in the Baltics, we have to step-up.  We (old-NATO) seriously need to establish a ground & air presence in Poland.  Air and Army bases with Brits, Yanks & Canucks.  Have a standing NATO fleet in Tallinn, teeming with USMC & Royal Marines (they'll really dig the local blond talent).

[Gusington]

In the current atmosphere just establishing a dock for a NATO dinghy in Tallinn could start a war. Even if Russia did take the Baltics, I don't think NATO would do anything. This is Russia's playground and like Kramer said, Ukraine is weak. It is up to the former Warsaw Pact to either fall in line with Russia or die trying to resist.

[LongBlade]

If NATO did nothing it would dissolve the alliance.

They'd have to act.

[Centurion40]

If NATO did nothing it would dissolve the alliance.

They'd have to act.

+1.

Besides, we owe Poland for 1939.

[Centurion40]

I've heard that Ukraine has plans to boost defence spending.  Perhaps they should try getting some 2-for-1 deals from Boeing, Raytheon, Krauss-Maffei, General Motors, Lockheed, etc., etc.

They'd all probably like to see their kit field tested on the plains of Europe.

[mirth]

In the current atmosphere just establishing a dock for a NATO dinghy in Tallinn could start a war. Even if Russia did take the Baltics, I don't think NATO would do anything. This is Russia's playground and like Kramer said, Ukraine is weak. It is up to the former Warsaw Pact to either fall in line with Russia or die trying to resist.

No way the Poles are just going to fall in line with Russia.

[mirth]

Besides, we owe Poland for 1939.

And the 50-odd years after.

[GDS_Starfury]

So, is Pawel correct?  Should Putin get slapped-down now before there is a re-run of 1939?

Ill state this once again:

putin does NOT have the military strength to to even think of a 1939 re-run.
he will rattle the nuclear card to act tough.  all our fearless leader needs to do is rattle it back.  not that the spineless git is going to.  ::)

[Gusington]

Putin is counting on splitting the alliance. That's almost as good as reviving the USSR for him.

[LongBlade]

Putin is counting on splitting the alliance. That's almost as good as reviving the USSR for him.

I really doubt he'll do anything against NATO. The downside is too big. It means a hot war consisting of him against Europe, Canada, and the USA.

Not gonna happen.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

If NATO did nothing it would dissolve the alliance.

They'd have to act.

+1.

Besides, we owe Poland for 1939.

I thought our ancestors got stuck in on their behalf in '39.  It was in '45 when we let them down.

[Gusington]

Putin doesn't have to actually do anything of substance - he just has to keep rattling his saber and watch as the West scurries around, looking for a plan. Putin has done quite enough already by shredding Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. He's changed the status quo. Does anyone remember the Sochi Olympics at this point? No. Will they remember that Putin is the first leader since 1945 to forcibly seize territory in Europe? Hopefully. There's no ambiguity about whether Russia is a friend or foe of the West anymore. It's perfectly clear. We in the West better re-cog-nize, yo.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Putin doesn't have to actually do anything of substance - he just has to keep rattling his saber and watch as the West scurries around, looking for a plan. Putin has done quite enough already by shredding Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. He's changed the status quo. Does anyone remember the Sochi Olympics at this point? No. Will they remember that Putin is the first leader since 1945 to forcibly seize territory in Europe? Hopefully. There's no ambiguity about whether Russia is a friend or foe of the West anymore. It's perfectly clear. We in the West better re-cog-nize, yo.

Agree. I also think he will lose his naval base in Syria for his troubles.

[Airborne Rifles]

Putin is counting on splitting the alliance. That's almost as good as reviving the USSR for him.

I really doubt he'll do anything against NATO. The downside is too big. It means a hot war consisting of him against Europe, Canada, and the USA.

Not gonna happen.

Yeah, people forget that the US still has our nuclear triad: bombers, ICBMs, and SLBMs, not to mention the nuclear arsenals of Britain and France. Putin can rattle the nuclear saber, at some point we may need to rattle back, cuz our's is sharper. I wonder how long those Bears flying near North American airspace would last in a real shooting war?