Russia is making a lot of threats. Some of them are nuclear. After he clears the Ukraine and puts in his puppet leadership, what next? He hates the West and the US in particular. I'm fairly sure (I hope I'm wrong) that he will try to reclaim the rest of Eastern Europe. In that case there is no hope of evading war. We've got to start wrapping our heads around this and prepare ourselves-especially psychologically. Being totally prepared to fight and win is the only way to avoid war. The problem is that we're thinking reactively, and we need to start thinking like a chess player! To CAC: Transports ARE valuable targets. They are a strategic asset. When loaded with troops and supplies they're even more valuable!
I don't mean to speak for CAC, but I think what he was getting at was they weren't easy kills, i.e. fighter vs helicopter or fighter vs unarmed transport. They were legit air to air kills. 2 SU-35 air-defense fighters (improved SU-27's), 1 SU-27 air-defense fighter, 1 MiG-29 air-superiority fighter, 2 SU-25 CAS aircraft. Dude has skills or is the luckiest guy on the planet. If I'm wrong about CAC's intent, hopefully he will correct me.
USMCPrice is right (isn’t that a game show?) - But what my further comment meant is that the 2 SU-25s are ground attack aircraft (not air superiority aircraft) These 25s can attack anything on the ground, much like the A-10 can…So, if your motivation is to protect your people, taking this type of aircraft out has extra value…IMO of course.
The yellow press (?) always says things to sell their paper. It would require a national voting and then the decision of top political elements even to ask for being a NATO member. We are working hard to co-operate with Sweden to defend our land areas together. Funny but true but Sweden ended their army some 15 years ago due to no war being expected and had a small professional army but then had to restart conscription army. Some European countries thought the same way and now we have a nice army of used Leopard tanks in Finland..
Unfortunately Ukraine is attacked from three sides. In Winter War the roads were narrow and we could decide the place of battle. In that sense things have not changed. I heard that finally Belarus is getting the political and economical beating they deserve for helping Putin.
A Finnish top officer said on tv that the Soviets can only start a major offensive or operation in one area only due to the army's poor capability. Wonder if anyone knows more of this? At least the military vehicles and some choppers in pics seem quite old for a modern army. Or are they just using them to get rid of old "work horses"?
Hi Kai, I was referring to the comments ( alleged ?) of your PM Sanna Marin and this article ; Will Russia’s Ukraine invasion drive Sweden, Finland to NATO? - Breaking Defense "While internal polling in both nations has shown varying levels of support for NATO membership over the years, there has never been enough support to join the alliance. A 2021 poll found that roughly 26% of Finns were in favor of joining NATO, 40% are against, and the remaining population was undecided. In Sweden, a 2022 poll found 42% in favor and 37% against — a stronger starting point, but still not enough to cause politicians to begin a serious ascension effort." "That ambivalence, however, may change in light of Russia’s actions. On Thursday, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin stated as a press conference that “Finland is not currently facing an immediate military threat, but it is also now clear that the debate on NATO membership in Finland will change.” Asked about those comments at a Friday press conference, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded with a not-so-veiled threat. “Obviously, the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, which is primarily a military alliance as you well understand, would have serious military and political consequences, which would require our country to make response steps,” Zakharova said in comments translated by the EuroAsian Times
Yes, I know. However it would take a long time to join NATO if the process would be started. There are those who think send the apply papers today and get the NATO card tomorrow. It is not possible and besides tomorrow the percentages might turn upside down again because people seem to think we would be untouchable if we were a Nato member. Can the US save us all like that? It is a more complicated matter but people seem to think suddenly only NATO can save us but polls are what they are. 20/20 is a great way to see things.
Germany has today decided to send 1,000 AT weapons and 500 land-to-air missiles to help the Ukrainian Army. If even 10% destroy their target that's a lot of destruction.
The Ukes are resisting valiantly it seems, and in the spirit of the Finns in the Winter War and the Poles in the opening days of WW2. The yellow press here makes it seem as if the Russian steamroller is methodically crushing them.
German Panzerfaust vs. Russian tanks.....this has certain historical parallels. Only this time we seem to be on the side of "the good guys"....quite unusual feeling in this country Anyway, the decision is a small political earthquake here in Germany....
Why? You'd think Germany would like to keep as much territory as possible between themselves and the Russians.
Defending your country gives you more power while attacking without a really good reason makes you weaker. Putin calling the Ukrainian government users of drugs and being neo-nazis does not sound like a good reason to attack. Yet they are there in a new Stalingrad and taking Kiev block By block will cost them dearly.
Yes, because we haven't had an army worthy of the name any more. (Finland and Poland together have more operational Leopard tanks than we do). And because we still have extremely bad memories of the last war against the Russians (them too, by the way). Since Adenauer it has been de facto dogma that we stay out of wars and do not supply weapons to crisis areas. The fact that weapons are now going directly to Ukraine - to use them against the Russians(!) - is therefore a real turning point in this respect.
Nice to get your opinion Kai. As far as NATO, people like to think the USA is the Worlds Police Force but just because we're strong doesn't mean we should always intervene or jump in. My opinion only. There are 30 Countries that belong to NATO and literally for one reason - Russia. That in itself is telling. As to what is going on in Ukraine, if the World ie: Russia, China and that little twat Kim think the Ukrainians are badass ,which I believe they are wholeheartedly, us Americans can and would come together and as putie said " You'll see such as you have never seen !
Interestingly enough almost all countries in Europe have forbidden the Soviet planes entering their air space. Sweden, Finland, Baltic countries, Poland (?), etc so no Russians get home through European air space. Try the North pole, Aeroflot...
When I was a Panzergrenadier back in ´86, we were told that our life expectancy in contact with the enemy was estimated 15 to 30 minutes and that we should do as much damage as possible in that time frame..... Back then, however, the Bw still had 570,000 men under arms, battle rifles and a respectable armored fleet. Now it's 180,000 men/women/whateveryouliketobe, plastic carbines and a handful of unreliable, mercilessly over-bred armored vehicles, where special care was taken during development to ensure that even pregnant female soldiers could be transported safely. More than 1 minute life expectancy in contact with the enemy I consider very optimistic in this context. In this respect, I look forward to a future war with considerable stomach ache
