“Tanks a lot” – Says President Zelenskyy
Once again, the unbridled (verbal) commitment to “do whatever it takes” to ensure a victory for Ukraine and the reality total support are two different things.
The current diplomatic battle among allied nations is over tanks. The Ukraine President is begging for more tanks as the best ground weapon to push Russian troops out of every inch of Ukrainian soil. There is no shortage of tanks that could be made available to Zelenskyy – but they are being held up by needless diplomatic wrangling.
The United States, Germany, and Finland have all offered to supply tanks IF the other nations will also agree to do so. (Poland will send them unilaterally, but the supply is limited.) Since the key nations have indicated a willingness to provide the tanks, it should be a no brainer.
But someone is holding up the process. It is not even easy to tell who that might be – unless you can eavesdrop on the secret phone conversations between the decision makers.
In monitoring the various reports on the subject, it SEEMS that Germany expressed the initial reluctance to ship their tanks to Ukraine. Berlin has been among the most reluctant nation to support the war in Ukraine – although they have been more supportive than was initially believed. Some speculate that it is that damn Russian oil Germany got hooked on.
You may recall that Trump was highly critical of the oil dealing between Berlin and Moscow – and refused to approve the second Nord Stream Pipeline. Upon assuming office, Biden gave the construction the green light.
At one point, Finland agreed to send tanks if Germany and the United States would also send tanks. Germany seemed to soften its opposition and apparently agreed to send tanks IF the United States would approve some of our tanks.
Instead of calling it a deal – as we might have expected – the Biden administration said that American tanks were not suitable for the Ukraine War. That has been refuted by former European Allied Commander General Wesley Clark.
Since tanks are a fundamental weapon of ground warfare, it is difficult to understand why tanks would not be useful wherever there is … ground. Especially lots of flat ground like the topography of Ukraine.
Some of the armchair war experts on the telly have suggested that the West’s highly effective tanks could be used as an offensive weapon – and would piss off Putin. If Ukraine’s goal is to drive the Russian forces out of the country, they have to mount an offensive – which would certainly piss off Putin.
I suppose if you had the Russian military on the run, you could drive those tanks over the Russian border, but that does not make a lot of sense. If Zelenskyy needs to attack Mother Russia to take out missile installations, ammunition depots, and military bases feeding the war effort, that is best accomplished with missiles and fighter jets (which the United States refuses to provide).
General Clark is among the military leaders who believe that to defeat Russia, Ukraine desperately needs more equipment, weapons and munitions.
I am guessing that the decision will be made to send the tanks Zelenskyy has asked for. It is just a pity they have to get bogged down in the mud of international diplomacy — as men, women, and children are dying every day. If the tanks are not sent, that is a tragedy that exposes the hypocrisy of the West’s commitment to “doing whatever it takes” to win the War for the good guys.
So, there ‘tis.
AUTHOR NOTE: As predicted in the commentary, it appears that the tanks-for-Ukraine deal has been approved. The initial objection by the United States – and the Abrams M1 tanks are too complicated – has been resolved. Actually, that excuse was bs in the first place. When the Abrams tanks were first introduced the major advantage was how easy there were to operate. I can attest to that since I arranged for a delegation of Chicago business leader to get briefed, and we all got to drive the tanks around the test course after 10 minutes of instruction. We also participated in a demonstration of their fire power. Sending them is the right thing to do – but why is Biden always a little late on fulfillment?
Whatever the reason, not only does your original story stand, but IMO, it’s time to either fish or get off the pot. After one year, I think we have to decide whether we want to win this war or not. These actions are not the former.
Including are 31 tanks, about 100 tanks are heading to the Ukraine. They were the lost over 450 tanks. The Russians have lost over 1.650. These are confirmed kills.
What does Biden and the coalition think 100 tanks are going to do to turn the tide of war? Plus, many think the Bradley fighting vehicles are much more mobile tank killers, and we did not provide any of those. And of course, no plans and no additional patriot missile installations. I am admittedly armchair, general, but appears they are not giving enough equipment, fast enough for Ukraine, to actually win the war. It just feels like another never ending again.
I am just afraid that we will end up in yet another Afghanistan withdraw situation with a coalition failure. Biden needs to get the coalition to increase the pressure, increase the materials, and move this thing forward to a positive conclusion before it becomes a messy multi-year death by 1,000 cuts affair, the coalition breaks down, and we end up holding the whole bag.
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Frank Stetson … Exactly my unwavering view — and I am all for going all in if that is what it takes to defeat Putin. Diplomats like Richard Haas are hoping to reach a point of negotiation. That means Putin wins. The is no compromising win-win position. Russia is either driven from all of Ukraine — including the Crimea — or Putin wins. Negotiations will never lead to reparations. We are making the same mistake we made in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq — fight and surrender.
At this point, I feel that both Putin and Biden have proved your point. And for a peck, in for a pound, this guy is not gonna stop, today, tomorrow, or until he’s gone. But if we go, we better go to depose him. Just winning is not enough.
With that in mind, I say, give them hundreds of tanks, patriot missiles, and some planes. We don’t have to announce our end goal, but we better be prepared for it, when we upped the ante. But, at this point, we have thrown a lot at him, basically stopped at every turn, but he won’t stop. He will never stop.
I would love to see Biden add one more wrinkle here and that is giving any soldier who wants it a paid furlough. Just negotiate behind the barn door so that we know where said soldier is heading. I mean if these guys wanna fight, why not let them like in the old days with privateers. Just don’t announce it and don’t let anyone know.. Until they know and then take the next appropriate step. .
Yeah I am with you guys! Larry, Frank, and Tom agree again!!! WOW!!! Unfortunately, I think NATO strategy is to fight to a stalemate, hope Putin gets tired and runs out of toys, and quits – then take it the easy way. Most of us folks, and all of the veterans I know, want an all-in strategy to kick butt and get it over with – and let the oligarchs and generals eat Putin. Either way, it will be costly. NATO is in a pay me now or pay me later situation. NATO needs to not worry what Putin thinks or will do, and just get it done! But I guess when you have 30 member nations that all must agree, its a little like trying to get the federal budget passed. Like McCarthy, I am pretty sure several NATO countries (Turkey, Hungary, and countries that end in “ia” come to mind) have some back door deals cut with Putin that will have to be violated – hence, the prevailing thought to “get through the winter with their oil, and then afterwards send lawyers, guns and money.” Putin is a bit like the mouse in the maze. Block him one way, he turns and runs another way and is driven by the thought of getting the cheese. Right now Putin is only losing men and some machines – not much in the way of real estate damage. He does not mind losing men and a few tanks, he’ll just make more. Some of those NATO countries and China are sending him the electronics he needs for missiles – so again, he will just make more. Sink his Baltic Sea fleet like they did the Moskva, and that will really worry him. Send a few dummy missiles that explode and scatter leaflets all over Moscow, now that will get his full attention and the attention of his supporters. My commander always told me, “When you grab them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow!” Time to squeeze and pull with no remorse!!!
How do you guys know for sure that Putin is the bad guy in this? I know he is not a good guy in general, but I am talking about this situation.
That is an easy answer. Ukraine has been a sovereign nation for over 30 years. Putin invaded said nation in an attempt to make it part of Russia. That makes Putin ‘bad’ in any patriot’s eyes…. How do you not understand this?
How can you be sure that you are getting any truth whatsoever from the fake news sources covering this conflict?
I have a feeling that the US has been involved in some dirty things in Ukraine and that Putin (Russia) was forced into defending itself. Unless you are there. you really do not know what is going on. The fake liar news can tell you anything they want you to believe.
Are you Russian?
Got anything more than “feelings?”
Crickets?
Come back with facts, jack or hit tge road, toad. 😁
Nope, I’m not Russian. I have read a few different angles on this conflict, and I just know that things are not always what they seem. I was trying to open a discussion about it, but you are full in with the mainstream “We Tell You What To Believe News.”
Go suck a fool fool
You haven’t said anything except you question the facts because you don’t believe the sources. You don’t believe msm, you don’t believe Zelenski, you don’t believe and therefore maybe it’s not real.
No facts. Feckless allegations about veracity.
You offer no evidence except emotion.
I ask for your evidence.
Crickets and beliefs.
Rick … When you get information about Ukraine for many sources … left news … right news … social media …deep research …and comments from people you trust … and they all say the same thing, that Putin is evil, crazy, the aggressor and a war criminal, I tend to think the information is correct. Yes, I have heard some of the claims that Russian is the innocent party here, but the evidence to the contrary is too overwhelming. Even folks who oppose our support of Ukraine think Putin is a very bad guy, but they just do not care what happens to Ukraine.
Rick … that is not a tough question to answer. First … a bad guy for a long time …. invasion of Georgia, etc. … attacking Ukraine, an independent democracy with internationally recognized borders… committing heinous war crimes every day … threatening nuclear warfare … jailing protestors and in some cases sending them to the front …. killing opponents. I see zero good guy in this situation or any other. He is an enemy of humanity The fact that Ukraine was once part of Russia is irrelevant in modern terms — and more than Mexico declaring war on the US because California and Texas were once part of Mexico.
In 1992 when the U.S.S.R. fell, Ukraine became an independent republic as did most all of the Warsaw Pact states that were previously satellites of Russia. Crimea was also part of it and became part of the Ukraine. Ukraine has been functioning independently for 30 years now. So yes, Putin is the bad guy in this one. If you still doubt, just look at all of the civilians he has killed in Ukraine in his so called “Special Operation” where he stated in early Feb 2022 that he did not intend to invade Ukraine. He lied. Liars are usually considered bad guys in anyone’s moral and ethical scheme. And bad guys that kill innocent women and children and target civilian infrastructure are at the top of the bad guy list. Do you agree?
Putin is not a fool. All of Russia was taught about WW2 were in the Eastern front we funded the war with Equipment for
Russia as Russia lost millions of soldiers. As the world is funding Ukraine, they have only people to loose.
An intelligent person as Putin is, would have to figure there is no loosing the war! Only Ukraine eventually running out of troops.
In essence, its like two drug gangs fighting over the middle Mojave Dessert. Who gives a F K.
Russia paid back all wwii material loans; we dropped a few billion in supplies, mostly humanitarian I think, so I am not sure what you allude to dude.
NATO certainly does appear to be helping Ukraine in fighting a contained war, trying very hard to keep it at the Ukraine border. Meanwhile Russia is significantly ramping up the Hitler, Nazi propaganda, and is trying to convince its citizens that this is a war against Germany. This is exactly what Germany was concerned about before it sent the Leopard tanks. Also, Putin still has friends and allies.
Two great articles that are very informative are: “https://www.grid.news/story/global/2023/01/26/russian-propaganda-responds-to-german-tank-deployment-to-ukraine-nazis-swastikas-and-talk-of-world-war-iii/?utm_campaign=20230126_Grid%20Today&utm_content=header&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mailchimp&utm_term=story”
and more about Putin’s friends at: “https://www.grid.news/story/global/2023/01/26/no-to-nato-yes-to-russian-oil-and-joint-military-exercises-how-three-countries-just-gave-vladimir-putin-a-boost/?utm_campaign=20230126_Grid%20Today&utm_content=header&utm_medium=email&utm_source=mailchimp&utm_term=story”. Both of these articles are worth the read time. They are written by a Russian TV journalist that left Russia, and has connections.
Rick asks how can you believe the news.
I ask: how can you bectwo places at once, when you’re really nowhere at all.
Do you not know how the propaganda multiplier works? The White House, Central Intelligence Agency, Pentagon supply the three global news agencies with the propaganda they want fed to the masses. Those global news agencies are –
The Associated Press (AP) — Headquartered in the U.S., with more than 4,000 employees worldwide, AP is relied upon by approximately 12,000 international media outlets and reaches more than half of the world’s population each day.
Thomson Reuters — Reuters was originally headquartered in London, U.K., but was acquired by the Thomson Corporation in 2008. The two media companies merged and become the Thomson Reuters Corp., which employs more than 25,000 people in hundreds of locations worldwide.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) — A quasi-governmental organization based in Paris, France, with about 4,000 employees, according to Swiss Policy Research, 2 the AFP sends out more than 3,000 stories and photos each day to media companies around the world.
Until or unless at least one of these news agencies sends out a notice, national and local media are unlikely to report on an event. Even photos and videos are typically sourced directly from these global news agencies. This way, people hear, see and read the exact same message everywhere.
So, which ever news outlet you are watching whether it is Fox, CNN, USA today, LA times, ABC NBC and others, you will only hear the propaganda they want you to hear.
I’m not so sure that you can trust your facts if CNN is where you are getting them.
I have read different thing about this conflict with Russia and Ukraine. I honestly do not know what the truth is, and you cannot honestly know what the truth is either. Putin, we know is not a very good guy, but I assure you that Zelenskyy is no angel either.
Just my opinion, but I think there is more going on with all of this than is being told to us peasant masses. But, you are all knowing frank, so we should all take your word as the final authority on this.
Rick .. You are wise not to trust Frank as a reliable news source, but you picture of how news occurs a bit to conspiratorial. I have been involved in news all my professional life There is not secret single source. whenever you hear about a small group of people who control the world behind the scenes, you are hear bogus conspiracy theories. I will agree that the left dominates the news with ideological propaganda, but there are too many sources for one group to control it all.
Really Larry? You spread manure like Ole McDonald.
Prove it or stfu. You talk big but only in generalities, specific instances of your delusion are few and far between. It is not often I am wrong on the facts, by training.
You can object to my opinions, but show me the money where I got the facts wrong. Happens, but not often and certainly not at your level of incompetence on the facts.
Better get your facts right, Hell is coming. And that’s a fact.
Chsllrnge accepted.
Again, you put no proof on the table, just feckless allegations. No evidence, no sources, just government bad, msm rinses, repeats.
By the same token you distrust the normal news outlets, why do you trust anything outside of that realm?
But unless you have an actual arguments supported by evidence as determined by sources, you got squat. That’s how discussion or debate works. Why would we entertain your unsupported claims?
Again. Still asking. Show us.
CRICKETS
I do not expect anything from you frank. You are right, I do not trust the mainstream. Obviously, you do, so go soak in some more msm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch
That’s a blank link.
No evidence
No support
BUSTED
hagd
The coalition should ask Ukraine if they would like a “no fly” zone.
Or, just give em the jets already.
It’s time to end it.