Itâs been nearly a year since the Chancellor of Germany stood before the Bundestag and gravely proclaimed a Zeitenwende, a tectonic shift in the nationâs defence policy. There would be a special fund of âŹ100 billion to beef up the hopelessly under-equipped Bundeswehr, or armed forces. Olaf Scholz also promised to ramp up defence spending to 2% of GDP, in line with NATO rules (and, awkwardly, Donald Trumpâs demands). Zeitenwende crucially, moreover, implied stepping up for Ukraine. But not much of that has happened since.
Today, around 50 defence ministers from around the world are meeting at the US air base in Ramstein, not far from Frankfurt, to again discuss western military support for Ukraine. Naturally, Germany will be in the spotlight. The US and other allies are counting on Scholz to take on more responsibility, to assume more leadership in Europeâs greatest security crisis in decades. And Scholz has been making the noises that Germanyâs allies have hoped to hear: in a recent article in Foreign Affairs he writes: âGermans are intent on becoming the guarantor of European security that our allies expect us to be.â This echoes Scholzâs stated aim of making Germany a FĂŒhrungsmacht, a leading power. But how close is he to achieving it? Very, very far.
The visiting defence ministers will encounter a Germany riddled with problems. For one, Monday saw the resignation of the incompetent defence minister, Christine Lambrecht. By Tuesday a new one, Boris Pistorius, had been named. Heâs in for a baptism of fire. Germany has been under enormous pressure to supply the Leopard 2 battle tanks that Ukraine has been requesting for months â or at least to green light the re-export of the German-made fighting vehicles from countries like Poland and Finland. And that pressure was ramped up a notch this week by Britainâs decision to provide Challenger tanks.
In truth, thereâs little willingness in Germany to spare any of the 340-odd Leopard 2s in use by the nationâs army. The government, on this front, has been dithering and stalling â or at least is that how it comes across publicly. Back in October, Scholzâ spin doctor Wolfgang Schmidt had all sorts of strange excuses not to provide the tanks. The Ukrainians wouldnât be capable of maintaining the sophisticated German machines. Or, even weirder, the iron cross on the tanks would indicate to the Russians that the Germans were an active participant in the war. At which Ukrainians tweeted: âDonât worry, we have paint.â
As with every German weapons delivery, making it happen would take a solid kick up the arse from President Joe Biden. Perhaps one was delivered in the phone call between the two men on Tuesday. But at the Davos summit the next day, Scholzâs communication on Ukraine was still vague and non-committal. When asked about the Leopards, he dodged the question and rattled off a list of armaments that Germany has delivered so far. Itâs true that these armaments have not been insignificant. They have included howitzers, mobile anti-aircraft guns and surface-to-air missile systems. This month, the German government pledged 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles â but only after dragging its feet for months.
Why isnât the Zeitenwende happening a little quicker? Partly because Germanyâs military structures are sclerotic. Modernising them must be the eternal quest of the nationâs defence minister. Especially bureaucratic is the procurement of weapons and gear. A small example: a pedantic military official once noticed, while purchasing tanks, that they didnât have mirrors that conformed to the German highway code â so he or she absolutely insisted on getting them installed, complicating and slowing down the acquisition.
Join the discussion
Join like minded readers that support our journalism by becoming a paid subscriber
To join the discussion in the comments, become a paid subscriber.
Join like minded readers that support our journalism, read unlimited articles and enjoy other subscriber-only benefits.
SubscribeI don’t blame the German government for being a bit slow and dragging their feet. One or more of their allies has destroyed their gas pipelines and one is quite keen on stealing their businesses away using cheaper energy as bait to de-industrialise them.
They have a lot of thinking to do
Russia complains mightily when its ships are sunk and its bridges are attacked. When the gas pipelines were destroyed it said nothing; and that’s because the Russians blew up their own pipelines so that they could cut off Europe.
What?
The did not need to destroy the infrastructure when they could just turn off the tap.
Putin loves to think he is playing by the rules (I know, it is a bit twisted in his case).
Destroying pipelines was (or might have been) necessary in order for Gazprom to have a plausible excuse for applying a force majeure clause so that it would not be charged for breaking their gas supply contracts.
You do realise that those gas supply contracts were to countries that has placed Russia under harsh economic sanctions and illegally seized Russian wealth? While supplying Ukraine with weapons?
If Gazprom simply switched off the gas, what could West Europeans do that they hadn’t already done?
You avoid the obvious question: “what could Putin do?”
I know, “because he invaded Ukraine when he said he wouldn’t, surely he wouldn’t blow up a gas pipeline elsewhere to freeze Europe?”
Your logic is impeccable…
He invaded Ukraine because he very clearly and openly stated that he WOULD – IF the red lines were crossed (continued attacks on Donbass Russians, NATO extending to Ukraine).
You can disagree with those reasons – surely Russians in Donbass don’t have the same rights as Croats or Slovaks, and only peaceful NATO has the right to attack and bomb countries – but Russia was clear about it.
And incidentally, the US counted in Russia doing exactly what they said. They never cared about Ukraine, just provoking Russia into a war that (in their short term, neocon driven mindset) proved really useful
I am laughing as I write this.
Putin and every other Russian official said any talk of invasion was delusional.
While the US was warning of an attack every day up to 24 Feb.
Moreover, the US clearly feared that Ukraine would cave–so they provoked Putin to attack??
Yours is a far worse (and far more entertaining) attempt to rewrite history than Stalin’s…
I am laughing as I write this.
Putin and every other Russian official said any talk of invasion was delusional.
While the US was warning of an attack every day up to 24 Feb.
Moreover, the US clearly feared that Ukraine would cave–so they provoked Putin to attack??
Yours is a far worse (and far more entertaining) attempt to rewrite history than Stalin’s…
He invaded Ukraine because he very clearly and openly stated that he WOULD – IF the red lines were crossed (continued attacks on Donbass Russians, NATO extending to Ukraine).
You can disagree with those reasons – surely Russians in Donbass don’t have the same rights as Croats or Slovaks, and only peaceful NATO has the right to attack and bomb countries – but Russia was clear about it.
And incidentally, the US counted in Russia doing exactly what they said. They never cared about Ukraine, just provoking Russia into a war that (in their short term, neocon driven mindset) proved really useful
I think they were blown up to stop any ‘business as usual’ backsliding by the Germans, many of who seem to believe a week or two after the ending of the war things can go back to normal. That is never happening.
Germany needs to walk the walk with walk with decarbonising or shut up talking about it.
You avoid the obvious question: “what could Putin do?”
I know, “because he invaded Ukraine when he said he wouldn’t, surely he wouldn’t blow up a gas pipeline elsewhere to freeze Europe?”
Your logic is impeccable…
I think they were blown up to stop any ‘business as usual’ backsliding by the Germans, many of who seem to believe a week or two after the ending of the war things can go back to normal. That is never happening.
Germany needs to walk the walk with walk with decarbonising or shut up talking about it.
Presumably the pipeline was adjacent to those weapons of mass destruction we could not find in Iraq
You do realise that those gas supply contracts were to countries that has placed Russia under harsh economic sanctions and illegally seized Russian wealth? While supplying Ukraine with weapons?
If Gazprom simply switched off the gas, what could West Europeans do that they hadn’t already done?
Presumably the pipeline was adjacent to those weapons of mass destruction we could not find in Iraq
Naive in the extreme.
You don’t understand Putin’s logic–or the fear in many left wing German circles.
The attacks were a signal that Putin could destroy ANY pipeline if he so chose.
Since much of Europe is dependent on gas from the North Sea, etc, it’s the equivalent of a mafiosa smashing a shot glass in a bar and saying: “nice place ya got here–shame if anything happened to it.”
Sooo gullible…
Sooo deluded
I bet you still believe there are weapons of mass destruction to be found in Iraq and that the US navy really was attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin
Having thought the Iraq war of 2003 was the stupidest conflict ever waged, I am greatly amused at your naive certainty that everyone is as dumb as Putin.
How on earth do you deduce that I am certain that at your that everyone is as dumb as Putin.
Are you a US bot?
How on earth do you deduce that I am certain that at your that everyone is as dumb as Putin.
Are you a US bot?
Having thought the Iraq war of 2003 was the stupidest conflict ever waged, I am greatly amused at your naive certainty that everyone is as dumb as Putin.
That is a truly perposterous hypothesis.
To follow your analogy it would be like a gangster smashing up his own bar as a means extorting other bar owners.
Now is a North Sea pipeline had gone up I can see how Putin might be favourite
The threat is to EUROPEAN gas lines, not Nordstream.
And Putin will never get any money from the Nordstreams again.
So he can happily blow them up as a warning.
Soooo naive…
You really must be a US bot.
You have not addressed my point
When things really star to get hard Europe will readily cut a deal for Russian gas
Nice to see the Leopards are coming.
Nice to see the Leopards are coming.
You really must be a US bot.
You have not addressed my point
When things really star to get hard Europe will readily cut a deal for Russian gas
The threat is to EUROPEAN gas lines, not Nordstream.
And Putin will never get any money from the Nordstreams again.
So he can happily blow them up as a warning.
Soooo naive…
Sooo deluded
I bet you still believe there are weapons of mass destruction to be found in Iraq and that the US navy really was attacked in the Gulf of Tonkin
That is a truly perposterous hypothesis.
To follow your analogy it would be like a gangster smashing up his own bar as a means extorting other bar owners.
Now is a North Sea pipeline had gone up I can see how Putin might be favourite
Putin loves to think he is playing by the rules (I know, it is a bit twisted in his case).
Destroying pipelines was (or might have been) necessary in order for Gazprom to have a plausible excuse for applying a force majeure clause so that it would not be charged for breaking their gas supply contracts.
Naive in the extreme.
You don’t understand Putin’s logic–or the fear in many left wing German circles.
The attacks were a signal that Putin could destroy ANY pipeline if he so chose.
Since much of Europe is dependent on gas from the North Sea, etc, it’s the equivalent of a mafiosa smashing a shot glass in a bar and saying: “nice place ya got here–shame if anything happened to it.”
Sooo gullible…
Nope. the Americans or their agents blew them up. Any fool can see that.
And the evidence is?
âŠnever going to see the light of day
Come on, Biden even announced he was going to do it!!
And Victoria Nuland announced they would do it too..
I think she was quoted (overheard) saying “it’s done.” This was used in the press to suggest she had very deep and timely insider informawtion.
Which press?
Always best not to quote any source.
Always best not to quote any source.
No, it was reported that Liz Truss phoned Antony Blinken and said that.
By who?
By who?
Which press?
No, it was reported that Liz Truss phoned Antony Blinken and said that.
I think she was quoted (overheard) saying “it’s done.” This was used in the press to suggest she had very deep and timely insider informawtion.
âŠnever going to see the light of day
Come on, Biden even announced he was going to do it!!
And Victoria Nuland announced they would do it too..
I see the Russian trolls are out in force today.
Any fool can see you’re a fool.
Based on evidence here, you are clearly underestimating the foolishness of fools, and their willingness to believe.
Indeed.
That the US would risk shattering its own alliance against Russia for a few extra bucks is idiotic.
It does not work that way.
It could have been intended to stop Europe backsliding and to deny Russia the revenue.
People who have a financial interest in a particular outcome find a moral position that justifies that outcome.
Yes, “cudda.”
And Putin, who derives a huge fortune annually from an entire petro-power, and whose brilliant master plan is collapsing before his eyes, is the most likely culprit.
Why? How does he benefit?
The only country that does benefit is the US
The only country that benefits is the country seeking to intimidate Europe into not supporting Ukraine.
Who is now selling 140% more gas to Europe?
I will give you a clue. It’s not Russia
Who is now selling 140% more gas to Europe?
I will give you a clue. It’s not Russia
The only country that benefits is the country seeking to intimidate Europe into not supporting Ukraine.
Why? How does he benefit?
The only country that does benefit is the US
Yes, “cudda.”
And Putin, who derives a huge fortune annually from an entire petro-power, and whose brilliant master plan is collapsing before his eyes, is the most likely culprit.
It does not work that way.
It could have been intended to stop Europe backsliding and to deny Russia the revenue.
People who have a financial interest in a particular outcome find a moral position that justifies that outcome.
Indeed.
That the US would risk shattering its own alliance against Russia for a few extra bucks is idiotic.
Does it matter what we believe, I don’t think the Russians blew up the pipeline
But what do the German government believe. In public they might play along and agree it was the Russians, but do they really believe it
Always good to ask questions that no one can answer.
One can make a plausible case for either side to have done it. Without any evidence, one might as well say that Trump did it. (Hey, he was not a big fan of it.)
Always good to ask questions that no one can answer.
One can make a plausible case for either side to have done it. Without any evidence, one might as well say that Trump did it. (Hey, he was not a big fan of it.)
And the evidence is?
I see the Russian trolls are out in force today.
Any fool can see you’re a fool.
Based on evidence here, you are clearly underestimating the foolishness of fools, and their willingness to believe.
Does it matter what we believe, I don’t think the Russians blew up the pipeline
But what do the German government believe. In public they might play along and agree it was the Russians, but do they really believe it
I donât believe that. The deep state is behind it.
I’d say the Illuminati.
Or the Jesuits
I’d say the Illuminati.
Or the Jesuits
What?
The did not need to destroy the infrastructure when they could just turn off the tap.
Nope. the Americans or their agents blew them up. Any fool can see that.
I donât believe that. The deep state is behind it.
What Germany needs is new leader to emerge form nowhere, with a little moustache
The Germans should have been more circumspect when sneering, actually laughing, in the face of the Orange one.
It’s bad enough picking up their bill on Nato, but when PROTUS is humiliated in public, stating that Germany is too dependant on Russian gas, there is a price to pay.
And I don’t blame them. Every spotty, Lefty theocracy in the West has looked down their noses at the USA for generations. They’ve had enough, and left us on our own.
All of which is their own fault.
Join the illuminati and embrace wealth whatsapp +2348137089925
Russia complains mightily when its ships are sunk and its bridges are attacked. When the gas pipelines were destroyed it said nothing; and that’s because the Russians blew up their own pipelines so that they could cut off Europe.
What Germany needs is new leader to emerge form nowhere, with a little moustache
The Germans should have been more circumspect when sneering, actually laughing, in the face of the Orange one.
It’s bad enough picking up their bill on Nato, but when PROTUS is humiliated in public, stating that Germany is too dependant on Russian gas, there is a price to pay.
And I don’t blame them. Every spotty, Lefty theocracy in the West has looked down their noses at the USA for generations. They’ve had enough, and left us on our own.
All of which is their own fault.
Join the illuminati and embrace wealth whatsapp +2348137089925
I don’t blame the German government for being a bit slow and dragging their feet. One or more of their allies has destroyed their gas pipelines and one is quite keen on stealing their businesses away using cheaper energy as bait to de-industrialise them.
They have a lot of thinking to do
Germany seems torn by its own politics. Allow those tank transfers. Re-examine the energy balance and restore the industrial might that creates skilled labor. Their industry is the most critical factor and is needed for their military. Trying to appease Russia will not work anymore just as trying to appease the German green lobby has not worked.
Itâs not about appeasing Russia, itâs about living with Russia. A more pointed question for the Germans given their history and geographical location. Is it in their interest to stoke a forever war with Russia? Of course it isnât.
Itâs not about appeasing Russia, itâs about living with Russia. A more pointed question for the Germans given their history and geographical location. Is it in their interest to stoke a forever war with Russia? Of course it isnât.
Germany seems torn by its own politics. Allow those tank transfers. Re-examine the energy balance and restore the industrial might that creates skilled labor. Their industry is the most critical factor and is needed for their military. Trying to appease Russia will not work anymore just as trying to appease the German green lobby has not worked.
At the end of the day……the German’s are gonna have to grow up.
They want to be an important power in that they can control and benefit from the EU and the Euro but they do not want the responsibility that comes with that. They like the economic advantages. They like the ability to steer things and basically dictate policy for Western Europe. They just do not want to pay the price those things come with.
They want to gripe about the US but they are the first ones to b***h when the US talks about backing off from guaranteeing European security. They are the first to complain (though it might be a tie with the French) about the US dominating the west and how the EU needs to be a balance to the US, but they are also the first to cry foul when the US talks about pulling military assets out of Europe and pivoting to Asia insisting on better trade (Germany is essentially a mecantilist country). They remind me of the US southern states that resisted the establishment of a Navy despite their economic dependence on the shipping centered in the North.
Honestly, I am kinda sick of the Europeans generally and the French and Germans particularly. Sick of their griping about the US, its culture, its power, its wealth and its military but all the while sucking off us for their security and for trade and for finance.
They want to go play footsie with the Chinese and the Russians? Ok. Get back to us and let us know how that worked out for ya.
Reminds me of that speech from A Few Good Men..
“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.
I would rather that you just said “thank you” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don’t give a DAMN what you think you’re entitled to!”
As Ibn Khaldun said in about 1400 when comparing town dwellers with beduin “Those men protected by walls and garrisons, lose their uprightness and manliness”.
When one reads about the collapse of Rome and the lost of arab power within Islam it looks vary familiar.
As Ibn Khaldun said in about 1400 when comparing town dwellers with beduin “Those men protected by walls and garrisons, lose their uprightness and manliness”.
When one reads about the collapse of Rome and the lost of arab power within Islam it looks vary familiar.
At the end of the day……the German’s are gonna have to grow up.
They want to be an important power in that they can control and benefit from the EU and the Euro but they do not want the responsibility that comes with that. They like the economic advantages. They like the ability to steer things and basically dictate policy for Western Europe. They just do not want to pay the price those things come with.
They want to gripe about the US but they are the first ones to b***h when the US talks about backing off from guaranteeing European security. They are the first to complain (though it might be a tie with the French) about the US dominating the west and how the EU needs to be a balance to the US, but they are also the first to cry foul when the US talks about pulling military assets out of Europe and pivoting to Asia insisting on better trade (Germany is essentially a mecantilist country). They remind me of the US southern states that resisted the establishment of a Navy despite their economic dependence on the shipping centered in the North.
Honestly, I am kinda sick of the Europeans generally and the French and Germans particularly. Sick of their griping about the US, its culture, its power, its wealth and its military but all the while sucking off us for their security and for trade and for finance.
They want to go play footsie with the Chinese and the Russians? Ok. Get back to us and let us know how that worked out for ya.
Reminds me of that speech from A Few Good Men..
“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.
I would rather that you just said “thank you” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand the post. Either way, I don’t give a DAMN what you think you’re entitled to!”
A significant concern can be observed watching the uncomfortable German Footballers in Qatar disinterestedly mouthing their National Anthem prior to wandering around the pitch in attack mode. They lost. And so does the Republic. Why? âNational identity is the origin of the trust on which political order depends.â (Roger Scruton): may have something to do with it.
The “diversity is our strength” Germans losing to Japan and exiting the first round was one of the most hilarious bits of the world cup.
Was that before or after they posed for photos with hands over their mouths because they weren’t allowed to wear LGBT+ armbands? Shows where their priorities were.
The “diversity is our strength” Germans losing to Japan and exiting the first round was one of the most hilarious bits of the world cup.
Was that before or after they posed for photos with hands over their mouths because they weren’t allowed to wear LGBT+ armbands? Shows where their priorities were.
A significant concern can be observed watching the uncomfortable German Footballers in Qatar disinterestedly mouthing their National Anthem prior to wandering around the pitch in attack mode. They lost. And so does the Republic. Why? âNational identity is the origin of the trust on which political order depends.â (Roger Scruton): may have something to do with it.
I still can’t get past the part about Christine Lambrecht, the previous defense minister:
“But her true talent was social media blunders, which included a post of her son riding in a military helicopter,…”
ï»żHow utterly out of touch and symbolic of Western leadership in general.
I thought her inspecting troops in the desert wearing stilettos was even funnier.
I thought her inspecting troops in the desert wearing stilettos was even funnier.
I still can’t get past the part about Christine Lambrecht, the previous defense minister:
“But her true talent was social media blunders, which included a post of her son riding in a military helicopter,…”
ï»żHow utterly out of touch and symbolic of Western leadership in general.
German leadership, just like other Western countries has slowly been deteriorating over decades. Here in the West, we have believed our own greatness that we won the Cold War. That the world will just fall in line and enjoy the liberal party.
They even replaced the Cold War threat of the USSR with the climate apocalypse. Yet they still fly around on private jets and the squillionaires still have their beach-houses and private islands. Even the media are joining in reinforcing the message. Yet the true problems remain ignored.
Things are going to get a whole lot worse because we still need to have gender parity and other discriminatory quotas. But once things get sufficiently bad, the West will get back onto the front foot and that is where are are at our best.
In essence, we are driving a car down the highway in cruise control with our feet up and out the window, the hat is over our faces and we are asleep at the wheel. The far left is in control and they are loving it. The Germans still have trauma about the Nazis and as long as this continues, the left will have the upper hand in Germany and this state of affairs will continue.
German leadership, just like other Western countries has slowly been deteriorating over decades. Here in the West, we have believed our own greatness that we won the Cold War. That the world will just fall in line and enjoy the liberal party.
They even replaced the Cold War threat of the USSR with the climate apocalypse. Yet they still fly around on private jets and the squillionaires still have their beach-houses and private islands. Even the media are joining in reinforcing the message. Yet the true problems remain ignored.
Things are going to get a whole lot worse because we still need to have gender parity and other discriminatory quotas. But once things get sufficiently bad, the West will get back onto the front foot and that is where are are at our best.
In essence, we are driving a car down the highway in cruise control with our feet up and out the window, the hat is over our faces and we are asleep at the wheel. The far left is in control and they are loving it. The Germans still have trauma about the Nazis and as long as this continues, the left will have the upper hand in Germany and this state of affairs will continue.
$100 billion doesn’t sound like much to rebuild and maintain an army of any size. Unless there is significant follow-on spending.
$100 billion doesn’t sound like much to rebuild and maintain an army of any size. Unless there is significant follow-on spending.
Russia will lose at least a million casualties in this war, arguably many more.
Putin is dead set on a spring offensive, and once that fails, an Autumn attack. Barring his fall, that’s just baked into the cake.
What we need to do is insure that these Russians die in vain.
Leopards do that.
Britain has volunteered 14 tanks. 14. They could all be destroyed less than 14 minutes. It won’t end there as there will be more to come but in dribs and drabs. Enough to keep the pot boiling but never enough to do much more. Zelensky is a sucker, destroying his country, but somehow a western hero because he is prepared to allow the US to loot and plunder his country.
Meanwhile Britain is heading back to the third world of Dickens as it claims to have run out of money. Good luck
Don’t be silly.
It seems he just can’t help it. Always the same nonsense.
It seems he just can’t help it. Always the same nonsense.
If “Zelensky is a sucker,” than so is the majority of the Ukrainian population. What sort of effete Western dilettante calls the people of a nation fighting for its freedom and very life “suckers”?
Heard it for the last 100 years.
“The greed of the Capitalists will destroy them!”
Evergreen…
Don’t be silly.
If “Zelensky is a sucker,” than so is the majority of the Ukrainian population. What sort of effete Western dilettante calls the people of a nation fighting for its freedom and very life “suckers”?
Heard it for the last 100 years.
“The greed of the Capitalists will destroy them!”
Evergreen…
It is important to go to reasonably independent sources who are interpreting the myriad of satellite images coming from Ukraine. What they are saying is that Ukraine has lost 100,000 troops (verified by VDL) Russian troops roughly same number. Russia has amassed about 350,000 troops in Belarus and the rest of front line another 250000 in reserve, also over 1000 latest tanks. So far this has been an artillery war and the Russian artillery ( 6 to 1 in favour of Russians) is far superior. The Russians are preparing for an offensive over the next few weeks. Nobody is able to predict exactly what they will do but whatever they do it will be too late to help Ukrainians.
You must have some different sources of OSINT than the rest of the world. None of the known ones are saying anything like that.
The ratio of shells fired is probably even worse than 6:1, if anything
That was the ratio in June. It’s far less now.
But don’t let reality get in the way of a cool meme.
That was the ratio in June. It’s far less now.
But don’t let reality get in the way of a cool meme.
I heard the Russian casualties are much lower and the Ukraine number is higher. Hard to know the truth
Source? đ
Source? đ
You must have some different sources of OSINT than the rest of the world. None of the known ones are saying anything like that.
The ratio of shells fired is probably even worse than 6:1, if anything
I heard the Russian casualties are much lower and the Ukraine number is higher. Hard to know the truth
You realise the Leopards burnt like firecrackers in Turkey?
Or that Ukrainian casualties have been a multiple of Russian ones, thanks to packing soldiers on the front against a Russian force that’s based on using artillery to blast you off the face of the earth.
Sorry, the only successful assault, by Vagner, explicitly used human wave assaults, with little artillery back up.
Their target was Bakhmut, but they only captured Soledar.
But again, don’t let facts constrain you.
“only” captured Soledar
“donât let facts constrain you”
As the saying goes in the French diplomat circles, anyone who claims to know the Lebanon does not know the Lebanon….
Any army that expends tens of thousands of lives in an attempt to take Bakhmut–and then has to settle for Soledar–is pathetic.
Russia’s corrupt and incompetent state is coming apart at the seams.
No chance of redemption this late.
I find it confusing when you people state how incompetent and pathetic Russia is but at the same time telling us they are the greatest threat to the west. By this standard the Ukraine should have won this thing 6 times over by now.
They are a threat if not comprehensively beaten now.
Putin waited 8 years to attack again in Donbas.
If we don’t destroy the Russian economy, they will just rearm and start it again in 8 years.
Thankfully, Putin is our greatest ally in this.
They are a threat if not comprehensively beaten now.
Putin waited 8 years to attack again in Donbas.
If we don’t destroy the Russian economy, they will just rearm and start it again in 8 years.
Thankfully, Putin is our greatest ally in this.
I find it confusing when you people state how incompetent and pathetic Russia is but at the same time telling us they are the greatest threat to the west. By this standard the Ukraine should have won this thing 6 times over by now.
Any army that expends tens of thousands of lives in an attempt to take Bakhmut–and then has to settle for Soledar–is pathetic.
Russia’s corrupt and incompetent state is coming apart at the seams.
No chance of redemption this late.
“only” captured Soledar
“donât let facts constrain you”
As the saying goes in the French diplomat circles, anyone who claims to know the Lebanon does not know the Lebanon….
Jeez Samir youâve lost the plot, and any grasp of facts, on this one.
Sorry, the only successful assault, by Vagner, explicitly used human wave assaults, with little artillery back up.
Their target was Bakhmut, but they only captured Soledar.
But again, don’t let facts constrain you.
Jeez Samir youâve lost the plot, and any grasp of facts, on this one.
I believe that the offensive has already begun. Regular Russian army troops pushed the southern line back 7 km. the day before yesterday. There isn’t going to be anything like a spearhead attack into Ukraine west of the Dnieper.
Britain has volunteered 14 tanks. 14. They could all be destroyed less than 14 minutes. It won’t end there as there will be more to come but in dribs and drabs. Enough to keep the pot boiling but never enough to do much more. Zelensky is a sucker, destroying his country, but somehow a western hero because he is prepared to allow the US to loot and plunder his country.
Meanwhile Britain is heading back to the third world of Dickens as it claims to have run out of money. Good luck
It is important to go to reasonably independent sources who are interpreting the myriad of satellite images coming from Ukraine. What they are saying is that Ukraine has lost 100,000 troops (verified by VDL) Russian troops roughly same number. Russia has amassed about 350,000 troops in Belarus and the rest of front line another 250000 in reserve, also over 1000 latest tanks. So far this has been an artillery war and the Russian artillery ( 6 to 1 in favour of Russians) is far superior. The Russians are preparing for an offensive over the next few weeks. Nobody is able to predict exactly what they will do but whatever they do it will be too late to help Ukrainians.
You realise the Leopards burnt like firecrackers in Turkey?
Or that Ukrainian casualties have been a multiple of Russian ones, thanks to packing soldiers on the front against a Russian force that’s based on using artillery to blast you off the face of the earth.
I believe that the offensive has already begun. Regular Russian army troops pushed the southern line back 7 km. the day before yesterday. There isn’t going to be anything like a spearhead attack into Ukraine west of the Dnieper.
Russia will lose at least a million casualties in this war, arguably many more.
Putin is dead set on a spring offensive, and once that fails, an Autumn attack. Barring his fall, that’s just baked into the cake.
What we need to do is insure that these Russians die in vain.
Leopards do that.
Hard to be good at something when you don’t practice. War is no exception. Building, maintaining, training and supplying a military force is the practice for actual war, and if one slacks off in practice, it is likely to reflect in one’s actual performance when faced with the real thing. For decades, Germany basically didn’t practice for war because they didn’t expect to be in one, so of course they don’t look remotely competent even when all they’re expected to do is provide weapons to somebody else who does the actual fighting. Hard to blame the Germans three decades ago for letting another nation’s taxpayers pay for all their military needs. It had to be tempting to spend that money in other areas, given how governments find new ways to spend money as quickly and as abundantly as rabbits procreate. As with so many tragic mistakes, ‘it seemed like a good idea at the time’ certainly applies.
The (West) German army looked very capable during the Cold War. Problem is, they lost all interest in maintaining the combat readiness of the army after the fall of the USSR (along with most of Western Europe, to be fair).
Indeed. West Germany and post unification Germany are different political animals. Living under constant fear of a hostile immediate neighbor is a marvelous incentive for military preparedness (see South Korea) regardless of alliances. ‘The end of history’ sounded like an excuse to slack off, and they did, and as you point out, so did many others to various extents. Germany was probably the worst, but then they were at the center of ‘the end of history’ so it’s little surprise they drank more deeply of the globalist utopian kool aid than anybody else did. Even the USA drastically cut the size of its standing army over the years, to the point basically any ground conflict now requires calling out the reserves/national guard. The Iraq war greatly taxed America’s military personnel in terms of long deployments and extended tours of duty even for reservists. A significant amount of the public backlash came from the fact people who had signed up as reservists or guardsmen were being deployed in combat zones for years at a time in a war that wasn’t ‘supposed’ to require that sort of thing. Nothing really changed until very recently. China and Russia’s behavior over the last five to ten years have been a wake up call for a lot of governments, including the US government. History has resumed and everybody is now having to adjust, some more than others. .
Sadly, it is 1914 and 1939 all over again.
Years someone said he dreaded the end of the Cold War as it simplified matters.One either supported the West or Communism. Post 1990 a whole myriad of conflicts based upon countries past history, religion, language, race, etc have re-surfaced.
Those people who went through WW2 and the Colonial Conflicts were dead or retired by early 1990s which was why Jugoslavia was a disaster. Noone in power in the West understood the history of the region and had fought in the Balkans.
Matters have become worse :Islamic Terrorism, Collapse of Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and now Putin. The reality is that the post 1960s affluent effete impractical university educated persons cannot understand why people take religion, history and/or race sufficiently seriously that one would die and kill for a cause.
It is very difficult for British and North American affluent, effete, impractical middle class people who are not worldly wise, to appreciate deeply imbedded are certain hatreds within the psyche of certain peoples.
When it comes to Germany how much of the decisions on energy and defence were influenced by those sympathetc to the USSR and then Russia?The savings on defence helped Germany become very successful as a manufacturing nation, exporting high value goods.
Sadly, it is 1914 and 1939 all over again.
Years someone said he dreaded the end of the Cold War as it simplified matters.One either supported the West or Communism. Post 1990 a whole myriad of conflicts based upon countries past history, religion, language, race, etc have re-surfaced.
Those people who went through WW2 and the Colonial Conflicts were dead or retired by early 1990s which was why Jugoslavia was a disaster. Noone in power in the West understood the history of the region and had fought in the Balkans.
Matters have become worse :Islamic Terrorism, Collapse of Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and now Putin. The reality is that the post 1960s affluent effete impractical university educated persons cannot understand why people take religion, history and/or race sufficiently seriously that one would die and kill for a cause.
It is very difficult for British and North American affluent, effete, impractical middle class people who are not worldly wise, to appreciate deeply imbedded are certain hatreds within the psyche of certain peoples.
When it comes to Germany how much of the decisions on energy and defence were influenced by those sympathetc to the USSR and then Russia?The savings on defence helped Germany become very successful as a manufacturing nation, exporting high value goods.
Indeed. West Germany and post unification Germany are different political animals. Living under constant fear of a hostile immediate neighbor is a marvelous incentive for military preparedness (see South Korea) regardless of alliances. ‘The end of history’ sounded like an excuse to slack off, and they did, and as you point out, so did many others to various extents. Germany was probably the worst, but then they were at the center of ‘the end of history’ so it’s little surprise they drank more deeply of the globalist utopian kool aid than anybody else did. Even the USA drastically cut the size of its standing army over the years, to the point basically any ground conflict now requires calling out the reserves/national guard. The Iraq war greatly taxed America’s military personnel in terms of long deployments and extended tours of duty even for reservists. A significant amount of the public backlash came from the fact people who had signed up as reservists or guardsmen were being deployed in combat zones for years at a time in a war that wasn’t ‘supposed’ to require that sort of thing. Nothing really changed until very recently. China and Russia’s behavior over the last five to ten years have been a wake up call for a lot of governments, including the US government. History has resumed and everybody is now having to adjust, some more than others. .
Recalling that NATO was intended to keep Germany down (and Russia out, with USA in), the German “pacifism” trope — pro and con – is misconstrued by all, including German public pronouncements. *Nobody* wants a non-pacifistic, that is, bellicose, Germany. Everyone wants Germany to sit down and do what it’s told. Which in this instance means 1) stop cozying up to dictatorial Russia, 2) stop festering neo-Nazism in your own siloviki, 3) stop preventing Ukraine from defending itself from invading Russia w the feeble excuse “oh, but then we’d have to become a militaristic power”.
The (West) German army looked very capable during the Cold War. Problem is, they lost all interest in maintaining the combat readiness of the army after the fall of the USSR (along with most of Western Europe, to be fair).
Recalling that NATO was intended to keep Germany down (and Russia out, with USA in), the German “pacifism” trope — pro and con – is misconstrued by all, including German public pronouncements. *Nobody* wants a non-pacifistic, that is, bellicose, Germany. Everyone wants Germany to sit down and do what it’s told. Which in this instance means 1) stop cozying up to dictatorial Russia, 2) stop festering neo-Nazism in your own siloviki, 3) stop preventing Ukraine from defending itself from invading Russia w the feeble excuse “oh, but then we’d have to become a militaristic power”.
Hard to be good at something when you don’t practice. War is no exception. Building, maintaining, training and supplying a military force is the practice for actual war, and if one slacks off in practice, it is likely to reflect in one’s actual performance when faced with the real thing. For decades, Germany basically didn’t practice for war because they didn’t expect to be in one, so of course they don’t look remotely competent even when all they’re expected to do is provide weapons to somebody else who does the actual fighting. Hard to blame the Germans three decades ago for letting another nation’s taxpayers pay for all their military needs. It had to be tempting to spend that money in other areas, given how governments find new ways to spend money as quickly and as abundantly as rabbits procreate. As with so many tragic mistakes, ‘it seemed like a good idea at the time’ certainly applies.
So, it looks like a couple of ladies dropped into the defense minister position have managed to achieve in a few years what most of Europe have tried and failed to do in centuries – disarm Germany.
Truly appointing more females does wonders at promoting peace.
I loled at this, but I must say that peace is not simply an absence of war. Women are no less prone to conflict than men, but tend to pursue such conflict using less direct methods. It’s well documented that women are much less likely to commit murder or suicide using firearms, for example. Not sure it follows that the world is more ‘peaceful’ with women in charge. There’s plenty of ways to inflict suffering that fall short of actual violence.
If the workplace is anything to go by it involves more backbiting.
If the workplace is anything to go by it involves more backbiting.
I loled at this, but I must say that peace is not simply an absence of war. Women are no less prone to conflict than men, but tend to pursue such conflict using less direct methods. It’s well documented that women are much less likely to commit murder or suicide using firearms, for example. Not sure it follows that the world is more ‘peaceful’ with women in charge. There’s plenty of ways to inflict suffering that fall short of actual violence.
So, it looks like a couple of ladies dropped into the defense minister position have managed to achieve in a few years what most of Europe have tried and failed to do in centuries – disarm Germany.
Truly appointing more females does wonders at promoting peace.
“Does Olaf Scholz expect America to clear up Europe’s mess?”
Why not? It was (as usual) the Americans who caused it.
Their invasion on 24 Feb was the last straw!
I see we have a bunch of down-voters who have a hard time admitting that it was the Russians who invaded Ukraine.
The Russian propaganda line du jour is that NATO laid a trap for Russia, and practically forced Russia to invade. I don’t think that’s accurate, but let’s assume (for the sake of discussion) that it is. All that means is that Putin fell straight into the trap that had supposedly been laid for him.
I don’t think that’s accurate; it’s hard to read “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” and come away without thinking that Putin saw this as part of re-creating the glory of a previous Russia.
I see we have a bunch of down-voters who have a hard time admitting that it was the Russians who invaded Ukraine.
The Russian propaganda line du jour is that NATO laid a trap for Russia, and practically forced Russia to invade. I don’t think that’s accurate, but let’s assume (for the sake of discussion) that it is. All that means is that Putin fell straight into the trap that had supposedly been laid for him.
I don’t think that’s accurate; it’s hard to read “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” and come away without thinking that Putin saw this as part of re-creating the glory of a previous Russia.
Their invasion on 24 Feb was the last straw!
“Does Olaf Scholz expect America to clear up Europe’s mess?”
Why not? It was (as usual) the Americans who caused it.
Most of the people who peddle “secret knowledge” about the war (like Michael Savage) have their own anti-establishment agendas that ahve nothing to do with Ukraine.
If you want REAL info about the war, simply go to Strelkov’s telegram channel:
https://t.me/s/strelkovii
Run it through google translate and see what a PRO-WAR Russian is saying about his nation’s prospects.
Most of the people who peddle “secret knowledge” about the war (like Michael Savage) have their own anti-establishment agendas that ahve nothing to do with Ukraine.
If you want REAL info about the war, simply go to Strelkov’s telegram channel:
https://t.me/s/strelkovii
Run it through google translate and see what a PRO-WAR Russian is saying about his nation’s prospects.
What’s pretty clear is that the SPD has been cozying up to Russia for decades. All that Russian cash extracted from the Govniks went a long way.
And the FSB has been recording every SPD member.
Scholz is well aware that a few well-placed videos and documents would ruin many in his party. Then his govt falls.
So he is in an impossible position.
It’s written on his face everyday.
What’s pretty clear is that the SPD has been cozying up to Russia for decades. All that Russian cash extracted from the Govniks went a long way.
And the FSB has been recording every SPD member.
Scholz is well aware that a few well-placed videos and documents would ruin many in his party. Then his govt falls.
So he is in an impossible position.
It’s written on his face everyday.
No, there aren’t 1000s of T-90s waiting in the Urals. Nor will 1000s be built. Russia’s main tank production involves EXPORT tanks like the T-72, which are no better than what Ukraine has now.
This war will cost Russia a million men–and the ensuing civil war will mean another 2 million dead or maimed. Those that have been at the front for months sometimes die from gangrene, not having been able to change their uniforms. Most of the wounded stay near the front, where medical care is limited. Which is why the dead to wounded ration is one to one–far worse than any western army in WW2.
The problem is that Muscovy never really should have existed. Kyiv or Great Novgorod were far superior civilisations. Every significant war that the Russian Empire has fought either ends in disaster, or with heaps of its own soldiers slain. Which is why ALL 14 of the former Soviet states now fear and despise Moscow. Even Serbia and China conveniently shy away from any support.
Anyone with brains or a sense of honour has already left Russia, and, once the craven remainder fear THEY are going to the front, the whole system will collapse.
All we can do is be ready to quarantine ourselves from the vermin that crawl out from under the rubble.
We had that chance in 1991.
But we blew it.
Profligate use of mass has always been the Russian way of war. They don’t seem to realize that their demographic situation has changed.
Profligate use of mass has always been the Russian way of war. They don’t seem to realize that their demographic situation has changed.
No, there aren’t 1000s of T-90s waiting in the Urals. Nor will 1000s be built. Russia’s main tank production involves EXPORT tanks like the T-72, which are no better than what Ukraine has now.
This war will cost Russia a million men–and the ensuing civil war will mean another 2 million dead or maimed. Those that have been at the front for months sometimes die from gangrene, not having been able to change their uniforms. Most of the wounded stay near the front, where medical care is limited. Which is why the dead to wounded ration is one to one–far worse than any western army in WW2.
The problem is that Muscovy never really should have existed. Kyiv or Great Novgorod were far superior civilisations. Every significant war that the Russian Empire has fought either ends in disaster, or with heaps of its own soldiers slain. Which is why ALL 14 of the former Soviet states now fear and despise Moscow. Even Serbia and China conveniently shy away from any support.
Anyone with brains or a sense of honour has already left Russia, and, once the craven remainder fear THEY are going to the front, the whole system will collapse.
All we can do is be ready to quarantine ourselves from the vermin that crawl out from under the rubble.
We had that chance in 1991.
But we blew it.
Perhaps they see the reality of what is actually going on over there. Suggest two podcasts of Michael Savage interviewing Douglas MacGregor. Itâs rather eye opening.
Michael Savage, “the far-right author, conspiracy theorist, political commentator, activist, and former radio host.”
THAT Michael Savage?
MacGregor has a 100% track record on Ukraine: of being wrong. He’s an American Coriolanus, spurned of the honors due him by his own country, he has now turned against it.
Michael Savage, “the far-right author, conspiracy theorist, political commentator, activist, and former radio host.”
THAT Michael Savage?
MacGregor has a 100% track record on Ukraine: of being wrong. He’s an American Coriolanus, spurned of the honors due him by his own country, he has now turned against it.
Perhaps they see the reality of what is actually going on over there. Suggest two podcasts of Michael Savage interviewing Douglas MacGregor. Itâs rather eye opening.
Germany seems to have gone from one extreme (1939) to another.
You don’t get to live in the world as you wish it were (an admonition one could/should aim at all sorts of groups today); you have to inhabit in the world that really is. You don’t have any choice in the matter.
The observations about the military budget, and the desire not to deplete its arms inventory, are true enough, but how much is it going to cost Germany to let others ship their Leopard II’s to Ukraine?
That’s the dark truth at the root of Germany’s current situation.
1944-45 was understandably deeply traumatic, but ‘checking out’ of the real world is “not an option”.
Germany seems to have gone from one extreme (1939) to another.
You don’t get to live in the world as you wish it were (an admonition one could/should aim at all sorts of groups today); you have to inhabit in the world that really is. You don’t have any choice in the matter.
The observations about the military budget, and the desire not to deplete its arms inventory, are true enough, but how much is it going to cost Germany to let others ship their Leopard II’s to Ukraine?
That’s the dark truth at the root of Germany’s current situation.
1944-45 was understandably deeply traumatic, but ‘checking out’ of the real world is “not an option”.
‘…..a pedantic military official once noticed, while purchasing tanks, that they didnât have mirrors that conformed to the German highway code â so he or she absolutely insisted on getting them installed,….’
A wonderfully comic interlude in an otherwise serious and somewhat sobering article.
‘…..a pedantic military official once noticed, while purchasing tanks, that they didnât have mirrors that conformed to the German highway code â so he or she absolutely insisted on getting them installed,….’
A wonderfully comic interlude in an otherwise serious and somewhat sobering article.
I have not finished reading this article. I am flabberghasted by the lack of any consideration how the German population feel about sending weapons to Ukraine.The country is equally divided between pro and anti weapon deliveries. Our past wheighs down heavily on many German citizens, including me, even though I have lived in the UK for 50 years. What from a certain ideological point of view is desirable as German conduct in a war is no business of anybody else but the Germans themselves..
Perhaps they have realised that if they send them they will be gone in a week and they don’t have the spare energy to make any more.
I see on ZeroHedge this week an article about the Wikileaks of cables showing the US at least understood the eastern expansion of NATO was a provocation, against documented agreements and a clear threat to future European peace. What America wants America gets. For now.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/dozens-wikileaks-cables-show-us-knew-nato-expansion-was-russias-bright-red-line
What utter, utter nonsense. There are around 2000 Leopard II tanks in Europe today. You simply have no idea what you’re talking about and are just exposing your ignorance here.
What you call a “provocation” I call hearing the pleas from democratic countries formerly under the Russian boot and afraid it would stomp all over them again. How awful to support their independence.
“Fair and balanced” news source, obviously…
Few start a fight if they know they re going to lose. Yes, the USA did not understand the humiliation Russia felt post 1990, but reduction in defence capability; banning of shale gas and inaction over Georgia, then Crimea, indicated to Putin that there would no significant consequences if he invaded Ukraine.
What utter, utter nonsense. There are around 2000 Leopard II tanks in Europe today. You simply have no idea what you’re talking about and are just exposing your ignorance here.
What you call a “provocation” I call hearing the pleas from democratic countries formerly under the Russian boot and afraid it would stomp all over them again. How awful to support their independence.
“Fair and balanced” news source, obviously…
Few start a fight if they know they re going to lose. Yes, the USA did not understand the humiliation Russia felt post 1990, but reduction in defence capability; banning of shale gas and inaction over Georgia, then Crimea, indicated to Putin that there would no significant consequences if he invaded Ukraine.
Perhaps they have realised that if they send them they will be gone in a week and they don’t have the spare energy to make any more.
I see on ZeroHedge this week an article about the Wikileaks of cables showing the US at least understood the eastern expansion of NATO was a provocation, against documented agreements and a clear threat to future European peace. What America wants America gets. For now.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/dozens-wikileaks-cables-show-us-knew-nato-expansion-was-russias-bright-red-line
This war will cost Russia at least a million casualties.
If there is a spring offensive, the Russian army will have to attack. Moreover, with casualty rates of 3 to 1, it will destroy a whole generation of Russians, and stop someplace west of Bakhmut.
(No they don’t have 1000s of T-90s in storage. If so, Putin would have used them long before now. His army will be staffed by poorly trained junior officers and men–facing Ukrainians trained in the best combat schools the West has)
The offensive will fail, and we will be faced with another year of war. A whole generation of Govniks will simply cease to exist–incinerated in Putin’s mobile crematoriums. Can’t afford to pay all those “death benefits.” No nation could.
Putin is delusional, and no other Russian can have any effect on this war.
The only path to peace is a quick Ukrainian victory.
Thank you for talking informed sense on this issue. It’s astonishing the number of commenters who think that Russia was ‘provoked’, and who also seem unaware of Russia’s demographic collapse. The male population has been drinking itself to death for 40 years. So Putin’s attempt to crank up the numbers like it’s 1941 is doomed.
Thank you for talking informed sense on this issue. It’s astonishing the number of commenters who think that Russia was ‘provoked’, and who also seem unaware of Russia’s demographic collapse. The male population has been drinking itself to death for 40 years. So Putin’s attempt to crank up the numbers like it’s 1941 is doomed.
This war will cost Russia at least a million casualties.
If there is a spring offensive, the Russian army will have to attack. Moreover, with casualty rates of 3 to 1, it will destroy a whole generation of Russians, and stop someplace west of Bakhmut.
(No they don’t have 1000s of T-90s in storage. If so, Putin would have used them long before now. His army will be staffed by poorly trained junior officers and men–facing Ukrainians trained in the best combat schools the West has)
The offensive will fail, and we will be faced with another year of war. A whole generation of Govniks will simply cease to exist–incinerated in Putin’s mobile crematoriums. Can’t afford to pay all those “death benefits.” No nation could.
Putin is delusional, and no other Russian can have any effect on this war.
The only path to peace is a quick Ukrainian victory.
This article comes under the headingâanalysisâ? Looks like warmongering to me, and unhelpful to the German people who surely have better things to spend their money on. As for the poor Ukrainian people, âlethal aidâ is exactly that.
Better things to spend their money on? Yes and Germany has plenty of money having devalued the Deutche Mark in order to gain an unfair export advantage in the EEC as well as making all the rules suit them. Cosying up with Russia for massive oil discounts?
I suggest you let the Ukrainian people decide what help they want.
Better things to spend their money on? Yes and Germany has plenty of money having devalued the Deutche Mark in order to gain an unfair export advantage in the EEC as well as making all the rules suit them. Cosying up with Russia for massive oil discounts?
I suggest you let the Ukrainian people decide what help they want.
This article comes under the headingâanalysisâ? Looks like warmongering to me, and unhelpful to the German people who surely have better things to spend their money on. As for the poor Ukrainian people, âlethal aidâ is exactly that.
You mean the war Biden kinks on? Its just that Germany knows thus war exists because the US want it.
Why, oh why, did Biden attack Russia on 24 Feb 2022?
It astonished Putin so much he just had to expel the US Army from Ukraine.
(which planet does this stuff come from? It’s certainly not earth, or even Mars)
You have to give Putin credit; his military is incompetent and corrupt, but their propaganda people are somewhat more competent – as can be seen by the ‘hooked fish’ in this comments section.
There’s an amusing parallel between now and the 1930’s; the “useful idiots” back then were people who, blindly following their ideology, were ready to swallow anything – back then, in service of Communism, which had become the ‘bright and shiny object’ of the Russians. But the inability of people to see reality hasn’t improved.
You have to give Putin credit; his military is incompetent and corrupt, but their propaganda people are somewhat more competent – as can be seen by the ‘hooked fish’ in this comments section.
There’s an amusing parallel between now and the 1930’s; the “useful idiots” back then were people who, blindly following their ideology, were ready to swallow anything – back then, in service of Communism, which had become the ‘bright and shiny object’ of the Russians. But the inability of people to see reality hasn’t improved.