Good Read

 

U.S. expects months of intense fighting in Ukraine-Russia war

"Despite Ukrainian forces’ startling gains in the war against Russia, the Biden administration anticipates months of intense fighting with wins and losses for each side, spurring U.S. plans for an open-ended campaign with no prospect for a negotiated end in sight."

(Who does that benefit again? US? Ukraine?)

"U.S. officials, providing a quiet check to Ukrainian exuberance, said that while Ukraine troops have performed better in offensive operations than even their American backers had anticipated, those forces will encounter a period of intense fighting in the lead-up to winter as part of what they expect to be a “nonlinear” trajectory for the war."

(“nonlinear” Translation, "we know what they are doing".)

"A senior State Department official, who like other officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning, said Thursday that while Ukrainian forces had proven they can reverse advances made by Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion, Russia retained a potent force."

“They have significant equipment and arms and munitions positioned in the occupied territories, not to mention what they have in Russia,” the official said. “And so it is far from over, despite the momentum.”

(I thought they were running out and needed North Korean arms?)

"Those expectations undergird a U.S. strategy of attempting to hold together international support and gradually expanding American military aid without the immediate injection of heavier weaponry that might trigger a wider war."

("...without the immediate injection of heavier weaponry that might trigger a wider war." It's just a matter of time)

"Pentagon officials have said they are looking at ways to assist Ukraine’s evolving defense needs, focusing on areas including air defenses, surveillance and fighter capability. So far, the total of U.S. security aid to Ukraine amounts to some $15 billion since Russia’s invasion."

("...focusing on areas including air defenses," What was I just talking about yesterday in the piece I did?

"So far, the total of U.S. security aid to Ukraine amounts to some $15 billion" Weapons and $ neither of which we can afford to be spending right now. Again, what was I just saying yesterday?)

"Despite Ukraine’s ongoing calls for new, more sophisticated military hardware, U.S. officials don’t plan to immediately expand the array of weaponry they are providing, which has included High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems armed with midrange Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. So far, the officials have stopped short of authorizing systems with much longer ranges, including the Army Tactical Missile Systems."

"Russia’s Foreign Ministry illustrated the stakes of such decisions on Thursday when it warned that supplying longer-range missiles to Ukraine would cross a red line for Russia and make nations providing them a “party to the conflict,” reinforcing earlier suggestions that Russia could strike NATO nations if they authorized shipments of more potent arms."

"Samuel Charap, a Russia expert at at Rand Corp., said the counteroffensive success was shaping the dynamics around the conflict, in part by illustrating Ukraine’s ability to successfully conduct complete offensive operations."

“We had no evidence of that before,” Charap said. “That very fact is likely to disincentivize them to seeking compromise because they think they can do more of that.”

(You don't think that giving your opponent false hope is cunning? That it would cause them to not want to seek compromise because of their "success"? That it would prolong the conflict? Who benefits from that again?)

“Right now the Ukrainians do not have a viable map from which to negotiate. Twenty percent of their territory has gone; something like 30 percent of their industrial and agricultural potential is gone,” a senior State Department official said last week."

"U.S. officials expect it would be difficult for Zelensky to negotiate a settlement even if he wanted to do so, after Russian abuses have hardened public opinion against possible concessions to Moscow’s war aims. Moreover, officials say, Russia remains an untrustworthy negotiating partner and Putin’s war aims have shifted repeatedly as the tactical situation has evolved.

(Maybe that was part of the reason for the human rights abuses? To harden public oppion against possible concessions to Moscow? "Russia remains an untrustworthy negotiating partner", well know kidding, thank you Captain Obvious. Why in the world did anybody ever think it was a good idea to do business with them in the first place? Oh yeah, $$$$$$$)

"The U.S. goal remains helping Ukraine make battlefield advances that will strengthen its negotiating position should eventual negotiations with Russia occur."

(Talk about false hopes, it's not gonna happen, Putin will level Ukraine with his air force or Nukes if he has to before he will ever negotiate. He was "all in" before he ever gave the word "go".)

"The first senior State Department official said another key part of the Biden administration’s plan for propelling the conflict toward a settlement was its efforts to weaken Russia’s economic and technological edge through sanctions and other means."

(Hasn't worked, not gonna work, better come up with another plan.)

"Biden will attempt to stiffen international support for Ukraine’s self-defense at the United Nations next week, seizing the annual General Assembly meetings as a chance to smooth over friction caused by global inflation and food insecurity linked to the war. The resolve of European nations in particular, which have been among Ukraine’s biggest backers, will be tested this winter by high energy prices."

("...friction caused by global inflation and food insecurity linked to the war." 

Would somebody besides me please step up and say that this is the whole reason behind this conflict? 

That prolonging it benefits Russian and Chinese interest more than it does ours or Europe's?...

Please?

Somebody?)