Great discussion. I think your heuristic device for determine what is truth is sound!
The only comment I would make to your argument is not that it doesn’t make basic sense, but that rather, as we go through time ideological basis of most WH decisions ( certainly not made by Biden ) are so divorced from logic, US self interest, and historical expectations --
that the Admin is beginning to experience the secondary wave effects of their own destructive political acts (including the need to avoid any stand against China) that they have forced themselves into a hole they can’t get out of.
Consider Germany as a single player to make this whole discussion even uglier as a coordinated gaslight - onstage they are 100% for NATO, for punishing Russian bad acts, and for supporting Ukrainian efforts to push Russian out of taken cities via massive weaponry and no troops (do Russia should say, “okay, as long as they are not involved, I’m okay with that!”
Realities
- Germany has invested in military readiness at a small percentage of NATO agreements. Germany took the stance to buy Russian gas when they KNEW that in any conflict they would be massively vulnerable - Trump condemned them for it
- German public support for Ukraine has been accompanied by NO material aid promised in highly published hand wringing last year. Only 44% of the military aged people think that Germany should help other - wait for it - NATO countries! --Never mind supporting a corrupt country that is not even an ally... I would ask how the German tanks were offered. They said NO until a speech by Biden where I suspect Germans said we can’t spend this money and the US paid for them...
and NO European NATO member is ready to face any Russian attack, as UK explained their dismal ability to even field small numbers of troops!
NATO European members support for even helping NATO is suspect In EVERY NATO nation, and the actual funding to Ukraine is almost entirely US provided while the rest of NATO Europe demonstrates they don’t give a damn. So ALL the first world nations including the US did not do enough actual military assessments to understand that the methods of tank engagement (with their old Russian tanks and no ammo manufacturing of the unique Russian rounds) that Ukraine would run out of Ammo - as they are now. Daren, you and I would have been able to figure that out in a short review, while surviving on martinis for our calories.
And with the 101st airborne and the required American tank teams (yes they are highly specialized teams that work together and train together for extended periods to learn to effectively run an Abrams tank), plus the required heavy US maintenance personnel for these monstrously capable but finicky machines we have the readiness and evident purpose to ready for Russian engagement.
All this in the killing plains of the Russian Bloodlands where both WW1 and WE2 started and had the most bloody episodes of these horrific wars.
With the global and homespun crises of the Biden regime run by idiots, we are now on ideological “auto pilot” with no evident plan
And now, after Putin has been saying for month that he considers that these actions by the US are essentially WAR, both side call for US citizen exit from Russian soil - the classic last step before kinetic war.
I have heard in the range of 15-17 Leopard tanks have been offered by the Germans, not sure if that has changed, but not enough to make a difference. So many good points here Ralph. You might have to come on the show and share your knowledge sometime. Thanks for sharing!
Great discussion. I think your heuristic device for determine what is truth is sound!
The only comment I would make to your argument is not that it doesn’t make basic sense, but that rather, as we go through time ideological basis of most WH decisions ( certainly not made by Biden ) are so divorced from logic, US self interest, and historical expectations --
that the Admin is beginning to experience the secondary wave effects of their own destructive political acts (including the need to avoid any stand against China) that they have forced themselves into a hole they can’t get out of.
Consider Germany as a single player to make this whole discussion even uglier as a coordinated gaslight - onstage they are 100% for NATO, for punishing Russian bad acts, and for supporting Ukrainian efforts to push Russian out of taken cities via massive weaponry and no troops (do Russia should say, “okay, as long as they are not involved, I’m okay with that!”
Realities
- Germany has invested in military readiness at a small percentage of NATO agreements. Germany took the stance to buy Russian gas when they KNEW that in any conflict they would be massively vulnerable - Trump condemned them for it
- German public support for Ukraine has been accompanied by NO material aid promised in highly published hand wringing last year. Only 44% of the military aged people think that Germany should help other - wait for it - NATO countries! --Never mind supporting a corrupt country that is not even an ally... I would ask how the German tanks were offered. They said NO until a speech by Biden where I suspect Germans said we can’t spend this money and the US paid for them...
and NO European NATO member is ready to face any Russian attack, as UK explained their dismal ability to even field small numbers of troops!
NATO European members support for even helping NATO is suspect In EVERY NATO nation, and the actual funding to Ukraine is almost entirely US provided while the rest of NATO Europe demonstrates they don’t give a damn. So ALL the first world nations including the US did not do enough actual military assessments to understand that the methods of tank engagement (with their old Russian tanks and no ammo manufacturing of the unique Russian rounds) that Ukraine would run out of Ammo - as they are now. Daren, you and I would have been able to figure that out in a short review, while surviving on martinis for our calories.
And with the 101st airborne and the required American tank teams (yes they are highly specialized teams that work together and train together for extended periods to learn to effectively run an Abrams tank), plus the required heavy US maintenance personnel for these monstrously capable but finicky machines we have the readiness and evident purpose to ready for Russian engagement.
All this in the killing plains of the Russian Bloodlands where both WW1 and WE2 started and had the most bloody episodes of these horrific wars.
With the global and homespun crises of the Biden regime run by idiots, we are now on ideological “auto pilot” with no evident plan
And now, after Putin has been saying for month that he considers that these actions by the US are essentially WAR, both side call for US citizen exit from Russian soil - the classic last step before kinetic war.
I have heard in the range of 15-17 Leopard tanks have been offered by the Germans, not sure if that has changed, but not enough to make a difference. So many good points here Ralph. You might have to come on the show and share your knowledge sometime. Thanks for sharing!
Your team appreciates your stand for Freedom in the community, brother.