I keep hearing that all the Sierra M1's and Bradleys are in such disrepair from longterm storage that they cannot be economically restored and sold/sent to Ukraine.
The farce is that they aren’t. They where all out into long term protective storage.I keep hearing that all the Sierra M1's and Bradleys are in such disrepair from longterm storage that they cannot be economically restored and sold/sent to Ukraine.
There seems to be a goal in the Biden White House that sees Ukraine being able to mostly hold, but not advance.So why not auction off a batch lot of 300 or so for scrap/destruction. No liability, no cost to US government. Then perhaps some Ukrainian company with financial support/backing from ?? will buy them all and rapidly ship then to Europe somewhere where they can be made into 200 or so working copies. Which will eventually be turned into scrap in a field somewhere. Thus fulfilling any technicalities in the terms of sale.
Ditto the 48 A10's about to be scrapped.
Back for the OctoberFest in 1970 we were issued brand new 3/4 ton and 2 1/2 trucks out of war stocks in Montreal. They had been in preservation since 1952 to 1954 when they had been built. Most had less than 50 miles on the odometers. They worked fine but started leaking as the engine seals had deteriorated in those 16 - 18 years. I expect something similar would take place with the Sierra stock after some time. Most of the metal parts are protected by paint and "bare" surfaces, like barrel bores with some form of preservative to prevent rusting.The farce is that they aren’t. They where all out into long term protective storage.
Now some no doubt need some parts and maintenance to bring to working order, but it’s nothing like is claimed.
I think this summer will again be limited, localized, gains for the Ukrainians at best. The Crimean bridge is now less of a priority 1 target thanks to the new rail corridor running from Rostov into Russian controlled Ukraine.The farce is that they aren’t. They where all out into long term protective storage.
Now some no doubt need some parts and maintenance to bring to working order, but it’s nothing like is claimed.
There seems to be a goal in the Biden White House that sees Ukraine being able to mostly hold, but not advance.
Yup. Biden is unable to overrule the 'advice' from the state department apparently.The farce is that they aren’t. They where all out into long term protective storage.
Now some no doubt need some parts and maintenance to bring to working order, but it’s nothing like is claimed.
There seems to be a goal in the Biden White House that sees Ukraine being able to mostly hold, but not advance.
There best option may be to double down on supporting Budanov with more troops/assets/hardware/funding and ramp up deep strikes all over Russia including power plants/distribution and all refineries as well as ongoing sabotage of rail and bridges everywhere.I think this summer will again be limited, localized, gains for the Ukrainians at best. The Crimean bridge is now less of a priority 1 target thanks to the new rail corridor running from Rostov into Russian controlled Ukraine.
The Ukrainians will have to make a major decision, are they willing to roll the dice and take on major causalities in order to try and achieve some sort of breakthrough and drive a wedge to the coastline. Failure means, no adequate reserves of men/material to hold the Russians when they counter, success potentially means the exact same thing. Sitting back and doing nothing is another option, but in reality, this suits Russia more than it suits the Ukrainians.
I think massed fires and crushing them near and far would be my go to, if only they had the equipment and the munitions...Last summer, Ukraine seemed to attempt their advances into the teeth of the strong(est?) Russian defenses.
The previous fall, they did 'end around' advances, looping lighter forces around through poorly defended sections, enabling large, quick gains.
I think this year, they should attempt to replicate the 'end around' - if they can. I'm not sure there are any easy or lightly defended spots. That said, last summer's advances against long prepared positions was not a recipe for quick success.
He's not wrong...
True, but it sounds like he wants to build into something resembling the Krupp empire in its heyday.He's not wrong...
Escalating?
I fault America for failing Ukraine, they are doing more than their fair share against Russia.Friends should help friends, but everyone needs to carry their share of the burden. I don't fault the US.
I fault America for failing Ukraine, they are doing more than their fair share against Russia.
Then again, I fault the entire West for failing Ukraine. We are too busy eating ourselves from within to notice the barbarians are through the first wall, and banging on the gates of the inner wall.
America tried that in two world wars already, and we all know how that ended...I dunno, the US has definitely given lots to Ukraine. The taps can't stay open forever. It was going to end sometime.
As for the barbarians and the gates, we moats that the barbarians need to cross for NA to be worried yet. Europe, well they should be concerned.