it was all part of the plan...

https://twitter.com/polinaivanovva/status/1507400322829930500

The American strategy is to carpet bomb, turn the country into a parking lot, and then send in the troops.

That's how we ended up with a million dead Iraqis, lost trillions of dollars, turned one of the Middle East's few relatively modern civilizations into a war torn hellhole full of violent terrorist organizations, and still ended up losing.

The Russians plan is to actually win this thing and kick Nato out of their back yard, not string the conflict along for decades in order to enrich military contractors and a corrupt political class.

Avoiding our psychopathic self-destructive strategies is just good old fashioned common sense on their part.

it was all part of the plan...

https://twitter.com/polinaivanovva/status/1507400322829930500

Those guys backpedal pretty good!
Russia's poor showing isn't because they held back and
were trying to save lives. It is because they were fighting their brothers
and if you have ever had brothers you know how that works out.
 

it was all part of the plan..

"Russia had always intended only to 'liberate' the Donbas"

Did they say just why it needed liberation now?

It could be a capitulation, but it also could be Trump style negotiation tactic of making outrageous demands (creating chaos on the other side) and then scaling back to his original target.

We won't know until the shooting stops, but one thing is for sure. Russia already won.

They have the gas, the gold, and plenty of buyers eagerly waiting to trade without the inconvenience of USD.

Russia sure lost a lot of Generals, though.  I guess they adhered to that old adage: Lead from the front.

Not sure if that is smart or not, but at least they're not like "some" countries where their "leaders" would probably say, "Go ahead boys, don't worry, I'll be right behind you....."

russian armed forces are "top down" and depend on the leadership to lead and organize from the front
western armed forces depend a lot on non-commissioned and commissioned lower officers to act correctly without direct leadership of superiors...

Russia sure lost a lot of Generals, though.  I guess they adhered to that old adage: Lead from the front.

Not sure if that is smart or not, but at least they're not like "some" countries where their "leaders" would probably say, "Go ahead boys, don't worry, I'll be right behind you....."

The conflict in Ukraine is nowhere near over and it is too early to attempt to answer the million-dollar question of who won or lost.  In order to get an accurate assessment in lieu of Russia's recently announced, "strategic shift", assuming that it is not propaganda or misdirection as some would rightfully be suspicious, we need to go back to Russia's officially announced strategic goals of its "special military operations" in Ukraine, as stated by President Putin on February 24, 2022.





From Putin's speech, the special military operations were based on a request for military assistance from the People's Republic of Donbass in response to the ongoing terror, violence, and unofficial war waged by the US imperial-backed Kiev regime against Ukraine's Russian-speaking populace that was primary led and persecuted by ultranationalist Ukrainian Nazi military elements.  Citing Part 7, Article 51, of the United Nations; Russia's treaties with both the Donbass and Luhansk People's Republics; and approval of the Russian Federal State Council; Russia would begin its Ukrainian invasion with the aims of "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine and bring justice to those responsible for atrocities committed in the aforementioned Russian-speaking victims.

Whether or not there were additional war aims held by the Russians are speculative at best.  The only fair assessment that can be made is whether Russia is holding true to the goals and objectives stated by Putin himself back on February 24th.  Based on Putin's official speech, he said Russian military forces was tasked to demilitarize Ukraine.  Obviously, the Ukrainian military machine has not yet been destroyed; hence, that objective has not been reached.  The Russian military's second goal was the denazification of Ukraine, which likewise can't be said yet, since the war is still ongoing.

The only part of Russia's strategic aims that Russia can say it is making headway is liberating the Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine from the terror and violence they collectively faced since 2014.  Based on the latest map of Russian forces in Ukraine, we see Russia is making great progress in its ultimate goal of demilitarizing and denazifying the Russian-speaking areas in Ukraine by effectively trapping the Ukrainian Waffen-SS forces in those regions.  But then again, the war is not over yet.
 

cool story, bro...

The conflict in Ukraine is nowhere near over and it is too early to attempt to answer the million-dollar question of who won or lost.  In order to get an accurate assessment in lieu of Russia's recently announced, "strategic shift", assuming that it is not propaganda or misdirection as some would rightfully be suspicious, we need to go back to Russia's officially announced strategic goals of its "special military operations" in Ukraine, as stated by President Putin on February 24, 2022.





From Putin's speech, the special military operations were based on a request for military assistance from the People's Republic of Donbass in response to the ongoing terror, violence, and unofficial war waged by the US imperial-backed Kiev regime against Ukraine's Russian-speaking populace that was primary led and persecuted by ultranationalist Ukrainian Nazi military elements.  Citing Part 7, Article 51, of the United Nations; Russia's treaties with both the Donbass and Luhansk People's Republics; and approval of the Russian Federal State Council; Russia would begin its Ukrainian invasion with the aims of "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine and bring justice to those responsible for atrocities committed in the aforementioned Russian-speaking victims.

Whether or not there were additional war aims held by the Russians are speculative at best.  The only fair assessment that can be made is whether Russia is holding true to the goals and objectives stated by Putin himself back on February 24th.  Based on Putin's official speech, he said Russian military forces was tasked to demilitarize Ukraine.  Obviously, the Ukrainian military machine has not yet been destroyed; hence, that objective has not been reached.  The Russian military's second goal was the denazification of Ukraine, which likewise can't be said yet, since the war is still ongoing.

The only part of Russia's strategic aims that Russia can say it is making headway is liberating the Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine from the terror and violence they collectively faced since 2014.  Based on the latest map of Russian forces in Ukraine, we see Russia is making great progress in its ultimate goal of demilitarizing and denazifying the Russian-speaking areas in Ukraine by effectively trapping the Ukrainian Waffen-SS forces in those regions.  But then again, the war is not over yet.
 

russian armed forces are "top down" and depend on the leadership to lead and organize from the front
western armed forces depend a lot on non-commissioned and commissioned lower officers to act correctly without direct leadership of superiors...

No wonder my sergeant yelled at me when I was in basic and I called him "sir".  He said "Don't you swear at me, boy, I work for a living...."

We won't know until the shooting stops, but one thing is for sure. Russia already won.

They have the gas, the gold, and plenty of buyers eagerly waiting to trade without the inconvenience of USD.

The age of conquering territory amongst military peers was rendered obsolete with the creation of nuclear weapons.  Hence, the only way nuclear armed peers can wage war with one another is via economic and financial means.  This explains why the use of economic sanctions, protecting petrodollar control, cutting off nations from SWIFT, and weaponized interest manipulation has become so often used against China and most recently against Russia by the US empire.  The use of conventional armed forces still has a tactical role to play, but is no longer strategically looked upon to be the coup-de-grace.

President Putin is no fool as he most likely studied and gamed the various scenarios and outcomes the US empire / NATO would do militarily, economically, and financially in response to Russia's special military operations in Ukraine.  The current actions taken by the US empire and parroted by its vassal states were expected and could have been easily predicted especially after reading the suggested anti-Russia provocations published by the Rand Corporation in 2019.  From a military perspective, the results on the ground clearly shows that Russia is not succeeding in conquering Ukraine militarily other than in those Russian-speaking populated areas that Putin said Russia would protect.  However, if we look at the current results of the Ukrainian conflict from an economic and financial perspective, Russia is hurting but will not be alone in suffering.

Contrary to US imperial propaganda, it is only those nations that are vassal or client states to the US empire that have placed economic sanctions on Russia.  Two of the most populated as well as two of the top-five economies of the World, China and India, have not followed suit.  From a financial perspective, Russia was kicked out of SWIFT; however, time will see whether that negatively isolates Russia or spearheads movement by China and India to offer SWIFT alternatives to Russia to maintain energy trade as well as facilitate commerce among those nations belonging to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

When looking at the effects of the economic and financial hardships that were implemented to Russia, it is actually the US empire and its vassal states that will be doing the suffering in the long-term.  First of all, Western Europe is the biggest looser of all.  With the Nord Stream 2 pipeline indefinitely suspended, Western European countries will suffer higher costs of LNG from sourcing it from the US empire direct and whomever can make up the difference.

For Americans from a micro-perspective, US imperial policy to Russia will cause them to feel the pain with even higher gas prices and general overall inflation with no relief in-sight.  From a macro-perspective, those same imperial policies have indirectly sealed the fate of the petrodollar and the future of its economy, as OPEC nations led by Saudi Arabia will begin preparing to accept alternative payment for oil other than US digitally printed toilet paper.

According to the Russians, the conflict in Ukraine has entered a second phase and the US empire / NATO are naturally interpreting this change from a military perspective.  Due to the self-destructing economic and financial actions taken against Russia, the US empire is losing sight of the geopolitical trap that perhaps Putin set for them.  Based on the economic and financial actions quietly being taken by Russia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia, it may very well be the US empire and its dominion that is to starve and left out in the ever-growing multipolar World.

Agree that the USD is toilet paper and has been for a very long time.

President Putin is no fool

Yeah.  Gotta admit.

i].
When looking at the effects of the economic and financial hardships that were implemented to Russia, it is actually the US empire and its vassal states that will be doing the suffering in the long-term.  First of all, Western Europe is the biggest looser of all.  With the Nord Stream 2 pipeline indefinitely suspended, Western European countries will suffer higher costs of LNG from sourcing it from the US empire direct and whomever can make up the difference.

For Americans from a micro-perspective, US imperial policy to Russia will cause them to feel the pain with even higher gas prices and general overall inflation with no relief in-sight.  From a macro-perspective, those same imperial policies have indirectly sealed the fate of the petrodollar and the future of its economy, as OPEC nations led by Saudi Arabia will begin preparing to accept alternative payment for oil other than US digitally printed toilet paper.

  Due to the self-destructing economic and financial actions taken against Russia, the US empire is losing sight of the geopolitical trap that perhaps Putin set for them.  Based on the economic and financial actions quietly being taken by Russia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia, it may very well be the US empire and its dominion that is to starve and left out in the ever-growing multipolar World.

If Russia, China, India, and the OPEC nations iron out a way to trade with each other without the USD then it's possible the endgame is near.

WW3 just might happen soon after.

The age of conquering territory amongst military peers was rendered obsolete with the creation of nuclear weapons.  Hence, the only way nuclear armed peers can wage war with one another is via economic and financial means.  This explains why the use of economic sanctions, protecting petrodollar control, cutting off nations from SWIFT, and weaponized interest manipulation has become so often used against China and most recently against Russia by the US empire.  The use of conventional armed forces still has a tactical role to play, but is no longer strategically looked upon to be the coup-de-grace.

President Putin is no fool as he most likely studied and gamed the various scenarios and outcomes the US empire / NATO would do militarily, economically, and financially in response to Russia's special military operations in Ukraine.  The current actions taken by the US empire and parroted by its vassal states were expected and could have been easily predicted especially after reading the suggested anti-Russia provocations published by the Rand Corporation in 2019.  From a military perspective, the results on the ground clearly shows that Russia is not succeeding in conquering Ukraine militarily other than in those Russian-speaking populated areas that Putin said Russia would protect.  However, if we look at the current results of the Ukrainian conflict from an economic and financial perspective, Russia is hurting but will not be alone in suffering.

Contrary to US imperial propaganda, it is only those nations that are vassal or client states to the US empire that have placed economic sanctions on Russia.  Two of the most populated as well as two of the top-five economies of the World, China and India, have not followed suit.  From a financial perspective, Russia was kicked out of SWIFT; however, time will see whether that negatively isolates Russia or spearheads movement by China and India to offer SWIFT alternatives to Russia to maintain energy trade as well as facilitate commerce among those nations belonging to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

When looking at the effects of the economic and financial hardships that were implemented to Russia, it is actually the US empire and its vassal states that will be doing the suffering in the long-term.  First of all, Western Europe is the biggest looser of all.  With the Nord Stream 2 pipeline indefinitely suspended, Western European countries will suffer higher costs of LNG from sourcing it from the US empire direct and whomever can make up the difference.

For Americans from a micro-perspective, US imperial policy to Russia will cause them to feel the pain with even higher gas prices and general overall inflation with no relief in-sight.  From a macro-perspective, those same imperial policies have indirectly sealed the fate of the petrodollar and the future of its economy, as OPEC nations led by Saudi Arabia will begin preparing to accept alternative payment for oil other than US digitally printed toilet paper.

According to the Russians, the conflict in Ukraine has entered a second phase and the US empire / NATO are naturally interpreting this change from a military perspective.  Due to the self-destructing economic and financial actions taken against Russia, the US empire is losing sight of the geopolitical trap that perhaps Putin set for them.  Based on the economic and financial actions quietly being taken by Russia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia, it may very well be the US empire and its dominion that is to starve and left out in the ever-growing multipolar World.

i thought you said it was going according to plan...

The age of conquering territory amongst military peers was rendered obsolete with the creation of nuclear weapons.  Hence, the only way nuclear armed peers can wage war with one another is via economic and financial means.  This explains why the use of economic sanctions, protecting petrodollar control, cutting off nations from SWIFT, and weaponized interest manipulation has become so often used against China and most recently against Russia by the US empire.  The use of conventional armed forces still has a tactical role to play, but is no longer strategically looked upon to be the coup-de-grace.

President Putin is no fool as he most likely studied and gamed the various scenarios and outcomes the US empire / NATO would do militarily, economically, and financially in response to Russia's special military operations in Ukraine.  The current actions taken by the US empire and parroted by its vassal states were expected and could have been easily predicted especially after reading the suggested anti-Russia provocations published by the Rand Corporation in 2019.  From a military perspective, the results on the ground clearly shows that Russia is not succeeding in conquering Ukraine militarily other than in those Russian-speaking populated areas that Putin said Russia would protect.  However, if we look at the current results of the Ukrainian conflict from an economic and financial perspective, Russia is hurting but will not be alone in suffering.

Contrary to US imperial propaganda, it is only those nations that are vassal or client states to the US empire that have placed economic sanctions on Russia.  Two of the most populated as well as two of the top-five economies of the World, China and India, have not followed suit.  From a financial perspective, Russia was kicked out of SWIFT; however, time will see whether that negatively isolates Russia or spearheads movement by China and India to offer SWIFT alternatives to Russia to maintain energy trade as well as facilitate commerce among those nations belonging to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

When looking at the effects of the economic and financial hardships that were implemented to Russia, it is actually the US empire and its vassal states that will be doing the suffering in the long-term.  First of all, Western Europe is the biggest looser of all.  With the Nord Stream 2 pipeline indefinitely suspended, Western European countries will suffer higher costs of LNG from sourcing it from the US empire direct and whomever can make up the difference.

For Americans from a micro-perspective, US imperial policy to Russia will cause them to feel the pain with even higher gas prices and general overall inflation with no relief in-sight.  From a macro-perspective, those same imperial policies have indirectly sealed the fate of the petrodollar and the future of its economy, as OPEC nations led by Saudi Arabia will begin preparing to accept alternative payment for oil other than US digitally printed toilet paper.

According to the Russians, the conflict in Ukraine has entered a second phase and the US empire / NATO are naturally interpreting this change from a military perspective.  Due to the self-destructing economic and financial actions taken against Russia, the US empire is losing sight of the geopolitical trap that perhaps Putin set for them.  Based on the economic and financial actions quietly being taken by Russia, China, India, and Saudi Arabia, it may very well be the US empire and its dominion that is to starve and left out in the ever-growing multipolar World.

hijacks my thread to say something he has already said in his thread...

i thought you said it was going according to plan...

Yes, it we are basing on the objectives laid out by President Putin on February 24th, Russia is accomplishing what it set out to do.

If we are basing purely on an assumption that Russia was out to conquer Ukraine and set-up a puppet regime, then Russia has not succeeded yet in overcoming Kiev's defenses.

Yes, it we are basing on the objectives laid out by President Putin on February 24th, Russia is accomplishing what it set out to do.

If we are basing purely on an assumption that Russia was out to conquer Ukraine and set-up a puppet regime, then Russia has not succeeded yet in overcoming Kiev's defenses.

so you are moving the goalposts?
you previously stated the plan was to hold territory and negotiate a settlement...

so you are moving the goalposts?
you previously stated the plan was to hold territory and negotiate a settlement...

Believe what you want to believe.   

Believe what you want to believe.   

so, since you believe "inaction is acton", your non-denial means you are moving the goalposts
got it...