Posted on 07/27/2014 6:25:24 PM PDT by Kaslin
Here's the question, not of the day, but of the month: Who's Winning the War in Ukraine?
That may sound like a simple question, but it isn't.
That question leads to a second question "In whose eyes?" It also depends on the definition of "war". And it also depends on the definition of "win". And finally it depends on which media source you believe.
Military Aspect
From a military aspect, I have seen reports from both sides. The Western media portrays Ukraine on the march with the rebels surrounded, and losing ground. Is that accurate reporting?
I will let you be the judge. Please consider this video released on Friday.
The caption reads Всё что осталось от 72-й бригады ВСУ 25.07.2014
Diving into the details here is my rough translation (interpretation from the video) : "Ukraine's 72nd brigade is now an additional battalion short."
Where the bodies are, I don't know . But that is highly unlikely to be a fake video.
And contrary to Western media reports, my sources have said for a week "various Ukraine forces are trapped, looking for a way to escape to Russia".
Clearly, one of them failed to make it.
Are the Rebels Winning?
In whose Eyes? And what does "winning" mean?
In the eyes of the media, Ukraine is winning. The front page news everywhere you look says Ukraine is winning.
More importantly, the media has lined up behind Ukraine and now 22 US senators are willing to blame Putin and do everything they can to stop Russia.
Senator McCain, as always, is leading the pack.
Pat Buchanan exposed McCain the other day for the war-mongering hypocrite that he is. David Stockman has the details in My thoughts On Pat Buchanan’s Brilliant And Incisive Take On Washington’s Ukrainian Fiasco.
Senator John McCain’s call to arm the ruffians, opportunists, oligarchs and neo-fascists who took power in a street level coup in Kiev is downright lunatic. It causes Buchanan to ask, “Who is the real problem here?”
Propaganda War
When it comes to the propaganda war, McCain and his primary war-mongering ally (none other than president Obama) are clearly winning! The only difference between the two is McCain is a far bigger war-monger than Obama.
Obama is likely to catch up. He usually does.
Energy
Yet, one must step back and ask "What the hell is this war really about?"
Is it NATO? Or is it energy?
I happen to believe both. Starting from that scorecard, please consider my post on Thursday Ukraine Government Breaks Up: Prime Minister Resigns Over "Vital Laws on Energy and Army Financing"; Follow the Money
Synopsis: The Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk resigned and that will lead to early elections in which pro-Russian MPs will be removed from parliament.
In essence, Ukraine will be more pro-NATO. But that's not all.
Biden's Son, Kerry Family Friend Join Ukrainian Gas Producer's Board
Please consider this resignation statement as noted by RIA: "Yatsenyuk also expressed disappointment with Ukrainian parliament’s decision to reject a bill that allows the government to hand over up to 49 percent of the country’s gas transport system to investors from the European Union and the United States."
In response I said "Follow the Money"
I neglected to report precisely where the money flowed.
The Wall Street Journal has all you need to know with this May headline regarding Biden, Kerry, and Ukraine: Biden's Son, Kerry Family Friend Join Ukrainian Gas Producer's Board.
Who's Winning?
You tell me. Before you do, please define "win".
Sounds like a Putinist slipped through the cracks of Townhall. Cheering for the Russkies? Praising that fool Buchanan who thinks Putin is a Christian leader of some kind? These wretches need to be identified and purged from the movement.
I’m getting to decipher the point of this article and failing miserably...
In my mind it’s not about who’s winning but about what the world will do in the face of Putin’s imperialism.
Who will emerge... Neville Chamberlain, or Sir Winston?
The DemocRAT cronies are winning. Same as it ever was.
OOPSY!
The author mentioned THIS:
“Biden’s Son, Kerry Family Friend Join Ukrainian Gas Producer’s Board”
He must be a “Putinista Propaganda troll!!”, according to some current FR posters.
This is just too inconvenient a truth.
Could you just imagine if it was a Cheney or Bush family member? The media screaming would be nonstop 24/7.
“Biden’s Son, Kerry Family Friend Join Ukrainian Gas Producer’s Board”
Just running it up the old flagpole ... but if they could find some endangered Slavic turtles, jumping mice, spotted owls or snail darters, the UN could order that all the Ukraine be designated a nature preserve.
Then Hairy Reed and his boy could come in and build solar farms, thus no need for natural gas. Of course then Biden and Kerry will want to tangle with Hairy & Son, so it’s all good, win/win all around.
Apparently he’s one of these guys who says we are all doomed and wants to sell you gold. His admiration for Buchanan is a hint as to who he thinks might be behind the conspiracy to destroy America: the jooooos!
He hasn’t been following the war very closely if he is surprised by this news.
Russians have been kicking Ukraniane ass.
Actually the area of pro Russian occupation has gotten quite puny.
As folks who have been closely following the war know.
As folks who have been closely following the war know.
Some links to preferred sources?
This was from much earlier today. I've heard UK forces took back Torez since. It will probably come down to the two big cities soon.
...Ukrainian parliament’s decision to reject a bill that allows the government to hand over up to 49 percent of the country’s gas transport system to investors from the European Union and the United States."
(Emphasis mine)
Details, details...
Putin’s escalation of direct Russian involvement is due to the fact that his proxies losing; it’s not a sign they’re winning. It’s a scumbag army led by misfits and vile cretins. It’s not an army of freedom fighters.
There are a number of these maps online, all pretty similar.
Some of the Ukrainian forces along the border are definitely in jeopardy, depending mostly on what actions the Russians on the Russian side take against them (shelling, missile attacks, or more), but, in general the separatist / invader coalition is in greater danger of eventually being encircled and cut off.*
I would note that I have read that Ukraine has called up another 50k reservists, expecting Putin to make a move, or perhaps to try to give him pause. (Can anyone confirm this call-up?)
I still think Ukraine can eventually “win” even against a large Russian invasion, IF Ukraine is willing to take very heavy casualties and still resist. I do not think Putin can afford an “Afghanistan” adventure vs. a relatively high tech country the size of Ukraine. Historically, Ukraine is certainly no stranger to heavy casualties.
*Note that Ukraine may have a different strategy which answers a question of mine: If the Ukraine army surrounds the rebel / invaders, and the bulk of them surrender, then what? Perhaps Ukraine would be better served to leave part of the border open for pro-Russians to flee to Russia. Heck, Russia asked the U.N. to pass a resolution providing, essentially, just that: creation of corridors allowing noncombatants to leave.
This may play right into Kiev’s plans: In return for higher Ukrainian Army casualties now, if, say 10% of the Ethnic Russians in Ukraine flee to Russia, which I believe RT says has already happened (RT claimed 675,000 as of March 2 of this year — Google or Bing it), then the pro-west camp gains a virtual political lock on the country for the indefinite future.
Shedlock is a Buchananite and Putinista, so something else about him becomes obvious.
Details? Parliament DID reject the bill... and was suspended and will be replaced. That’s Democracy for you: “You didn’t do as we demanded? Fine, we’ll replace you and bring someone else in.”
Putinite propaganda, and crude at that. I loved the part about the “warmonger Obama”. Amazing that there are still Putinites here on FR. He’s a communist dictator, you morons!
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