The Saudis "look like" they're shifting towards a cold war policy of non-alignment, but they need our military bad, whether it's to crack down on it's own people, putting up a strong defense against Iran, or just securing their oil shipments. MBS is in the doghouse, but I doubt he'll look outside of the US and act more like a crazy jealous girlfriend. The folks who are claiming Saudi will strongly entertain vaporware BRICS currency are the same folks who think we took down Saddam because he farted in the Euro's direction...
Vance was making progress; then GOP candidate Richard Nixon arranged to have an US civilian, a GOP donor/operative, Anna Chennault, the widow of the a World War II leader of the famed Flying Tigers in China, join a covert operation to sabotage Johnson’s efforts to settle the Viet Nam War on the eve of the 1968 US presidential election. George Will confirms Nixon's Viet Nam treason 1968 - LBJ had evidence of Nixon treason
That’s interesting as there has long been suspicions that the Reagan campaign sabotaged efforts to free the Iranian held hostages costing Carter the election. GH Bush through CIA connections worked back channels to undermine the Carter Admins efforts.
I've always believed it. The most ironic thing about Reagan going to such traitorous lengths to win the 1980 election, assuming he did (and remember, I think he did, but it hasn't been proven), is that I believe Reagan would have won that election anyway. The lengths some have or may have gone in an attempt to win an election that makes them president of our country (or next in line of succession) is very disturbing. Lyndon Johnson and Texas in 1960. Richard Nixon in 1968 and 1972. Ronald Reagan in 1980. Putting aside whether George W. Bush was involved in any shenanigans, a partisan Supreme Court injecting itself into the 2000 election. Moving on - trump enlisting the help of a foreign power, Russia, to tilt the outcome of the 2016 election in his favor, although FBI Director James Comey may have done as much or more to insure the outcome by himself. Then, of course, we have trump falsely claiming to have had the 2020 election "stolen" from him, losing lawsuit after lawsuit (dozens?) in an attempt to "prove" a lie, then attempting a coup on January 6th in a effort to seize power. Just in case anyone doesn't understand what a coup is, here's a definition from Oxford Languages: noun 1. a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power from a government. "he was overthrown in an army coup" Similar: seizure of power, coup d'état, overthrow, takeover, ousting
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/17/ukraine-counteroffensive-melitopol/ U.S. intelligence says Ukraine will fail to meet offensive’s key goal Thwarted by minefields, Ukrainian forces won’t reach the southeastern city of Melitopol, a vital Russian transit hub, according to a U.S. intelligence assessment
My bigger question is why did they start their counter offensive in the south versus the north which wasn't mined? Bakmut wasn't mined either as RU had just took it yet UKR put all their resources in the south and lost alot of equipment?
I’m not sure why you think I’m upset. I am more than capable of making sarcastic remarks to silly statements without being upset. I’ll do it again if you would like
That is where the ballgame is. Ukraine does not have to take back the entire South. They just need to get artillery fire access to the rail line leading into Crimea. Between that and the Kerch bridges which Ukraine has hit four times already, they can cut all rail access to Crimea. Without rail access, Russia can barely support military ops in Crimea. Ukraine can then take its time winning back Crimea. Russia’s primary interest in 2014 was taking over Crimea, with the Donbas as a secondary objective. The primary interest in 2022 was creating a land bridge from Russia/Donbas to Crimea.
They followed the pentagon's advice during the previous counter offensive. More "leaks" this time that Ukrainian leadership is doing it their way...Bakmut's symbolism is higher priority.
Russian field commander khodakovsky said today that he requested to Putin that RU find a acceptable end to the war and they wont be able to take back much more ground from UKR. The commander said they arent supplied enough for a offensive war and hes pushing Putin to end the war. The commander said the sentiment is the same among other military leaders as well. I was told by some very serious people that RU would never want to end the war https://www.kyivpost.com/post/20671 The reason why the previous counter offensive was successful in Laymen was because it wasnt expected and they hit the defensive lines where they were most vulnerable. This time around they had announced in months in advance they would start their offensive in the south this time and thus allowed the Russians to build heavily fortified defensive lines and apply the necessary mines to slow the UKR. Alot of folks thought it was a trick and the UKR would start their offensive in the north as the RU werent preparing in the north at all. The RU hadnt really fortified the northern lines nor applied necessary mines.
Many Russians want to end the war - or never wanted it it in the first place. The issue is that *Putin* doesn't want to end the war, and nothing about this changes that. We've repeatedly heard from Russian leaders in various positions that the war is a disaster for the past year.
