Napoleon Putin?

There’s a story about how America spent $$$ thousands, or millions, to invent an "outer space pen" that would write in zero gravity.

The Russians just used pencils.

True or not, it does demonstrate Russia’s approach to military matters: KISS.

Cutting edge technologies have, as we've seen, given the American military an advantage in conflicts with second and third tier nations. But sharp edged weapons do tend to dull or break faster. Likewise, American weapons systems are very expensive. For example: A single Air Force F-35A costs $148 million. One Marine Corps F-35B costs $251 million. And a Navy F-35C costs $337 million. Furthermore, on any given day only about two thirds of the American F35 fleet can fly. And significantly, the supply line from America is long, and vulnerable to disruptions. Should a larger European conflagration break out over Ukraine, these failings will inevitably begin piling up in Russia’s favor. In fact they already are.

Although (in contradiction to established military doctrine) Mr. Putin is proceeding slowly in the Russo-Ukraine war, something significant is starting to come into view: not only is Ukraine disintegrating before our eyes, so too cracks are spreading across the NATO/EU superstate. And as the war slowly grinds on in favor of Russia the more likely it becomes that NATO too will begin to break down due to internal stresses and infighting between its various factions and states.

Now, Ukraine is angrily lashing out at NATO's resistance to letting it in; or getting more involved in its war with Russia. All of NATO is furious with Hungary for not cooperating with the general anti-Russia phobia. Turkey is stubbornly resisting the neo-NATO wannabes, Sweden's and Finland's inclusion into the organization, Poland is squabbling with Germany and Norway, Ukraine is squabbling with Germany, Turkey and Greece are squabbling, the NATO countries can't agree on imposing a Europe wide Russian oil embargo, Ukrainian refugees in Western Europe are having their benefits curtailed, NATO is outraged by Russian "blackmail" at having to pay for their imported fossil fuels in rubles. But paying in rubles they are.... And worse is yet to come.

So it goes.

Napoleon famously remarked, “Never interrupt your adversary when he is making a mistake.”

So, has Putin suckered the West into a long game that plays on NATO's weaknesses and into Russia's strengths? Did he lure them into the quagmire they prepared for him?


Citizenfitz