Europe at War

[LKB]

Every little bit helps. If they can employ the initial shipments effectively, perhaps Germany will be more willing to render additional assistance.

[Todd]

but according to military experts a hundred could make a decisive difference in addition to the armored fight vehicles already promised.

The "decisiveness" of the tanks is not mentioned in the linked article.  Do you have a separate link to the claims that the tanks could make a "decisive" difference?  I used the Google machine and found no military analysts making such a claim.  It merely looks like more of what Lindsey Graham so callously stated publicly. 

[Fëanor]

Moldova has no border with Russia. To invade Moldova the Russians will have to go through, well, Ukraine.

Well that's the point.  A subservient Ukraine would permit Russia military to access Moldova.

[Todd]

Well that's the point.  A subservient Ukraine would permit Russia military to access Moldova.

That could only happen in the event that Russia conquered all of Ukraine and replenished its military sufficiently to invade Moldova.  The former condition will not occur and the latter would/will take years to accomplish.  A negotiated settlement can establish new legal boundaries, a neutralized western Ukraine, and save lives, staving off imaginary future invasions by the Russian hobgoblin. 

That written, whether Russia rules Moldova or not is unimportant.

[drogulus]

     It's the width of the front over which 100 modern MBTs are decisive. They will be used to punch holes in the Russian lines as part of a combined arms assault along with armored infantry vehicles and self propelled guns.

     How wide will the holes be? That depends on how the Russians respond. What they should do is retreat far enough to be safe and let air cover handle the assault forces. Since the assault forces will have anti-aircraft vehicles to protect them, this will fail, but less spectacularly than trying to defend the trench positions.

     I judge the "hole per tank" will be pretty wide. The Russians don't want to suffer the fate of the Iraqis.

     We used to think the Iraqis were just bad at being Russians, now we see the Russians are pretty bad at being themselves.

     It's not going to be 100 tanks the Ukes get. It will be more than that. Poland is leading the way, and there are several countries that will donate tanks to the cause.

     

A subservient Ukraine would permit Russia military to access Moldova.

     The Russians will attack western Ukraine from Moldova once the southern corridor is established.

     Of course the "no negotiations" Ukes are fighting to prevent that! Bad Ukes! Don't you respect legal norms like the Russians?

   

[drogulus]

 

[Que]

The "decisiveness" of the tanks is not mentioned in the linked article.  Do you have a separate link to the claims that the tanks could make a "decisive" difference?  I used the Google machine and found no military analysts making such a claim.  It merely looks like more of what Lindsey Graham so callously stated publicly.

Lindsey Graham? It's not clear to me what a US senator has to do with this.

https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-needs-to-get-about-100-tanks-for-breakthrough-experts-say-50297989.html

[Todd]

Lindsey Graham? It's not clear to me what a US senator has to do with this.

He publicly stated that if the US (and by extension NATO) arms Ukraine, Ukraine will fight to the last person.  Sending tanks fits that macabre outlook.

The article you linked to is from The New Voice of Ukraine, which cannot possibly be treated as a neutral source.  The article cites the IISS, a British think tank, along with a former UK chief of defense intelligence - again, not a neutral source - as the source of the shrewd analysis.  It does offer a pretty significant caveat regarding training, parts, and battle plans.  Your link falls into the category of confirmation bias and/or wishful thinking. 

The analysis of current military leaders or intelligence services would be more useful, if also biased.

[drogulus]

    We know how decisive modern tanks are, with or without wishes.

    If Russia had effective air cover they might be able to hold their positions. They don't have that. Tanks will be accompanied by the best anti-air weapons Ukraine has. I surmise that there will be Gepards covering the Leopards.

   

     These Flakpanzers are biased against Russian planes.

[Que]

He publicly stated that if the US (and by extension NATO) arms Ukraine, Ukraine will fight to the last person.  Sending tanks fits that macabre outlook.

The article you linked to is from The New Voice of Ukraine, which cannot possibly be treated as a neutral source.  The article cites the IISS, a British think tank, along with a former UK chief of defense intelligence - again, not a neutral source - as the source of the shrewd analysis.  It does offer a pretty significant caveat regarding training, parts, and battle plans.  Your link falls into the category of confirmation bias and/or wishful thinking. 

The analysis of current military leaders or intelligence services would be more useful, if also biased.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (also quoted by other news sources) is not good enough?  How predictable. ..

[Florestan]

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (also quoted by other news sources) is not good enough?  How predictable. ..

Neutral source = source Todd agrees with.

Biased source = source Todd disagrees with.

[Todd]

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (also quoted by other news sources) is not good enough?  How predictable. ..

How much do you know about the IISS?  Many think tanks are quoted by many sources all the time. 

Biased source = source Todd disagrees with.

All sources are biased.

[Madiel]

Lindsey Graham? It's not clear to me what a US senator has to do with this.

https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-needs-to-get-about-100-tanks-for-breakthrough-experts-say-50297989.html

Now now, we already know this whole thing is about America, haven't you been listening?

[drogulus]

    Dept of Get This, You'll Love This

    Another country has decided to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

    Take a guess.

    You cheated!!

    Yeah, it's Germany

    But wait, there's more!

    Another country is going to send its own tanks that even have jet engines in them.

    It's the United States.

    Oh, Poland, you devils! You did it.

[Todd]

Senior Ukrainian officials ousted in corruption crackdown

Nine leaders out.  I'm sure the bad actors pilfered a few million at most.  Maybe a hundred million.  Perhaps a billion.  But that's it.  Gentle readers can rest assured this represents the totality of corruption in Ukraine.  The flood gates of aid should burst forth, inundating the land with riches.

[drogulus]

    Kremlin Admits 'Putin's Chef' Might Be Assassinated Soon

     I think it's more like Kremlin "admits".

Although Prigozhin is widely reported to have pissed off many officials in Vladimir Putin's orbit with his antics in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it is actually authorities in Kyiv that Prigozhin should worry about.

     I'm sure he's right. I'd still watch my back, Yevgeny. Stay away from windows.

   

[VonStupp]

Kremlin Admits 'Putin's Chef' Might Be Assassinated Soon

Must have been really bad at making Beef Stroganoff!
VS

[Karl Henning]

Must have been really bad at making Beef Stroganoff!
VS

(* chortle *)

[Florestan]

All sources are biased.

Finally, something we can agree upon.

[Madiel]

Finally, something we can agree upon.

A broken clock is correct twice a day.

I'm not sure how often a broken record manages it...