Matters heating up considerably. While, like the Ukraine, I've considerable question as to western (particularly American) resolve, I must also wonder at the resolve of the Ukrainian government. The evident unpreparedness of the Ukrainian nat'l assembly/president to declare war on Russia lends rationale to those who'd challenge the Ukraine's worthiness as a nation.
Because war by Russia upon the Ukraine is what this is and, again, about to be.
"...Many feel that the Chief of Staff, General Viktor Muzhenko (graduated from the Leningrad Higher Military Command School in 1983) should go but I doubt anyone else would do better…"
Well…here's the problem from my amateurish western eye. Ukrainian reformers failed to mobilize and exploit the moral authority granted them by Maidan. That failure has led to halting, tentative progress on too many fronts-business, judiciary, military, etc. but has failed to fully capture the imagination of all Ukrainians. Too many Ukrainian fence-sitters have cause to question the determination of this government and the preparedness of all those in power to deliver on the promise of Maidan.
That, I believe, is also contributing to some considerable concern in the west.
Your COS, General Viktor Muzhenko? Gone. Anybody associated with the Red Army is out, immediately. I'd want a COS who was, without question, intensely interested in BEATING their enemy. This guy (guilt by association) would immediately give me cause to pause. Maybe later. Not now.
Suggestion that guys are buying themselves out of the draft or dodging altogether doesn't help. Aside from the need to ruthlessly pursue and prosecute such, it's a commentary, again, that the worth/hope offered by Maidan matters but has not been understood and engrained among Ukrainians.
So…until the Ukraine government convinces the world (and your own) of it's preparedness to defeat both the Russians from without and the corrupt villains within, you're in a world of hurt. Considering that Obama may be the most warlike of those to whom the Ukraine appeals, that's a whole lot of work which must happen quickly to matter at all.
Because war by Russia upon the Ukraine is what this is and, again, about to be.
"...Many feel that the Chief of Staff, General Viktor Muzhenko (graduated from the Leningrad Higher Military Command School in 1983) should go but I doubt anyone else would do better…"
Well…here's the problem from my amateurish western eye. Ukrainian reformers failed to mobilize and exploit the moral authority granted them by Maidan. That failure has led to halting, tentative progress on too many fronts-business, judiciary, military, etc. but has failed to fully capture the imagination of all Ukrainians. Too many Ukrainian fence-sitters have cause to question the determination of this government and the preparedness of all those in power to deliver on the promise of Maidan.
That, I believe, is also contributing to some considerable concern in the west.
Your COS, General Viktor Muzhenko? Gone. Anybody associated with the Red Army is out, immediately. I'd want a COS who was, without question, intensely interested in BEATING their enemy. This guy (guilt by association) would immediately give me cause to pause. Maybe later. Not now.
Suggestion that guys are buying themselves out of the draft or dodging altogether doesn't help. Aside from the need to ruthlessly pursue and prosecute such, it's a commentary, again, that the worth/hope offered by Maidan matters but has not been understood and engrained among Ukrainians.
So…until the Ukraine government convinces the world (and your own) of it's preparedness to defeat both the Russians from without and the corrupt villains within, you're in a world of hurt. Considering that Obama may be the most warlike of those to whom the Ukraine appeals, that's a whole lot of work which must happen quickly to matter at all.
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