Article

2014-04-28 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Here's how the US could stumble into war in Ukraine

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Posted by Uncle Phester 2014-04-28 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ] Top

#1 But mistrust of Russia runs deep in the foreign policy establishment, where many of the players grew up during the Cold War. This has led to missteps and lost opportunities.

The author is suffering from cognitive dissonance. A "distrust" of the 'Russian' eventually led to the END of the cold war and the break-up of the Soviet Union. "Lost opportunities"...? Please name one.

They do not think we respect them, Graham said.

Quite difficult to 'respect' someone you cannot trust.

Posted by Besoeker 2014-04-28 00:31|| 2014-04-28 00:31|| Front Page Top

#2 Article instantly discredits itself - caption of the picture showing troops on a BMP, which says "Ukrainian soldiers sit in a tank at their newly erected checkpoint".

Posted by OldSpook 2014-04-28 00:59|| 2014-04-28 00:59|| Front Page Top

#3 Actually, that's a BMD, a vehicle used by airborne troops.

Posted by badanov 2014-04-28 01:06|| http://www.chriscovert.net 2014-04-28 01:06|| Front Page Top

#4 On second thought, that looks too small for a BMP, I shoulda countered road wheels and noticed the turret was too far forward as well- that is a BMD (5 road wheels vs 6 for BMP, fwd turret, smaller).

These used to be Russian Airborne only -but apparently Ukraine has about 150 of them, half BMD 1 half BMD 2.

So we are probably looking at troops from the 25th Airborne Brigade. They were based on the Soviet , the 98th Airborne Division, 217th Guards Parachute Airborne Regiment, thus the BMDs. "A company of the brigade was deployed to Crimea during the Crimean crisis of 2014. It became one of the few, if only Ukrainian unit to leave leave Crimea as a unit, still bearing their arms" (per Ukrainska Pravda (in Ukrainian). March 25, 2014.)

Interesting. These guys are considered the best light infantry the Ukraine has.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-04-28 01:15|| 2014-04-28 01:15|| Front Page Top

#5 LOL Bad, you posted while I was editing my corrective post.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-04-28 01:16|| 2014-04-28 01:16|| Front Page Top

#6 Just did a bit of research - if the 25th Airborne is the best the Ukraine has, they are in trouble, the unit fell apart.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-04-28 01:21|| 2014-04-28 01:21|| Front Page Top

#7 Article on the 25th Airborne (and its fate) posted to the burg, today's edition at this link.

Posted by OldSpook 2014-04-28 01:40|| 2014-04-28 01:40|| Front Page Top

#8 War would be a great pretext for Obama's not leaving office on time.

Posted by Thatch Grutch6383 2014-04-28 11:06|| 2014-04-28 11:06|| Front Page Top

#9 ComeOn Folks - Journalism 101: Treads = Tank. Law of Primacy takes it from there.

Posted by Uncle Phester 2014-04-28 11:08|| 2014-04-28 11:08|| Front Page Top

#10 "But mistrust of Russia runs deep in the foreign policy establishment, where many of the players grew up during the Cold War. This has led to missteps and lost opportunities."

Doesn't matter what the establishment says if the decision makers don't listen to them.

Posted by rjschwarz 2014-04-28 15:20|| 2014-04-28 15:20|| Front Page Top

#11 Looks to be about same size as a Hetzer - except less armor and weaker armament.

Posted by Rex Mundi 2014-04-28 16:58|| 2014-04-28 16:58|| Front Page Top

23:10 JosephMendiola
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22:47 Shipman
22:40 USN, Ret.
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