Teslag said:
Are you really making the argument that Russia is strong because a two bit country that has a weaker GDP than many US states can't completely repel them from areas they share a border with?
The real question is if if Russia is so strong why didn't they take Kiev in the first few months and end this thing? Rather they've had their **** dropped repeatedly.
I'm just pointing out the absurdity of the echo chamber narrative on F16 vs reality on the ground over there.
This a real land war. The Ukrainians have much of the same Russian equipment, have been trained in Russian tactics and have the defenders advantage. Plus a ton of western intelligence and weapons to aid in the defense.
It's not the US bombing mud huts in Afghanistan or the Gulf War (1 &2) where there is absolute air superiority against an under equipped enemy.
Taking the capital in any conflict is extremely hard to do. Has been pretty much throughout history. Let alone taking and holding 20% of a large country in a short period of time.
No one on F16 has any clue what the Russian objectives were initially or what the future plans are (although they act if they were in the planning meetings).
Bottom line is this place is deliberately ignoring the reality on the ground to fit a narrative and make themselves feel like they are doing something to "win the battle".
Reality is the Russians are mobilizing for a larger war. The signs and headlines are all there. They've propagandized their population. They've strengthened ties with allies. They've upped their military spending. They knew the moment they crossed the border, they were all in for WW3.
We are fighting a society that has survived fighting the worlds superpowers for generations. The Germans couldn't beat them in the 1940s, the French couldn't do it in 1812. The West took its shot in 1991 (at the height of its collective power) yet they are still there.
Underestimating them is pretty stupid and shortsighted.
