In to Week 4

Things continue to move slowly but painfully in Ukraine. What amazes me is that the lines are moving ever so slowly around Kyiv, but recently the tanks have dug in; when a tank is in a fixed position it becomes a sink for various anti-tank weapons. Also interesting is the city of Mariupol which has been surrounded for over a week, but although hospitals and theatres are being shelled, Russians still haven’t taken and occupied the city.

I continue to believe that we should give Ukraine the weapons (including the Switchblade 600 anti-tank weapon) but avoid direct warfare with Russia. Between sanctions and steadily increasing body count let him struggle, just like Russia did in Afghanistan from 1979-1989. We happily supplied Stinger missiles but didn’t feel the need to directly intervene.

The only thing that will save Putin if he can involve NATO in direct warfare. Then he can portray himself as defending Russia against the western devils. If we deny him this, we (both NATO and the US) need to back off and let him continue to struggle against Ukraine. It’s like being in Afghanistan, but with a highly educated, technically savvy, and well supplied population who hate your guts.