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Here are some interesting things I've picked up working heavily in NATO/Europe. Really opened my aperture for how I see the world. 1.) Europeans do not see the US as the winners of WW2. They believe WW2 was largely won by the time the US entered and US entry just accelerated the end. They view the war through the cost paid to attain victory and the majority of those costs were paid by the UK and the Soviet Union, especially the Soviet Union. They do recognize that the US was in a prime position to delineate peace outcomes though; see our earlier conversation about world leadership. 2.) Russia and many FSUs don't believe Russia lost the Cold War. They believe the Cold War ended mutually after Gorbachev initiated a series of actions to approach Bush about de-escalation because Gorbachev realized the Cold War was upsetting the global order. They literally cast their own leader as the hero, and see the entire affair as a draw. The US and NATO betrayed these outcomes when they began rapidly expanding NATO eastward despite promises they would not. 3.) About half of senior German officers in the German armed forces were East German officers when they joined. They usually came from astute, pro party families to attain this position and as such they largely see the world through Russia's lens and not ours. They are larger dissenters in most situations than other FSUs, who's entry into NATO was under different circumstances. 4.) There are LOTS of people in the world who DO NOT WANT to live in a democracy. This is really hard for us to grasp as it's such a central value to us we can't see how anyone wouldn't want it. But you have to imagine first, how they are educated, then second, think for a minute: when they turn on American cable news, what do they see? BLM protest burning cars, rioting, looting stores. The January 6th riots taking over the US capital. Extremely unpopular leaders like Trump and Biden winning elections. Thats how they see Democracy, and they legitimately believe Democratic states are filled with political unrest, violence and instability. They believe a strong authoritarian government is necessary to enforce rule of law. 5.) The Cold War has been over almost as long as the Cold War lasted now yet we still continue to frame our foreign policy through it's echos. One thing I have difficulty explaining to civilian family and friends is the geopolitical nuance in war and how it's never clearly black or white but usually lots of grey. But people want easy answers because they want to know "who to support, who's the good guys?" Of course it's never clearly simple and in war good guys are rare. Good sides are rarer because states by nature do not have morality, just interests. That's something our US education system doesn't teach in enough depth for people to really comprehend the underlying levels of it. On another note, Tulsi Gabbard made a tweet today that she believes war could have possibly been avoided if the US agreed to address Russia's concerns about Ukrainian entry into NATO. This tweet was largely condemned by pundits which I think is a shame because I think she is right. Historically it's been European tyrants invading Russia. Not Russian tyrants invading Europe. And until we recognize that Russia doesn't want another Hittler or Napolean getting within 60nm of Moscow we probably are going to struggle to understand their interests and foreign policy position.

Can I ask why Russia feels a Ukraine on its border is a violation of border security? Are we actually floating the idea that Ukraine would invade Russia, or that Russia would somehow be attacked by NATO? By negotiating with them, you are acknowledging, and even worse, VALIDATING their crackpot theory that NATO wants to invade them. You say foolish of us, I say foolish of them. It is foolish of them to go restart an empire game on planet earth. How many Americans wake up everyday and say man, I'd really like to go kill some Russians and take their shit/land right now? ...probably not many. Putin can't allow the spread of democracy/"more like democracy" to his border because he is an autocrat, and those people never stop wanting more. They are takers, not givers. He isn't concerned about Russian security, he is concerned about the security of his own power. Just like Napoleon and Hitler. His buffer state isn't for the Russian people, it's for HIM. He is cut from the same cloth as every tyrant in history. What is your definition of evil? He fits mine. IMO, today was way more of a threat to the American way of life than ISIS ever was. That is coming from someone born and raised about 45 minutes north of NYC. Today is a scarier day for the world than the day some nutjobs flew planes into buildings. Not saying we should have run to the rescue. Maybe this will be a good wake up call to Europe. But I will say a Ukrainian soldier fighting for democracy is much more of an American than half the people I walk past at Walmart.

I feel like what I'm reading from some of you is: "Russia is invading Ukraine, must be America's fault! If only we had given Russia more concessions.." I don't follow the logic. I understand I'm only capable of seeing this through an Americans eyes, but I can't see appeasement as a viable strategy. I'm honestly not convinced this is even about NATO at all. Ukraine joining isnt/wasn't imminent, and we already have NATO members at Russia's borders. My personal theory is this: Putin is motivated by his own regimes survival. A Russian speaking country (that Russia sees as in its sphere of influence) overthrowing their leadership and becoming a prosperous European style democracy could motivate dissenters within Russia, and that directly threatens Putin personally. He can't allow that, NATO membership or not. I'm happy to be wrong, but that's the only lens I can look at this through where Russias actions makes sense.

Where the hell are all the do good tech & finance companies? Why isn’t Google, FB, Twitter, Apple, etc…. suspending business and operations in reaction to aggression? If they wanna do something, cut them off Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Because you are viewing this through the lens of an American. Putin is a lunatic but his views have been shaped by a life dedicated to the Russian intelligence apparatus. When the FSU fragmented it destroyed everything he had worked for and in many ways the world as he knew it. Also, Russians still recall the great invasions through history and it shapes their psyche at the foundation. Whether we think NATO would actually attack is irrelevant, the Russians believe it. Also, for just a second flash back to how we reacted when the Russian's put tactical nukes in Cuba...we were ready to go to war. Northern parts of the Ukrainian border are less than 300 miles from Moscow and whether is seems reasonable or not to us, Putin sees that as a threat.

I find it hard to fathom that had we simply just said “Ukraine will never join NATO”, that we would have avoided this whole thing. From my view, that opinion, and Tulsi’s opinion, is too black and white in the other direction. That’s all irrelevant now anyway since Russia is there and currently steam rolling.

Consensus in this thread does seem to be to let Russia shoot themselves in the foot on this one and just crush them economically. And yea screw the rest of Europe if they don't care enough to stop resisit and stop buying fuel from them. But I cannot say screw the Ukrainian 18 year old fighting for his country, and on the right side of history. We need to keep the javelins and stingers flowing...

I say again, not our fight. This Administration has got to be seen doing "something" for PR purposes, but in practical terms, not so much. Europe, particularly Germany, do not want to get tough with sanctions, especially SWIFT. The jacked up gas prices are already spooking them. If they don't want to stand up to the Bear, why should we? We have our own oil and gas and could sell if certain policies newly enacted were reversed. Screw Vlad getting the band back together. If we act strong economically, we can beat him non-kinectically. In a fight that isn't ours. If we are going to fight, then it damned sure ought to be all in. But will we? Nope. Should we? Nope. But the current clown show of Obama foreign policy II is going to screw the pooch. Of that I am sure. I hope to be wrong. But something will go over the Russian line and we won't realize it, especially if we go cyber. I know we don't talk about it here for obvious reasons, but if we poke vigoursly via electrons, I think we and the West will cry "uncle" before the Russkis. Interesting to hear how this is Trump's fault and the invasion this week is the reason for the rampant inflation of last year. With that kind of time travel at our disposal, this should be an easy win for us...

This. Putin does not see NATO as an actual threat on his Western flank. But he likes to use that trope on his own people in order to further secure his position of power. This idea that we should affect policy with an eye to historic Russian sensitivities is bollocks and only further plays into Putin’s hand. There is only one “right” position here and it’s not the one that’s apologetic for spreading liberal democracy.

The world is not marching to one man's drum beat, Putin is marching to his own beat and so far no one has the stones to stand in front oh him. Doesn't matter, we allowed the discussion of Ukraine's admission to NATO to linger in an ambiguous stage for far too long. Also, we have put Strategic Defense interceptor missiles in other former FSU countries that we admitted to NATO. I am not saying his view and fears are valid, but we can't discount them through our lens.

Flea, great post. I 100% agree with all your observations based on my brief time in NATO as well. Also agree on your comments WRT Gabbard’s post. It was foolish and naïve of us not to acquiesce diplomatically to Russia’s need for a land buffer between NATO & Russia. We need to stop calling every adversary evil because it makes fighting them the only answer. Not everybody is “literally Hitler.” We’ve definitely fought evil people where destroying them was our only option— ISIS, AQ, etc. But I think we could have negotiated better with Russia. Now there is real war which is horrible. To be clear- it’s Russia’s fault for the things they’re doing. But did our insistence Putin = Hitler blind is from taking seriously Russia’s desire for border security? Maybe.

Perhaps. Or perhaps the Russians will be surprised by the bloody nose they receive from Ukrainian resistance. Perhaps the despot Putin will be taken aback when his people revolt as the ruble craters. Perhaps the Russian people will grow increasingly impatient as the security situation on Russia’s western borders becomes more tense, which is the opposite of what Putin has promised. Perhaps the Russian bear will be surprised by the swift and unanimous condemnation of virtually every developed nation in the world. Yes, Russian oligarchs may be drooling over potential new Black Sea dachas, but nobody wants to go to their little party. Fuck them. Fuck Putin.

Yet he just invaded and no one is doing anything other than dropping some sanctions that he doesn't care about. To stop an adversary you generally want to understand his motivations. Right or wrong, he is doing what he wants.

America’s & NATO’s viewpoint is the right one. Putin’s viewpoint is that of an autocratic dictator, is simply wrong, and doesn’t deserve to be regarded seriously. Sovereign nations are free to choose their own paths and allies. If Putin is losing influence over former Soviet states it is because he cannot or will not offer them what the West can. Namely peace, freedom, and security.

“..have made diversify and wokeness”; I think he’s simply stating that CMSGT Wright started the USAF’s recent woke catalyst with his unprofessional tirade after the Floyd incident. He later addresses the current Chief Master Sergeant Bass.

You won't even know what you don't know with your contract until at least a year in. If you find the hustlers and pick their brains you might have a good hustle by your third year. I'm at 4 years now and I probably qualify as an expert in the contract (from the perspective of a line pilot, not a union negotiator). Top 5% for sure. You will be comfortable as an airline pilot quickly. Don't let your comfort in the cockpit translate to comfort with the work rules. The more effort you put into learning the game, the better the job will be.

I was just joking. Gov and media will just cry about it for a few weeks. Ain’t nothing gonna happen except Russia’s gonna get some new beachfront property.

1 Nov start date. Game on

Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from bad decisions.

Several Russian KA-52 Alligators Shot Down MI-8's defeat Manpad

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My time in Estonia dealing with their version of our SF, was the opposite of everything you said 🙂

I get your point, but the world can't march to the beat of one man's archaic view. Also we didn't threaten to put nukes in Ukraine, as far as I know. If we did, then I would expect this sort of incursion.

His opening sentence incorrectly identifies the CMSAF, which casts doubt on the credibility of his other sources, evidence, and conclusions.

This. 🇺🇸

When I messaged the org box they sent back a chart showing all my dates (MFS, IFT and UPT start date). I ironically have no RNLTD but they gave me the same gouge of 45-60 days before class start date.

It’s going to get worse, on the woke and readiness side.. until we fix acquisitions, our planes will continue to suffer. Diversity quotas won’t help the acquisition process. Meanwhile in Ukrainian and the Pacific..

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2022/02/air-force-went-woke-its-planes-wont-fly-daniel-greenfield/

Also lots of folks in these forums afraid to actually throw down with their thoughts but very excited to throw spears at political opponents. Par for the course.

I appreciate your opinion and agree with a lot of it. We do need a debate in congress. We really need a coherent grand strategy, but we’ve never really had that outside the Cold War. My point is that the more isolationist we become, the less influence we ultimately will have. You can bet the Chinese will make decisions on Taiwan based on our response to this incursion.

Anyone going to MFS 10 Mar? I will be landing at DAY @ 1341 on 9 Mar and will have a rental car. Just throwing it out there if anyone wants a ride.

Honestly, I hope the Ukranians have some who hunker down and let the heavy stuff pass and make sure their mission in life is to kill these and anything like them.

Refuse to click on the link because of that moron. Also, I haven't heard anybody on any other network advocate for the American military to go to war in Ukraine thus far, maybe I missed something, or maybe its 2022 and they're still pumping as much sensationalized crap out as they can.

Uncle Joe projects US leadership like Alec Baldwin projects gun safety

Worked on KC-135R 57-1440 MPRS last night doing an oxygen purge, it just got out of the paint barn at PDM. MPRS birds are road hard and put up wet. Of course, this one will go back to McConnell to be flown hard with no TLC ever given. Lucifers Chariot is an old Looking Glass EC-135 that was converted into a sniffer. Those engines are TF33P102A's, they were already used up because all the 102's came off high time retired airliner B707's along with the nacelles. The only 135's that came off the assembly lines with TF-33's were the C-135B's and some of them became Rivet Joints. The two recently retired OC-135B's were the last of the TF33P5's powered C-135B's, the rest now have the CFM-56.

Got my assignment notification this morning. Heading to Columbus in September!

Here's a thought experiment to help evaluate the justice involved here: Swap the skin colors or genders of the two individuals involved. Do you think the outcome would be different? If so, the results of this case are unjust.

I once attended a pre deployment brief he put on for a squadron going out the door. Figured it was going to be the standard “go get ‘em, be safe, and the country thanks you for service” type deal. Boy was I wrong. Story was basically he swapped out another deployed SQ CC back in the early 2000s right before the holidays, GO1 was in effect. Line dogs asked him if he was going to fly in booze for Christmas like the previous CC did the year before. He said no, started a CDI, and got the previous CC who was his “buddy” a Art 15. (I think, I don’t 100% remember the punishment) He concludes the story with his buddy ended up getting out and has had a successful airline career after the incident. it was the strangest pre deployment pep talk I’ve ever heard, and told me everything I need to know about my employment choices when my time is up.

Slife is the dumbest GO I have ever met. 40 pounds in his colon, maybe. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Glad to hear you were selected. Transfer to the Guard, if nothing else you may promote via ROPMA. We just had a few guys promote to O-5 w/o ACSC and we have an O-5 heading to board soon who hasn't done SOS or ACSC.

As I’ve been saying all along…Putin is playing Biden and Europe like a fiddle. It’s actually pretty impressive. And to the progressives and war-hawks on here, this isn’t a pro-Russia statement, rather just looking at the situation objectively and without emotion.

Biden isn’t playing checkers, he’s playing Sorry!