RE: Russia and Ukraine
February 9, 2023 at 12:00 pm
(This post was last modified: February 9, 2023 at 12:09 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Time for some depressing numbers. Since 2014, a conservative estimate of deaths for both sides in the russo-ukranian war, is 200k. Many, many many many more wounded, displaced, captured, kidnapped, missing - and straight up fled. If we split that right down the middle, assuming that russian forces are the most fearsome and competent invaders the world has ever seen..literally all evidence to the contrary, this is a fucking disaster for all parties involved. I wonder if it even needs to be said that at the current intensity of fighting, 1k kia a day (and lets again assume that russian supersoldiers are inflicting the same on ukranian defenders) this literally cannot continue. In short order, there will be just a handful of people left to so much as throw a rock at the other guy on either side. It reminds me of that old (possibly apocryphal) albert e line. No clue what weapons ww3 will be fought with, but ww4, sticks and stones. Didn't even take a nuke to realize this situation..and it's unlikely that the use of tactical nukes, so often threatened, would actually make the situation worse for the combatants on either side. Not because they aren't horrific, but because russia is really digging a basement under "horrific" already. Presumably, so that they have some place to hide all those bodies.
Personally, I'm beyond the point of thinking that even a return to pre 2014 borders is credible. Putin, or his successor, will simply try again. I have some sympathy for the russian person who, looking at this, thinks there really is something to the idea of it being an existential conflict - because even though it didn't start out that way or even in the same universe, the russian admin has since done everything it possibly could to convince the world that there probably shouldn't be any russia, in future. I have no belief whatsoever in the ability of the russian people to change this situation, and I don't blame them for this predicament in the least. I'm disgusted, I'm disappointed, but I do understand.
Personally, I'm beyond the point of thinking that even a return to pre 2014 borders is credible. Putin, or his successor, will simply try again. I have some sympathy for the russian person who, looking at this, thinks there really is something to the idea of it being an existential conflict - because even though it didn't start out that way or even in the same universe, the russian admin has since done everything it possibly could to convince the world that there probably shouldn't be any russia, in future. I have no belief whatsoever in the ability of the russian people to change this situation, and I don't blame them for this predicament in the least. I'm disgusted, I'm disappointed, but I do understand.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
