Russia and Ukraine

[Pat Mustard]

Even if the Russians win on the battlefield, they will be saddled with an insurgency that will drain their coffers and Putin's popularity. He will be forced to tighten the screws in order to tamp down internal dissent. The race will be between his loss of support and Ukraine's willingness to keep fighting. I suspect the latter will outlast the former.

Now that’s what I’m talking.

Why, may I ask, do you expect the latter to outlast the former, though?

It's been replicated throughout history. In my own country's history we were at war with British occupiers on and off from the mid 1500s to 1921 with any time there wasn't an active attempt to regain freedom having many groups trying to plan and equip for the next one. When you are trying to occupy a hostile country, even one that isn't receiving outside help, it is very hard to keep a lid on revolts unless you've overwhelming power.