The West? Not so much, coz we've off-shored it in joy of asset-strip profit. This means, roughly, that Russia can produce tanks, guns, shells and planes at approximately war-time scale and we can't. Our miserable proxy is suffering accordingly. See Kupiansk and everywhere else. Also, some reported 20,000 volunteers are joining up to fight in the SMO a month. Ukraine? Not so much. Now ask yourselves this.
How much money did our beloved rulers get out of this bloodbath? How many people became even richer than they already were because we broke the Minsk Accords? Many. And all for what? In an insane grifting gamble against Russia. Like wow, come back Napoleon, all is forgiven. Anyway, let's see how this worm turns.
LL offers some basic analysis. Bear in mind that he's a total patriot and no friend of Russian expansionism, also a realist, which is apparently a rare thing in the West. Click link for graphics and all of that:
Ukraine
There are many reasons why Vladimir Vladimrovich wanted to seize Ukraine for Russia. Among those were the population of ethnic Slavs who could be integrated into Great Russia, which has a severely declining population. It is a large European country with a population of 44.13 million (2020. )
As the picture (right) illustrates, it is strategically positioned on the planet. If you’re a Russian, the concern that it would join NATO makes sense.
Beyond that:
The first uranium reserves in Europe.
Second place in Europe, 10th place in the world in titanium reserves;
Second place in terms of manganese ore reserves discovered in the world (2.3 billion tonnes, i.e. 12% of the world’s reserves);
Second largest reserves of iron ore (30 billion tons);
Second place in Europe with regard to mercury ore reserves;
Third in Europe place (13. place in the world) in natural gas reserves (22 trillion cubic meters)
Seventh place in coal reserves in the world (33.9 billion tons)
The first in Europe in terms of land under cultivation;
Third place in the world (25% of the world) with regard to black barren soil (cherjoznom);
Ranked first in the world in the export of sunflower and sunflower oil;
Second place on Earth for barley production fourth place in barley for export;
Third biggest producer and 4th largest maize exporter;
Fourth largest producer of potatoes;
Fifth largest producer of rye;
Fifth largest production of honey (75,000 tons);
The eighth largest wheat exporter;
Ninth largest exporter of chicken eggs;
Sixteenth largest cheese exporter;
First in Europe in ammonia production;
Eighth largest in terms of the installed capacity of nuclear power plants;
Third largest exporter of iron
Fourth largest exporter of turbines for nuclear powerplants.
Fourth of the world largest manufacturer of rocket launchers;
Fourth larges exporter of clay;
Fourth world titanium exports;
Tenth largest producer of steel.
And the Big Guy only wanted 10% for himself…
Ukraine is losing the war. The weight of numbers is telling against them. Congress is trying to hold back the red hoard with taxpayer dollars, but the tide is turning. Russia is gaining leverage for a negotiated peace. The US Congress needs a reality check before they write another $200 billion check.
I 100% agree.
L+
How much? If it was reported by an honest, fact digging media, most would be astounded, and extremely angry.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Jess, that they would. It's outrageous.
DeleteWhat Russia did and is doing is international theft at the point of a gun. It's wrong, very wrong. If China was doing it, it would be wrong. If We were doing it to Mexico or Canada, it would be wrong.
ReplyDeleteYes, the war sucks. And Ukraine is the weakling who just dropped the bar of soap in the shower. But Russia has been an unfriendly neighbor for forever, even though they signed actual treaties that they wouldn't screw over Georgia (the country, not the state) and Ukraine. Yet Russia was allowed to get away with screwing over Georgia (the country, not the state) and Ukraine several times.
Yes, the Ukraine is thrashed. They're on their last legs. They have no real allies that will supply them troops, which is what they need. Supplies, money, graft, corruption? Yeah, they're being supplied with all that. Actual bodies to fill in, not so much.
Yet... The Russians now have 10,000 or more Norks in non-critical positions. Why, if Russia was doing so well, would they need to fill positions with Norks?
Lies on both sides.
The Ukes have put up the good fight, done some seriously serious damage to Russia, shown the world how much of a paper tiger Russia's war-machine really is.
The real winner, in the coming years, is Red China. With a greatly diminished Russian military, huge casualties and huge numbers of military age men and women who got the hell out of Mother Russia.
It's been a poop-show.
I had hoped that the Ukes would pull off a Hail-Mary play and at least get Russia stagnated and willing to go to the Peace Table truthfully.
It will be interesting to see what effect President Trump will have on the peace accords. My feelings, he'll force peace on both countries. And not get the Nobel Peace Prize, again, for saving the world.
Beans, I fear we're the ultimate bad guy in all of this, see Victoria Nuland... BUt whatev, when UKR comes crashing down along with all the billions of USD$ sent it, what then? Go nuclear, send in the mighty British Army which doesn't exist?
DeleteI see Afghanistan 2.0 on a massively larger scale. That'll be tricky to PR massage.
No happy ending.