Australia along could provide 10% of Ukraine’s artillery needs.
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It was noticeable that Russian spokesperson actually echoed CJCS Milley on negotiations and General Mark Hertling on tank maintenance problems for Ukraine but I was very struck by how desperate the campaign to stop US sending Abrams got with quite ludicrous allegations about Germany that were certainly from trolls.
Have not seen any reports confirming my own private speculation that some of the anti-German hysteria linked to the pro-Ukrainian campaign to “Free the Leopards” was not only coming from trolls, which is pretty normal on twitter, but some of it specifically from Russian trolls tasked with disrupting NATO efforts to reach agreement on all of them sending the tanks Ukraine asked for and needs.
Have you seen any such reports? If so please provide links.
Edit: fixed name
I’ve been critical about our involvement from the start and feel we could be doing more
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See earlier reporting of buy ups of Pakistan ammunition manufactured to British specifications.
The Ramstein network would have identified stocks and capacity around the world suitable for use in Ukraine equipment.
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I’m interested to dig into this when I’ve got a bit more time.
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The US clearly did not “push” but were pulled. The decision to pull Abram’s into Ukraine was made by Ukraine. Ukraine bears the risks and its decisions on what they need and when they need it should be respected. They have vastly more experience in fighting an artillery war including tanks in the last year than the USA in the last decade.
All views should be listened to. But General Hertling’s view on what was possible has been demonstrated to be wrong without him admitting that. He should not be treated as authoritative.
As confirmed by experience with PzH2000 that will require pushing a lot of training and logistics together with is being pulled. It will take time, which costs lives. It was delayed by the USA and the rest of NATO agreeing on a policy of no offensive weapons which started to break down in September and looks like collapsing now.
Hopefully other things that were said to be impossible, “off the table”, “too provocative”, “risking nuclear war” etc for months, including here, will now start moving. Hopefully ATACMs which the USA is still refusing.
It seems on the agenda for next Rammstein conference is air power.
The agenda for last week’s was dominated by tanks and the tweet storm attempting to disrupt agreement on that failed.
As for CJCS Milley’s views STILL promoting negotiations for another Minsk agreement. He should be sacked.
Interesting if true. I doubt any of these countries would want to cut their Russian umbilical cord. This is just a mechanism to ratchet up the pressure on Russia.
Can you imagine the conniption that supply of US made weapons to Cuba would cause the GOP?
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LOL, I think she’s smoking something pretty dank
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I’ve got a gut feel that Australia’s new tanks are being diverted to Ukraine. No evidence for this, but it would make sense that our DU free new tanks are on the shelf.
Regarding DU:
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Well If I had the Presidency and had a chance in offloading older but very much effective weapons to the UKr whilst pinching Putin in another theatre I’d be all in.
Truth is it’s about tanks and planes right now and this next month. We must win this winter/spring struggle. We just must.
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There could be a subliminal message to those countries doing deals with Wagner, to take care that they don’t get captured by the designation of Wagner as a Trans National Criminal Organization.
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I doubt it too. But the prospects of getting some conniptions could be quite tempting…
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Right.
Those countries leaders main method of gathering some popular support and staying in power is predicated in their opposition and rhetoric against the USA. it’s their lifeline.
IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
However, they are clearly seeing the writing on the wall and they will start looking towards the obvious heir to the socialist (communist, in a nostalgic way) allegiance, China.
Maybe is just a psyops thing
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Perhaps a brighter future for the leaders of the country’s current regime. Unscheduled departure flights might have difficulty landing elsewhere. Gotta have a backup plan.
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