Time to "reset" to reality on Russia ~ NRO

[101ABN]

What matters is the intent. And we don’t have a sense of that.” That is what one of Washington’s legion of anonymous “senior government officials” told the Wall Street Journal about the Russian military forces now massing on Ukraine’s border — complemented, of course, by the tens of thousand more Russian troops stationed in what, until just a few days ago, used to be . . . Ukraine.

Clearly, our Beltway gurus have refined a bit of ancient wisdom: If you cannot remain silent and proceed to remove all doubt that you are a fool, at least remain anonymous.

Let us pretend for a moment that our senior official is right, and that Vladimir Putin’s intent, rather than America’s strategic perception, is “what matters.” Is the Kremlin’s intent really so shrouded in mystery that our $50-plus billion per year intelligence community doesn’t quite “have a sense” of it?


www.nationalreview.com/article/374512/putins-intentions-arent-what-matter-andrew-c-mccarthy

[Sailor]

I don't think Vlad is done yet. He needs an overland link (road and rail) between Russia proper and the Crimean Penninsula. As things now stand he doesn't have that. Air and ferry aren't enough.

He will probably move before long and there is damned all Ukraine can do to stop the Russian Army. All they can do is slow them down a bit by blowing bridges and mining roads and railways.