I had a great discussion with Rolo Slavskiy, writer of Slavland Chronicles about a range of topics most pertinent to my other stack, but we do get into the utility of morality, self-awareness, and character.
I don't believe Rolo after review. I'm not saying he's dishonest at all.
He's not a soldier or really a student of history.
He's using other non soldiers as support for his arguments.
So if a diverse group of bloggers and stackers and Telegram posters all say the same thing then it's conclusive - no, it isn't.
The Russia he describes and the Russian military he describes aren't the one we saw in 2d Chechen War, Syria, or historically. Corruption in politics? We're not in a position to talk, and frankly few in history and damn few victors are in a position to preach on this matter.
[>This doesn't mean honest creatures of duty aren't essential, they are<]
Troops miserable and complaining?
True. Always, it is misery and soldiers have a right to complain.
You only have to worry when they're quiet, especially around you...
I haven't been and won't volunteer for Ukraine, nor Syria so I haven't fought Russians.
I do see an economy of force operation which makes sense as there are those in the USA and "NATO" who absolutely want all out war and it makes sense to make Ukraine an economy of force.
I'm not knocking this guy Rolo, I just don't accept his conclusions or methods. To his credit he does admit he's not a soldier.
It is interesting that some at least are disappointed this wasn't over quickly, but that's always true.
It would have been rational all round to defeat the Ukrainians in the spring of 22 - which Russia DID - then negotiate a settlement. That's the pattern of many wars especially where nuclear powers came into conflict or too near, Arab-Israeli wars, USSR interventions in Eastern Europe 1953, 1956, 1968 [the settlement was we got out of the way], the Sino-Soviet Border war of 1969.
Short wars are best. Long wars are not.
Wars entered into under false premises are very bad.
Evenly matched wars* entered into by false or mistaken premises on both sides involving a nuclear power that go on too long are the worst possible combo.
*in no way is Russia vs Ukraine an even match except in the resources Russia is committing as opposed to holding in reserve.
That makes sense to me. I don't try to know what is going on day to day, my interest is whether or not USG involvement in this conflict is in the interests of the American people. I follow independent sources to help me get an answer to that question, and so far they all point to it being 'no'. For the record I also like Jacob Dreizin, especially because he's a GS civilian that exercises his 1A rights with gusto. Finally, I like listening to Macgregor. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I think they are very insightful.
Ukraine makes sense for Empire, as for the nation, no.
Except that war is getting us a tidal wave of reindustrialization and reshoring in a tidal wave.
Analysis is not advocacy.
As the Republic died America asked her “who shall rule us?”
And she rattled- “The Strongest.”
We have no idea who that is yet.
🇺🇦 war benefits to 🇺🇸 Empire
1. 🇺🇸 Empire (we are) has consolidated around CONUS core and slammed down the boot on Atlantic Rim/EU and PACRIM (see FR/AU 🇫🇷🇦🇺). Also 🇨🇳 found out we control Chips, their dream has vanished.
2. We re-industrialize for War.
I’m from the Rust Belt, something for us at last.
3. The war is clearly to be 🇨🇳
5. Wars also for 🌎 south, that will discover that 🇷🇺🇨🇳 don’t have an expeditionary Navy or Air Force but we 🇺🇸 do ~ nice resources you got there, be a shame if you didn’t share...
4. The 🇺🇸 Empire has crushed populism and dissent at home and abroad, ask 🇨🇦 truckers.
5. In line with destroying Constitutional government and legal rights , the 🇺🇸 Empire is also destroying The Rules Based International Order we largely built. I suppose it should be us, in any case it is...but we need a return on our investment.
======
Should any of this trouble one overmuch, gaze to the heavens for succor and justification- for after millennia of praying up - exactly that is within our grasp.
Space. That’s the other reason we are reshoring.
We shan’t get our pudding without the stock 🩸, there are no proofs for this pudding as it does not and cannot and should not exist.
I don't believe Rolo after review. I'm not saying he's dishonest at all.
He's not a soldier or really a student of history.
He's using other non soldiers as support for his arguments.
So if a diverse group of bloggers and stackers and Telegram posters all say the same thing then it's conclusive - no, it isn't.
The Russia he describes and the Russian military he describes aren't the one we saw in 2d Chechen War, Syria, or historically. Corruption in politics? We're not in a position to talk, and frankly few in history and damn few victors are in a position to preach on this matter.
[>This doesn't mean honest creatures of duty aren't essential, they are<]
Troops miserable and complaining?
True. Always, it is misery and soldiers have a right to complain.
You only have to worry when they're quiet, especially around you...
I haven't been and won't volunteer for Ukraine, nor Syria so I haven't fought Russians.
I do see an economy of force operation which makes sense as there are those in the USA and "NATO" who absolutely want all out war and it makes sense to make Ukraine an economy of force.
I'm not knocking this guy Rolo, I just don't accept his conclusions or methods. To his credit he does admit he's not a soldier.
It is interesting that some at least are disappointed this wasn't over quickly, but that's always true.
It would have been rational all round to defeat the Ukrainians in the spring of 22 - which Russia DID - then negotiate a settlement. That's the pattern of many wars especially where nuclear powers came into conflict or too near, Arab-Israeli wars, USSR interventions in Eastern Europe 1953, 1956, 1968 [the settlement was we got out of the way], the Sino-Soviet Border war of 1969.
Short wars are best. Long wars are not.
Wars entered into under false premises are very bad.
Evenly matched wars* entered into by false or mistaken premises on both sides involving a nuclear power that go on too long are the worst possible combo.
*in no way is Russia vs Ukraine an even match except in the resources Russia is committing as opposed to holding in reserve.
That makes sense to me. I don't try to know what is going on day to day, my interest is whether or not USG involvement in this conflict is in the interests of the American people. I follow independent sources to help me get an answer to that question, and so far they all point to it being 'no'. For the record I also like Jacob Dreizin, especially because he's a GS civilian that exercises his 1A rights with gusto. Finally, I like listening to Macgregor. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I think they are very insightful.
I don’t follow it or the news day to day either.
Ukraine makes sense for Empire, as for the nation, no.
Except that war is getting us a tidal wave of reindustrialization and reshoring in a tidal wave.
Analysis is not advocacy.
As the Republic died America asked her “who shall rule us?”
And she rattled- “The Strongest.”
We have no idea who that is yet.
🇺🇦 war benefits to 🇺🇸 Empire
1. 🇺🇸 Empire (we are) has consolidated around CONUS core and slammed down the boot on Atlantic Rim/EU and PACRIM (see FR/AU 🇫🇷🇦🇺). Also 🇨🇳 found out we control Chips, their dream has vanished.
2. We re-industrialize for War.
I’m from the Rust Belt, something for us at last.
3. The war is clearly to be 🇨🇳
5. Wars also for 🌎 south, that will discover that 🇷🇺🇨🇳 don’t have an expeditionary Navy or Air Force but we 🇺🇸 do ~ nice resources you got there, be a shame if you didn’t share...
4. The 🇺🇸 Empire has crushed populism and dissent at home and abroad, ask 🇨🇦 truckers.
5. In line with destroying Constitutional government and legal rights , the 🇺🇸 Empire is also destroying The Rules Based International Order we largely built. I suppose it should be us, in any case it is...but we need a return on our investment.
======
Should any of this trouble one overmuch, gaze to the heavens for succor and justification- for after millennia of praying up - exactly that is within our grasp.
Space. That’s the other reason we are reshoring.
We shan’t get our pudding without the stock 🩸, there are no proofs for this pudding as it does not and cannot and should not exist.
But we can go up. We should.
I got that email from Rolo Slavinsky in box.
It's interesting to get another POV on Ukraine, is he inside Russia>? That wasn't clear.
His wrap up on the war is interesting, it makes sense.
I doubt we'll have good info on Ukraine for years.
It isn't clear and I don't know. I do think he's somewhere in the slavlands if not Russia proper.