The Kremlin Has Destroyed Russias Military Reputation by Paul Craig Roberts!
(2022-10-03 at 21:56:46 )

The Kremlin Has Destroyed Russias Military Reputation by Paul Craig Roberts!

The most unfortunate aspect of the Kremlins go-slow, limited, under-committed, under-manned military operation in Ukraine has been the destruction of the Russian militarys reputation, a destruction underlined by Ukraines success in pushing back Russian forces in areas that are now, after the reunifications, part of Russia herself.

That Russia has lost Russian territory to Ukraine is likely to further embolden the West and, thereby, further widen the war.

United States General and former Central Intelligence Agency Director David Patraeus has threatened the Kremlin with the destruction of Russias troops and Black Sea fleet. "read here:"

Bob Seely writing in the United Kingdom Telegraph says "Putins annexation of Ukrainian territory... is evidence not of offensive success, but of defensive fear.. His actions are the sign of a desperate man fearing military humiliation." President Putin, Mr. Seely claims, "is becoming more dangerous" judging by Russias sabotage of its own gas pipelines and Presients Putins threats to widen his war.

Nevertheless, Mr. Seely assures us, "President Putins geopolitical fantasies to create a greater Russian state incorporating Ukraine, to shatter NATO and to establish Russia as the global counterweight to the United States lie in tatters." Mr. Seely adds that the victory of United Kingdom trained Ukrainian troops over the Russian military in the Kharkiv area shows that Ukrainian victory over Russias poorly led and low morale troops is achievable. "read here:"

The dismal picture of a defeated Russia drawn by Mr. Seely is reinforced by President Putin calling for negotiations with Mr. Zelensky in the same speech that he welcomes the provinces back into Russia. Normally it is not the winning side that calls for negotiations.

Mr. Seelys account and Mr. Patraeus threats are nonsense.

But what matters is that this is the way the West perceives it, and it is this perception that will further widen the war. That this would be the consequence was obvious from the beginning.

President Putin waited eight years while the West built and equipped an army for Ukraine and established the propaganda narrative, and when President Putin belatedly acted he did so in a way guaranteed to widen the war. Did no one tell President Putin that wars cannot be fought on a shoe-string in a limited manner?

President Putins go-slow limited intervention has given Washington,D.C. seven months in which to convince Western peoples that Russia is the aggressor, supply weapons to Ukraine, train Ukrainian soldiers in their use, and establish communications systems for Washington,D.C. to provide targeting information to Ukraines forces. It is impossible to imagine the Kremlin conducting a war in a way less likely to succeed.

What the Kremlin has done is to justify Washington,D.C.s belief in its omnipotence, which will lead to more provocations. Washington,D.C. had no fear of stealing Russias foreign exchange reserves and other assets, arming Ukraine, and blowing up Russias Nord Stream pipelines. Each step along the way Washington,D.C. has gotten bolder and the threats to Russia have become stronger.

It is President Putins effort to contain war that is bringing him a wider one. As he continues his policy of half-measures Armageddon creeps ever closer.

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