moonraker

NATO or possibly better to say western military doctrine differs markedly from Russia's. This has been the case since WW II, western armed forces doctrine is based on minimising casualties, firstly their own and secondly their opponents especially civilian. This is achieved by a greater reliance on technical and equipment capability factors and accepting that the outcome, minimal casualties whilst neutralising the opponents capability and taking ground, is more important than the time frame. Conversely Russian doctrine does not place minimising casualties very high and relies on overwhelming numbers to achieve objectives quickly. I would therefore conclude that Putin's original plan has failed. That being said Putin will continue to overwhelm with numbers and this may eventually deliver his original goal , or it may not. Either way there will be a significant human cost for Russia.

It was repeatably mentioned during the Midd v Spuds game last night, it on the iPlayer red button.

It seems Bojo and his cronies are yet again chasing public opinion, yesterday it was 100k refugees today 200k, how many tomorrow. Why put a number on it just open up to them, these people are fleeing for their lives.

It may be they are not registered in Russia,

I like the line Royally fuck them, we could not prevent the initial assault, but if we can dethrone Putin via non military means that will be a game changing result in the history of conflict.

I have become slightly more optimistic in the last few hours. If reports are to be believed combined with the failure of Putins initial assault objectives then perhaps, just perhaps, the Russian people and especially those who have supported and feared Putin may rise up. Reading Putins mad ramblings it certainly has echo’s of Hitler in his Berlin bunker in April 1945.

There is a lot of debate about where or what current nation states were 50, 100 years of whatever ago. Theses arguments are meaningless, England did not exist before the 9th century, Germany before 1870, and Italy was not unified until Garibaldi sorted things out (arguably it still isn’t). For me it’s simple, if the UN recognise a Sovereign Nation State as of 27FEB 2022 then that’s what it is.

Brilliant improvisation from Che

Agree friends and family have expressed outrage and believe we must react decisively.

If many reports are to be believed the people on the streets of Moscow are not very happy with their leader.

Its an opening gambit and only one sanction of many.

Whilst it is undeniable that they have huge numbers, especially in men and artillery, and that their traditional approach is lots of cheap, dispensable units, they have significant weaknesses. It is not complacent to note that their military is predominantly conscript, and whilst their elite forces may well be a match for what the west have I am not so sure that their average pongo, matelot or crab have the same level of efficiency and training as the majority of their NATO counterparts. You talk of insane weapons, to give one example. In 2015 Russia heralded the first major new tank design anywhere in the world for over 30 years, the T14. They claimed they would manufacture 2400 by 2020, to date they have only managed a test batch of 100, none are operational, current best estimates are a minimum of 5 years before they are operational and then only in small numbers due to affordability issues.. Their biggest problem is an extended conflict they do not have the finances nor the production capability. Putins Russia is not Stalins, he will not be able to mobilise industry in the way Stalin did. As has been noted they failed in Afghanistan with even larger armed forces at their disposal. I do not doubt that he will cause untold suffering and damage, and may well subdue Ukraine, but the cost will be high, economically and in lives, the key to this may well be the reaction of the Russian people once the cost starts to hit home.

The average American may not know nothing about the Baltic countries but the state department does. It’s an easy sell to the MAGA hordes, fighting the pinko commies, the will be queuing around the corner, all armed with their own weapons 😂

Your having a laugh, the 12 years of Tory rule has enabled corrupt Russian money laundering through London in exchange for donations to the Tory Party. When the Tories return every penny they have received from Russians then I might believe he is serious.

He said he won’t send them to Ukraine, anon NATO member, you cannot extrapolate from this 5hat he won’t if a NATO member is attacked.

Yes, if you believe in honouring agreements , oops we have Bojo in charge and he has no honour at all.

Basing your knowledge of NATO member states military capability on Trumps rankings does not merit serious consideration. NATO does need the USA but do not so easily dismiss the capability of other countries militaries like Trump very arrogant.

You suggest that some in NATO are more “equal” than others. If the major military powers in NATO reacted as you suggest that would play directly into Putins hands, not only sacrificing a NATO member but also underwriting his rhetoric on the corrupt west.

In 1939 Hitler banked on the UK and France not honouring their commitment to Poland. Putin is nothing if not a survivor, he will weigh very carefully any attack on a NATO member against the will of NATO members to honour article 5. I do not pretend to understand the warped mind of the likes of Putin, but he will also have to weigh the risk of internal revolt, and this I think may be a greater concern for him.

I especially disagree on Spike Milligan, if only for his appearance on Room 101 when he not only put his house in but also the City of Portsmouth.

Everton were terrible, we also made it hard for them they couldn’t handle our intensity. Only minor downside, we should have 5 or 6.

It’s poor game, WH look lost

Started school in 62 and definitely had closures at the beginning of the 63 snow. Mainly because it was village school and teachers could not get there and we had kids bussed in who also could not get there. My secondary school also closed a couple of times due to inaccessibility caused by the weather.

I have not created a ranking system, just stated some of the things that would be obvious to anyone creating a business plan for stadium expansion. As you I am sure well know such an ambition would require a lot of research and analysis, and alongside a ranking a weighting would be applied, I am sure with your apparent superior insight you could do that. You, I, nor anyone else on here has empirical evidence as to whether an expansion would result in notably and regular increased attendance, but I for one like to believe that the club can grow, as has been said so many times we all have an opinion on these things and my differs from yours.

John sorry for your loss. I do not make every home game as I do not go on my own, so only go when other family members are available, one lives in Cambridge the other here in Bath. We normally make 8 or 9 home games and a couple of aways a season.