Compare and contrast
Compare and contrast was always one of my least favourite exam questions and that is a very long list. But what brings it to mind is that I recently quoted a report on Threads that claimed that Russia has the second most powerful armed forces in the world. To which I added “If it has second most powerful armed forces in the world, how come it cannot win in Ukraine?”
Aside from the usual flood of “what a f*ckwit question” and “ They have nukes you idiot”, some did point out that America has the most powerful armed forces in the world and still lost in Vietnam. Which is a fair point, or is it?
After all Ukraine is flat and open, not some highly populated country, covered with mountains, jungle, swamps and with a safe haven from which to fight decades of guerrilla warfare. Nor did America use its total strength in Vietnam, it maintained a huge fleet, an army in Europe and Korea and elsewhere. And the forces it did deploy were incapable of making their massive firepower count, which doesn’t seem to be the case in Ukraine.
Yet despite having an army specifically built, equipped and trained to fight a European war ,Russia’s forces have spent years failing to conquer what they thought would take 3 days.
Now it seems obvious that many lessons are being learnt in military colleges around the world about what has happened in Ukraine. Drones and hand held missiles seem to have worked far better than anyone hoped, tanks and helicopters seem to be useful but not dominant and uneducated kids forced to the front line make little more than good cannon fodder, which is why so many Russian soldiers spend their money bribing their officers for a rear echelon job.
But the similarity is that like Vietnam Ukraine is a quagmire that the major power involved finds it almost impossible to get out of. Or at least get out of with dignity.
Leaving the winners as most probably China. Which has, according to this report, the third most powerful armed forces in the world, has lost not a single soldier in Ukraine, is lending money to Russia, selling it equipment and standing back and watching it bleed itself to death.
Which means maybe we should ask, who is guarding Russia’s eastern border? Because no matter how bad Vietnam got America did not have to worry about Mexico or Canada.
From Jonty Bloom Media Ltd
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
Lots of comment elsewhere on substack to the effect that only China’s support is preventing the collapse of Russia which is now the junior partner. Russia’s resources are now effectively China’s.
Which makes me think that the RU war on Ukraine will end when it will be to China’s advantage.
All good points. Fighting for your homeland always ‘trumps’ an invasion. Is there another word for ‘Trump’ - I find myself flinching every time I use it.