Members of the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic army collect parts of a destroyed Ukrainian army tank in the town of Vuhlehirsk, about 10 km (6 miles) to the west of Debaltseve, February 16, 2015. Credit: Reuters/Baz Ratner
Alan Chin, Reuters: Ukraine’s military is stronger than believed. Here’s what it needs to win.
“This is the hour of Europe.”
So said a prominent European leader about tense negotiations to end a war that threatened to tear peace and prosperity apart. But those words didn’t come from either German Chancellor Angela Merkel or French President Francois Hollande after they emerged from an all-nighter with presidents Vladimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko of Russia and Ukraine, clutching a hard-won ceasefire in hand.
WNU Editor: When asked this question I always bring up Ireland and the British Army .... especially Northern Ireland. For much of the 19th and 20th century the British army had the reputation of being the best military in the world .... but for decades they had to keep approximately a quarter of their military in Ireland .... even though the IRA had only a few hundred hard-core soldiers and commanders (plus of course thousands of sympathizers). Battles, conflicts, sectarian strife .... this went on forever .... and there was no solution but one .... withdrawal .... and for Northern Ireland .... negotiation and compromise .... a process that is still ongoing. This is now the dilemma facing eastern Ukraine and for Ukraine as a whole .... but with one exception from Ireland .... there is a Russia next door who has made it very clear that they will not let down the pro-Russian rebels in this fight. I am sure that with time the Ukraine army .... with massive Western intervention and assistance .... can become a formidable force. But as long as the people in the Dombas region feel alienated from Kiev and have no desire to be a part of Ukraine .... and absent any real negotiation and compromise from Kiev .... this can become a conflict that will go on for eternity.
1 comment:
WNU Editor,
It takes 2 years to train up raw recruits, into a NATO standard Battalion, and another two years to train up the Companies, Battalions and Command into a functioning Division.
On the other hand, the Saxon APC's that the Ukraine bought from Britain, and just took delivery of, have already been listed as available for sale to other Countries.
Post a Comment