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I certainly don't agree with everything the author (Stephen M. Walt) wrote; but in looking at the comments above, I'm unclear on what basis they were made, as they don't seem to be reflected in the article itself.

Lets begin by directly linking to the piece in question:


Now, lets look at specific statements the author actually makes, verbatim:

In referencing a probable Ukrainian/Western victory, and the possible ousting of Putin:

1664647820256.png


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He then goes on to outline his concerns:

1664647908860.png


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If one reads the entire piece, I actually don't see any evidence of wishing defeat on Ukraine, or suggesting this campaign was a bad one.

The author clearly has a POV if you read his bio and published works, he's very much against U.S. Military adventurism in general, pro real-politik, and takes a view that the Marshall Plan is what
success looks like vs Iraq or Afghanistan.

Of course, the Marshall Plan arises out of WWII and that can hardly be ignored, but I digress, his broader view of 20thC history informs the author's POV but it is not central to his argument here.

Before returning to that argument, it is absolutely fair to point out, that this author was opposed in 2015 to any overtures from NATO to Ukraine, on the basis that it might provoke Russian invasion/broader war. I don't want the discussion of the current piece to be mired in a backward analysis of this fellow's every take, but I think it is useful to understand where he comes from on these things.

****

His overall thrust is simply that he's afraid that in victory, U.S. State Dept and DoD hawks will find an excuse for the next Iraq/Afghanistan/Syria; and try to use arguably the one great foreign policy/military success the U.S. has had in the last three decades to justify more intereventions that are less likely to succeed.

Given the track record of the U.S. on such matters, that hardly seems like a reach. Its not apologia for Putin, nor an argument against the campaign in Ukraine, but rather an argument for taking what the author perceives to be the correct lessons from same.

I'm not arguing for his overall piece, nor reviewing his previous treatises on the subject, simply advocating that his current thesis be accurately described.

Now I will extract from the piece his 'lessons' that he wants people take from this conflict:


"Lesson No. 1 is that threatening what a great power believes to be a vital interest is dangerous, even if one’s own intentions are noble or benign."

The above should be understood as his arguing that potential NATO enlargement was a possible/likely precursor to everything that has unfolded. I am not endorsing that position, merely putting out there the author's view.

He goes on to say in the context of the above "I’m not making an argument for appeasement, mind you, just issuing a reminder that ignoring what other great powers regard as vital interests is inherently risky."

***

"Lesson No. 2 is the danger of inflating threats."

This opens a line of thought that Russia engaged in 'preventative war' in Ukraine, by trying to preclude its joining the western sphere of influence. He then offers the obvious, that it failed miserably, and he therefore wants the U.S. to be reminded
not to similarly engage in 'preventative war' elsewhere.

He concludes this section by quoting Bismarck, who is perhaps the most early exemplar of Real Politik.

"which is why Germany’s Otto von Bismarck famously warned that preventive war was like “committing suicide for fear of death.” Future U.S. policymakers should bear this in mind."

***

"Lesson No. 3 (which Putin seems to have ignored) is simple: If you invade a foreign country, don’t expect a friendly welcome"

I think that one is fairly self-explanatory, so I will move on to his fourth lesson.


***

"Lesson No. 4 (also apparently discounted by Putin) is that outright aggression alarms other countries and leads them to take steps to counter it"

This leads the author to compare Putin's misestimatation of the west to that of Adolph Hitler; specifically, the west abiding the seizure of Czechoslovakia but then reacting to Poland in WWII and directly equating that to a the relatively muted reaction to the seizure of Crimea vs the wholesale invasion of Ukraine.

***

His principle summation is thus:

1664649265577.png


He then goes on to elaborate for a few additional paragraphs.

For the full text, follow the link at the top.
 
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Biden gets the authority to send anything he wants from the American arsenal. No need to ask Congress for permission or funding.

Russians are about to find out why America doesn't have universal healthcare....

He probably won't send anything major.

Maybe just some Javelins or something. I can't see him sending B-2s or Tomahawks.

@kEiThZ are GLCMs tipped with a W84 still banned?
 
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What about tanks? Abrams are too complicated, Leopards are blocked by the Germans. I assume Arietes, LeClercs and Challengers are off the table. Does the US have a stock of refurbished M60 tanks? Otherwise it looks like more T-72s to be scrounged up from across Europe and maybe Asia and Africa.

Hmmm….. there’s always some outliers that the US could negotiate. South Korean tanks to Ukraine via Poland?


The K2 looks impressive. Same ammo as the Leopard 2 and Abrams, so easier ammunition supply.
 
He probably won't send anything major.

Maybe just some Javelins or something. I can't see him sending B-2s or Tomahawks.

@kEiThZ are GLCMs tipped with a W84 still banned?
Military aid for Ukraine will continue to ramp up. Biden will send everything that has already been sent and more.
 
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@kEiThZ are GLCMs tipped with a W84 still banned?

Not sure. Technically legal with the end of the INF treaty. Whether or not this is now part of American nuclear employment doctrine..... unlikely most Canadians will ever know. Maybe if one of us ends up a two leaf on exchange at EUCOM. Even then, not sure.....
 
Not sure. Technically legal with the end of the INF treaty. Whether or not this is now part of American nuclear employment doctrine..... unlikely most Canadians will ever know. Maybe if one of us ends up a two leaf on exchange at EUCOM. Even then, not sure.....

It would be interesting to see if they make their way to the Ukrainian theatre alongside SAMs.
 

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