Western shortcomings revealed

0
4K

During the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the NATO Ramstein Air Base on 6 September, Ukraine presented its three priorities: Air defence (AD) systems and AD missiles; ammunition and equipment for the new brigades; and strengthening Ukraine’s long-range capabilities.

 

Ukraine's Zelensky stressed that many of the pledged air defence systems had not yet been delivered and emphasised the need for more F-16s. The F-16s are already filling some of the persistent gaps in the AD network.

Ukraine is conducting an offensive in the Kursk oblast and Russia is intensifying its efforts to capture Pokrovsk. Again, it is urgently asking for AD, weapons, and ammunition. It is, therefore, ironic that most of the $7.8 billion in the US Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) remains unused. The Biden administration is engaged in urgent discussions with Congress to allow it to use up $6 billion in military aid for Ukraine before the end of the 2024 fiscal year on 30 September.

President Zelenskiy also urged its allies to ignore Russia’s "red lines" and allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to strike legal targets on Russian territory to motivate Russia to seek peace.

The use of donated US weapons for long-range strikes into Russia will not turn the tide of the war for Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin argued. He argued that Russia has already moved the combat aircraft delivering guided glide bombs outside the range of ATACMS missiles. 
His response ignores several critical factors. Firstly, there are at least 209 other fixed Russian military objects in range of ATACMS but outside the range of the HIMARS that the US does allow Ukraine to use in Russia under some circumstances.

Secondly, the argument ignores the temporarily established ammunition depots, field HQs, GLOC and more, established to support Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.

Thirdly, it ignores the presence of 48 Iskander launchers and recent reports that Iran has just delivered hundreds of Iranian Ababil close-range ballistic missiles and Fateh-360 short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. More shipments of Iranian missiles to Russia are expected. This represents another escalation of the war.

Lastly, Austin ignores the horrific consequences of allowing Russia to launch ballistic missiles and missiles with a ballistic trajectory from what has effectively become a Russian sanctuary. Ukrainian civilians are being killed, wounded and maimed. Cities and critical infrastructure are being destroyed. 

In these contexts, the Russian relocation of its combat jets has no bearing on Ukraine’s urgent need to destroy all the other key enablers, command and control nodes and logistical hubs allowing Russia to continue its crimes against humanity.

It is rather telling that Russia continues to escalate because the West fears escalation. 

 

***

 

Read Also:

 

***

 

 

 

Like
1
Search
Categories
Read More
Economy - Finance
On the Economic Objectives of the Ukrainian Attack in the Kursk Region
Many have spoken about the tactical and PR goals of the AFU operation on Russian territory....
By NavyVetUnited 2024-08-07 10:00:41 0 4K
Analysis
14 Facts About Hamas Every College Student Needs to Know
Arm yourself with these basic facts to combat disinformation. Since carrying out brutal...
By Israel Swords of Iron Ops 2023-10-25 15:06:39 0 17K
Analysis
THE LASER CANNON: What is it? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
No doubt to security professionals that the laser cannon is the holy grail of the military...
By NavyVetUnited 2023-11-27 22:55:27 0 8K
Cloak & Dagger
Shipboard Guards Exchanged Fire with Attackers in Latest Red Sea Incident
Armed guards on a fuel tanker exchanged gunfire with a small boat in the Red Sea, another sign of...
By NavyVetUnited 2023-12-13 19:13:53 0 10K
News & Politics
Senior Biden admin official provides new details on hostage negotiations
Hamas’s execution of six hostages has “called into question Hamas’s readiness...
By Israel Swords of Iron Ops 2024-09-05 11:55:56 0 6K