The War: The Mariupol Test

[Photo Guy]

I made this point a couple of months ago. Good to see the New York Times is championing the idea:
'...Mr. Putin has said he wants the cease-fire to hold. The West needs to unite and force him to keep that promise. It needs to construct a Mariupol test, which will turn that town from a road bump into a red line with teeth...'
see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/16/opinion/putin-and-the-mariupol-test.html?_r=0

[calmissile]

I made this point a couple of months ago. Good to see the New York Times is championing the idea:
'...Mr. Putin has said he wants the cease-fire to hold. The West needs to unite and force him to keep that promise. It needs to construct a Mariupol test, which will turn that town from a road bump into a red line with teeth...'
see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/16/opinion/putin-and-the-mariupol-test.html?_r=0

The problem with the author, as well as many other armchair journalists is that they seem to know nothing about war and military strategy.  The author here states that if Mariupol is invaded, it is time to arm and train the Ukrainians with weapons.   What a moron!!!   How long does he think it takes to get agreement on weapons, transport them to Ukraine, and how long to train the troops?   He apparently had his head up his ass when Crimea was overthrown before there was time to react.   If Putin is to be deterred, the weapons and trained men need to be in Ukraine before  Russia advances any further.  Otherwise, it will be the same old game as we now have in Crimea.  He keeps what he conquered!

[Photo Guy]

Doug, the point is- a line has to be drawn NOW, publicly, and through ambassadors and heads of state. Yes, I agree- 'teeth' should take the form of defensive lethal weapons... Kerry and the rest, should publicly say,
'Mr. Putin, do not invade Mariupol.'

[calmissile]

Doug, the point is- a line has to be drawn NOW, publicly, and through ambassadors and heads of state. Yes, I agree- 'teeth' should take the form of defensive lethal weapons... Kerry and the rest, should publicly say,
'Mr. Putin, do not invade Mariupol.'

Yep, I am sure Putin will be shaking in his boots.   

[lordtiberius]

Agree with D sadly.

[Anathema]

Yep, I am sure Putin will be shaking in his boots.   

Indeed.

This administration consists of limp wristed morons.  They're not going to do anything except issue more sternly worded letters and sanctions.  Does anybody take Kerry seriously?  What a joke.

I'd love to be proven wrong but I'm certainly not holding my breath.