"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (5 Viewers)

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I think 'dithering' is a little unfair. The dynamic of war between nuclear armed powers - whether by proxy or not - has changed. There is an instability and deliberate unpredictability to Russian thinking and strategy that wasn't there in the days between Stalin and Putin - and I think dealing with that intelligently requires a degree of subtlety. Going balls-out from the off would have given Putin and whole series of pretexts for his own escalation, whilst also being something of a self fulfilling prophesy regarding his own propaganda that he's in a war/'special operation' against 'fascists' and NATO. The other fly in the ointment is that the European gun-cabinet is pretty much empty of reserves anyway. Extra weapons from who's front line stockpile? Two sides exercising brinksmanship and escalation from the off might have been catastrophic.

The deepening privations of sanctions, the proof that their weaponry, technology, morale and now economy are all second best is the slow burning flame which will probably do for Russian intent, sooner or later. The wick needs to be turned up gradually because a threat can be increased incrementally without someones bluff being called all in one go. Putin's pals have already dented their own credibility by rattling their sabres ad infinitum.

TBH, I wonder if a Russian offensive which can then be isolated beyond their entrenched positions might not be *exactly* what the Ukrainians are hoping for. Russian intelligence, planning, logistical support and all-arms operations have been utterly woeful so far, and don't seem to be showing much evidence of improvement. Where they can currently offset some of those deficiencies is by sitting tens of thousands of troops behind barbed wire, inside bunkers and protected by artillery, missiles and airpower. Personally, Im hopeful they'll try a foolhardy but politically necessary offensive, because it will probably play to the Ukrainians strength.
 
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