Anti-Russian Sanctions Going Too Far?

ramage wrote: Fred,
Are U.S. forces actually on the ground in Ukraine? What is the source of that assertion?

When the government and media tell you "boots on the ground", they mean US infantry or marines. But Special Forces being deployed aren't usually announced. Example, there were Special Forces in northern Afghanistan years before 9/11 supporting the Northern Alliance.

Reports of the CIA being in Afghanistan prior the 9/11 are well documented:
" Woodward provides details about the CIA’s role in the current military conflict, which includes the deployment of a secret paramilitary unit, the Special Activities Division. This force began combat on September 27, using both operatives on the ground and Predator surveillance drones equipped with missiles that could be launched by remote control.

The Special Activities Division, Woodward reports, “consists of teams of about half a dozen men who do not wear military uniforms. The division has about 150 fighters, pilots and specialists, and is made up mostly of hardened veterans who have retired from the US military."

Plausible deniability but no actual U.S. Special Forces I think that this is also the case in Ukraine.

homeagain wrote:

STRAIGHT talk from someone who knows.....TRANSLATED...nail the s.o.b to the wall,he will be toast and
"taken away".....put all cards on the table and do NOT back down.

Would he be accurate in his assessment? (it is NOW coming to light that his inner circle was NOT candid with him,leaving him in the dark and vulnerable. THAT would seem to be a sign of a weak leader and the above assessment would /could be plausible.

Sign of a weak leader? Or a sign of a normal bureaucracy? As a middle level manager, you don't want to report bad news about your division or location so you sit on it hoping the information never gets out. I think local Chinese politicians lied about how many were infected and dying from Covid-19 hoping that the pandemic would eventually die out like most do. This one didn't and China continued to lie about infection numbers and deaths.
For decades the Russian officer corps has been robbing their units blind. Selling off fuel and equipment. Keeping the pay of soldiers who deserted years ago. So it was no surprise that the remaining soldiers had low morale and unmaintained equipment.

FredHayek wrote: Sign of a weak leader? Or a sign of a normal bureaucracy? As a middle level manager, you don't want to report bad news about your division or location so you sit on it hoping the information never gets out. I think local Chinese politicians lied about how many were infected and dying from Covid-19 hoping that the pandemic would eventually die out like most do. This one didn't and China continued to lie about infection numbers and deaths.
For decades the Russian officer corps has been robbing their units blind. Selling off fuel and equipment. Keeping the pay of soldiers who deserted years ago. So it was no surprise that the remaining soldiers had low morale and unmaintained equipment.

Having worked for AT&T for 18 years,with a DH in middle level management....I can tell U, for a fact,SOME
mgrs r wimps and will NOT shoot straight and some will lay out the TRUTH....(my DH being the later) He worked LONG HARD HOURS and would lay it on the line. (obviously the upper echelon was not thrilled,but he was respected and when HIS boss asked,he knew he would get a straight up answer.) The cover up concept is not a new thing to me......in occupational ranks, it was a constant piece of bullshit,ESCALATE to management, only to find the fubar NOT round tabled and a solution found. WHEN
THE CUSTOMER FINALLY GOT PISSED ENOUGH to escalate the problem and DEMANDED AN EXPEDITE.....it got solved. (squeaky wheel gets the oil)

SO-O, I find it a sign of a weak leader who does NOT have a sure source of information (good or bad).