What we can learn from it. “If there’s any lesson in this for Washington, it must be to ask: how much of America’s power is myth like Russia’s? Dare we collapse the wave function? If too much is spin then put it not to the test, but keep on bluffing until the reality is restored. You can’t live in the narrative forever.”
Category Archives: War Commentary
The Russian Offensive
If we can keep pouring in weaponry, at some point Ukraine will start more counteroffensives. As the assessment notes, the Russians are already taking up defensive positions. Eventually, I’m sure that the Ukrainians would want to not just break the siege at Mariupol, but cut the Russian lines in half and encircle them to the west, to provide a buffer for Odessa.
[Update a few minutes later]
Well, looky here:
How did Ukraine manage to attack a key port and sink a ship well behind Russian lines? No one’s quite sure yet, the Wall Street Journal reports, but the apparent success may create even more problems for Russia’s attempts to seize Mariupol. Berdyansk had been a key supply point, and seemingly out of range of Ukraine until this morning.
Expect to see them take more initiatives like this.
[Afternoon update]
An interesting Twitter thread.
[Friday-afternoon update]
The Russians have already lost.
[Bumped]
Conjoined Twins
Eric Berger describes the difficulties of and prospects for separating the Russian and non-Russian segments of the ISS.
The End Of The Age Of Fragility
People in Europe seem to be coming to their senses more than here, but we’ll see what happens in November.
The Nightmare Of 1914
Are we doing it again?
[Afternoon update]
Blake Powers seems to be continuing to recover from the lightning strike, with an essay on the Ukrainian puzzle pieces.
The Wargame Before The War
This is interesting. They did a pretty good job of gaming it out.
[Update Monday morning]
Your feel-good story of the day, if true: Russia has no options for victory, only defeat.
Oh, and by the way, I don’t think this would be “World War III.”
Mastercard And Visa
Why Americans shouldn’t be happy that they suspended Russian operations.
Yes, they can do it to anyone they want with “unacceptable” opinions.
Farewell To A Giant, And Dreams Never Realized
Elon And Russia
Climate, And The Real Crisis
A roundup on the latest insanity, from Judith Curry.