The address of the retired British general, ex-head of the Joint Command of the British Armed Forces, Sir Richard Barrons, at a forum in Lucerne, Switzerland, to European officials and opinion leaders:
“Do not tell me it’s unaffordable, because you represent an economy of 15 trillion euros a year. Give me 75 billion euros a year for 2-3 years and I will make the Ukrainian army win.”
Full 30 minute presentation is here ;
This lecture took place last year, seemingly predicting a withdrawal of US aid.
Of all the retired Generals doing punditry now, only two state clearly and unequivocally that Ukraine can and will win.
One of course is the excellent Ben Hodges.
The other is this guy : General Sir Richard Barrons.
Time for the EU to give him a job…..
Uh, there’s a problem with that, Scradge1: Brexit means Brexit! No more EU jobs for Brits since they decided to divorce. But Barrons should get a Nato position instead, agreed.
Comments like that only go to prove that Brexit was right. He was making his pitch as a private individual, not on behalf of the U.K. Nothing to do with Nato either.
The important thing is that the job must be created. NOW.
It should go to the General, but if the EU have someone who is better, then so be it. If Gen Hodges pitched for it you’d have no problem. It’s just anti-British enmity.
If the EU does not provide the necessary funding, the lines will start to collapse and putler’s fucking genocide will increase exponentially.
The EU’s failure to plug the gap left by the U.S. is making them look like cheap, hopeless laggards. Macron has started to to talk tough but has delivered less than Lithuania.
Doesn’t matter if Brexit was wrong or right, it means that Brits have no more say in EU matters. That’s the positive side for us on the continent, especially those who remember very well that it was the UK that had pushed for including all eastern ex-communist countries, only to complain about immigration after that. And that London didn’t pay full membership dues after threatening to beat up Europeans with the iron Lady’s handbag. So, afaics, nobody on this side of the foggy channel really misses those annoying Limeys. Let’em enjoy “splendid isolation”! Just sayin’.
Anyway, as I see it, what needs to be created is a coordination office at Nato, to assure Ukraine gets all that’s needed, and not simply a hodgepodge of leftovers from the arsenals and overpriced arms from member states’industries. General Barrons seems to be well suited for that job. He wouldn’t mind ruffling some feathers and stepping on toes, I’m sure. 😎
I do think it will take more than 75 billions per year, to be on the safe side, but generally, the good general is right. It’s the West’s own damn fault if this war drags on and on and on…
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