AI Lead | Managing Data Scientist | Public Speaker
Feb 25, 2024
💙 “#Ukraine will win anyway.” 💛
Ben Hodges on the delay of #USA aid and prospects at the front:
“I’m worried that there’s too much negativism. I still remember ‘there’s no way Ukraine can win!’ – you got to be kidding me. I mean, after ten years, Russia had every advantage, and they still only occupied 18% of Ukraine. Their navy sucks, their Airforce sucks and they lost half a million soldiers.”
☝️ Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in #Europe, is convinced that Russia has become much weaker than it seems at first glance, and that Ukraine will win a full-scale war despite the delay in US aid.
“They [Russia] control only 18% of the Ukrainian territory. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has problems, Russian planes do not enter Ukrainian airspace, half a million Russian soldiers are 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 or wounded”, Ben Hodges said.
📊 The General thinks that this is a year of industrial competition, “Ukraine has to set up a personnel system, recruit new people, provide ammunition and weapons from the West. And if we are ahead of Russia, I think we will be in a different place next year. So this year, I think General Syrskyi has to stabilize the front. Russia cannot knock out Ukraine. And Ukraine cannot knock out Russia either. It’s like two great wrestlers. And both are tired. But one says to the other: You are more tired than I am. And the fight continues”.
“I think even if the US does nothing for the next 2-3 months, Europe produces a lot of weapons. But there will be more even by the end of this year. This famous one million shells will be produced. We obviously started too late. But it is what it is,” Ben Hodges said.
“Focus on why it’s important for us that Ukraine wins. Not out of fear, but out of opportunity. If Ukraine is succesful, it will fix European #security for decades. We need to body slam Russia and you are giving us a chance.”
💡 It is nice to see some optimism these days. And he’s right – Russia has lost 90% of its initial invasion force, by some counts. And can only make up for it with untrained Mobiks.
Fearmongering mainly aids Moscow.
But optimistic words don’t fix ammo shortages, either. And it’s not his men 𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 at the front line.
PublicSpeaking #Leadership
StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦
BEN HODGES VIDEO HERE:
“But optimistic words don’t fix ammo shortages, either.”
Totally agree with Marijn Markus! Ben Hodges’ optimism is well based on facts, but the immediate problem at hand is the catastrophic shortage of shells, created by the stop of US deliveries, and this has to be solved asap! Every day without enough arty hurts the brave defenders in the trenches. Bring shells to the front!
It’s not just the U.S. but the slow ramp up of production and failure to meet the promises made by all allies. There is still much that Biden could have been doing while waiting for Ukraine aid package to pass. Much more than all of Ukraine’s allies could be doing as well.
I’m sorry, Bill, but the critical situation at the front IS the consequence of the sudden US stop of deliveries. You’re right that much more should have been done by Nato states to ramp up ammo production, but it’s the blockade in Congress that led to the catastrophic shortage right now. The blame for that has to the put on Trumpish Congressmen. ☹
I disagree, you really think Ukraine would be this shell hungry if the EU had provided the 1 million shells in a timely manner instead of the 33%-50%, I don’t think so.
You have a point there, Sir Bill, but that the EU couldn’t make good on its promise became obvious last year. Production increased, though not fast enough. But still, the sum of deliveries was sufficient to enable a solid defence. The situation became more dire when Biden started to send shells to Israel instead. And then, it was the stop of US deliveries that finally broke the camel’s back. That directly led to the fall of Avdiivka. I hope you’ll agree that this was the actual turn of events. 🤨
No I don’t agree with shells to Israel breaking the camel’s back so to speak in light of the fact it was replacing shells that were diverted to Ukraine. 😉🤔
“Zelensky says that artillery shell deliveries to Ukraine decreased since the start of Israel-Hamas war”
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/11/17/zelensky-claims-that-artillery-shell-deliveries-to-ukraine-decreased-since-the-start-of-israel-hamas-war_6262162_4.html#
Hmmm ty for link, but wonder if coincidence.🤔
He did specifically mention the 155 mm of which US had/does keep a stock of in Israel ..of which some were pulled for use in Ukraine, but from article I also see the point that other countries more than just Israel were/are scrambling for stocks, while some providers are coming to end of what they feel ‘comfortable’ giving/selling.
I forgot to put that Biden could have/should have should send stuff close to expiration to continue to fill the void that seems to be occuring…. You know thinking about this,why has it been so advertised/publicized that Ukraine running low in stuff???🤔
To apply pressure on Nato countries, because the situation is really desperate, Sir Bill. 😣
It should not have been like this or come to this. I pray the AFU hold on till this aid package is passed and somehow stores are found and acquired for Ukraine.☹️