Originally Posted By johnh57:


I don't think a Russian could tell the truth if you held a gun to his head.

Originally Posted By NEXT23:



@AlabamaFan64 is that what I think it is?

Originally Posted By general_cluster:


There was a great podcast on this that I cannot find now.  I think Peter Robison (author of 'tear down this wall' speech) was the guest IIRC.  Shortly after WWII, a branch of the state department assigned someone to see if others were having as much trouble with the Russians not keeping agreements and misrepresenting things as they were.  Discovered that a loose relationship with the truth was the rule of the road for them.  

Originally Posted By GTLandser:


The Bradley would be a huge step up from the M113 and most BMPs and BTRs, for sure, but the lawyer answer is "it depends".

Going on the offense is hard, even with the Russians being as shitty as they are. Having a more heavily armed and armored IFV with tracked mobility (vs. wheeled) seems pretty important in Ukraine, on the offense, in the Spring time. And the Puma is apparently a gold plated turd, and the Germans already sold off most of the surplus Marders they might have considered selling (SLOWLY) before now.

But getting the most out of the Brads would require a lot of the Ukrainians...not that they are incapable to operate them, but they have the M242 and the TOW, plus a multitude of other subsystems that would need to be trained and maintained.

For example: if we aren't giving them US radios or BMS, then that takes their capability level down a notch right there. Or, even if the donated Brads were equipped with the latest thermal sights like the US use, but ALL of the rest of that Brigade didn't have enough NV/thermal (a certain % of all dismounts and other vehicles), then is it all that helpful?

Then add on top of that just the gas and ammo (and do the weapons on the Brads have any cross-over with other weapons in a particular Ukrainian Brigade?) Not insurmountable and I am sure the Ukrainians are accustomed to making-do, but a huge pain in the ass.

I think the US was reluctant to consider Brads before, not because of a real fear of escalation, but because it is a whole other ballgame, time and cost-wise, to field and equip Brads. FMS cases for countries not at war take YEARS by themselves.

I think we've all been surprised by just how fucking dumb and stubborn the Russians have been though, so now this many months later, we might be considering Brads for Ukraine for that reason alone.

So, Brads good? Yes, certainly. But "GAME CHANGA!"? No, probably not. Look at what the Ukrainians were able to do with a menagerie of MRAP-type and HMMWV type vehicles (and fucking minivans for medevac!) the last time they wanted to go on the offense--the timing was right and they made it work. Brads might have been better but they went to war with the army they had, not the army they might have wished to have...hey wait a minute!

Look how little attention is paid to the M109 Paladins being donated from several countries; it's the most numerous type of SPG donated, but hardly anyone talks about it. It's capable but not sexy.

I personally hope the Ukrainians BUY AMERICAN as much as they want. They might be getting "free samples" today, but they know what they like and what works for them, and these things have a way of turning into 10 year maintenance and spare parts contracts!

Originally Posted By vahog:

Later on in the link:
"At the same time, the report says the crews of both ships have been formed anyway. The size of the crew of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov of the Soviet Union Fleet was brought to wartime alert. The crew of the heavy nuclear cruiser Admiral Nakhimov has also been formed and is preparing to arrive on board."

Sounds like it is a convenient way to reconstitute 61st Naval Infantry Brigade.

Originally Posted By Lieh-tzu:

I would rather the US made many fewer public announcements. Let the results be shown on the battlefield. The world will see an know soon enough. I'm not sure what the advantage is in making public announcements for every equipment delivery.