there is concern in Kyiv that Ukraine has become a tool of US domestic politics
Sen. Lindsey Graham:
People ask me, "Is it worth it?" Here's what we've gotten for our investment. We haven't lost one soldier. We reduced the combat power of the Russian army by 50%, and not one of us has died in that endeavor. This is a great deal for America.
Dang it Lindsey! You're not supposed to say that in earshot of the cannon fodder!
Also the money went to american shareholders from the military industrial complex, it's not like it disappeared. It's honestly a very good deal for the US, ukraine got completely played by the US, there was absolutely nothing to gain for ukraine.
reddit's favorite phrase "play stupid games, win stupid prizes" is very fitting here.
What exactly is his concept of "combat power"? It can't be manpower or the weapons, vehicles, and ammunition, because Russia certainly hasn't used up half of that. Just... what metric, what mental gymnastic, do you have to perform to even arrive at the idea Russian combat power has been reduced by 50%???
It does. Though whether it says a lot about the speaker (that he's dumb enough to believe such an exaggeration, or thinks Americans are), or the American public for foolishly believing something so outrageous, idk.
Sen. Lindsey Graham:
Dang it Lindsey! You're not supposed to say that in earshot of the cannon fodder!
Also the money went to american shareholders from the military industrial complex, it's not like it disappeared. It's honestly a very good deal for the US, ukraine got completely played by the US, there was absolutely nothing to gain for ukraine.
reddit's favorite phrase "play stupid games, win stupid prizes" is very fitting here.
What exactly is his concept of "combat power"? It can't be manpower or the weapons, vehicles, and ammunition, because Russia certainly hasn't used up half of that. Just... what metric, what mental gymnastic, do you have to perform to even arrive at the idea Russian combat power has been reduced by 50%???
Well, they loudly proclaimed Russia was out of tanks/planes/bullets/soldiers a few times this war. 50% is probably as low as they are willing to go.
They'll sell any delusion to manufacture consent with the people...
His concept of combat power is the same as the regular definition, but raised to the tenth power.
So reduction from 100% to 50% in his metric is really a reduction from 100% to 93.3%.
What's funny is even reducing Russian combat power by 5% in 2 years of proxy war actually sounds impressive to me, but I'm no general.
Yeah, I debated whether to do something more extreme like 100th power…
That said, this says a lot about the original comment if you think about it.
It does. Though whether it says a lot about the speaker (that he's dumb enough to believe such an exaggeration, or thinks Americans are), or the American public for foolishly believing something so outrageous, idk.
Unfortunately for the cannon fodder, it's the comprador class that makes the decisions.