Latvia wants permanent U.S. troops, foreign minister tells Blinken

Re:Latvia wants permanent U.S. troops, foreign minister tell... by Zigurd on Monday March 07, 2022 @11:15AM (#30589558)

The three day war idea is the only rational basis for the invasion: 1. Decapitate the government and military 2. Broadcast a message of surrender 3. Install a puppet government and occupation control of cities

That's the only way 200k soldiers can control a nation of 40 million who are united against invaders and united behind a democratically elected government.

Even if half of the first objective can be attained in a few weeks, it will not lead to the following necessary objectives being met. Putin has no viable plan.

Which, if you are making an analogy to Iraq, is somewhat similar: The US had no viable plan to stop patrols being ambushed using the same tactics on the same roads week after week.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Latvia wants permanent U.S. troops, foreign minister tell... by CityOfThrowaway on Monday March 07, 2022 @11:28AM (#30589746)

I'm not ruling out that Putin hoped for a fast capitulation by Ukraine. It does seem that he attempted to produce exactly that.

I find it harder to believe that he went all-in betting on that gambit.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Latvia wants permanent U.S. troops, foreign minister tell... by Zigurd on Monday March 07, 2022 @11:35AM (#30589879)

It looks stupid in hindsight. But we all found out that the weapons meant to stop a mechanized invasion of Western Europe do in fact work.

[ Parent | on HN ]