Now That The Soviets Have Invaded Ukraine...

How many of you have started to consider 1) the potential for a broader conflict than just Ukraine and 2) the potential for a need for opsec in YOUR sphere of influence.

Putin has commented several times about the loss of "Russian (read former Soviet Bloc) territory. That would, imo, likely include what was once East Germany. If he rattles sabres that way (he is Soviet after all) that will certainly trigger a NATO ramp up. Not looking for commentary on this white house, the previous, or for that matter any of them going back to Ron. This is a hypothetical discussion on threats that could present themselves to our supply chains and transportation infrastructure.

82 - 88 my USARMP unit drilled on rear area security. Soviet Special Forces doctrine was economic and supply disruption through rear area incursions. In the current environment, the open travel of the world wide economy has been, for just about every democracy, an open invite to position assets in preparation for who knows what.

Food for thought. I know I am #THATGUY but I think in our profession this topic needs at least a revisit in our minds. Spetsnaz is real.

Your actual mileage may vary, and probably does. The Soviets are not now, nor have they ever been, a friend to these United States of America. Hate to be a downer.

Hold out a virtual toast to our service men and women headed into Harm's Way.

Between actual enemy agents and malcontents at home they could likely hit us fairly hard via supply chain disruption, infrastructure sabotage, food/water/electric supply etc

How many of you have started to consider 1) the potential for a broader conflict than just Ukraine and 2) the potential for a need for opsec in YOUR sphere of influence.

Putin has commented several times about the loss of "Russian (read former Soviet Bloc) territory. That would, imo, likely include what was once East Germany. If he rattles sabres that way (he is Soviet after all) that will certainly trigger a NATO ramp up. Not looking for commentary on this white house, the previous, or for that matter any of them going back to Ron. This is a hypothetical discussion on threats that could present themselves to our supply chains and transportation infrastructure.

82 - 88 my USARMP unit drilled on rear area security. Soviet Special Forces doctrine was economic and supply disruption through rear area incursions. In the current environment, the open travel of the world wide economy has been, for just about every democracy, an open invite to position assets in preparation for who knows what.

Food for thought. I know I am #THATGUY but I think in our profession this topic needs at least a revisit in our minds. Spetsnaz is real.

Your actual mileage may vary, and probably does. The Soviets are not now, nor have they ever been, a friend to these United States of America. Hate to be a downer.

Hold out a virtual toast to our service men and women headed into Harm's Way.

Putin is a former KGB agent who lives mentally in the past and longs for the glory of domination. He always was and still is a threat to the world. He seems like a modern day Adolf Hitler and needs to be stopped before we experience WWIII. He wants all the former USSR satellite countries back under Russian control and will not let anything deter him. He is dangerous and one false move on a NATO country will bring the USA and our allies into a war that no one wants or needs. I feel he will attack our basic needs such as utilities, cyber space, etc. God help the world with this tyrant out of control.

Donald Trump thinks very highly of Putin, as per news reports.

Wow. Painful to read. Some perspective:

In 2020 (latest figures available) the Russian Federation's GDP was $1.483T. California's was $2.722T. We're talking about a country with half the economic power of one state!

It isn't a mere land grab. We were putting in missiles and other defensive armaments in countries that border the Russian Federation. Are you telling me you wouldn't have a problem with China putting a missile battery in Tijuana? Heard of the Monroe Doctrine?

After he cleans up Ukraine the only countries left on his western border that don't belong to NATO are Moldova, Belarus and Finland. He knows he'll get his clock cleaned if he messes with Finland. Belarus has always been a loyal ally to the Russian Federation. They may just join willingly, but they won't be invaded. Moldova is toast though. He won't touch a NATO member country - that will be far more expensive.

This is a wake up call for the Europeans, who have been skimping on their defense spending for years. The belief that countries are, "too civilized" to invade their weaker neighbors is a dangerous fantasy. Their plan B - have the US (and US taxpayers) come to their rescue when things break bad - needs to stop. Not only do we have to pay for their defense we have a growing socialist movement in this country that wants free healthcare and all the social spending the Europeans have but can only afford because they don't pay for their own defense.

The only real deterrent we have left is kicking the Russian Federation out of the SWIFT system (electronic bank funds transfers between nations). You know who's blocking that? The Europeans, mostly Germany but they're not alone. Why are they holding out? They shut down their nuclear reactors and now heat their homes and power their factories with Russian natural gas and oil to meet their climate goals. They made themselves dependent on the bear and now can't cross him.

I served in the Army during the Cold War. I didn't hear 1/10th the conspiracy theories about Russia then that I do today. It's RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA (in a Jan voice) everywhere, all the time. It started with Hillary blaming them for her loss in 2016 and has grown exponentially. Yes, some Russian oligarch spent ~$3,000 on anti-Hillary ads on social media. Big deal! The Russian Federation isn't a threat, they don't have the funds, the organization or the experience to be a threat.

1 well placed drone hit and Putin' dust, we've done it before, we can do it to him as well. problem "potentially" solved

In 2020 (latest figures available) the Russian Federation's GDP was $1.483T. California's was $2.722T. We're talking about a country with half the economic power of one state!

There are only four or five nations on the planet that have a bigger economy than California. But GDP doesn't go very far in assessing the security risk a country poses. Personally I don't believe Russia is an immediate, direct threat to the United States, beyond cyber-espionage and overall economic fallout from its unprovoked act of evil. But there is a clear and genuine, longer-term danger of Russia and China overturning the international order and exporting their communist, artificial intelligence-enhanced surveillance prison state across the globe.

We were putting in missiles and other defensive armaments in countries that border the Russian Federation. Are you telling me you wouldn't have a problem with China putting a missile battery in Tijuana?

Those countries have a legitimate interest in defending themselves from Russian invasion and occupation. For them to secure the means of providing for their security isn't an act of aggression against Russia. Russia has been and is now proving again to be the unprovoked aggressor against them. We don't ask husbands who beat their wives if they would have a problem with their wife taking out a restraining order and purchasing a handgun.

Pearl, the Soviets never really had a robust GDP. Lack of funds doesn't mean that they dont have the military chops (will, desire, capability) to begin assimilating their lost territories back into the fold. Hardline Soviets are running that place now. Putin is Cold War Soviet to his core.

While I doubt he would go after the former east germany and czechoslovakia, I wouldnt be holding out a shocked face if he did. If ukraine goes the way of crimea, he will only be further emboldened.

As for missiles in Mexico, there is a BF difference. In over 150 years, other than bombastic blowhards, the US as a Nation hasnt been a belligerent to the Mexican gov. The Soviet Union was dictatorial to the people of the nations that gorby'd out when the wall fell. They had every right to be suspicious of peristroika. As KGB LTC Putin is now making readily apparent. At the time, I thought the wall coming down and the USSR dissolving Was a very similar set of circumstances for a hard core Soviet to what the hardline German natiinalist experienced after the treaty of Versailles. Putin's rhetoric echoes eerily some of the shouting point concepts used by the Austrian Corporal in the mid thirties.

A little twist which directly involves the trucking industry. The price of fuel is for some reason predicted to go sky high. Gas up to 5$ a gallon. Who knows how high diesel prices may go. Thoughts?

The Soviets are not now, nor have they ever been, a friend to these United States of America. Hate to be a downer.

This is very far from truth. Both nations fought against their common Nazi enemy during WWII. I agree, it was not for long, but nonetheless it was, and at that short time they were like brothers. My late grandfather told me about that.