Hah - I almost replied this morning that the only way Putin could hold Ukraine was to take over the government and then use good old corruption to suppress its nascent democracy. Old fashioned military occupation probably wouldn't work these days. But with corruption you just choose your cronies, and I'm sure there are plenty Ukrainian oligarchs waiting in the wings. Now the Brits are coming out with the news that that's pretty much his plan.
Thanks David Jarmal for posting this article. On my radar so I subscribed. David Smith you always hit the nail on the head without excess fluff. All of these same issues have been going through my head for weeks. Glad I am not the only one seeing this big picture. Appreciate your insight and honest evaluation. I will keep my eyes wide open.
Thanks for the excellent summary, as usual. I could see Grigoriopol from the top of my village's river bluff, but had never really looked at the little piece of Ukraine down by Gagauzia: villages and fields. I'm guessing the U.S. military is including Moldova in its scenarios for this matter and that the Moldovan government is getting intelligence briefings, but we can only guess on these matters. (In the meantime, keep your car gassed up!)
Yes we can only guess right now. My feeling in general is that there is very little planning going on regarding Moldova but hopefully I'm wrong.
The small part of Ukraine south of Moldova is a pretty interesting spot. Poorly connected via one terrible bridge to Odessa and otherwise only accessible via a road that goes through Moldova which Moldova has leased to Ukraine. So in a sense it is isolated but in reality there is almost nothing there. Just a few very small towns and some beautiful seaside. So it's fair to lump it's fate in with Odessa really.
Hah - I almost replied this morning that the only way Putin could hold Ukraine was to take over the government and then use good old corruption to suppress its nascent democracy. Old fashioned military occupation probably wouldn't work these days. But with corruption you just choose your cronies, and I'm sure there are plenty Ukrainian oligarchs waiting in the wings. Now the Brits are coming out with the news that that's pretty much his plan.
Thanks David Jarmal for posting this article. On my radar so I subscribed. David Smith you always hit the nail on the head without excess fluff. All of these same issues have been going through my head for weeks. Glad I am not the only one seeing this big picture. Appreciate your insight and honest evaluation. I will keep my eyes wide open.
Thanks for the excellent summary, as usual. I could see Grigoriopol from the top of my village's river bluff, but had never really looked at the little piece of Ukraine down by Gagauzia: villages and fields. I'm guessing the U.S. military is including Moldova in its scenarios for this matter and that the Moldovan government is getting intelligence briefings, but we can only guess on these matters. (In the meantime, keep your car gassed up!)
Yes we can only guess right now. My feeling in general is that there is very little planning going on regarding Moldova but hopefully I'm wrong.
The small part of Ukraine south of Moldova is a pretty interesting spot. Poorly connected via one terrible bridge to Odessa and otherwise only accessible via a road that goes through Moldova which Moldova has leased to Ukraine. So in a sense it is isolated but in reality there is almost nothing there. Just a few very small towns and some beautiful seaside. So it's fair to lump it's fate in with Odessa really.