Cont: The Russian Invasion of Ukraine part 9

[Andy_Ross]

US carrying out operation to seize Venezuela-linked tanker, official says
published at 13:14
13:14
Breaking
The US is carrying out an operation to seize the Venezuela-linked oil tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella-1, a US official confirms to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

This is a breaking development and we'll bring you more shortly.

US carrying out operation to seize tanker in Atlantic linked to Venezuelan oil, official says - live updates

Earlier, several military aircraft were tracked over the North Atlantic heading towards the Marinera.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[TragicMonkey]

Well, if the US has to go to war I'd rather it go to war with Russia than with NATO.

Unfortunately with the orange maniac in charge it's quite possible we'll go to war with both at once. He's as smart as he is sane, after all.

 

[plague311]

Oh man, I love Marinera....er wait. I might be thinking of something else.

Trump's really ratcheting up his efforts to get that Nobel Peace Prize!

 

[Andy_Ross]

US seizes Russian-flagged tanker in Atlantic and second vessel linked to Venezuela in Caribbean Sea

US seizes Russian-flagged tanker in Atlantic and second vessel linked to Venezuela

The US head of homeland security says the Coast Guard conducted "back-to-back" boarding of two "ghost fleet" tankers.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Andy_Ross]

If USA goes to war with NATO there will very quickly be a large number of American POWs scattered across Europe.

 

[icerat]

If USA goes to war with NATO there will very quickly be a large number of American POWs scattered across Europe.

Sadly, Europe's overall strategy seems to be "tread softly and try to keep an even keel until the US returns to normal"

It worked in his first term, kinda. This time?

 

[P.J. Denyer]

Sadly, Europe's overall strategy seems to be "tread softly and try to keep an even keel until the US returns to normal"

It worked in his first term, kinda. This time?

I suspect there's a lot of frantic paddling under that particular swan as various European countries ramp up domestic and change international defense suppliers to reduce reliance on the US. But honestly I find it hard to see what else anyone can do, there's no benefit to provoking an unstable man with such military power at their command and so little self control or long term view.

 

[icerat]

I suspect there's a lot of frantic paddling under that particular swan as various European countries ramp up domestic and change international defense suppliers to reduce reliance on the US. But honestly I find it hard to see what else anyone can do, there's no benefit to provoking an unstable man with such military power at their command and so little self control or long term view.

Yeah. I think Zelensky's whole strategy now is not so much "let's make a deal", since he knows Russia won't accept anything, it's more "let's try to keep Trump somewhat onside so things don't get worse". And a lot of the work will hopefully still be useful when Russia can finally no longer prosecute the war and some kind of security and rebuiding arrangements will be necessary anyway.

Europe kind of the same.

 

[theprestige]

Again, this is not the first time a Russian shadow fleet tanker has been interdicted by a "neutral" party.

But yeah, sure, this boat is Moscow's *real* Red Line. /s

 

[lobosrul5]

Again, this is not the first time a Russian shadow fleet tanker has been interdicted by a "neutral" party.

But yeah, sure, this boat is Moscow's *real* Red Line. /s

I believe its the first time in international waters, that won't be released.

Germany interdicted one that drifted into their waters. And France interdicted one, inspected it, and let it go. <-- if memory serves

The gig is up for Russia if the USN starts confiscating all their oil tankers. Same for the Iranian regime.

But sure, THIS time Putin will resort to nukes!!! /s

 

[theprestige]

 

[dudalb]

Also do Venezuela even know they're handing it over? Is this just another random Trump thought?

Although in retrospect the timing of this snatch obviously had an alternate purpose, to overshadow yesterday's anniversary, a dark anniversary that Trump didn't want to be drawn on, questioned about or forced to comment on. Eric's birthday.

I am sure the people now in power knew damn well what they were doing.

I suspect there's a lot of frantic paddling under that particular swan as various European countries ramp up domestic and change international defense suppliers to reduce reliance on the US. But honestly I find it hard to see what else anyone can do, there's no benefit to provoking an unstable man with such military power at their command and so little self control or long term view.

Do you mean Trump or Putin wiht that last sentence.
If you mean Putin, you are badly mistaken, It takes time, not just money to modernize a military, and if they reallly wan a force that will deter Putin, they had better begin now.
One problem the Euros have is what amounts to a uninteniional Fifth Column with the Greens and other Pasicist groups who are opposed to ANY Miliary spending.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

I am sure the people now in power knew damn well what they were doing.

Do you mean Trump or Putin wiht that last sentence.
If you mean Putin, you are badly mistaken, It takes time, not just money to modernize a military, and if they reallly wan a force that will deter Putin, they had better begin now.
One problem the Euros have is what amounts to a uninteniional Fifth Column with the Greens and other Pasicist groups who are opposed to ANY Miliary spending.

I meant Trump, Putin has way more self control and planning capability.

 

[plague311]

One problem the Euros have is what amounts to a uninteniional Fifth Column with the Greens and other Pasicist groups who are opposed to ANY Miliary spending.

"The Euros" would have no problem ◊◊◊◊ stomping Russia into oblivion if it came to that.

 

[Dr.Sid]

I don't see it .. without US it would be long and painful, just like Ukraine is right now ..

 

[The Great Zaganza]

I don't see it .. without US it would be long and painful, just like Ukraine is right now ..

not at all.
Europe can easily get Air Superiority whenever it wants, making Russian Artillery, the only real threat for Ukraine's troops, fish in a barrel.

 

[plague311]

I don't see it .. without US it would be long and painful, just like Ukraine is right now ..

As The Great Zaganza said, European countries have significantly more air power, probably a thousand times the air power than Ukraine. They also have more superior intelligence access than Ukraine. It wouldn't take long, I'd say assuredly less than a month before Russia would cave.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Ukraine also did a great job of eliminating most Russian MBTs - and Europe has plenty top-of-the-line of those.
Challenger, Leopard, Leclerc and now the South Korean Black Panther, produced in Poland.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

The only really significant problem is Logistics - getting all that stuff to the Front is going to take a long time.
But making Ukraine a no-fly zone for Russia could be achieved very quickly.

 

[plague311]

The only really significant problem is Logistics - getting all that stuff to the Front is going to take a long time.
But making Ukraine a no-fly zone for Russia could be achieved very quickly.

Even with the logistics of getting everything to the front, how much would Europe really need on the front lines in a big hurry to defend themselves and go on the offense?