Guns Of February

(Guns Of February)

Today, February 24th, 2025, the Ukraine War has been in progress for three years. It could end this week. How it got this far, in a Russian excursion that made Afghanistan a debacle long before President Biden and his catastrophe. Fron the beginning, it was a question of Russian leadership. The campaign should have been brief as the Russian Army presented such an overwhelming correlation of force that the issue should have never been in doubt.


The role of Kiev and President Zelenski in initiating the conflict can be in doubt. Senior leadership, might mount "stars." but that is not necessarily a reflection of ability. Russian and Soviet History is littered with Generals and Marshals that either failed or fell to Stalin's Purges. When World War II, the "Great Patriotic War as the Russians call it, the ability to perform in intense combat that had been the German invasion in June, 1941.


Secretary of Defense Hegseth, with the assent of President Trump, removed six general officers from their posts. These were so-called political generals who ascribed to DEI in the Pentagon which made their utility as warfighters problematic. Stalin had political generals of his own, officers he trusted but when they proved lack-luster, Stalin had the sense to readily replace them.


Russian leadership did not distinguish itself in Ukraine. Who might remain at the Ministry of Defense to take over and prosecute the war to a successful conclusion. Or, might it be too late for that ? President Trump set to meet with President Putin and discern Moscow's reference. Putin needs the war to end almost as bad as Zelenski. The reference to the Battle of Mukden that failed to decisively conclude the Russo-Japanese War. As Ukraine is also not a decisive conflict, ending it by third party intervention is required. President Theordore Roosevelt brought the warring parties to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.


Trump will not be going to New Hampshire but he does desire a settlement. His idea is to have Ukraine sell its mineral assets to the United States and at the same time develop a security infrastructure independent of NATO but still have some guarantee of defense. An American commercial presence in re-construction and mineral development could have the effect of deterring President Putin.


That being said, the Russian President being rebuffed in Ukraine, larger territorial ambitions directed from Moscow could prove limited. One of the reasons for U.S. support for Ukraine is the fear that Putin would go beyond the confines of the War. Going forward, as the War Turns Four, both sides are exhausted. Who will have it end ? 

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