Former U.S. generals call for humanitarian airlifts to Ukraine, decry NATO's passive response

[elleng]

to Russian attacks.

Former U.S. military commanders critical of NATO’s passive stand in the Ukraine war are calling for humanitarian airlifts to Kyiv and other cities facing Russian attacks.

“We could and should address the humanitarian side with a military airlift capability that would be escorted by fighters with the advertised position that we’re not looking to engage the Russians in air-to-air combat, but if fired upon we’ll retaliate,” said James Jones, NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe (SACEUR) from 2003 to 2006 and later national security adviser to Barack Obama.

“The humanitarian situation, which is catastrophic and getting worse, is a perfect entrée point for doing something that’s positive and that virtually everybody in the world would support and probably say: What took you so long?” he added.'>>>

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-former-us-generals-call-for-humanitarian-airlifts-to-ukraine-decry/

[ColinC]

1. The passivity is absolutely barbaric

[elleng]

3. Not exactly 'barbaric,'

more like 'cautious,' some might say 'overly cautious.'

[ColinC]

7. My opinion is it is horrific

Watching people get slaughtered and doing nothing about it is, in my opinion, barbaric. It might be my anger speaking but that's what I think at this moment.

[elleng]

4. Something like that.

[BigmanPigman]

11. That crossed my mind more than once over

the past week. It seems like it is obviously necessary and should be one of the first issues to address. I want to know what their reasoning is for not doing it. Do they have a legitimate reason or are they being overly cautious again?

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. Former Generals should STFU.

Their knowledge value changed when they became former.

[elleng]

6. Their judgment value never changed.

[OAITW r.2.0]

8. You want former General Rank officers giving separate or equal council to the current military

command? That's a problem.

[elleng]

9. I did not say that,

just that their judgment never changed, and if that's so, their council may have value for the 'current military command.'

(I want General Wesley Clark's council/advice/thoughts always to be considered.)

[Tomconroy]

10. Every American citizen is free to advocate for their beliefs.

This isn't Putin's Russia.

[OAITW r.2.0]

12. Sure, outside government...have at it. But make the line clear.

Inside government....I watch and marvel how well Joe Biden is responding to....everything. Give the man credit - the right person for this moment in time.....thank(?).

[Hugin]

13. I would counter that this sounds like a problem for the UN. n/t

[left-of-center2012]

14. NATO countries are shipping weapons and ammunition to Ukraine

NATO countries are accepting millions of refugees.
So I guess they are not doing "nothing".

I guess those generals mean NATO is not engaging in a war with Russia?

[elleng]

15. Right, and trying not to engage in war with russia

due to possible consequences.

[FreepFryer]

16. The gripes and advice of former generals are prime propaganda tools here and abroad

It’s strategically and diplomatically helpful for Russia to know that we are acting with restraint on the specific matter of US and NATO air power being used in any capacity in Ukraine, which is now a Russian theater of war.

However, it is an old adage that you should never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.

Given the increasing quagmire in which Russia finds herself, introducing air power into the theater would change the equation and provide Russia a number of powerful new diplomatic and strategic alternatives.

Not a good idea, nor time.

War is death. We can’t reduce these tragic and wrongful deaths by provoking a far greater potential for casualties thru escalation.

[delisen]

17. This is not a war. Ukraine is engaged in self-defense. Russia is engaged in an act of terrorism.

I think the suggestion of former generals is entirely appropriate and may in fact echo discussions going on in in government and military.

Accepting Putin’s framing of this event as war is just wrongheaded. I don’t see any way these totalitarian “strongman” regimes are going to save the planet. It is all too likely they will destroy it.

Whether Putin is truly insane like a Jim Jones or strategically insane does not matter.