Shorten the war. Send 60 HIMARS to Ukraine.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/11/help-ukraine-win-war-russia-weapons-himars/

No paywall
https://archive.ph/UEaQM

It has become commonplace to observe that Ukraine is mired in a “long war” — one that could last for years, according to NATO’s secretary general. That could well be correct. The war, after all, has already lasted nearly five months and continues to grind on. But I fear that by so readily accepting that there is no end in sight, we might be giving in to fatalism and defeatism. Instead of becoming resigned to a never-ending war, the West should be focusing on how to shorten the conflict by enabling Ukraine to win.

A long war, after all, probably favors Russia. Ukraine’s economy is set to shrink by 45 percent this year amid Russian attacks on economic infrastructure and a Russian blockade of the Black Sea coast. Russia is suffering from sanctions, but it is expected to take in more oil and gas revenue this year ($285 billion) than last year. While Russian dictator Vladimir Putin squelches domestic opposition, Western support for Ukraine could waver if Europeans have to endure sky-high prices for natural gas in the winter and if the increasingly isolationist Republicans take control of at least one house of Congress.

This is certainly no time for a “mission accomplished” moment — as if simply prolonging the war represents some kind of victory. It is dismaying to read in the New York Times that anonymous Biden administration officials are claiming the United States has already either accomplished or is about to accomplish its “strategic objectives” — ensuring that an independent Ukraine will survive, that the invasion will be a “strategic failure” for Russia, that there will be no “superpower conflict” and that the international order will be strengthened “around Western values.”

It is wildly premature to suggest that any of these objectives have been durably achieved; Putin hasn’t given up his evil scheme of enslaving Ukraine. It is also highly insensitive to tout supposed U.S. success when roughly 20 percent of Ukraine remains under enemy occupation and more Ukrainians are being slaughtered every day. Would we be satisfied if an army of war criminals occupied 20 percent of the United States? By my calculation, that would include the entire states of California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Michigan and Texas. We wouldn’t live with such an outrage — and neither should the Ukrainians.

*snip*

[duckworth969]

1. Doesn't have to drag on

This is a good read, not too long and to the point

[Tomconroy]

2. A problem we are about to find out is that there is a shortage

of 155mm shells of all types and production can't be easily ramped up.
The West was unprepared for a ground war with Russia.
IMHO it would be better to send in the air force to take out orc targets and sink a few battleships in the Black Sea. I've been saying this since March. Time to win the war.

[Nevilledog]

3. I read yesterday that Russia has not flown into Ukraine for 2 months.

[The Magistrate]

7. Indeed, Sir

The question isn't how many tubes, it's what have got to put through them.

[uponit7771]

4. We'll know if the 4 that are already there has shortened the war in 2 weeks.

[Nevilledog]

5. They're being credited with several of the ammunition depot bombings.

[uponit7771]

6. +1, and a soft confirm there NASA FIRMS of less RA return fire. Looks like RA had enough ordinance

... for a day or even a week of pray and spray arty fire and now its going silent.

My understanding is RA can't organize in less centralized storage of munitions because they don't have the personnel, trucks (can't fire 100 rounds an hour via car) or logistics to do this.

In two weeks if NASA FIRMs shows they've ramped back up so be it but HIMARS have no doubt made a big difference already.

Ukr is showing war has changed ... I think there are too many NATO command who want to fight the old way.

Hell, the DoD is paying a crap ton of funds for commercial drone fliers now !!

[Nevilledog]

8. Russian ammo meme

[uponit7771]

9. lol 👍,

[getagrip_already]

10. Kos @dailykos.com did an excellent writeup on deploying them...

Even the 4 they have now was a massive effort to train and support.

He actually served on a himars squad and has the chops to comment.

It's not something you can just send them by the dozen.

[Chuuku Davis]

11. M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (M270 MLRS) is the answer

HIMARS are only made at one plant in the world (local to me).
Production is slow.

The M270 is made by four mfgrs and there are more in our stockpile.