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Russia has claimed its assault on Ukraine is aimed only at military targets, but hundreds of buildings – transport facilities, hospitals, kindergartens, homes – had been destroyed.
Relentless Russian missile attacks on residential areas in several cities have left hundreds of civilians dead and forced more than 800,000 to flee the country.
"The official said it was not always clear whether the Russians were purposefully targeting civilian targets, but they said the missile and artillery strikes had grown more aggressive, which could cause them to become less precise.
In the 18th Century, 18th Century there were Dragoon units (horse-mounted infantry), the infantrymen and a famous world generals like Napoleon Bonaparte of France. The two arms faced each other on a battlefield and marched in towards each other in lines.
It's not the 18th Century anymore.
ALL war is the same now and it targets everything in its path. Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan - its all same the war.
War is guerrilla warfare since 1900. It's why war is to be avoided at all costs.
If the USA had listen to Henry A. Kissinger, the Ukraine would not be at war today.
Henry A. Kissinger wrote this editorial on. March 5, 2014. It is as true today and it was then.
Quote:
The West must understand that, to Russia, Ukraine can never be just a foreign country. Russian history began in what was called Kievan-Rus. The Russian religion spread from there. Ukraine has been part of Russia for centuries, and their histories were intertwined before then. Some of the most important battles for Russian freedom, starting with the Battle of Poltava in 1709 , were fought on Ukrainian soil. The Black Sea Fleet — Russia’s means of projecting power in the Mediterranean — is based by long-term lease in Sevastopol, in Crimea. Even such famed dissidents as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Joseph Brodsky insisted that Ukraine was an integral part of Russian history and, indeed, of Russia.
The European Union must recognize that its bureaucratic dilatoriness and subordination of the strategic element to domestic politics in negotiating Ukraine’s relationship to Europe contributed to turning a negotiation into a crisis. Foreign policy is the art of establishing priorities.
Ukraine has been independent for only 23 years; it had previously been under some kind of foreign rule since the 14th century. Not surprisingly, its leaders have not learned the art of compromise, even less of historical perspective. The politics of post-independence Ukraine clearly demonstrates that the root of the problem lies in efforts by Ukrainian politicians to impose their will on recalcitrant parts of the country, first by one faction, then by the other. That is the essence of the conflict between Viktor Yanu*kovych and his principal political rival, Yulia Tymo*shenko. They represent the two wings of Ukraine and have not been willing to share power. A wise U.S. policy toward Ukraine would seek a way for the two parts of the country to cooperate with each other. We should seek reconciliation, not the domination of a faction.
For its part, the United States needs to avoid treating Russia as an aberrant to be patiently taught rules of conduct established by Washington. Putin is a serious strategist — on the premises of Russian history.
To follow up on types of weapons used, the ICC (Hague) has just initiated a war crimes investigation against Russia. The chief prosecutor stated:
Quote:
Asked about reports Russia was using cluster bombs in civilian areas, Khan said “it is clear … directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects amounts to a war crime”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...vasion-ukraine
A quote from the Daily Mail cited by another poster:
Quote:
Meanwhile, the command of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces warned that it would no longer take Russian artillerymen as prisoner of war in response to their 'brutal shelling' of cities. 'Each and every gun crew… will be slaughtered like pigs,' a statement on Wednesday evening said. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...urrenders.html
Needless to say no Russian POW should be slaughtered period. Still ^^^ that does sound like it is artillery being directed against Ukrainian cities.
More precise artillery shells with laser-guided fins exist today. 'Precision' weaponry is not necessarily just launched missiles and guided bombs.
But once again if Russia doesn't have or use them due to the reported 'supply problems' for precision-weapons, the net result remains the same - attacks against civilians and "civilian objects." That Russia may not WANT this is meaningless per the casualties, destruction, and concurrent terror.
Last edited by EveryLady; 03-03-2022 at 08:54 AM..
Needless to say no Russian POW should be slaughtered period. Still ^^^ that does sound like it is artillery being directed against Ukrainian cities.
More precise artillery shells with laser-guided fins exist today. 'Precision' weaponry is not necessarily just launched missiles and guided bombs.
But once again if Russia doesn't have or use them due to the reported 'supply problems' for precision-weapons, the net result remains the same - attacks against civilians and "civilian objects." That Russia may not WANT this is meaningless per the casualties, destructions, and terror.
And the difference from WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, etc, etc?
There is no such thing as war without targeting cities. None! There is no such thing as war not targeting residential neighborhoods. None!
This fantasy that war can be controlled is unhinged. Not once since 1900, has war not targeted civilians!
In the 18th Century, 18th Century there were Dragoon units (horse-mounted infantry), the infantrymen and a famous world generals like Napoleon Bonaparte of France. The two arms faced each other on a battlefield and marched in towards each other in lines.
It's not the 18th Century anymore.
ALL war is the same now and it targets everything in its path. Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan - its all same the war.
War is guerrilla warfare since 1900. It's why war is to be avoided at all costs.
If the USA had listen to Henry A. Kissinger, the Ukraine would not be at war today.
Henry A. Kissinger wrote this editorial on. March 5, 2014. It is as true today and it was then.
<snip> For its part, the United States needs to avoid treating Russia as an aberrant to be patiently taught rules of conduct established by Washington. Putin is a serious strategist — on the premises of Russian history.
Putin did not just broach the "rules of conduct established by Washington" but those historically established by the world to avoid conflict - that of national sovereignty. The length time national sovereignty has existed is not part of some equation, that potentially allows for it to be ignored.
Sovereignty for the Ukraine was a fact - a country recognized by the UN and Russia itself with the USSR instrumental in creating the sovereignty.
What is striking is that - so far - how unexpected a wholesale invasion was to about everyone - including the foreign affairs specialists who counseled against avoid expanding NATO etc.
Problem is that Putin didn't like the decisions of his predecessors. He made that very clear in his Feb. 21st speech.
And the difference from WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, etc, etc?
There is no such thing as war without targeting cities. None! There is no such thing as war not targeting residential neighborhoods. None!
This fantasy that war can be controlled is unhinged. Not once since 1900, has war not targeted civilians!
War is a dirty business. There are no nice wars.
Not sure where you're going with this line of thinking but it is nowhere good. Try taking your case to The Hague, that terror directed against civilians is acceptable because that's just the way it is.
Alaska was also part of Russia for centuries. Is the US supposed to smile and wave if Putin invades Alaska to "reunify" it with Russia?
Even besides Russia's special obligations to Ukraine under the Budapest Memorandum, there is also the matter of international norms and international law. You will never have peace if countries can ignore the national boundaries of others and take land by force, let alone simply take the entire thing.
I am sorry, but before I'll start responding to the posts ( and I will) - do you realize that all these cities shelled by the Russians are not the cities just full of civilians as you probably imagine, but full of Ukrainian troops ( the Nationalist Battalions including) that use these civilians like a live shield?
So instead of putting the arms down ( since obviously Russian army is superior,) and sitting down at the table of negotiations (from the government side) would have save all the lives in an instant.
Why none of you are paying attention at this, while screaming about the "child killers"?
I am sorry, but before I'll start responding to the posts ( and I will) - do you realize that all these cities shelled by the Russians are not the cities just full of civilians as you probably imagine, but full of Ukrainian troops ( the Nationalist Battalions including) that use these civilians like a live shield?
So instead of putting the arms down ( since obviously Russian army is superior,) and sitting down at the table of negotiations (from the government side) would have save all the lives in an instant.
Why none of you are paying attention at this, while screaming about the "child killers"?
"Kherson Mayor Igor Kolykhaev said Russian soldiers were in the city and had come to the city administration building. He said he asked them not to shoot civilians and to allow crews to gather bodies from the streets. 'We don’t have any Ukrainian forces in the city, only civilians and people here who want to LIVE', he said" https://apnews.com/article/russia-uk...8dc5e7e411805f
Even more absurd attempts to excuse terrorism. Reading through this below it's already easy to say Putin and his supporters are guilty for some of these:
"Intentionally launching an attack in the knowledge that such attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated;"
"Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals and places where the sick and wounded are collected, provided they are not military objectives;"
"Attacking or bombarding, by whatever means, towns, villages, dwellings or buildings which are undefended and which are not military objectives;"
"Killing or wounding treacherously individuals belonging to the hostile nation or army;"
"Compelling the nationals of the hostile party to take part in the operations of war directed against their own country, even if they were in the belligerent's service before the commencement of the war;"
"Intentionally directing attacks against buildings, material, medical units and transport, and personnel using the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions in conformity with international law;"
And...the list goes on and on. Is there a war crime yet to be committed? Last reports also suggest looting, it's on video. For now only rape and chemical weapons remain.
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