Counterinsurgency Options for Ukraine
From Vincent A. Dueñas, Small Wars Journal: “The most effective strategy that Ukraine can select against Russian-backed separatists is a population-centric approach; with targeted utilization of their growing special operations units pursue militant separatist leaders in a limited enemy-centric approach. The key point being that the targeting of the separatist leaders should only continue to the extent that it serves political goals in Kiev, since this type of “kingpin” strategy cannot account for extensive degree of Russian involvement in the conflict. If it is not already understood, Kiev should acknowledge that they cannot fight to retake Crimea and that outside support is currently non-existent for such an endeavor. Moscow has made clear that it views the annexation of Crimea as an issue of sovereignty over its territory and the release of audio recordings of Russian presidential advisor, Sergei Glasyev, helps to validate the theory that the justification of the Crimean referendum appears to have been a ruse. The cost-benefit analysis of a Crimean campaign leaves only the possibility of a counterinsurgency strategy for the Donbas.” Germany’s exports exceeded its imports by the widest yearly margin on record last year, a sign of the strength of Europe’s biggest economy that could inflame tensions between Washington and Berlin over their trade relations. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
A U.S.-based combat aviation brigade offloaded hundreds of pieces of equipment at a port in Belgium and was bound for Germany on Thursday with helicopters that will add air power to a growing Army force along NATO’s eastern flank. – Stars and Stripes German officials say they remain concerned about possible Russian propaganda before this year's elections, despite reports that Germany's spy agencies have failed to find proof of such efforts. – Associated Press Jens Spahn writes: We need to move beyond the current account and broaden our view to the real challenges ahead. Germany and the U.S. should seize any chance to foster their good economic and political relations, and to build on their strengths, especially their open-market economies. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required) Editorial: In their triumphal disdain for Washington mores, Mr. Trump and his advisers are making too many rookie mistakes. They were right to fire Ms. Yates, but the mess has emboldened their opponents, and a smarter White House staff would have avoided putting the President in position where he had to. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Eli Lake writes: Had Trump's White House drafted the executive order through the normal process of government, giving Congress and other departments and agencies a chance to weigh in, he might have done some good. He might have avoided the confusion over last weekend about the status of permanent residents. He might have made exceptions for Iraqi translators, who help the U.S. military fight the jihadists Trump promises to destroy. Instead, Trump has banned travel for the very people he says he wants to save. – Bloomberg View
The war in eastern Ukraine that simmered quietly for months has erupted in a lethal bout of fighting in recent days. The violence, which killed at least eight Ukrainian soldiers and three on the pro-Russian side, shifted the front lines by only a few hundred yards in several spots, but potentially complicates American efforts to improve relations with Russia. – New York Times
Ukraine says one of its soldiers has been killed in the country's east, where fighting between government forces and Russia-backed separatists has flared over the past four days. – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine have launched an offensive to recapture a city on the border of the territory currently controlled by separatist groups, according to a U.S. diplomat. – Washington Examiner Editorial: Could it have been just a coincidence that Russian-backed forces in Ukraine launched their biggest offensive in months the day after Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with President Trump? Somehow, we doubt it. Rather, the volleys of Grad rockets and heavy artillery that have been raining down on Ukrainian army positions since Sunday look a lot like a test of whether the new president will yield to pressure from Moscow. – Washington Post |
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