Watch President Zelenskyy deliver address to U.S. Congress (Perhaps Sophisticated Weapons on Loan)

 This is interesting and definitely worthwhile watching considering how it has impacted our global economy and further set in motion major power changes! We are sitting in a very different situation than the world of the past (Old Cold War vs. New Cold War). Russia made some bad choices but I doubt it is truly over (Using history to make simple surface judgements. Pride might cause Putin to run the country into the ground before giving up. Unless removed internally by his own people. His downfall might be the inability to recognize that managing a country has to do more people then individual needs. If he learns that lesson he might withdraw his troops, work on normalizing relationships and try to move on in a way that is more helpful for his people. The other route is a more destructive. Military men have pride but strength comes from knowing when to put down your shield and sword to sort of metaphorically speak {Many wars in the Middle East were on egos and not necessity. They would have had a much better outcome if they didn't allow the ego to get in the way.}. So that is an important question. Will he run it to the end or will he cut deals that give him the insulation to live out the remaining time of his life? What do you think? I don't know could go either way! 🤷). I do believe it marks a turning point in the perception of Russian global power (Ending the Soviet legacy. Unless there is more.). 

Here is the thing. Most people would agree that Russia should leave Ukraine but would not agree to the collapse of Russia itself (There are risks to a full collapse that need to be considered. Sorry putting on my political science  and foreign affairs hat. ). Having the right weapons to decisively defeat an enemy while reducing unnecessary casualties, chaos and destruction is a good thing (Its a balance). War is an ugly, painful, and harmful! Maybe some of the more sophisticated weapons should be on loan (maybe they are already) and be managed by units that will eventually become Ukraine's special forces/intelligence officers with future self-defense oriented co-op training with the US and/or allies. When the fighting is done, return the sophisticated weapons not needed in precautionary defense/deterrence in case they are required somewhere else and at some other time in the defense of our democratic way of life. 

The Patriot Missiles might be a good thing to have on loan and remove when finished. They can be used as an immediate defensive system that will be managed by highly trained teams for a limited time under loan (In theory. In some ways it might be an opportunity not loose out on all that money, replenish our reserve stocks when war is over, and more strategically apply them in other places at other times if needed. It would also give us good data on the strengths and features of how these systems work on the ground in actual combat {Allowing the Russian invasion to improve our future capabilities}. A type of product improvement mechanism that reduces the cost of loaning these systems out. See special force/intelligence team idea above as those who would be trained on how to provide that feedback. Win-Win I think. Maybe not? )

(The blog is designed to get people to think and provide some thought provoking questions that lead to new questions. Its ok to disagree and as long as it is well thought out and coherent then awesome! Its about exploration of ideas.)