[Goose]

What I meant is that we should stop worrying about the effect of our actions on Russia.  Russia is going to do what it’s going to do, and no amount of our kowtowing to their feelings is really going to change things.

So we should give Ukraine whatever weapons they need to win that we can afford to give.

BC

Makes sense in many ways. My take is similar but slightly different. I think we need to make a plan in conjunction with Ukraine that we collectively think will work. Then we should look at that plan and determine what weapons and quantities we think will be necessary. At that point we should determine if we believe it is too risky to proceed. If it is, we should stop. If it isn't, we should go ahead immediately and do all of what we think will be needed. This should have already been done, because if there is no way ahead we are wasting lives and resources.

I do think we have to pay some attention to what Russia might do. If that weren't true, we would just use our own Army and Air Force. However, we should "go for it" immediately on the things we think are necessary. Incrementalism and "wait and see if we really need to do X" is a recipe for failure. It was clear from the first Ukraine was going to need HIMARS or a complete new air force to prevent Russia from grinding on them. Delay hoping something "might not be necessary" will just ensure it is necessary and put Ukraine in a worse strategic position when we do act.

[Goose]

What I meant is that we should stop worrying about the effect of our actions on Russia.  Russia is going to do what it’s going to do, and no amount of our kowtowing to their feelings is really going to change things.

So we should give Ukraine whatever weapons they need to win that we can afford to give.

BC

Makes sense in many ways. My take is similar but slightly different. I think we need to make a plan in conjunction with Ukraine that we collectively think will work. Then we should look at that plan and determine what weapons and quantities we think will be necessary. At that point we should determine if we believe it is too risky to proceed. If it is, we should stop. If it isn't, we should go ahead immediately and do all of what we think will be needed. This should have already been done, because if there is no way ahead we are wasting lives and resources.

I do think we have to pay some attention to what Russia might do. If that weren't true, we would just use our own Army and Air Force. However, we should "go for it" immediately on the things we think are necessary. Incrementalism and "wait and see if we really need to do X" is a recipe for failure. It was clear from the first Ukraine was going to need HIMARS or a complete new air force to prevent Russia from grinding on them. Delay hoping something "might not be necessary" will just ensure it is necessary and put Ukraine in a worse strategic position when we do act.