Off the Editor’s Desk 2-2-2022
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Is there another war facing us today?
President Biden gave me a scare last week when he addressed the crisis on the Russia and Ukraine border. Biden would have us believe that some 175,000 Russian troops are amassing along the border.
Biden cast a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine in stark historical terms a week ago Tuesday saying; “It would be the largest invasion since World War Two.”
We do not need any more wars and as a nation we should not be the world’s police force. I know that statement has been made many times over the past century. But, when we get into a war, young Americans die, and we have had enough of that over the past couple of centuries.
Apparently, I was shaken by Biden’s announcement, but maybe the situation is not as bad as Biden made me believe. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said that Russian forces at the border are insufficient for a full-scale offensive in Ukraine.
According to a published report in the Daily Torch by Robert Romano he stated: “The Kremlin has been moving troops toward the border with Ukraine while demanding Washington guarantee that Ukraine will not join NATO and that the alliance will refrain from certain military activities in and around Ukrainian territory.”
After looking over a couple of published report, I think that the number of Russian troops at the border is somewhat less than the number Biden has indicated.
In a December 3rd Washington Post report, the U.S. intelligence assessment said it was more like 70,000 troops. But, Romano’s piece went on to tell the number of troops involved in battles since World War Two and I would like to let you know about those figures, so I quote from the Daily Torch.
“North Korea’s invasions of South Korea in 1950 was 198,000 troops strong.
“The U.S. invasion of North Korea in 1950 in response was 423,000 allied troops, almost entirely U.S. Forces.
“Israel, the UK and France’s invasion of Egypt in 1956 during the Suez Canal crisis was 254,000 troops.
The USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was 115,000 troops strong.
“The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 1991 was 956,000 troops from 34 countries, including 700,000 U.S. forces, who were responsible for liberating Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and then driving Iraqi forces back into Iraq.”
Romano’s story in the Daily torch concludes with: “Here, the country that’s supposed to be invaded, Ukraine, is saying that the number of Russian forces currently in theater are not considered an invasion force because they are “insufficient for a full-scale offensive.” The U.S. and its prospective ally, Ukraine, are not on the same page. Maybe they’re not as worried as we are.
“Now, it appears that Russia’s troops on its borders with Ukraine are noting new, they’ve been there for years, and Ukrainian leaders are publicly questioning Washington’s narrative that it’s an imminent invasion force. They’re tapping on the brakes. But perhaps something really has changed. If so, then President Biden should lay out this intelligence for the American people. So, far Biden hasn’t made the case.”
Thanks for reading! ~Carlton