I just finished your fascinating and informative book "From Cold War to Hot Peace", a "must read" for all who want to understand the "diplomatic dance" necessary to be an ambassador working in the Soviet Union under Putin and his gang. You, ( and your family), deserve a great deal of gratitude for your service as a highly respected ambassador in this era of brinkmanship with the USSR.
Press reports from EuroMaidan indicate that the counteroffensive may have begun with preparatory moves opposite Tokmak -- a town which, if taken, would allow Ukrainian forces to pivot either to Melitopol or Enerhodar, or both. This would be the most predictable first move, if indeed it is taking place. Ukrainian military action of some sort is also reported around Vuhledar, the site of crushing Russian defeats earlier in the year. https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/04/20/frontline-update-ukraines-counteroffensive-has-begun/
Perhaps in your introductory paragraphs, describing the nuanced way TS//SCI or SAP material is handled, you could describe the work of “US Government Classifiers” - those high level USIC officers granted authority to originally determine the level of HUMINT reporting or document classification.
In addition, it’s my understanding the “over classification” of documents by United States Government is pervasive in USIC/DOD and has been a systemic problem for decades.
If the outcome of the Ukrainian counter-offensive is not certain and it would cost many thousand lives of the Russian and Ukrainian soldiers, why don't both sides mitigate the risks by sitting to the negotiation table and making a reasonable deal? As a US taxpayer I would like our government to push the Kiev government into negotiation instead of wasting money on unreasonable folks in Kiev who want to punish Crimeans for sticking to their Russian culture by forcing the Ukrainian language down their throats.
A good and sound argument. With regards to whether the Ukrainian offensive succeeds or not it all comes down to the (mass) psychological judgement of whether the Russian troops defending will fight or surrender/flee. Guessing human behaviour is always a matter of weighing up uncertainties. The only way to find out is to see what happens.
I just finished your fascinating and informative book "From Cold War to Hot Peace", a "must read" for all who want to understand the "diplomatic dance" necessary to be an ambassador working in the Soviet Union under Putin and his gang. You, ( and your family), deserve a great deal of gratitude for your service as a highly respected ambassador in this era of brinkmanship with the USSR.
Press reports from EuroMaidan indicate that the counteroffensive may have begun with preparatory moves opposite Tokmak -- a town which, if taken, would allow Ukrainian forces to pivot either to Melitopol or Enerhodar, or both. This would be the most predictable first move, if indeed it is taking place. Ukrainian military action of some sort is also reported around Vuhledar, the site of crushing Russian defeats earlier in the year. https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/04/20/frontline-update-ukraines-counteroffensive-has-begun/
Perhaps in your introductory paragraphs, describing the nuanced way TS//SCI or SAP material is handled, you could describe the work of “US Government Classifiers” - those high level USIC officers granted authority to originally determine the level of HUMINT reporting or document classification.
In addition, it’s my understanding the “over classification” of documents by United States Government is pervasive in USIC/DOD and has been a systemic problem for decades.
I told you. Google it. Since 2014 it’s been going on. If you don’t wish to believe it, that is on you.
If the outcome of the Ukrainian counter-offensive is not certain and it would cost many thousand lives of the Russian and Ukrainian soldiers, why don't both sides mitigate the risks by sitting to the negotiation table and making a reasonable deal? As a US taxpayer I would like our government to push the Kiev government into negotiation instead of wasting money on unreasonable folks in Kiev who want to punish Crimeans for sticking to their Russian culture by forcing the Ukrainian language down their throats.
A good and sound argument. With regards to whether the Ukrainian offensive succeeds or not it all comes down to the (mass) psychological judgement of whether the Russian troops defending will fight or surrender/flee. Guessing human behaviour is always a matter of weighing up uncertainties. The only way to find out is to see what happens.