re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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Is this you? John Mark Dougan?

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I’d bet money that he posts here.

If they let F-16s intercept Russian aircraft firing from Russian soil then they have gone all the way. HIMARS would be no different and I would expect them to be allowed to hit targets over the border. It’s time for the gloves to come off because Russia never had any gloves on in the first place.

WeeWee is right that an 85 aircraft fleet of F-16s would completely remake Ukraine’s Air Force and the way they operate because of the different amount of missions the aircraft can fly. He won’t say it but Zelensky asked for 120 F-16s but in reality I bet he was just hoping to get at least 50. If they can get 65-70 of those 85 F-16s to be operational (some aren’t but could possibly be repaired or just used for parts) then that is 5 new fighter squadrons for Ukraine. That being said, they won’t be a war winner but they will greatly help Ukraine scratch closer to parity in the air with Russia. What i’m most curious about is the kit going with the F-16s. I assume since these jets had their MLUs then they will have the LANTIRN targeting and navigation pods but i’m curious what else they may send with them. The LANTIRN allows the F-16 to fly low altitude level air to ground missions at night very well which the Ukrainians to this point really haven’t had an option to do with their aircraft. There are many other attachment capable hardware that the F-16 uses but I wonder where Washington stops them from being allowed in Ukraine. It would also be nice if they fitted them with conformal fuel tanks so that you wouldn’t need drop tanks beyond the belly tank depending how far out they plan to station the fighters.

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He won’t say it but Zelensky asked for 120 F-16s but in reality

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The 85 F16s doesn’t include the 21 or 27 (I can’t remember the exact number of the top of my head) that Greece has agreed to send to Ukraine.

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The time it takes to properly train a ground crew to properly take care of the F-16 is immense as well.

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I would imagine that there are thousands of qualified American F-16 wrench turners who will go to Ukraine for $100k per year or so.

Set them up in a safe underground bomb proof dorm with good wifi. And throw in the company of a handful of blonde haired, blue eyed locals for entertainment.... lots of guys would roll directly out of their USAF contracts and straight to the battle zone.

What's to keep that from happening?

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I have been screaming for this for months. If we are going to be involved, Ukraine has a right to defend itself and that means the ability to hit the invaders territory. Should have been initiated at least 2 years ago.

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I agree with the 'cautious' approach at the start, when tensions were highest and the threat of nuclear war was small but existant.

But that ship sailed when Russia lost outside of Kyiv in 2022. Once the US stepped in, they needed the gloves to come off so Ukraine could defend itself fully.

A lot of Ukrainians died so Biden could 'play it safe' when showing strength may have forced Russians to seriously consider peace much sooner.

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What's to keep that from happening?

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I've wondered about that as well. Many American pilots were flying for the RAF in the Battle of Britain prior to our entry into WW2. Also had Americans flying in China.

I don't doubt that mercenary pilots could be found.

Interesting convo with a friend whose son was an F15E pilot and tranferred from AF to LAANG after he rose in rank and was taken out of the cockpit. LAANG still allowed him to fly which he loved.

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SirWinston

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So in your book it's OK for Russia to hire Indians, Cubans, and Nigerians as low cost cannon fodder to invade and destroy a neighboring country.

But it's not OK for Ukraine to hire foreign mechanics to turn wrenches on their airplanes?

I realize you would really have to twist your face up to extract that kind of logic from your autistic brain. But I really want to watch you try.

“Let’s put a bunch of Americans in a bunker and supply them with whores so they will work for Ukraine”

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To any Ukraine sunshine pumpers: What about western governments changing their previously hardline stances on striking inside Russia points to things going well for Ukraine?

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For someone who has no bias, as you claim, it's odd that you spend so much time criticizing the Ukrainian side without similar criticism towards the Russians.