Developing

Due to rapidly-breaking developments and in order to facilitate readers’ access to the latest dispatches, we are publishing this article as it is being written. please check back for updates and additions.

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Only force can stop Putin

See “Ukraine War, April 5, 2022 (II): Force must be used to stop Putin,” The Trenchant Observer, April 5, 2022.

Dispatches

Commentary

Retired U.S. generals on cable news channels, like Wesley Lark on CNN a week ago, often share their expertise with the TV audience, which we must assume includes Russian military intelligence.

Often, they even refer to a map of Ukraine showing where Russian and Ukrainian forces are located. Demonstrating their expertise, they often describe what the options and objectives of the Russian forces appear or ought to be, and what the Ukrainian forces can do in response.

This is wrong.

Retired U.S. generals or other former military officials should not be discussing Russian goals and objectives, or different Ukrainian military options.

We should let the Russians make all the mistakes they can. Certainly we should not be advising them, however unintentionally, or discussing Ukrainian options and potential troop movements.

The Russians are likely to pay very close attention to the judgments of our most senior and experienced former commanders.

On the other hand, the cable news networks should give prominent coverage to the criticisms of U.S. and allied policies and decisions that, in the judgment of these former generals, are hurting the war effort.

Wesley Clark offered such harsh judgments and predictions on CNN a few days ago. His views were not given prominence, and since then he hasn’t been seen on CNN as much as he should have been.

Clark’s insights and analyses are invaluable. CNN should be interviewing him every day, and showing the interview on 100%–not 20%–of the television screen.

The Trenchant Observer