I think the issue is that offense is harder than defense. A defender generally has the home advantage in terms of logistics, familiarity with the area and political will. The difference this makes is hard to estimate, and even harder so if you’re not even aware of it. Combined with delusions of grandeur, this is a recipe for underestimating the enemy.
And call me a cynic, but I suspect neither Cadet Bone Spurs nor Major “Warrior Ethos” “Signal Chat” “American Crusade” Boozeth are entirely qualified to make high-level military judgements.
(Neither is my armchair general ass whose only education in the matter is some MilHist blogs and articles, but at least I’m not an actual general charged to actually make them.)
For Putin, I’m not sure. I’m disinclined to believe he’s just ignorant about the tenacity a people under attack can develop, given Russian history, but I can only make unqualified guesses.
Either way, as you say, I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end, because a blunt and rusty axe still hurts, and they don’t seem concerned about where they swing it and who’s in the way.
I suspect an offense against the USA would be easy to pull off. The low standards of ICE and the nature of their operation would allow just about any organized actor to have a free hand in the US, if they chose to do so.
I think the issue is that offense is harder than defense. A defender generally has the home advantage in terms of logistics, familiarity with the area and political will. The difference this makes is hard to estimate, and even harder so if you’re not even aware of it. Combined with delusions of grandeur, this is a recipe for underestimating the enemy.
And call me a cynic, but I suspect neither Cadet Bone Spurs nor Major “Warrior Ethos” “Signal Chat” “American Crusade” Boozeth are entirely qualified to make high-level military judgements.
(Neither is my armchair general ass whose only education in the matter is some MilHist blogs and articles, but at least I’m not an actual general charged to actually make them.)
For Putin, I’m not sure. I’m disinclined to believe he’s just ignorant about the tenacity a people under attack can develop, given Russian history, but I can only make unqualified guesses.
Either way, as you say, I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end, because a blunt and rusty axe still hurts, and they don’t seem concerned about where they swing it and who’s in the way.
I suspect an offense against the USA would be easy to pull off. The low standards of ICE and the nature of their operation would allow just about any organized actor to have a free hand in the US, if they chose to do so.