Paul Craig Roberts<\/p>\n
After 18 months of an ever widening war, Putin is still unable to recognize the failure of his \u201climited military operation.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Far from convincing Washington that his interests are limited to protecting the Russian people in former Russian territory who were dumped by Soviet leaders into the Ukraine province of the Soviet Union, Putin has convinced Washington that Russia is weak and that he is irresolute.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The consequence has been an ever widening war and a massive expansion of NATO on Russia\u2019s northwestern border with the addition of Finland and Sweden to NATO.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>And now Putin\u2019s hesitancy, which seems permanent, is bringing him the occupation of western Ukraine by the Polish army.<\/p>\n Russian Defense Minister Shoigu has shown no brilliance in the campaign either, but he now recognizes the failure of the \u201climited military operation\u201d to protect Russia\u2019s security and to keep NATO\u2019s presence from increasing on Russia\u2019s borders.<\/p>\n Today Shoigu said that Poland is preparing a pretext to occupy western Ukraine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>As Ukraine has run out of troops, Poland is moving in.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Washington won\u2019t call it an invasion.<\/p>\n Shoigu went further, whether with Putin\u2019s approval or as a criticism of the failed \u201climited military operation\u201d I cannot say. At today\u2019s meeting of the board of the military department, Shoigu said:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cIn the western and northwestern strategic directions, the threats to the military security of Russia have increased manifold.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>He said that Finland and Sweden\u2019s accession into NATO is a \u201cserious destabilizing factor.\u201d Shoigu pointed out that since the beginning of the \u201climited military operation\u201d NATO formations have increased 2.5 times.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/sputnikglobe.com\/20230809\/warsaw-plans-to-create-polish-ukrainian-union-for-subsequent-occupation-of-western-ukraine\u2014shoigu-1112480015.html<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is hardly a picture of success, so why is Putin sticking with a failed policy?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>With the failure of the Ukrainian counterattack and decimation of the Ukrainian army, now is the time for the Russian offensive.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>But there is no sign of it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n US Col. Douglas Macgregor has concluded that Putin is actually holding back a\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Russian advance, wasting precious time before the rainy season begins.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>From a military standpoint, it is mindless for Putin to let pass the opportunity to strike his devastated opponent and bring the conflict to a quick end before Washington can\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>further escalate the conflict.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Instead, Putin is providing Poland the opportunity to move into Western Ukraine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>It seems obvious that this will result in a wider and more dangerous combat.<\/p>\n Col. Macgregor now agrees with what I have been saying for 18 months, that Putin is perceived in the West as irresolute and can be defeated or at least discredited in Russia as a failed war leader.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>As I have stressed, this is a very dangerous perception.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Provocations of Russia will increase to a point where war will break out. Col. Macgregor now sees the situation as I do.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bcwFyNbX5m8<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps Putin would do well to take a cue from Shakespeare\u2019s\u00a0Julius Caesar:<\/i><\/p>\n There is a tide in the affairs of men.<\/i><\/p>\n Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;<\/i><\/p>\n Omitted, all the voyage of their life<\/i><\/p>\n Is bound in shallows and in miseries.<\/i><\/p>\n On such a full sea are we now afloat,<\/i><\/p>\n And we must take the current when it serves,<\/i><\/p>\n Or lose our ventures.<\/i><\/p>\n