[GK3]

Decapitation strike aimed at Russian southern command...the amount of intelligence gathering that went into confirming a meeting of senior staff must have been intense.  (I assume Russian staff officers figured out pretty quickly after Year One that Ukraine liked to pick off generals.)  Well done.

We will never know for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't a lot of networks of spies in Crimea.  A lot of military forces in that area were originally Ukrainian, then many were pressured into witching sides back in 2014.  While I'm sure most of them are true traitors, I'm guessing Ukraine has communication networks with many in that area.  It was somewhat rumored that someone leaked this information due to not being paid, but that seems like more of a convenient lie.  Hopefully we know more soon, as to how many high level officers were killed, but I personally hope some of those former Ukrainian admiral turncoats were among the rubble...

I think you can bet your house on that, but you may have a hard time proving it.  Same languages, same clothes, high degree of familiarity with the region and I am sure they have their hands on the local documents now in use and have had their forgers busy. A dangerous occupation but one that I believe is paying big benefits.

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 If there's a case for significant strategic benefit within a reasonable timeframe, someone in the Pentagon is probably working on it.

I wish I shared your optimism. The Pentagon hasn't exactly exerted much leadership in what should be done. Political considerations may play a role in that, but also it isn't something that we really have a history of doing. What department is supposed to do this?

I think you are right once again.  If the military is working on something like this without civilian overhead approval, it is a VERY black project, most likely being done far from the Pentagon.  If they were doing it with Whitehouse OK it would leak out since no one at the Whitehouse can keep a secret IMHO.

[GK3]

Decapitation strike aimed at Russian southern command...the amount of intelligence gathering that went into confirming a meeting of senior staff must have been intense.  (I assume Russian staff officers figured out pretty quickly after Year One that Ukraine liked to pick off generals.)  Well done.

We will never know for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if there aren't a lot of networks of spies in Crimea.  A lot of military forces in that area were originally Ukrainian, then many were pressured into witching sides back in 2014.  While I'm sure most of them are true traitors, I'm guessing Ukraine has communication networks with many in that area.  It was somewhat rumored that someone leaked this information due to not being paid, but that seems like more of a convenient lie.  Hopefully we know more soon, as to how many high level officers were killed, but I personally hope some of those former Ukrainian admiral turncoats were among the rubble...

I think you can bet your house on that, but you may have a hard time proving it.  Same languages, same clothes, high degree of familiarity with the region and I am sure they have their hands on the local documents now in use and have had their forgers busy. A dangerous occupation but one that I believe is paying big benefits.

---

 If there's a case for significant strategic benefit within a reasonable timeframe, someone in the Pentagon is probably working on it.

I wish I shared your optimism. The Pentagon hasn't exactly exerted much leadership in what should be done. Political considerations may play a role in that, but also it isn't something that we really have a history of doing. What department is supposed to do this?

I think you are right once again.  If the military is working on something like this without civilian overhead approval, it is a VERY black project, most likely being done far from the Pentagon.  If they were doing it with Whitehouse OK it would leak out since no one at the Whitehouse can keep a secret IMHO.