The Russian demonstration

We get news reports and pictures all the time recently of the massive Russian buildup of troops on the Ukraine border. We see them training with heavy weapons like tanks, helicopters and artillery, as though they are preparing for the order to invade their neighbor. In military terms this deception is called a “demonstration”, i.e., keep the enemy focused on a shiny object over here while conducting a secret action elsewhere. And all the while the politicians go about constant “emergency” meetings to negotiate something, anything, but mainly just a photo opportunity, that is what politicians do.

The secret action above is to recruit and arm mercenaries and pro-Russians separatists within Ukraine. These mercenaries and separatists will emerge one day, non-uniformed, to start a “revolution.” As the fighting escalates and casualties mount the separatists will call on their fatherland Russia for support and the great army across the border will respond to save their so called citizens from capture and death. Sound familiar? Think Crimea a few years ago. This deception tactic has been used by warring nations for centuries, example; Alexander the Great in 326 BC at the Battle of the Hydaspes River.

The Russians used this tactic to reclaim the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and all while President Obama huffed and puffed but really did nothing. Now we see President Biden entering into the same scenario. When Biden said in the Jan. 19 press conference that “small incursions” by the Russians into Ukraine might not be considered serious it caused an uproar. The day later Biden clarified that “... any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border that is an invasion.” The key word here is “assembled.” Why did he put that in the statement? Biden did this to purposely ignore separatist (non-uniformed troop) movements such as used previously in Crimea.

Our current commander in chief is falling into the familiar Russian trap and somehow this doesn’t seem surprising given Biden’s grasp of reality. The invasion in Ukraine will start from within, with a separatist uprising, not from an “assembled” army crossing the border.

Duane Egan, Columbia Falls