Was war with Ukraine inescapable?

 On February 24, 2022 Russian invaded Ukraine.

The video below was posted in April, 2021. It is well known Russian former journalist and MP Alexander Nevzorov. He has a Youtube channel with 1.5 million subscribers.

His opening line at the 2:40 mark is, "..by now it's understood that war with Ukraine is inescapable..." he then goes on to predict, with remarkable accuracy the events of the last three weeks. If your Russian is rusty, turn on the translated closed captions. I didn't watch all the way through.

My question is, did our intelligence, diplomatic, and policy community also know a year ago that a war in Europe was "inescapable?" 

 

If not, this is a massive, tragic failure. 

 

If they did know was the rapid unified sanction response pre-planned? 

If they did know, was it accepted as a given, or were actions taken to try to escape the inescapable?

 

https://youtu.be/Ia8RFaeIqEk?t=164

 

al-Qaeda Returns to Afghanistan 2021

And just like that, it begins again...

Dr. Amin-ul-Haq, a major al-Qaeda player in Afghanistan, Osama Bin Laden security in charge in Tora Bora, returns to his native Nangarhar province.

https://twitter.com/bsarwary/status/1432254182468333568

ROLL OF THE FALLEN

On Memorial Day we remember those Navy cryptologists who fell in the line of duty.  (Links UPDATED 2021)  

CTT1 Nicole Collins was killed July 18, 2021 when the roof of building she was in collapsed. She was conducting operations in an undisclosed location in the Sixth Fleet AOR. 

CTIC Shannon M. Kent was killed while supporting CJTF-Operation Inherent Resolve, in Manbij, Syria, Jan 16, 2019. 

 CTR1(EXW) Michael J. Strange, August 6, 2011.  Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down.

CTTC (IDW/SW) Christian Michael Pike, March 10, 2013, combat operations Maiwand District, Afghanistan

SGT Lucas T. Pyeatt, USMC, Afghanistan, February 5, 2011

CTRCS(SW/FMF) McLendon, Sept. 21, 2010 combat operations in the Zabul province, Afghanistan.

CTM3 Matthew J. Bryant, Islamabad, Sept 20, 2008.

CTT1 Steven Phillip Daugherty, Baghdad, July 6, 2007

CTI3 Patrick Price and CTI3 Craig Rudolph lost in the EA-3B off the USS Nimitz, Jan 25, 1987

Sgt Robert Hrisoulis, USMC Vietnam 21 Jan 1971

Lost in the C2 crash off Vietnam December 12, 1971
CT03 James M. Coon, USN 
CTISN John M. Deremigio, USN 
CTO1 Donald E. Dickerson, USN 
CTOSN Stephen H. Elliott, USN 
CTRI Walter R. Woods, Jr., USN 
CTM2 Gregory K. Zeller, USN 

CH46 Crash in Vietnam 28 Dec 1969
CTC Robert S. Gates, USN 
MgySgt Edward R. Storm, USMC 

CH46 Crash, Quang Nam, Vietnam 10 March 1970
Sgt Larry W. Duke, USMC 

The EC-121 shot down by the North Koreans on April 15, 1969.
CT3 Gary R. Ducharme, USN 
CT3 John A. Miller, USN 
CTI John H. Potts, USN 
CTC Frederick A. Randall, USN 
CTC Richard E. Smith, USN 
CT3 Philip D. Sundby, USN 
LT Robert F. Taylor, USN 
CT2 Stephen J. Tesmer, USN 
SSgt Hugh M. Lynch, USMC 

Operation Union II, Quang Tin, South Vietnam 26 May 1968 
Maj James W. Ayers, USMC 

USS Pueblo attacked and captured by North Koreans 
FN Duane D. Hodges, USN 23 Jan 1968

Near Quang Tri, Vietnam
Cpl Stephen L. Traughber, USMC 10 Sep 1967

The attack on the USS Liberty by the Israelis on June 8, 1967 
CT3 William B. Allenbaugh, USN 
LCDR Philip M. Armstrong, Jr. USN 
SN Gary R. Blanchard, USN 
SN Francis Brown, USN 
CT2 Ronnie J. Campbell, USN 
CT3 Jerry L. Converse, USN 
CT2 Robert B. Eisenberg, USN 
CT3 Jerry L. Goss, USN 
CTI Curtis A. Graves, USN 
CTSN Lawrence P. Hayden, USN 
CTI Warren E. Hersey, USN 
CTSN Alan Higgins, USN 
SN Carl L. Hoar, USN 
CT2 Richard W. Keene, Jr., USN 
CTSN James L. Lenau, USN 
CTC Raymond E. Linn, USN 
CTI James M. Lupton, USN 
CT3 Duane R. Marggraf, USN 
CTSN David W. Marlborough, USN 
CT2 Anthony P. Mendle, USN 
CTSN Carl C. Nygren, USN 
LT James C. Pierce, USN 
ICFN David Skolak, USN 
CTI John C. Smith, Jr., USN 
CTC Melvin D. Smith, USN 
PC2 John C. Spicher, USN 
GMG3 Alexander N. Thompson, Jr., USN 
CT3 Thomas R. Thornton, USN 
CT3 Philippe C. Tiedtke, USN 
LT Stephen S. Toth, USN 
CTI Frederick J. Walton, USN 
Sgt Jack L. Raper, USMC 
Cpl Edward E. Rehmeyer, USMC 
Allen M. Blue, NSA 

Quang Nam, Vietnam January 30, 1968
SSgt Alfred T. Dwyer, USMC 

The Kami Seya fire on September 24, 1965
CTSA Roger W. Alex, USN 
CTASA William E. Briley, USN 
CTSN Wilfred D. Cordell, USN 
CTSN Dennis E. Etzweiler, USN 
CT3 Archie R. Garofalo, USN 
CTSA John D. House, USN 
LTJG Ernest D. Moody, USN 
CT3 Wayne E. Tower, USN 
CTSN James K. Whitman, USN 
CT3 Gregory S. Williams, USN 


LCPI Richard E. McKown, USMC 
Sgt Paul C. Rodrigues, USMC 

Shot down off the coast of the Soviet Union April 8, 1950
CT3 Edward Purcell, April 8, 1950

"They Served in Silence"

This is an update to my original post from 2009 here:
http://foreignobjectdamage.blogspot.com/2009/05/roll-of-fallen-on-memorial-day-we.html

ROLL OF THE FALLEN

On Memorial Day 2019 we  will remember those Navy cryptologists who fell in the line of duty.  Sadly, there will be another name on the list.  

Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon M. Kent was killed while supporting CJTF-Operation Inherent Resolve, in Manbij, Syria, Jan 16, 2019. Rest in Peace Chief.

CTTC (IDW/SW) Christian Michael Pike, March 10, 2013, combat operations Maiwand District, Afghanistan

SGT Lucas T. Pyeatt, USMC, Afghanistan, February 5, 2011

CTRCS(SW/FMF) McLendon, Sept. 21, 2010 combat operations in the Zabul province, Afghanistan.

CTM3 Matthew J. Bryant, Islamabad, Sept 20, 2008.

CTT1 Steven Phillip Daugherty, Baghdad, July 6, 2007

CTI3 Patrick Price and CTI3 Craig Rudolph lost in the EA-3B off the USS Nimitz, Jan 25, 1987

Sgt Robert Hrisoulis, USMC Vietnam 21 Jan 1971

Lost in the C2 crash off Vietnam December 12, 1971
CT03 James M. Coon, USN 
CTISN John M. Deremigio, USN 
CTO1 Donald E. Dickerson, USN 
CTOSN Stephen H. Elliott, USN 
CTRI Walter R. Woods, Jr., USN 
CTM2 Gregory K. Zeller, USN 

CH46 Crash in Vietnam 28 Dec 1969
CTC Robert S. Gates, USN 
MgySgt Edward R. Storm, USMC 

CH46 Crash, Quang Nam, Vietnam 10 March 1970
Sgt Larry W. Duke, USMC 

The EC-121 shot down by the North Koreans on April 15, 1969.(There are two separate links here, one with press reports, and the other with some insider analysis)
CT3 Gary R. Ducharme, USN 
CT3 John A. Miller, USN 
CTI John H. Potts, USN 
CTC Frederick A. Randall, USN 
CTC Richard E. Smith, USN 
CT3 Philip D. Sundby, USN 
LT Robert F. Taylor, USN 
CT2 Stephen J. Tesmer, USN 
SSgt Hugh M. Lynch, USMC 

Operation Union II, Quang Tin, South Vietnam 26 May 1968 
Maj James W. Ayers, USMC 

USS Pueblo attacked and captured by North Koreans 
FN Duane D. Hodges, USN 23 Jan 1968

Near Quang Tri, Vietnam
Cpl Stephen L. Traughber, USMC 10 Sep 1967

The attack on the USS Liberty by the Israelis on June 8, 1967 
CT3 William B. Allenbaugh, USN 
LCDR Philip M. Armstrong, Jr. USN 
SN Gary R. Blanchard, USN 
SN Francis Brown, USN 
CT2 Ronnie J. Campbell, USN 
CT3 Jerry L. Converse, USN 
CT2 Robert B. Eisenberg, USN 
CT3 Jerry L. Goss, USN 
CTI Curtis A. Graves, USN 
CTSN Lawrence P. Hayden, USN 
CTI Warren E. Hersey, USN 
CTSN Alan Higgins, USN 
SN Carl L. Hoar, USN 
CT2 Richard W. Keene, Jr., USN 
CTSN James L. Lenau, USN 
CTC Raymond E. Linn, USN 
CTI James M. Lupton, USN 
CT3 Duane R. Marggraf, USN 
CTSN David W. Marlborough, USN 
CT2 Anthony P. Mendle, USN 
CTSN Carl C. Nygren, USN 
LT James C. Pierce, USN 
ICFN David Skolak, USN 
CTI John C. Smith, Jr., USN 
CTC Melvin D. Smith, USN 
PC2 John C. Spicher, USN 
GMG3 Alexander N. Thompson, Jr., USN 
CT3 Thomas R. Thornton, USN 
CT3 Philippe C. Tiedtke, USN 
LT Stephen S. Toth, USN 
CTI Frederick J. Walton, USN 
Sgt Jack L. Raper, USMC 
Cpl Edward E. Rehmeyer, USMC 
Allen M. Blue, NSA 

Quang Nam, Vietnam January 30, 1968
SSgt Alfred T. Dwyer, USMC 

The Kami Seya fire on September 24, 1965
CTSA Roger W. Alex, USN 
CTASA William E. Briley, USN 
CTSN Wilfred D. Cordell, USN 
CTSN Dennis E. Etzweiler, USN 
CT3 Archie R. Garofalo, USN 
CTSA John D. House, USN 
LTJG Ernest D. Moody, USN 
CT3 Wayne E. Tower, USN 
CTSN James K. Whitman, USN 
CT3 Gregory S. Williams, USN 


LCPI Richard E. McKown, USMC 
Sgt Paul C. Rodrigues, USMC 

Shot down off the coast of the Soviet Union April 8, 1950
CT3 Edward Purcell, April 8, 1950

"They Served in Silence"

This is an update to my original post from 2009 here:
http://foreignobjectdamage.blogspot.com/2009/05/roll-of-fallen-on-memorial-day-we.html

Roll of the Fallen

On Memorial Day  we  remember those Navy cryptologists who fell in the line of duty.  

CTTC (IDW/SW) Christian Michael Pike, March 10, 2013, combat operations Maiwand District, Afghanistan
CTRCS(SW/FMF) McLendon, Sept. 21, 2010 combat operations in the Zabul province, Afghanistan.
CTM3 Matthew J. Bryant, Islamabad, Sept 20, 2008.
CTT1 Steven Phillip Daugherty, Baghdad, July 6, 2007
CTI3 Patrick Price and CTI3 Craig Rudolph lost in the EA-3B off the USS Nimitz, Jan 25, 1987

Sgt Robert Hrisoulis, USMC Vietnam 21 Jan 1971

Lost in the C2 crash off Vietnam December 12, 1971
CT03 James M. Coon, USN 
CTISN John M. Deremigio, USN 
CTO1 Donald E. Dickerson, USN 
CTOSN Stephen H. Elliott, USN 
CTRI Walter R. Woods, Jr., USN 
CTM2 Gregory K. Zeller, USN 

CH46 Crash in Vietnam 28 Dec 1969
CTC Robert S. Gates, USN 
MgySgt Edward R. Storm, USMC 

CH46 Crash, Quang Nam, Vietnam 10 March 1970
Sgt Larry W. Duke, USMC 

The EC-121 shot down by the North Koreans on April 15, 1969.(There are two separate links here, one with press reports, and the other with some insider analysis)
CT3 Gary R. Ducharme, USN 
CT3 John A. Miller, USN 
CTI John H. Potts, USN 
CTC Frederick A. Randall, USN 
CTC Richard E. Smith, USN 
CT3 Philip D. Sundby, USN 
LT Robert F. Taylor, USN 
CT2 Stephen J. Tesmer, USN 
SSgt Hugh M. Lynch, USMC 

Operation Union II, Quang Tin, South Vietnam 26 May 1968 
Maj James W. Ayers, USMC 

USS Pueblo attacked and captured by North Koreans 
FN Duane D. Hodges, USN 23 Jan 1968

Near Quang Tri, Vietnam
Cpl Stephen L. Traughber, USMC 10 Sep 1967

The attack on the USS Liberty by the Israelis on June 8, 1967 
CT3 William B. Allenbaugh, USN 
LCDR Philip M. Armstrong, Jr. USN 
SN Gary R. Blanchard, USN 
SN Francis Brown, USN 
CT2 Ronnie J. Campbell, USN 
CT3 Jerry L. Converse, USN 
CT2 Robert B. Eisenberg, USN 
CT3 Jerry L. Goss, USN 
CTI Curtis A. Graves, USN 
CTSN Lawrence P. Hayden, USN 
CTI Warren E. Hersey, USN 
CTSN Alan Higgins, USN 
SN Carl L. Hoar, USN 
CT2 Richard W. Keene, Jr., USN 
CTSN James L. Lenau, USN 
CTC Raymond E. Linn, USN 
CTI James M. Lupton, USN 
CT3 Duane R. Marggraf, USN 
CTSN David W. Marlborough, USN 
CT2 Anthony P. Mendle, USN 
CTSN Carl C. Nygren, USN 
LT James C. Pierce, USN 
ICFN David Skolak, USN 
CTI John C. Smith, Jr., USN 
CTC Melvin D. Smith, USN 
PC2 John C. Spicher, USN 
GMG3 Alexander N. Thompson, Jr., USN 
CT3 Thomas R. Thornton, USN 
CT3 Philippe C. Tiedtke, USN 
LT Stephen S. Toth, USN 
CTI Frederick J. Walton, USN 
Sgt Jack L. Raper, USMC 
Cpl Edward E. Rehmeyer, USMC 
Allen M. Blue, NSA 

Quang Nam, Vietnam January 30, 1968
SSgt Alfred T. Dwyer, USMC 

The Kami Seya fire on September 24, 1965
CTSA Roger W. Alex, USN 
CTASA William E. Briley, USN 
CTSN Wilfred D. Cordell, USN 
CTSN Dennis E. Etzweiler, USN 
CT3 Archie R. Garofalo, USN 
CTSA John D. House, USN 
LTJG Ernest D. Moody, USN 
CT3 Wayne E. Tower, USN 
CTSN James K. Whitman, USN 
CT3 Gregory S. Williams, USN 


LCPI Richard E. McKown, USMC 
Sgt Paul C. Rodrigues, USMC 

Shot down off the coast of the Soviet Union April 8, 1950
CT3 Edward Purcell, April 8, 1950

"They Served in Silence"

This is an update to my original post from 2009 here:
http://foreignobjectdamage.blogspot.com/2009/05/roll-of-fallen-on-memorial-day-we.html

Roll of the Fallen

On Memorial Day, we remember those Navy cryptologists who fell in the line of duty.

CTTC (IDW/SW) Christian Michael Pike, March 10, 2013, combat operations Maiwand District, Afghanistan
CTRCS(SW/FMF) McLendon, Sept. 21, 2010 combat operations in the Zabul province, Afghanistan.
CTM3 Matthew J. Bryant, Islamabad, Sept 20, 2008.
CTT1 Steven Phillip Daugherty, Baghdad, July 6, 2007
CTI3 Patrick Price and CTI3 Craig Rudolph lost in the EA-3B off the USS Nimitz, Jan 25, 1987

Sgt Robert Hrisoulis, USMC Vietnam 21 Jan 1971

Lost in the C2 crash off Vietnam December 12, 1971
CT03 James M. Coon, USN 
CTISN John M. Deremigio, USN 
CTO1 Donald E. Dickerson, USN 
CTOSN Stephen H. Elliott, USN 
CTRI Walter R. Woods, Jr., USN 
CTM2 Gregory K. Zeller, USN 

CH46 Crash in Vietnam 28 Dec 1969
CTC Robert S. Gates, USN 
MgySgt Edward R. Storm, USMC 

CH46 Crash, Quang Nam, Vietnam 10 March 1970
Sgt Larry W. Duke, USMC 

The EC-121 shot down by the North Koreans on April 15, 1969.(There are two separate links here, one with press reports, and the other with some insider analysis)
CT3 Gary R. Ducharme, USN 
CT3 John A. Miller, USN 
CTI John H. Potts, USN 
CTC Frederick A. Randall, USN 
CTC Richard E. Smith, USN 
CT3 Philip D. Sundby, USN 
LT Robert F. Taylor, USN 
CT2 Stephen J. Tesmer, USN 
SSgt Hugh M. Lynch, USMC 

Operation Union II, Quang Tin, South Vietnam 26 May 1968 
Maj James W. Ayers, USMC 

USS Pueblo attacked and captured by North Koreans 
FN Duane D. Hodges, USN 23 Jan 1968

Near Quang Tri, Vietnam
Cpl Stephen L. Traughber, USMC 10 Sep 1967

The attack on the USS Liberty by the Israelis on June 8, 1967 
CT3 William B. Allenbaugh, USN 
LCDR Philip M. Armstrong, Jr. USN 
SN Gary R. Blanchard, USN 
SN Francis Brown, USN 
CT2 Ronnie J. Campbell, USN 
CT3 Jerry L. Converse, USN 
CT2 Robert B. Eisenberg, USN 
CT3 Jerry L. Goss, USN 
CTI Curtis A. Graves, USN 
CTSN Lawrence P. Hayden, USN 
CTI Warren E. Hersey, USN 
CTSN Alan Higgins, USN 
SN Carl L. Hoar, USN 
CT2 Richard W. Keene, Jr., USN 
CTSN James L. Lenau, USN 
CTC Raymond E. Linn, USN 
CTI James M. Lupton, USN 
CT3 Duane R. Marggraf, USN 
CTSN David W. Marlborough, USN 
CT2 Anthony P. Mendle, USN 
CTSN Carl C. Nygren, USN 
LT James C. Pierce, USN 
ICFN David Skolak, USN 
CTI John C. Smith, Jr., USN 
CTC Melvin D. Smith, USN 
PC2 John C. Spicher, USN 
GMG3 Alexander N. Thompson, Jr., USN 
CT3 Thomas R. Thornton, USN 
CT3 Philippe C. Tiedtke, USN 
LT Stephen S. Toth, USN 
CTI Frederick J. Walton, USN 
Sgt Jack L. Raper, USMC 
Cpl Edward E. Rehmeyer, USMC 
Allen M. Blue, NSA 

Quang Nam, Vietnam January 30, 1968
SSgt Alfred T. Dwyer, USMC 

The Kami Seya fire on September 24, 1965
CTSA Roger W. Alex, USN 
CTASA William E. Briley, USN 
CTSN Wilfred D. Cordell, USN 
CTSN Dennis E. Etzweiler, USN 
CT3 Archie R. Garofalo, USN 
CTSA John D. House, USN 
LTJG Ernest D. Moody, USN 
CT3 Wayne E. Tower, USN 
CTSN James K. Whitman, USN 
CT3 Gregory S. Williams, USN 


LCPI Richard E. McKown, USMC 
Sgt Paul C. Rodrigues, USMC 

Shot down off the coast of the Soviet Union April 8, 1950
CT3 Edward Purcell, April 8, 1950

"They Served in Silence"

This is an update to my original post from 2009 here:
http://foreignobjectdamage.blogspot.com/2009/05/roll-of-fallen-on-memorial-day-we.html

On Memorial Day

There are war monuments all across America. I’ve seen many of them. I make a point to look at them. The great monuments to the horse artillery that stand in front of the Capitol building in Washington show the energy and determination of the men in action. Some monuments are on the actual battlefields. The massive granite shrine that marks where Pennsylvania regiments stood at Gettysburg and the substantial, but simple markers that show where each brigade dug in on top of Kennesaw Mountain. (My great great Grandfather’s unit is listed there, the 3^rd Texas Cavalry.) Small towns across America have war monuments too. It seems like every little town across the South has one in the town square or where the center of town used to be.  These monuments are often a single soldier or just as often a simple obelisk with the names of the dead. When I look at these monuments, I’ve always thought of the men they memorialize.  What they did, what it meant to their comrades, and what they gave for our country.

I saw a photograph of a monument that made me think of something else this year. The words were   “Erected by the Ladies Memorial Association 1871.”  Those simple words let me know that this was not a monument erected by the veterans as so many others. It was “Erected by the ladies…” Looking at this monument, for the first time, I didn’t think of the men. I thought of the women who missed them. The “ladies” were the wives, mothers, and sisters who would never see their loved ones again. In the years right after the war, when some had lost everything, they must have set about the task of building this monument with energy, love, and devotion. It became a memorial to their men and how much these men meant to them.

When I think of what Memorial Day means, I think of the sacrifice of the fallen and what they did to shape and defend our nation. But I’ll also remember what else that sacrifice meant.  That 150 years ago, the people who put up those monuments had suffered the loss on a personal level.   From now on, I’ll look at the monuments they built and think not just of the soldiers, but of the people who loved them. Thank you ladies. 

Photo copyright Hannah Pop Rocki. Used with permission