German Chancellor Olaf Scholz came under harsh criticism after suggesting that UK and French troops having been deployed in Ukraine to assist the latter with firing the long-range missiles they have supplied.
While explaining Berlin’s reluctance to provide Kyiv with its Taurus long-range missiles on Monday, Feb. 26, Scholz said it was due to the necessity for German boots to be on the ground to assist with target control, suggesting the British and French already have missile-savvy personnel in Ukraine.
“What is being done in the way of target control and accompanying target control on the part of the British and the French can’t be done in Germany. Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that,” said Scholz, as reported by AP News.
“In my view, it would be unjustifiable if we were to participate in targeting in the same way,” he added without further elaboration.
Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who was in office when the UK provided Ukraine with its first Storm Shadow long-range missiles, said Scholz’s suggestion was “not only a dangerous use of facts but also often wrong facts.”
“Scholz’s behavior has shown that as far as the security of Europe goes, he is the wrong man, in the wrong job at the wrong time,” Wallace told The Standard.
Tobias Ellwood, the former chairman of the UK House of Commons Defence Committee, has called Scholz’s comments a “flagrant abuse of intelligence deliberately designed to distract from Germany’s reluctance to arm Ukraine with its own long-range missile system,” adding that Moscow will likely use Scholz’s comments to “ratchet up the escalator ladder.”
WORLD BRIEFING: April 27, 2024
The British Ministry of Defence did not confirm British troops’ potential involvement Scholz suggested, but in a statement to AFP it said: “Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow and its targeting processes are the business of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman on Tuesday told reporters that the UK has “a small number of personnel in country supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including for medical training.”
London first provided Kyiv with its Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles in May 2023, and Paris later followed suit with its SCALP variants.
The missiles were used to great effect against Russian targets, and it was believed that they were behind the killing of a high-ranking Russian general in occupied Berdyansk and multiple strikes on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and its infrastructure.
There have been questions as to how Ukraine was able to equip the NATO-standard missiles to Soviet-standard Su-24 tactical bombers. Some have suspected a Frankenstein approach of reusing weapons pylons from decommissioned NATO aircraft to achieve the desired effect.
Some have also raised the question then as to how the coordinates were entered into the system, with speculation that they must be entered pre-flight as Soviet avionics is incompatible with the Storm Shadow missiles.
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Comments (12)
@The beautiful Loons which troll Jack hates. Your guidance on what constitutes a respectful response in russia is appreciated.
Folks as you read my and 'jacks' posts let the variance in style and content inspire you in your leadership choices.
The russian troll 'Jack' proudly represents putin / putinrump leadership. He has 95 "Z' patches in his collection and two shirtless putin pictures in his bedroom. Neither of his MRGA idols seem that nice, and frankly a lot of folks supporting Ukraine would probably be shot in their desired dictatorial regimes.
I in contrast, do have many pictures of majestic loons in my house. They are taken from nearby lakes that are so plentiful in Canada. I love reflecting on what is good in the world as I hear sit in nature and hear them call out. I'm here on a volunteer basis as I strongly believe in supporting Ukraine...making putins regime, his buddy putin trump and their many MRGA trolls look stupid is one way to support Ukraine.
To your point 'jack', and to my nations credit, it has never picked leadership nearly as malicious as MRGA trolls favour. Its’ true I don't agree with all their policies. Still in every new election we have lots of other non MRGA leadership choices.
And yes s ometime's I am silly...life can't all be russia'esque doom and gloom.
@BizArBoy, The world according to your false god putin:
Not counting Simonyan, Solovyov & Medevev's near weekly nuclear threats, Putin's has made nuclear threats at least 15 different times in the last 2 years. As with putinrump, what a pompous fool! When putin says tomorrow: 'take back your Himars, Patriots and other Ukraine support or I push the button' what then? Should we bow in fear and obey your master?
What about if he commands we not resist while he foments another war in Moldova, Georgia, the Balken's? How about when he rolls into NATO nations? Can we pretty please have your permission to at least defend ourselves? NO?.....even with a "pretty please"???
Is there anything your thug, bully boss wants that we don't have to just hand over to him? How about our kids lunch money? Can we at least put flowers on the graves of our loved ones which he's murdered without getting arrested?
His demands are ridiculously one sided...his arguments full of false crap...as are yours.
well by this rasshist action scholz is compromised, kaltgestelt
...a coward
Ben Wallace (UK) is a former British army officer and would now be the leader of NATO if Joe Biden hadn't blocked the appointment because he hates the British, because he thinks he is Irish.
Them's the facts.
If Ben was in position now Ukraine would be in a much stronger place.
Biden fucked Ukraine and Europe because of his senile anti British bias.
Macron put his foot in his mouth about sending NATO ground troops into Ukraine, Scholz put his foot in his mouth about the NATO ground troops who are already in Ukraine, Joe Biden puts his foot in his mouth every time he opens it. At least thanks to the Tucker Carlson interview we know that Vlad Putin can speak like a reasonable, sane human being.
@BizArklahomBoy, the deeds of vladolf putler are not reasonable, they are insane, bloodthirsthy, hate towards humans
@Ukrainska, , the US/EU/NATO axis of evil knew that if they orchestrated a coup in Ukraine they would ignite a civil war and draw Russia into an open conflict. The axis chose to launch the coup that toppled the constitutional, democratically-elected government of Ukraine. The axis deliberately started the war in Ukraine. Project Ukraine is all about weakening, destabilizing, and balkanizing Russia. The axis does not care about Ukraine, or the Ukrainians. The axis will get every last Ukrainian killed and then move on like a pack of locusts. The Ukrainians should embrace their Russian heritage and stand against the foreign destroyers of their nation.
@BizArklahomBoy, Putintucker doesn't report truth. He fabricates fake news himself and generously lies for fabricators like rump and putin. That in turn gets his past media bosses at Fox having to pay out $800 million settlements to the innocent victims of his lies. He is a liability for any legitimate media outlet (not saying that term applies to Fox though).
His narrow focused allegiance with putin and his cronies rump, orban..etc), puts him well within reach of 'chief russian nazi propagandist' territory. Joseph Goebbels had a similar role in Hitlers' regime..he and Hitler committed suicide within a day of each other in their bunker once their jig was up.
What fate awaits putintucker (and putinrump) when putin falls .....we shall see.
@John, you can keep beating off to those fantasies and regurgitating all of your lame dumb talking points, but Russia is winning this war. Our governments can do nothing to stop it. Suck it, John.
@BizArklahomBoy, While I'd have to disagree with that statement about russia ever winning this war....if you did use your best crude language to emphasize that erroneous claim.
I disagree on technical grounds as you evil government in Russia could obviously stop this war immediately by withdrawing and then making reparations to Ukraine for its crimes. It could also have not interfered with the free will and self determination of the Sovereign nation of Ukraine in the first place....thus no war period. So technically you are wrong.
But since putin is a rabid dog and will not stop biting everyone his regime needs to be put down. Since his people are too scared, lethargic, drunk or immoral do do it themselves....then it falls to Ukraine and its many, many allies to stop this war by force.
The cost to russia will be much greater this way, but hey you gotta deal with bullies with force.
So lets keep this force rolling in
@BizArBoy, Of course russia will not win.
141 UN nations voted for Russia to get the hell out of Ukraine and stop its crime spree there. 75 sovereign nations, plus the institutes of NATO, the IMF and the EU / ECC, UNHRC all provide Ukraine with support to defend itself and offset war costs. The International Criminal Court even convicted Putin of being a war criminal. Billions have also been privately crowd funded for Ukraine's war needs. Millions of people and NGOs volunteer across the globe each day to deliver aid, thwart putin's cybercrime and also neuter troll messaging.
Why would the common russian even want this? To live in a nation of continued oppression, whose dictator has made their nation internationally despised....what's so fun about that?
Putins support even at home fades.
His dark regime's days are numbered.
Here we have the Joe Biden of Germany, rising to his level of incompetence.
Here is a well educated fellow who looked at the socialist manifesto and said “ Hey yeah, this all makes perfect sense to me.”
I think the Germans are really afraid that if the Ukrainians win the war, the Ukrainians will become the agricultural and industrial powerhouse in Europe, relegating Germany to a second tier power behind Ukraine.
Who cares if a Taurus missile can't be gimped down not to reach a russian war supporting target! This is an internationally acceptable response. Otherwise what is he disincentive to any aggressor in firing a missile at other nations?
The only one saying its not acceptable is Russia. The only ones saying it should not be done even though legal / fair are afraid like Scholz ....who now in his scramble to find another excuse may have disclosed allied intelligence. The EU can sell / donate anything they want to Ukraine. Ukraine can use IT'S new items for whatever it wants thats legal.
Folks who don't agree agree with the above I suspect do so for the same reason as Scholz ...they are afraid of escalation. Everyone sane is afraid to stand up to a bully...but they must. A bully will not stop until you stop them. If there's a reason not rooted in fear that I'm not aware of let me know.
At what other points of this war, and it incremental flow of allied sourced weapons / putin nuclear threats did scared folks also think something should not be sent? Not counting Simonyan, Simonyan & Medevev's near weekly nuclear threats, Russia has made nuclear threats at least 15 different times. So what? When he says tomorrow 'take back the Himars or I push the button' what then? Take back the Patriots? The tanks? Give me Moldova? Elect putinrump? Give me your lunch money?
excellent idea to optimize the use of weapons in the field! also because this way they are tested in real conditions
Great ,I'm glad someone's helping Ukraine .
See Ukraine. You have chicken sheets for neighbors. That's "chicken shits" for you who don't understand PG language ("PG" is the moving rating in America where children can watch. "R" ratings are where you have to be 18 or older).
Nothing has changed since World War I. NATO countries should boast they have troops in Ukraine furnishing technical support to Ukraine. That would send a big "F YOU" message to Putrid.
But the feckless, spineless Europeans are too afraid to step up and proudly confess their support for Ukraine by supplying personnel.
@.Happy, Happy, Happy Jacobim Mugatu,
I agree allies need to provide more support to Ukraine.
It's appropriate to also have NATO be more actively supporting Ukraine's defense since its against their common enemy and active attacker russia. In the bare minimum NATO forces could create a no fly zone and safe area away from the active war front to protect Ukraine's civilians. That would free up more Ukrainian soldiers / EMRs / assets for dealing with front line needs.
It is inaccurate and unfair though, to criticize all European nations. Thirty European area nations as of February, 2024 actually contributed a higher % of their GDP to Ukraine's war needs then did either the USA or Canada. As a whole the EU as an instate, has also so far committed 3x the monetary support of North American.
Some of Ukraine's other globally listed monetary supporters (the bottom 15-20 of the 75 total) are mostly duds though....token contributions. Also some democracies have not even contributed yet period. Thats just embarrassing for them.
@John, John, try to be respectful. No one needs to be replied to with your butt-ignorant arrogant stupidity. Just keep typing away up there in Canada you loon. Oh, buy the way, did you see Canada has proposed a woke, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion proposal for the removal of anti-personal land minds in Ukraine? I bet you're on the organizing committee for such an idiotic proposal. I will never read your bull sheet so you may as well quit wasting your time.
@The beautiful Loons which troll Jack hates.
You guidance on what constitutes a respectful response in russia is appreciated.
Folks as you read my and 'jacks' posts let the variance in style and content inspire you in your the leadership choices.
Jack proudly represents putin / putinrump leadership. He has 95 "Z' patches in his collection and two shirtless putin pictures in his bedroom. Neither of his MRGA idols seem that nice, and frankly a lot of folks supporting Ukraine would probably be shot in their desired dictatorial regimes.
I in contrast do have many pictures of the majestic loons in my house. They are taken from nearby lakes that are so plentiful in Canada. I love reflecting on what is good in the world as I hear them call as the fly over the house each morning. To its credit my nations has never picked leadership nearly as malicious as Jack favours, but its true I don't agree with all their policies. Still in every new election we have lots of other non MRGA leadership choices.
Sometimes I am silly...life can't all be russia'esque doom and gloom.
Make your vote count.