Boiling the frog is a well known if somewhat unpleasant metaphor for achieving results by slower, more calculating means avoiding undesired counter-measures.
Ukraine and its fate both long and short term have constituted the most part of my media cum social platform (Ex Twitter) attention since the 24th February 2022.
Following two years of fighting their intruders and with considerable success at the outset, Ukraine` s struggle on the battlefield has lost its momentum with the exception of the Black Sea theatre and the extremely successful attacks on Russian oil infrastructure; in both cases due to the domestic development and production of drones. After initially humiliating Russia by inflicting unfathomable losses including both soldiers and material, on what was once considered the second best army in the world, Ukraine now finds itself short of what is needed to finish the job.
If you have never seen an episode of the classic cartoon series the Keystone Cops I suggest you Google it. In my opinion the reaction of western countries towards the threat from Russia couldn ´ t be visualized in a better way. Well meaning yet sadly lacking.
The shinanigans over the past two years have been toe-curlingly embarrassing. From first offering to send 5000 helmets at best, to then gradually upgrading to Leopard tanks, HIMARS, Storm Shadows, and F16s but definitely excluding Taurus missiles. At times like these politicians expose themselves as being as ordinary as the ordinary people they represent. The hang-ups, the indecisiveness, the tos and fros, the one step at the time, the fear of going too far. (think nuclear response)
Intentional or not, it all looks like a classic case of smoke and mirrors and that the West has chosen to boil the frog rather than risk the consequences of the alternative. It would make sense and taking into account the size of the hole Putin has dug for Russia and its people, the outcome is given. The continued bravery and resilience of Ukraine as well as support from the West are tantamount to success.
Slowly increasing the heat is a prerequisite for boiling a frog. Perhaps the time has now come for the next step and supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles.
