RED LINE

I was deeply offended by the use of the word ‘cowardly’ to describe Western (as in everyone in the western world) behaviour towards the use of long range weapons inside Russia.
We all know why the permission would help Ukraine win. We all know the weapons exist. We have already allowed them widespread use - just not inside Russian Federation borders.
There can only be one reason, it’s either simple or a complex interlocking threat, but the principle is the same nonetheless.
Russia has behind the scenes, made it clear that while it has put up with everything else, ballistic missiles of American origin on Russian soil is just not acceptable.
There is actually a strange practical acceptance of the realities in Russian minds westerners find hard to understand, but it’s along the lines of, it’s what they would do so they don’t ‘mind’ it’s what we do as much as you would think. It’s hard to get your head around but that’s how they think. It’s not them being generous, but fatalistically and characteristically Russian.
However it doesn’t shock me that they have one red line they won’t accept being crossed . This might well be it.
If they have such a line, it may be they have made it clear what their retaliation would be. It could be nuclear, it could be a threat to strike places in Ukraine they haven’t yet done because they know it will open the door to attacks on themselves. For example a massive ballistic missile assault on the command and government centres of Ukraine - Kyiv itself. Russia is capable of it and only the risk of attacks on Moscow have stopped them doing it.
Some kind of very believable threat has been made is my assessment. It’s that that is holding permission back and will do so for the duration.
Would you with such a threat in play, ignore it?
Why I think it exists is because Russia has indicated it does but has not made what it is public. It doesn’t want the world knowing anymore than the recipient of the news wants you to hear it.
Yet Great Power geopolitical strategies are multifaceted and complex. Wars can be waged as long as X or Y isn’t done. Everyone accepts the rules when they are clear but the rules are only known to the principle players. That’s how it’s always been - it’s how the game is played.
Not understanding how the game works is itself understandable. It’s cynical and manipulative. But it’s nothing new.
I’m sure there is now a red line. America isn’t crossing it and it won’t say what it is. They have their own and Russia knows what that is too.
Do you really want to find out what those lines are?
You don’t. You really don’t.

‘The Analyst’ MilStratOnX
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦