War on the Rocks Ukraine and a Fractured World
33 snips
May 1, 2024 
Former CIA, national security, and intelligence experts discuss the war in Ukraine, Putin's resolve, White House response strategy, strategic decisions, Russia's evolving strategy, global polarization, and the impact on global order.
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Tiger Team
- Alex Bick led a "Tiger Team" at the National Security Council to prepare for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
- The team's planning and preparations proved crucial to the initial U.S. response and surprised Putin.
Initial Miscalculations
- The U.S. overestimated Russia's military capabilities and underestimated Ukraine's resolve.
- This significantly delayed crucial aid to Ukraine early in the war, impacting its trajectory.
Contingency and Underestimation
- The initial days of the war were highly contingent, with several factors that could have led to different outcomes.
- Western observers have repeatedly underestimated Russia's ability to recover and adapt during conflicts.