** NEW MERCH ** Jackets & Sweatshirts, Thermo Mugs!! Daniel Davis Deep Dive Merch: Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/DanielDavisDeepDive?ref=seller-platform-mcnav Larry Johnson argues that the United States should reassess its own record before judging others, pointing to failed or inconclusive U.S. wars in Afghanistan, Vietnam, and Iraq, where stated goals like democracy and stability were not achieved. In contrast, they claim Russia is steadily advancing in Ukraine, while Ukraine has not successfully taken and held territory for years and suffered major losses, including a disastrous 2024 incursion into Kursk. They suggest Russia has concluded that peaceful accommodation with the U.S. and Europe is no longer possible, and that recent attacks and assassinations pushed Moscow toward a more aggressive, expanded military strategy, with Russian officials now signaling this shift openly and repeatedly. The speaker criticizes European and NATO leaders, particularly NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, for praising Ukrainian “resilience” from the safety of Brussels while continuing to push arms and prolong the war. They cite former Ukrainian officials who argue that “resilience” has become propaganda masking widespread exhaustion among ordinary Ukrainians. A major focus is Ukraine’s manpower and training crisis: recruits are often untrained, lack time for basic and advanced instruction, and have no secure areas to train, while Russia can strike anywhere in the country. Combined with infrastructure destruction—loss of power, water, and sanitation—the war is described as unsustainable for Ukrainian society. The speaker contends Europe is using Ukraine as a buffer, prioritizing its own power and security over Ukrainian lives, with catastrophic human and demographic costs. They argue casualties are enormous, with long-term damage to Ukraine’s population and future viability. Finally, they highlight what they see as empty security guarantees: when asked whether the U.S. would actually fight Russia for Ukraine under an Article 5–like promise, NATO leadership avoided a direct answer. The conclusion is that NATO guarantees are illusory, Russia will never accept them, and the war is being prolonged without a credible path to peace.