Analyst predicts Putin's next moves after mobilization debacle - CNN

[TexasTowelie]

CNN’s Nic Robertson reports on scenes at the Russian borders where military-aged men are fleeing the country to avoid the military draft. CNN’s Intelligence and Security Analyst Robert Baer says Putin will not de-escalate his war against Ukraine despite facing setbacks.

[Joinfortmill]

1. Someone is going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

[PortTack]

2. Ukrainian forces continue to make slow but steady progress while Poopin is telling his officers on

The front they cannot retreat. The orcs are about to be encircled near Lyman in the east. In the south 25k forces are on the wrong side of the Dnipro river near Kherson with a very difficult resupply line. They too floated the idea of surrender and were told absolutely not. Poopin is going to find himself without any kind of army..and soon.

[Irish_Dem]

4. As Putin loses more of his army, he gets more desperate.

And could resort to nukes.

[Native]

3. "Russians that I keep in touch with in Russia are convinced he's gonna go nuclear (tactical)."

Robert Baer also said, "[Putin]... like a shark, he's got to move forward. I just do not see him coming to the negotiating table..." and "I don't see him caving in at all."

That said, he also mentioned that he doesn't know how well connected the Russians in Russia are that he's spoken to. And while Putin would have to go to the military to launch anything, and it's possible they could refuse to do so, the U.S. has no clue what the key military heads think about this conflict - that they are not speaking to each other, and it's not something we can pick up on intercept.

Baer's summation - "He's like a cornered rat, and he will bite before he steps down."

Final question by Nic: "If there is the use of tactical nuclear weapons by the Russians, what will be the response from Nato and the U.S.?"

Baer's answer: "There's frankly nothing we can do. We're not gonna launch strategic weapons. We're gonna be in unchartered waters at this point." "We simply cannot respond in kind because it would unleash a nuclear exchange, including the continental United States, and that's what has the administration terrified. Because the administration keeps bringing up nuclear weapons, it is seriously assessing the situation that he [Putin] could turn to them."

[Irish_Dem]

5. Biden has stated the US will respond. Maybe not nukes, but a response.

So this guy is wrong that there is nothing we can do.