We knew last Feb 24 when Russia invaded Ukraine that depending on how things were to play out, at some point the ULTIMATE saber rattle would be heard. Military strategy at it’s loftiest levels allows for the unknown variable, whether it is weather, human incompetence, equipment failures or blind strategic planning blunders. Since the beginning of this so called special military operation the world has been fed controlled propaganda from both sides. Remarkably, from a global media perspective the conflict has evolved into a ho hum spectacle of give and take battles with the backdrop of a hamstrung Ukranian military as the reality. As if war breeds restraint, the stark reality is recent actions have dramatically escalated that alleged restraint into brazen action. From promises from NATO for more advanced equipment (notably F 16 airplanes to take back the skies) to the heinous act of destroying the Kakhovka dam , to NATO having THE BIGGEST training exercise EVER in Germany for potential war as we speak the rhetoric has become more focused on ratcheting up the conflict, not toning it down.And with Ukraine announcing a long awaited counter offensive in motion with Crimea as targeted eventual objective we have entered a much more dangerous phase of this conflict. This post reflects that as now Putin really feeling backed into a corner. Pray cooler heads prevail.