[actionfromafar]

An AWACS was picked off sitting on the ground, that's a bad look. It took Russia years to get to that stage in the war.

One has to wonder how much of the bad US performance is due to deep, systemic problems and how much is due to a rushed and unplanned military operation.

[sam_lowry_]

Russia lost its own AWACS early 2022 to a DJI drone attack, IIRC

[joquarky]

Several decades of education cuts along with a second or third generation of nepotism/cronyism will get you some significant systemic problems.

[tim333]

There was a certain arrogance from Trump - the Ukrainians offered to help out with years of up to date experience countering Iranian style done warfare but of course no.