The No-Fly Debate

[mystery-ak]

March 24, 2022
The No-Fly Debate
By Barrett Tillmam

Should NATO establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine?  The question turns on prospects for a clash of allied and Russian aircraft erupting into a wider conflict.

We have been there before. Repeatedly.

In November 1944, Italy-based American fighters attacked a Soviet road convoy in Yugoslavia.  Accounts vary as to the cause: either a navigation error or the Russians’ failure to announce an unexpected breakthrough.  In any case, the P-38 Lightnings mistook the Russian vehicles for German and strafed them.  Reportedly among the dead was a general.

The Russian top cover descended, resulting in a dogfight that claimed two P-38s and four Yakovlev fighters.

Anticipating high-level problems, U.S. headquarters immediately sent the group commander Stateside.  And sure enough, Moscow demanded his execution.  However, Colonel Clarence “Curly” Edwinson retired as a brigadier general.

more
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/03/the_nofly_debate.html

[Kamaji]

Very simply:  No.

For two reasons:  Major reason:  it would bring U.S. forces and/or NATO forces into direct military conflict with Russian forces - that has been a no-no since 1946 and the start of the Cold War, and is a bright line that should not be cavalierly crossed.  Minor reason:  It wouldn't be that effective because the Russians can simply stand off in Russian and/or Belarus airspace and launch their air to surface (or air to air) missiles from there.  In particular, cruise missiles can be launched without any Russian air craft having to enter Ukraine airspace.

In fact, the only real "point" to such an incursion that I can see is using it as a prelude to having U.S. A-10s doing strafing runs over Russian columns, at which point we have definitely started WWIII.

It's a loser of an idea on both points, and should simply not be encouraged.