Thread by @MarkHertling

It appears Putin is taking a page out of the 17th century. He's now attempting to "dragoon" Ukrainians to fight in the RU Army.

The smart RU expert @jillrussia used the term "dragooning" during @wolfblitzer's @CNNSitRoom tonight.

What's that mean? A short historical 🧵 1/12

Dragoon is usually a noun, but Jill used it as a verb.

As a verb, it means: "subjugate or persecute & by extension compel by violent measures or threats."

The term dates to 1689, when the French forced Protestants to lodge soldiers at the householder's expense. 2/

In the 17th century, it expanded to mean forcing locals to "serve against their will under arms to fight."

"Dragooning" suggested forcing someone to take up arms or support a ruler without loyalty or patriotic duty.

The subdued were usually given the choice: fight or die.
3/

This is how despots built an army, especially when those usually loyal to them would rather not fight.

Which brings us back to Putin.

Putin's mobilization is causing more problems than it's solving.4/

defense.gov/News/News-Stor…

When 1st announced, mobilization caused major issues due to lack of training & hasty integration of unprepared soldiers.

After 3 weeks, RU report it's causing economic, diplomatic, domestic, supply & "potential political problems" in Moscow. Yeah. 5/

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

In other words, mobilizing RU "reservists" is causing MAJOR problems for Putin.

Pundits are now being asked "does this show a sign of Russian weakness?"

No. It shows a sign of imminent Russian disaster. 6/

themoscowtimes.com/2022/10/18/ang…

Annexation of Ukrainian territory, shipment of UKR civilians to Crimea or Russia, absconding with UKR children to Russia, "dragooning," are all indications of Putin's continued strategic failure.

He's now -and I'll use a doctrinal term- "winging it." 7/

themoscowtimes.com/2022/03/01/put…

I did a "podcast" with West Point's @WestPointSOSH yesterday with two very bright scholars.

One of them, @RTperson3 and his colleague MAJ Kathryn Hedgecock, wrote an interesting piece on "bargaining theory" in war. It's fascinating & I recommend it. 8/

brussels-school.be/publications/p…

Bottom line, they posit it's now - as it's always been - Ukraine vs Putin. With both fighting for their future.

If you apply Clausewitz's trilogy that wars are decided by the strength of the army, the support of the population, & the power of the govt, I bet on UKR. 9/

One last point...the NOUN version of "Dragoon."

Having served with 1-1 Cavalry during Desert Storm (whose heraldry comes from the 1st Regiment of Dragoons, formed in Missouri in 1855), the noun Dragoons mean something different.

10/

Historically, these soldiers rode were "dual purpose."

They rode into battle on horseback, but usually fought with short barreled rifles at close range. They could also perform as cavalry, fighting with sabres on horseback. 11/

Today, 1st Cavalry Regiment still serves in the US Army. Many are proud veterans of this historic unit, which was the savior at Gettysburg. I know I am.

(Below is our 1-1 Cav crew, on the final day of Desert Storm, 1991)

Come for dragooning, leave with Dragoons. 12/12

A mistake in this tweet. The Regiment was formed in 1833, NOT 1855. My mistake.