Ukraine

[Timberridge]

Was it loaded with Porsche's bound for Tokyo?

[ill-advised strategy]

So, um.
So…do you guys think this could be some kind of world war with China and Russia and us?
Like, is that anxiety way out of line with reality, or is that a possibility here?

[Mod Team]

Haha. Yeah, totally possible to divorce this from political discussion. This has nothing to do with politics...(I know, 'partisan discussions of US politics,' but no, the distinction doesn't exist unless you aren't really interested in the discussion in the first place, which is why the entire premise is faulty. You guys know you could always just ignore the people complaining that their feelings are hurt because they can't keep themselves from clicking on inherently political threads?)

Suck my balls, Dex.

[dunfree]

Yeah. Remember the outrage all about Georgia? Crimea? How about the Belarus state sponsored highjacking of an international airliner? Or the recent butchering of an uprising in Kazakhstan? The last few are already distant memories. We'll get used to this one, too.

Ever forget, bunny

[Timberridge]

So, um.
So…do you guys think this could be some kind of world war with China and Russia and us?
Like, is that anxiety way out of line with reality, or is that a possibility here?

I think China is watching the response closely as to how to proceed over Taiwan.

[CarlMega]

Welp Russia threatened Sweden and Finland...militarily. And dumbfucks here want to nitpick Biden's presentation during a speech. JFC. While you are judging his smiles, his fucking backroom is best in class. Actual qualified military leaders, advisors and intelligence giving accurate advice which is heeded and applied. Every fucking thing they said would happen, did happen. You should be grateful for the team's competence and experience instead of some dumb shit "going with his gut" who has been wrong on every fucking chance he's ever taken. Oh and it's not USA doing it unilaterally, we actually have the civilized international community's alignment, attention and respect.

This is as humanitarian crisis
This is destabilization for all of europe and ultimately the world
This is a strategic powerplay, absent of conscience and respect of law from the guy you'd least want in control

But go on... memes about ice cream..

[Benny Profane]

I think China is watching the response closely as to how to proceed over Taiwan.

Yup

[LongShortLong]

2018 lecture on the topic of how we got here

Similar point as the last video I posted. Putin and Russians don't trust NATO/West. NATO/West have not been trustworthy. It could have been different. Maybe if there's better understanding, there can be compromise in the future.

[SumJongGuy]

Welp Russia threatened Sweden and Finland...militarily. And dumbfucks here want to nitpick Biden's presentation during a speech. JFC. While you are judging his smiles, his fucking backroom is best in class. Actual qualified military leaders, advisors and intelligence giving accurate advice which is heeded and applied. Every fucking thing they said would happen, did happen. You should be grateful for the team's competence and experience instead of some dumb shit "going with his gut" who has been wrong on every fucking chance he's ever taken. Oh and it's not USA doing it unilaterally, we actually have the civilized international community's alignment, attention and respect.

This is as humanitarian crisis
This is destabilization for all of europe and ultimately the world
This is a strategic powerplay, absent of conscience and respect of law from the guy you'd least want in control

But go on... memes about ice cream..

I alone can fix it.. I know more than the generals...

[Dexter Rutecki]

Suck my balls, Dex.

My bad. Will cease pointing out the obvious. Need to get back in line fellating PM Gear to get right on this?

[Benny Profane]

This is as humanitarian crisis

So is Yemen. So is Syria. So is Iraq. So is Lybia. The Afghan population is starving to death in the winter right now. Venezuela and, certainly Cuba, could tell you about years, hell, decades of sanctions against the people. Where do you stand on that?

[LongShortLong]

Yeah. Remember the outrage all about Georgia? Crimea? How about the Belarus state sponsored highjacking of an international airliner? Or the recent butchering of an uprising in Kazakhstan? The last few are already distant memories. We'll get used to this one, too.

The video works with this too, covering what the Russians remember. We all may need to forget a few things to achieve some peace.

[Timberridge]

Suck my balls, Dex.

Patience. He'll get to yours in a bit, he's got a helluva line to work thru.

[Adolf Allerbush]

Welp Russia threatened Sweden and Finland...militarily. And dumbfucks here want to nitpick Biden's presentation during a speech. JFC. While you are judging his smiles, his fucking backroom is best in class. Actual qualified military leaders, advisors and intelligence giving accurate advice which is heeded and applied. Every fucking thing they said would happen, did happen. You should be grateful for the team's competence and experience instead of some dumb shit "going with his gut" who has been wrong on every fucking chance he's ever taken. Oh and it's not USA doing it unilaterally, we actually have the civilized international community's alignment, attention and respect.

This is as humanitarian crisis
This is destabilization for all of europe and ultimately the world
This is a strategic powerplay, absent of conscience and respect of law from the guy you'd least want in control

But go on... memes about ice cream..

Exactly. I think this type of reasoning is why NATO/the West need to put their foot down. I don't want WW3 but just ignoring reality isn't going to make it go away.

[CarlMega]

Similar point as the last video I posted. Putin and Russians don't trust NATO/West. NATO/West have not been trustworthy. It could have been different. Maybe if there's better understanding, there can be compromise in the future.

Lots of NATO invasions huh? All those democracies they've overrun and occupied. Now, let's do Russia and USSR. Compare track records.

[Adolf Allerbush]

So is Yemen. So is Syria. So is Iraq. So is Lybia. The Afghan population is starving to death in the winter right now. Venezuela and, certainly Cuba, could tell you about years, hell, decades of sanctions against the people. Where do you stand on that?

What's your argument here? That because the West is absent in those places, had a fucked up response, or sanctioned Cuba and Venezuela that we should do nothing? Or are you just flinging poo because it's all you're good at?

[dunfree]

2018 lecture on the topic of how we got here

Similar point as the last video I posted. Putin and Russians don't trust NATO/West. NATO/West have not been trustworthy. It could have been different. Maybe if there's better understanding, there can be compromise in the future.

Wait, people believe this shit? Jesus this place is stupid.

With the prc, or Putin, forget the thought that they are like you. Then you’ll learn what they’ll do.

[Benny Profane]

What's your argument here? That because the West is absent in those places, had a fucked up response, or sanctioned Cuba and Venezuela that we should do nothing? Or are you just flinging poo because it's all you're good at?

No, it's just beyond hypocritical when someone uses "think of the poor starving people being over run by the bad conquering tyrants and then left to fend for themselves" when we have done the same shit over and over. Sanctions hurt the people way more than the leaders. You think these oligarch and Putin himself is worrying about their billions stashed who knows where?

[MultiVerse]

Some Takeaways:

• The Russian regime overall is very skilled in deception and propaganda
• Americans are far more preoccupied by their fights with each other
• In spite of its vast (on paper) superiority the Russian military is so far unable to destroy Ukrainian defenses
• Russia appears to be out of precision guided missiles and will either have to inflict mass civilian casualties using unguided munitions like WW2 Stalingrad or hope Ukraine surrenders rather than fighting as an insurgency
• Taiwan can't count on overt Western support and must step up its covert armament

[Benny Profane]

The video works with this too, covering what the Russians remember. We all may need to forget a few things to achieve some peace.

I was recently laughed off in Polyass trying to remind people how important WWII is to the Russian people to this day. That isn't going away soon.

[Adolf Allerbush]

No, it's just beyond hypocritical when someone uses "think of the poor starving people being over run by the bad conquering tyrants and then left to fend for themselves" when we have done the same shit over and over. Sanctions hurt the people way more than the leaders. You think these oligarch and Putin himself is worrying about their billions stashed who knows where?

Ok. You understand this is a different situation than your examples, such as Yemen, correct?

Wait, people believe this shit? Jesus this place is stupid.

With the prc, or Putin, forget the thought that they are like you. Then you’ll learn what they’ll do.

I was writing something similar but thought it too harsh.

[One (+) Sentence]

Some Takeaways:

• The Russian regime overall is very skilled in deception and propaganda
• Americans are far more preoccupied by their fights with each other
• In spite of its vast (on paper) superiority the Russian military is so far unable to destroy Ukrainian defenses
• Russia appears to be out of precision guided missiles and will either have to inflict mass civilian casualties using unguided munitions like WW2 Stalingrad or hope Ukraine surrenders rather than fighting as an insurgency
• Taiwan can't count on overt Western support and must step up its covert armament

Yes

[CarlMega]

Wait, people believe this shit? Jesus this place is stupid.

With the prc, or Putin, forget the thought that they are like you. Then you’ll learn what they’ll do.

You don't understand...one time a guy wrote an article in 1998 that contradicted something said in 1946. They've been butthurt ever since then and that's why they've occupied and terrorized their neighboring nations for centuries.

[Benny Profane]

Ok. You understand this is a different situation than your examples, such as Yemen, correct?

My forehead hurts from pounding it on the desk.

[frorider]

Earlier on Thursday, as the country’s stock market tanked for the second day in a row, Putin held a televised meeting with Russian big businessmen. Alexander Shokhin, the group’s leader, told Putin, “Everything should be done to demonstrate as much as possible that Russia remains part of the global economy and will not provoke … global negative phenomena on world markets.” He seemed nervous while making the statement—a strong, if implicit, critique of Putin’s policies—but the fact that he said this at all should raise eyebrows.

Over/under on Shohkin mysteriously getting poisoned?

All the pundits are connecting this to Taiwan naturally. signs point to Xi being in no hurry to push that one.

At this rate it seems probable there’ll be a puppet ‘all Ukraine’ govt installed this year, massive insurgency forcing Putin to maintain a troop presence increasingly unpopular in Russia, obvious economic woes, and eventually some negotiated outcome that gives up the E and S chunks to Russia and a still large Ukraine even more West oriented than before.

I posted a while back that fairly credible poll showing only 45% support in Russia for invasion, before body bags have piled up, and a relatively quiet non-State propaganda situation. Meanwhile ^^ business leaders feel they need to speak out. None of this seems to indicate a strengthening of Putin’s situation. And he doesn’t have a Wehrmacht capable of significant invasion and occupation in E Europe.