Russia Invades Ukraine

[Harry]

So don't you think its hypocritical to either support or at least provide some validity to Putins attack on Ukraine that is clearly based upon lies and delusional ramblings?

I'm not supporting the invasion but find the west's outrage hypocritical. If they wanted to lead by example they should have put Bush Blair Howard and a few others in the electric chair by now. These "world leaders" are beating their chests now but have conveniently turned a blind eye to the war criminals in their own back yard.

 

[Harry]

I think Vlad already has a puppet government in Moldova; much like Belarus.

Which country doesn't have a puppet govt ?

 

[BT Tiger]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1496977635594760196

 

[Panthera Tigris]

Yep someone posted earlier about a few targeted assassinations making the world a better place. Pretty obvious who should be number one on the list.

There is no doubt that Vlad and Xi view the west as weak right now are looking to capitalise.

An assassination of Vlad and how it would playout has been discussed prior to the Ukraine situation boiling over.

Vlad is an idealist who very much desires the glory years of the Soviet Union. He detests the oligarchs who thieved their way to riches. Sees them as having stolen the Soviet people's assets and accelerating the collapse of the 'once great nation' into the abyss of chaos, in order to gorge themselves.

He is not wrong on these points, but he has a mutual business relationship of convenience with them, where he lets them do what they want, as long as they endorse and stroke his power. It's an uneasy relationship, not overly trusting. Much of the oligarch's wealth is hoarded in offshore banking havens and in London. If the NATO nations were able to orchestrate a freezing and or confiscation of the oligarch's wealth and financial resources, it could stoke an internal feud (reminiscent of the internal feuds in the chaotic 1990s) where the oligarchs have Vlad assassinated. Not because they have any altruistic care for the people of Ukraine. Just that their wealth would be wiped out. These are extremely narcissistic people who only care for their own riches.

 

[Harry]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1496977635594760196

Clinton and Bush would know a thing or 2 about invasions.

 

[Giardiasis]

Exactly. I also don't understand somes views. I imagine some of those that seemingly support Putins actions (with his reasoning based on lies of genocide and Nazism - the Ukraine's president is a jew by the way) didn't support the war in Iraq because it was based on lies. The hypocrisy there is astounding.

I agree on the Baltics, especially those not in NATO. There was a reason Ukraine was desperate to join NATO and that was due to Article 5 - an attack on 1 is an attack on all members - so IMO those other Baltic countries not currently in NATO will be very worried about what the future holds for their countries.

No one here support's Putin's actions, the arguments stem from not supporting the West and Ukraine's actions either. It is completely hypocritical for the west to complain about this but do nothing while Spain used force to stop Catalonian's from having their voice heard. If Russia signed a pact with Venezuela that allowed it to put guns within range of the US like the US is doing with countries that border Russia then I doubt very much the west would use the argument that Venezuela is simply exercising its freedom, they would be complaining that it puts US security at risk. So one can understand why Russia would not want Ukraine to join NATO. Military alliances are aggressive acts, and these acts have been perpetuated by the west on Russia since the end of the cold war.

 

[Harry]

Russia is testing the globalist one world order. Interesting times. Even more interesting to see what China does. Covid turned the world upside down, now these events are gonna put it in a spin cycle.

 

[Harry]

No one here support's Putin's actions, the arguments stem from not supporting the West and Ukraine's actions either. It is completely hypocritical for the west to complain about this but do nothing while Spain used force to stop Catalonian's from having their voice heard. If Russia signed a pact with Venezuela that allowed it to put guns within range of the US like the US is doing with countries that border Russia then I doubt very much the west would use the argument that Venezuela is simply exercising its freedom, they would be complaining that it puts US security at risk. So one can understand why Russia would not want Ukraine to join NATO. Military alliances are aggressive acts, and these acts have been perpetuated by the west on Russia since the end of the cold war.

Correct. Imagine the US reaction if Russia put missile bases on the Mexican border.

 

[Redford]

An assassination of Vlad and how it would playout has been discussed prior to the Ukraine situation boiling over.

Vlad is an idealist who very much desires the glory years of the Soviet Union. He detests the oligarchs who thieved their way to riches. Sees them as having stolen the Soviet people's assets and accelerating the collapse of the 'once great nation' into the abyss of chaos, in order to gorge themselves.

He is not wrong on these points, but he has a mutual business relationship of convenience with them, where he lets them do what they want, as long as they endorse and stroke his power. It's an uneasy relationship, not overly trusting. Much of the oligarch's wealth is hoarded in offshore banking havens and in London. If the NATO nations were able to orchestrate a freezing and or confiscation of the oligarch's wealth and financial resources, it could stoke an internal feud (reminiscent of the internal feuds in the chaotic 1990s) where the oligarchs have Vlad assassinated. Not because they have any altruistic care for the people of Ukraine. Just that their wealth would be wiped out. These are extremely narcissistic people who only care for their own riches.

I posted this a few days ago on the Politics thread before this one was started.

Apparently Putin keeps only a very small group of loyal confidants around him for fear, and purposeful protection, of the wealthy oligarchs and their people inside of the Kremlin. It is not out of the realms of possibility that someone puts a bullet through his head. Further, apparently only 55% of Russians support an acquisition of Ukraine highlighting a divide within the country around these actions.

Putin is playing a dangerous game with his own future.

 

[Nico]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1496977635594760196

Speaking of a bullet to the head....

 

[eZyT]

Putin is playing a dangerous game with his own future.

yep,

hes betting getting shot, cowering in a drain with scraggy beard,

against being deputy director of the world.

its a long shot.

and politics and personality disorders aside,

I do have a perverse respect for the man who puts his nuts on the block,

all or nothing.

 

[AngryAnt]

hand to hand combat with a battalion of neanderthals wouldn't be for the feint hearted.

Speaking of neanderthals, these economic sanctions seem to be aimed at individuals?

The Oligarchs.

The gang of fat blokes in gold chains, sitting on the beach, gulping Moscow Mules at a Thai kiddy brothel.

As if its season 5 on Netflix.

I reckon its a way for The West to keep their economies ticking away indirectly with The USSR (sic),

while seizing some beach front real estate in Gold Coast, Florida and Soho at the same time?

Cue gold and bitcoin,

as The Oligarchs run away laughing

a perfect segway into Season 6

Yeah, the Russian oligarchs have bought a heap of real estate in London, and tend to live there too. They have strong connections to the Tory Party - it's an ideal situation as they can use the rule of law and political protection in the UK to prevent interference in their money laundering activities. Putin likely has kompromat on Boris as well - Boris is mates with an oligarch and they attended bunga-bunga parties in Italy together.

The west is not blameless in all of this but it's interesting to see who the Putin fans are on this thread.

 

[tigerman]

All sporting bodies need to punish Russia, there's talk that the Champions League final is going to taken from Saint Petersburg in Russia, and the Russian Formula 1 as well.

The ATP and WTA and all international sporting bodies need to pull the rug out from under Russia. Poland are due to play Russia in Moscow in the semi-final of the Fifa World Cup play-off.

The Mens World Volleyball Championships are due to be hosted by Russia this year. The world ice hockey championships and the world university games are to be held in Russia in 2023.

Moving all those events out of Russia will hurt and anger all Russians who will be feeling the effects of world sanctions.

It would be good if the removal of all these events was enough for someone to take out Putin with a headshot.

 

[Ridley]

No one here support's Putin's actions, the arguments stem from not supporting the West and Ukraine's actions either. It is completely hypocritical for the west to complain about this but do nothing while Spain used force to stop Catalonian's from having their voice heard. If Russia signed a pact with Venezuela that allowed it to put guns within range of the US like the US is doing with countries that border Russia then I doubt very much the west would use the argument that Venezuela is simply exercising its freedom, they would be complaining that it puts US security at risk. So one can understand why Russia would not want Ukraine to join NATO. Military alliances are aggressive acts, and these acts have been perpetuated by the west on Russia since the end of the cold war.

Military alliances are not always aggressive; they can be defensive. Many European countries are wary of the Russian agenda; current circumstances show they have every right to be. They will all recall the Soviet Union's aggression in the Cold War era; sending tanks into Hungary and Czechoslavakia and turning them into supportive "Communist" regimes. Poland, Bulgaria and Romania as well. The citizens of such countries could not remove themselves from Soviet influence quick enough when the curtains started to lift in the late 80s and early 90s.

 

[Ridley]

All sporting bodies need to punish Russia, there's talk that the Champions League final is going to taken from Saint Petersburg in Russia, and the Russian Formula 1 as well.

The ATP and WTA and all international sporting bodies need to pull the rug out from under Russia. Poland are due to play Russia in Moscow in the semi-final of the Fifa World Cup play-off.

The Mens World Volleyball Championships are due to be hosted by Russia this year. The world ice hockey championships and the world university games are to be held in Russia in 2023.

Moving all those events out of Russia will hurt and anger all Russians who will be feeling the effects of world sanctions.

It would be good if the removal of all these events was enough for someone to take out Putin with a headshot.

Spot on. Remove Russia from all world sporting events. Who cares; they *smile* cheat at everything anyway.

 

[Baloo]

All sporting bodies need to punish Russia, there's talk that the Champions League final is going to taken from Saint Petersburg in Russia, and the Russian Formula 1 as well.

The ATP and WTA and all international sporting bodies need to pull the rug out from under Russia. Poland are due to play Russia in Moscow in the semi-final of the Fifa World Cup play-off.

The Mens World Volleyball Championships are due to be hosted by Russia this year. The world ice hockey championships and the world university games are to be held in Russia in 2023.

Moving all those events out of Russia will hurt and anger all Russians who will be feeling the effects of world sanctions.

It would be good if the removal of all these events was enough for someone to take out Putin with a headshot.

They'll just get the Russian athletes play under a UN flag.

 

[eZyT]

Boris is mates with an oligarch and they attended bunga-bunga parties in Italy together.

those Eaton boys would do bent better than most

 

[mrposhman]

No one here support's Putin's actions, the arguments stem from not supporting the West and Ukraine's actions either. It is completely hypocritical for the west to complain about this but do nothing while Spain used force to stop Catalonian's from having their voice heard. If Russia signed a pact with Venezuela that allowed it to put guns within range of the US like the US is doing with countries that border Russia then I doubt very much the west would use the argument that Venezuela is simply exercising its freedom, they would be complaining that it puts US security at risk. So one can understand why Russia would not want Ukraine to join NATO. Military alliances are aggressive acts, and these acts have been perpetuated by the west on Russia since the end of the cold war.

Correct me if I'm wrong but NATO have only been the initial aggressor in Afghanistan (though the Sept 11th terrorist attack and the Talibans protection of Al-Qaeda could be seen as providing legitimacy).

NATO are a defensive pact, and when taking action (whether that is in Kosovo, Afghanistan etc) this has largely been in a reaction to actions taken within that country. When Serbs were committing genocide in Kosovo, thats a very different reaction from NATO than this pre-emptive strike by Russia.

 

[Giardiasis]

Military alliances are not always aggressive; they can be defensive. Many European countries are wary of the Russian agenda; current circumstances show they have every right to be. They will all recall the Soviet Union's aggression in the Cold War era; sending tanks into Hungary and Czechoslavakia and turning them into supportive "Communist" regimes. Poland, Bulgaria and Romania as well. The citizens of such countries could not remove themselves from Soviet influence quick enough when the curtains started to lift in the late 80s and early 90s.

Defensive to one side is aggressive to another. I think if these countries signed military alliances with each other that would be one thing, but to sign military alliances with the west is entirely different and a danger to Russia. Those countries have every right to fear Russia but you have to set foreign policy to match the reality on the ground and Ukraine miscalculated this badly.

 

[Ridley]

Vlad is an idealist who very much desires the glory years of the Soviet Union. He detests the oligarchs who thieved their way to riches. Sees them as having stolen the Soviet people's assets and accelerating the collapse of the 'once great nation' into the abyss of chaos, in order to gorge themselves.

The irony of this is that Vlad is so corrupt he has used these oligarchs to stealthily make himself the richest man in the world. Not to mention the fact that he changed the Russian constitution so he can be leader until at least 2036. Oh, and he kills anyone who speaks out against him.

What a guy!