Russia mobilises - consequences and reactions

[The39thStep]

George McDonald Fraser (of Flashman fame) who had been a private solider through the Burma campaign* and was in preparation for what was expected to be opposed landings into Japan wrote of this argument. "Would you give up your life, and the life of any children you had after you were 24, in exchange for the life of one of the people killed at Hiroshima or Nagasaki? Because that is what you would have been asking us to do.) . There was a lot of cold war myth making about the atomic bombings just as there was around other horrendous destruction of entire cities, Dresden, Coventry, Hamburg for example. (My mum spent time on a YCL work camp rebuilding Dresden** in 1964 so it's not hypothetical to my family but its also not straightforward.)

* He got a commission after the war and spent time in North Africa which he wrote about in his excellent McAuslan books.

** Actually, she spent a week rebuilding then put a pickaxe through her foot so spent a month watching other people rebuild Dresden whilst taking pictures and drinking beer, her construction skills being not as good as her understanding of Marxist theory...

What is a private soldier?

 

[spitfire]

I really 'liked' that book. But it is a very tough read. Not al all like his fiction or the Mc Auslan stuff. Should be required reading for anyone who thinks war might be a 'jolly'.

Not seen the McAuslan stuff before, looks like a cross between Milligan and Švejk. Will have to check it out.

 

[RD2003]

Glib? The fucking gall of it. When you come out with the, they should have just tried more negotiations stuff

I can never understand why so many of you are so frustrated or angry-you got your war. Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[nogojones]

Yes, they appear to be appealing over Putin's head to other elements in the regime, just like I said they could have done in earlier negotiations.

Well them earlier negotiations didn't really get anywhere and I'd be amazed if there weren't discussions going on between opposing parties at various different levels all the way through this conflict, both directly and indirectly.

 

[TopCat]

I'm not sure it was negotiations that secured that. I think it's more down to inability to secure the Black sea and fear of escalation if neutral merchant ships out to feed the starving started going down.

But it's nice to believe Putin has a heart deep down.

Can't you address a point without chucking stupid straw men about?

 

[A380]

What is a private soldier?

One who doesn't talk about his inner thoughts and feelings to others...

Someone who isn't a commissioned officer or non-commissioned officer* So a private in the infantry, sapper in the engineers, gunner in the artillery etc.

(*Actually I think corporals, people with one stripe, in the British army are also technically privates too for some bizarre reason about an appointment not a rank, but `I'm sure someone who actually knows what they are talking about will be along soon to correct that.)

 

[nogojones]

Obviously, I get rubles. Lots of them. Worthless here, but I'm saving them for my retirement to a villa on the Crimean Black Sea coast.

Don't underplay this. The ruble ain't doing too bad against the pound. Even the Zimbabwean Dollar is feeling perky comparatively.

 

[A380]

Not seen the McAuslan stuff before, looks like a cross between Milligan and Švejk. Will have to check it out.

It's almost as funny as the funny bits of Milligan's war memoirs but isn't anywhere near as dark as he didn't have Spike's PTSD and depression to live with.

 

[nogojones]

Can't you address a point without chucking stupid straw men about?

Sorry, where's the straw man in there? I think it was inability to safely operate in the Black Sea and fear of an escalation they couldn't cope with that made those agreements stick, not good faith, honest deal making.

 

[RD2003]

Don't underplay this. The ruble ain't doing too bad against the pound. Even the Zimbabwean Dollar is feeling perky comparatively.

I'm thinking of putting it into gold and fucking off to Brazil. I'm hearing Bolsanero might be creating a troll army.

 

[Spymaster]

They did regroup. Japan and Germany, however, were incorporated into a kind of partnership with the West …

So they didn’t “regroup” at all then did they?

 

[The39thStep]

One who doesn't talk about his inner thoughts and feelings to others...

Someone who isn't a commissioned officer or non-commissioned officer* So a private in the infantry, sapper in the engineers, gunner in the artillery etc.

(*Actually I think corporals, people with one stripe, in the British army are also technically privates too for some bizarre reason about an appointment not a rank, but `I'm sure someone who actually knows what they are talking about will be along soon to correct that.)

Thanks. I wondered if you meant some sort of gun to hire type volunteering for whatever war he's like to kill others in.

 

[A380]

Thanks. I wondered if you meant some sort of gun to hire type volunteering for whatever war he's like to kill others in.

Like a Private Military Company.? That would make sense, but no he was part of the British Army.

 

[RD2003]

So they didn’t “regroup” at all then did they?

I suppose it depends what you mean by regroup. I meant consolidate and rebuild in all aspects of society and the economy, as well as militarily.

 

[TopCat]

Sorry, where's the straw man in there? I think it was inability to safely operate in the Black Sea and fear of an escalation they couldn't cope with that made those agreements stick, not good faith, honest deal making.

But it's nice to believe Putin has a heart deep down.

 

[Spymaster]

I suppose it depends what you mean by regroup. I meant consolidate and rebuild in all aspects of society and the economy, as well as militarily.

If you meant it that way (not sure I believe you), then you were incorrect about it when you used it in post #510. You can’t have it both ways, I’m afraid .

 

[nogojones]

But it's nice to believe Putin has a heart deep down.

I don't think that's what I understand as a strawman, it's just taking the piss.

 

[Ax^]

But it's nice to believe Putin has a heart deep down.

i'll only believe it that he has one when someone rips it out of his chest

 

[TopCat]

i'll only believe it that he has one when someone rips it out of his chest

and so on

 

[Ax^]

and so on what?

wishing death on a madman holding up the world is incorrect ?

 

[RD2003]

If you meant it that way (not sure I believe you), then you were incorrect about it when you used it in post #510. You can’t have it both ways, I’m afraid .

That's the thing about me. When I say something, I really mean something else. It's the way they train you in St Peterrsburg.

 

[A380]

and so on what?

wishing death on a madman holding up the world is incorrect ?

Madman? Heroic and virile defender of Europe's working classes, surely?

 

[Ax^]

only to TC and RD

whilst he march the lower classes to their deaths

 

[RD2003]

only to TC and RD

whilst he march the lower classes to their deaths

Can you point to where either of us has said anything of the kind?

 

[TopCat]

Immersed in self reinforcing pro US propaganda. Just make it a meme thread.

 

[Ax^]

hmm us propaganda have not seen much of that on this thread
now the otherside well

 

[The39thStep]

Immersed in self reinforcing pro US propaganda. Just make it a meme thread.

The ammunition's being passed and the lords been praised
But the wars on the televisions will never be explained
All the bankers gettin' sweaty beneath their white collars
As the pound in our pocket turns into a dollar

 

[Pickman's model]

As the pound in our pocket turns into a dollar

given the exchange rate that might be no bad thing

 

[Pickman's model]

and so on what?

wishing death on a madman holding up the world is incorrect ?

better the devil you know, many would argue

 

[Pickman's model]

i'll only believe it that he has one when someone rips it out of his chest

if that's the sort of thing that floats your boat