Ukraine and the Russian invasion, 2022-24

[agricola]

When he says things to western leaders, hidden from his home audience, I don't believe a word he says, and that position has been proven right so far, much to the amazement of both France & Germany.

When he holds a press conference, addressing his own people, as he did yesterday & again today, I take more notice, and assume he's being somewhat honest, otherwise he'll be left with egg on his face. amongst his own people.

Not sure about that; I've not followed their media on this issue, but on MH17 the Russian public were told a wide range of tales - many of which contradicted each other and none were what the rest of the world understood had happened.

 

[ohmyliver]

Putin not giving a fuck about obvious lies is a halmark of his government. It's a way of eroding objective truth, and thus accountability, and dampening people's anger at the continued siphoning of wealth up into the hands of a tiny number of people. It's easy to argue that Trump, and Johnson have seen how effective it is, and have utilised a similar weaponised dishonesty. So long as you can make your core supporters angry and frightened about culture war issues, then they don't seem to care you're obviously a corrupt liar.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I’ve also been watching the documentary series Rise of the Nazis: Dictators at War on BBC 2.
It’s scary the parallels that are evident in the way Putin is currently operating. It’s like he has read the how to instruction manual.

And look how well that turned out for the Third Reich.

 

[xenon]

Ok.. I am on a phone so it's not exactly streamlined and I didnt actually notice your quote of my post. Until now.

Did not really think anything I posted was a problem but sorry if it upset you. I most definitely am not playing games.
Sorry you think that way about me

IN case you have already got Aladdin on ignore cupid_stunt

Bit of crosswires IMO.

 

[Aladdin]

IN case you have already got Aladdin on ignore cupid_stunt

Bit of crosswires IMO.

I'm leaving the thread.

I've never played "games" and was not playing games on this thread.

 

[spitfire]

IN case you have already got Aladdin on ignore cupid_stunt

Bit of crosswires IMO.

Yeah Aladdin is posting in good faith cupid. No games.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I'm laughing at the sanctions announced. How often can you cancel Nord Stream 2?

It was already 'on hold', and now they've announced it's on hold. lol.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I'm leaving the thread.

I am sorry for any upset caused.

I've never played "games" and was not playing games on this thread.

I've a lot of time for cupid_stunt and like him a lot.

Sincerely sorry for any upset caused.

Don't leave the thread ffs.

 

[IC3D]

Stoopid is cock waving ignore

 

[xenon]

I'm leaving the thread.

I am sorry for any upset caused.

I've never played "games" and was not playing games on this thread.

I've a lot of time for cupid_stunt and like him a lot.

Sincerely sorry for any upset caused.

I know. just a misunderstanding is all, I reckon.

 

[xenon]

Any more deranged speeches from Vlad today?

 

[not-bono-ever]

It’s only a message board , don’t leave the thread

 

[IC3D]

Its showing how nuts Putin is. Acolytes asking him to invade while looking terrified. Benevolent leader ceding to their demands. Macron doing a Clement. Western powers looking hapless. How was Ukraine not seen for the tinderbox it evidently is before now?

 

[dilute micro]

I predict a few Ukrainians will get sloshed, drive out EAST, and try to kick the entire Russian task force out of the country.

 

[The39thStep]

Bit of a tangent but nevertheless I found this fascinating. The UK seems to have been doing a bit of meddling in the Ukraine (late last year) with the blessing of the Ukraine government. Leaked documents show that the UK government via its development aid arm (UK Aid) and the UK embassy in Kiev is funding consultants to assist the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy in selling its neo-liberal market reforms to the Ukrainian people. according to the European Public Sector Union.

Article from EPSU

Leaked documents show UK government supports anti-union labour reform Ukraine - undermining European Union policy

These leaked documents show that the UK government via its development aid arm (UK Aid) and the UK embassy in Kiev is funding consultants to assist the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy in selling its neo-liberal market reforms to the Ukrainian people.

www.epsu.org

Consultants presentation:

https://www.epsu.org/sites/default/files/article/files/Media Bomba TrudoReforma (EN-clear-true).pdf (There's an interesting bit on slide 5 that clearly tries to finger the opposition to the reforms as being linked with Russia)

 

[Yossarian]

And look how well that turned out for the Third Reich.

Putin probably won't repeat the mistake of trying to capture Moscow in the winter.

 

[Ming]

I wonder if bullets are going to start flying at some point. I mean if it’s NATO vs Russia it could end up with WW3. If the West starts seizing Putin and his kleptocrat chum’s assets will that set them off? I’d actually prefer if it was about money rather than nationalism. Less chance of foolishness.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

I predict a few Ukrainians will get sloshed, drive out EAST, and try to kick the entire Russian task force out of the country.

I wouldn't be too surprised to find a few Americans going over to fight the "Ruskies" either, tbh.

 

[Raheem]

Putin probably won't repeat the mistake of trying to capture Moscow in the winter.

He does like to be unpredictable, though.

 

[Ming]

He does like to be unpredictable, though.

Is that an act though? Nixon tried that with ‘The Madman Theory’.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

If he plans on attacking the UK in the summer he could have a rude awakening.

 

[RileyOBlimey]

Just spotted this caption in today's i newspaper, who seem to be up to speed with Putin's agenda.

View attachment 311491

The very same newspaper owned by Evgeny Lebedev, the Russian son of a high ranking intelligence officer? Who also hosted Boris at his infamous party castle in Italy where Boris definitely didn’t furnish Putin with kompromat from his drunken excesses?

Morning after: Boris Johnson recovers from Lebedev’s exotic Italian party

Exclusive: New prime minister refuses to say if he abandoned security for 2018 night in billionaire’s castle

www.theguardian.com

 

[Ming]

The very same newspaper owned by Evgeny Lebedev, the Russian son of a high ranking intelligence officer? Who also hosted Boris at his infamous party castle in Italy where Boris definitely didn’t furnish Putin with kompromat from his drunken excesses?

Morning after: Boris Johnson recovers from Lebedev’s exotic Italian party

Exclusive: New prime minister refuses to say if he abandoned security for 2018 night in billionaire’s castle

www.theguardian.com

Ridiculously obvious isn’t it? The use of kompromat is a well known tactic of Russian secret services. Johnson in Italy and Trump in Moscow. Putin’s sticking one finger up to the West and its own security services by making it very public.

 

[Yossarian]

Just spotted this caption in today's i newspaper, who seem to be up to speed with Putin's agenda.

View attachment 311491

They did a crappy job of cutting the caption down - saw it in full elsewhere as:

A woman and her child from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the territory controlled by pro-Russia separatist governments in eastern Ukraine, waves from a train on their way to temporary shelter in another region of Russia, at the railway station in Taganrog, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. World leaders are making another diplomatic push in hopes of preventing a Russian invasion of Ukraine, even as heavy shelling continues in Ukraine's east. (AP Photo)

 

[Nine Bob Note]

Ridiculously obvious isn’t it? The use of kompromat is a well known tactic of Russian secret services. Johnson in Italy and Trump in Moscow. Putin’s sticking one finger up to the West and its own security services by making it very public.

I seem to remember that (Yeltsin-era) Russian politicians used to get filmed with prostitutes in blackmail attempts, but that it only increased their popularity with their prospective voters. For what purpose would it serve in 2022? Johnson could be seen bumming the queen over the central podium of his £2.7m Downing Street press room on the 6 O'Clock News and one third of British people would automatically dismiss it as part of his "Living with Covid" strategy.

 

[Ming]

I seem to remember that (Yeltsin-era) Russian politicians used to get filmed with prostitutes in blackmail attempts, but that it only increased their popularity with their prospective voters. For what purpose would it serve in 2022? Johnson could be seen bumming the queen over the central podium of his £2.7m Downing Street press room on the 6 O'Clock News and one third of British people would automatically dismiss it as part of his "Living with Covid" strategy.

I think seeing Johnson bumming the Queen on live TV might sway my voting intentions. Not for any good reasons mind you.

 

[Humberto]

Reading the Guardian he is both a kleptocrat and will never forgive the west for helping impoverish the country post USSR.

 

[Humberto]

It can't be both you daft bastards. Or else you need sharper analysis.

 

[Raheem]

It can't be both you daft bastards. Or else you need sharper analysis.

Erm. It can't be both because that would make Putin a hypocrite and he can't possibly be a hypocrite?

 

[Ming]

Reading the Guardian he is both a kleptocrat and will never forgive the west for helping impoverish the country post USSR.

Both i would say.