It didn't look like our "cultural elite" on the Capitol steps to me.
The Ukraine war. (Yes, we'll mind our manners)
- Thread starter BigBlueFanGA
- Start date
Ukraine corruption:
"Ukraine was poor and corrupt long before Zelenskyy; there’s a very simple metric that works pretty well to work out how poor and how corrupt a country in Europe is. How long ago and how effectively did it escape Russian domination. And Europe basically divides into thirds here with most of the exceptions being on the literal border or part of the former Yugoslavia; the dividing lines are pretty clear on the map below.
Map of Europe by 2011 GDP, CC-BY-SA 3.0, via Wikipedia (numerous contributors)
At the richest and most prosperous end of the scale you have countries that have never been dominated by Russia. Britain, France, West Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, etc. And Germany is an excellent case study here because there are two parts with only East Germany having been under Russian domination. They don’t have to have been NATO members (the Swiss, the Irish, and the Swedes aren’t for example). They need to just have not been ground down under the Russian jackboot.
The next group down is Central Europe, being mostly former Warsaw Pact countries - i.e. having mostly had puppet Russian governments up until 1990 - but having since then thoroughly rejected Russia and joined NATO. This includes Poland, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, and event the “Baltic States”; the three former Soviet state of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
The bottom tier are those countries Russia enjoys bullying with Russia’s targets of opportunity of Moldova (with Transnistria), Georgia, Ukraine, and their client states of Serbia and Belarus. Ukraine in particular is worst off; they were fully within the USSR, weren’t able to escape Russian direct control until 1990 and when they tried to escape Russian domination in 2014 Russia didn’t like the idea that Ukraine might be prosperous and invaded. And then invaded further in 2022.
In order to have a chance to be less corrupt Ukraine needs less of Russia interfering both politically and militarily because Russia is the wellspring of corruption in Ukranian politics. Getting the Russian army out would be a good start, and humbling Russia in the process so it doesn’t try again would be a nice next step. And then joining NATO and the EU."
Out of curiosity, which corrupt Russian Bully is this?
The Ukrainian prosecutor was investigating Biden's son & his company was fired at Biden's request after threatening to withhold $1B in aid.
Can't imagine how much more humiliation Putin can stand. There have to be Russians somewhere planning to take out this prick. Leads to being even more secluded and psychotic.
Putin losing energy war as European gas supplies near record levels
Europe is on course to end the winter with near record volumes of gas in storage, dealing a blow to Vladimir Putin's efforts to fund his war in Ukraine.
www.telegraph.co.uk
No it’s not wrong. This article says British intel says as many as 60000 Russians have been killed. That’s a stark contrast to the 150000+ Ukraine claimed to have killed and certainly isn’t in line with 1000 a day KIA.
Russia’s Death Toll From Ukraine War Is as High as 60,000, U.K. Says
The U.K. Defense Ministry estimates that more than 200,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of the invasion.
www.wsj.com
US LNG terminals are saving Europe from tyranny. Putin only has pipelines which limit his ability to sell gas anywhere. Turning off the spigot to Europe was a disaster for Russia as it turns out.Putin losing energy war as European gas supplies near record levels
Europe is on course to end the winter with near record volumes of gas in storage, dealing a blow to Vladimir Putin's efforts to fund his war in Ukraine.
To me, this seems to contradict the above:Here’s another
Antony Blinken 'warns Ukraine' against retaking Crimea
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, has warned a Ukrainian attempt to retake Crimea would be a red line for Vladimir Putin that could escalate the conflict, it has been reported.us.yahoo.com
You think these are shows of support for Ukraine? You guys say for Ukraine to take it all back. Not happening. There’s no us support for taking back Crimea now.
"“No matter what the Ukrainians decide about Crimea in terms of where they choose to fight, Ukraine is not going to be safe unless Crimea is at a minimum, demilitarized,” Under-Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said in a speech to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace."
Russia’s Death Toll From Ukraine War Is as High as 60,000, U.K. Says
The U.K. Defense Ministry estimates that more than 200,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of the invasion.
www.wsj.com
It also says the R casualty rate has increased significantly since Sept such that the near-1000/day rate could be accurate over last 4+ months.No it’s not wrong. This article says British intel says as many as 60000 Russians have been killed. That’s a stark contrast to the 150000+ Ukraine claimed to have killed and certainly isn’t in line with 1000 a day KIA.
Russia’s Death Toll From Ukraine War Is as High as 60,000, U.K. Says
The U.K. Defense Ministry estimates that more than 200,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of the invasion.
Also says,
"To the north of Bakhmut, Ukraine has spent weeks trying to retake the Russian-held city of Kreminna, which would give access to roads leading to major occupied cities in the Luhansk region. Serhiy Haidai, the exiled governor of Luhansk, said Friday that Russia is throwing everything it can against Ukrainian forces pushing on Kreminna."
THAT success would put R on the run. Here's rooting.
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There is a lot of talk from the appeasenik crowd about how corrupt Ukraine was before the war but they look extremely efficient compared to the 20+ years of Putin’s rule in Russia.
Putin and the Oligarchs have bled Russia’s military dry over that time span. In 2000 Putin launched a $20 billion plan to upgrade the military but as fast as the money was released, it was sucked up by those closest to Putin. All the while they were lying to him, saying that the military was fine.
Russia would have a hard time conquering any country with the mess that the Russian military has become. Since the “Great Patriotic War,” their military has basically stood still with few technological advancements and almost no concern with the education of vital military leaders.
When your former cook can become a leader of a mercenary group, you know that there’s something rotten in Moscow. Their military is a shell of its once fear-inspiring presence.
Spot-on. Russia's military is a hollowed out shell bled dry by corruption and all it took was the Ukraine war to unmask it.
This past week of fighting around Bakhmut is dramatically showing the desperation of Putin for something to celebrate on the anniversary of the second invasion. It will be a telling defeat for him if Bakhmut is not “liberated” by Feb. 24, 2023. Prigozhin and his mercenaries have been trying since last May to take the city.
He is sending wave after wave of green troops against well-fortified Ukrainian garrisons in and around Bakhmut, often without the cover of tanks. Russia is suffering almost World War I levels of attrition as their troops, armed mostly with rifles are being mowed down in staggering numbers as they try to cross open fields.
The battle for this area may be a turning point in the war. Russia has lost thousands of troops in the Battle of Bakhmut. The irony is that the city has no strategic value and has been virtually destroyed in the 9 month battle.
That’s not what’s been floated in the media and here on this forum. Not a casualty rate rather KIA of at least 150000. Half the wounded maybe minor shrapnel or who knows. 60 and 150+ thousand are miles apart.
And Bakhmut. Here’s the importance. It’s strategic and very difficult to penetrate. Russia will take it through attrition. Once they do Ukraine isn’t taking it back.
I don’t think Putin gaf about what’s happening in us politics right now. There’s no diplomacy with him. He’s not counting on republicans. They’ve done ziltch for him in the past. A little appeasing by bush in Georgia but the biggest appeaser was Obama on Crimea.
If this were true, why didn’t he invade from 2016-2020? Not like he was building up his military.
It's so obvious... the left is so mad at Putin for getting Trump elected (which didn't actually happen) that they just post the same nonsense over and over cheerleading Ukraine. I mean judging by the posts, 10M Russian soliders have been killed and their economy has collapsed.
But is that true? It's more likely that around 15K Russians have died and their economy seems to be holding up pretty well.
So don't the facts match up with what LOL and his clown show are saying? Is it because you are spreading disinformation?
But is that true? It's more likely that around 15K Russians have died and their economy seems to be holding up pretty well.
So don't the facts match up with what LOL and his clown show are saying? Is it because you are spreading disinformation?
Don't quote me as a source of the 150K R killed. Casualties is what I've quoted.
Bakhmut ain't that strategic. Putin just wants it badly & willing to lose a lot for it. U happy to oblige him. Net, they're in agreement.
Still believing in #MuhRussia. LOL. This is one of the things that crack me up when people argue we didn't provoke Russia. For 4 years we accused them of interfering in our elections and ruining our democracy. People railed that it was an act of war. We got the black ledger from Ukraine that helped to impeach Trump. If you are Russia and you see what the government and media were saying for 4 years... and then Joe freaking Biden, who was Obama's point man in Ukraine, became president.
You have to be really bad at connecting dots to not see that.
That's why I made the mistake, but my math was screwed up. I had heard someone report the 600,000 number and when I saw the post I jumped to that number. I still should have done that math correct for point.No it’s not wrong. This article says British intel says as many as 60000 Russians have been killed. That’s a stark contrast to the 150000+ Ukraine claimed to have killed and certainly isn’t in line with 1000 a day KIA.
Russia’s Death Toll From Ukraine War Is as High as 60,000, U.K. Says
The U.K. Defense Ministry estimates that more than 200,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of the invasion.
Depends on where you get your news. Plenty of people are saying the US and nato cannot keep supplying munitions at the rate Ukraine is going through them. Nato general said that by summer it will be critical. The death tolls are reported vastly different in eastern Europe and Asian news sites. Ukraine is on its 7th mobilization and are taking 16yo and 60yo's for a reason... they are losing wayyyy more men then they are acknowledging because the funds are coming because people think they can win. As soon as it's apparent Ukraine has lost then all military aid stops. There is a reason Germany and other European countries have been very hesitant to provide military aid instead of just humanitarian aid.
Good connecting with you - I wish you/your family well
Corbin/London area seems to have grown a fair amount - I left home in 1992 and just moved back to KY about 3 yrs ago
The Redhounds have always been an impressive football pgm & we played them, Bell Co, Somerset, and often Henry Clay or Clark Co to
boot -- much bigger schools
Middlesboro is 2A now - Corbin 4A i think - Bell
Co 3A?
Clark Co went fm 5 to 6A last year
Yellow jackets have a revamped district schedule that's a better fit (Morgan Co, Lesli Co & whatnot)
I didn't PLAN to rattle on about school population numbers BUT - here we are
ha!
Awesome reply - thanks for the conversion
May all your casts - net big ornery bronzebacks & never snag the wrong targets 😆
They clearly lack combat experience - This
is their first major military campaign since invading Afghanstan in 79-80 --
And their use of irregular forces like the Chechnian Soldiers , contracted privateers & what appears to have also included conscripts - probably hasn't meshed as well as planned
They do possess more powerful / MIRV
capable ICBMs than we do however (their 'Yars' vs our Minutemen IIIs & Navy's SLBMs)'
And i believe their electronic warfare and
surveillance systems are equal to ours
I can't say much good about our F35's --
repeatedly grounded and flawed with
repeated design issues and under
performing characteristics (stealth features didn't work as planned, VTOL qualification issues, Sensors/Software and pilots HUD
all had problems)
So I suspect their modern fighters are more reliable than our latest/greatest
BUT - dont sleep on the F16s and F18s -
those are still formidable jets AND I definitely believe our Air Force & Navy Pilots are better trained etc
Heres the thing though -
They don't NEED to be tactically superior to us across all platforms
IF they reach a point where they decide to strike NATO nations directly - including the UK
or US ....they could cause immense disruption and systemic harm by targeting select systems, locations & capabilities
(think cyber, psyops, use of irregular forces inside targeted nation and limited nuclear strikes)
Hopefully it never comes to that of course but
i SERIOUSLY have lost faith in the ppl and institutions that exist to prevent such needless escalation
Have
a
good
saturday,
yall
In theory, yes, possibly equivalent capabilities with US systems.
But as we both know effectiveness also depends on the soldiers/airmen manning and maintaining those systems.
---
The US spent 20 years fighting in Afghanistan against a foe with no modern weaponry at all & got their asses kicked. Why? Because of people like this:
Clown Show
Collectively, that still does not justify R's actions - as hard as you might try to make it so.
Just once I wish you'd quote your supposed news sources. As is, I'm quite justified believing it's all made up.
Russia is using t-62s on the front line with ''upgraded'' internals. Lol
I don’t care what he knows. I have him on ignore. I simply can’t abide anyone who is anti-American. We’re all in this together and to date we have the country that is dominant on the world scene, not because we take other nations’ lands or oppress their populations but because we evangelize democracy.
On the whole, other nations want what we have and we’re willing to help them get it. We’re not perfect but we sure as hell aren’t a bad country. Our culture mingles easily with other cultures and is quick to adopt facets of others that are beneficial to most everyone. While some may envy and resent our power, most don’t see us as a threat. Only closed societies see us as a threat, but then they see everyone that way.
Exactly what I think. The people that are carrying water for Putin while a shooting war is going on in Ukraine are scum to me. You don't give aid and comfort to Vladimir Putin then roll yourself up in the American Flag and pretend freedom means something to you. There is no coming back from selling yourselves out to the Russians in my book.
They try to play word games by pretending they want "accountability" in the nit-picking on funding but when you take in the big picture of their actions and all that they've done which conveniently always come down on the side of benefitting Vlad and Russia then they simply have no credibility.
Does anyone believe the Ukrainian people aren't fighting for their freedom? Their bravery and tenaciousness on the battlefield have been the essence of what America stands for. Death or freedom from heartless Communism is something the Republican Party no longer believes in. Throw them a buck and they'll sing whatever tune you want them to play like prostitutes. Trump broke them and he took away everything the Republican Party has ever stood for then replaced it with idolatry and fealty. Part of the new programming from Trump was love and admiration for Vladimir Putin. That's the truth and they need to own that instead of telling themselves lies to rationalize it.
And then -
You have to consider intangibles right?
A military unit can be well equipped but undisciplined or have poor logistics -- OR --
lack the WILL to see the enormous effort of winning a war - to completion
IMO Russia has a decisive advantage in terms of the WILL to defeat NATO in a war waged on their doorstep and within an area associated with the birth of their nation
The culture war aspects of this conflict seem to be VERY real and meaningful to Russia while most US citizens aren't even aware of the particulars **
And frankly - our military is being radically changed via executive orders and
newly created government organs chartered under the vague quest for diversity -- but
are ultimately Marxist in nature and destroying order, rrust and morale
Finally - how would our allies perform in a major
conflict with Russia?
How much of the burden will be assumed by
the British , Germans, Polish, and Scandanavian
countries?
Britan shipped tanks but i THINK they could only commit to fielding a third of the quantity pledged - the rest required maintenance
And the support troops that train the UKR
soldiers and addresses maintenance/upkeep --
arrive at an even later date
Frankly, the Germans and French and other lesser NATO powers spent DECADES perfectly willing to let the US pay for and equip most of NATOs fighting forces -- I could say more but Im yammering as it is
Ultimately - I don't place much faith in NATO as a fighting force - and I strongly object to the use of US military forces in this
conflict - and also firmly believe we ARE NOT CAPABLE OF VICTORY WHATSOEVER
** talking about the forced schism that was launched against the eastern orthodox church fm "western" agents and powers -- this also led to raids / arrests within UKR of "Russian agents" within the UKR Orthodox Church (not dissimilar to the disgusting "pussy riot" mode of cultural assault that was funded by western sources as well
One other thing
Anyone recall the military alliance Russia and China signed (i THINK about a year ago?)
They specifically agreed to cooperate in matters of foreign threats and conflict
So if the US does what they're HINTING at doing and opens up direct conflict against Russian targets, cities and people
That absolutely brings China into the fight as well
It's sloppy, shameful and incredibly unnecessary to continue waging bullshit imperial wars like this --
I do wish ALL YALL well though
Intangibles + variables = nearly unlimited. Great job for theater conflict planners. They spend months and years focusing on the next "big one". Usually O-3 though O-5 super-nerds.
Thus far, Russian flaws have been exposed beyond belief.
This is tragically foolish on all and every count. Conventionally the US alone could cut through the entire Russian army in a few days chopping them up like a garbage disposal. I don't think conventionally Russia is a match for any advanced European country.
Russia has nukes and the advanced means of deploying them or they wouldn't even exist. Russia is not a match for any Western armed European country on a conventional battlefield and we have learned 100% beyond any question the sheer conventional numbers mean nothing in terms of the actual strength of the toothless Russian army's tanks, planes, artillery, and especially the fighting will and capability of their dwindling troops.
Russia is a bully that got punched in the nose and now nobody is afraid of them on the battlefield. They have their nukes to threaten everyone with and make them feel safe, but beyond that they are a global laughing stock.
The United States has the best trained and equipped fighting force to project lethality around the globe than has ever existed on earth. Period. We could decisively defeat the Russian army in Ukraine in a week. NATO would crush Russia and ragdoll them all over Europe.
What almost makes me laugh out loud is to even speak about US pilots compared to their Russian counterparts. Russians won't even get in their airplanes to go up and face US fighters if a shooting war started. We'd own the skies on day 1 and sport a Vietnam-eque 17-1 kill ratio if they did. We could establish a no-fly zone all over Ukraine. Russia wants nothing to do with the US on the sky or on the ground.
