-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DeathAndTaxes
Russia found out about the base in western Ukraine because the cellphones were trying to connect to towers using British area codes, basically Wagner group mercenaries (with links to Moscow) passively scanned the cell network and when these numbers tried to connect to towers they were identified based on intelligence gathering on British bases.
Essentially the only thing dumber than the Russian military leadership are the western volunteers.
Saying PMC Wagner has links to Moscow is putting it very lightly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bahuba
^^Regardless, you'll never see it again - no one will cooperate on nuke removal again. They could have kept them BTW, Russia had no option to use force
They were probably better suited to use force before the kleptocrats got hold of the country than they are now. The only way Ukraine was ever going to have possession of those was to take them by force, and that still wouldn’t give them the command and control apparatus needed to actually use them, IF they succeeded. Missile silos tended to be designed with the idea of keeping out people who weren’t supposed to be there, and it definitely wouldn’t have gained them any favor with the West, either. The whole, “Ukraine was forced to give up their nukes” spiel completely overlooks that they were never Ukraine’s, and Ukraine never actually had control of them.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Luci Fer
They are trying to create laws to support individual business which suffers the most now. (because of Instagram shutdown and master card sanctions)
They have created their own inner bank system and their own card after the first sanctions in 2014. The sanctions taught them not to rely on western economy too much and if they chose the war path, they are aware it will be sucky. I guess they will be isolated and they will isolate themselves and this sucks too, because hellloooo ussr. Anybody was missing it?:(
Nobody cares about people there. These who work for federal corps will be ok and I guess they think russians will go through it...somehow. People who work for plants that build weapons are paid well, too.
Btw, did you guys watch the video where the editor of russian news stood there with "No War" message while the news were on air? (14th March)
She also posted that she was ashamed of herself because they were lying on TV the whole time and should 've started to worry about it in 2014 already. (I guess when Crimea was annexed)
So you are right about brainwashing. They post the news like "Another drug laboratory controlled by ukrainians was closed in ... region" (in russia).
well, shit:(
So so sad. Did you see this on the news today?
edit: it's not letting me post the link
The article was saying the russian elites are going to overthrow Putin.
What do you think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
moneybags
https://youtu.be/slZvbRj0naE
Great resource when the world feels too crazy. My teacher said world peace starts with peace in ourselves. Not trying to spiritual bypass this horrific tragedy, but something to bring you back to center.
This made me smile so big! Are you actually a tapper or did you just find the video?? I'm a practitioner. It's been a game changer for my mental health!
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
^^^i am! I love this one for Ukraine. Tapping is definitely a game changer for me-especially with everything going on in the world!
The world tapping summit just happened and they donated all their proceeds one day to Ukraine.
While it’s a tragedy, this silver lining of Ukraine has been seeing people all over the world do whatever they can to help. People have donated money, opened up their homes, and even some Americans have volunteered to fight paying their own way and bringing their own equipment.
If shows of we can all come together we could change the world.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
^ Just makes me so happy to hear! I've healed so much with EFT!
I agree on Ukraine it's just....is there going to be much Ukraine left after all of this?
Even if Zelensky survives this somehow. Putin can't let him live. His ego won't allow it.
I can't figure out if Zelensky is brave or just plain nuts at this point.
I wonder if his wife and kids are still in Ukraine.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
https://youtu.be/qVtW-TlVp68
^^^^I’m hoping the elite get rid of Putin.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
moneybags
There’s no guarantee what replaces him will be better, though After all, Putin is a product of those same elite.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AChildOfBoredom
There’s no guarantee what replaces him will be better, though After all, Putin is a product of those same elite.
Agree. Just another crooked wannabe dictator that wants to get his own palace and super yacht...
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Putin is a survivor. He is behaving more and more like Stalin who was a world class paranoid complete with Georgian bodyguards and food tasters. He will be very difficult to depose . Not saying it can't or won't happen. Just saying that the most realistic course is to deal with the devil we know.
I don't think he is insane. There are other members of the Russian elite that agree with his goal of restoring the Russian empire and approve of his methods.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Putin does not purge, that was the Stalin specialty. The three successive heads of the NKVD where in his crosshairs: Yagoda did his show trials, was executed by his successor Yezhov who did the same purges and was executed by his successor Beria, who did not want the same thing happening to him so when Stalin was in the mood for another paranoid purge he had Stalin poisoned.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBARgW_vHVE&t=365s
Interesting analysis, especially from 40:45 regarding a no fly zone.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
AChildOfBoredom
There’s no guarantee what replaces him will be better, though After all, Putin is a product of those same elite.
If Putin is deposed, it would most likely be because of how disastrously the war has been going for Russia, so his successor would probably be more willing to reach an agreement that would end the war and end the sanctions against Russia.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Not only is Russia losing many tanks, they're not able to build more of them, due to lack of component parts.
https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1506113379118764033
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DeathAndTaxes
Putin does not purge, that was the Stalin specialty. The three successive heads of the NKVD where in his crosshairs: Yagoda did his show trials, was executed by his successor Yezhov who did the same purges and was executed by his successor Beria, who did not want the same thing happening to him so when Stalin was in the mood for another paranoid purge he had Stalin poisoned.
Most historians , including Russian historians say that Stalin had a stroke in 1953 but that his inner circle did not get him medical attention and just waited for him to die. Nobody knows if doctors could have done anything .
After Krushchev , Malenkov and Molotov took over they arrested , tried and executed Lavrenty Beria by the end of the year.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric Stoner
Most historians , including Russian historians say that Stalin had a stroke in 1953 but that his inner circle did not get him medical attention and just waited for him to die. Nobody knows if doctors could have done anything .
After Krushchev , Malenkov and Molotov took over they arrested , tried and executed Lavrenty Beria by the end of the year.
The leading theory is that Beria had him poisoned, he proudly stated he had saved them all (inner circle) before he was executed, and was extremely unique in exuberance during Stalin's slow death while even people like Molotov were weeping (and he was soon to fall out of favor... and likely excuted).
That is not to say that he was a good guy as his children stated, even though he was an infinitely better leader the months or so he was in power, privately he was a serial rapist and killer.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Beria was one of the most evil people of all time, typical underling of these dictators who by nature grow increasingly paranoid and destructive. It is plain all of Putin's top circle lied to him, as usually happens in these cases.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Getting back to Ukraine , am I alone in noting how topsy turvy things seem to be getting ? I am hearing and reading a lot of bellicosity from pundits , so called military experts and members of Congress: "We should defeat Putin ; teach him a lesson ; degrade the Russian military ; take him out yada , yada , etc. etc. " It is mostly fruits and nuts on the right who seem to be sounding cautionary notes to avoid uncontrolled escalation. I have been surprised at some otherwise thoughtful people do not seem to have thought things through. Which is why I question why we have apparently abandoned diplomacy and do not seem to be seeking a negotiated end to the war.
At the risk of oversimplifying there are people who advocate fighting Putin to the last Ukrainian. There are as many as 10 million Ukrainian refugees; some 3 million of whom have left the country and tens of thousands of casualties on both sides. Ukraine has been trashed. Afaic the sooner it ends the better.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DeathAndTaxes
The leading theory is that Beria had him poisoned, he proudly stated he had saved them all (inner circle) before he was executed, and was extremely unique in exuberance during Stalin's slow death while even people like Molotov were weeping (and he was soon to fall out of favor... and likely excuted).
That is not to say that he was a good guy as his children stated, even though he was an infinitely better leader the months or so he was in power, privately he was a serial rapist and killer.
Beria was one of four leaders who took power after Stalin died. The other three ganged up on him. Probably before he could eliminate them.
He was a Georgian which is why Stalin trusted him and the others did not.
Are you saying Molotov was executed ? Definitely NOT ! He died a very old man of 96 in 1986. Beria was arrested, charged , tried and executed. A lot more swiftly and mercifully than a lot of his victims.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bahuba
Beria was one of the most evil people of all time, typical underling of these dictators who by nature grow increasingly paranoid and destructive. It is plain all of Putin's top circle lied to him, as usually happens in these cases.
Probably true but neither here nor there for present purposes. For now Putin is the one in charge and the one we have to deal with.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric Stoner
Beria was one of four leaders who took power after Stalin died. The other three ganged up on him. Probably before he could eliminate them.
He was a Georgian which is why Stalin trusted him and the others did not.
Are you saying Molotov was executed ? Definitely NOT ! He died a very old man of 96 in 1986. Beria was arrested, charged , tried and executed. A lot more swiftly and mercifully than a lot of his victims.
No, Molotov was scheduled for execution by Stalin's next purge. The Doctor's plot, Molotov and Beria were all scheduled for that.
Beria was the main leader of the USSR for a few months, he released the doctors being tortured, and was willing to reunite Germany for Marshal Plan money, thing is it was debatable if this was real or just shoring up power. In the end there was a coup and he was ousted and executed.
In his private life it was an open secret that he was a monster, Stalin did not let his daughter alone with him.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DeathAndTaxes
No, Molotov was scheduled for execution by Stalin's next purge. The Doctor's plot, Molotov and Beria were all scheduled for that.
Beria was the main leader of the USSR for a few months, he released the doctors being tortured, and was willing to reunite Germany for Marshal Plan money, thing is it was debatable if this was real or just shoring up power. In the end there was a coup and he was ousted and executed.
In his private life it was an open secret that he was a monster, Stalin did not let his daughter alone with him.
Hmmm. I know about the Doctor's Purge that was stopped by Stalin's death. I did not know that Molotova and Beria were on the list and I kind of doubt it but with Stalin anything was possible. What is your source ? I know a lot of records from that era have been released from secret archives and are now available . Or at least were available for some time.
Beria was a hideous monster. At the Tehran Conference in November , 1943 Stalin introduced Beria to Churchill and Roosevelt as : " My Himmler ". For those who don't know, Himmler was the head of the Nazi SS and Gestapo before and during W.W. II.
I do know that Stalin got Molotov to denounce his own wife who was deported to Siberia.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric Stoner
Probably true but neither here nor there for present purposes. For now Putin is the one in charge and the one we have to deal with.
Yes, here. The comment relates to the fact that all "strongmen", and Putin certainly is one, have a circle of subordinates who gradually turn into lickspittles over time. Eventually, the leader receives only information he wants. This is a well established phenomenon.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
If MiG 29s are so great how come we knew in the 80s that two F-14s could whoop their asses.
Being serious though, everyone here is forgetting that the 44 million Ukrainians dont want to be in a war, and im guessing that the Russians dont want to be either. I have friends who had to flee with their families from this dick measuring, had to leave everything they had and are thankfully safe in Austria now.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Sadly Biden has gone from a solid "B" to a "D-" on Ukraine policy.
His speech in Poland started off well until he went off script and said : " For God's sake , this man cannot remain in power ". Clearly he was calling for regime change in Russia. A dramatic escalation of the stakes that Biden had spent weeks trying to lower. It was the first mention by anyone in the White House about toppling Putin. A Biden aide desperately scrambled to clean up the mess by saying : " the President's point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin's power in Russia , or regime change ". Then who was Biden talking to ? Why did he say what he did ? According to Biden's aide he said it but he didn't really mean it ? Was that line in Biden's speech or was it Biden thinking out loud and off script ? Was it Russian disinformation like Hunter's e-mails ? Most likely the line just popped into Biden's addled brain and he spat it out without thinking. Like a lot of other stuff he says. And it was the FOURTH major gaffe in just one 3 day trip that had to be walked back , cleaned up , clarified or refuted.
1. No, there will not be food shortages in the U.S. despite what Biden said.
2. No , American troops in Poland are not headed to Ukraine despite what Biden told them.
3. No, the United States will not use chemical weapons , even if Russia does, despite Biden saying we would "respond in kind".
And he finished with a flourish but NO, we are not calling for regime change in Russia.
Presidents in trouble at home often try for a foreign policy success. Biden went to the NATO meeting to show off as the leader of the free world and try and get a political boost at home. Despite some soaring rhetoric and photo ops with refugee children and U.S. troops in Poland it was all trashed by his usual servings of word salads and incoherence. Of all the times requiring clarity and unified voices for Biden to botch it so badly is terrifying. On a side note he even screwed up the pizza eating with the troops. In the U.S. military , officers eat LAST. Biden is the C in C and should have served the troops FIRST before stuffing his face. In this context, little things mean a lot.
I have posted more than once about Biden's obvious cognitive weakness and careless babbling. Does anyone have any confidence in his ability to help everyone involved get out of the current mess and find a solution ? I don't know how worried Putin is but our allies probably had to change their underwear after Biden's latest careless lack of discipline.
Who the hell is in charge ? Is Biden calling the shots or is it all decided by his staff and other appointee ? General Milley and Secretary of Defense Austin both thought Russia would roll over Ukraine in 3 days or so. Just like George Marshall and James Forrestal told Truman that the Arabs would roll over Israel in a week at most in 1948.
Reports in the N.Y. Times , Washington Post and other outlets are that the Biden Administration is trying to pressure Zelensky to give in as much as necessary to stop the fighting.
Likewise , Biden's promise to increase LNG exports to Europe rings hollow. Most European countries do NOT have the necessary facilities and infrastructure to receive LNG shipments. It will take months for them to build it.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bahuba
Yes, here. The comment relates to the fact that all "strongmen", and Putin certainly is one, have a circle of subordinates who gradually turn into lickspittles over time. Eventually, the leader receives only information he wants. This is a well established phenomenon.
If that is what you meant then I agree with you.
-
Re: What's going on in Ukraine?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric Stoner
I am having second thoughts. Part of me is aware of Putin's biography and the story of the "cornered rat". In interviews Putin described growing up in Leningrad ( now St. Petersburg ) in a communal apartment building full of rats. He would kill them. One day instead of running away he cornered one and he ended up running when the rat attacked him. He said he learned that when you are cornered you have to fight regardless of the possible costs and risks.
A LOT of analysts have likened Putin to a cornered rat and expressed concern over what he might do if he doesn't have a way out. Obviously the fear is that he will get desperate and use tactical nukes or chemical weapons. Some have said we have to "defeat" Putin and "punish" his aggression. I get it. In a perfect world we could , would and should do so. It's not a perfect world. Which is why I still say a negotiated end is the most realistic end game .
Shifting gears, I am starting to see and hear reports that the performance of the Russian Army is even worse than initially reported. One said that a Russian armored battalion was supposed to have 30 tanks but because of corruption it only had 5. The other 25 were sold by Russian generals .
Another issue is April 1. That is the day that enlistments are up for current conscripts. Will they stay in the Army ? Leave ? Who will replace them ?
Based on updated info, the Russian armored battalion had only 5 operable tanks because the spare parts for them were sold by the commander on the black market. Not the tanks themselves. Even in Russia with its rampant corruption that would probably have been a bit much.