You'd imagine they'd be taken into whatever super-deep bunker the Russian super-elite have arranged for when missiles go up
Yea also, not trying to be funny, but can’t talks not just take place online now? Why even introduce a risk.
The rouble was always an extremely soft target in the event of any conflict. I said it earlier on in the thread, it's a mickey mouse currency and the number one signpost of how ill and un-resilient the Russian economy is. That's the result of political choices from a kleptocratic class running the country. A petrostate ran for the benefit of the very few at the expense of 140 million Russians. All the chickens are coming home to roost at once for Putin. It's a grotesque but fascinating watch.
+ shiploads of weapons and munitions from NATO.
Maybe I'm being a bit too "cloak and dagger", but is Zelinskyy attending the talks with Russia on the Belarus border in person?
If he's target number one (as he claimed himself), is it not easy for Russia to show, make silly demands that will be refused and have Zelinskyy leave - and then tracked back to wherever he's staying in Kyiv?
Even Putin's family, his daughters. They must be asking questions now. I'd imagine they are being asked to talk sense to him.
I know little if them apart from one was turfed from Amsterdam after MH17.
He is doing this partly for his legacy, using nuclear weapons against a neighbour and causing likely retaliation and severe consequences for Russia will put him above Gorbachev in terms of being reviled for causing the ruin of Russia.
His propaganda was to paint this as a liberation not a punitive war of conquest. Nukes are the equivalent of taking the bullet himself.
Maybe not a popular thing to say but perhaps Ukraine should consider allowing a legitimate referendum in the likes of Donetsk and other areas. Putins war is unjustified and pretty crazy. But it’s not for absolutely no reason and this needs to be acknowledged.
You seem to think Ukraine = NATO
That's essentially the greatest deterrant. Some guy in a submarine that hasn't seen his family for months. Surrounded by others who have those feelings. Are they going to sign up for something that will wipe their families out?
I think this is Putin’s biggest weakness. Other dictators like Saddam spent decades filling positions of high office with relatives and relatives of relatives so when the big invasion came they didn’t turn on him like the US hoped they would. Putin has very few blood relatives in power, that I know of anyway, they are mostly fellow billionaires who now face severe wealth reduction because of Putin’s Big Adventure.
The ruble is going to tank tomorrow when foreign exchange opens.
The average Russian citizen is going to suffer greatly because of Putin's action.
Already there are runs on Russian banks via ATMs.
Unless they negotiate an exit a la Krushchev where Vlad stands down (i.e. is stood down) and is allowed to retire to his castle with his dancer GF and his billions in wealth.
The west should not be playing host to oligarchs, their yachts, their football clubs, their families, businesses or money.
I do think that some pressure needs to be applied to the ordinary russian citizen, at least enough to make them question the state narrative. I would support suspending Russia from Visa, MasterCard and other internatiobal epayments systems if it is possible. A run on the Russian banks might focus minds
Expelling regular Russians is not only unfair on them, but it's also losing an advantage. Russians abroad have access to non-Russian state media and are able to communicate the reality of the situation to their relatives back home.
Why zero? If I was a fella who was, possibly ill and at the end of my days, and about to lose power and be at the mercy of others, I might want to go out with a bang and take as many others as I could with me.
Well the house speaker for one
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke with the nation's top military officer on Friday about precautions in place to prevent President Donald Trump from ordering a nuclear strike or conducting other military hostilities as Democrats seek his removal from office.
What are the children/grandchildren status of the generals. Them agreeing with nuclear action is akin to personally putting a bullet into the heads of all their families.
Some Ukrainian government MP argued that Putin introduced this nuclear deterrence issue as a negotiation tactic with Ukraine.
It may well just be that; an empty threat.
I don't recall boards.ie featuring all that prominently in the second half of Threads.
Or the internet. Or time to have silly political rows while struggling to stay alive...
When the eye is off the ball, i.e. talks and so called diplomacy, and sighs of relief, that's when I'd be worried about a sneaky move by Russia. Ok I need a rest from all this....
There is zero chance of Putin using nukes in Ukraine. Even if he wanted to, what would he hit? If the last few days have proved anything is that the Ukrainians are highly dispersed and mobile, air and ground bombardment has had little effect in clearing the way into major cities.
There’s an excellent media briefing by Schwarzkopf on the first Gulf War where he says to attack defended positions you need at least three times the number of boots on the ground, when they are dug in with fortifications you need at least 5 to 1. They managed it through carpet bombing a clear defensive and fortified line, creating a sea landing as a diversion then going around the main fortified line deep into Iraq itself. Putin has none of these options, it’s going to be street by street fighting against guys going from corner to corner with NLAWs and RPGs which pretty much neutralise the armour advantage.
Russian police have detained more than 900 people at pro-Ukraine demonstrations in 44 cities.
This takes the total number of arrests since 24 February to 4,000, according to an independent protest monitoring group.
And ruined what he had.
I assure you, tanks remain extremely important and remain the backbone of any attacking force. They are, however, very intolerant of misuse and must be correctly supported.
Remember, people have been prophesising the end of tank domination since at least 1973 and the hammering the vaunted Israeli armor Corps took at Suez.
De-escalation has to be main political objective now, with deterrent formation and scenario planning taking place in the background. The logical outcome based on precedent a week ago would have been the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement and ruling out NATO membership. The long game would be to contain Putin until he can no longer be contained, because nuclear war is unthinkable for reasons long known.
That said, Putin is clearly becoming more and more deluded in his obsessions and attitudes, so perhaps goading him into ever more farcical decisions may hasten his demise or chasten his behaviour. His history of political assasinations, underpants poisoning, childish intimidation, is starting to accumulate into one large very ugly picture of someone who is morally and mentally degenerating. The old Putin, while cold and cunning, still wished to be accepted and liked among peers, i.e. normal social behaviour....
Targeting Russians because of their nationality, over what Putin is doing abroad, is just as stupid as targeting Chinese people by association due to COVID-19.
It's exactly the same dumb level of stupidity and moronic-level racism.
Yes, it is time for Xi to whip out his dick and swing it. It will look great on his part. Russia needs China. They may not feel they need Europe anymore but they cannot live without both. But Xi will come across as the peacemaker, great Public Relations
(and lots of future blind eyes turned)
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