Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Just a gut feeling and having seen Putin's popularity in Russia, I don't think a coup is a possibility yet. It may be if this becomes a long protracted thing, which is why he wants to achieve his aims quickly. He's loved. He may have lost some support over the past few years, but they love him and as soon as he starts his anti-west 'standing up to America' stuff, the people love him some more. Many Russians believe they are victims of the west.

I protested the Iraq war. I came across plenty of foaming-at-the-mouth types with their highly selective world views. Judging modern administrations and institutions because a country invaded someone else 60 years ago, always trying to validate the "good guys are bad" narrative.

We get it, and there's a thread for that.

Back on subject, Putin is a severe threat to Europe and the world, this conflict has the potential to escalate to very serious levels.

as did I. protest.

There are very little good guys in geopolitics. Anybody who says otherwise is naive.

I'll bet they're are going on about those things. In your last post you said they don't even have any stories.

What's your point?

After sept 11, and the Taliban were driven out, the US brought all the different Afghan factions together in what was called a "Loya Jirga" where after several weeks the Afghans themselves decided on what and who they wanted their Government to be. The US supported this Govt, and proceeded to spend trillions over the next 20 years recovering Afghanistan from the complete and total destruction inflicted by the Taliban. (Who incidentally, are currently undoing all of their efforts. ) The US pulled out of Afghanistan against the wishes of the majority of Afghan's. The US were not driven out of Afghanistan by Afghans, as the Russians were.....the US were deliberately undermined by Pakistan and Iran and other anti-US entities....not by Afghans. If the US decided to return to Afghanistan next month, there would be celebrations in the streets by the Afghan people. This is not the same as Ukraine where the Russians will be hated and attacked by everyone,,,the US was not hated and attacked by every Afghan, on the contrary, they were welcomed.

Good measured response from Boris, a No Fly Zone is a declaration of war against Russia, it just won't happen.

One of the latest maps. A lot of landmass in the center, but Russia might try to encircle LNR and DNR Ukrainian forces

The attack this morning on Freedom Square in Kharkiv caught on security camera

A journalist shows aftermath...

It's interesting as they say they are going after symbols of statehood now. No pretence anymore.

The media are whipping it up as usual, you know when he threatened to use nuclear weapons, he never actually said NUCLEAR, he said deterrent forces on high alert.

Putin is not crazy, he has spent 20 years in power by been cold and calculated. This notion that you take out Putin this ends, I just don't buy. Cold war politics have never went away.

Most official stuff I have seen is less about NATO at the moment I guess because the Nazi stuff is playing better at home or because the NATO stuff makes them look stupid. If anyone in Russian command was actually worried about NATO then they have committed one of the stupidest moves in their history. The question of joining is suddenly a bigger one in Finland and Sweden. NATO is getting increased funding, likely across the board and those countries not in NATO near the region will be increasing their military budget and increasing ties with NATO countries.

Quite frankly if Russia wanted to increase NATOs power and relevance they couldn't have done a better job. If NATO was the reason for the invasion then Russia has already lost.