Looks like I'll be going gluten free for the foreseeable
At the start the anti Assad movement was a largely democratic one, the jihadists and all those came later. The Ukrainian movement is also currently unified. Let's see what happens if the conflict is dragged out.
The west was very supportive initially but backed off when things turned ugly.
Then Russia got involved and played a huge part in saving Assad and strengthening its own role in the region. Witness Israel's loathsome response to the Ukraine invasion to see the leverage Russia now has in the Middle East.
There are many differences but also some similarities. The main one being a ruthless dictator ready to bomb a population into submission, and a West reluctant to get its hands dirty.
I would just hate to see Ukraine suffer a similar fate
I was speaking to my Slovakian friend. He said that the theory was that this war was to distract the Russians from Putin’s declining popularity. By stoking up nationalism, he hopes to prop himself up in the eyes of the Russian public
He's made a clown of himself and the Russian military and army.
Which is why Russia have lost nearly a hundred aircraft.
Ten alone just yesterday including 4 Jets of all Vintages including one commissioned in 2018.
Where do you get your facts from horse...
Spoken like a true bot ,
He's failing,they haven't taken much ground and likely won't be able to hold once the Ukrainian push back .
Imagine people thought the Russians would roll into Kiev in days .....
If he didn’t go to war, he would be ousted in a matter of time. Putin personally had nothing to lose
Just another reason that NATO should push back now. It'll matter nothing to Putin to swamp Europe in refugees with the logistical and financial strain it'll place on us. Far less messy to make sure they keep their country now.
In thory - it's called the ANZUS treaty; Trumps behavior and his America first, F everyone else, made it clear it was dangerous to rely on the US. Now Biden's gutlessness regarding Ukraine should cement the view that treaties aren't worth the paper they are written on if you need MAD as the outcome of honouring such treaties.
Not coming to Ukraine's aid because there isn't a signature on a piece of paper, to me, makes it highly questionable that aid would come if a NATO member is attacked because of a signature, because the very same MAD prospect is there.
The fear of MAD seems to trump principles. Putin has tested the west and he's got his answer. NATO is now meaningless because fear trumps principle. All of the Wests trumpeting of the superiority of it's values, principles and institutions have been laid waste by fear and Putins sneering and cynicism has been proven right
You hear about the horrors of WW2 and people spouting the platitude 'never again' Well here we go again because enough people have more fear then courage. 2 million of Ukraine's best and brightest are going to be exterminated on the basis of their above average intelligence, or get up and go and the above average part they played in making the country Not Russia. The selection criteria for extermination is now virtue rather than ethnicity, as it was in WW2, which frankly I find more terrifying. Pol Pot, Mao and Stalin wrote this book.
Personally I would prefer to roll the dice on the extinction of humanity than watch Putin exterminate 2 million of our best. If we let that happen, then humanity should perish as this species is not worthy.
Indeed. Over half it goes back to the state in vat and duties. It’s a thundering disgrace but as we’re well aware this country isn’t run for the benefit of the squeeze middle.
Apparently leo is looking into it and needs a tap on the head from Europe first allegedly. May do something by next October which is very useful
😌
I agree that we are edging towards a bigger war. The media is getting people ready because "its the only option".
Sad but thats the reality.
I know Polish lads who don't like Russia,. nearly all of them I know don't like Russia. But they all say they don't want to fight for Ukraine.
Yes, starting a nuclear war will definitely be a good way to cut down on the amount of refugees fleeing to Europe because millions will be dead.
I'm glad that NATO has told the Ukrainian president that they are not getting involved because they do not want to risk escalating the situation unnecessarily.
You can call me a bot for this, but I don't care. I too believe the Ukrainian president should encourage his people to surrender and negotiate with the Russians. The longer this carries on the more innocent Ukrainians and up dying. There's no point in continuing a fight that you cannot realistically win so let the women and children who have fled have a chance of seeing their husbands again.
I'm finding your claims hard to believe ,
Nonsensical even
Amex joins MC and Visa - seems to be the same stance
American Express suspends operations in Russia and Belarus | Reuters (archive.ph)
Sorry if it looked like i was attacking you, i thought you were just trolling.
Its a bit off topic, but if average is let say 8L/100kms, usually its 9 in city and 7 on motorway. I hope it helps
Can I ask the, erm, "bots" (sorry, what's the politically correct name you prefer?) - is boards.ie not a bit irrelevant in the greater scheme of things? And what other sites would be frequented by you and your colleagues?
Gotta keep the housing crisis going somehow. This is a justifiable way for the government to do so. I'm sure the planning is well underway and taxpayers money is going to be used to give to private residents, existing landlords, hotel owners etc to house Ukranians which will ensure that demand stays red hot.
The way these refugees numbers dramatically increase as if it is nothing makes me wonder.
There may be some hope in Russia yet
I won't call you a bot.
I did will call you utterly naive and foolish to think this stops with a surrender.
This is only the beginning of Putins push.
Only an idiot would cave into this utterly idiotic.
I agree. The west is completely yellow. You can see it here with a sizeable amount of posters happy to see the Ukrainians sink as long as it doesn't escalate. Which really means as long as it doesn't affect me. We've given Putin carte blanche to do as he pleases and he won't stop there. Months from now we'll regret not taking a stand when it was easier to deal with him.
Thanks a million! I text him just there when I realised! It is an absolute disgrace that people have to pay €25 to get to work per day
I was reading an article suggesting that this could only work short term and if he had taken Ukraine very quickly. Nightmare scenario for him is if the war in Ukraine drags on for weeks or even months without any conclusion.....all support for him will ebb away.
This why the Russians are shelling civilians when they try to leave the city, they couldnt take Mariopil before and they can't take it now, the Ukranian soldiers will fight to the end, so instead they use their massacre of a captive civilian population to try and force a surrender
When do you think the push back will happen?
Unless it's passed me by its not illegal to supply arms to Ukraine, kinda like how your mother Russia received arms in the past.
By accidental escalation does that include Russia firing on non belligerent nations shipping?
Or Russia threatening nations for discussing a possible course of action.
Of course tho it's the west who have done nothing to escalate the crisis that are risking WW3.
I can't believe the media invaded Ukraine. Disgraceful
But in his own little warped mind isn’t it better that he perishes pursuing the glory of the former Soviet Union rather than politically perishing because his people want a better government? If he is was ousted due to a decline in support, he could not guarantee a Putin-sympathiser. He could end up with a Mugabe-type situation, where they end up investigating all his and his nearest and dearest personal finances
Really what you're saying is they should roll over and live in subjugation for the rest of their days so you can go back to your life.
"It's better to die free than live life as a slave"
It's happening ,it's the Russians getting grinded down and surrendering not the Ukrainians nearly 10 days in and ukraine still controls most of it's Sovereign state
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