That may be less of a discouragement to Putin than we like to think. All the arguments against interfering in Ukraine would still hold true even for a NATO country being attacked. One can say, "Ah, but Ukraine isn't a member of NATO, " but that's a an argument for a debate, and we're not in a debate or even a courtroom; we're in the mind of a very dangerous individual.
You know that sanctions alone won't stop this war Russia started on Ukraine. Everyday the west are increasing sanctions it would make you question what exact sanctions are on Russia and what effect do they actually have on Russia military and economy going forward. I haven't seen Russia falling of the map due to the impact these sanctions were supposed to have on Putin and its country. Nobody knows exactly what sanctions are on Russia by the West and what impact they really are having.
I had worried that NATO would shy away from invoking article 5 if push came to shove, but pretty much every spokesperson for NATO has been adamant on the point that if Russia move toward NATO territory, NATO would respond without reservation. I expect some bend on that rhetoric, such as if a stray missile fell inside Poland would have NATO looking to confirm if it was the opening hostility of Russia opening up a new front or just an accident. But if Russia moved to link friendly territory with Kaliningrad, there's no room for interpretation, there. NATO would either have to respond militarily or else lose pretty much all credibility.
On the subject of Russian generals being killed, one wonders how the Russian "media" are even managing to cover this up. One would have thought the military funeral of a general would be a big deal and hard to keep a lid on. Are they forcing through private funerals or something without all the state trappings?
Ah eight years ago. That makes them now all whiter than white then? Doesn't take that long it seems.
But wait.... Here's a Time article from 2021. Here's another from RadioFreeEurope(a US government funded outlet) in 2019. Describing how Facebook banned the Azoz movement because "Azov -- which includes many war veterans and militant members with openly neo-Nazi views who have been involved in attacks on LGBT activists, Romany encampments, and women's groups -- is now officially banned from having any presence on Facebook, the social network has confirmed to RFE/RL". Of course now when things have shifted Facebook did an about face. and will "allow its billions of users to praise the Azov Battalion, a Ukrainian neo-Nazi military unit previously banned from being freely discussed under the company’s Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy" Funny how all that got so easily washed away...
Like I said when push comes to shove, "our" nazis are better than "their" nazis and we'll throw out the rule book and actively support them when it suits, call them far right dangerous group when it doesn't. They're still nazis though.
And I wouldn't stop former paramilitaries from fighting, it would be expedient to let them, but they'd still be thugs and murderers. I'd need a neck as hard as a jockeys bollocks to claim otherwise or leave them to their own devices after the war ended.
True but he couldn't argue the point he had back then with now.
Indeed. If NATO doesn’t respond with ground forces the moment a Russian boot touches NATO soil, or a missile or drone attack on NATO territory is considered to be deliberate, it is utterly finished as an organisation. And then there are suddenly a lot of countries hanging out there on their own.
NATO would only likely ever push back to its existing borders though, so I wonder whether Putin thinks it would be with a small sacrifice of men an equipment in order to try to call NATO’s bluff
Relevance to the war? Are you also going to bring up every murderer in Ukraine?
Any nazis should be dealt with according to their crimes. It is however a tad difficult to do this when a country is being invaded.
We're not part of NATO so why would we?
That's 4 Generals and 6 Colonels killed so far.
I wonder if Lukashenko is still keen to be made a Colonel? 🤔
Of course they would still be thugs and murderers. It's irrelevant though. Same as it's irrelevant at this moment what this unit did at any other time.
When this war ends, things will again be different.
I can't think what being in those place at those times must have been like even where someone was not not aware of everything that was taking place.
But on a lighter note and not to be overtly flippant maybe a bit like Kate Addy you're a bit of a jinkx or even a latter day Walter Mitty 🙂
and why should they
Reports the attendees are being paid and bussed in. Putin due to speak later.
The sanctions will reduce wealth in Russia, make it a bit harder to get specialised parts for things etc. However, Russia will adapt and find loopholes. I believe the Democrats with their love affair for Iran, are talking about giving Russia sanctions free access to Iran. At least that's what's being leaked. The bumbling useless Biden admin are putting the idea up the flagpole to see what the reaction is going to be. Given that the vocal progressive 'squad' that has a big influence now all oppose sanctions on Russia (but want sanctions on Israel) then I think you're going to see Russia survive just fine under sanctions.
Additionally, sanctions have to be actively enforced. They aren't something that are just turned on and that's it. Do America and the EU have the will to actually enforce sanctions? well again with Iran we can see Biden hasn't bothered enforcing them, hence why Iran has the funds to send spy satellites into orbit and build a massive proxy army infrastructure across the M.E
A lot of the sanctions on Russia that were deliberately trumpeted in headline news, were a cover for the impotence of no military response. In other words, the global public were shocked at Russia's invasion, the west can't do much militarily - so they tell their people we slapped Russia with the MOST SANCTIONS EVAR!! to placate and reduce calls for military intervention. Much of it is theatre.
Er, do you realise the sanctions are only in a few weeks? There will be a huge impact, this may be beyond your capacity to comprehend. Their impact won't be as fast as some like, but they will be severe.
Either way NATO itself won't put boots on the ground in Ukraine before a NATO country is attacked first. And that won't happen. So, to get your desired vicarious adrenaline hit go for a jog.
They have been talking a big game but I still struggle to believe that if Russia entered Lithuania to bridge Kaliningrad, that Joe Biden or Boris Johnson would go full dicks out and go to war with Russia. If you are Joe Biden especially, how to justify potential nuclear war to your people over a piece of land that very few people in their country has heard about.
I think the Poles, the other Baltic's and maybe even the Germans would intervene. Maybe the Americans would offer similar Ukraine style support with weapon's. Maybe even Air Support. I can't see regular US troops in the front line. Maybe special forces.
I would imagine they do have some sort of plan in place that doesnt lead to Armageddon.
Stay classy, Russia
Who said anything about NATO?? People are obsessed with NATO.
The ideas mooted is a Polish UN peacekeeping force. We are members of the UN, currently on security council and routinely pat ourselves on the back for our UN peacekeeping duties. Why would we not send Irish troops to a UN peacekeeping/ enforcing force?
Yes an escalation of a European war that would see other European states engaging on their own terms.
North Korea, severe sanctions - still building ICBMs
Iran, severe sanctions - spending billions on Yemen, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq conflict theatres, sending spy satellites into orbit, seeing GDP growth.
Is he going to sing Blueberry Hill again ?
AFAIK, that would be acceptable under article 5. It's not an all out war declaration required by all NATO countries.
All NATO would do is push Russia out of NATO countries and probably Ukraine. This may be done in short order. The Poles would likely be in before the echo of the first Russian boot hitting NATO soil reached the nearest eardrum.
Even then, the greatest damage done to Russia, apart from damaged pride, would be the continued sanctions.
I don't think you understand what NATO actually stands for, also there are many thousands of troops already mobilized close by NATO. Any Russian advance would be wiped out in minutes
First of all NK... practically a medieval economy. What's your point here? Most recent rocket blew up on launch. Contrast to South Korea. Who's winning?
You don't think Iran isnt hurting? Contrast to Saudi Arabia for quality of life.
Russian quality of life is going to make the noise of a Stuka Dive Bomber.
They certainly won't be as big a help to Iran and NK.
Because our reputation as UN peacekeepers is not "supposed", its pretty solid. Visit the UN school in the Curragh. We currently have troops in Syria, which many are unaware. We would be exactly one of the countries called upon due to our experience across the Middle East and Africa.
Looks like trains in Ukraine needs to be armed with NLAWs and Javelins too soon,lol
From some of the tweets below, it seems attendance at the event was obligatory i.e. many people were literally taken from their place of work on a working day and made attend it (I'm assuming non compliance would not be a good idea). Very North Korea.
Anything is better than Russia socalled peace keepers as we have seen in Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine from 2014
Mad Vlad giving a Trumpian rally speech live right now.
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