Russia is and will be a busted flush economically, militarily, culturally and morally for many years to come. Pariahs of the highest order and not welcome anywhere in the western world. But will Lizzy here being home to live in their 'superpower' - nah! First class hypocrite.
I never said they should have a referendum, it was a response to a poster saying the Ukrainian people want to continue to fight and die because they have already suffered. By that logic, most wars would never end.
They "annexed" the four regions in the middle of an actual war and with fighting currently going on each of the four regions (and the regime even admits it's not at all sure what the borders of the "annexed" regions are or will be).
I'm a little confused about this article, today, in the Guardian.
In it, they mention, "He fed the artillery hitting the Russian HQ in Dudchany on Wednesday". But weren't the Russians supposed to have been driven out of Dudchany weeks ago and had withdrawn to a defensive line going west from Mylove?
That article illustrate how current stock is low and since most of the manufacturing was in fact outsourced to China and co it will be problematic to say the least to ramp up production in any significant matter. That goes not just for weapons but pretty much everything else not just plastics. This is well known fact. Threat of supply to ukraine is quite real, last package was comprised of many items which were not yet manufactured.
America gets to bleed Mother Russia for little outlay and no American coffins coming back on military transports. An absolute bargain compared to previous proxy wars. Loose change found down the back of the sofa compared to daftness like Iraq or Afghanistan. As for "closer alliances", NATO has grown larger and become more resolved. The EU have pivoted away from Mother Russia and won't pivot back for the foreseeable.
If chess master putin had thought even one step ahead would the majority of his pipelines and revenue streams be going to Europe and the West? What does that tell you about the previous Russian economy? He had to go running cap in hand to his "friends" to shore up the massive hemorrhaging of cash, never mind his billions seized in foreign assets.
The same "friends" who have far more economic ties to the West. China is into the US and EU for a trillion euro per year and that flows both ways. They may have their public lover's spats every so often, but when night falls they're riding each other into the mattress, while Mother Russia waits outside the door hoping to catch a furtive glance at a boob through the keyhole. US and EU investment into India continues apace. Buy a new iPhone and see where it's made.
And I'm seeing little enough of this food and energy "plunge", or is that yet another air on a G string of "Sanctions are hurting you more than us!!". The number of times that keeps being played... Well one doesn't have to be Freud to understand why.
As for that "hell of a lot of people" suffering, that's on putin and his minions. If Mother Russia hadn't started this war, towns wouldn't be rubble, millions wouldn't be displaced and tens of thousands wouldn't be dead or injured, Russians included. There is no spin or bullshít on any side that can escape that clear fact.
That is correct. Question is how this turns out in real life. China with their never ending lockdowns and ad hoc restrictions on export of various things can hardly be called reliable partner or supplier. Old saying comes to the mind. Where two are fighting (collective west vs russia) third one (china waiting in the dark) always wins.
That lot have no intention of helping ukraine. Were I Biden not facing mid terms, I'd pull 75% of the aid I give to Israel and give it to Ukraine and degrade cooperation. I'd also rescind the exemption allowing US citizens to donate money to Israel.
Traitors to the left of me, traitors to the right of me, here I am, stuck in the middle with Elon. (sorry Gerry)
US authorities indicted five Russians Wednesday who allegedly shipped American electronic components to Russia arms makers, some of which have been found on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Separately, three Latvians and a Ukrainian were charged for attempting to send a US-made high-precision industrial grinder to Russia that the Justice Department said could be used by arms makers or in a nuclear weapons program.
https://news.yahoo.com/us-hits-network-smuggled-chips-215453493.html
Russians propagandists wants to train the Afghan army and take the weapons and Equipment the US and allies left behind.
I wonder who is really behind?
Interesting piece on France24 about Russian activities in Norway
The Soviet war with Afghanistan didn't go too well for them previously. Do they not recall that history?
What that commentary may show up though is what is strongly suspected - that the Russian military is running low on stocks.
ERM... weren't Russians raping, killing torturing Afghans a few decades ago. The Afghans fought for decades to get the Russians out of Afghanistan... why would Russia think the Afghans hold them in anything but contempt. Now, I'm sure they'd sell them whatever's still lying around, but the equipment was hardly left in hangers/storage since the US scampered.
US left behind 7bn in military equipment. Stupidity I know but nothing to stop the Taliban selling it to highest bidder.
Yes so much for helping russians that doesnt want to fight in Ukraine
How much of this do you think is in working condition since August 2021? Do you think these cave dwellers managed to keep them from looting (hmmm nice leather seats in those helicopters). And weren't many of these decommissioned partially before the US left.
And how competent would the fat Russian aviators be to fly the US helicopters... erm, have you realised yet that video was the usual piss take, traveller call out video by the Russian broadcaster scrapping the barrel like they are a relevance in comparison to the US. Although, in your defence someone referred to Russia as a Super Power some posts up there... Try saying that with a straight face. The German army of WW2 would wipe the floor with the Russian army. Super Power
I wonder which Russian mouth pieces are dearly departed after yesterday's strike on the antonovsky bridge..
But their is thousands of tons of armored vehicles and several thousands of tons of weapons too .
I'm surprised no one in the eu has offered to buy from Afghanistan
Oleg Klokov
dont forget :
and Armenia was traditionally one of its closest allies, has hosted a Russian military base since 1991, and is part of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (Azerbaijan is not a member.)
I'm flicking through that report and seeing nothing on the matter of industrial capacity. Indeed, it was a question I posed to two US generals involved in procurement in an interview two weeks ago.
Volume capacity is a concern, but always has been a balance of how much you want to spend vs how much you want to retain expansion capability. However, sourcing is another matter, and it's not just for economic protectionism that US law requires its military equipment to be manufactured in the US. Any foreign providers need to set up an assembly line in the US, from Airbus to SIG. Indeed, the US takes self sufficiency seriously enough that the tooling for end items is owned by the government, not the manufacturer. So for example, GDLS designs the Abrams tank, produces the Abrams tank under contract, but the factory and everything in it belongs to the government precisely so that the company can't go and decide that it's economically sensible to shut down the line, sell the tools, and offshore the production somewhere cheaper.
Recycle value?
What would it say if an EU country tried to profiteer from US deserted ordinance? Have a think about that for a sec Gatling.
Oleg clocked off
I'm suggesting that the eu buy whatever they can so it can be shipped to Ukraine
Do you think that equipment is in a good state though? I know we were inundated with endless cries about the valuable equipment the Taliban captured but I reality I bet they ruined most of the high value stuff before leaving. Also then it was in the custody of the Taliban. There is also the issue of trading with a named terrorist organisation
In no way am I a Clare Daly fan, but truth be told she does occasionally speak some uncomfortable truths. Yes, her and Mick are Putin's useful idiots but Clare does sometimes say what needs to be said. Sorry if this triggers a few :)
Plus the Taliban government voted against Russia over Ukraine in the UN. I've known a few Afghans and they hold Russia and the US in equal scorn.
Brave man to post that. You'll be lynched 😉
very simplistic argument, "no war" it is great in theory but not in the jungle of reality that humans inhabit
She should go over and try an make a peace deal with these socalled barbarians
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