It must be incredibly frustrating to have lived through the aftermath of WWII in Eastern Europe, when you consider how they were just basically dumped behind the Iron Curtain and abandoned to Russian/Soviet control for decades. They've spent most of the 20th century just being bounced around by major powers.
Since the Cold War began, all of it comes down to a threat of nuclear attack and Russia hiding behind that. I don't think you can blame the European institutions, as they've always been hugely supportive of new members, but there's a power play between what effectively amounts to the permanent members the UN Security Council that resulted in those countries being effectively thrown under a bus.
Even Finland spend decades with that whole Finlandisation nonsense where it had to avoid upsetting the Russians.
Fundamentally all the EU countries want is a quiet, post WWII, post conflict calm, prosperous Europe and they were more than willing to have anyone else in the region, including modern Russia, play a part in that - but it seems we're back to Cold War paranoia that sees the EU being imagined as some kind of empire, which it blatantly isn't and has no intentions of becoming.
NATO's really just a nuclear umbrella that's been necessary because of aggression.
Ireland's geographic position basically lets us live a bit of a charmed life, in theory anyway far away from any risks and with the assumption that the UK, US and probably EU neighbours ward off risks due to proximity, but I think some of us don't fully appreciate that reality is just luck.
Then you get the likes of our two charming and anti-establishment MEPs thinking they're being somehow right on and cool by just opposing anything that's remotely to do with NATO or the establishment, regardless of what the facts and realities are, because it's all just an abstract, high level, quite theoretical debate about grand political notions and the realities are something far, far away that doesn't really impact them.
We're into a lot of 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' arguments when it reality your enemy's enemy can be a complete monster, a million times wore than the most definitely imperfect organisations you're criticising.
I think unless Russia drops the 19th century, imperialistic and utterly weird politics, there really isn't much hope of anything more than long term containment and Cold War II. I'd have been more optimistic in the past, but their leaders and state has adopted a worldview that is really not possible to interact with, accept or or placate.
Would it not ultimately be the Bundestag's decision and not Rheinmetall's?
Fundamentally all the EU countries want is a quiet, post WWII, post conflict calm, prosperous Europe and they were more than willing to have anyone else in the region, including modern Russia, play a part in that
This is where the EU countries were wrong, or where they were pushed into being wrong by the russian lobby: there is no modern Russia, there never has been, and there is no indication there will ever be.
Ireland's geographic position basically lets us live a bit of a charmed life
Yeah sure, look at the energy prices, refugees and inflation. Charmed life, this war doesn't affect us at all.
We're into a lot of 'my enemy's enemy is my friend' arguments
Sometimes people living in the west get confused, so there it is clearly stated: Russia is the enemy, NATO is the friend.
Yes ultimately it's a political decision.
It was a little bit funny when Waters said "the Russian invasion is illegal" (but then followed with tankie sh*te), and the Russian ambassador said his analysis of the events was very precise. So the ambassador admitted their own invasion is illegal.
Potentially very good news for Ukraine. It indicates that Putin sees a potential loyalty defiicit as a more inportant consideration than someone's abilities and usefulness. Let's hope he has a good old purge. One of the resons for the poor Soviet performance against Finland in 1939 was the damage wrought by Stalin's prior bloodletting of the Red Army.
I hope Twitter loses a lot more advertising revenue as a result of this. I hope also that there are big, well-organised boycotts of Tesla, and anything else being sold by Musk.
The only thing that persuades guys like Musk is $$$$$.
Musk is doing a great job at making the argument that SpaceX (and even more specifically Starlink) should be nationalised.
A free and open society doesn't ban media outlets
Clearly this double is on crack.
Meanwhile in kreminna
Another day another failed orc assault
As someone who freely will admit I had limited knowledge of Ukrainian politics and history, What I can say is that, primarily thanks to the outstanding performance Zelensky, the impression now presented to the world is a country that, yes had issues, but is aggressively going through a purge of corruption while also charming the socks off the western world, not just with words but with actions that demonstrate a bravery that's practically forgotten about being achievable.
I don't think anyone would say Ukraine is perfect, a lot of folks will point to the long littered history of event for reasons of their opinion but as someone only paying attention in the last year, my estimation of the country and it's people has shot up
It’s not a media outlet. It’s a Russian propaganda machine that spreads lies.
Maybe Roadstone can start quarrying extra rocks to be used in catapults.
Incredible, the petty whims and views of a non-political businessman impacting a war in Ukraine and Europe.
I'd be similar enough to that. My mother visited Ukraine about 3 or 4 years ago though and had nothing but positive things to say about the country and it's people. Her verdict was that it was a bit like Ireland in the late 80's / early 90's: still quite poor and with obvious corruption problems but working on improving both and with an ethos of education and hard work being the way to improve one's lot. They clearly have a long way to go in relation to attitudes towards the LGBT community too based on the frequent references to Russian troops as "fa*gots" (at least that's how I'm seeing it translated in videos) but that would also remind you of Ireland at the same time...
It's weird the way some people think that free societies shouldn't be able to defend themselves from things that threaten that freedom. RT isn't a media outlet, it's a Russian weapon. We wouldn't let them shoot at us, why should we let them spew that crap on us?
...
Another roll back on tanks,
Holland leases 18 lepoard tanks from Germany the Dutch wanted to buy the tanks outright so they could be sent to Ukraine,the Germans refused
You don't need enemies when you have 'friends' like the US.
And yes I'm sure its just another reputable investigator turning 'Putin bot' and completely unsubstantiated.
Which leads me to something I read here earlier. People were wondering how 'far left' people support 'Putin'.
Well, they don't. They simply think they're all criminals. And call out the western criminal shenanigans in this which somehow get completely (accidentally I'm sure) overlooked. But in the somewhat simple minds in this thread that makes one automatically a 'Putin bot'.
When it comes to racism, homophobia and sexual harassment of women, yes, comparison to Western Europe 40 years ago is about right.
Putin is a present day demigod for the alt right. He’s widely revered by them and has been copied by POS like Orban who try to emulate him, cracking down on free press, inventing bogey men like gays to fight, constantly taking about god and being a patriot etc. Nigel farage called Putin the greatest leader in Europe. Here he is blaming the EU and nato
Right winger Tucker Carlson the most watched “News” programme in the US is another Putin fan. Constantly spreading misinformation about Ukraine, he even said he was on Russia’s side in the weeks before the large scale invasion. Prominent members of the alt right in America are against arming Ukraine.
To try and state/make blanket statements those on the left are pro Putin is just wrong. Of course some will be and I’d never deny that but his following is much more popular on the right these days than on the left. Specifically the alt right types, not your every day right wingers, just as your every day left wingers would also be repulsed by him and communist Russia.
Musk is a POS.
They aren't banned, they continue to operate. They were deemed to be breaching broadcasting standards in e.g. Europe and de-platformed here as such. Also they aren't media outlets, they just pose as such.
Well I can tell you I recently bought an EV and when I originally started looking I was thinking probably Tesla. But a combination of good options and Musk being who he is swung it firmly away from Tesla for me.
The only useful fascist is a dead one.
And how, in you opinion, should Zelensky have acted differently since his country was invaded ?
If you were him, what would YOU have done differently ? Please be specific and no generalised boloxology
This incredible fantasy world they inhabit
What you mean, like those guys?
Anyone have this on their bingo card?
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