Exactly what Gary Kasparov said about the west treating Putin like a politician. He said we should see him not as a politician but as a gangster.
A BIG bang
https://twitter.com/MalcontentmentT/status/1689237795876028416?s=20
Another "double tap" hit on residential buildings in Ukraine. Part of a long list of similar war crimes by Russia, starting in Syria.
I hope the ICC prosecutors are putting the relevant military people on their lists.
the current ultra hardline Iranian government that took office in 2021 is by far the worst Iranian government of all time ... and created due to Trump's sanctions/leaving the JCPOA
^^Would not have agreed (at the time) with the US policy of scrapping the nuclear agreement with Iran (JCPOA). In hindsight, it was probably correct.
Europe (EU) tried really, really hard to keep that agreement going in the face of wrecking by Trump and didn't implement the sanctions on Iran.
For that "we" got laughed at and bent over + f-cked by Iran (they were able to use the income/economic help to progress their drone programme, and are now helping Russia rain hundreds of these Shahed drones down on Ukraine's cities...).
Seems like trying to "deal" with regimes like the Iranian one is just a mug's game [and the EU/Europeans were the mug + got taken for a ride by Iran].
Russia just wants the uranium and any instability is a bonus for them.
Maybe if Russia weren't sending working class men to die in Ukraine they wouldn't have to fill these factories with underskilled migrants.
In real terms does a falling ruble mean it's more expensive for Russia to buy things from outside Russia?
Unskilled migrants are the backbone of a huge amount of factories here in Ireland but we're not sending men off to war. Russia was doing this well before the war, their national workforce isn't made up of Flintstones.
Between conscription and the amount of people who have fled the country there has to be big gaps to be filled in factories etc.
What are you basing that off?
Russia has relied on a migrant workforce doing the **** for a long time now. There are plenty of gaps to fill but assuming that migrants are filling the factory floor in place of conscripted Russians is nonsense. Russia had a higher migrant workforce before the war.
Top of the list when there are any discussions about discussions.... Sanction's must go, first!!
Exchange rates have little bearing on reality since central banks on both sides can manipulate the value of their currency.
3 months ago or so, there were official complaints made by the Duma about the labour shortages, coming at a time when they had been ordered to increase production. The mobilization was given as the main reason. I think that the response was to get the staff to work harder, and for longer hours. Production targets must be increased and met...or else!!!
Mordor is hot today
Good balanced article there from Time and some ISW folks which doesn't quite fit the whole "counter offensive is a failure" narrative that the misery mongers round here love.
There was a story going the rounds after the Shah had departed, and Khomeini had arrived. It quickly became apparent that on second thoughts, he was not the right choice ( understatement of the year back then) but was possibly the worst choice that they could have made. So discreet enquiries were made to the Israelis about what options would be available if they wished to correct the mistake they had made, and could they help?. They were told basically that they had made their own bed,and now could lie on it, because under no circumstances would Israel ever condone, never mind act on such a disgraceful suggestion.
I feel that no deal should be made with the 2021-date regime ... they are hardliners who are a product of Trump's withdrawal from the deal ... Hassan Rouhani was more moderate ... perhaps reaching out to moderates would have seen the gradually diminishing of the Khamenei/Paydari cult but withdrawal only played into their hands ....
All this inconsistent policy coming from the US has doomed moderates in Iran and emboldend hardliners ... then again the likes of Trump and his hardliners do not want moderates ... I always believe all these far right entities help each other .... Putin is behind Trump and behind Paydari too ...
To be taken with a pinch of salt for now but lots of chatter that compulsory evacuations are being prepared for the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv. This comes after the AFU reported a "difficult situation" earlier confronting advancing Russian troops.
Some reports that Russian troops are now less than 5 miles away.
Another Bahkmut?
Cosmopolitan Russians resigned to the fact that they are now "North Koreans" on the world stage.
Could be the answer to 'Russian weak spot that Ukraine could target to cripple their efforts?' Optics factory.
Yes, that is a good point about Trump's actions (pulling out of the deal, assassinating Soleimani) cutting the ground from under moderates (in Iran).
Unfortunately the US is now very polarised and this is touching all aspects of politics, so there will be reduced consistency from them.
Unlike the post WW2 period, the 2 parties are in my opinion heading towards having incompatible foreign policies in many areas, which will create even more chaos if/when the Republicans take the presidency again (e.g. as gets discussed here sometimes, the US military aid to Ukraine will probably be greatly reduced + US engagement + interest in NATO and what is happening in Europe will wane again).
Anyway, with Iran's current rulers the relationship with the Russians [and poking the US in the eye, as they see it] is much more important to them than their relationship with the EU/Europe [we're just "collateral damage", like Ukraine is I think]. Really the EU may as well forget the "deal" & just mirror the US sanctions fully now.
They can, relevant to domestic economy but comes unstuck when they must invariably interface with other currencies for import/ export. Crushing the Russian currency and economy is a very powerful tool in the hands of Ukraine's supporters.
It means taking pain and increasing inflation for us, but it can be done.
Maybe it is, but for sure since soviet / communist times, Russians have developed it to a fine art...maybe Nth Korea. And its alive and well to this day in Russia and in the Republics. Old habits die hard.
Prigozhin is some piece of work . Hopefully some day karma will catch up with him.
Another day, another group of Russian soldiers complaining about not being paid
It’s time they woke up and realised that they were sent to Ukraine to die, and not get paid or family compensated for it.
Russian government of releasing hardcore criminals early to go fight with mercenaries committing war crimes and then allowing them back into society after their 'tour' is completed.
What could go wrong?
Because it isn't.
Serves ye right u brain dead zombie
Belarusian voted 2/3 years ago for democracy barely a peep out of them now.
Ukrainians fighting to the last man when they win will be a force to be reckoned with, hope they get their children back and avenge all who participated in Russia's evil brutality.
I suspect the Russian Federation barely has the budget to arm and/or feed their troops, let alone give them a basic wage. I fully suspect that many of Russia's KIA have been listed as MIA whereever possible to prevent them from paying out any kind of dues to the families.
I woldn't be surprised if the Kremin nationalise and co-opt every enterprise they need to keep the war-effort running in order to avoid payment. I have a feeling that they might get to a point where they can no longer pay for the kit they are getting from the likes of China or Iran. They might be able to string the North Koreans along for longer though, since I suspect Russia is their only reliable option for cash and resources.
I disagree.
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