Russia - threadbanned users in OP

That's the point, they do not have a choice. Regardless of what you know, and many Russians know very well what's going on in Putin's Russia, you are not allowed to question let alone contradict official policy. Say you live in a large apartment block, with your wife and kid's, and have failed to turn up at the mobilization / registration office on the appointed date. Which means that you will get a 2nd and final appointment. Failure to turn up for this appointment means that you are a criminal, and a fugitive, automatically barred from all state services, non-existent in fact. Then the mobilization squad arrives at your apartment looking for you, and they mean business. You will be dragged out, even as your wife and kids are shouting and screaming, and trying to hold on to you. They will twist your handcuffed arms up high behind your back, forcing you to bend forward, and frog march you out to the police wagon. No one in the apartment block will come to your aid. All doors on all floors will remain firmly locked and bolted. Any interference would be punished, and maybe with the objector joining you in the police wagon. On the street, people will pass hurriedly by or suddenly remember something that they have forgotten, and have to turn back to get it. They know better than to get involved. So maybe you and your family and friends, are completely anti-Putin, but that's a position that you have to keep to your self, and not publicize, anytime, anywhere. And definitely not in any public place's, or in front of people you don't know. Its what happens in a Mafia state, and that's how Putin controls it. Forget all the remedy's available to you here in Ireland /.Europe. Legal representation, right to remain silent, day in Court etc. They do not exist in Russia. The Courts, if they can even be called as such, will reinforce Putin's laws.

Yes, many Russians know exactly what Putin is and has been doing for many years, even without TV, Internet etc. They have experienced it up close and personal. One of my many memories of Moscow and Muscovite's is sitting in a bar, and the news come's on TV. After a brief look, most turn away with shrug of their shoulders as if to say " usual Kremlin Bullshit". And now with You Tube, VPN etc, they are as well clued in as we here in the west are. So now technocrat, you are in Russia just what would you do to change it, and motivate your Russian friends to join you?

And that was the real reason Putin wanted it, The NATO security crap was exactly that, crap.

I don't think anyone privately or publicly or covertly thinks that, russia has already lost the war and are treading water the only question that remains is how they'll reverse themselves out of it and who they'll take with them as it happens.

The west has backed Ukraine to degrees that were completely unthinkable before the operation began with more to come with russia screwing china over as well by waking up the western arms industry.

Pull your finger out

As he said, some promised kit did not arrive. South America has thousands of shells and the Americans asked for them - even offered compensation - and they refused. Bastards. People keep talking about politics and who gets what out of this but the central issue, at least for me, is the moral dimension. This alone is reason for everyone concerned to get on board and do all they can.

The Left are quiet strong in South America again, especially Brazil, Lula will not side against Russia.

Reality is much of the world doesn't care if Ukraine win or lose and most of Africa and Asia are routing for Russia.

It's time for all of Europe including ourselves to up productivity of everything that Ukraine needs and what we need ourselves.

The whole defensive situation has been ground down since the fall of the wall in Germany.

Everyone seems to have taken the eye off the ball since.

Any example of that (from today)?

I don't think it is that the "West" (which is the US in recent discussions on thread, let us stop using euphamism) "has failed to deliver" (e.g. by not giving promised weapons etc.)

Just some people (incl. non expert me watching the news) would think more should/could have been done and a few more risks taken, and Ukraine would be in a better position if that had happened.

------------

My own 2p or 2c is that I think we were at limit of what the Biden admin. really wants to do & to risk as regards helping Ukraine (they may yet step up and do more to help Ukraine "counter" Russia if they think it becomes needed e.g. Russian military is making progress again, or Ukraine is weakening. I think US/NATO has been pretty reactive with aid most of the time...Russia changes strategy, they counter it).

There is just not as much at stake for the Americans in the outcome of this war as there is for Europeans. Speculating here but they might rate the risk of either a Russian collapse or Putin/Russia cracking under the pressure and doing something stupid + (even more) insane higher.

The war dragging on for a few years will not harm/affect the US too much, provided Ukraine doesn't collapse/lose (I will stress, I don't think any US cynicism is involved here though). However it's a disaster for Ukraine and terrible for Europe. The US definitely don't want Ukraine to "lose", but if it happened, the US and its alliances will be damaged and weakened, and the US humbled, but it is a catastrophe for us here IMO (a wound for "them"...vs perhaps having a leg blown off for "us").

Also majority (quite narrow I think going on polls?) of the "right" side of the US political divide is unconvinced of merits of assistance for Ukraine, and parts of it are pro-Russia and pro-Putin. That probably has to colour Biden's thinking heading into election, given easy and lazy attacks they can make on him ("wasting the taxpayers money on Ukraine", "concentrating on far away wars among foreigners, instead of the US homeland") to inflame US isolationism.

Unfortunately for us in Europe the reality is we (and Ukraine) are dependent on them. The (now flaky, very very divided and distracted...) US is in charge here and it decides the strategy to follow + the USA is the one with the fully stocked gun/ammo cabinet on hand on hand to actually help Ukraine [to win] now, rather than (perhaps) a few years hence.

I do

We are not far off of 2 years of war there.

Still talking about is not much good though.

Russia will take that as an encouraging sign, talk and only talk of normal production levels, not serious effort. March 22 should have been the cut off date for the talk and decision making.

Getting a bit browned off with the pernicious tarring of 'the left' in this thread, to be honest. I think that universal healthcare, fair wages, social security, workers rights, human rights, animal rights etc are good things and ideals to strive towards if not already implemented. Also think that climate change is certainly not some big hoax and that immigration is a net positive. By most metrics, I skew 'left'. However, I also think that Putin is a craven monster and that Russia needs putting back in its box post haste. Probably a bit more depth and geopolitical/economic complexity to Brazil's attitude regarding Russia than lefty likey Ruskie. BRICS, for example, has been a thing well before Russia (officially) invaded Ukraine. Shock horror - all these countries have been mighty slow to condemn Russia's conduct.

Fair enough you get the people over here who are so far left that the horseshow theory comes very much into play, but that should be recognised as far left, i.e. contrarians who have to be on the bleeding edge of every hot take going. Back toward the centre there's a bit more nuance and reason going on. Most ordinary people on either side of the political spectrum in the West can agree that Russia are in the wrong, to put it comically mildly.

They talked a good game though, that must have had a serious impact though.

Putin is going to look at America, regardless of who is President Congress will have a majority of both sides keeping aid incoming but the focus will move to the election and Ukraine will drop away from the news cycle.

Most of Europe seem to think it is all happening in some shi7 hole in Africa and not on the Eastern fringe of the continent, and involving a man who Views himself as in an existential struggle against Europe and the West.

He has f all to worry about from most of Europe