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Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,060 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    Things don't quite work that way. Pine Gap in Australia is a US facility staffed and run by Americans. GCHQ in the UK has US NSA personnel working there, and the same goes for numerous other facilities in the UK, Australia, etc.

    The MoD insists that there is full oversight of the “RAF” bases, including a British commander who scrutinises all actions to ensure they comply with British law, and legislation holding all foreign service personnel to UK legislation.

    But critics insist such assertions are a poor exchange for a grim reality of opacity over US activities and what they say is a legal no-man’s-land resulting in British impotence when it comes to holding the UK’s first ally to account.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/unknown-territory-america-s-secret-archipelago-of-uk-bases-9084129.html

    The US is in all their allies systems doing whatever the want, this 'sharing' nonsense is a fig leaf sop to the egos of the countries 'sharing' intelligence with the US to stave off criticisms from those locals who would object.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 104 ✭✭Quango Unchained


    What should be done so?

    Britain declared war on Germany as it was allied with Poland in 1939. Britain helped defeat the Nazis but at the end, felt it had no choice but to give Poland to Stalin for the sake of peace. This is what I mean by pragmatic.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 235 ✭✭OrangeBadger


    Comrade you must try harder or you will fall out of a window

    Post edited by OrangeBadger on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,510 ✭✭✭✭machiavellianme


    I blame Eve. She's clearly the cause of WW3. If she hadn't had Cain, Abel, Seth and various unnamed daughters, no one else could have been born to give rise to Putins family tree.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,005 ✭✭✭✭Dohnjoe


    It's all about normal steps. We start boosting our defense, get that radar tower (because we don't have one), those jets. Continue in solidarity with the EU (and the rest of Europe)

    The security situation has been changing for over a decade.

    As a sovereign country we are perfectly entitled to take care of our defense, also as part of our commitment to the EU. It's a pragmatic approach.

    Not to mention that the old order has come collapsing down with Trump. We are into a new situation now.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,780 ✭✭✭✭josip


    Although Trump is fully onside with the Russians, I wonder if Musk is equally committed and would shutdown Starlink of his own volition. Musk and the Russians have a bit of history.

    https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-inspired-spacex-by-spitting-on-elon-musk-shoes-book-2022-6

    Maybe he's prepared to forgot about the slight with the opportunity to make a few more billions. But he's notoriously thin skinned and doesn't strike me as the type of person who would be prepared to forgive and forget.

    Interesting that dress code was an issue back then also.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,928 ✭✭✭thatsdaft


    Notice how every single one of those arguing against Ireland improving its defence and increasing cooperation with our allies in this thread and several parallel threads related to Irish neutrality in same subforum

    … are unanimously and openly pro Russia

    The overlap intersection between two circles is almost the same

    Speaking of Russia our economy is now half their size despite 30x smaller population, so arguments that we don’t have money while likes of Switzerland whom are in same economic league as us do, no longer make sense

    And the arguments that likes of US come to our defence seem … quaint now



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,130 ✭✭✭Jinglejangle69


    Musk has had secret phone calls with Putin for the last year.


    Id say he’s more in bed with Putin than Trump.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,330 ✭✭✭RGARDINR


    I can see Russian gains over this happening. Russian assets in the rear etc. and high value targets like command and control will breath a sigh of relief. This is very bad for Ukraine.

    Screenshot_20250305_150325_Samsung Internet.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,865 ✭✭✭✭Loafing Oaf


    Question now is all of this a 'stick' to bend Zelensky to Trump's will or is America permanently pulling support for Ukraine irrespective of what Zelensky does…



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,330 ✭✭✭RGARDINR


    I honestly am not sure. It's the million dollar question. Either way a lot of lives will be lost over this decision, as even if it's only for a few days it will have a knock on effect. It will greatly enhance Russia and sadly effect Ukraine in a bad way. I just fear now if starlink is stopped on top of this.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,060 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    Unfortunately it still seems unclear as to whether Starmer has any testicles, or not:

    Asked about reports that the US has cut off intelligence to Ukraine and whether Britain will be allowed to pass on American intelligence to Kyiv, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “It does remain a long-standing position not to comment on intelligence, but what I would say is that we have been clear previously that we will do everything to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position across all aspects of our support, particularly around defence and security, and that position hasn’t changed.”

    That is not a sufficient answer, IMO.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,928 ✭✭✭thatsdaft


    Has it occurred to the genius negotiator that the more pressure he puts on Ukraine the less leverage he actually has?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,152 ✭✭✭ilkhanid


    .unleashes cyber warfare (or allows it) on European countries, blatantly perpetrates assassinations, including ones using poison gas, on the territory of European states. Sounds very enemy-like.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,060 ✭✭✭✭cnocbui


    M-Rat can breach the contract he has with the Polish government if he want's the engage the 'find out' part. He's already just lost a contract with a Canadian province, whose governor just cancelled a large contract over the tariff war.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 55,699 ✭✭✭✭Headshot


    Trump is so vindictive

    Some day he'll get what he deserves



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,130 ✭✭✭purplepanda


    I would suspect that some US intelligence information will still get though to Ukraine's military commanders, either direct from sympathetic US personnel or via NATO third party nations. It might not be as detailed as before, however it will still happen.

    When the US froze Britain & Canada out of post WW2 nuclear weapon research by closing the Manhattan Project & Congress passing the 1946 McMahon act, information research & advice still managed to get to British intelligence regarding development of their nuclear weapons program.

    Elements of the US military & defence industries will not be happy at the prospect of severe defence cuts, abandonment of long time allied nations & orders from European & other world partners declining.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,865 ✭✭✭✭Loafing Oaf


    Still compatible with the former IMO. This latest business with the intelligence could be Trump's riposte to this from Zelensky

    You think your half-hearted non-apolgy is going to cut it mister? You get back to the White House and suck up to me.

    Untitled Image


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,784 ✭✭✭yagan


    Ukraine has many US ex military service people now fighting in their ranks.

    Anyhow Ukraine had cut out the US before before they took the Kursk territory to ensure Russia didn't get the tip off.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,330 ✭✭✭RGARDINR


    I think it will be more for attacks on targets that America provided intelligence on and satellite imagery. It's huge for Ukraine to lose this. Probably won't know about new ammo dumps etc. to strike against or say commanding officer meetings that might take place that they would of striked against. A gathering of units that Ukraine could attack. It's given Russia a massive boost this.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,005 ✭✭✭✭Dohnjoe


    That joint drone coalition program started between Latvia and Ukraine in 2024, reportedly now has an additional 15 donor countries and is $2 billion strong

    https://mil.in.ua/en/news/drone-coalition-accumulates-e2-billion-in-military-aid/

    "Founded in February 2024 through the initiative of Latvia and Ukraine, the Drone Coalition now consists of 15 donor nations committed to supplying the Ukrainian Defense Forces with advanced reconnaissance drones, FPV drones, and multi-rotor bomber drones.

    Over the course of the project’s first year, partners have contributed €2 billion in the form of UAVs and financial support to procure both Ukrainian and foreign-made drones.

    Additionally, the partners have amassed €176 million in the Joint Fund, to which Coalition members contribute. These funds are used to organize tenders, serving as a platform to discover innovative solutions that can be scaled to create a strategic advantage over the enemy on the battlefield.

    Following the first tender, five FPV suppliers were selected to deliver a total of 30,000 drones to Ukraine within the next six months.

    The second tender focused on enhancing FPV and interceptor drones to bolster Ukraine’s defense against enemy attack drones. For the first time, Ukrainian manufacturers were invited to participate, with nearly 20 domestic companies successfully selected."



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,784 ✭✭✭yagan


    While there is something in that Ukraine doesn't seem to have a shortage of assets within Russia, like that scooter bomb assassination.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,130 ✭✭✭purplepanda


    Elements of the Russian FSB are reputed to have informed Ukraine well in advance before the Russian assault / coup de etat on Kyiv. So just as Russia has 5th columnists & Ukrainian traitors operating in Ukraine, there are anti Putin elements acting against Russian interests in their security & military forces.

    We won't find out the details anytime soon, however this goes on it all conflicts, plus the double agents also confusing the whole picture.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,784 ✭✭✭yagan


    I do wonder how many informer assets Russia has in comparison to Ukraine. There are Ukrainians who only speak Russian, but are there Russians who only speak Ukrainian?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,130 ✭✭✭purplepanda


    Europe has 45 military satellites, that number needs to increase ASAP.

    https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/military-satellite-by-country



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 235 ✭✭OrangeBadger


    Trump has zero nuance or filter, so what is with his sudden obsession with rare earths/minerals from Ukraine? Something that will take years to organize and begin and let's be honest Trump ain't gonna be around that much longer.

    So which of his lap dogs is pushing this?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,820 ✭✭✭✭Mr. CooL ICE


    I'm assuming musk because they're necessary for EV batteries or something. But I'm merely basing that on the plot of Don't Look Up



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,784 ✭✭✭yagan


    My guess is he's needs an existential target in this term because as he was reelected he now needs more than swinging at the opposition.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,865 ✭✭✭✭Loafing Oaf


    I don't know but with his transactional minset you can see why he's latched onto it: "Hey we've been funding these guys in the billions to protect themselves from the Russkies, time for them to start paying us back" even though that was never the deal with WW2 etc.



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