Did you fall for yellow cake too? Were people saying it was BS also just shills for Saddam while those who fell for it were "valued voices?" Blink twice for "yes."
Did you fall for yellow cake too? Were people saying it was BS also just shills for Saddam while those who fell for it were "valued voices?" Blink twice for "yes."When did you first become a mind-fucked troll for Putin?
You used to be a valued voice on this forum.
Was your account hacked?
Blink twice for "yes".
"Ukraine border" basically means anywhere in western Russia. Open a map. Some places media is calling "Ukraine border" are half way up the border with Belarus to the north. Russia has long made it clear that if NATO keeps expanding east, they will move more forces to western Russia. They even exited a treaty that limited their right to do so. Now the west is throwing a tantrum.Just for the sake of argument let's say that is the point of the US/UK making this into a big deal. What is the point of Russia moving all those troops and equipment to the Ukraine border, and what would be the appropriate response to it?
You do agree that Ukraine has every right to retake its sovereign territory that Russia has invaded, right?Media definition of "Ukraine border" is anywhere in western Russia. Smolensk is not "Ukraine border."
It has a right to try to retake it. But Russia won't let them.You do agree that Ukraine has every right to retake its sovereign territory that Russia has invaded, right?
It has a right to try to retake it. But Russia won't let them.
In the status quo of last 7 years, sure.So we are in agreement then that the invasion of Ukraine isn't a future thing, it's already happened and is ongoing.
When did you first become a mind-fucked troll for Putin?
You used to be a valued voice on this forum.
Was your account hacked?
Blink twice for "yes".
Nothing happened, still spot on.Had the exact same thought. That dude always used to be spot on but I’ve wondered in more than one thread lately WTF happened to him.
"Ukraine border" basically means anywhere in western Russia. Open a map. Some places media is calling "Ukraine border" are half way up the border with Belarus to the north. Russia has long made it clear that if NATO keeps expanding east, they will move more forces to western Russia. They even exited a treaty that limited their right to do so. Now the west is throwing a tantrum.
Also to deter Ukraine from trying to retake Donetsk and Lugansk by force with Western weapons.
Russia has been invaded multiple times by countries it had "nothing to worry about." It doesn't want foreign military alliances on it's doorstep. Same as US Monroe doctrine.No, the west is saying 'don't invade Ukraine'. If Russia doesn't, they have nothing to worry about.
Sounds like they shouldn’t give their other neighbors more reasons to join a foreign military alliance then. Regardless, the choice is Russia’s. The west’s only demand is for Russia not to illegally invade its neighbor, which is as reasonable a position as it’s possible to have.Russia has been invaded multiple times by countries it had "nothing to worry about." It doesn't want foreign military alliances on it's doorstep. Same as US Monroe doctrine.
Except it's the Democrats that seem to allow Putin to cut his own deals.Putin knows that in an election year, figuring, most likely Biden isn’t going to risk any pre-emptive military action (even with congress approval) to oppose Russia. If they do attack, Most likely, Russia is going to roll through, establish naval bases on the Black Sea, and park military formations on the Polish border. A dramatically more dangerous security situation.
It's also possible in 2024 Russia could get a Republican president who is willing to say “you know what, fuck NATO, just help yourself to whatever seems fair.” American politics isn’t the center of everything, but I have to think it may factor into this situation to some extent.
So has every other country/kingdom/empire. Your point?And the US has never attacked or invaded or dominated any of its neighbours? Really?
If you think the US is getting involved in a war in Ukraine you are delusional.Just out of curiosity, when western media breathlessly reports on Russia amassing troops on Ukraine border near Smolensk, you Google the place and find out it's closer to Moscow than the Ukraine border, does the BS meter just not go off? How many wars do we need to be lied into before index of suspicion goes up a tad?
Did you fall for yellow cake too? Were people saying it was BS also just shills for Saddam while those who fell for it were "valued voices?" Blink twice for "yes."
But it was the republican's that gave Russia the Crimean peninsula, and a large chuck of Ukraine last time around.Except it's the Democrats that seem to allow Putin to cut his own deals.
Those places 'half way up the border with Belarus to the north' happen to be paratroops, including para-artillery, and they have been strategically put in striking distance of Kyiv. A large contingent of traditional troops and armor has been stationed just south of those para-troops right between them and Kyiv. Almost like a they are staging with air support behind traditional troops. There is no denying that Russia has put a massive number of troops and equipment right outside of Luhansk."Ukraine border" basically means anywhere in western Russia. Open a map. Some places media is calling "Ukraine border" are half way up the border with Belarus to the north. Russia has long made it clear that if NATO keeps expanding east, they will move more forces to western Russia. They even exited a treaty that limited their right to do so. Now the west is throwing a tantrum.
Also to deter Ukraine from trying to retake Donetsk and Lugansk by force with Western weapons.
NATO, and Obama was pres. Again, the US didn't want to commit assets to this as the Ukraine wasn't in NATO, so the justification was pretty weak. It was a bit scary for European nations, annoyed us and was disruptive to the idea of peace on Europe. Hence the sanctions. It's one of those few things that Mittens was actually right about.But it was the republican's that gave Russia the Crimean peninsula, and a large chuck of Ukraine last time around.
Do you have a link? There are quite a few BTGs in the east and in Crimea, but I don't have a breakdown of those in the NW corner.Those places 'half way up the border with Belarus to the north' happen to be paratroops, including para-artillery, and they have been strategically put in striking distance of Kyiv. A large contingent of traditional troops and armor has been stationed just south of those para-troops right between them and Kyiv. Almost like a they are staging with air support behind traditional troops. There is no denying that Russia has put a massive number of troops and equipment right outside of Luhansk.
Russia is not taking up defensive positions, they don't appear to be digging in or creating any sort of long term strategic bases. This is short term staging, as if they intend to move soon. Like you would if you were planning an invasion.
Yeah, buying Russian gas, except under the current conditions, was cheap. LNG imports would be more expensive than typical pipeline prices, but being subject to the whims of a known adversary was too high a price to pay. Last time I looked, Germany had only 3 reactors running out of the 11 they started with. I'm heading out right now, so I can't check my facts, but, yeah, phasing them out slowly would have been the smart thing to do. It just proves the Germans can be as stupid and volatile as any other country, even though they are more level headed than most.Not all of them thankfully. Germany's largest energy player is doing a big LNG terminal where the Elbe meets the North Sea. I actually think Putin is going to help NATO consolidate it's internal debate in the coming weeks. I'd love to see France give Germany a hand in this regard. Their small reactor designs and cutting edge grid management can solve a lot of headaches and with very little carbon footprint.
America and Canada need to phase into being Europe's energy supplier, at least until alternatives take over sufficiently or Putin is gone, or both. NATO is more important than a pipeline, and has proven it's worth before. It can do so again.
Russia has been invaded multiple times by countries it had "nothing to worry about." It doesn't want foreign military alliances on it's doorstep. Same as US Monroe doctrine.
Correct. But from Russian point of view, it also means they have to demonstrate that they ready to fight to keep NATO out of Ukraine in order for NATO to stay out. Which is why there won't be a war unless NATO decides to expand into Ukraine. It's for show, for reason you outline.The whole reason Ukraine isn’t in NATO is because the US doesn’t want to fight over it. If we wanted a war it we would just admit them and dare Russia to do something.