A Political Thread pt. 2

[Amiga500]

Russia banned from the Eurovision song contest. Bet that caught Putin off guard!

I'm proposing Ireland invade the Faroe Islands or somewhere like it ASAP.

Fuk all resources, but if it means your out of Eurovision then the payback is more than worthwhile.

 

[Amiga500]

I also wonder how Angela Merkel is feeling knowing that Germany's large dependency on Russian gas is proving to be a major factor in this crisis. This is proving to be major error and will be a big blemish on her legacy.

Yep - Merkel didn't make many mistakes - but the decision to phase out the German nuclear power plants in wake of Fukushima was a very bad one.

I thought so at the time, and knowing she was a very qualified physicist, knew that she should have been able to see through the media hype. I was very disappointed.

Maybe it was made to satisfy ignorant* coalition partners (Greens?), but either way, once the plants are built, it is inarguable that the most ecological thing to do at that point is use them.

*from a knowledge perspective.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

The Greens attacking nuclear as much if not more than fossil fuels at times is massively misguided and often results in an increase in fossil fuel usage...

 

[g6mcg]

The Greens attacking nuclear as much if not more than fossil fuels at times is massively misguided and often results in an increase in fossil fuel usage...

They're hugely frustrating. At least it's only the UK party which is anti-rail.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Londongrad.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

The absurdity of this particular war in one video. An older man dressing down a couple of young Russian soldiers at a checkpoint. Reported translation includes:

"We are all Slavs brothers. I am also Russian but I live with THIS government. You have your own government. What, you guys don't have your own troubles? Puppets. Ugh, what the f*** are you guys doing?"



The body language of the soldiers is telling. I think many will be grappling with their conscience already.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

 

[Deleted member 53362]

Apparently Porn Hub had blocked Russian users with a message supporting the Ukraine.

I will check it out for you lads. Leave this one to me

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Yep - Merkel didn't make many mistakes - but the decision to phase out the German nuclear power plants in wake of Fukushima was a very bad one.

I thought so at the time, and knowing she was a very qualified physicist, knew that she should have been able to see through the media hype. I was very disappointed.

Maybe it was made to satisfy ignorant* coalition partners (Greens?), but either way, once the plants are built, it is inarguable that the most ecological thing to do at that point is use them.

The Greens weren't in government with Merkel, just her and the Social Democrats. Making it even more bizarre. I get that nuclear power can be a little scary but Fukushima was in an earthquake zone and Europe is mercifully not.

Ironically we have Greens in the German government for the first time since 2005, with a Green Foreign minister (typically a very senior role on the continent). It is this government that has just today overturned the policy of not supplying arms having also just overturned the policy on Nord Stream 2. Very impressive pragmatism by the Greens (and Social Democrats too in fairness). Hopefully we see similar pragmatism from them on energy supply but embracing the atom may be a step too far.

In policy shift, Berlin to deliver defensive weapons to Ukraine

Germany will supply Ukraine with defensive anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and ammunition, the government said on Saturday, in a shift of policy as Russia's forces continued to pound Kyiv and other cities on day three of its campaign.

www.reuters.com

US and UK really talking up the Ukrainian resistance so far in way that I frankly don't think is appropriate for armchair quarterbacks in a war. I hope if isn't rose-tinted cheerleading to make them feel better about merely supplying equipment.

Russia frustrated by 'viable' Ukraine resistance, U.S. says

Russian forces are becoming increasingly frustrated by what the United States believes is a viable and very determined Ukrainian resistance, as Moscow commits more and more troops to its invasion, a senior U.S. defense official said on Saturday.

www.reuters.com

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

More signs of the German govt realising what the priorities are when innocents are being killed, so hopefully this SWIFT sanction comes into place if Russia hasn't gone to the negotiating table by the middle of the week. The article also mentions even Russia's Hungarian ally Orban (who flew out to Moscow to show his support for Putin just before the war) is supportive of all EU sanctions which is a bit of a u-turn inside a week (he does have an election coming up).

Germany softens stance on curbing Russian access to SWIFT

Germany changed its position on Saturday about imposing restrictions on Russia's access to the SWIFT global interbank payment system, joining other Western powers in support of harsher sanctions aimed at halting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

www.reuters.com

Finland and Sweden continue to make noises about possible closer cooperation with NATO and/or membership as a direct response to this recent aggression.

And finally for today, the reported Zelensky quote when the US offered to help evacuate him from Kiev.

"I need ammunition, not a ride"

Ukraine's Zelenskyy Rejects U.S. Evacuation Offer: 'I Need Ammunition, Not A Ride'

The Ukrainian president appears determined not to leave Kyiv, though he acknowledged he is a target for advancing Russian forces.

www.huffpost.com

If these are to be his final days then I think it is fair to say he has earnt a lot of respect for his courage and grace under the most extreme of pressure.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I see Abramovich has passed Chelsea to the trustees before it's taken off of him. Still, remains the ultimate owner of the club. Never going to give up his £1.5b loan.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Ukraine: Is Russia's invasion going as expected?

Military plans never survive the first contact with the enemy - and Russia is facing the same problem.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I was chatting to my Dad about this for the first time about the conflict. He's a 56 year old man and a history lover who is genuinely shocked that we have war in Europe again, he thought we were past it.

He also suggested, and I reckon he's accurate in this, that Putin has given his animals free reign to murder and rape their way through the country. I was left speechless at that moment as it was something I had genuinely not considered. Most of us on these boards are disassociated with the war right now but I'm not sure how long that will last, most of the stories currently circulated are of Ukrainian heroics, we'll soon hear of subhuman actions from the Russians.

**** Putin.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He also suggested, and I reckon he's accurate in this, that Putin has given his animals free reign to murder and rape their way through the country.

I think mobilising units from Chechnya confirmed this
The stories out of the Chechen war(s) and their fighting in various other conflicts they've muscled their way into is absolutely plastered with the most heinous war crimes imaginable
Putin keeps Kadyrov sweet with power and money because he wants his fanatics ready to be unleashed on his perceived enemies

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think mobilising units from Chechnya confirmed this
The stories out of the Chechen war(s) and their fighting in various other conflicts they've muscled their way into is absolutely plastered with the most heinous war crimes imaginable
Putin keeps Kadyrov sweet with power and money because he wants his fanatics ready to be unleashed on his perceived enemies

Yeah. I'm actually purposefully ignorant to the specifics of their crimes. I struggled studying criminal law so think that would make me physically sick.

Also was chatting to someone who employs three hundred people in Kiev, it is under lockdown right now, if you're out in public you are assumed hostile by the Ukrainian army. The humanitarian effect this is having is awful, and for no discernible reason. If Russia get in a fight with NATO they are ******, the Chinese are far too clever to get involved, they have **** all interest in expanding into the west and they could bargain a lot by not interfering (also problematic but easily hidden). Putin wants his name in history books, success isn't massive on his agenda and human life means nothing, rotten to the core.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

I was chatting to my Dad about this for the first time about the conflict. He's a 56 year old man and a history lover who is genuinely shocked that we have war in Europe again, he thought we were past it.

He also suggested, and I reckon he's accurate in this, that Putin has given his animals free reign to murder and rape their way through the country. I was left speechless at that moment as it was something I had genuinely not considered. Most of us on these boards are disassociated with the war right now but I'm not sure how long that will last, most of the stories currently circulated are of Ukrainian heroics, we'll soon hear of subhuman actions from the Russians.

**** Putin.

Yep I think this is important. Our generation (I'm younger than you I assume but not by much) has never seen this in E, but my family, being from a war torn part of the world is unsurprised and upset but oddly unphased.

I've long believed in freedom being the ultimate moral good and that humans inherintly desire it, but situations such as this challenge that belief.

Long live freedom and Ukraine - don't forget for a second how privileged we are to be able to argue on this forum.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

West to cut some Russian banks off from Swift

The EU, US and allies will block a number of Russian banks from the main global payment system, Swift.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Putin being a troll and only offering peace talks in 'neutral' Belarus. Ukraine open to talks pretty much anywhere else on the planet that isn't closely aligned to Russia.

I think Russia have been relatively restrained and focussed on military targets in the first few days hoping they could win hearts and minds (vital for their long term projects in both east and west Ukraine), and this has limited civilian casualties. Today it seems things are being ramped up, with the focus away from Kiev and more in the south (where they report they have encircled Berdanysk and Kherson) and in the northeast Kharkiv (probably the primary objective now quick regime change in Kiev seems tougher to achieve).

The Russian python will begin to isolate and suffocate the Ukraine forces in the south and should be able to encircle the Ukranian Donbas front by midweek at their current rate of progress. Despite admirable pluck it is impossible for me to see Ukraine winning back any ground they lose, or breaking encirclements, even if NATO allies somehow manage to help flood them with defensive military supplies that can reach the south and eastern areas. It is notable there is no discussion from the NATO cheerleaders of providing tanks, helicopters or jets.

It is a bit of a lose lose for Ukraine. If they lose ground, Putin can be patient and slowly accumulate success (while minimising civilian casualties). If they hold firm Putin can increase his willingness for civilian casualties in order to achieve objectives. When a city is encircled the eyes of the world will may not be able to see what is being done to conquer a town and this gives invading forces more of a free rein to act with impunity. Particularly when they know they will never likely lose the territory and it will never be scrutinised by independent eyes.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I mean has russian taken any cities yet?

Also how is their infrastructure handling this?
It's all well and good attacking large amounts of targets at once but if you don't get a foothold in them quickly then you are going to struggle to keep momentum. Already seen a few videos of Russians armoured trucks etc abandoned due to running out of fuel.

 

[Welsh Exile]