Stupid Shit in Kyiv

[Kozerog]

If you think of things from Putin's perspective, he's already jumped in the deep end and needs to achieve a "win" at all costs. ... Bottom-line, if there's any way to (relatively) safely get out of Kiev to a city that isn't in the line of fire, I'd seriously be exploring that option. Again, I hope I'm wrong, and I'd certainly like to hear what others think about possible scenarios. Wishing you and your friends luck.

Unfortunately, you are correct. As I wrote earlier, my view was that Russia was "winning" before the invasion, by hurting Ukraine's economy more than invasion preparation was hurting Russia, but maybe view inside Russia was different. Or maybe Putin saw Ukraine rearming and figured it was either now or never.

As for invading, there is no easy way to stop insurgency without horribly brutal tactics, so what I would have done (after knocking out Ukrainian air defenses) is establish a Russian controlled corridor between Chernobyl and Transnistria (between Kyiv and Zhytomyr) avoiding large towns, thus surrounding Ukraine on all sides (blockade of Black Sea ports). Maintain that corridor clear by any means necessary (artillery and air response to attacks, periodic fuel air bombardment of corridor itself, landmines), allow civilian traffic to go west but not east, then just wait. Use professionals to establish and maintain the corridor, use conscripts to launch diversionary attacks elsewhere. Assuming the corridor idea is feasible, thus is far less risky and destructive than entering cities.

My regular left Kyiv for her village 100 km away immediately after the invasion, where she has family. Other than some shortages in stores, no signs of war near her village.

[WyattEarp]

If you think of things from Putin's perspective, he's already jumped in the deep end and needs to achieve a "win" at all costs. He's already a pariah to the rest of the world, and will probably be found guilty of war crimes. That means his only future lies within Russia, and he won't even have that if he fails. His supporters might endure and forgive all the sanctions and hardships IF he reclaims all (or a substantial part) of Ukraine. If he doesn't, he's finished.

At a minimum, IMHO, Putin will do his utmost to occupy and subjugate Kyiv itself. He already has the separatist regions, and he formally recognized them before invading, so he can't claim that as a win. In order for him to be able to claim a victory to justify the invasion, and be worthy of the losses Russia has already incurred, Kyiv is the prize he'll want.

Jmsuttr,

Your thoughts on the Ukraine situation are very insightful. I think Putin's days as the head of Russia are limited. Putin is launching a new cold war. 2022 is a much different time and place then 1948. Russians are now more linked to the West. Modern communications make closing off a country much more difficult. These will be dark days for the Russian economy.

Putin's future is in the hands of the military leadership on whether they will support a coup. Economic pressures will rally the citizenry. The soldiers have mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. From what we hear, Putin is isolated and has perhaps psychotic yearnings for the past. Russia likely can't project its power like the days of the old Soviet Union. I'm not sure he is inspiring confidence.

The Russia-China thing seems to be a little joke for the Chinese. I'm sure they enjoyed Putin poking the West and challenging Western hegemony. However, it remains to be seen that the Chinese even believed Putin would invade the Ukraine. China might be more self-sufficient than Russia, but they are also very much more interlinked with Western economies. While China might relish a Taiwan that they view as China, they have never been as aggressive as the former Soviet Union in projecting military power around the globe. So it's debatable whether they view Putin's desire to cobble back the Soviet-Russian empire favorably.

[LuvMexicanas]

L. M whenever you want to go let me know, but that require you getting off your computer and stop complaining. Lived there done that. You were also invited to MYT, but you never went. You just complain and try and get others in trouble. You can read my reports everything is well documented.

Yes, I talk about the decline of Kiev, but I also speak of other destinations that are better. I also compliment others when they write great reports. You might want to do the same.

Sooner or later Admin will figure out you game, you are just a big trouble maker and extremely jealous. I am in MTY every second weekend, having a great time, something you know very little about.

No need to get so defensive. I merely asked a fair and simple question to help me and others assess the relevancy of your posts related to Kiev, which you avoided answering. Thus, I will ask again. When were you last in Kiev?

[DramaFree11]

L. M whenever you want to go let me know, but that require you getting off your computer and stop complaining. Lived there done that. You were also invited to MYT, but you never went. You just complain and try and get others in trouble. You can read my reports everything is well documented.

Yes, I talk about the decline of Kiev, but I also speak of other destinations that are better. I also compliment others when they write great reports. You might want to do the same.

Sooner or later Admin will figure out you game, you are just a big trouble maker and extremely jealous. I am in MTY every second weekend, having a great time, something you know very little about.

[LuvMexicanas]

Normally, I agree with most your posts, this one probably not. Kiev has declined dramatically, other destinations not even close to what is happening in Ukraine. Top end talent is leaving, as soon as they can get the hell out of there, this includes the business world.

As others mentioned you could find a party every night of the week, now not even Fridays.

You can find cheap girls in Ukraine, but this will take, a lot of work, time and money. Under $100, even $200, you will probably be very disappointed. I am banging way better looking girls then I was in Kiev, not even close, so there are still beautiful girls all over the world. You probably will not find hot girls in Kiev, unless you are working there or living there full time, even then you will probably top out at a 6.

So when were you last in Kiev?

[DramaFree11]

After her "is it a problem?" message, you should have just agreed to meet her for lunch where she wanted and then gone to McDonald's for lunch. While biting into your DOuble McCheese, you would have started to get her desperate and then angry messages.

This a normal thing in Kiev the girls get a percentage from the restaurant and bars. I have talked about this many times, but the guys that use to write about how great Kiev is, some how they claim this is not an issue. The new guys posts are great and honest. The old timer panted a different picture of Kiev, that was just not true. Another example of a reason not to go to Kiev.

[Stevie69]

Please, the first meeting is one drink at 8 or 9 PM in the evening, too late for dinner, and early enough to head to your place if you hit it off or she is a (semi) pro. AIf, after one drink, things seem okay, buy another round. Make sure YOU order the drinks, and pay each drink immediately after you get it (just in case you have to leave suddenly, you tell the waiter / bartender). After 3-5 drinks, either close the deal and head to your place or, if she is really a nice girl, agree to meet for a walk in the park the next day.

I had good experiences with some nice girls, really marriage material girls, who are so concerned with being categorized as gold-diggers that they refuse to accept anything! After 2 hours of conversation, I have to nearly force them one girl to let me buy her a coffee, and another one to accept 75 UAH for her trip back to her city.

Had some dates on Tinder I met a lady here for dinner. Polyuvannya Na Ovets it's like an Asian / steak restaurant. Yup you guessed it 5 star. Had to take an Uber there of course. I liked the lady plus wanted to see a different part of Kiev. I guess it was old Kiev.

I notice a lot of these ladies on Tinder they want to go to Avalon for drinks. I might have to check that place out? Is it good place?

[Stevie69]

After her "is it a problem?" message, you should have just agreed to meet her for lunch where she wanted and then gone to McDonald's for lunch. While biting into your DOuble McCheese, you would have started to get her desperate and then angry messages.

Ok so there is a little anecdote off of tinder that can be used as a shareable moment, or even a teachable one.

So I matched with girl, we sent text, and before long that became chit chat through the day. This led to an agreement to meet over lunch. Here's where it goes to shit. She wants me to take her to this place, basically insists on it - https://g.co/kgs/4Uppdj that's right, the jerk wanted me to take her to a 5 star restaurant on the water for our first meeting! Are you fucking kidding me!? But I'm willing to spot that there may be a culture gap and I don't want to insinuate intent across text so I tactfully reply, well, here's the chatlog:

Me: its a little more than what I wanted for lunch. It is also a little far down the way.
Me: can you meet me a little closer to independence square / maiden maybe?
Kristina: Take taxi.
Kristina: It's problem?
Me: not a problem, just a little uncomfortable to go that far for lunch. Is it a problem for me to pick a restaurant a little closer to independence square area?
Kristina: Well, since I give a piece of myself and this is a problem for you, I don't think that we need to meet at all.
Me: Wow. If this is a reflection of who you really are as a person, then I am glad we did not meet.

Ok totally duplicitous, dodged a bullet there, WHEW! But on a different level of thinking it makes me wonder what kind of a miserable bastard she must be on the inside, to think in that manipulative way. To approach a social site designed to meet new people with the conniving mindset to gain what? A lunch. Really?? She is then the same kind of person who throws her hands up to the sky and says "hasa diga eebowai" (look it up) when she finally has a moment of clarity, and looks around her to find that her life has become nothing but a sad sack of shit. For this kind of toxic person life is not too short, on the contrary, it is almost entirely too long. And I hope she lives forever hahaha.

[Stevie69]

"Professional or otherwise". So, every man who is not in a relationship and 100% faithful?

According to Urban Dictionary. A person who is actively researching and on the prowl for sexual intercourse with a professional or otherwise. This mostly happens away from home in a foreign Country or City, but can happen right in your own town..

I prefer the word hobbyist.

[Franciscass]

No, Natty, not one word of what you wrote is a "quote" from my post. I didn't excuse China from anything. And I didn't say their lying about it was Trump's fault.

BTW, you are welcome to visit the American Politics room any time to grandly refute anything I've written that you seem to think is not based on fact.

Biggest screw up with China was after SARS not shutting down the wet markets. Their existence exponentially increased the risk of transmission of virus's from animals to humans. That is unforgivable and they have to accept responsibility.

When the virus was first recognized by a doctor in Wuhan they silenced him. Their explanation was that he was unnecessarily creating panic, thinking or just hoping he was wrong and it would go away. He was right, they were wrong.

It took off and spread outside China.

From there it came down to how different countries dealt with what was a seriously contagious pandemic. Some, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Germany and Thailand to mention some recognized the danger and took measures to contain it, some didn't until it was too late the UK, and the US being among those that delayed and are now paying a high price in lives lost.

To blame China for how it started and why it wasn't contained is justified. To blame China for the failures of other countries to take it seriously is not justified. They had choices and made the wrong ones.

Let's be real. The current China bashing is mostly political particularly where there are pending elections.

Finding an enemy to fear is tried and tested from the Jews in Hitler's Germany to disease invested hoards of rapist immigrants in Trump's Americas. Sadly it works. Too many want to point the finger rather than look in the mirror.

On China's growing influence, it's real. One can argue the merits of accepting their aid but there will be consequences when payment comes due.

Trying to find countries to visit which are not in one way or another not already under this influence is going to get harder and harder.

[EihTooms]

Huh? I am quoting directly from the 3rd paragraph in the post you made this very morning.

No, Natty, not one word of what you wrote is a "quote" from my post. I didn't excuse China from anything. And I didn't say their lying about it was Trump's fault.

BTW, you are welcome to visit the American Politics room any time to grandly refute anything I've written that you seem to think is not based on fact.

[Member #4698]

You know I didn't write any such thing, Natty. Please stop lying about what I post. Adults shouldn't need to do that to make their point.

Huh? I am quoting directly from the 3rd paragraph in the post you made this very morning. Did you not post this:

I would argue Trump's lies about it in his position as POTUS were ultimately more damaging to more countries around the world and certainly to the USA than Xi's because, historically speaking at least, the rest of the world would be inclined to believe the USA would not stand by and allow lies to go unchallenged much less repeat and confirm lies coming out of China about something so potentially disastrous to so many. But, apparently, this time we did.

[EihTooms]

EihTooms, we are trying to have a grown up discussion here. Aside from your usual blame everything on Trump psychosis, you now excuse the Chinese Communists from their crime of knowingly allowing the Wuhan virus out of China to infect Europe, Asia, and Africa and lying about it by claiming that, that was Trump's fault as well. 555. You are soooooooooo predictable. Go back to the rubber room ie the American Politics thread where you belong. You are embarrassing yourself.

You know I didn't write any such thing, Natty. Please stop lying about what I post. Adults shouldn't need to do that to make their point.

[Member #4698]

I would argue Trump's lies about it in his position as POTUS were ultimately more damaging to more countries around the world and certainly to the USA than Xi's because, historically speaking at least, the rest of the world would be inclined to believe the USA would not stand by and allow lies to go unchallenged much less repeat and confirm lies coming out of China about something so potentially disastrous to so many. But, apparently, this time we did.

EihTooms, we are trying to have a grown up discussion here. Aside from your usual blame everything on Trump psychosis, you now excuse the Chinese Communists from their crime of knowingly allowing the Wuhan virus out of China to infect Europe, Asia, and Africa and lying about it by claiming that, that was Trump's fault as well. 555. You are soooooooooo predictable. Go back to the rubber room ie the American Politics thread where you belong. You are embarrassing yourself.

[EihTooms]

That is your opinion but I strongly disagree. Your opinion " by the time the virus reached Europe and USA " yes it was contagious and dangerous but the point N.B. made and you quoted was China hid how contagious and dangerous the virus was and allow Chinese to travel abroad you stated " very cleared " which was incorrect even China told the W. H. O. That it wasn't which caused a lot of countries even the USA To underestimate the problem. January 25th of 2020 there was only one case of Virus being reported in the USA As I remember reading.

Sure many countries underestimated and had no real idea or just not prepared to handle such a problem but the SOURCE OR LACK OF IT COMES FROM China!

President of the United States, Donald Trump, was repeatedly told by his intelligence agencies in early January, all through the rest of January, all throughout February and into the first half of March about the true pandemic risks of the virus contrary to what China was trying to pawn off on the world about it.

Therefore, anything he said about it after early January, such as, "It's one person coming in from China, It's going to be just fine, We've got it totally under control, This is their (the Democrats) new hoax, China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus, The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency, It will all work out well, In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!", and on and on and on was a confirmation of China's lies, known to be lies by the President of the United States, for the entire world to accept. That includes lying to you, me, Fauci, Pelosi, Biden, everyone on the planet who was not in on those classified meetings with Trump from early January on and privy to his Presidential Daily Briefings during that time.

I would argue Trump's lies about it in his position as POTUS were ultimately more damaging to more countries around the world and certainly to the USA than Xi's because, historically speaking at least, the rest of the world would be inclined to believe the USA would not stand by and allow lies to go unchallenged much less repeat and confirm lies coming out of China about something so potentially disastrous to so many. But, apparently, this time we did.

2 months in the dark: the increasingly damning timeline of Trump's coronavirus response.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...ingly-damning/

Early January: Intelligence officials begin offering ominous, classified warnings about the virus to Trump in the Presidents Daily Brief. The warnings will persist into February.

Early January: In a report to the director of National Intelligence, a State Department epidemiologist warns that the virus is likely to spread across the globe and could result in a pandemic, and the Defense Intelligence Agencys National Center for Medical Intelligence comes to the same conclusion, per the New York Times.