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[QUOTE=Elvis2008;2710231][URL]https://medium.com/@grantpiperwriting/was-putin-right-all-along-b58872a19bef[/URL][/QUOTE]Great article. Maybe Putin is not as dumb as everyone thought. Time is on Russia side and with high gas prices and inflation way up, Russia is definitely starting to win. If gas goes up much more and Ukraine is unwilling to negotiate, support will dry up fast for Ukraine.
[QUOTE=Golfinho;2710463]Russians do not take shit. Anyone who's been there even once should have very quickly found that out for themselves. It should be no surprise how this war is unfolding, yet the self-delusion among the willfully ignorant persists.[/QUOTE]Notice that I specifically didn't say that Ukraine is winning. That's because, unlike you and your schmegegge-clone, I actually follow what's happening on the battlefield. And, when it comes to facts vs opinion, facts will win every time.
Russia hasn't lost but neither have they won. And, when you're fighting for survival, it's a win for Ukraine each day they keep the invaders at bay.
[URL]https://www.businessinsider.com/rich-people-leaving-russia-millionaires-invasion-ukraine-war-2022-6[/URL]
Wow! If everything is going great in Russia, why are so many affluent individuals intent on leaving? Ukraine has had its territory invaded, and its cities bombed, so it's understandable that people will want to avoid being in a war zone. But Russia? It hasn't been invaded and these millionaires, most of whom probably live in Moscow or St. Petersburg, are in no danger.
Again, that brings up the fascinating question about why so many are planning on leaving, are currently in the process of leaving, or have already left. Watching what people do, rather than listening to what they say, is useful in evaluating what's really going on.
A millionaire in Russia didn't get that way without being savvy, having connections, and knowing how to navigate and game the system. And, as long as they stay on good terms with Putin's power brokers, their wealth should insulate them from most inconveniences and hardships. Why would someone in that elite tranche of society decide to bail? One reason is arguably that they view their future prospects OUTSIDE of Russia as better than inside. Their money allows them to have many choices, and they've chosen to leave. Rats deserting a sinking ship, IMO, as I've posted several times before.
[QUOTE=Golfinho;2710463]Russians do not take shit. Anyone who's been there even once should have very quickly found that out for themselves. It should be no surprise how this war is unfolding, yet the self-delusion among the willfully ignorant persists.[/QUOTE]Yeah, the concept that Putin was right all along (which is what the article was about) looks more and more clear. I do not think the Western Press has expressed the Russian POV very well, and I am not even sure this article got into it. All you hear in the Western Press is Putin is a mad man and they highlight whenever a Russian mentions being anti-war.
My understanding is Putin felt surrounded, and that was what the Atlantic mentioned victory in Ukraine would be, a surrounded Russia. I was told that Russia had only 2 of the 9 traditional choke points against an invasion and now are in control of 5 of the 9. In addition ethnic Russians were being tortured and killed in Donbas and water was being cut off to Crimea. Add in Ukraine being in the EU and Nato, the coup of 2014, and Russiagate where the Dems demonized Putin unfairly and Ukrainegate which showed the Dems had a stranglehold in Ukraine, and far from Putin being a mad man, I can see why he felt the need for a pre-emptive strike. He is a bully but I do not see him as irrational.
Putin is a guy who took over for Yeltsin who was a drunk and ruled at a time Russians were starving. Say you what you want about him ethically, but he gets the trains to run on time almost as well as any Russian leader can. Yes, it is not a Democracy, but Russians have historically preferred a strong armed leader versus an elected one. This again is something most Westerners do not get.
The hysteria has died down. No, Russia does not look like it is going to blow up everything in sight and stop at taking areas of Ukraine where there is a predominantly Russian population. He has shown no desire to March to the English Channel as some have mentioned. The return on the $40 billion the USA has sent to Ukraine may as well have been lit on fire for all the good it will do, and our nation is suffering with higher oil and gas prices and higher food prices.
Here are two pieces which show the diametrically opposed positions: [URL]https://www.zerohedge.com/political/heat-scorched-odessa-texas-has-been-without-water-all-week-due-ageing-infrastructure[/URL].
As residents are hopeful that the crisis finally resolves Saturday, it's worth noting the irony in billions of taxpayer dollars currently being sent to places like Odessa, Ukraine. Even as Americans in places like Odessa, Texas can't even get drinkable water due to "ageing infrastructure".
[URL]https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/we-must-do-more-ukraine-even-if-costs-food-fuel-are-high-western-populations-nato[/URL]
Top officials in the West warning their populations against "Ukraine fatigue", saying that 'sacrifices' must be made for the long-term despite the 'high costs' in blood and treasure of continuing to ramp up support for Ukraine. This time it's NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg making unusually blunt statements, addressing the common masses.
"We must prepare for the fact that it could take years. We must not let up in supporting Ukraine," he began by saying in an interview published Sunday by Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper. He stressed this should be the case "even if the costs are high, not only for military support, also because of rising energy and food prices. ".
Why do we have to help Ukraine? The whole notion that Russia was going to March onto the English Channel made no sense to me. So the French, UK, and USA are not going to nuke Russia if that happens? Since when?
The question I have for this NATO General is we know the defense industry gets a return on investing in war but do we the American people get such a return? That answer is not maybe but probably not and in that case, we should not keep committing. If a NATO country is invaded, that is another story. If you look at this economically, Putin was right. The benefit of defending Ukraine was not worth the cost.
[QUOTE=Golfinho;2710463]Russians do not take shit. Anyone who's been there even once should have very quickly found that out for themselves. It should be no surprise how this war is unfolding, yet the self-delusion among the willfully ignorant persists.[/QUOTE]Throughout their turbulent history, Russians have taken as much shit as the next guy. They've lost enough battles and wars. Portraying Russia as a perennial winner is ridiculous and ludicrous, and Russian people are well familiar with defeat and humiliation, which is what they are going to experience this time around, as well.
[QUOTE=PedroMorales;2710280]The first post is a question on S Korea, the 2nd is some useless be s on England and the rest are praising Nazis who are getting their asses handed to them in Ukraine.[/QUOTE]Basically delusional jibber jabber.
[QUOTE=Xpartan;2710631]Throughout their turbulent history, Russians have taken as much shit as the next guy. They've lost enough battles and wars. Portraying Russia as a perennial winner is ridiculous and ludicrous, and Russian people are well familiar with defeat and humiliation, which is what they are going to experience this time around.[/QUOTE]The Russian people have taken plenty of shit over their entire history, including probably most of it from their own leaders!
[QUOTE=DramaFree11;2710541]Great article. Maybe Russia is definitely starting to win.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE] If gas goes up much more and Ukraine is unwilling to negotiate, support will dry up fast for Ukraine.[/QUOTE]I'm sure regulars in this forum are familiar with your consistent anti-Ukraine, pro-Russia, posting history. But, since you're too cowardly to be honest about it, and continually try to hide it, I'm more than happy to point it out.
Your argument that time is on Russia's side is based solely on your cherry-picked view of the situation, in which you see everything leaning toward Russia and leaning against Ukraine. There are plenty of arguments to be made from the pro-Ukraine point of view. But they're wasted on you since you've already made up your mind.
Again, anyone who has any question about where you stand needs only to view the posts you've made since Feb 24th, the date of the Russian invasion.
BTW, please call or email the head of the Russian Central Bank, and also the CEO of Sberbank (Russia's largest bank) and educate them about how time is on Russia's side. After all, you have everything figured out, right?
[URL]https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-st-petersburg-economy-fa80aa4723bc8ec4e12a5ce559bf0055[/URL]
[URL]https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/06/17/russian-economy-faces-10-years-of-recession-without-reforms-sberbank-ceo-a78031[/URL]
If these pro-Russia officials are expressing such negative assessments in public, I wonder what they're saying in private?
[QUOTE=Elvis2008;2710598]Yeah, the concept that Putin was right all along (which is what the article was about) looks more and more clear. I do not think the Western Press has expressed the Russian POV very well, and I am not even sure this article got into it. All you hear in the Western Press is Putin is a mad man and they highlight whenever a Russian mentions being anti-war.
My understanding is Putin felt surrounded, and that was what the Atlantic mentioned victory in Ukraine would be, a surrounded Russia. I was told that Russia had only 2 of the 9 traditional choke points against an invasion and now are in control of 5 of the 9. In addition ethnic Russians were being tortured and killed in Donbas and water was being cut off to Crimea. Add in Ukraine being in the EU and Nato, the coup of 2014, and Russiagate where the Dems demonized Putin unfairly and Ukrainegate which showed the Dems had a stranglehold in Ukraine, and far from Putin being a mad man, I can see why he felt the need for a pre-emptive strike. He is a bully but I do not see him as irrational.
Putin is a guy who took over for Yeltsin who was a drunk and ruled at a time Russians were starving. Say you what you want about him ethically, but he gets the trains to run on time almost as well as any Russian leader can. Yes, it is not a Democracy, but Russians have historically preferred a strong armed leader versus an elected one. This again is something most Westerners do not get.
The hysteria has died down. No, Russia does not look like it is going to blow up everything in sight and stop at taking areas of Ukraine where there is a predominantly Russian population. He has shown no desire to March to the English Channel as some have mentioned. The return on the $40 billion the USA has sent to Ukraine may as well have been lit on fire for all the good it will do, and our nation is suffering with higher oil and gas prices and higher food prices.
Here are two pieces which show the diametrically opposed positions: [URL]https://www.zerohedge.com/political/heat-scorched-odessa-texas-has-been-without-water-all-week-due-ageing-infrastructure[/URL].
As residents are hopeful that the crisis finally resolves Saturday, it's worth noting the irony in billions of taxpayer dollars currently being sent to places like Odessa, Ukraine. Even as Americans in places like Odessa, Texas can't even get drinkable water due to "ageing infrastructure"..[/QUOTE]His health has visibly deteriorated even since the beginning of his invasion. That's not just my opinion as plenty of doctors have posted their observations. So, IMO, any discussion of "Putin this," or "Putin that," should honestly address the question of what happens after Putin.
Will there be a backstabbing succession bloodbath among the elite, or will Putin orchestrate a smooth transition? And, depending who the new leader is, what data is there to support the idea that they'll simply continue all of Putin's policies? Did Stalin merely continue Leninism? Did Krushchev simply parrot Stalinism? Or did they chart their own path? And what about the age-old tendency of any new leadership to blame their predecessors for society's problems? Why wouldn't a new leader simply blame Putin? That would be extremely easy to do, especially if Putin was dead.
As far as support for Ukraine is concerned, isn't it interesting that, the closer a country is to Russia, the stronger their support is likely to be. I'm more inclined to look at what Poland and the Baltics are saying, as they know Putin better than anyone. And all of them believe that Putin has no intention of stopping with only Ukraine. And that view is supported by Putin's own words, such as his recent speech in which he talks about reclaiming "historic Russian lands" in the manner of Peter the Great. One doesn't need to read pundits and analysts to figure out Putin's thoughts and ambitions. He speaks them quite plainly.
[QUOTE=Elvis2008;2710598]Yeah, the concept that Putin was right all along (which is what the article was about) looks more and more clear. I do not think the Western Press has expressed the Russian POV very well, and I am not even sure this article got into it. All you hear in the Western Press is Putin is a mad man and they highlight whenever a Russian mentions being anti-war.
My understanding is Putin felt surrounded[/QUOTE]Top of the bullshit to you, too!
Putin felt threatened. Aha. Right. Please tell me more.
Putin has hated Ukraine for at least 30 years. He's been incensed that Ukraine that he'd never thought of as more than yet another Russian province, decided to kick out his errand boy Yanukovich and choose Europe over his wonderful Russian World.
But you know what, Elvis, let's say you're right. You ain't, but what the hell, I feel generous.
Let's say he did "feel" surrounded.
Now why should normal people care how psychopaths feel?
How did Hitler feel? How did Pol Pot feel? How did Saddam feel? How did Gaddafi feel? Who the fuck cares how they felt?
No one threatened Russia. Not a single country or an individual. No one.
Whatever that power-drunk maniac might or might not have felt didn't have any roots in reality. When he tried to bend the reality to his will (presuming that your idiotic theory is true, which it isn't), reality hit him back right in his botoxed mug.
There is no way out for him. Unfortunately, he'll murder tens of thousands more until he meets his end.
Nevertheless, the day will come no matter how many pedros, golphinhos, elvises and other despicable Russian shills keep doing his bidding.
[QUOTE=Xpartan;2710655]Let's say he did "feel" surrounded.
Now why should normal people care how psychopaths feel?[/QUOTE]This is a typical Dumb dem POV. You do not care the Russian people who were starving before he came to power or that he can in one second decide to end the war. I love how stupid you Dems are. Putin is a madman, a psychopath, and we should not care how he feels?
You dumb Dems are all lined up combatting each other like you did with Trump over who can give out the best insults. Nothing is off the table.
Why should we care how he feels? Well, another reason is because he can wipe us out with one push of a button, you effing moron.
[QUOTE=Xpartan;2710655]Nevertheless, the day will come no matter how many pedros, golphinhos, elvises and other despicable Russian shills keep doing his bidding.[/QUOTE]Understanding someone's POV is not doing their bidding, you fool. It is the first step you take to get to peace.
And seeing how you want war so much, have you volunteered to enlist? Or are you just willing to fight the Russians until the last dead Ukrainian?
How dare you bring up dead bodies while you are cheering on war.
[QUOTE=Golfinho;2710463]Russians do not take shit. Anyone who's been there even once should have very quickly found that out for themselves. It should be no surprise how this war is unfolding, yet the self-delusion among the willfully ignorant persists.[/QUOTE]Russians take a lot of shit you twerp as they have no other choice. They took a thorough ass whooping in the Russo-Japanese War. They took an additional ass whooping from the Bolcheviks and backed out of WW I. They were at the standing eight count from the Nazis until the West rescued them through re-supplies. They lost the Cold War, their women sucking Western cock to this day to survive, and now have an economy about the size of Texas. To add insult to injury, they've been forced to tuck tail and tun from Kyiv and Kharkiv, and can barely hold their own against a much smaller neighboring country. They are seemingly all white though excepting the Asian provinces, and anti-Jew, and that's why they get a sympathetic though meaningless ear from you here in ISG. Yawns. Bigots absent intellectual pursuits are a dime a dozen.
[QUOTE=Xpartan;2710655]Whatever that power-drunk maniac might or might not have felt didn't have any roots in reality. .[/QUOTE]All these "feelings" were mere excuses on par with the "feelings" Hitler used for his neighboring land grabs. Little Vlad already stated that he has no problem with Finland joining NATO, a country with a 700 mile shared border. The issue with the Ukraine is his false historical narrative and claim that they have no right to exist. Then after that we get to the real reason, that he wants their farmlands and ports, and ultimately a restoration of the old Soviet empire if he can manage to pull it off. With the American far right in his corner, and in power in the US, he'd have a real shot at pulling it off.
[QUOTE=Jmsuttr;2710529] But isn't one river crossing over the Kakhovka Dam? That one, I'd guess, would not be targeted for destruction. [/QUOTE]There is a road on top of this dam, but I doubt, it would be capable of allowing lot of heavy armour to pass. So no good replacement for the bridges in Cherson.
Because the dam is user for water control, and electricity generation, not a valid target for destruction by the UA forces.
[QUOTE=ReinerOtto;2710787]There is a road on top of this dam, but I doubt, it would be capable of allowing lot of heavy armour to pass. So no good replacement for the bridges in Cherson.
Because the dam is user for water control, and electricity generation, not a valid target for destruction by the UA forces.[/QUOTE]All these Nazis can do is destroy, just like the last days of the Reich. Speaking of which, little Emperor Macron lost and Colombia has told the Yanks to f off. Civilisation's only hope is open season on acultural interlopers (Americans, other ferals).