Russian invasion of Ukraine

[Gabriel]

Sounds a lot like victim blaming to me. There is in fact a distinction between the government of a country and its people, always remember that.

Every nation has the rulers they deserve.

[Gorsameth]

Sounds a lot like victim blaming to me. There is in fact a distinction between the government of a country and its people, always remember that.

I can't really blame Russians for not rising up to resist considering what happens to those who do but at some point you also have to accept that quiet resignations means your going to get painted with the same brush.

[Kallisto]

I can't really blame Russians for not rising up to resist considering what happens to those who do but at some point you also have to accept that quiet resignations means your going to get painted with the same brush.

Only by people who don't understand that protesting = prison or death. If they understood that then they'd realise it is not right to tar with the same brush unless you don't value life. And anyone who doesn't value their life as infinite are stupid, since until an afterlife is proven we only have this one and it is absolute imperative that we always wake up with the sole purpose of staying alive AT ALL COSTS.

[Elder Millennial]

Every nation has the rulers they deserve.

Sort of.

But not really.

Truth is, successful revolutions that aren't driven by an alliance between the people with guns (state security apparatus) and the middle class are few and far between.

The Russian middle class is relatively small, and shrinking, they are also especially placated. And Putin has
done a remarkably successful job at fragmenting and keeping tight control of the state security apparatus.

[Gabriel]

Sort of.

But not really.

Truth is, successful revolutions that aren't driven by an alliance between the people with guns (state security apparatus) and the middle class are few and far between.

The Russian middle class is relatively small, and shrinking, they are also especially placated. And Putin has
done a remarkably successful job at fragmenting and keeping tight control of the state security apparatus.

People have forgotten that revolutions are supposed to be bloody business.

Tho in the end I care very little for people that are not ready to risk everything to make their country a better place for their children. Who am I to judge someone for wanting to live under the boot?

[Vladier]

People have forgotten that revolutions are supposed to be bloody business.

Tho in the end I care very little for people that are not ready to risk everything to make their country a better place for their children. Who am I to judge someone for wanting to live under the boot?

In how many violent revolutions have you participated, oh mighty defender of personal freedoms?

[Makabreska]

In how many violent revolutions have you participated, oh mighty defender of personal freedoms?

You know, there is this thing called "history", it is supposed to teach us about mistakes of the past. Bloody revolutions is one of them.

[YUPPIE]

The Ukrainian military has used the Patriot air defence system to shoot down a Russian bomber.

Source: Revealed in a comment to CNN by unnamed representatives of the Pentagon and the US Congress, as reported by European Pravda

Details: As noted, the Russian plane targeted by Patriot was going to launch missiles at Ukrainian targets.

Other air defence systems that are in service with Ukraine do not have sufficient range for this kind of task.

US officials said the Ukrainians personally decide how to use Patriot to defend themselves.

Patriot is considered one of the most sophisticated US air defence systems used against air targets, including aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles. It usually includes launchers along with radars and other aids.

Earlier, the media reported that a Patriot air defence system had been damaged during a Russian attack on Tuesday night. Ukraine and the United States have begun to discuss how best to fix the system.

The Pentagon said that one of the Patriot systems in Ukraine had indeed been damaged, and it had already been repaired.

[Vladier]

You know, there is this thing called "history", it is supposed to teach us about mistakes of the past. Bloody revolutions is one of them.

And in that thing called history, how many bloody revolutions were successfully waged with kitchen knives, which is probably the most dangerous weapon in a regular Russian's house?

[zealo]

Only by people who don't understand that protesting = prison or death. If they understood that then they'd realise it is not right to tar with the same brush unless you don't value life. And anyone who doesn't value their life as infinite are stupid, since until an afterlife is proven we only have this one and it is absolute imperative that we always wake up with the sole purpose of staying alive AT ALL COSTS.

Those same people valuing keeping their heads down at all costs aren't valuing any life but their own at most either.

What Russia is doing is sending their own countrymen into an early grave on a scale of hundreds of thousands, with many more getting maimed for life on top of it.

[Corvus]

There is a video of a Ukrainian assault near bakhmut which shows how fragile russian defences are in places. A squad of just 8 men plus 1 bmp overran a VDV platoon strong point without loss. The land they took back cost Wagner 500 dead to take according to the Prig.

The https://www.dailykos.com/stories/202...uture-defenses

If this is what their elite puts up in defence, just what are the mobiks going to do?

[Azadina]

Sounds a lot like victim blaming to me. There is in fact a distinction between the government of a country and its people, always remember that.

Yes, there is. As it happens, would you care to take a guess on which of those two groups is the one doing all the raping, torturing, murdering and pillaging in Ukraine? The government or the people?

[Gabriel]

And in that thing called history, how many bloody revolutions were successfully waged with kitchen knives, which is probably the most dangerous weapon in a regular Russian's house?

I wasn't aware the Russian grunts were not issued guns when they are sent to die in Ukraine.

[Elder Millennial]

People have forgotten that revolutions are supposed to be bloody business.

Tho in the end I care very little for people that are not ready to risk everything to make their country a better place for their children. Who am I to judge someone for wanting to live under the boot?

If you want to be completely disabused of the notion of popular revolutions, I recommend reading The Dictator's Handbook.

Putin's Russia is truly structured in a way to prevent the possibility of successful revolutions or meaningful political dissent. On the other hand, it is also primed for an extremely bloody succession struggle and possible fragmentation or full on civil war if Putin kicks the bucket.

I'm as appalled by the Russians propensity towards cruelty and fanaticism as the next guy, but I do understand this to be a byproduct of a fundamentally broken culture and society.

- - - Updated - - -

I wasn't aware the Russian grunts were not issued guns when they are sent to die in Ukraine.

Which is why I was earlier talking about the how the fragmentation and inefficiency of the various branches of the Russian state security apparatus is intentional to prevent the possibility of that occuring.

[Gabriel]

If you want to be completely disabused of the notion of popular revolutions, I recommend reading The Dictator's Handbook.

Putin's Russia is truly structured in a way to prevent the possibility of successful revolutions or meaningful political dissent. On the other hand, it is also primed for an extremely bloody succession struggle and possible fragmentation or full on civil war if Putin kicks the bucket.

I'm as appalled by the Russians propensity towards cruelty and fanaticism as the next guy, but I do understand this to be a byproduct of a fundamentally broken culture and society.

- - - Updated - - -



Which is why I was earlier talking about the how the fragmentation and inefficiency of the various branches of the Russian state security apparatus is intentional to prevent the possibility of that occuring.

I'm fully aware, but at the end of the day, they are human beings with free will, so the only conclusion you can draw is that they prefer things how they are.

[Elder Millennial]

I'm fully aware, but at the end of the day, they are human beings with free will, so the only conclusion you can draw is that they prefer things how they are.

Again, I'm not convinced they do. But in the same measure, I'm not convinced that WE (the rest of the world) would be better off if they did get what they actually wanted.

I'm mostly convinced they'd prefer the "competent" version of Putin and Russia that Putin and Russia sold itself, quite convincingly, to be.

The whole "cold, calculating, cutthroat, but rational and bureaucratic" Russia. I'm pretty sure the average Russian is pretty appalled by the Russia and Putin behind the facade.

Their "ideal" version of Russia would have "little green menned" the whole of Ukraine, with minimal bloodshed, proving the superiority of Mother Russia over the confused "little Russians", and bringing them back in the fold in one quick mostly bloodless swoop. In the process breaking NATO and the EU.

Instead they got....whatever this is.

[Gabriel]

Again, I'm not convinced they do. But in the same measure, I'm not convinced that WE (the rest of the world) would be better off if they did get what they actually wanted.

I'm mostly convinced they'd prefer the "competent" version of Putin and Russia that Putin and Russia sold itself, quite convincingly, to be.

The whole "cold, calculating, cutthroat, but rational and bureaucratic" Russia. I'm pretty sure the average Russian is pretty appalled by the Russia and Putin behind the facade.

Their "ideal" version of Russia would have "little green menned" the whole of Ukraine, with minimal bloodshed, proving the superiority of Mother Russia over the confused "little Russians", and bringing them back in the fold in one quick mostly bloodless swoop. In the process breaking NATO and the EU.

Instead they got....whatever this is.

Instead they got a dose of reality and decided to double down on "pls daddy Putin, choke me harder".

[Fantomen]

Only a matter of time now before we go from 'NATO partners give their extra F-16s to Ukraine' to 'the US sending new export models directly to Ukraine'.

Yes US and Western Europa is replacsing its old F-16 with new F-35, so there will be loots of surplus F-16.

[Mazza]

Yes US and Western Europa is replacsing its old F-16 with new F-35, so there will be loots of surplus F-16.

Not sure how fast that will happen though. For Belgium it was mentioned in our news just this week that at the moment none of our F-16's are spare. Yes, they will be replaced by F-35's but those aren't here yet. Hell, Belgian pilots aren't scheduled to start training (in the US) with the first 8 Belgian F-35's until later this year and actual deployment in Belgium isn't planned until 2025. I don't know if the circumstances (Ukraine needing F-16's) might expedite that but this schedule is from november last year, so pretty recent.

The Netherlands are a few years ahead on that schedule and already have operational F-35's if I read it correctly so maybe some of their F-16's are available?

[YUPPIE]

Why is Zelenksy everywhere lately? France, Saudi Arabia, and now Japan (for G7) the next day after.

Or rather, how is he getting around so quickly.

Anyway, as some have commentated on his visits, what's notable is he always looks extremely unhappy and there's little in the way of formality from his receptors or himself; very curt and to the point

Considering Japan's values on courtesy, it is pretty surprising there was none and they got right to the point.