Russian invasion of Ukraine

[YUPPIE]

I hope we condemn this action with particulary strong words since collectively we seem incapable to do little else.

can't do anything. Western boots or current military hardware will be a declaration of war; sanctions that send Russia into the stone age means Russian exports come to a complete halt, so no gas and cheap labor goods and that's a fucking no-no for mega corporations and average civvies.

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You all have to understand it's not just about the threat of nukes, but how much leverage Russia holds over things like gas and things that come out of their land that brings capitalist countries like the US to heel. That's geopolitical warfare and why Saudi Arabia is doing fine instead of being buried.

[Poopymonster]

Militarily important targets. Destroy the morale of your enemy by killing their children.

/s

Those kids won't become soldiers in 20 years when we attack again.
Those who survive now have a really REALLY solid reason to want to join the military when Russia attacks again.
You don't kill enough kids, you have now created some really motivated people who hate you instead of being demoralized.

[DarkTZeratul]

You all have to understand it's not just about the threat of nukes, but how much leverage Russia holds over things like gas and things that come out of their land that brings capitalist countries like the US to heel.

52% of our gas comes from Canada, and the next 25% comes from Mexico, Saudia Arabia, Iraq, and Colombia. Even under normal circumstances we get fuck all from Russia, and we've imported effectively nothing from them in the last two years due to our own economic sanctions. If you're going to make stupid arguments, at least base on them actual facts instead of whatever nonsense you've decided to make up to support your deranged world views.

[Jessicka]

can't do anything. Western boots or current military hardware will be a declaration of war; sanctions that send Russia into the stone age means Russian exports come to a complete halt, so no gas and cheap labor goods and that's a fucking no-no for mega corporations and average civvies.

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You all have to understand it's not just about the threat of nukes, but how much leverage Russia holds over things like gas and things that come out of their land that brings capitalist countries like the US to heel. That's geopolitical warfare and why Saudi Arabia is doing fine instead of being buried.

We already divested from Russian energy, and western boots in a defensive stance are no worse than Dear Leader Kim's offensive ones, and have been mooted more than once already (though it would more likely be jets enforcing no-fly). Russia has no leverage on anything, and no flexibility with anything it does have to change course, the only thing it has is ammunition and men, but is losing the means to use either effectively since it can't replace the means to fire it or transport it and Ukraine now has the means to destroy it deep inside Russia. This kind of attack smacks of desperation, Putin is trying to provoke something, but what I have no idea, because I don't know what he has left to escalate further with.

[Iphie]

.This kind of attack smacks of desperation, Putin is trying to provoke something, but what I have no idea, because I don't know what he has left to escalate further with.

If he's trying to provoke something, it might be a massive retaliatory attack with western weapons after which he can claim victimhood and escalate with big booms...is what I would say if I was Yuppie.

[Corvus]

A maternity hospital was also damaged in the kyiv attack, so no way can russia say it wasn't deliberate. Except, as usual, they are lying repeatedly and changing their story constantly in typical russian fashion.

While the attack was happening, Zelensky was in Poland signing a new security agreement. Reportedly it includes provisions for Poland to shoot down drones and missiles in western Ukraine headed towards Poland, for polish planes to patrol Western Ukraine and for a Ukrainian Legion to be raised, trained and equipped in Poland. No word as to who will be in it beyond volunteers.

[Flarelaine]

He's not an idiot. He's Moscow's spokesperson. He's doing Moscow's PR.

As someone with Hungarian ancestry, whose Hungarian side of the family carries generational trauma caused by Russians going back to WW2 and 1956, the Hungarian alignment with Moscow is one the weirdest things ever.

As someone who grew up in Hungary with stories of Russian predation, some of them from decades after the war... I'm dombfounded as well. I could explain the government being power-hungry and unscrupulous, but they managed to brainwash an entire country on that topic in the short span of a dozen years. A mere two years before coming to power, Orbán was the one wailing on the then-current government for allegedly being lapdogs of Putin.

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I mean, it's easy enough to explain for Orban. Money/power.

As for Hungary overall, I have no real insight into the subject, but if I had to guess it's probably something similar to how the conservatives/GOP in the US, the former "classic enemies of the USSR" and the biggest driving force behind the "red scare," are now suddenly buddy-buddy with Russia it's because a select group of conservative pundits and politicians easily bought off by Russian money instead pitch their audiences to be afraid instead of some "other" group that's "worse" than the Russians. In the US that's demonizing immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, "socialists," and so on and so forth. Is there some well of prejudice in Hungary that Russia has found a way to tap?

Both populations experienced a stagnant but stable and safe life in the Eastern Bloc and tumult after economic tumult once we joined the West. Many believe it was a mistake and it appears it was easy to build on that.

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I'll be as daft as you want, as long as the childrens hospitals and kindergartens stop blowing up. Nothing so far has accomplished that. It's time for more effective measures.

It must have been some time ago, but the thread has been repeatedly warned to refrain from endorsing nuclear destruction and those warnings still stand.

Eh, quoted the wrong post, but the point is the same.

[Wilian]

It must have been some time ago, but the thread has been repeatedly warned to refrain from endorsing nuclear destruction and those warnings still stand.

Eh, quoted the wrong post, but the point is the same.

These are empty words because according to Russia any response warrants a nuclear strike (regardless how impotent their threats have been thus far) so discussing any response beyond angry words would fall in line to your warning.

[Azadina]

It must have been some time ago, but the thread has been repeatedly warned to refrain from endorsing nuclear destruction and those warnings still stand.

Eh, quoted the wrong post, but the point is the same.

Either post you quote, endorsement for "nuclear destruction" you will not find. Unless you claim having said weapons immediately means nuclear destruction.

You'd have to explain the case of every country currently having them, if indeed that's your argument.

[diller]

You all have to understand it's not just about the threat of nukes, but how much leverage Russia holds over things like gas and things that come out of their land that brings capitalist countries like the US to heel. That's geopolitical warfare and why Saudi Arabia is doing fine instead of being buried.

Do you not follow the news at all?

Russia has no leverage whatsoever over the west.

[Makabreska]

Do you not follow the news at all?

Russia has no leverage whatsoever over the west.

Dude thought that Le Pen won. It is not a matter of not following the news anymore. The guy just perceives reality differently.

[Calfredd]

Dude thought that Le Pen won. It is not a matter of not following the news anymore. The guy just perceives reality differently.

Guy needs to put down the bottle and join AA or something.

[Ulmita]

China / Belarus military drills on Polish border:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/08/europ...ntl/index.html

[Iphie]

China / Belarus military drills on Polish border:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/08/europ...ntl/index.html

As long as they stay on their own side of the border everything is fine. But you know that, don't you?

[diller]

China / Belarus military drills on Polish border:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/08/europ...ntl/index.html

And that is not a sign of aggression?

[Makabreska]

And that is not a sign of aggression?

Gotta make a show of force! NATO is pushing, man! Soon they will take Poland in!

wait...

[Specialka]

Ukraine's fault for building that hospital on the path of those missiles. /s

[YUPPIE]

What does Zelenksy mean India is a "democracy," let alone being a leading example of such? Reference to this image that has gone viral, with Modi hugging Putin after negotiating a deal to let Indian conscripts go

[Gorsameth]

What does Zelenksy mean India is a "democracy," let alone being a leading example of such? Reference to this image that has gone viral, with Modi hugging Putin after negotiating a deal to let Indian conscripts go

Well you see, India is a really big country and some 642 million people recently voted in their election.
Would you like some more random stats about nations of the world?

[YUPPIE]

Well you see, India is a really big country and some 642 million people recently voted in their election.
Would you like some more random stats about nations of the world?

So does that mean the majority of Indians support Russia in this conflict, if they are able to give an opinion? I can't imagine how if not, this guy hugging this blood-soaked beast lovingly for the world to see would sit well with the populace. Our US presidents get condemned for less.