[Politics] Russia invades Ukraine (24/02/2022)

[The Clamp]

Pootin says he’s suspending the arms treaty with the US. In reality, what does this mean?

I can’t imagine any treaty would be honoured by Putin anyway.
I’m pretty sure he’s broken arms treaties by even threatening nuclear war?

 

[Icy Gull]

Apparently according to Vlad the mad, they started it....

Good Ol' fashioned Bullshite, nowt like to confuse the ill informed, uneducated and oppressed masses.

Works every time.

If it wasn’t so tragic it would be hilarious. Does ANYBODY in the world actually believe this?

The Kremlin leader once again portrayed his country as the victim, claiming it was the West, and not Russia, that had started the war in Ukraine. Russia, said the president, was just trying to stop it.

 

[seagullwedgee]

What a rant that was. Intended to be an annual state of the union address, you would think it might include: a review of progress to plans over the last year (economy, security, social, domestic etc); a synopsis of emerging threats and opportunities; a refreshed set of plans and objectives for the next year, with clear timescales, goals, budgets etc; and maybe some thanks for things done well by the nation and it’s people.

None of that. No review of progress, because there has been none. No new plans or objectives, because his mind is in complete crisis. Full of lies, quoting growth of 14% when it is actually 2.4% for example, full of brain washing “they started it”, full of bullshit “the sanctions don’t hurt us”. And the faces of people looking sideways and scared they might fall out of a window if they don’t smile, clap or stand at the right moment.

Almost two hours of absolute pissed-up rant. Unreal.

 

[amexer]

Unbelievable how many Russians believe everything Putin says. During 2nd world war millions of leaflets were dropped over Germany 6/9 months before end of war telling them not to believe Hitler and to give up arms now to save 1000s of lives. Would it be possible to do same over Russia to tell them the truth

 

[Eric the meek]

What a rant that was. Intended to be an annual state of the union address, you would think it might include: a review of progress to plans over the last year (economy, security, social, domestic etc); a synopsis of emerging threats and opportunities; a refreshed set of plans and objectives for the next year, with clear timescales, goals, budgets etc; and maybe some thanks for things done well by the nation and it’s people.

None of that. No review of progress, because there has been none. No new plans or objectives, because his mind is in complete crisis. Full of lies, quoting growth of 14% when it is actually 2.4% for example, full of brain washing “they started it”, full of bullshit “the sanctions don’t hurt us”. And the faces of people looking sideways and scared they might fall out of a window if they don’t smile, clap or stand at the right moment.

Almost two hours of absolute pissed-up rant. Unreal.

A dystopian view of the world, from a ruthless gangster, who over the years, has removed any checks or balances that might have once existed.

If this had been a film, we would have dismissed as far-fetched. But it's not. It's really happening, right now, in our lifetime.

Just as we look back on Nazi Germany with incredulity, future generations will look back on this era and ask 'how on earth did this happen?'

 

[seagullwedgee]

Precisely. Well put.

 

[raymondo]

What a rant that was. Intended to be an annual state of the union address, you would think it might include: a review of progress to plans over the last year (economy, security, social, domestic etc); a synopsis of emerging threats and opportunities; a refreshed set of plans and objectives for the next year, with clear timescales, goals, budgets etc; and maybe some thanks for things done well by the nation and it’s people.

None of that. No review of progress, because there has been none. No new plans or objectives, because his mind is in complete crisis. Full of lies, quoting growth of 14% when it is actually 2.4% for example, full of brain washing “they started it”, full of bullshit “the sanctions don’t hurt us”. And the faces of people looking sideways and scared they might fall out of a window if they don’t smile, clap or stand at the right moment.

Almost two hours of absolute pissed-up rant. Unreal.

You are spot on and made me chuckle too... thanks

 

[raymondo]

Let's play 'find the biggest pig'.

 

[jakarta]

I hope Joe Biden uses the famous words of Jules in Pulp Fiction 'well allow me to retort'...

 

[raymondo]

Unbelievable how many Russians believe everything Putin says. During 2nd world war millions of leaflets were dropped over Germany 6/9 months before end of war telling them not to believe Hitler and to give up arms now to save 1000s of lives. Would it be possible to do same over Russia to tell them the truth

The majority wouldn't believe the leaflets, sadly

 

[Eric the meek]

Great speech by Biden. I'm glad he didn't directly refute the rubbish Putin said. It wasn't worth spending time over.

'Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia'. That's pretty definitive. But it means there may be danger ahead.

 

[jakarta]

Great speech by Biden. I'm glad he didn't directly refute the rubbish Putin said. It wasn't worth spending time over.

'Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia'. That's pretty definitive. But it means there may be danger ahead.

Glad You sorted the typo...

 

[Eric the meek]

Think that is a typo?

Yes, it was. I was hoping to get away with editing it before some NSC hawkeye spotted it. No chance of that was there?

 

[Weststander]

On Friday we'll be attending a concert of Ukrainian songs and music at Bath Abbey, the main singer (truly excellent) being a wonderful 1/2 Ukrainian girl (born and raised in UK) who is a family friend. Proceeds going to buy generators for a town in eastern Ukraine.

Hi, please can you give a link here to donate to that cause

 

[A1X]

Unbelievable how many Russians believe everything Putin says. During 2nd world war millions of leaflets were dropped over Germany 6/9 months before end of war telling them not to believe Hitler and to give up arms now to save 1000s of lives. Would it be possible to do same over Russia to tell them the truth

Unfortunately many people are automatically predisposed to believe a certain thing over another. Look at the way Trump manages to convince so many in the US that the last election was somehow rigged, even though there is literally no evidence to suggest it was. The difference being in the western democracies there's a plurality of people for others pin their hats to so it kind of balances out (for everyone in the UK who thinks Nigel Farage walks on water there's someone who believes Jeremy Corbyn is the second coming), whereas in Russia it's Putin or nothing. Then you get the people who almost certainly don't believe what he's saying but keep their traps shut to avoid disappearing in the middle of the night.

 

[jakarta]

Compare and contrast those 2 speeches, one full of hatred, the other full of hope.

 

[Eric the meek]

I just saw this on the BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-64713099

'Suspension of nuclear pact reversible, Russia signals'

'Away from Warsaw, Russia has signalled the possibility of compromise on a key nuclear arms agreement with the US.
A decision to suspend participation in the New Start treaty "may be reversible", according to a post on the Telegram messaging app by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
President Putin announced the suspension in his speech earlier today.'

It didn't take long for Putin to back pedal, did it?

Was there a back-channel discussion going on as well?

 

[SeagullinExile]

I just saw this on the BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-64713099

'Suspension of nuclear pact reversible, Russia signals'

'Away from Warsaw, Russia has signalled the possibility of compromise on a key nuclear arms agreement with the US.
A decision to suspend participation in the New Start treaty "may be reversible", according to a post on the Telegram messaging app by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
President Putin announced the suspension in his speech earlier today.'

It didn't take long for Putin to back pedal, did it?

Was there a back-channel discussion going on as well?

I’m pretty sure anything suspended is reversible isn’t it? He never said the deal was cancelled did he?

 

[Eric the meek]

I’m pretty sure anything suspended is reversible isn’t it? He never said the deal was cancelled did he?

Yes, anything suspended is presumably reversible.
No, he didn't say he was cancelling the treaty. Is a cancellation reversible as well? I'm not sure in this case.

But are those questions the right ones to ask anyway?

It sounds like he made a belligerent gesture in this morning's speech (a unilateral suspension of the treaty), and then a few hours later, hinted that the suspension may be reversible. In return for what exactly?

Make a threat, but offer to then not carry it out in return for something he wants?

'I plan to nuke Ukrainian cities, but it may be avoidable if you give me the Donbas'.

 

[raymondo]

Hi, please can you give a link here to donate to that cause

Hi, thanks so much. Here's the link to their website so you can have a read first, and the gofundme donation link is further down the article. Cheers if you decide to donate, and no worries if not

GENERATORS FOR UKRAINE

www.generatorsforukraine.co.uk