- Apr 5, 2014
- 26,331
Alas, I fear that such a release will not give the real picture. If it does, I wouldn't go standing near any windows if I were its author.
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[Politics] Russia invades Ukraine (24/02/2022)
- Thread starter vegster
- Start date
Well we know they've already taken a chunk (all?) of that river island that's rather strategic... unopposed by Russia. (IDRWIC !)
True, but I think it may help us guess at underlying realities.
Not a casualty of the war as such (ie: it wasn't attacked), but it does seem to reflect the rather desperate measures Russia are having to go to to keep their merchant fleet sailing. Split down a seam created by recently rebuilding and welding - or 'cut and shut' in the car world.
www.theguardian.com
Two Russian tankers sink in Black Sea spilling 4,300 tonnes of oil
Ukraine accuses Moscow of recklessness amid risk of ecological damage to marine environment
www.theguardian.com
I can imagine the welder saying...yeah that'll hold fine.Not a casualty of the war as such (ie: it wasn't attacked), but it does seem to reflect the rather desperate measures Russia are having to go to to keep their merchant fleet sailing. Split down a seam created by recently rebuilding and welding - or 'cut and shut' in the car world.
Two Russian tankers sink in Black Sea spilling 4,300 tonnes of oil
Ukraine accuses Moscow of recklessness amid risk of ecological damage to marine environment
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 3,240
I’ve finally finished reading Midnight in Moscow by John L Sullivan who was the US Ambassador to Russia at the outset of the war. He says there are four important features that are the most relevant to understanding and crafting a strategy to address Putin’s war:
1. Russia is not merely an adversary of the US - it’s a self-declared enemy and Putin believes he is at war with the US and NATO. No goodwill gesture or search for a negotiated solution by the west will change that.
2. The Russian government cannot be trusted in any context. Putin and the Kremlin are untethered from the truth and facts. Their attitude is that the truth is any story which succeeds. Trust is impossible and after so many lies and falsehoods how could anyone negotiate in good faith with Putin’s government again.
3. No matter what Putin might say he will never surrender the goal of the special military operation to subjugate Ukraine. Never. When Putin or one of his surrogates talks of negotiations and peace it should be treated as pure disinformation.
4. Putin’s removal is not necessarily the answer - though I’m not sure Sullivan clearly articulates what the answer is. He says that change has to come from within, which could take time, and in the meantime the west has to continue a policy of containment. He strongly advocates continued military support as being in the best long term interests of the US and west.
Hopefully Trump will heed these points. It’s an interesting book in which he also makes a number of comparisons with WWII, including how Germany described the invasion of Poland as a “military intervention” to protect ethnic Germans in Poland. Sounds familiar, sadly
1. Russia is not merely an adversary of the US - it’s a self-declared enemy and Putin believes he is at war with the US and NATO. No goodwill gesture or search for a negotiated solution by the west will change that.
2. The Russian government cannot be trusted in any context. Putin and the Kremlin are untethered from the truth and facts. Their attitude is that the truth is any story which succeeds. Trust is impossible and after so many lies and falsehoods how could anyone negotiate in good faith with Putin’s government again.
3. No matter what Putin might say he will never surrender the goal of the special military operation to subjugate Ukraine. Never. When Putin or one of his surrogates talks of negotiations and peace it should be treated as pure disinformation.
4. Putin’s removal is not necessarily the answer - though I’m not sure Sullivan clearly articulates what the answer is. He says that change has to come from within, which could take time, and in the meantime the west has to continue a policy of containment. He strongly advocates continued military support as being in the best long term interests of the US and west.
Hopefully Trump will heed these points. It’s an interesting book in which he also makes a number of comparisons with WWII, including how Germany described the invasion of Poland as a “military intervention” to protect ethnic Germans in Poland. Sounds familiar, sadly
- Nov 11, 2009
- 12,378
Just read an interesting little fact that shows the folly of Putins Ukraine adventure.
"The average salary in the Russian Federation increased from 2011 to 2024.
2011 - 20952 rubles
2024 - 56724 rubles
That's a 13 year increase from $698 to $567"
"The average salary in the Russian Federation increased from 2011 to 2024.
2011 - 20952 rubles
2024 - 56724 rubles
That's a 13 year increase from $698 to $567"
- Aug 24, 2020
- 7,450
More signs of economic problems are appearing.
Workers on the M12 highway have not been paid since September and are going on strike.
Fish rationing in Kamchatka. ? I blame the Japanese for overfishing.
A senator in the Duma says inflation figures are under-reported, because the government doesn't want to pay bigger pensions and pay rises to state workers.
It's all from Konstantin Samoilov. I'll post the link later.
Workers on the M12 highway have not been paid since September and are going on strike.
Fish rationing in Kamchatka. ? I blame the Japanese for overfishing.
A senator in the Duma says inflation figures are under-reported, because the government doesn't want to pay bigger pensions and pay rises to state workers.
It's all from Konstantin Samoilov. I'll post the link later.
I've just watched a podcast, Rory Stewart and A Campbell with Bill Clinton. Lots of topics covered. Bill said that he worked with Putin over a number of months as Yeltsin stepped aside. It's interesting.
Bill said that in 2010 (IIRC) Putin, during a 'social' discussion, made it very clear that he didn't accept the Budapest memorandum at all and it had never been ratified by the Duma. Putin's implication was very clear: he'd try to take Ukraine one day. Clinton duly informed the US authorities.
And was the same when Russia invaded Finland back in 1919 ish. A playbook seemingly as old as the hills
The west has to keep up the sanctions...
Doesn't tend to work out well for the aggressors in these situations...And was the same when Russia invaded Finland back in 1919 ish. A playbook seemingly as old as the hills
So far...
- Aug 24, 2020
- 7,450
The Konstantin Samoilov update of crazy Russian news:
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 3,240
Russian newspaper is predicting interest rate will go up to around 23 to 25%.
- Aug 24, 2020
- 7,450
Did anyone notice anything about the announcement on granting Assad asylum?
It's a < 1 minute read.
I didn't notice it myself, so you've got someone else to thank. Yes, I can't remember who it was. It could have been Konstantin, or Jake Broe.
But the gist, is that Peskov was at pains to point out that the decision to grant Assad asylum, was made by Putin alone. So he has been isolated.
When the shit hits the fan, all other people can say 'it wasn't my decision', or 'I had no choice in the matter'. This is forward planning, Kremlin style.
www.politico.eu
It's a < 1 minute read.
I didn't notice it myself, so you've got someone else to thank. Yes, I can't remember who it was. It could have been Konstantin, or Jake Broe.
But the gist, is that Peskov was at pains to point out that the decision to grant Assad asylum, was made by Putin alone. So he has been isolated.
When the shit hits the fan, all other people can say 'it wasn't my decision', or 'I had no choice in the matter'. This is forward planning, Kremlin style.
Putin personally granted asylum to Syria’s Assad, Kremlin confirms
The Syrian dictator fled to Moscow with his family after opposition forces took control of the capital.
www.politico.eu
Well yes, Putin wasn't imaginative enough to come up with his own story.