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

[Eric the meek]

More from Paul Warburg.

TLDR: China is eyeing up Siberia, for land and resources. Russia knows this and the Russian state propaganda is taking on an anti-Chinese hue.
Oh, and the Chinese aggression towards Taiwan may be a feint....

 

[Eric the meek]

The following is speculation, but is based on real facts, i.e. what has happened already.

To follow on from the Lindsay Graham clip, I have thought for a long time that the Biden administration played a blinder, drip-feeding Ukraine with arms, effectively waging the war at arms length, not losing a single US soldier, all the while slowly weakening Russia, while not escalating the conflict. From the US perspective, a perfect scenario.

If we are to believe Trump (!), when he says the flow of arms will continue (albeit they will now have to be paid for), then for Ukraine, not much has actually changed, has it?

Russia will continue to pound Ukraine. Ukraine will continue to denude Russia of its economy. China will continue to watch the fires in Russia, while quietly preparing for the future.

Until one day, the Russian war machine runs out of money and grinds to a halt.

 

[Eric the meek]

Zelensky has got balls of steel. (Which are manufactured in various locations throughout Ukraine).

 

[Hugo Rune]

Zelensky has got balls of steel. (Which are manufactured in various locations throughout Ukraine).

What sort of ‘US ownership’ is being proposed here? I suspect it’s the Trump family & friends type.

 

[Eric the meek]

What sort of ‘US ownership’ is being proposed here? I suspect it’s the Trump family & friends type.

Those details are not contained in the main body of the deal proposal, but may be contained in an appendix. They are not for distribution anyway.

(This may or may not be complete bollocks as I have no idea what I'm talking about).

 

[raymondo]

Those details are not contained in the main body of the deal proposal, but may be contained in an appendix. They are not for distribution anyway.

(This may or may not be complete bollocks as I have no idea what I'm talking about).

Your bollox is frequently well thought through, Eric

 

[GT49er]

What sort of ‘US ownership’ is being proposed here? I suspect it’s the Trump family & friends type.

Trump really is a bigger bag of scum than we thought.

 

[Eric the meek]

Trump really is a bigger bag of scum than we thought.

You're going to see why he's an even bigger bag of scum in a minute.

 

[Eric the meek]

I think I've found why Trump has got designs on Canada and Greenland.

It's because there is a power struggle developing for the Arctic. As the ice melts, it is opening up the Northwest passage. An ice-free route through northern Canada through the NWP will reduce distance (=cost) for shipping between China and western markets significantly.

Naturally, both Russia and China are involved.

 

[Marty McFly]

I think I've found why Trump has got designs on Canada and Greenland.

It's because there is a power struggle developing for the Arctic. As the ice melts, it is opening up the Northwest passage. An ice-free route through northern Canada through the NWP will reduce distance (=cost) for shipping between China and western markets significantly.

Naturally, both Russia and China are involved.

Yep, and with the US's failure to ratify UNCLOS, a lightweight bilateral agreement between Canada and the US on Arctic passage, and the US's disposition to disrupting intnl relations - things may heat up. Evidenced by the announcement last week that, should they win the next election, the Conservative Party of Canada will build a new military base in the Arctic, and build new icebreakers. On top of that, counter claims to the Arctic sea, passage and resources pose a risk of geopolitical disruption. Fun times...

 

[Sirnormangall]

If we are to believe Trump (!), when he says the flow of arms will continue (albeit they will now have to be paid for), then for Ukraine, not much has actually changed, has it?

I suppose it depends on the strings attached to the ongoing supply of military support eg might be contingent on conceding territory.

 

[cunning fergus]

Your numbers are wrong, but your sentiment is correct.

Investment in defence is sadly now a priority. Even more sad is the fact that the country is economically on its knees. Our debt is so high we can’t even borrow to invest in defence, at least not at the expense of health services, education etc.

The only answer is growth and the easy answer to that is not in the long term interests of the planet but more in the short term interest of profit. It massive investments in fossil fuels, in large scale infrastructure projects, in tax cuts for businesses etc etc. and I say this as a left winger. Right now, investing in building and defence is one short term path we might have to consider. The question is, will it damage the planet irreconcilably.

And then of course we have to build a better relationship with Russia. Their fears are not going to change and Putin will not change his spots. We don’t have to give in to him but we need to find a way of out Trumping Trump.

Re numbers……

137 Typhoons and 30 odd lightenings, assuming all are serviceable and we have adequately trained personnel.

How many aircraft do the RAF operate?

Here's a detailed summary of the types and number of aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force.

search.app

I can tell you for absolute certainty the U.K. only intends to build 148 Challenger 3s, these are using parts from existing 2s of which less than 200 are serviceable.

https://search.app/sfn8y9pYRUKmNYKd8

Front line infantry is less than 20k. Feel free to correct me on these positions I’m no expert.

Re the underlying economics etc. we are light years of having any kind of resilient industrial capacity to manufacture military hardware in anything like the numbers required if we were in a confrontation with Russia. Our energy prices alone would be inhibiting. We have had decades of Governments (both colours) that have talked tough on defence but in truth have hollowed it out.

The chickens have come home to roost. Even if this Government have the stomach to cut wasteful spends to redirect to defence it would be too late. Perhaps even more importantly who is doing the fighting……

Would Gen Z fight for 'racist' Britain?

New study suggests low levels of pride and 'declines in confidence in institutions' among younger generation

theweek.com

This country is done, unless maybe we could challenge Russia to a glow off.

 

[Eric the meek]

Re numbers……

137 Typhoons and 30 odd lightenings, assuming all are serviceable and we have adequately trained personnel.

How many aircraft do the RAF operate?

Here's a detailed summary of the types and number of aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force.

search.app

I can tell you for absolute certainty the U.K. only intends to build 148 Challenger 3s, these are using parts from existing 2s of which less than 200 are serviceable.

https://search.app/sfn8y9pYRUKmNYKd8

Front line infantry is less than 20k. Feel free to correct me on these positions I’m no expert.

Re the underlying economics etc. we are light years of having any kind of resilient industrial capacity to manufacture military hardware in anything like the numbers required if we were in a confrontation with Russia. Our energy prices alone would be inhibiting. We have had decades of Governments (both colours) that have talked tough on defence but in truth have hollowed it out.

The chickens have come home to roost. Even if this Government have the stomach to cut wasteful spends to redirect to defence it would be too late. Perhaps even more importantly who is doing the fighting……

Would Gen Z fight for 'racist' Britain?

New study suggests low levels of pride and 'declines in confidence in institutions' among younger generation

theweek.com

This country is done, unless maybe we could challenge Russia to a glow off.

I was wondering if you would try that again.

You've now linked that Gen Z study three times on this forum. This time from another outlet. The fact that you began your post with other stuff, complete with links, confirms that you are being disingenuous. You disguised the link you really want people to read.

I would have thought you would have clocked that this forum is familiar with people (in this case Russian state media) making attempts to steer the narrative to what they want people to read and talk about.

Same message as before.

Stop trying to derail this thread. It is much too important to be spammed by your divisive, personal agenda. Go and do it somewhere else.

 

[Springal]

 

[Eric the meek]

I hope this doesn't prove to be a metaphor for the peace negotiations.

 

[Cordwainer]

I was wondering if you would try that again.

You've now linked that Gen Z study three times on this forum. This time from another outlet. The fact that you began your post with other stuff, complete with links, confirms that you are being disingenuous. You disguised the link you really want people to read.

I would have thought you would have clocked that this forum is familiar with people (in this case Russian state media) making attempts to steer the narrative to what they want people to read and talk about.

Same message as before.

Stop trying to derail this thread. It is much too important to be spammed by your divisive, personal agenda. Go and do it somewhere else.

Well said. This thread is excellent, informative and balanced. Long may it continue.

 

[Triggaaar]

Zelensky has got balls of steel

You'd have to be extremely weak or stupid to agree to the deal Trump was proposing. Ukraine would have given away trillions for nothing in return. It would be like the US invading and plundering Ukraine, but without having to send an army.

 

[GoldstoneVintage]

This sounds really positive after all the negative shit we've been hearing from the US this week. I hope he's right.

 

[raymondo]

Re numbers……

137 Typhoons and 30 odd lightenings, assuming all are serviceable and we have adequately trained personnel.

How many aircraft do the RAF operate?

Here's a detailed summary of the types and number of aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force.

search.app

I can tell you for absolute certainty the U.K. only intends to build 148 Challenger 3s, these are using parts from existing 2s of which less than 200 are serviceable.

https://search.app/sfn8y9pYRUKmNYKd8

Front line infantry is less than 20k. Feel free to correct me on these positions I’m no expert.

Re the underlying economics etc. we are light years of having any kind of resilient industrial capacity to manufacture military hardware in anything like the numbers required if we were in a confrontation with Russia. Our energy prices alone would be inhibiting. We have had decades of Governments (both colours) that have talked tough on defence but in truth have hollowed it out.

The chickens have come home to roost. Even if this Government have the stomach to cut wasteful spends to redirect to defence it would be too late. Perhaps even more importantly who is doing the fighting……

Would Gen Z fight for 'racist' Britain?

New study suggests low levels of pride and 'declines in confidence in institutions' among younger generation

theweek.com

This country is done, unless maybe we could challenge Russia to a glow off.

Good data, thank you! Interesting. I'm not convinced we're done though - we'd be doing 'it' with willing EU partners shirley.

 

[The Clamp]

Frankly Trump and his cronies can just go on the international ignore list alongside Putin.