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

[raymondo]

Russia will just use this as a propaganda piece, they certainly won’t come out and apologise and say ‘woopsy’

It’s the perfect opportunity for them to claim Ukraine in some way did it on purpose to incite NATO into conflict

Yep, they already said that

 

[raymondo]

That's a big game changer.

Fired from Belarus it seems ? Poland bound to respond.

I can see the launch systems being taken out as a minimum.

That would be good

 

[raymondo]

Kasparov is right - it's a test. And Putin is watching the response.

Could well be

 

[Poojah]

Is this like that time when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry?

 

[TomandJerry]

"Who fired the missile is unclear," says J Andrés Gannon, a security expert at the US Council on Foreign Relations, who agrees that it may be from an S-300 system.

"We know Russia has been using the S-300 for ground attacks even though it’s an air defence system, but Ukraine also uses them for air defence against cruise missiles."

Dr Justin Bronck, a senior fellow at think tank Rusi, agrees that it may be from an S-300 system, but there isn't enough evidence to identify it yet."

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

I would not bother writing your Christmas list to Santa this year folks….

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Can we wait and see how our group stage goes before triggering Article 5?

 

[sparkie]

Hmmmm.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

At some stage we were always going to have to stand up to Russia. They will try to scare us off with threats, but they won't carry them through

 

[banjo]

If you don’t stand up against a bully, they’ll keep on bullying.

 

[A1X]

North Stand Chat whenever Russia does something

 

[portlock seagull]

If, after the next 2 years it’s still going AND each NATO country has spent at least 5% of GDP on War preparations then we might be in a position to take on Russia. Currently every nation with exception of US is woefully under capacity in men, women and materials never mind trained and ready to go. Unfortunately we won’t spend that, and probably looking to make further cuts at precisely the time we ought to be doubling our strength. That’s democracy though, it’s a very fine line and makes us vulnerable to aggressors as it did in 1940 and 41.

 

[Triggaaar]

If, after the next 2 years it’s still going AND each NATO country has spent at least 5% of GDP on War preparations then we might be in a position to take on Russia.

In conventional warfare, NATO could already defeat Russia. Nukes mean that's not possible, and won't be no matter how much NATO countries spend.

 

[crookie]

Nonsense, their conventional capability has been shattered by this war. The lines held by convicts and untrained conscripts. They well trained armoured units are broken, the airborne forces fighting in the trenches. Hundreds of experienced tank crews gone up with their tanks. Dozens of experienced helicopter crews and combat aircrew gone the same way. NATO forces would smash through what is left in days if they wanted to. The mirage of Russian military might has vanished alongside any pretence they had as a responsible world power. Nuclear weapons are all they have left, but China has stymied them there.

If, after the next 2 years it’s still going AND each NATO country has spent at least 5% of GDP on War preparations then we might be in a position to take on Russia. Currently every nation with exception of US is woefully under capacity in men, women and materials never mind trained and ready to go. Unfortunately we won’t spend that, and probably looking to make further cuts at precisely the time we ought to be doubling our strength. That’s democracy though, it’s a very fine line and makes us vulnerable to aggressors as it did in 1940 and 41.

 

[The Clamp]

Russia probing and testing for weakness again. If there is not a strong response, Poland is next.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Russia probing and testing for weakness again. If there is not a strong response, Poland is next.

They would never attack Poland.

As soon as you attack a NATO nation you create a gateway for other NATO forces to pile in through with the Poles.

180k well equipped Pole soldiers plus troops from their neighbouring allies up against Russia's poorly equipped dregs army it would be a blood bath.

I can't see a single Russian soldier setting foot in Poland and living long after they did.

 

[TomandJerry]

The Associated Press news agency is reporting that initial findings suggest the missile that hit Poland was fired by Ukrainian forces at an incoming Russian missile, citing US officials.

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially described the missile as “Russian-made”, but as the Guardian’s diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour has reported, that could include S-300 ground to air missiles in the possession of Ukraine.

Earlier, Joe Biden was asked if the missile was fired from Russia. He said, “there is preliminary information that contests that. I don’t want to say that until we completely investigate. But it is unlikely in the minds [sic] of its trajectory that it was fired from Russia.”

 

[The Clamp]

They would never attack Poland.

As soon as you attack a NATO nation you create a gateway for other NATO forces to pile in through with the Poles.

180k well equipped Pole soldiers plus troops from their neighbouring allies up against Russia's poorly equipped dregs army it would be a blood bath.

I can't see a single Russian soldier setting foot in Poland and living long after they did.

In retrospect, I think you are correct.

 

[Mental Lental]

It was a Ukrainian missile that tried to shoot down a Russian missile but missed and landed in Poland.

WW3 cancelled.

 

[Hugo Rune]

It was a Ukrainian missile that tried to shoot down a Russian missile but missed and landed in Poland.

WW3 cancelled.

Yes. But a good opportunity to issue a ‘warning’ from NATO countries that if a stray Russian missile does hit a NATO country, there would be a swift retaliatory action that would see Russian missile launch sites annihilated.