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

[Eric the meek]

Good spot @peterward.

Solid evidence of the vulnerabilities of Russian forces in the air. Mind you, they're no great shakes on the sea either.

Apologies if this comes across as too optimistic.

 

[raymondo]

Leading Russian TV propagandist Olga Skabeyeva giving students lecture on propaganda and as good as admitting she lies for the state.

It's just like breathing for them

 

[raymondo]

Did you see that Russia claims the plane crashed, and was not shot down by Ukrainian forces?

Are we safe to assume that the new danger to the Russian bomber crews is not being communicated to them?

(I was going to say, they don't even have the chance to talk to a Russian Orthodox priest before they meet their maker. A rabbit hole took me to Russian Orthodox bishop
Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow. In 2006, Forbes put his wealth at $4 billion, while a Novaya Gazeta article in 2019, estimated his wealth between $4 billion and $8 billion.)

I did see that . You'd think there will come a point when the Kremlin will feel it's better to admit that Ukraine hit something rather than keep telling their citizens that Russia has poor air defense, malfunctioning planes and so on...but we're not there yet.
That pilot at least knows he was shot down. He may ask for a ground posting.

Blimey, how much does a Russian bishop need to buy his way into heaven . Given the wealth he's accumulated from his flock, he's clearly feeling a tad guilty.

 

[raymondo]

'An intelligence source told Reuters the plane was hit with a modified S-200 Soviet-era long-range surface-to-air missile system.'

It is fitting that the bomber, carrying an air-to-surface Soviet-era reworked glide bomb (if true), was shot down with a reworked Soviet-era surface-to-air missile system.

There's a pleasing symmetry to it.

And some of the Ukrainian engineers will have been trained in Russia in the good old days... that's nice too .

 

[Eric the meek]

Just think, while we were arguing about being too optimistic last night, the Ukrainians were getting down to business.
Russia claims to have shot down all 50 Ukrainian drones. Now that is proper optimism. We were just playing at it.

 

[peterward]

Woo hooo. Only 6 months late.


Next the senate.

 

[A1X]

Get in

 

[Eric the meek]

Today is a good day for Ukraine.

Many congratulations to those on here who have Ukrainian partners, relatives and friends.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Today is a good day for Ukraine.

Many congratulations to those on here who have Ukrainian partners, relatives and friends.

Indeed. Now could we get NATO boots on the ground in Ukraine please ?

 

[essbee1]

I hope one day we can say that it was when the world finally started to get its act together on ridding this world of an absolute **** and his
murdering bastard regime.

 

[Scappa]

Woo hooo. Only 6 months late.


Next the senate.

How much of an obstacle do the Senate represent in this - is passing this into actual material aid likely to meet further opposition?

And is it too late to add an amendment that sees MTG pay a visit to the front line?

 

[raymondo]

Today is a good day for Ukraine.

Many congratulations to those on here who have Ukrainian partners, relatives and friends.

Let's hope this also gives a morale boost to the Ukrainian troops ...as well as fast delivery of weaponry.

 

[brighton_dave]

Rest in hell mother f*cker. The damage the brave have inflicted without sufficient backing has been very commendable. Let's hope this turns the tide, and more of these Russian twunts burn in hell.
Now give them the bloody Taurus fireworks.

 

[peterward]

How much of an obstacle do the Senate represent in this - is passing this into actual material aid likely to meet further opposition?

And is it too late to add an amendment that sees MTG pay a visit to the front line?

I'd say virtually none.

Senate already passed foreign aid bill, Johnson the house speaker split the original passed senate bill into 3 seperate bills, Israel, Ukraine & Taiwan as loads of MAGA loons were against Ukraine and lots of Dems against Israel, so each could vote on each with conscience.

He's added a 4th bill which includes REPO act, giving ability to seize Russian assets, monies in US and give to Ukraine as well as a ban on Tik Tok.

All 4 bills passed, but now Johnson is going to rebundle all 4 back into one bill, which will be sent to Senate.

So Ukraine is bundled with Israel as it heads back to Senate, not separate.

And no way Republicans will block aid to Israel.

 

[raymondo]

I'd say virtually none.

Senate already passed foreign aid bill, Johnson the house speaker split the original passed senate bill into 3 seperate bills, Israel, Ukraine & Taiwan as loads of MAGA loons were against Ukraine and lots of Dems against Israel, so each could vote on each with conscience.

He's added a 4th bill which includes REPO act, giving ability to seize Russian assets, monies in US and give to Ukraine as well as a ban on Tik Tok.

All 4 bills passed, but now Johnson is going to rebundle all 4 back into one bill, which will be sent to Senate.

So Ukraine is bundled with Israel as it heads back to Senate, not separate.

And no way Republicans will block aid to Israel.

Is there a benefit of rebundling the bills for the Senate? probably will expedite results, but is there a tactical voting benefit (or risk) to any of the bills in doing this .

 

[Triggaaar]

Indeed. Now could we get NATO boots on the ground in Ukraine please ?

No

 

[A1X]

No

It’s amazing how many people still don’t seem to understand it’s not going to happen

 

[Cotton Socks]

I'd say virtually none.

Senate already passed foreign aid bill, Johnson the house speaker split the original passed senate bill into 3 seperate bills, Israel, Ukraine & Taiwan as loads of MAGA loons were against Ukraine and lots of Dems against Israel, so each could vote on each with conscience.

He's added a 4th bill which includes REPO act, giving ability to seize Russian assets, monies in US and give to Ukraine as well as a ban on Tik Tok.

All 4 bills passed, but now Johnson is going to rebundle all 4 back into one bill, which will be sent to Senate.

So Ukraine is bundled with Israel as it heads back to Senate, not separate.

And no way Republicans will block aid to Israel.

Just to be clear where does a ban on Tik Tok come into the bill?

 

[peterward]

Just to be clear where does a ban on Tik Tok come into the bill?

The funding of the original senate bill, which was one bill, that bundled together aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, was split into 3 seperate bills that closely mirrored the original senate bill. So they could be voted on separately by Congress reps.

Addionally the house created a 4th "new" bill with all sorts of national security type issues, in this newly proposed bill they had what's being dubbed a ban on Tik Tok (though I think it's more to do with bytedance and wont likely result in Tik Tok stopping just yet), and they also have the REPO act to confiscate Russian assets snd give to Ukraine in this 4th bill that was voted on today.

All 4 bills passed. Speaker Johnson will now combine all 4, into 1 big bill and that one bill (containing the 4 passed, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and New national security) will be what the senate votes on, as a whole.

Info on the new national security bill that passed today.

House passes national security bill targeting TikTok, seized Russian assets: 'Churchill or Chamberlain'

The House of Representatives passed a bill that includes a host of national security priorities targeting TikTok, Russia, and Hamas.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[peterward]

Is there a benefit of rebundling the bills for the Senate? probably will expedite results, but is there a tactical voting benefit (or risk) to any of the bills in doing this .

I don't know the actual logic, can only speculate, though I'm glad he is doing that as it protects Ukraines bit, by being bundled with Israel.

If Ukraine was alone on being voted in Senate, it may well get blocked, MAGA could try and filibuster it, or propose amendments that sent it back to House of reps again and be stuck in a virtuous circle.

Bundling it all back up, means Senate can only pass or reject all of the measures which is good for Ukraine, and which to be totally honest, is the only bit I really care about!