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

[SeagullinExile]

About time the West massively ups it's weapons production. Asleep at the wheel at the moment.

Which is why NATO members are significantly upping their defense budgets.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Some commentators have been predicting an East V West global conflict for years. China/Russia/N.Korea Vs NATO is most definitely on the cards within the next 10 years. Maybe sooner.

The clock is ticking closer to midnight.

I just don't see a reason for China to get involved. That's not their way at all. They watch everyone else fight, and profit on the sidelines.

 

[SeagullinExile]

I just don't see a reason for China to get involved. That's not their way at all. They watch everyone else fight, and profit on the sidelines.

South China Sea. Taiwan. They WILL make a move one day.

 

[peterward]

Hmm. Is Russia planning for the future? Why are the weapons produced not reaching the front line? Is it planning for a war with Nato? Maybe Sean Bell's video has assumed more significance.

Well from what Sean Bell says, and I agree with him too, is that Crimea is the crown jewells for Putin....... Stands to reason he'd want an etra arge reserve weapons cache for if/when Ukraine tries to take that back, he'd stick weapons in the hands of locals too no doubt, as Ukraine did at beginning of war.

 

[Commander]

I just don't see a reason for China to get involved. That's not their way at all. They watch everyone else fight, and profit on the sidelines.

I agree. They stand to gain nothing from it at all. I expect they'd try and take Taiwan back, but if NATO genuinely was involved in full-scale conflict with Russia, then I can't see how we'd have the will, or the capacity to take on another nuclear-armed superpower. China is still very insular, their way is definitely more along the lines of keep everyone else out of China, rather than go and invade other countries. Which obviously completely contradicts my first sentence, but they don't see Taiwan as another country.

 

[A1X]

South China Sea. Taiwan. They WILL make a move one day.

They likely will, but they'll let Russia and the West wear each other down (assuming they do) before acting, they don't want to provoke a war with the rest themselves

 

[SeagullinExile]

They likely will, but they'll let Russia and the West wear each other down (assuming they do) before acting, they don't want to provoke a war with the rest themselves

Russia and China have been aligning themselves militarily for a while now. The odd joint exercises, weapons sales etc. Plus China is without doubt secretly supplying weapons components to Russia.

An alliance is only a matter of time.

 

[rippleman]

Some commentators have been predicting an East V West global conflict for years. China/Russia/N.Korea Vs NATO is most definitely on the cards within the next 10 years. Maybe sooner.

The clock is ticking closer to midnight.

I've been hearing similar since I was a lad in the 1960s. Never happened but that isn't to say that it couldn't.

But if the teams are as you suggest then MAD is the only logical outcome. And therefore it is a waste of time and money to stockpile conventional and even smart weaponry as they will be of no use whatsoever in a global conflict which would inevitably go nuclear and destroy the planet.

 

[SeagullinExile]

I've been hearing similar since I was a lad in the 1960s. Never happened but that isn't to say that it couldn't.

But if the teams are as you suggest then MAD is the only logical outcome. And therefore it is a waste of time and money to stockpile conventional and even smart weaponry as they will be of no use whatsoever in a global conflict which would inevitably go nuclear and destroy the planet.

You’re forgetting that the lunatics are running the asylum & most of them have bunkers they can hunker down in.

 

[raymondo]

Hmm. Is Russia planning for the future? Why are the weapons produced not reaching the front line? Is it planning for a war with Nato? Maybe Sean Bell's video has assumed more significance.

Something not making sense: they are stockpiling weapons AND neglecting to resupply the front line of their first target country...?

 

[raymondo]

We have been hearing this stuff for quite a long time now. Without any detailed knowledge on the subject, I'm just not sure I believe it. They are spending something ridiculous like 40% of their State budget on their war effort, aren't they? I can't see how they can run out of weapons with that going on.

I think it might depend on the type of weapon: new tanks take a while to build and deploy, whereas 155mm shells are quick to make and probably easy to buy from allies.
So, I would understand the Russian tank shortage (if true) but don't understand why they'd be running out of front line ammo.

 

[Triggaaar]

IIRC Russia were doing lots of "military exercises" on the Ukrainian border before the invasion and telling the world they had no intentions of invading Ukraine.

Indeed.

With hindsight, the world now knows that Russia tells porkies, perhaps the Russians think that porkies are the norm and Finland are also telling porkies too and are about to invade Russia imminently.

That would be interesting, could Russia fight on two fronts so far apart - surely they'd be too stretched? Obvs not going to happen ....

Well Russia did steal 9% of Finland in WWII, so it's only right that Finland take it back.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Have we got any to spare though?

I think we’ll have one each.

 

[Triggaaar]

Other examples from the front line cite no ammo, no water, no food, no support, no comms. ...

Russia is close to being out of weapons.

I don't think that's correct. I think Ukraine are currently suffering from more ammo shortage than Russia. I'm not so sure about tanks where I think Russia are struggling.

 

[Triggaaar]

Some commentators have been predicting an East V West global conflict for years. China/Russia/N.Korea Vs NATO is most definitely on the cards within the next 10 years. Maybe sooner.

NATO wouldn't start such a war, and why on earth would China want one? There's nothing to be won.

 

[Eric the meek]

I don't think that's correct. I think Ukraine are currently suffering from more ammo shortage than Russia. I'm not so sure about tanks where I think Russia are struggling.

I'm not saying it isn't grim for Ukraine. But for a glimpse into how it is on one part of the Russian front line, take a look at this clip from Jake Broe.

Watch from 15:22 onwards.

 

[SeagullinExile]

NATO wouldn't start such a war, and why on earth would China want one? There's nothing to be won.

NATO being a defensive alliance obviously won’t start a war. There are other actors behind the scenes that would love a global conflict. What better way to cull a population than global war? After all, the planet can’t handle the current growth in population. It will come to a breaking point some time.

 

[Eric the meek]

Something not making sense: they are stockpiling weapons AND neglecting to resupply the front line of their first target country...?

I agree it doesn't make sense, but this is Russia we're talking about. Has anything they've done in this war made any sense?
The whole invasion never made sense. Remember how fearful they were of NATO 'expansion' and used it to justify the invasion? They misread, misunderstood and miscalculated NATO, its purpose and very reason for existence. Russia.

But it only takes one of them to make that strategic miscalculation. The one at the top, who tolerates zero argument or dissent.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are stockpiling weapons, because they predict an - attack - from NATO.

 

[Eric the meek]

Omsk is about 2700 km east of Moscow.

 

[The Clamp]

NATO being a defensive alliance obviously won’t start a war. There are other actors behind the scenes that would love a global conflict. What better way to cull a population than global war? After all, the planet can’t handle the current growth in population. It will come to a breaking point some time.

The global population is declining and has been since the 1960’s.

However, I think we are on potentially on the precipice of mass global conflict.

Likely in the form of pushback against the increasing threat from China and North Korea.

And from climate change. Resource wars are very likely as are conflicts due to populations shifting away from areas most affected by the upcoming climate disaster.

Conflict caused by Russia and the Middle East will keep rumbling away ad infinitum. As they always have.