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







Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
6,991
What I said still stands. If it's not released, then it's rumours (regardless of whether the rumours are true).
OK, I understand.

It may suit the Kremlin to keep it as rumours. Perhaps the rumours are more damaging than the reality amongst Trump supporters.

And they can only release it once.
 


raymondo

Well-known member
Apr 26, 2017
7,248
Wiltshire
Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said (among other things):
- the EU will continue to support Ukraine within the terms of the ten year security agreement signed in June 24.
- the EU has delivered 980,000 shells to Ukraine so far this year (calendar? I assume) against its commitment of 1 million.
Not bad.
 


Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
52,974
Goldstone
OK, I understand.

It may suit the Kremlin to keep it as rumours. Perhaps the rumours are more damaging than the reality amongst Trump supporters.

And they can only release it once.

One indication we'll have, is if Trump supports Ukraine and threatens Russia, and Russia have to be cautious, then that would indicate the rumours are false. Whereas if Trump lets Ukraine down, and tries to organise a peace deal that suits Russia, it'll add more weight to the rumours.
 


peterward

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 11, 2009
12,235
Yes, that had occurred to me. Russian diplomacy at its finest. There's no finesse.

The following is pure speculation. Let's assume your hunch is right.

If I understand the American psyche, they will already know about the Kompromat. They won't come out on the losing side. They will use the Russian gangster powerplays against them. They will use it to get Russia onside. For instance, they might give Putin what appears to be a 'pro-Russia' peace deal, so that it appears the Kompromat has worked, but, say, increase oil production, so the crashing oil price will destroy Russia's economy anyway.

It's not about who wins the first half. It's the score on the final whistle that counts.
If there is kompromat, I doubt its something as benign as mere hookers. Nobody in MAGA would care.


Would have to be something maybe involving Epstein/underage or proper sick to even register in the MAGA bubble.
 








Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
52,974
Goldstone
Depends I guess, obvs speculation but if it was pedo type stuff, surely that could still bring him down?

It doesn't have to be that bad, it doesn't have to bring him down, it just has to be sufficient that he wouldn't want it released.
 






Pavilionaire

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
31,238
It has been woefully under-reported in this country just how much damage the Ukrainian war has done to the Russian economy. Trump has heavily criticised Biden re the war, but given where Ukraine was at the end of Feb 2022 it is a miracle the situation has stabilised and Russian is running out of men, ammo and the economy is tanking.

Arguably, Trump has been presented with a position where Russian can be "defeated" in the next 12 months, and he should be thanking Biden, not chastising him.

The bottom line is that there is a triangular power struggle going on between USA, Russia and China. If the other two ganged up on Russia then Putin would be f*cked. Trump has ramped up expectation of 20% tariffs on China, but if he were to reduce or waive these and reach an accord with China things could get interesting.

China has long had designs on Russian-held lands and with Russia's military now weakened there would be little Russia could do to prevent China taking over some of their eastern territory. A war on a second front for Russia would be good news for Ukraine.

Tariffs would also hurt Russia indirectly because Chinese demand for Russian energy would decrease if the global demand for Chinese products also decreased.
 








Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
6,991
It has been woefully under-reported in this country just how much damage the Ukrainian war has done to the Russian economy.
Where has it been more fully reported? I'm not challenging your claim by the way. Far from it. I'm very interested in finding out where else to look for the signs of economic decline in Russia.

Let's face it, the Kremlin are not going to accurately broadcast the decline of Russia, so any new ideas for getting the real data would be appreciated.
 


Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
52,974
Goldstone
China has long had designs on Russian-held lands and with Russia's military now weakened there would be little Russia could do to prevent China taking over some of their eastern territory.

China are in a good position to retake land which was once under China's control. But that's as far as they could go. Try and take land that has never been theirs, and Russia would have some justification for threatening to use nukes.
 
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Eric the meek

Fiveways Wilf
NSC Patron
Aug 24, 2020
6,991
Looks like it was the US who blew up the Nordstream pipeline, to decouple Europe from Russia. Joe Blogs has just published a Joe Biden speech implying it just before the invasion.

And we all blamed it on Russia. Top work Joe!
 


Triggaaar

Well-known member
Oct 24, 2005
52,974
Goldstone
Looks like it was the US who blew up the Nordstream pipeline, to decouple Europe from Russia. Joe Blogs has just published a Joe Biden speech implying it just before the invasion.

And we all blamed it on Russia. Top work Joe!

I've seen it shown that it was Russia, shown that it was Ukraine, and now we're told it's the US.

The truth is, I don't really care.
 




A1X

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 1, 2017
20,468
Deepest, darkest Sussex

France 6 months from now when it turns out the Ukrainians didn’t scrap them like they were supposed to…

Who Cares James Harden GIF by NBPA
 




Pavilionaire

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
31,238
Where has it been more fully reported? I'm not challenging your claim by the way. Far from it. I'm very interested in finding out where else to look for the signs of economic decline in Russia.

Let's face it, the Kremlin are not going to accurately broadcast the decline of Russia, so any new ideas for getting the real data would be appreciated.
YouTube - start with Joe Blogs, Times Radio, Business Basics, The Military Show.

TV and radio news is nothing much more than a summary of what is going on. If you really what to find out the story you need to spend 20-30 mins watching these guys.

Soldiers from North Korea suddenly started appearing on the frontline. The reasons why were being discussed weeks before the BBC carried the story. The reason is Russia hasn't got enough manpower to maintain economic output AND fight the war. This is a big deal, especially if these North Koreans get wiped out quickly.
 


raymondo

Well-known member
Apr 26, 2017
7,248
Wiltshire
YouTube - start with Joe Blogs, Times Radio, Business Basics, The Military Show.

TV and radio news is nothing much more than a summary of what is going on. If you really what to find out the story you need to spend 20-30 mins watching these guys.

Soldiers from North Korea suddenly started appearing on the frontline. The reasons why were being discussed weeks before the BBC carried the story. The reason is Russia hasn't got enough manpower to maintain economic output AND fight the war. This is a big deal, especially if these North Koreans get wiped out quickly.
I, and I think many others on this thread, do certainly consider Joe Blogs, Times Radio, Business Basics, Paul Warburg, Silicon Curtain, Kyiv Independent, Geraschenko, War Translated and others (as can be seen from many quotes and posts)...as the 'mainstream media ' for timely in depth news on Ukraine 👍.
It's true that the BBC is a long long way behind the curve! I only tend to use the BBC for football updates now! and possibly the weather!
 


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