Russia on brink of ... NOPE! Russia INVADES Ukraine!

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pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
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There are millions of Catholics in Russia, deeply religious still, but they are Russian Orthodox, have their own "patriarch" and are separate from the Roman Catholics and the Pope. Easter rite.

Don't normally hear Russian (or other) Orthodox described as Catholic. Maybe they technicallly are (I don't know much about theology)

Putin seems to have good relations with the Russian Orthodox Church. He makes a point about being a member of that faith. It seems as if he's taken it further than Stalin did (who came to a sort of uneasy 'accomodation' with the church).

Apparently Russian Orthodox monks in Ukraine have sided openly with Russia.


(I think Putin's Christian affilliation is connected to why the global far-right like him so much. It proably explains his homophobia and patriarchal beliefs.)
 
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zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
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With what? Their Air Force is mostly sitting on the ground due to the intactness of Ukrainian air defense and the thousands of MANPADs the nation has at its disposal. And they've got no PGMs to use anyway.

so...you're saying their new threat to destroy them is rather, eh, empty?
 

dank69

Lifer
Oct 6, 2009
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I listened to various of the other countries, and I think it was either India or Brazil who made a good point. Before inspections teams go in there needs to be an end of hostilities. So this could be a way to broker an end of hostilities. If US or Kiev had no aquisition or development of bio agents, then welcome an investigation as well as end the hostilities.
You let us know when you convince Putin to take that deal.
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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If he did he would be a dead man and the Russian people would know there lives would be permanently fucked.

It's a shot worth taking. I'm not sure even Putin has those kind of balls
Most Christians in Ukraine and Russia are Orthodox. They may not really care about the Pope. My grandparents were Ukrainian Orthodox.
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
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Not sure if this article has been posted before;


Some interesting insights.
One assumption I don't accept in that Financial Times (who are Japanese owned, based in London, and have offices elsewhere) article is this:

Above all, for deep historical, cultural, professional and personal reasons, the siloviki and the Russian official elite in general are utterly, irrevocably committed to the idea of Russia as a great power and one pole of a multipolar world. If you do not believe in that, you are not part of the Russian establishment, just as if you do not believe in US global primacy you are not part of the US foreign and security establishment.
A commitment to "US global primacy" I don't believe is a prerequisite to work in the US State Department or "security establishment." However, I don't doubt that commitment to reestablishing the power and the at least former territorial dominance of 20th century Soviet Russia is essential to being in the inner circle of the Kremlin.

Seeing global politics in terms of an interminable tug of war between major powers with secondary players is pretty regressive IMO. Are we in a "multipolar world?" In terms of geology, yes, but politics and economics? I'm not that cynical.
 
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K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
48,237
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so...you're saying their new threat to destroy them is rather, eh, empty?

Well it may be possible but I can't think how they could accomplish it practically. SRBMs and cruise missiles are only good against static targets which kind of rules out truck convoys. They could hit the border crossing itself but that would almost certainly kill NATO personnel.
 

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
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One assumption I don't accept in that Financial Times (who are Japanese owned, based in London, and have offices elsewhere) article is this:

A commitment to "US global primacy" I don't believe is a prerequisite to work in the US State Department or "security establishment."

From the outside it certainly seems as if it is. Americans across the political spectrum appear to take it for granted that the US is special and should dominate the globe.

E.g. Biden's boast that the US is 'unique' for being 'founded on an idea', or Madelaine Albright's description of the US as 'the indispensable nation'.
 
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Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
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From the outside it certainly seems as if it is. Americans across the political spectrum appear to take it for granted that the US is special and should dominate the globe.

E.g. Biden's boast that the US is 'unique' for being 'founded on an idea', or Madelaine Albright's description of the US as 'the indispensable nation'.
That doesn't explain all the MAGA people. Uh, personally I don't think America has ever been great.

I certainly do not believe that Americans across the board think that the US "should dominate the globe." It's not like that where I live.

Being unique in some respect(s), (or even superior in some respects) does not equate to "global primacy." Russia itself is exceptional in some ways, but they are making themselves into a pariah nonetheless.
 
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pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,674
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Just continuing the long tradition of Russian leaders co-opting the Russian Orthodox church.

Putin appears to take it further than Stalin did, though. Apparently Putin's mother was a believer and he has made a point occasionally about being of that faith himself. Stalin just came to an uneasy 'arrangement' with the Church, Putin seems to actually be a Christian. Which doesn't do much for my opinion of Christianity.
 
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repoman0

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2010
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^Unfortunately that’s nothing for anyone who lives in even Boston let alone Moscow. Hope it doesn’t freeze the mud solid.
 
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repoman0

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2010
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It is when you have no fuel, no food, and are constantly getting ravaged by drones and rockets.

I mean, that’s more the food, fuel and rockets …

I’m also under the assumption that they have a few layers of clothing and jackets but considering their preparedness in every other area, that might not be fair. Plenty of dead Russians to grab clothing from though!
 

Roger Wilco

Diamond Member
Mar 20, 2017
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I mean, that’s more the food, fuel and rockets …

I’m also under the assumption that they have a few layers of clothing and jackets but considering their preparedness in every other area, that might not be fair. Plenty of dead Russians to grab clothing from though!

Metabolization helps raise body temperature. Fuel allows troops to at least idle their equipment for heat. Judging by the pictures I've seen, it doesn't seem like they are well equipped with adequate clothing for prolonged sieges with nights dropping below freezing. Rockets and drones help factilitate the hell process, but yes, unrelated to cold.

I dunno. It just seems like this is a recipe for mass desertion, regardless of how well aclimated these guys are.
 

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
28,831
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We're giving them Switchblades too? Again, those poor bastards serving Putin.

Bullets. Can be meh, can be scary.

RPGs, definitely scary.

Remote controlled claymores than home in on you and your buddies and airburst you to death by the dozen? Noooope. Should do wonders for Russian morale. You can't see those things until they are right up on you - and at night it's pretty much impossible. Wouldn't be just one either, you'll probably be catching several from multiple directions at once. Good night nurse, celestial evac underway.

Unfortunately defensive successes will push Putin to try different things, and I think we all see where that is heading.

All women, children and the elderly need to evac the cities IMO. Will have to be secret and peicemeal since these assholes like to shell, bomb and mine humanitarian evac corridors. US and allies need to step up on the medical supplies, decontamination items and PPE to Ukraine. More important than Stingers and NLAWs at this point. Putin will gas a Ukrainian city if he thinks it will make him headway.
 
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repoman0

Diamond Member
Jun 17, 2010
4,703
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Metabolization helps raise body temperature. Fuel allows troops to at least idle their equipment for heat. Judging by the pictures I've seen, it doesn't seem like they are well equipped with adequate clothing for prolonged sieges with nights dropping below freezing. Rockets and drones help factilitate the hell process, but yes, unrelated to cold.

I dunno. It just seems like this is a recipe for mass desertion, regardless of how well aclimated these guys are.

I hope you’re right.
 

Grey_Beard

Golden Member
Sep 23, 2014
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Is it possible we may get a new episode of Storage Jars? Perhaps from Odessa embedded in a UN bioweapons investigation team, or any of the other ~29 locations. Those can't be cheap to build and staff. Lots of DoD funding. I wonder for what.

Russia is insisting this be investigated. I think we all want to get to the bottom of this so why not.


Liked anything you say has a shred of credibility. You truly are a useful idiot.