Quite a revelation reading this post, I've enjoyed some of his videos recently but can see what some people on Reddit mean by his often strange behaviour.
Ukraine Invasion - Please do not post videos showing attacks/similar
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I don't mean to be rude, but that statement indicates some ignorance of the history of the region.
Firstly, it was 97% that voted to secede and re-join Russia not 99% (on an 80-85% turnout so not as absolute as it seems if you just look at the headline figures) but that isn't actually surprising given the historical events that lead to it. You see when the Kremlin chose to downgrade the Crimean ASSR from a republic to an oblast (basically a county) and given to the Ukrainian SSR in the 1950's Crimea was overwhelmingly against it and it's leaders even tried to challenge the legality of the Kremlins right to do it in Soviet court (until it became clear that course of action would lead straight to Gulag).
Later in 1991 when Crimea was finally allowed to hold a vote on becoming an ASSR again it passed on a 94.3% margin (again an 80 something % turnout). This should have allowed Crimea to remain part of the USSR when Ukraine left later in the year, however as that lead directly to the dissolution of the USSR it didn't happen. Because the Crimean ASSR still had leaders appointed by the Ukrainian SSR they chose to become part of the newly formed country of Ukraine rather than the Russian Federation (who were in no position to say anything about it as they had just inherited the USSR's entire national debt).
Later by 1994 the Crimean republic had held many elections which had seen the Ukrainian puppet government replaced with a Crimean one, who held new referendums on fully restoring the republics autonomy (and it presidents power), and on Crimean citizens gaining dual Ukrainian/Russian citizenship. All passed overwhelmingly but as a result Ukraine sent in it's military to overthrown the Crimean government, abolish the republics constitution and effectively annex the region into just an autonomous (in name only) part of Ukraine (again Russia couldn't assist them as, you know 90's Russian economy lol).
So, when you know the history of the region no it isn't at all surprising that the 2014 referendum passed by 97% of votes cast, especially as it was held months after a coup had overthrown the Ukrainian government and the new right wing government had set about enacting new laws to persecute ethnic Russian regions (such as Crimea).
You are 100% correct that it wasn't sanctioned by the Ukrainian government, but if they had tried the democratic route (again) they would only have gotten Ukrainian tanks in response (again). But this is why self determination is enshrined in international law, we didn't sanction US independence, Serbia sure as hell didn't sanction Kosovo leaving, and Ukraine didn't sanction Crimea seceding, but I genuinely have little sympathy for the Ukrainian government over it as if they had treated the region/people better they wouldn't have continually wanted to leave for 60 years.
And yet Russian politicians are still trying to dismiss it as exercises and normal troop manoeuvres
I do wonder if they actually think anyone believes their statements or if they're purely for Russian audiences. That or they are basically coming out with dismissive nonsense to avoid engaging in real dialogue, just as a stalling tactic.
Problem with that is while on paper Russia is nothing compared to the USAs, it's not that straightforward, as one of the USA main areas of paper advantage is it's navy, which would be completely useless in a European land war. Add to that most of their ground/air inventory isn't in Europe and Russia's is, I would say that in a potential European theatre they would be much closer matched that many would suspect, Russia would probably have an actual advantage if a potential battle was localised to Europe.
And OFC lets not forget that the US can't exactly commit all of it's resources to a potential European war because if it did China would be looking very hungrily at Taiwan.
As for the NATO factor, it's never been battle tested, in fact whether or not the US would have even shown up to WW3 if the USSR didn't attack them was always a source of contention as they had article 5 redrafted specifically so they weren't required to. Even if the US did show up there's no guarantee on other NATO members (I.E Germany) would get involved. And lets not forget Ukraine isn't in NATO anyway, and NATO members wouldn't be able to come to Ukraine's defence against Russia then call article 5 when Russia attacks them back, it's a defensive clause not offensive.
I heard that it started when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich 'cause he was hungry.
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Caporegime
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Because he knew it would be divisive and make the two countries weaker.
And he was right.
And he was right.
Except that the UK and France are the two leading players in Europe regarding defence force. Germany follows closely but as recently seen it appears reluctant to deploy any resources. So perhaps not Brexit, more lack of will in their Government.
And yet Russian politicians are still trying to dismiss it as exercises and normal troop manoeuvres
Yet if Russia does only carry out normal troop manoeuvres just like the last two times and in a months time goes back to "normal" it'll be the whole Western world which will look stupid, as this would be the 3rd time we've screamed "The Russians Are Coming" only for Russia to do exactly what it said it would and wind-down after the exercise is over, giving the Russians that "persecuted" feeling they love to have.
The advantage is Russia can keep doing this time after time after time until everyone gets bored of our "over-reaction" it and then, at that point, they can actually do something. This is simply a case of the kid who threatens to punch you in the face but stops an inch away everytime, if you react first they win and if you don't react they win as well. It's a difficult (and expensive) position we've placed ourselves in.
Personally I'd consider using Russia's own tactics against itself and use exactly the same tactics to their isolated Kaliningrad area - Build up NATO forces on their border and tell the Russians "You go into Ukraine and we go into Kaliningrad" but we'd never do any of that and Russia knows that, and knows that even if we did we'd never actually carry out that threat, which is the big problem when dealing with bullies who know how weak you are.
Soldato
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The way this new German government is acting towards Russia it might as well be Russian Republic at this point.
I know war and military force should be avoided but equally if you don't stand up to bully they will continue to abuse you.
The problem is that in Donetsk and Lugansk there are up to million ethnic Russians.
Another problem is that NATO acts aggressively by putting low range missiles in neighboring to the Russian Federation states. Which means less than five minutes to strike Moscow.
Of course, that the Russian Government sees this as a threat to its national security and what they can do now is to enter Donetsk, Lugansk, and divide the former Ukraine into three brand new states. The first most Eastern situated will directly join the Russian Federation. The central state will be Russia-friendly. And the new Western state will be more like Poland 2, but with high probability to lose lands to Romania, Slovakia and Poland.
The Russians have missiles capable of destroying easily the US air carriers, which technically renders them as useless, expensive and luxury deadhouses.
And this is before the Chinese enter to help its military allies...
Another problem is that NATO acts aggressively by putting low range missiles in neighboring to the Russian Federation states. Which means less than five minutes to strike Moscow.
Of course, that the Russian Government sees this as a threat to its national security and what they can do now is to enter Donetsk, Lugansk, and divide the former Ukraine into three brand new states. The first most Eastern situated will directly join the Russian Federation. The central state will be Russia-friendly. And the new Western state will be more like Poland 2, but with high probability to lose lands to Romania, Slovakia and Poland.
The Russians have missiles capable of destroying easily the US air carriers, which technically renders them as useless, expensive and luxury deadhouses.
And this is before the Chinese enter to help its military allies...
At one breath condemning "aggressive NATO", the next extolling the capacity of Russia to turn The US carriers into deadhouses. I see you.The problem is that in Donetsk and Lugansk there are up to million ethnic Russians.
Another problem is that NATO acts aggressively by putting low range missiles in neighboring to the Russian Federation states. Which means less than five minutes to strike Moscow.
Of course, that the Russian Government sees this as a threat to its national security and what they can do now is to enter Donetsk, Lugansk, and divide the former Ukraine into three brand new states. The first most Eastern situated will directly join the Russian Federation. The central state will be Russia-friendly. And the new Western state will be more like Poland 2, but with high probability to lose lands to Romania, Slovakia and Poland.
The Russians have missiles capable of destroying easily the US air carriers, which technically renders them as useless, expensive and luxury deadhouses.
And this is before the Chinese enter to help its military allies...
Nope, this is to prove that if the US enters a global war, the likelihood they win is quite low.
We need a multi-polar world - China, India on one side, Russia on another, the EU on a third and the Pacific without China the forth.
The USA loses its economic leadership and they must simply accept the new reality, of course if they don't want to render the whole Planet uninhabitable..
The problem is that in Donetsk and Lugansk there are up to million ethnic Russians.
Another problem is that NATO acts aggressively by putting low range missiles in neighboring to the Russian Federation states. Which means less than five minutes to strike Moscow.
Of course, that the Russian Government sees this as a threat to its national security and what they can do now is to enter Donetsk, Lugansk, and divide the former Ukraine into three brand new states. The first most Eastern situated will directly join the Russian Federation. The central state will be Russia-friendly. And the new Western state will be more like Poland 2, but with high probability to lose lands to Romania, Slovakia and Poland.
The Russians have missiles capable of destroying easily the US air carriers, which technically renders them as useless, expensive and luxury deadhouses.
And this is before the Chinese enter to help its military allies...
Rubbish.
Show me and tell me of these missiles again, I assume you mean the ones designed to destroy incoming missiles because if not you are talking total crap, no NATO missiles are placed in any eastern nation that can strike Russia, unless you count a javalin...
Also none of those super duper amazing Chinese missiles have been proven, plus if they were so amazing and could nullify a strike group, do tell why China is building its own super carriers.....
Jog on with the propaganda rubbish, I'm not sure if you are a Russian or Chinese troll...
Oh really?
"Fitzpatrick said the 24 SM-3 ballistic missile interceptors at the facility are mounted on a “Mark 41 Vertical Launch System.” The same launchers can be used to fire a range of surface-to-air missiles as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles and other offensive weapons."
NATO Shows Off Missile Base In Romania, Calling It ‘Purely Defensive’ (rferl.org)
Whole thing just stinks of Russia not liking that the US no longer sees it as the main threat and focusing its attention on China.
Russia is done, all it has going for it is fossil fuels and the west is moving away from those. Something the high prices will accelerate.
Russia is done, all it has going for it is fossil fuels and the west is moving away from those. Something the high prices will accelerate.
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Oh really?
"Fitzpatrick said the 24 SM-3 ballistic missile interceptors at the facility are mounted on a “Mark 41 Vertical Launch System.” The same launchers can be used to fire a range of surface-to-air missiles as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles and other offensive weapons."
NATO Shows Off Missile Base In Romania, Calling It ‘Purely Defensive’ (rferl.org)
So you showed that no offensive missiles are based in any eastern European states.
But but but the silos could house those missiles does not count as holding missiles capable of striking Moscow etc with nuclear warheads as has been Russia's apparent reason for all this BS.
Well done fool, you also didn't read the article did you
You need to come up with better than that.
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Caporegime
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I honestly believe Putin is playing us all and everyone is leading onto it. All he is doing is making NATO/US scream war with Ukraine next week and showcasing whole world what bunch of liars we are, most notably his own population. Look at the angle, Russians are saying they are moving forces within their borders and we are screaming saying put them all back into barracks or else. Yet when Russians say they don't like NATO forces moving around their borders - we tell them to stuff it as its none of their business.
So he keeps doing this over and over again to drive a point of double standards mostly with his own population to further turn them against U.S/NATO. Its working like a charm quite frankly and its something you all are missing. Putin will most likely continue this rhetoric in Cuba or Venezuela, he'll most likely put a base there before invading Ukraine. Then we'll squeel and say how this is absolutely unacceptable to world safety and start throwing hissy fit. With which he'll run to his own electorate and showcase another western double standard.
After doing this for a while he'll even begin to turn Western public against our own government policies about Russia as long as he does not overcook it and start a real war.
U.S will lose their minds if a a Russian/Chinese base in Cuba or Venezuela appears. Yet U.S bases around Russia or China are totally fine and acceptable. Watch this space especially China as well, I believe this will do way more damage to NATO/West credibility than a war in Ukraine. I believe this is what Putin is actually going for. Furthermore, it would consolidate both countries population around their dictators and against west.
So he keeps doing this over and over again to drive a point of double standards mostly with his own population to further turn them against U.S/NATO. Its working like a charm quite frankly and its something you all are missing. Putin will most likely continue this rhetoric in Cuba or Venezuela, he'll most likely put a base there before invading Ukraine. Then we'll squeel and say how this is absolutely unacceptable to world safety and start throwing hissy fit. With which he'll run to his own electorate and showcase another western double standard.
After doing this for a while he'll even begin to turn Western public against our own government policies about Russia as long as he does not overcook it and start a real war.
U.S will lose their minds if a a Russian/Chinese base in Cuba or Venezuela appears. Yet U.S bases around Russia or China are totally fine and acceptable. Watch this space especially China as well, I believe this will do way more damage to NATO/West credibility than a war in Ukraine. I believe this is what Putin is actually going for. Furthermore, it would consolidate both countries population around their dictators and against west.
Not quite all of us
Sadly so many folks have a very binary "we're goodies & they're baddies" mentality towards life which is is so ingrained that they simply can't imagine someone else's POV being valid because "they're the baddies" and therefore the baddies POV (irrespective of reality) is completely ignored. Then they tend to pile-in on folks who try to see all sides because they fail to understand that simply seeing the baddies POV isn't the same as agreeing with it.
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