The War in Ukraine

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Once the Germans joined the Vlad Fan Club, it cleared the way for the rest of Europe, as Germany has the largest economy. I believe Vlad offered board seats to at least one Frenchman and one Italian soon after they left office.

I guess we really need to focus on the here and now, but the Europeans are not innocent bystanders in this mess of having been so dependent on Russia for oil and gas. The handwriting was on the wall, but they pretended not to read it.

They made assumptions that Russia would act like a normal country. Even Mitt Romney got a laugh here when he warned of Russia though. Even though it retrospect it was obvious to see how this played out.

[forgetful]

Unfortunately, yes IMO. People's pocketbooks will definitely impact their views.

This is one of my concerns regarding everything going on. While it is true that this has been a major failure by Putin and Russia, one outcome could still actually be increased world power in some regards.

See the deal with the Taliban today in Afghanistan. I think you will see other countries who really do not care about Europe, look to make similar deals. With prices world-wide where they are right now, and both food and energy shortages. A lot of less-advanced countries very likely may economically align with Russia for cheap food and oil/gas.

I think that in part was in their original goals. 1) Take what they want from Ukraine (failed miserably). 2) Precipitate a food and energy crisis that strengthens their economic ties to developing nations, while the US decreases exports to keep costs down at home.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

This is one of my concerns regarding everything going on. While it is true that this has been a major failure by Putin and Russia, one outcome could still actually be increased world power in some regards.

See the deal with the Taliban today in Afghanistan. I think you will see other countries who really do not care about Europe, look to make similar deals. With prices world-wide where they are right now, and both food and energy shortages. A lot of less-advanced countries very likely may economically align with Russia for cheap food and oil/gas.

I think that in part was in their original goals. 1) Take what they want from Ukraine (failed miserably). 2) Precipitate a food and energy crisis that strengthens their economic ties to developing nations, while the US decreases exports to keep costs down at home.

With regard to 2) above, I think Putin believed he would get little to no resistance in invading Ukraine. And certainly the signals from tfg were just that, including calling the invasion brilliant. I said before, if Putin had only annexed the regions he had already previously controlled in Donbass I think that would have been the case--there wouldn't have been nearly the outcry he is facing. But her decided to try to eat the elephant all at once, which was a tragic mistake for the entire world.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

This is one of my concerns regarding everything going on. While it is true that this has been a major failure by Putin and Russia, one outcome could still actually be increased world power in some regards.

See the deal with the Taliban today in Afghanistan. I think you will see other countries who really do not care about Europe, look to make similar deals. With prices world-wide where they are right now, and both food and energy shortages. A lot of less-advanced countries very likely may economically align with Russia for cheap food and oil/gas.

I think that in part was in their original goals. 1) Take what they want from Ukraine (failed miserably). 2) Precipitate a food and energy crisis that strengthens their economic ties to developing nations, while the US decreases exports to keep costs down at home.

They can sell oil all they want to the developing world. The problem is they can't really buy anything of value with the cash they are making. That is the essential problem with the sanctions from Russia's POV.

[Jockey]

They can sell oil all they want to the developing world. The problem is they can't really buy anything of value with the cash they are making. That is the essential problem with the sanctions from Russia's POV.

I think China is going to have more influence in developing countries. They probably do already.

And selling more oil to developing nations will just create a bigger secondary market.

[JWags85]

I think China is going to have more influence in developing countries. They probably do already.

And selling more oil to developing nations will just create a bigger secondary market.

Yea, China's Belt and Road Initiative already far surpasses any influence that Russia may develop and exert with oil or nat resources moving forward.

[MU82]

There's an Onion-like pundit in Russia who calls himself Darth Putin. Here are two of his one-liners:

"Stop comparing me to Hitler. He kept things he annexed for several years. I can barely manage several hours." @DarthPutinKGB

"The only people now afraid of the Russian military are Russian men of military age." @DarthPutinKGB

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

There's an Onion-like pundit in Russia who calls himself Darth Putin. Here are two of his one-liners:

"Stop comparing me to Hitler. He kept things he annexed for several years. I can barely manage several hours." @DarthPutinKGB

"The only people now afraid of the Russian military are Russian men of military age." @DarthPutinKGB

You forgot his big tagline.

"I remain a master strategist!"

[Uncle Rico]

There's an Onion-like pundit in Russia who calls himself Darth Putin. Here are two of his one-liners:

"Stop comparing me to Hitler. He kept things he annexed for several years. I can barely manage several hours." @DarthPutinKGB

"The only people now afraid of the Russian military are Russian men of military age." @DarthPutinKGB

Ukraine retook Lyman after Russia “annexed” it.

[MuggsyB]

Is Putin actually crazy enough to use nuclear weapons the longer this plays out?  I'm guessing he will amp up this nuclear threat as things continue to go poorly.  I never thought Vlad was completely delusional but maybe he loses it completely? 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Is Putin actually crazy enough to use nuclear weapons the longer this plays out?  I'm guessing he will amp up this nuclear threat as things continue to go poorly.  I never thought Vlad was completely delusional but maybe he loses it completely?

He certainly may be desperate enough. International condemnation might be the better of two options, because he will be dead if he loses this thing.  Again, just a stupid exercise from not only a geopolitical and economic point of view, but the amount of human suffering this is causing is just off the charts. 

But I guess he still has Roger Waters on his side.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/roger-waters-ukrainian-kill-list-1234604081/

[Hards Alumni]

He certainly may be desperate enough. International condemnation might be the better of two options, because he will be dead if he loses this thing.  Again, just a stupid exercise from not only a geopolitical and economic point of view, but the amount of human suffering this is causing is just off the charts. 

But I guess he still has Roger Waters on his side.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/roger-waters-ukrainian-kill-list-1234604081/

Roger has been on that brain rot for a while. 

[MU82]

But I guess he still has Roger Waters on his side.

He has far too many U.S. politicians and Fox News personalities on his side, too.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

He has far too many U.S. politicians and Fox News personalities on his side, too.

The Tankies

[Hards Alumni]

The Tankies

Again, you're using this wrong.

[MUeng]

Is Putin actually crazy enough to use nuclear weapons the longer this plays out?  I'm guessing he will amp up this nuclear threat as things continue to go poorly.  I never thought Vlad was completely delusional but maybe he loses it completely?

this will have to go much further for him to use them. US has made it clear that's a red line that as the tactical nukes move, they'll be targeted quickly and struck. This has to be a slow methodical grind and Ukraine is doing it very well

[Jockey]

this will have to go much further for him to use them. US has made it clear that's a red line that as the tactical nukes move, they'll be targeted quickly and struck. This has to be a slow methodical grind and Ukraine is doing it very well

I think you are probably right.

On the other hand, I think one of the reasons for the annexation of the four Ukrainian territories is that the Russian Constitution only allows for the use of nuclear weapons if there is an attack on Russian soil. That criteria has now been met.

[Scoop Snoop]

Several British and American intelligence reports of major dissension in Russian military and political circles. I know that if Putin is ousted, his replacement will not be a Gorbachev clone, but if a new leader declares victory while quietly withdrawing from Ukraine, that works for now.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Happy 70th Putin, will you see 71?

[Scoop Snoop]

Happy 70th Putin, will you see 71?

Let's hope for a "surprise" BD party today.

[Hards Alumni]

Happy 70th Putin, will you see 71?

I'd prefer he rotted in prison, but dudes like him don't usually get that sort of treatment.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Putin accidentally fall out of window?

[JWags85]

Let's hope for a "surprise" BD party today.

Cheering for the death of a justly and fairly elected foreign leader of a sovereign nation?  How despicable.

[Scoop Snoop]

Cheering for the death of a justly and fairly elected foreign leader of a sovereign nation?  How despicable.

Why...why thank you! That's one of the nicest things anyone has called me on Scoop.

[Uncle Rico]

It’s going to start snowing in this thread