I wonder how the US would respond if Alaska declared itself an independent Republic, and started cosying up to Russia?
Wondering about something that would never happen? Be similar to Scotland doing the same…. Although I would drive the ****ers to Moscow
Life is all about perspectives. If you want to understand your neighnour, start by trying to see the world through his eyes, and through his cultural and historic paradigm. Unfortunately, western exceptionalism means our politicians never do this, they only ever analyse the rest of the world through western eyes. And by and large our media plays along. None of this excuses Putin's actions, of course.
I think this post is very true and think is needs amplifying. I find it discomforting that there is a tendency in countries like the UK, America and even France where the inhabitants assume that their governments might do in political crises abroad has the moral high-ground. This is a very good editorial which sums of a more balanced persepctive of what is going on in both the Uk and in Russia itself. This morning we wake p to the news that Starmer has suspended the Twitter account of Young Labour due to statements about the government's war-mongering rhetoric. Yesterday we heard that 11 Labour MPs had the threat of the whip being withdrawn from them. This is appalling and totally undemocratic. It seems Starmer has abandoned Laobur's socialist agenda completely and now faces as being complicit as calling for War as Johnson. I feel that this article hits the nail firmly on the head..... https://morningstaronline.co.uk/art...leashed-carnival-reaction-britain-well-russia With regard to NATO standing up to Russia's military might, the shear stupidity of this idea has previously thwarted both Hitler and Napoleon in the past. I appreciate the argument that western military equipment is superior but am less convinced that there is much difference between the calibre of the respecgive armies. It would be a war NATO would be unable to win and which the West would suffer far more than the East. This issue of sanctions has been mooted as a move that will make Putin think again . However, I hear that countries like Italy and Germany are now wavering insofar as how extensive these measures will go. Italy is alarmed at the potential damage to Gucci whereas the ability of Russia ti switch off the gas supply to Germany means the boot is clearly on the other foot. No one seems to have mentioned the fact that Russia produces a good proportion of the world's wheat (hence the EUs interest in neighbouring Ukraine farm lands) and any conflict will have a catesrophic effect on it's supply to the West. A number of people posting in here yesterday seemed to be advocating some sort of aggression towards Russia and that Putin needed to be taught a lesson. This is extremely naive simply because the West is so reliant upon Russia, I totally agree that Putin's actions are reprehensible but the fact remains , in real terms, there is nothing we can do about it. Russia cannot be defeated by military force and sanctions are likely to have a greater detrimental effect to the Wests' economies. We might not like what Russia is doing but the world order is changing and there is nothing we can do about it. A "best case" scenario for the West would be to ensure that there is no warming of the relatioship between China and Russia. For me, of we can keep these countries separate or even get China to condemn Russia's action, this will be a good result.
So much waffle of your assumptions. Well done for posting a link saying a balanced article when obviously the writer is of quite obviously left leanings. I didn’t see anyone advocating aggression against Russia, just that the nations within NATO need to be defended. Question, when your boss asks you not to do something at work, do you argue and say that’s undemocratic of them?
Completely agree Archers. My wife is Russian, and lived in Odessa for many years, and has an uncle and her grandparents still there. She was brought up very proud of her Russian heritage, and I wondered how she would view the war. Prior to the invasion, her Uncle made her aware last summer that it was widely known Ukraine would be invaded, with the pretext of all the bullshit in the Donbas and Luhansk regions. For a while leading up to the invasion, she was unusually quiet about why Russia would be doing so, and I had feared for her internal conflict. She did mention how the West does appear to be encroaching on Russias boarders, and that her Ukrainian grandfather has a saying that “**** doesnt smell unless it is poked”. I do wonder how USA would react with lots of bases around there boarders. She has however, completely disowned her motherland over what they have done in Ukraine, never seen her so upset. She is now waiting for the call to tell her about the deaths of her family to the Russians. So when, as I believe some posts I have seen prior, talk about Russian aggression, perhaps clarify what is meant by this, as this is on the hands of a ****ing tyrant, a nutter, not the Russian people.
Agree with most of the 2nd section Ian. Putins been planning this for a long time & knows all our cards. I think your final comments ref Chins are spot on.
Proud of Jan and an excellent move by the Polish National Team (also Sweden and the Czech Republic who could face them in the final). Watch FIFA give Russia a bye all the way to the World Cup now.
I measured and Afghanistan is futher away from Russia than England is (~1200km to 1300km) according to Googles measuring tool, and similar to Ukraine. There's an entire NATO country between Iraq and Russia. I think you might be getting influenced by the distortion of size on the standard map systems.
Using a globe gives a better perspective. No excuse for Putin's invasion. I hope this ends swiftly but fear a protracted war.
It's worth reading the replies there's a lot of goodwill and offers of support for Ukrainians fleeing the war.
It will be protracted, but remember what I said before all of this, that a lot of very wise military strategists have been saying that this would be a fool's errand for Putin. He's arrogantly assumed that the Ukrainians would be cowed by numbers. It's already not quite working out how he thought it would, and the tide of Russian feeling toward him will turn the longer this goes on. It could well spell the end for him. He's not going to encroach on any more countries because he just doesn't have the manpower to do so. This is going to be about boots on the ground, not special bombs and computer controlled drones. He doesn't have that resource (or actually the backing) to do so. A conscripted army, that has already got questions about what the heck they're doing here, isn't going to win any wars quickly, and there's only so much the Spetznaz can do. I disagree with Ian, in that NATO and the west should absolutely be chucking in as much fire and forget weaponry as they can to support the Ukrainian resistance. This is a golden opportunity to see Putin fall flat on his face.
