Off Topic Politics Thread

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Agree with that, largely.

Your last part I think is wrong though. Nobody is suggesting going ‘toe-to-toe’ with Russia in this deal, but providing what will be seen as a deterrent to Putin by providing a peacekeeping force to help hold the ceasefire/peace. Putin isn’t just going to bluster in and start taking out EU forces. He’s a thundercunt, but he’s not mad. He knows that scenario doesn’t end well.

If he sees a way of getting back to the top table, he gets to keep some of the land he’s stolen, and there’s a hope of at least US sanctions being eased, he’ll take that.
Putin is corrupt to a level unmatched by anyone in the world. Anyone who has seen his vast palace knows this man enjoys being alive. The last thing he is going to do is start WW3.
 
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Agree with that, largely.

Your last part I think is wrong though. Nobody is suggesting going ‘toe-to-toe’ with Russia in this deal, but providing what will be seen as a deterrent to Putin by providing a peacekeeping force to help hold the ceasefire/peace. Putin isn’t just going to bluster in and start taking out EU forces. He’s a thundercunt, but he’s not mad. He knows that scenario doesn’t end well.

If he sees a way of getting back to the top table, he gets to keep some of the land he’s stolen, and there’s a hope of at least US sanctions being eased, he’ll take that.
This. Russia can say as many times as they like they have the biggest nuclear arsenal in the world. Fine. There's a big difference between boasting and actually using them. Putin's found it tough enough simply fighting Ukraine. Like you say, taking on the whole of the EU isn't going to end well. No one from western Europe intends to go toe to toe with Russia, as Os puts it, but at the same time can't step aside and give Putin free reign to take Ukraine, with or without Trumperica.
 
This. Russia can say as many times as they like they have the biggest nuclear arsenal in the world. Fine. There's a big difference between boasting and actually using them. Putin's found it tough enough simply fighting Ukraine. Like you say, taking on the whole of the EU isn't going to end well. No one from western Europe intends to go toe to toe with Russia, as Os puts it, but at the same time can't step aside and give Putin free reign to take Ukraine, with or without Trumperica.

It’s all smoke and mirrors ultimately, on both sides. But we’re doing the right thing. As I said a while back, there’s actually a good opportunity right now for Starmer, and I’m impressed that he’s stepping up to it.
 
The whole point about nuclear weapons is that they are a deterrent. If an aggressor launches a pre-emptive strike, they will get wiped out by the retaliatory response, nobody wins, nobody loses, they are simply vapourised.

Exactly, which only works if you are prepared to actually use them.

Putin knows that the west won’t use ours to defend Ukraine, or we would have done it already. He essentially called the world’s bluff.

All we can do now is draw a hard line and stand strong that we will actually use them if he goes further.

Which has been the case since the day he invaded imo. (I also said this at the time btw)
 
It will never fail to blow my mind how well propaganda and the media works on people.

You have been completely conditioned into supporting something completely insane. It’s quite incredible to hear/watch this stuff play out in real time.

The EU has very little strength without America. I don’t know why people are pretending otherwise.

Not to mention the cost. And the impact on the climate for all this military might that you seem gleeful to cheer on. How can you claim you care about climate change and then advocate for more war?

The left make no sense to me at all

Aren't you fortunate to have first-hand experience of everything, having seen it with your own eyes, and been personally present at everything, with no need for any unfiltered information. It's a good job you are so knowledgeable, so you are able to explain clearly how the entire universe works to us mere mortals who depend on other sources for their information
 
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Exactly, which only works if you are prepared to actually use them.

Putin knows that the west won’t use ours to defend Ukraine, or we would have done it already. He essentially called the world’s bluff.

All we can do now is draw a hard line and stand strong that we will actually use them if he goes further.

Which has been the case since the day he invaded imo. (I also said this at the time btw)

He’s not willing to use them either. Thankfully.
 
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Why should zelensky not dress appropriately for the meeting?

Everyone else has the decency and respect to dress up for important state meetings.

If you have studied the conflict since day one, you wll realise he has worn the same style of dress everywhere he has gone, it's his trademark. Would you say a kippah or a turban should be removed as it's rude to wear a hat in the White House?
 
Debatable. I wouldn’t want to test that theory by putting troops anywhere near the Russian border personally.

Not really. He knows that if he launches one, there’ll be ten straight away on their way back into Russia. Nobody wants that.

If you want the Chicken-Licken scenario, he ignores the fact there is European peacekeeping forces there, and goes back in for a second bite with conventional forces, to test out whether we have the mettle to react to that. Hence why the deal is so much stronger if there’s an American backstop there.

I don’t think he’d do that, but I’m guessing a bit. The fact he’s using North Korean forces (by the way, when it comes to nukes, I’d be far more concerned with Kim than Putin) would suggest his levels of army reserves aren’t great right now. He won’t want to enforce conscription either - that won’t wash with the Russian public, and as we’ve both said, he’s many things, but he’s not stupid.
 
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Exactly, which only works if you are prepared to actually use them.

Putin knows that the west won’t use ours to defend Ukraine, or we would have done it already. He essentially called the world’s bluff.

All we can do now is draw a hard line and stand strong that we will actually use them if he goes further.

Which has been the case since the day he invaded imo. (I also said this at the time btw)


With a pair of nutjobs in charge of the two main aggressors, anything is possible and we would be powerless.
 
Not really. He knows that if he launches one, there’ll be ten straight away on their way back into Russia. Nobody wants that.

If you want the Chicken-Licken scenario, he ignores the fact there is European peacekeeping forces there, and goes back in for a second bite with conventional forces, to test out whether we have the mettle to react to that. Hence why the deal is so much stronger if there’s an American backstop there.

I don’t think he’d do that, but I’m guessing a bit. The fact he’s using North Korean forces (by the way, when it comes to nukes, I’d be far more concerned with Kim than Putin) would suggest his levels of army reserves aren’t great right now. He won’t want to enforce conscription either - that won’t wash with the Russian public, and as we’ve both said, he’s many things, but he’s not stupid.
Or suicidal thankfully. I do actually wonder if it is better dealing with the devil we know rather than him getting ousted or assassinated and then someone worse taking his place.