F1 have cancelled the Russian race (finally).
Yeah, he'd need ****loads of troops to take on NATO.Just been talking to a good friend of mine, who knows more about military strategy and war than all the rest of us put together. He seems pretty certain that Putin stops at Ukraine, mainly due to the fact he doesn't have enough ground troops to actually go further. Which, although still awful, is mildly reassuring.
I hope it doesn't escalate and there's as little suffering as possible.I just keep reminding myself of Chechnya. Tiny state with just over a million people, and Russia took two years to, well, withdraw unsuccessfully. They only eventually got their victory years later by destroying most of the place. If they drop too many bombs in Ukraine, others will surely step in to help. But it will be more about drones and bombs, than boots on the ground (I hope!).
Look forward to some pics of the floating holiday home by the way!
There is no way any Russian team should be involved with international sport of any description for the foreseeable future. Putin's gamble has to totally fail in strategic terms and in the eyes of the Russian public. It will take a long time to register such a success, perhaps but there can be no reward for him or his cronies, ever. Even if, as some suggest, he stops with crushing Ukraine, the world has now to recognise there is an unpredictable, clever and duplicitous person leading an extremely dangerous regime prepared to have it's way by brutal force, whatever the cost to their nation.They are still allowing Russian teams to play though. I find that unconscionable. We should ban all Russian teams immediately. It won’t do much, but may help turn the Russians against Putin
I hope it doesn't escalate and there's as little suffering as possible.
Covid put halt to our travel plans so we bought a 10m steel canal cruiser, a bit of a project, and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the Dutch waterways.
Haarlem.
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Woerden on the Grecht close to its junction with the Oude Rijn
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The Grecht heading north to the Amstel at Uithoorn.
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We're spending this weekend on the boat, bright and chilly, no problem with plenty of layers. probably take a roundabout route to Leiden not far from us.Looks like a great way to spend a summer!
They should definitely be immediately banned. Or the other clubs refuse to play themThey are still allowing Russian teams to play though. I find that unconscionable. We should ban all Russian teams immediately. It won’t do much, but may help turn the Russians against Putin
I got banned from Facebook for a week for a week for suggesting that!!I put all the blame for this at Johnson's door. We enjoyed peace in Europe with a united EU but the greedy and corrupt right wing of the Tory party led by Johnson and his Russian buddies divided Europe for Putin with Brexit.
Johnson should be put up against a wall and shot.
Brave brave men. Bastard Russians! No doubt “only following orders” - they should be ashamedYou must log in or register to see media
Scary times for the Ukrainians
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I think I have mentioned it on here before during the England game against them, but my girlfriend is Ukrainian.
We were meant to be on a skiing trip to the Carpathians at the start of the month.
Her family weren't taking it very seriously until a month or so ago(which is why we only cancelled our trip less than a week beforehand!) but they have started treating it like a realistic threat now.
They live mostly in a town in the Poltava Oblast, but on the border to Kharkiv Oblast which is quite near to the Russian border (relative to the size of Ukraine)
They've started acting on the assumption that if anything happens utilities will be quickly cut off so they took their money out of the bank and started stockpiling food/water catfood etc. Was shown a photo in the city itself of a system they just built to supply water if the normal water system goes down.
Her family's view is that they like Russia but hate Putin, and said they wouldn't want to join NATO or see the need for it if it wasn't for him. (my girlfriend forced me to vote for Russia in Eurovision last year!it was because it was apparently woman's rights song which is a serious issue in both Russia and Ukraine. though I couldn't understand a thing.) Don't like being stuck between NATO and Putin but accept that's the situation they are in and side with the west. But that's just their opinion. I don't know much outside that.
Anyway I think they just hate the uncertainty right now. but they also seem to be influenced by western media to be fair. Was asked for our opinion on the Sun yesterday![]()
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