Your Liberal Party is essentially equivalent to our Conservative Party, I believe. Our Liberal Party is almost non existent, led by a bloke who's name I forget
So Wimbledon has banned Russian and Belorussian players from competing at this year’s tournament due to the “Unjustified war in Ukraine” That’ll please the Blue and Yellow brigade…..but let’s not mention the unjustified war in Iraq, eh ?
Genuinely is akin to a religious cult now isn't it? There are going to be so many policy decisions made in the last 2 years we look back on with huge regret.
Bookies have him near certain to lose. From what I've heard through word of mouth it seems likely there will be a change of Government.
Absolutely mate……it’s like everyone has to compete as to who can be the most virtuous and show their anti Russian feeling the most….we laugh now when we look back and see how people burnt Beatles records back in the 60’s….but we’re doing far more bizarre things right now. And god forbid you actually point out this madness……you might as well say you’d like to be rogered by Putin in Red Square with a crowd of Spetsnaz looking on…….
I’ll be on Henman hill, cheering the plucky fella on with my flag in hand, singing Rule Britannia….whilst wearing my lucky pair of Union Jack underpants…….Horrah
Meghan Markle suffers gaff as she paints Ukrainian flag upside DOWN https://mol.im/a/10734745 She’s obviously is a Putin loving b****………
So after dodging watching the news for over two years, my workmate had BBC Breakfast on in the digs this morning....and their feature story....some fat geordie bint who got stuck down the back of a couch in a booth in a bar for 15 minutes. I mean, WTF they had a reporter there, interviewing her and some of the staff who "rescued" her. Went on for at least 5 minutes.....who actually gives a ****? Won't be in a hurry to tune back in....
The problem is, as I see it, is where does it all end and what is going to be the best, or least worse outcome. To be honest I’m struggling to find ANY outcome that’s great. Even if Putin does get taken out by his own, which I think most will agree is what would be for the best, does that not leave Russia with the possibility of some kind of power vacuum and create internal unrest, which of course leads to further world instability ? But of course there could be a leader in Russia willing to take up powers, but I would suggest he would have to be pretty ruthless and be more of a dictator than Putin is already…thus leading to possibly further conflict down the line. Can’t see Russia pulling out and admitting defeat, but possibly might be satisfied for the time being with taking the Donbass region….however surely that leaves the West open for more agression further down the line, especially as seems likely, when Finland and Sweden join NATO. Would be interested in others sensible thoughts……
Exactly this. I fear we may be approaching the point where NATO and the West in general have to say "enough is enough", leading to the very real possibility of NATO and Russian forces in direct conflict. I'm finding myself torn on this. Obviously, the thought of a nuclear war is a terrifying prospect and would spell the end of the world. However, how far do we let Putin go and, if we don't stop him, how far will he go, believing that the West won't intervene? The UK have probably done as much as they can militarily without actually engaging Russian forces, apart from SF who aren't officially there.
I think though that your first point is something that NATO is most trying to avoid...as if they do, either through “want” or through provocation, then there is a distinct possibility that things could escalate quickly into nuclear conflict. Totally agree that if Putin is allowed to get away with this, putting aside the rights or wrongs or whether it could or could not be justified in his eyes.....then surely that would embolden him and might it more likely in the future for more global conflict. Russia would be seen as a global pariah, except from someone like possibly China, which may lead to their ties growing stronger. Where could the next conflict be ? Finland/Russia ?, China/Taiwan ?, India/China ? More worrying is that IF he does get deposed......then who takes his place ? Worrying times ahead
Yeah, I'm definitely not advocating risking a nuclear exchange. It's a real conundrum for the West. I just wonder if there's a point where enough is enough. Feels like an impossible question to answer.
Putin can't pull back without having something to show for it Col. An agreement on the neutrality of Ukraine, recognition of Crimea and of the independent republics of pro Russian separatists from Lugansk and Donetsk would give him a way back without losing face. What we don't really know is whether he is looking for a possible 'way out of this' but the more Russian losses mount the more domestic pressure will build up. The West must have a clear picture of how this could end up - if Putin remains in power and gets his demands can we deal with him in future or is this the start of a new cold war ? If he is deposed will this lead to a new and possibly more dangerous power vacuum in Russia ? And what if the Russians withdraw with nothing - Ukraine may also be left with a power vacuum in what will then be one of the most heavily armed states in Europe and where Fascists, if not more in number than in other countries, have an over proportional influence particularly in the military.
