Perhaps.

I just don't think it these economic or military wars need to happen and that we have the wrong people in charge.

Whatever the end result if this war is still ongoing come the US elections, If a Republican wins it's likely that the war ends shortly after.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

You think Putin wants the old Soviet empire back?

I don't think that's realistic and if so why wasn't his military equipped for it long ago? If so why would he wait until he's nearly 70 before starting something that would take years and probably result in the end of humanity?

Russia can point to wars we have been involved with can't they where we have displanted regimes we didn't like, such as Serbia, Libya and the failed one in Syria, where we literally ended up backing IS like groups.

But leaving aside 'whataboutism' we can ask what was the Russia's motivation behind those situations. I would say it's the same motivation the US/Nato has, but just from their perspective....putting in place pro them or at least not anti them regimes.

Now, my opinion on these eastern European countries that aren't in Nato is why is their relationship towards Russia so strained when say Hungary's isn't....Let me ask why aren't Hungary scared of Russia? They give humanitarian aid to Ukraine and take refugees yet are in no fear of an invasion.

May I suggest that there is a bigger picture here other than a black and white narrative. I mean could it be that these countries aren't neutral towards Russia and instead are aligned against it?

If this is so why are we involved in a tug of war? What benefit do we get out of this? I think if I'm expected to risk death and economic downturns because of that I'm entitled to ask wouldn't you say?

If these countries are so scared of Russia then let them negotiate with Nato and Russia on a way forward.....I would suggest that is a far more constructive way forward than risking WW3.

Edited by Stirlingsays (03 Aug 2023 1.54pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Well, Orban's statements seem to make that quite clear.

Poland on the other hand have gone all in....that has potential to get out of hand and as it's in Nato is a real concern.

I'd ask where does your claim that Putin wants the old Soviet Union back come from? In fact if you read what he's said over the years he's quite critical of the old Soviet Union and was actually one of the reformers against it.....He did not back the rebellion to retake it back in the nineties for example.....then again he was very critical of how Russia declined in the nineties as well....which is what brought him to power.

I asked questions about why certain attitudes are held about Putin and you just reply you don't trust him....well ok, no need to trust him, just look at what a country is capable of and what it isn't capable of....Russia is stronger than Ukraine, however it isn't strong enough to take Europe....It's doubtful that it could defeat it's collective armies but even if it could defeat Europe's armies it could never hold that large a territory....Just as what is going to happen in Ukraine....and you can hold me to this. At the end of it Russia will hold only those areas that have a majority of ethnic Russians.....said to be 12 million before the war.

Putin a stateman? Why should I careless whether Putin is a statesman or a mafia boss....in fact I'd call him more like a mafia boss. Do I consider him and Biden criminals....well yeah I do. But I don't play goodies and baddies mainly because I've looked into the history of it and there are no goodies and baddies to be found....only self interested powerplays.

Why should I play goodies and baddies when our own government has let Saudi and Russian money own nice parts of London and its assets for decades and all of a sudden only the Russian green turns bad....Na, that's all gaslight.

And again, why should I be bothered what Putin does outside of Nato? Aren't countries meant to make their own policies with the countries around them? We lost an empire fighting wars for other countries and we never seem to learn.

Edited by Stirlingsays (03 Aug 2023 4.08pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Reports that Russia are getting closer to the city of Kupyansk on the northern front. Unconfirmed reports of fighting in the suburbs.

Elsewhere in the south and centre fronts it seems to be ebbs and flows for small settlements either way.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

This idea that Russia wants to 'invade' Europe is utter insanity. What it is doing in Ukraine, for right or wrong, is to effectively annex regions that are, on multiple levels, culturally Russian.

They see this as a mission of liberation, not conquest.

Poland is now the single most powerful European military land power. And bankrolled by the US. Effectively a US proxy. And potentially eying up Western Ukraine by way of settling old scores.

And also the country leading the charge to maintain the ban on Ukranian grain imports. This idea that it is this massive cheer leader for the Ukranian cause does not stand up to much scrutiny.

Yes, they have sent a lot of OLD weapon systems and had them replaced with nice shiny new US equipment.

Poland are also the leading light in what is called the 'The Three Seas Initiative'. Once again, a cause championed by the US state department and seen as a real challenge to the accepted hegemony of Franco/German dominance of the EU.

Edited by Matov (10 Aug 2023 10.05pm)

Edited by Matov (10 Aug 2023 10.06pm)

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

How unlucky.