The politics of fear is a useful mechanism for controlling a society. Stoking fear of a situation or another country enables authorities to push the boundaries, whether that be by restricting freedoms so as to ‘protect’ us, spending taxes on specific projects that would otherwise fail to pass scrutiny or using unsavoury rhetoric.

hats off to palace, they were always gonna be louder, and hate to say it but they were impressive ALL bouncing and singing.

I am reading now 150,000 Russian fatalities, over 500,000 casualties.

Various news sources saying about the same.

And for what?

In two words, absolutely nothing.

Russian forces making progress, it's like WW1 minimal gain with maximum pain.

The story of how this war came to be and what Ukraine should have done versus what it did and was led into is a tragedy.

Another story of highly paid...massively paid leaders failing upwards and making decisions with bad outcomes.

An unemotional calculation of what's coming this summer.....with another Russian offensive likely in the north around May 9th (important Russian day) you would think that those invested in Ukraine's future would be looking for negotiation and staking out what's possible in agreement with Russia.

The reason this won't happen is because no one is willing to admit failure for earlier poorly calculated decisions (which were stated at the time) and would rather fight it out until capitulation (in many instances using mobilised men forced to fight) or in the hope that they can induce a wider war to bring in Nato troops.

That means that things will get worse and worse for Ukraine's future and at the end it is likely the costs will be lumped onto the European and American taxpayer.....at least until governments replace them who bulk at these commitments for decisions made by previous failed politicians.

The idea often floated that sieged Russian funds will be used instead (which would pay for about three or four years) is highly unlikely as it would scare away states from investing in western banks....something that would cost them far more....for those who didn't understand why that hasn't happened. America has done a version of this on interest but that is already highly controversial and likely to be reversed. 

It's a complete disaster because no one in power was willing to listen to common sense when this war could have been negotiated....something that seems common to the neo/social liberal mindset.

Now we will have a negotiation but the outcomes will be far far worse for all of us. And the politicians responsible will have left the scene and never face any accountability because that's how democracy in the west works.....no different to any of the authoritarian regimes they all criticise.

Edited by Stirlingsays (05 May 2024 2.26am)

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