Apparently I've been apologizing for Putin so much that the Russians have installed a confession box in my house.

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

No-one wants an economic Cold War and I anticipate pragmaticism will restore supplies quite swiftly if a settlement is attained. This though will not be forgotten or forgiven. It's a very profound wake-up call for the west and, whilst alternative sources cannot be turned on like taps, there will now be concerted mutual efforts to move away from any reliance on Russia, and Russian controlled, sources of anything.

Avoiding the worst impacts on the poor is the responsibility of government. We all have to share the pain, as if we don't, we will all suffer. I have to say though that this conversion to socialistic principles, whilst welcome in these circumstances, is also surprising. Have you visited Damascus recently?

Russia might possess the largest number of warheads, but it is far from being the largest nuclear power on the planet. The west, as a whole, is very much stronger. Its technical strength must not be underestimated, and it's this which gives it the edge. That though makes Putin even more dangerous, and the need to contain him ever more important.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Putin is hardly going to say anything he thinks puts the West in a good light. He just picks at cultural divides here, as lets those with waning allegiances to the West, or who are staggered that societal views differ now compared to 50 years ago, help him in that cause (as if Putins values and treatment of his people makes more sense). The treatment of women in Russia for example is revolting. You can effectively use your wife as a punchbag nowadays, often with little legal consequence. Much concern or talk of that here? No.

Nobody is saying that life or social outlooks are perfect here, but it's not such kind of hellscape either. And most of those here constantly going on are doing so on account that they can't control others lives, rather than perfect impact on their own. People would be better to view themselves in terms of their achievements, their character, the example they set, putting in hard graft etc than crying about a uni sex toilet, women in the workplace and so on. The idea that the West and Russia and comparable in terms of freedoms or how people are treated is absurd. An a citizen, you can't even vaguely criticse the current slaying of women and children, or acknowledge that war is even taking place. And as for change, votes are provably and routinely rigged (rather than imagined to be) and the prospect of political change is met with poison, falls from balconies and bullets to the head.

Edited by BlueJay (20 Mar 2022 12.00pm)

3 MAPS

a) the Eastward invasion of Napoleon 1812

b) the Eastward invasion of Hitler 1941

c) the Eastward invasion of NATO ...the last thirty years.

spot the difference.

Edited by PalazioVecchio (20 Mar 2022 12.45pm)

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

On a serious note, Putin's reaction to potential NATO expansion was always going to be a hot potato.
The goal posts have changed a lot since I considered Putin's initial reaction understandable.

His forces now seem to be targeting civilians, and whilst I like to scrutinise western media as much as communist outlets, there seems to be a lot of corroboration that this is not only happening, but also increasing.

NATO could reasonably have expected a reaction from potential recruiting of Ukraine, so why are they still sitting on their hands, making threats about sanctions, whilst civilians are being killed ?

I disengage, I turn the page.

I agree that the geopolitical games of the last thirty years haven't been best designed to enable Russia to join with Europe where its natural place is. What has gone on has been nothing short of criminal greed and statecraft mismanagement.

But most people aren't ready to listen to that and our sympathies are with the innocents dying over a war long predicted but rarely covered in the west. There are brave men fighting against impossible odds for their country and families and while I wish this war ends as soon as possible we recognise that and the tragedy therein....the war was brought to them and it's the people in the streets suffering.

Edited by Stirlingsays (20 Mar 2022 4.48pm)

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