Charles Roberts33 said:I respect your takes on geopolitics; I’ve actually learned quite a bit from your posts. I don't approach these topics with absolute certainty myself—I’m perfectly willing to admit when I’m wrong or change my mind on things. However, I won't budge on something as fundamental as hierarchy. In any organization, there are expectations for those in the highest positions. They have to make the hard calls. People aren't going to follow just anyone, and they certainly won't tolerate just anyone representing them, especially when it comes to the head of state. Remember how much we laughed at those self-proclaimed military experts like Banet and Vulin, who haven't even finished their basic service? And yet here we are, seeing a kid leading the fight against a nuclear superpower—a guy who was shaking his backside in latex on TV seven years ago, and now he’s responsible for millions of lives. There was a time when footage like that would have cost pure gold to keep buried, because that kind of behavior from a leader was simply intolerable. I’m honestly not sure if it’s even tolerated today, or if everyone in the Ukrainian army is truly convinced that this is the kind of persona they need leading them right now.
He’s good on camera, though. I suppose you’d expect nothing less from an actor. But let me keep my skepticism regarding his maneuvers in this war, and frankly, regarding everything the media tries to sell us, no matter who they're trying to please.
Good grief... 🙏
Man, the guy was a comedian before he had a real job, so of course there's random footage of him all over the internet. You have to view it through that lens—it was just his gig back then.
As president, he’s held his own so far. I don't think Plenky would have been out there "lobbying" in Brussels half as effectively while other world leaders are actually flying into a war-torn country to meet a prime minister in a besieged city. That's something you have to respect.
I honestly think Plenkovis and Zoki are playing a coordinated game regarding this war situation—Plenkovis is aligned with the EU mainstream, so he has to stick to their line, while Zoki isn't quite as tied down by EU diplomacy and can offer just enough pushback to let people claim we stayed neutral later on.
They’ve got to double down on this rhetoric now—otherwise, they're finished. On one hand, they have to keep the West at bay by dangling the threat of nuclear war or global conflict; on the other, they need to convince their own people that they aren't actually fighting a war. If they fail at either one, they're done.
neonfalcon16 said:Finland actually has neutrality regarding military alliances baked right into its Constitution. They would essentially have to overhaul their entire constitutional framework and state structure to make this happen. Honestly, I find it hard to believe the brains in the Kremlin would just sit idly by while Peter becomes within missile range on both sides of the gulf.
Who cares—let the Kremlin decide which independent nations get to join which alliances. Honestly, I doubt anyone would let them lay a finger on the Finns.
Paul Sanders5 said:I honestly don't see how this ends well for the Russians. Even if they manage to take Kyiv (if that's even their plan), the West's exodus is already a done deal. Screw all that talk about them being able to hold their own; they don't need anything from anyone else. By the end of the year, you won't be able to get your hands on—let alone see—anything from Europe or the US in Russia. Honestly, the whole thing still feels surreal to me.
Nah, those sanctions will vanish a week after the attacks stop—I get the feeling half of Europe is just dying to wrap this up so they can get back to business as usual.
It’s funny how everyone is acting like absolutely nothing happened 🤣
Seriously—this is one of the biggest scandals in Europe in decades. A military drone goes down in an EU nation and a NATO member, and yet everyone stays perfectly calm 🤣
In my opinion, anyone trying to defend or justify this aggression doesn't have half a functional brain—honestly, they're just trolls playing on people's emotions
I honestly don't get why everyone is so shocked by these kinds of moves—the whole point of the German Chancellor's job is looking out for Germans and Germany.
I’ve been thinking—maybe Putin actually hit his main target already. He showed the Ukrainians that when they need the West most, they aren't coming to the rescue.
Justin James10 said:I was actually expecting an even sharper blow... things tend to stabilize once that initial shock wears off. It's clear the Russian central bank is making moves, but I really thought we’d see a more aggressive hit. 🤔
They can't afford hyperinflation—but all these maneuvers to prop up their currency are going to cost them dearly in the long run.
Plus, their stock market has been shuttered for a week now—once it actually reopens, it could tank, which would be just as devastating a blow.
Paul Sanders5 said:As far as Lavrov is concerned, Zelensky isn't some fascist junkie anymore—he's actually a president you can sit down and negotiate with. In five days, it'll be just like dealing with Napoleon.
Honestly, I think the Russians are totally down for a deal. If they grab Crimea and the whole world actually recognizes it, they’ll pack up and head home. They don't give a damn what people back home think; they’re following that Chinese playbook where you just control everything, nobody knows anything, and boom—case closed.
Personally, I think their economy is getting hammered. They didn't see this kind of slump coming, and those sanctions on the central bank have pretty much stripped away their room to maneuver.
Noah Roberts46 said:But where exactly would he drop it? Maybe I'm being naive, but I feel like there's way too much hysteria building up over the threat of a nuclear strike. Dropping it in his own backyard makes zero sense, and targeting a NATO state doesn't make sense either. So where? To me, the whole nuclear threat feels like nothing more than blatant intimidation aimed at the West to ensure nobody interferes.
I'm with you on this. Honestly, even if someone actually launched a military strike against Russia, they wouldn't touch the nukes until they were staring down total surrender.
Jacob Price95 said:The Russian Ministry of Defense claims 500 Russians killed and 1,600 wounded. For the Ukrainians, they’re reporting 2,900 dead, 3,700 injured, and 572 who surrendered.
Of course—not a single one of them actually surrendered. 🤣
Since old man hit the 10k mark, I'm starting a new
Given that the invasion of Ukraine is basically the only thing anyone is talking about right now, let me be crystal clear—there is absolutely zero tolerance for anyone trying to justify this war on this thread. That goes for everyone, especially those political caricatures wandering over from the Washington Post.
If you can't live by that, don't bother posting here.