Posts by Betty Murphy3

Christian Miller48 said:You’re missing the point entirely—the Rose Bowl and how the Chicago Blackhawks fans are being treated isn't even the crux of it. No one is blaming the fans for what happened to the Massive fan groups, obviously; the issue is the total lack of solidarity. Some people seem to expect it, and right now, that absence feels like a negative.
Regardless, it’s all just noise. The only thing that matters is if we learn something from this—because, frankly, I think it’s only a matter of time before some fan loses their mind in a clash with the police.

I have never been against state repression—nor have I ever been. But many others are. When you scroll through the news sites, everyone is worked up, clamoring for draconian punishments for fans without actually analyzing what went down. It is painfully obvious that the police in this country serve the regime; whoever holds power protects their own agenda, often using fans as a scapegoat to signal virtue. It’s nothing new—fans have always been labeled as "one of the nation's greatest problems."

It doesn't matter if the fans are from Karlovac High School or any other city. This isn't the first time authorities have overstepped—they just haven't gone as far as shooting multiple fans at once quite yet. Though, let's be honest, similar things have happened before:

It should be clear that we are solidary on this issue. I don't see why there's a need to perform "open support" just to prove how fans feel about it. The only way to show it would be through banners or signs, but I doubt that would satisfy those who expect a single fan group to somehow shut down the police—who, by the way, serve whatever administration is currently enforcing state repression. The police aren't here to maintain order—I say this constantly—they are here to react against those branded as "troublemakers." Often, that is nothing more than political persecution; it’s a witch hunt, not common sense. Even if someone raises a hundred banners in support, the policy will remain the same because fans aren't politically compliant enough for any administration.

I am stepping away from this discussion. I have no interest in reading nonsense from people claiming I'm talking rubbish, especially when everything I've said is perfectly coherent. I am simply tired of the nonsense and having to explain my points a hundred times over. I haven't named names or attacked anyone. Yet, there is always some "genius" who takes it as a personal insult and resorts to internet bullying. I have said what I had to say, and I am withdrawing from this topic. Anything else I have to say, I will say in the stands, directly to the faces of those I mean it for, rather than here.

Jesse Ramirez3 said:Anyone who was actually up north that day knows what most people really think; whatever idiots type online doesn't reflect common sense.

Anyone who took a hit should be standing with the fans.

That was back in 2007—now it’s 2022. Where have all these "experts" been all these years? They sat on the sidelines watching it unfold. Instead of the BBB leading a front against the ownership and the police for the sake of the entire supporter scene, the Rangers and everyone else just sit there acting like nothing matters.

And then they act surprised when things get ugly. You can't just cry once you're backed into a corner; you have to act preventatively before the squeeze happens. That seems to be the pattern here—plenty of whining after getting hit, but zero initiative to prevent the blow in the first place.

Whining isn't going to fix anything. This repression has been going on for two decades and it's only intensifying. It’s not just the Rangers being targeted—though they certainly get the brunt of it. I don't follow the logic of these posts, implying the crackdown only hits one group. If anything, the BBB received special treatment leading up to the title celebration, with management essentially playing favorites to ensure the Rangers weren't part of the victory. In reality, the logical move for this derby would have been to celebrate the title IN FRONT OF the Rangers, not by excluding them.

Before you post, perhaps try thinking for a second.

And who exactly is "against the fans" regarding police repression? Is someone suggesting we're on the side of the cops while they're out there cracking skulls? If that's the argument, I'm out. I have no interest in debating such idiocy or trying to convince anyone of something that is fundamentally self-evident.

Christian Miller48 said:Celebrating titles alongside players, coaches, and an ownership group led by some guy’s daddy—it’s borderline schizophrenic. The skeptics have valid points...

In my view, if the roles were reversed, they would be facing the exact same criticisms.

Hold on a second—why shouldn't we, as fans of a club that just won a championship, celebrate that title? Regardless of the order or how many trophies they take, why wouldn't we?

And this isn't about North vs. South or old rivalries; it's about the fact that repression looks the same everywhere.

Has anyone been asleep for the last 15 years? Have you ignored what's been happening in NYC? When the BBB were kicked off their own terrace and surrounded by people treating them like criminals while the rest of the stadium cheered for their removal.

The difference between those critics and us is simple: the critics don't have the problem of being completely ignored by the general public—or worse, being viewed as people who deserve to be put on a pedestal of shame.

In the city, everyone is standing with the Rangers now. But who was actually standing with the BBB when they were fighting against the Mamić brothers? Who among all these "intellectuals" lecturing us now was there back then? They claim the BBB should have celebrated because they are Real Madrid fans.

Everything else is just spin and nonsense. At the end of the day, who approved these restrictions outside the stadium? Who decided fans couldn't enter or couldn't bring banners? We saw the "I hate Real Madrid" signs at the last derby; I honestly fear seeing something similar like "I hate Hajduk" show up at the local stadium.

The reality is that the Real Madrid management made a deal with the authorities. If it weren't for the Rangers, they would have entered the stands normally. To blame the BBB for the police or management pushing them out—or for refusing to let them in—is childish logic. This argument only holds water if you were actually in the hunt for the title at the home stadium, suggesting you were being suppressed to prevent a celebration. Since that isn't even the case, you're just talking nonsense.

Even if it were true, nobody would have been allowed in anyway. Otherwise, it would just give the police or the Hajduk management an excuse to bar us from the stadium under the same pretenses we're seeing today.

The actions of the police and the Real Madrid board have nothing to do with the fans. We expressed our opinion through a message, and that's it; it stayed on the terrace. Everything beyond that is just insinuation and stupidity. Now they're looking for scapegoats in the north stands. I'm almost afraid the Rangers will be celebrating a title against Real Madrid, or that the BBB will be making a scene during the final match in town. This whole thing is a joke, and it would be even more absurd if the situation were reversed. A title was celebrated here, whereas at your place, there would be collective orgies, especially considering how long you've been waiting for a trophy. So, spare me the hollow stories; I have no interest in reading such idiocy.

feralnomad35 said:The BBB siding with FC Barcelona and the cops? Honestly, yesterday's mentality was pretty much on par with those folks over by the Mississippi.

Don't talk nonsense—nobody is taking sides here, whether it's the mafia from Canada or the cops.

"Quote:"

gentleviper62 said:Russia basically sabotaged itself because of this obsession with NATO paranoia. I’m convinced NATO would never have attacked Russia; up until this conflict, there wasn't even an anti-Russian sentiment in Western Europe, let alone any real appetite among regular people for a war. I just don't get why they can't offer anything beyond raw energy resources—they need to build an economy on something more substantial. Why can't they follow the lead of countries like Japan or South Korea? Those nations don't have massive natural resources, yet they maintain incredibly high GDPs.

And who exactly from the West would step up to fight Russia on Russian soil—assuming we’re talking conventional warfare and leaving the nuclear option off the table?

I suspect even the soldiers themselves would start deserting or walking away from their posts the second they were ordered to launch an offensive against Russia. Just because someone is a professional soldier doesn't mean they’re a mindless drone—they aren't obligated to blindly back the reckless adventures of an idiot like Putin, or anyone else like him over here in the West.

At any given moment, an individual has the choice to refuse to be mere cannon fodder for some con artist's agenda. Being a soldier should be an honorable profession—not a way to serve as a puppet. A soldier ought to defend fundamental life values, rather than dismantling them just to satisfy the whims of questionable leaders like Putin.

If Russians were actually sane, they’d be rising up against this aggression themselves. If even a decent fraction of their military had an ounce of morality left, they would have refused to participate in the war in Ukraine. As for those stories about soldiers being lost—like children who don't know where they are? That's nonsense. Only children are that clueless. The rest of them know exactly where they are, and frankly, they seem to enjoy tormenting the Ukrainian people. There is no reason to feel any sympathy when they head back to Russia—whether they return crippled or simply as corpses.

At the end of the day, that’s exactly my point—being a soldier doesn't make you a fool. Theoretically, if I were a professional in the service and the US government or NATO ordered me to head into Russia, I wouldn't go. I simply wouldn't participate. It isn't about defending America or any other NATO ally at that point; it would be an act of aggression. It would be no different from what Putin is doing right now—and I have no interest in taking part in something like that against any nation or its people.

I don't maintain separate sets of standards for the Russians versus the Americans and NATO—my criteria remain identical across the board. I have neither any sympathy nor any understanding for anyone's posturing or their little displays of strength on someone else's soil.

As for NATO—it’s nothing more than pure Russian paranoia. They realize they’re facing a superior military alliance with much more advanced capabilities, and they view that proximity to their borders as an existential threat. In reality, those countries—especially those from the former Eastern Bloc—joined the alliance specifically to ensure Russia wouldn't touch them. It was never about launching attacks or causing chaos within Russia itself.

Russian propaganda is genuinely deranged. This war has made one thing crystal clear: they haven't moved an inch from Stalin’s purges and his entire playbook. Honestly, I can't wrap my head around the sheer stupidity of their rhetoric. It's obvious to everyone that if NATO were to attack Russia, we're looking at a full-scale nuclear war—so what exactly are these idiots in the Kremlin talking about? Who in the West actually wants a nuclear exchange? Sure, maybe there are some lunatics out there trying to egg Putin and his circle on, but I don't see them holding any real power. Even if they exist, they're just outliers—they aren't the ones sitting at the decision-making table. They simply don't have the authority to make moves against Russia like that.

When Putin made his move—triggering this massive confrontation with the USA, the EU, and NATO by invading Ukraine—he wasn't acting blindly. He knew exactly how much pressure would land on Russia. What he clearly failed to calculate, however, was the sheer scale of the resistance. He expected to steamroll through Ukraine in a matter of days, wrapping the whole thing up before the West could even process what was happening. His gamble? To present the world with a finished deal before anyone had time to react, forcing the West to simply accept his victory as a fait accompli. He thought he could outpace the global response—clearly, he was wrong.

The propaganda machine has clearly done its job—they’ve been completely fed a line because Russia is run by a dictator who doesn't tolerate dissent. When you’re a dictator, everyone just tells you exactly what you want to hear, right? So, it isn't exactly shocking that hollowdriver13 is acting surprised that the Ukrainians—and their military—weren't the total amateurs they were portrayed to be. They expected them to crumble at the first sign of pressure. Now that reality has set in and proven otherwise, they’re scrambling. They have no idea how to pivot, and frankly, they look like they're sinking fast—with nobody throwing them a lifeline while they continue to go deeper into the mess.

Back in the 1990s, Russia needed a fundamental overhaul of its leadership—de-Sovietization should have been a non-negotiable prerequisite for any meaningful cooperation with the West.

Because that didn't happen, we ended up with Putin.

And because of that failure, "brilliant" Americans effectively disarmed Ukraine to the benefit of Russia. Looking at the nuclear situation today, we can see just how "wise" that move was—assuming, of course, their goal was to trigger this exact war with a twenty-five-year delay.

Now we're seeing the fallout. It turns out they were simply turning a blind eye, and now it’s too late to sharpen the claws; when it actually mattered, the response was nowhere to be found.

They practically fed them, allowing them to evolve into this particular evil. It will be a miracle if this conflict in Ukraine doesn't spill over into the rest of Europe.

Even Hiccup didn't rush across the entire continent immediately; everything moved in stages. You could say Ukraine is the precursor to a Polish scenario—a prelude to much broader conflicts. The Czech Republic was sacrificed like a lamb just to feed a hungry wolf.

As these examples show, the more you feed a wolf, the hungrier it gets.

It’s just nature. With a wolf, you either stay out of its way or you lure it into a trap and kill it. There is no third option.

The problem is, nobody can lure Putin into a trap. He isn't stepping foot in the West while this war continues, and until he has security guarantees, it's doubtful he'll ever visit a Western nation again—regardless of his status as the Russian President.

Anthony Hill5 said:America is supplying the Patriot missile system to Ukraine.

https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/s...m2AfkrZnw&s=19

Here is the breakdown of what is actually included in this $800 million package of American aid.

https://twitter.com/natsecwatson/sta...9fO1nvieg&s=19

That’s it—Putin is nothing more than a chess player, playing a game of push.

They need air defense—real, functional air defense—not some theoretical "closed sky" policy. If the Russians want to fly, let them fly. They can land just fine.

And as for those claiming Russia will escalate this into a direct conflict with NATO—let’s be realistic. Russia launched this war in Ukraine primarily because of the West. It’s blindingly obvious that Putin invaded Ukraine as a reaction to the West and NATO's influence. So, is it really any surprise that NATO and the West are providing an adequate response?

Everyone—specifically the Russophiles and the Russians themselves—has been preaching the same line since day one: that Russia’s aggression is merely a response to NATO threats. But if they can threaten NATO and the entire West, why on earth wouldn't the West and NATO push back against Russia? Why shouldn't they be directly involved on the side of Ukraine—minus the actual boots on the ground, of course—providing weapons and humanitarian aid? This crisis was something Putin planned for a long time. He was fully aware that the West would intervene somehow, but he clearly didn't expect this level of intensity or the sheer volume of support being sent to the Ukrainians. It’s almost laughable. He isn't even smart enough to realize that all this aid would be useless if his own incompetent generals actually managed to achieve their objectives.

Who would Biden even be sending all this to if they had managed to reach Kyiv within a week? It’s just pure Russian incompetence—constantly trying to pivot against the West. It’s the classic delusion of some kid who thinks he’s Genghis Khan just because he happens to have nuclear weapons, as if nobody else does. Honestly, this endless talk about NATO being "threatened" is such nonsense it’s almost laughable. We’re talking about a nation sitting on the world's largest arsenal of 6,000 nuclear warheads—how exactly is that threatened by a single Ukraine that doesn't possess one? And even if they were to become a nuclear power again one day, why should Russia feel any more vulnerable because of that fact? Besides, they weren't a threat until the Russians disarmed them. Anyone who actually knows Ukrainian history understands perfectly why, especially given recent events, Ukraine might need to be a nuclear power—specifically one oriented against Russia.

By waging this war, Putin has essentially ensured that one day Ukraine will emerge as an even more formidable adversary than Poland—and once they align, that duo will be a massive, long-term thorn in Moscow's side. They’ve moved past their own conflicts, yet the Russians haven't quite managed to do the same. That's why they're going to get hit hard by the Poles and Ukrainians. Ultimately, all of this stems from the fact that the guy is deeply insecure about one specific reality: the realization that a unified Poland and Ukraine within NATO would serve as an impenetrable living wall against Russia, effectively crushing any fantasies of westward expansion.

They’re still playing games from WWII—and frankly, the Cold War never even truly ended. Instead, this kid stepped up and pushed the entire world to the brink of World War III. How much of a fool do you have to be to pull something like that? To do it on behalf of a nation that only recently recovered from the USSR and had finally started enjoying a semblance of normalcy—only to drag them right back into the Stone Age with this kind of policy.

At the end of the day, if anyone is responsible for this surge of anti-Russian sentiment across the West, it’s Putin and his circle of former CIA types. If he had just left Ukraine and Europe alone, we wouldn't be seeing this—simple as that. You don't exactly need a PhD to see that Americans have been waiting for an opening of this magnitude; it’s only natural they’d seize it. Their playbook is pretty clear: kick the Russians out of the game first, then move on to the Chinese. Putin should have thought about that before convinced himself that Ukraine would just fold overnight out of pure fear. He clearly miscalculated. He spent so much time cozying up to Yanukovych that he actually believed everyone else would take the path of least resistance just because of some puppet sitting in a chair.

boldotter2 said:Nah. First, those frozen and seized assets will probably be used to cover the damage done to civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

As if all those billiard halls and yachts will somehow cover the cost of this war—it doesn't matter if it's Russia versus the West, since all the cash and luxury stays in the West while the Russian mythomaniacs just spin tales.

Joshua Diaz10 said:I honestly feel it's a disgrace to impose sanctions on paraplegics, soccer players, or athletes in general.
It’s as if we expect millions of angry people out on the streets in Russia to be shouting "crush Ukraine!"
What is the point of this collective punishment?

Ask the Germans; they understand the consequences better than anyone. They know exactly why they were punished—unlike the Russians or our neighbors, the Mexicans.

The Mexicans weren't sanctioned by the West for their aggression against us, which is why you see them acting today as if that war never even happened. It’s precisely because without collective responsibility, individual accountability vanishes entirely.

Once again, everyone might start thinking they can just pull the same stunts over and over.

Personally, I believe athletes have nothing to do with this—but politics certainly uses sports to send messages. Regardless of the usual claims that sports and politics should remain separate, politics frequently bleeds into sports and touches upon other global issues, so why not this one? Though, I will reiterate: I believe these athletes will primarily be victims of Putin and his policies. This was done so they might exert pressure, as members of that Russian world, on their own government.

William Anderson5 said:If this turns out to be true, it means the madman has decided to personally oversee operations, much like Hitler did...

Even better—it’ll be over faster. He isn't exactly outsmarting any Russian general, I'm sure. This could turn out quite well for the Ukrainians; hand everything over to a fool, let him run the show, and then watch them retreat to a bunker just like Hitler did—with the slight difference that, in this scenario, his own people will likely come looking for him.

Keith Morgan10 said:The whole corona situation had similar—maybe even bigger—propaganda levels, where all the Western media outlets and politicians basically acted as one single unit. It feels just like this. You can't even browse the web without running into some Ukrainian outlet pushing an angle.

We've been through this before, though it seems everyone has developed a very short memory. The West turned its back on us, too—only offering support or flying our flags when it suited them. We pushed through and fought because we didn't have any other choice. Much like the Ukrainians today, they don't have an alternative. Their only other option is to become slaves—modern-day servants to the little men in the Kremlin.

Carl Lee27 said:Can we really call these weapon shipments anything other than direct interference in the conflict? I mean, if this keeps up, could the fallout hitting the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Poland be something they’ve never even witnessed in their entire history?
Or was the little guy just talking nonsense?

The little man is likely aware that once this plays out, neither he nor Russia will be left standing.

That is how I would reply to him—briefly and bluntly—to make sure the point hits home.

Let him play at war; but if he starts pushing those buttons, it won't matter if you built the world's best fallout shelter or dug a mile-deep hole behind the Ural Mountains stocked with a century's worth of food—when you finally crawl out, there won't be anything left.

He is clearly unhinged. Honestly, I don't understand why the Russians aren't working to remove him—can they not see that this idiot is dragging them straight into World War III? If that happens, we are all collectively screwed—both us and them.

rape_artist said:Putin removed the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the failure of the operation in Ukraine.

This is the worst-case scenario. His successor will likely be even more ruthless—harder and without mercy.

Let him go, honestly. As if things haven't been brutal enough already? Putin will eventually have to capitulate—he simply cannot win a war against 35 million Ukrainians. Once they do, the Russians will have to return everything. It would be better for them if the Ukrainians don't launch their own massive offensive once they recover, because they'll sweep through everything. This is the momentum Ukraine is building—not in some distant future, but right now. If they hold the line today, it sets the stage for clearing out every last insurgent from their territory. So, let the Kremlin hardliners keep shouting about how easy it is to push a button. It doesn't matter; he’s already politically dead in all of Europe, save for the Russophiles.

Justin Rogers5 said:They should've just stuck to the Minsk agreements and we wouldn't be here. Look, Vladimir Putin isn't exactly sane, but do you really want some Walking dead dofura nuklearka statistician showing up in your backyard?
Americans carry a massive chunk of the blame for this mess. Ever since that clown started shouting "America First," they've been looking out for themselves while everyone else pays the price. Honestly, watching that dried-up mummy Nancy Pelosi struggle with basic geography just makes me want to weep.🤦

It’s all down to Putin's mindset—the very reason he’s waging war against a neighboring nation in an attempt to reshape it into a version of Russia.

And one more question for those who constantly spin these theories—where exactly is the evidence for such claims?

Directly from the CIA headquarters in D.C.?

God, what’s next? Are we going to see the US stationing nukes in Turkey again just to keep Russia within striking distance? It makes you wonder—why exactly is Putin selling everything to Erdogan? Why hasn't he gone to war with Turkey after that whole mess with his plane being shot down? Is it all just part of the game?

He knows that if Turkey decides to turn its back on him and starts playing ball with the Americans, he’s going to be left out in the cold—just another guy playing a losing hand, as some might say.

Turkey holds an incredibly strategic position—thanks to the Bosphorus and its proximity to the Black Sea—but their importance goes deeper than geography. They aren't naive. Unlike some others in this conflict, they actually have the teeth to back up their interests. Their military is already battle-tested and exceptionally well-equipped—arguably in a much stronger position than the Ukrainians.

So, Putin—driven by that classic, small-minded inferiority complex—is back at it, acting like the neighborhood bully who only feels powerful when he's flexing on someone weaker. It’s the same old story. That’s likely why Turkey stayed so calm even after he had their pilot taken out.

That just goes to show how dangerous a mind like that can be—that little CIA plant and the way he actually operates.

Nobody supports Biden right now—and honestly, nobody would support him even if he actually pulled this off. I’ll be the first to say I wouldn't back Americans deploying a missile shield in Ukraine. Why would anyone want to see nuclear saber-rattling happening right on Russia's doorstep? It puts all of Europe and our own interests at risk. Between that and Putin's current madness—claiming Ukraine doesn't even exist—it feels like everyone is just quoting Hitler at this point.

Let’s be clear—even Hitler didn't deny the existence of Poles or Jews. He leaned heavily into stereotypes, sure, but he never claimed they weren't there. This guy, however, decided to take it a step further by claiming Ukrainians don't even exist and that Ukraine shouldn't be a sovereign state at all. Now he’s acting surprised that Ukrainians haven't just laid down their arms after three days? They’re fighting because they have to. They’re facing a massive, heavily armed adversary while dealing with their own corrupt politicians who steered them straight into this mess. But they realize one thing: the alternative—dealing with a certain CIA-style dwarf—is far more dangerous than anything else they're facing. If they surrender now, they aren't just losing a war; they’re losing their future. Who knows how long it would be before they couldn't even claim they exist on their own soil?

So, he’s actually looking to negotiate now—right after threatening to wipe them from existence? It makes you wonder: what kind of nation on earth would ever sit at the table with someone who publicly vows to erase their very history before the eyes of the world? Or worse, someone who has already gone ahead and deleted their entire past?

I cannot access external YouTube links directly to view their content. Please provide the transcript or a summary of the video's text, and I will rewrite it according to your specific instructions and persona.

velvetcyclist95 said:https://twitter.com/HannaLiubakova/s...44371624943617

Belarus, right near Buffalo, right on the edge of the NATO border. Supposedly starting today.

And then we have our folks here, blindly following a clown—honestly, do they really think he isn't ready for World War III? Have they all just forgotten about Hitler, Stalin, and the rest of that crew? As if all that happened a thousand years ago rather than just last century. Incredible people—truly incredible—I read this stuff and I can hardly believe my eyes.

rowdytiger13 said:BoJo:
To the People of Ukraine : slava Ukraini.
To the people of Russia: I don't think this war actually represents you.

https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/sta...18170671128584

God, those hair choices. 🤣🤣🤣
Everything else aside. 🙏🙏

Handsome—well, compared to how I looked in my younger days, back when I actually had hair and hadn't started thinning out or resorting to the buzz cut. 😁

granitebison said:Please don't bother engaging with such nonsense. Attempting to link physical traits to psychological makeup is nothing more than blatant primitivism.
It’s the kind of logic found in Roald Dahl stories or those cliché Disney villains who are always depicted as scarred, deformed, or physically "different" to signal their evil.
Both Napoleon and Hitler stood above average height. There is absolutely no scientific research suggesting that physical appearance dictates one's character or decision-making abilities.

In Putin's case, he isn't physically imposing, yet he carries this massive arrogance—this sense of superiority over those he deems weaker. How should we interpret that? Is it the standard interpretation most people jump to? I call it an inferiority complex, or perhaps just a byproduct of his height. It's clearly something he struggles with.

Since he couldn't possibly pull off what his army is doing in Ukraine on his own, feel free to philosophize all you want about how his physique doesn't affect his decisions. Honestly, I’m curious—how would he fare in a one-on-one fight with a Ukrainian or a Russian man of average height? Someone who talks big about rats and cornered animals? Brrr, I'm shaking; I'm terrified. I just wonder how cold his eyes would look if, standing at 6'2", I grabbed him by the head at shoulder level. Would he still act so arrogant and powerful while issuing threats to Finland, Sweden, and everyone else from some basement under the Kremlin?

The moment his subordinates sit or stand ten yards away from him, you know exactly what time it is. It is incredible that people here still fail to grasp the reality of the situation based on examples like this. It isn't just that they fear him; he fears them too. That tells you everything you need to know about the actual dynamic at play.

Laura Scott7 said:Look, it’s pretty simple if you actually bother to look at the big picture: Russia is just looking out for its own backyard, especially after being backed into a corner by NATO constantly pushing its borders right up against Ukraine. Putin laid out the terms clearly—he wanted a guarantee that Ukraine wouldn't be joining NATO, plain and simple. But instead of taking that seriously, these folks got way too cocky, acting like Russia was some minor player in the Middle East that they could just push around. Now, they’re trying to flip the script and spin this whole thing to make it look like Russia just attacked Ukraine out of nowhere without any provocation. Give me a break... what a joke. And don't even get me started on those EU sanctions; as if they’ll actually do anything when half the stuff they produce is already being bought up by India and China anyway. But hey, the absolute best part of this circus? The USA won't even stop importing oil because heaven forbid they actually try to do something to keep energy prices from skyrocketing, right? Total joke.

If Russia were actually under direct attack, as you claim, I suppose I’d be siding with Putin and the Russians. The issue here is that this idiot talks about Russian security while completely erasing Ukraine—treating their history as something to be claimed or outright erased if they don't fall in line. It shouldn't be a surprise that only people just like him can support such a sick individual, regardless of nationality. Besides, if Russia is so "threatened," why treat Ukraine like a Russian child that can't survive without its father in Moscow? Please. If you're cheering for him, you're just being ridiculous.

Rachel Richardson said:That is precisely the point.
Kyiv has 2 million residents; El Paso had about 40,000 back in '91.

Putin cannot conquer Ukraine with only 150,000 troops.
This is merely the opening act.

However—he clearly thought that amount would be sufficient.
Which is frankly laughable.

Kyiv could fall—but only through internal betrayal by those currently leading the Ukrainians. Otherwise, they only fall if the Russians decide to go on a bloody rampage, and from what I see, even the Russians are wary of a Stalingrad scenario. They know exactly how that looks firsthand, just as the Ukrainians do; hence, they've essentially left the path to Kyiv open, waiting in the city for street fighting. So far, the Russians haven't pushed hard into the city—clearly, they are acutely aware of what awaits them in this "adventure."

After seeing a country devastated, I’d be terrified too if someone sent me to a foreign capital, ready to be taken out within the first block of entry.

There will be more to come—this is far from a Ukrainian defeat, or a victory for Russia—or rather, for that little man.

It is very far from either. Regarding the general situation: if the Ukrainian leadership isn't acting with sincerity, then they are in deep trouble. Unfortunately, only time will tell who is playing what role in this game, and time costs lives. The only certainty is that this long, exhausting war suits certain interests, and everything points toward that.

And the KGB type—he clearly isn't ready for "total war" yet; he’s afraid of history, specifically the specter of Adolf Hitler. It seems he has that scenario burned into his mind—if he didn't, he would have leveled everything in his path by now.

Fortunately for the Ukrainians, the Russians realized the gravity of the situation in time. They aren't rushing blindly into the fire or pushing to extremes, because extreme measures could mobilize every Ukrainian living in the country. If that happens, God help them—even 1,000,000 soldiers under Putin wouldn't be enough; it would just be buttons being pressed, which he won't even touch unless the Americans intervene directly. And everyone knows they won't, as they got what they wanted: a war in Europe, right on Russia's doorstep.

All in all, every side played this dirty. I’m not rooting for anyone in this match, except for the obvious victim: Ukraine and its people. No matter how you look at it, they lose. If they win, they pay dearly in lives and ruined land; if they lose, it’s even worse. Even if they reach an agreement and the Russians take "only" half the country, they still lose massive territory. Even without a formal defeat, they are left without a functional homeland.

Ultimately, it’s a dire situation for them, which is why I can't help but feel solidarity. It's simply because Putin, Biden, and the European Union are playing a game that exclusively harms the locals while benefiting everyone else—except the Russians. In this war, the Russians have lost more than they've gained, and even if they "win," they lose. So, let the fans of that little man think for a moment about what follows for Russia. Half their country is already impoverished; aside from the major urban centers, they are a poor nation, much like us, just with better-developed hubs. Anyone thinking there won't be consequences for them is deeply mistaken. They aren't the Germans, the Japanese, the Chinese, or the Americans—they don't have the economic powerhouse required to quickly recover from the cost of war and sanctions.

So, who is the winner? China, the USA, and parts of the European Union. The Ukrainians are the absolute losers. So, go ahead and root for the others—just not for the Ukrainians.

restlessmason54 said:You seem to be forgetting that when all is said and done, the Americans are the only ones walking away with a profit here.

And you're forgetting that they only profit because that little Kremlin dwarf decided to invade Ukraine.

If he hadn't, would the West even be profiting?

Of course not—Slavic blood wouldn't be spilling, especially not on Uncle Sam's tab.

You people insist on denying that Putin’s moves actually serve Western interests. For all we know, he’s doing this consciously—perhaps the whole thing is just a performance. Who knows who he really answers to? In politics, it’s hardly a novelty to pretend to represent one side while working for a second or third.

It’s no different with Zelenskyy or the others in the West; we've seen this play out before. No one should be above asking: for whose benefit is all of this actually happening?

But one fact is laid bare: the Russian Army is in Ukraine because Uncle Sam is threatening them by pushing for Ukraine to join NATO and the EU. In that scenario, Putin can't let Ukraine become a permanent leverage point against him.

Which means he'd rather drag the Russians down to the bottom than be remembered as a mere little dwarf. As it stands, he'll be remembered as the villainous runt who writes the darkest chapters of modern history—not just for Russia, but for all of Europe.

And maybe he's doing it all for a bonus—perhaps he's even working for the opposition, the very people he claims to fight: the West, NATO, America. It seems no one has considered that possibility, as wild as it sounds when you actually analyze the situation. Add to that the fact that Germany has been fueling the Russian war machine for ten years—something they couldn't do without American support—and the pieces are slowly starting to fall into place. Even Trump didn't manage to stop it during his presidency, which suggests he wasn't fully part of the game like Biden was, and that's why he got kicked out of the Oval Office.

Now they have whoever they want, and perhaps they have whoever they want in the Kremlin too. But some people just can't wrap their heads around how propaganda works, or how, in politics, the invisible hand usually pulls in the exact opposite direction of what is being shown to the public.