Posts by electricsurfer47

Gerald Torres84 said:Americans aren't saints. You can see it clearly in the recent situation with Kurdistan, where they were essentially abandoned after serving as allies against ISIS and the Syrian government.
One day you fall within their sphere of interest, and the next, you might find yourself completely deserted—unless, of course, you happen to be part of NATO. Everyone understands how this works.

Can you tell me

Why on earth is Turkey fighting them??? Why wouldn't they be allowed to have their own little state within Syria? They aren't even that big, and they don't really pose a threat to Turkey.

If the Americans had actually worked out some kind of diplomatic deal between the Kurds and the Turks, they could probably sit under the Turkish umbrella to defend themselves from Bashar al-Assad.

dustyowl29 said:Let’s be real—without the US and the UK, Ukraine would have folded a long time ago..
The Russians clearly didn't see that coming.
Thanks to those British and American anti-tank launchers—you know, the Javelins and NLAWs—Russia has lost half its armor, and the supplies just keep rolling in.
The rest of the world hasn't really stepped up—maybe a measly 1%? It’s almost exclusively the US and the UK carrying the load. They’ve already sent billions in military gear, plus they're involved indirectly through intel, radar, satellites, and all that good stuff.
And don't forget the training—that costs just as much as the hardware itself.
So, at the end of the day, it's actually happening on the ground in Ukraine, fought by Ukrainian people.

the others

They can help, but they can't risk compromising their own militaries. Some countries don't even have a defense industry, and others have neglected their forces so much that once you send something over, there's nothing left to replace it with.
Not everyone can be like a small nation where you just ship off tanks and jets and somehow find a workaround.

We could give our M84s, but we'd need replacements for them.

Andrew Booth29 said:Fifty-four years ago, the Soviet Union effectively dismantled Czechoslovakia. To this day, the Czech people carry a sense of gratitude for that intervention. In much the same way, I suspect Ukrainians will be remembering Russia’s "brotherly assistance" for a very long time to come.

The real question is whether they actually want to be part of the Soviet Union again... you know, living under the Russian boot.

Dana Robinson4 said:As long as Samsung is still operating there, isn't that really all that matters?...

I mean, how are they even supposed to send their profits back to China if they can't move foreign currency? They can't just use Yuan anywhere else, so eventually, this whole setup is going to hit a wall.

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George Robinson43 said:I have no idea who started this rumor about Russia going bankrupt.
It simply won't happen. They might see a significant drop in wealth, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with living a modest life.
In my experience, people who embrace simplicity tend to complain much less.
The Germans are always grumbling. Have you ever heard anyone complaining in North Korea? They are perfectly content because they live such frugal lives.

As for underestimating the situation….
Ever since 2014, the mantra has been "seven days to the Atlantic," and then suddenly, six months later, everyone is debating some territory like Bakhmut.

Well, people don't complain in North Korea because they aren't allowed to. The government punishes them brutally just to set an example for everyone else.
It's the same thing if the streets aren't spotless—they'll clean them up through brutal punishment.

And anyone even attempting to escape North Korea is just going to get shot.

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I'm not sure if Russia will reach a point soon where they start building a wall like the one in Berlin, maybe even mining certain areas to make escaping impossible. They might even set up patrols specifically to shoot anyone trying to flee.
It really just depends on how crazy Putin is and where he finally draws the line.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...&id=1378095215

Just posted my thoughts on that Quincy article about some "source close to Putin" calling for Western intervention regarding peace talks between the warring sides.

Everything is playing out exactly how I thought it would. This whole narrative was clearly leaked on purpose by order of Putin—he’s looking for any way to kickstart negotiations because things on the battlefield aren't looking great for him right now.

Oleksiy Arestovych, who advises the Office of the President of Ukraine, was actually talking about this tonight during a show with Marko Feygin.

"Putin has sent 'messengers' to the West to beg for a truce with Ukraine." According to him, we're talking about "very serious people straight from Vladimir Vladimirovich himself."

"They have another wave of envoys arriving in the West now. And these are very serious people, coming directly from Vladimir Vladimirovich. They're basically saying, 'Look, let's just find a way to reach an agreement, because what's happening is just unacceptable.' Losing isn't even an option for them. If Putin is removed—that's a disaster. Just look at who might take power next. It's anyone's guess... the extremists could be even worse. So, we need to move back and forth. Let's negotiate on the spot." It seems they're starting to draw their "red lines." Take Zaporizhzhia NPP, for example. Why did the UN Secretary-General hold a talk with Sergei Shoigu today? Shoigu had been dodging this kind of conversation for ages, and then suddenly it happens. They were even discussing other uncomfortable topics over in Jelenovka," said Arestovych. The wording is a bit messy since it's a transcript from a video.

He mentioned that back during the Istanbul talks in March, the Russians were actually willing to pull troops back to the February 23rd borders. Back then, the Russian Federation was the one pushing for talks. Now, they're becoming even more persistent about negotiating.

ironseal said:The Mirror reported

A high-ranking Kremlin official has reportedly been making secret overtures to the West to help wind down the invasion of Ukraine, according to news breaking last night.

Word is that this shadowy member of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle revealed the Kremlin is actually panicking and is desperate to end this bloody war.

These shocking claims surfaced in a report that was allegedly passed along to Western intelligence agencies.

It seems those top brass and officials close to Putin are sweating over the brutal Western sanctions and an economy that's tanking because of the conflict.

Some folks in the Kremlin are also sounding the alarm over the escalating risks, specifically mentioning the fighting near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine. "

Just wanted to add my two cents on that.
Honestly, this could just be some kind of game the Kremlin is playing to get Ukraine to stop fighting so Russia can keep what they've taken.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...&id=1378095215

How realistic is this even? Where on earth is Iran getting their chips? They don't even manufacture them.

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Betty Mitchell said:Russia has plenty of capacity to handle sanctions; this is a long game they've been playing. Their social networks, banking systems, and digitalization are already top-tier. I expect them to start churning out their own computer and mobile tech in a few years. The Russian economy used to be way too monolithic, and that was always a massive weakness.

The real question is what happens to Ukraine. My bet? Nothing. It’ll be a total wreck—demographically, structurally, economically, and morally. They've plummeted below 30 million people, down from 54 million just thirty years ago.

What kind of capacity though? So far they've burned through so much trying to stabilize the ruble and now they're tapped out.
You talk about chip manufacturing... sure, they have technology that's over 20 years old. They can make stuff, but it's just not competitive compared to what's out there right now.
And for newer tech, you need massive investment, and the Russians just don't have the cash for it. Plus, you have to consider they're spending a ton on the war and will eventually need to rebuild everything they've lost, but they won't even have enough chips because of the sanctions.

It’s not even directly about the war itself, just this one woman in Russia standing up against the whole special operation... it feels like the country is just tearing itself apart from the inside.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1089...0038787485593/

Arthur Miller7 said:It’s honestly nauseating—just seeing them traveling around like nothing even happened. Like, they're just out there living their best lives while everything is falling apart. It makes me sick.

I actually think that's a mistake.

It’s just going to fuel more hatred toward the European Union and everything else. It’ll backfire.

Take the way Germany was split into East and West back in the day, for example.

West Germany wasn't out there actively denying anything to the East because the people in power were the ones being supported; instead, the folks in the East realized for themselves that life was just better in the West, so they started heading over there.
They couldn't really influence their own government—that only started happening once the leadership realized they’d lost their grip on the people. But in Russia, any kind of protest is strictly forbidden.

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Michelle Nelson4 said:Income tax down 32%
Domestic VAT down 41%
It seems like Americans aren't feeling the weight of these sanctions at all...
Or, at the very least, they aren't feeling it any more than a German dealing with those fountain maintenance issues during the night shifts...

Germans are bracing for the absolute worst-case scenario.

Meanwhile, Putin acts like everything is just fine, like there isn't even a tomorrow.

Here's some recent news that doesn't look great for Russia:

Source:


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Once the Ukrainians get their territory back, they'll be able to move around again. It’s not the end of the world.

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gentlestag15 said:Honestly, anyone outside of Russia holding onto rubles can basically just set them on fire at this point
or try to find some way to funnel them back into Russia and blow through them just to get rid of that junk.

Buy something in Russia and smuggle it out? What about buying gold???

One move could be hitting those gas pipelines in Russia that they rely on so heavily.

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crimsoncyclist71 said:They aren't getting everything until Ukrainians agree to it.
What does it actually mean for them to seize a city after leveling it first?
Ukraine can use a few missiles to sabotage any attempt to steal oil, gas, or any other resources from that area, and I expect they will if the front lines freeze. As for the idea that sanctions don't affect them—that's a fairy tale for anyone who thinks Russia is a superpower. No country exists today that is entirely self-sufficient, especially not one that relies almost exclusively on exporting raw materials. I honestly don't know if people realize we live in the 21st century; unilateral border changes won't be permitted because that would essentially give a green light for more aggression down the road.
We'll see how Russia manages being backed by the most developed nations in the world.

If the war doesn't actually stop once territory is returned, then Ukraine will be forced to hit back even harder inside Russian borders, and I doubt the Russian public is going to take that sitting down—they'll probably start organizing protests more seriously.

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rowdyraven112 said:People with modern engines buy it just because they fell for the biggest marketing scam in history by big oil companies. You take 10,000 liters of basic gas and maybe toss in 4 liters of additives. They call that "premium" fuel ☕

It’s like saying if you use regular gas, your engine life gets cut by a third and you'll deal with constant breakdowns... basically, instead of driving your car for 20 years, you're looking at maybe 14.☕

Honestly, I'd much rather hear an actual analysis from a pro who understands chemistry and how engines actually run, instead of someone just trying to sound important on the internet.

I usually fill up with the high-end diesel, but sometimes I just grab the regular stuff. I saw on the label that the standard stuff can have over 7% biodiesel in it. I don't really know which one is better... does biodiesel burn less efficiently? Does it make you use more fuel???

I mean, I totally agree that oil companies pull this stuff all the time—they cheat people out of their money by selling products that cost the same but have fewer grams inside. It’s subtle, nothing jumps out at you immediately, but they're definitely playing games to get people to pay more.

After the invasion of Ukraine kicked off, Lev Yashin was one of those rare opposition politicians who actually stayed in Russia, staying free and keeping a really sharp anti-war stance. Well, the Russian Federation authorities didn't let that slide for long. By July, he was hit with criminal charges, and now he’s sitting behind bars.

Check out his message:

"Every single morning in my cell, they turn on Radio Russia. At 6 AM, the anthem plays, and then the brainwashing begins.

The news stories vary a little bit each day. They report that Russian troops carried out another 'precision strike' on locations held by the Armed Forces of Ukraine; claiming over three hundred nationalists were wiped out along with about a hundred pieces of military hardware. Then they say the Ukrainian Nazis retaliated by shelling residential areas in the Donetsk People's Republic using American (emphasis on *American*) weapons; apparently, a missile hit a quarry, miraculously missing people this time.

After that, the show is filled with audio letters sent to the editor: you've got 'Maria from Saratov' or 'Elena Nikolajevna from Kirov' reciting their own poems dedicated to our heroes, who—fighting in Ukraine—are being compared to the 'veterans' of the Great Victory.

And for dessert? 'Songs of the Russian Spring.' Amateur musical groups singing in nasal voices about Mariupol returning to its home port or about the crimes committed at the Maidan.

It just goes in circles. Every single day. Sometimes I feel like some character from a horror movie, just sitting in a chair staring at a screen with eyes wide open. Honestly, I think the UN should officially recognize being forced to listen to these broadcasts as a form of torture.

But seriously, from what I can see, fewer and fewer people are taking this kind of brainwashing at face value. It’s strange—despite all this aggressive war propaganda, I don't encounter any hate speech from this side of the bars. Actually, quite the opposite. One of the guards, while taking off my handcuffs, whispered, 'Lev, hang in there.' The officer at the holding cell even gave me an extra blanket—said, 'to make things a bit softer for you.' Even the bailiff in court thanked me for a clip about Kadyrov. Moments like these just reinforce that sense of moral rightness.

Even now, sitting here in a cell facing the threat of ten years in prison, I know that deciding to stay in Russia was the right call. It was incredibly hard, but it was right. Because it completely dismantles Putin's main argument against the opposition—this idea that we're all just going to flee at the first sign of danger. Now, people can see: we aren't running away. We’re standing our ground and sharing our country's fate. It makes our words carry more weight and our arguments hit harder. But most importantly, it keeps the chance alive for us to win our homeland back.

At the end of the day, victory doesn't go to whoever is strongest right now, but to whoever is willing to go all the way."

Photo: Aleksandra Astakhova

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...00001309628736

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Melissa Rivera5 said:Nobody’s really arguing about whether they actually have gonorrhea, syphilis, or cancer, but rather how hard it is to mentally handle the cognitive dissonance. It’s that gap between thinking, "Hey, we might be the world's top superpower," and the blatant fact that they're struggling just to take TWO Ukrainian regions. I mean, let's say they managed to grab three—even then, it gets harder and harder to keep up the act while the economy falls apart and their goals shift every single month... Let's be real, anyone with even a shred of sense, even if they're totally pro-Russia, can see they're bleeding out in this war. Personally, I wouldn't even try to blame NATO, since not a single NATO soldier has stepped foot in there (which honestly makes the whole thing way worse). And that excuse about Ukrainian soldiers being some kind of GMO super-soldiers making things difficult? That’s literally kindergarten stuff. It sounds like I'm reading some conspiracy PDF from a random fringe message board... Like, what kind of grown adults, supposedly serious people, are actually spewing this nonsense?

The worst ones for me are the types where (I actually know people who see things differently)

Take this one guy I used to consider a friend. He claims Ukrainians are Huns, fake Jews, and then somehow ties all that back to our own politicians being corrupt.

The guy I used to hang out with says he isn't justifying the war or Putin and all that, but once he starts talking like this
"I'm sure he had a good reason"—does that not sound like a justification to you??? To me, it definitely does.

Then there's his speech later

That the EU and NATO are the greatest evils in existence. And right then, I get the real reason why he justifies the Russians and Putin: it's because he hates the EU and NATO. He's spent so long listening to sweet talk about how Putin forced CEOs at certain companies to pay their workers—even if that were true, it doesn't justify this war.
It really hit me when I saw a video clip where Lukashenko talks just like Putin, basically bullying others while acting like some sort of great benefactor.
So, we have people like that here, but it's most prevalent among Mexicans. Because of what happened in 1999, they just can't accept the fact that Putin is a dictator who launched an invasion against another sovereign nation. And because they hate the EU and NATO, they'll justify Putin and the Russian war in their heads. Everything is "truth" as long as Putin sounds better. If he doesn't, then it's just propaganda.

That's exactly how it is with this friend of mine who stubbornly refuses to face the facts.