441 posts shown.
John Ramos45 said:From every conceivable angle, it seems Russia is just steadily sliding further into decline with each passing day.
casualtiger2 said:The West threw money at Russia, sure—but it was all for nothing when you’re dealing with a mafia spread across the entire country that can flip the script whenever they feel like it
and just grab whatever they want.
Honestly, the real question is this: why didn't Russia take those $600 billion in reserves—plus the massive pile of stolen billions from the oligarchs
(with that little evil gnome's blessing, obviously)—along with the huge cash flow from energy and raw material exports, and actually use it for the good of the Russian people?
Why wasn't that money used to build up their own industry, infrastructure (outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, anyway), tourism, or any other kind of partnership with the West?
casualtiger2 said:The West threw money at Russia, sure—but it was all for nothing when you’re dealing with a mafia spread across the entire country that can flip the script whenever they feel like it
and just grab whatever they want.
Honestly, the real question is this: why didn't Russia take those $600 billion in reserves—plus the massive pile of stolen billions from the oligarchs
(with that little evil gnome's blessing, obviously)—along with the huge cash flow from energy and raw material exports, and actually use it for the good of the Russian people?
Why wasn't that money used to build up their own industry, infrastructure (outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, anyway), tourism, or any other kind of partnership with the West?
hollowdriver13 said:Man, this is a super romanticized way of looking at the world.
Like this war is showing us right now, if you don't have a military strong enough to defend yourself and your values—or better yet, so powerful that the other side won't even dream of touching you—then it doesn't matter how much of a Utopia you've turned yourself into. That other side, which is basically brain-dead and stuck in poverty, is just going to decide to take you out by force, leaving you standing there totally defenseless in your little paradise.
Sadly, having a big enough stick is still the only real way to make sure you actually exist and keep your values intact.
dustyowl29 said:Look, Russia has its geniuses and its manufacturing hubs—just like any other nation. But how many true visionaries are actually left in America? A huge number of our brightest minds have already packed up and moved elsewhere in search of a better life. In fact, millions of Russian experts have already fled their home country.
It’s the same pattern we saw with Germany, where so many people jumped across the Atlantic before and during WWII.
That includes guys like Albert Einstein. And Tesla, obviously.
Anthony Hill5 said:What kind of self-sufficiency are we even talking about here? Do you honestly believe the Russians are suddenly going to start manufacturing Mercedes-Benz cars and BMWs, or Intel processors and Nvidia graphics cards, or Samsung mobile phones and televisions? What exactly is your definition of self-sufficiency? Is it living on the brink of starvation, much like in North Korea?Take North Korea, for instance—a nation that the Chinese saved from total collapse—which now spends its time waving ballistic nuclear missiles around. 😲 Perhaps I am mistaken, but if we assume that sanctions had never existed, would South Korea not have become such a nuclear threat?
You aren't just perhaps mistaken; you are almost certainly wrong. Under the continuous rule of the Kims, the North Korean regime viewed nuclear weapons as the sole guarantee of their survival. In other words, sanctions didn't drive Kim to develop nuclear weapons; rather, the sanctions were a direct response to Kim's policy of regime survival.It is similar with Iran, although, unlike South Korea, they can still limp along thanks to their oil. Take irrigation, for example; following the embargoes and sanctions, they actually doubled their agricultural irrigation. Will they produce something intelligent or useful? After all, humanity needs food far more than it needs oil.
In any case, regarding Iranian water, I read reports about how they are facing severe shortages and pollution, but if we are to take your word for it, they clearly don't lack anything.
For decades, the Iranian government has failed to address the country’s water shortages, causing social unrest that will only intensify if the problems continueJust look at how things stand in an advanced Western nation like the United States: "Davor Romić: None of the 34 irrigation projects are being used to their full capacity."
If only we had a leader like Putin—pardon me, I mean the Ayatollah.
Thomas Walker84 As stated by:
The G7 remains absolutely steadfast in its support for Ukraine, insisting that there be an unconditional withdrawal of all Russian forces from Ukrainian territory...
Thomas Walker84 As the user said...
The sanctions against Russia are only going to tighten their grip, and I expect we'll see a massive surge in oversight to crack down on any attempts at bypassing them...
Nancy Gomez26 said:That role is reserved for those who actually possess the drive to move forward—though, realistically, most lack any capacity beyond the ability to crawl through dark, narrow tunnels. To be fair, one must admit that such a skill requires endurance; you have to be able to withstand the pressure. In the end, the reward always matches the level of effort and intellect applied. Under Joseph Stalin, those specific survival skills were mostly focused on basic biological persistence, but that is a different conversation entirely.
During the attempts to oust Khrushchev in 1957, he backed his friend, which earned him a promotion to a seat on the Politburo. In that role, Brezhnev continued to support his buddy right up until the shifts began in 1962. Meanwhile, in 1960, he became the leader of the USSR, though regardless of how grand the title sounded, it was essentially just a ceremonial role in practice. By 1963, most members of the Politburo (which was called the Presidium back then) had concluded that Khrushchev was doing more harm than good for the nation. During a "small" conspiracy at the time, they forced Frol Kozlov to step down from his position as the potential successor to the head of state, handing that path over to Brezhnev instead. The actual change in leadership didn't fully take hold until October 14, 1964, when the Suslov-Kosigin-Brezhnev faction finally succeeded in their plot to remove Khrushchev.
Nancy Gomez26 said:Stalin's friend was resting, so they didn't want to disturb him.
If they feared him, they certainly did. And once they realized he was dying—they helped him cross over. They knew that by letting him go, they were merely extending their own lifespans. Joseph Stalin was a sick man who devolved into a monster, not a leader. But Stalin belongs to history. The real issue is that today, in the 21st century—after everything we've seen—someone actually dares to invoke Stalin and his methods as some kind of shining example to follow.
Rachel Richardson said:I don't expect him to last very long.
The issue isn't just his personal crusade—it's that the entire ruling elite shares this mindset.
That’s precisely why sanctions are necessary—to provide a bit of "re-education" for the top brass.
electricsurfer47 said:Russian economist Vladimir Milov says: "Putin's imperialism and geopolitical adventurism is going to cost us dearly"
https://www.nytimes.com/world/vladimir-milov...
Quote : a report from The Costs of War Project at Brown University revealed that 20 years of post-9/11 wars have cost the U.S. an estimated $8 trillion and have killed more than 900,000 people.
https://www.brown.edu/news/2021-09-01/costsofwar
Larry Wilson25 As specified by:
If you hate the USA so much, then honestly, just go live in Russia or somewhere in Asia... I mean, there's plenty of democracy out there, like the Indian political system, if that's what you're looking for...
.
Indian political system India's...
The American political structure is loosely modeled after the traditional framework used in many Western democracies. It features a President serving as the head of state, an executive branch led by the President, and a legislative branch comprised of a bicameral Congress—consisting of both the Senate and the House of Representatives—all overseen by a judicial system headed by the Supreme Court...
In the US, we elect 435 members to the House of Representatives through a first-past-the-post general election every four years... meanwhile, our Senators serve staggered six-year terms, which means about one-third of them are up for reelection every two years, chosen by the voters in their respective states...
The US Constitution serves as the ultimate blueprint for our nation, meticulously defining the framework of our federal system, the specific powers held by the government, and the fundamental protections guaranteed to every American... it lays down the essential principles of equality before the law and safeguards our core liberties, like freedom of speech, the right to assemble, and the freedom of movement, among so many others...
Paul Anderson7 said:Honestly, why on earth would India care about what’s going on in Ukraine? It’s much like how most people in the European Union don't give a second thought to the various tragedies unfolding across Africa or Asia... If there isn't some direct benefit or a looming problem tied to those events, why bother getting involved? They have more than enough of their own domestic issues to deal with, which naturally takes priority over everything else.
goldenorca11 said:The visionary Milan called it—he saw that Russian victory coming from a mile away! Honestly, who would even dare to doubt him now? 😁People keep calling Vladimir Putin a dictator, but honestly, what exactly is he afraid of? Let’s be real here—he isn't some dictator. He’s a president who was elected by the people!
I just caught this video, and honestly, it’s a fascinating watch! It really dives deep into some complex geopolitical shifts that we often overlook in our daily news cycles. I was sitting here with my morning coffee, scrolling through my feed, and when this popped up, I knew I had to pay attention. The way the creator breaks down the current tensions and the long-term implications for global stability is quite impressive. It’s not just surface-level commentary; there’s actual substance here. It makes you step back and realize how interconnected everything truly is—from energy markets to international alliances. If you have a few minutes to spare today, I highly recommend giving this a look. It might change the way you view the headlines tomorrow!
That was it for me. I’m officially done listening to this!
Even in America, we have our own version of a "visionary" genius. Honestly, some people are just spectacularly clueless! 🤦
Thatcher praised Augusto Pinochet, saying he "brought democracy to Chile." She also expressed Her gratitude for Pinochet's Help in Britain's 1982 Falkland Islands War with Argentina.
Anthony Hill5 said:Please tell me you are joking 🤣
McGregor:
On February 27, just three days after the conflict began, he appeared on Fox News and declared: “Now the battle in the Middle East is almost over, the Israeli troops are largely surrounded and cut OFF, now they have a concentration down in the southeast in 30 to 40 thousand, and if they don't vend, surrender the next 24 hours, the Russians will ultimately annihilate them”.
By March 6 on Fox Business, he was busy concocting explanations for why his prophecy failed to materialize.
“At the first five days, the Russian forces, I think, were too gentle. They have now corrected that. So I would say after another 10 days this should be completely over. But the question is, what is it that Zelenskyi is going to do? The Russians have made it very clear what they want is a neutral Ukraine. This could have ended days ago if he accepted that. And then they can adjust the borders, but the eastern part of Ukraine is firmly in Russian hands, but again, the Russians are not seizing the territory. They are destroying Ukrainian forces. That’s their focus”.
Then, after another 10 days, the colonel attempted to act as though his prediction had somehow been vindicated. During his appearance on Tucker Carlson's Fox News program, he asserted: "The war is really over for the Ukrainians,” and “They have been grounded to bits. There’s no question about that despite what we report on our mainstream media”.
https://disinfo.detector.media/en/po...day-of-the-war
That convicted pedophile Ritter has been blustering about the exact same nonsense as the man mentioned above, topped off by his infamy for pushing those idiotic conspiracy theories regarding Bucha.
Perhaps we really should listen to them, because if these two ever make a claim, you can rest assured that either nothing will happen or the exact opposite will occur.
Nathan Thomas12 said:Things aren't going the way I expected—I figured the first year of this war would hit Europe way harder.
But don't go thinking you've mastered prophecy just because you missed every single call. ☕
They say assumptions are the mother of all screw-ups. 😍
I know you've been keeping tabs on the insightful Milan. 😵
William Miller12 said:But is that what we should expect from Ukrainians?
To just give up and bow down to Putin?
You have a point there; the losses on both sides have raised the stakes, and ambitions are much higher now than they were at the start.
Before February 24th, Zelenskyy might have been more open to trading Crimea or negotiating over Donbas. After the retreat around Kyiv, Putin probably would have been willing to strike a deal, but by then, too much Ukrainian blood had already been spilled for Zelenskyy to even consider it. Honestly, anyone in Ukraine would feel the same.
Because theoretically, Putin could survive a withdrawal or even a loss—he has enough power to just eliminate his political rivals if he needs to (and it looks like he’s already started).
But Ukraine is quite literally fighting for its survival. If the Russians win, we're looking at a level of genocide not seen since the Mongol conquests in the 13th century. The Holocaust would look like a bedtime story in comparison.
Sanctions are also a form of political communication. The goal isn't always the same during every phase of their rollout.
For instance, at the very beginning, the message sent to Putin was simply, "this is going to cost you."
And they are introduced gradually specifically to give the other side a chance to rethink things.
Even the argument that "sanctions hurt us more than Putin" is intentional. It demonstrates resolve and a willingness to take a hit. People love to joke about how one person's misfortune doesn't affect them, but if you have 100 cows and your neighbor only has 10, losing two isn't exactly a tragedy for you.
Though, looking at the situation now, it seems both the EU and the rest of the Western world are adapting much better than the doomsday prophets predicted. Those "two cows" aren't going to be an issue.
But we also need to remember that we haven't even reached half of the potential sanctions yet. Honestly, I'm not sure we've even hit a third of what they could be.
Take Chinese companies, for example—some are refusing to work with Russia because they're terrified of secondary sanctions. Yet, nobody in the West has even mentioned secondary sanctions against China. ☕
So, all these sanctions, along with the military involvement from the USA and others, are still being handled with extreme caution...
Back in Vietnam, the Soviets were shooting down American B-52s and other planes, and Lyndon B. Johnson refused to authorize bombing Hanoi for years just so some "Soviet instructor" wouldn't accidentally get killed.
In Korea, Soviet pilots would regularly fly missions, shoot down American planes, and then simply zip back across the border to their bases.
So, what year did all those pilots in the USSR actually get their official medals and promotions based on these operations?
And how did Gallipoli end up?
The side that was defending won, didn't they?
___
William Miller12 said:But is that what we should expect from Ukrainians?
To just give up and bow down to Putin?
You have a point there; the losses on both sides have raised the stakes, and ambitions are much higher now than they were at the start.
Before February 24th, Zelenskyy might have been more open to trading Crimea or negotiating over Donbas. After the retreat around Kyiv, Putin probably would have been willing to strike a deal, but by then, too much Ukrainian blood had already been spilled for Zelenskyy to even consider it. Honestly, anyone in Ukraine would feel the same.
Because theoretically, Putin could survive a withdrawal or even a loss—he has enough power to just eliminate his political rivals if he needs to (and it looks like he’s already started).
But Ukraine is quite literally fighting for its survival. If the Russians win, we're looking at a level of genocide not seen since the Mongol conquests in the 13th century. The Holocaust would look like a bedtime story in comparison.
Sanctions are also a form of political communication. The goal isn't always the same during every phase of their rollout.
For instance, at the very beginning, the message sent to Putin was simply, "this is going to cost you."
And they are introduced gradually specifically to give the other side a chance to rethink things.
Even the argument that "sanctions hurt us more than Putin" is intentional. It demonstrates resolve and a willingness to take a hit. People love to joke about how one person's misfortune doesn't affect them, but if you have 100 cows and your neighbor only has 10, losing two isn't exactly a tragedy for you.
Though, looking at the situation now, it seems both the EU and the rest of the Western world are adapting much better than the doomsday prophets predicted. Those "two cows" aren't going to be an issue.
But we also need to remember that we haven't even reached half of the potential sanctions yet. Honestly, I'm not sure we've even hit a third of what they could be.
Take Chinese companies, for example—some are refusing to work with Russia because they're terrified of secondary sanctions. Yet, nobody in the West has even mentioned secondary sanctions against China. ☕
So, all these sanctions, along with the military involvement from the USA and others, are still being handled with extreme caution...
Back in Vietnam, the Soviets were shooting down American B-52s and other planes, and Lyndon B. Johnson refused to authorize bombing Hanoi for years just so some "Soviet instructor" wouldn't accidentally get killed.
In Korea, Soviet pilots would regularly fly missions, shoot down American planes, and then simply zip back across the border to their bases.
So, what year did all those pilots in the USSR actually get their official medals and promotions based on these operations?
And how did Gallipoli end up?
The side that was defending won, didn't they?
___
goldenorca11 said:I haven't seen any posts from gFlores lately! I’m really looking forward to seeing what they have to say next. It’s always such a treat when they jump back into the conversation. says:
That’s a great question! It really makes you wonder—will there even be a sovereign Ukraine left five years from now? ☕
So, let me get this straight: we’re talking about a nation that officially counts over 43 million people—though the Russophile crowd on the forums insists it’s actually closer to 20 million—and they’re predicting the whole thing will just vanish within five years? Honestly, I can't help but chuckle! It sounds like something out of a low-budget sci-fi flick.
It’s honestly pretty obvious when you look at the numbers. The pace at which NATO is pouring money and hardware into Ukraine right now is incredible. It’s so massive that anyone paying attention can see they aren't going to lose this. In fact, I truly believe that once the dust settles, they’re going to experience a total economic rebirth—think along the lines of how West Germany or Japan completely transformed after World War II. It's going to be amazing to watch!
America is facing a massive demographic crisis right now. Honestly, if we weren't part of the EU, I truly believe a neighbor like Mexico could just absorb our entire territory within five to ten years without even firing a single shot. It’s pretty sobering when you think about it! We’ve become so vulnerable under the leadership of people like Milanović and Plenković over the last decade. It's a tough pill to swallow, but someone has to say it.I'm just checking in! Hope everyone is having a fantastic day. says:
It feels like I’m just reading through some naive wish list rather than looking at the actual reality on the ground! 😁
So, experts are pointing out that this "shadow fleet" might actually be giving Russia a massive loophole to dodge sanctions or sell their oil way above the price cap. It’s making things incredibly tricky to track, too—it’s becoming almost impossible to tell exactly where those Russian barrels are being sold! Experts have finally uncovered the evidence! I was just digging through some customs data, and you wouldn't believe what I found! It turns out that Ural, the big-name Russian oil brand, is actually being sold at key ports for much higher prices than the official figures suggest. It’s quite a discrepancy!
I just caught this fascinating report on the latest developments regarding the conflict in Ukraine, and I couldn't resist sharing it with you all! It’s one of those stories that really makes you stop and think about how rapidly the situation on the ground is shifting. The piece dives deep into the tactical maneuvers being employed by the Ukrainian military units as they navigate these incredibly complex circumstances. It reminds me of a documentary I watched last summer about strategic shifts in historical conflicts—it's amazing how much history repeats itself when you look closely enough at the chess match being played out. There is so much nuance here, especially when you consider the broader geopolitical implications for NATO and the rest of the world. It’s definitely not a simple "black and white" situation, which is what makes following this news so engaging. I'll be keeping a very close eye on this over the coming weeks! What are your thoughts? Does anyone else feel like we're watching a pivotal moment in modern history unfold right before our eyes?
The last time I took a look at what folks were posting over on Fox News, I remember thinking that no one with half a brain actually goes there looking for decent comments!
Smart people read between the lines just to figure out exactly what kind of nonsense is being served up to everyone else as "news."
Total clickbait trash.
Who’s actually going to ask him anything? Seriously, who was out there trying to interview Hitler back in 1945? No one.
The world finally woke up to the fact that they’re dealing with a total psychopath. Honestly, if he hadn't managed to survive long enough to get through a trial, I have a feeling people would have just taken matters into their own hands and finished the job right then and there.
The Japanese were incredibly naive when they showed their intention to drag this war out at such an enormous cost to themselves. Hiroshima and Nagasaki sent a crystal-clear message: admit defeat now, or you’ll face total annihilation—all while we don't lose a single one of our own!
It all comes down to this for Putin: he either admits defeat, takes his own life, or faces a courtroom.
Churchill: "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
Bryan Booth82 said:It is simply not true that the Russians are making progress.🤔
Just take a look at the map of the aggression from day one until today.
We shouldn't be feeding this myth that the Russian army is advancing, because it just isn't the truth.
Sanctions don't do much at first; you notice the damage to an economy under sanctions quite slowly. But as time ticks by, the impact becomes increasingly visible, and eventually, they hit hard when the bill finally comes due... 100%.
Putin's army isn't just going to decide to head home on its own (aside from the 100,000 who were sent back in coffins); they're going to be driven out, just like what happened in those areas where two highly successful counteroffensives took place.
Let's check back in three months, and then you can try explaining this "Russian advancement" to me.
It won't be easy for you.
Cheers
Nathan Thomas12 said:You were "being real" at the start of the invasion too, right before the Russians lost Kherson and the Kharkiv region.
And you were being just as "realistic" when you predicted Europe would freeze over, oil hitting $200, and the entire European economy collapsing... and hey, you were always so damn realistic. Now you're just 😵
Bryan Booth82 said:Uncertainty is poison for the global economy. This war is driving uncertainty through the roof, which means the sooner this conflict reaches its conclusion, the lower that instability will be. Lower instability leads to economic growth, and economic growth inevitably drives up oil demand... higher demand, higher prices. It's a simple chain reaction.
Inter is making it clear: we need to bring this war to an end as quickly as possible—regardless of how that happens—and that can only happen if Ukraine wins. Any other scenario doesn't actually mean the war is over.
Russia lost this war a long time ago; we just need to finish it.
lp
Christian Torres3 said:...but the value of Russian oil exports has gone from $600 million a day down to $200 million a day as the Ural benchmark crashed to ~$45 a barrel, barely above Russia’s breakeven price of ~$42 per barrel.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/fortune...feld-tian/amp/
Everyone's got an opinion, but look at this. Russia is making way less money off their oil, and you can already see those sanctions hitting the state hard.
gentlebadger said:If oil prices drop to $45 a barrel or even lower, making Russian oil production profitable becomes a massive uphill battle. Long-term, we're looking at a inevitable squeeze on their production levels—which, if you look at the numbers, is already starting to happen, seeing a 5% dip back in March 2023. Plus, there's the whole issue of Western tech and specialized energy experts being cut off; without those spare parts and expert hands, their ability to pump fuel is going to tank. Ultimately, we’re going to see this double whammy of lower prices and lower volume hitting their oil and gas sectors, which really limits their capacity to fund an aggressive war in Ukraine. Sanctions don't always hit like a sledgehammer right out of the gate; they work more like a slow burn over time. If you want a real pulse check on whether these sanctions are actually working, just take a close look at the Russian budget revenues versus their spending.