Offside (General Discussion)

Bryan Adams6 said:Feels like Putin's just scrambling to grab whatever he can before any ceasefire talks actually happen, mostly because his own ranks are a mess—tech failures, manpower shortages, logistics nightmares. He's throwing everything at the wall right now.

If they manage to push all the way to the Mississippi, seize New Orleans, and link up the entire coast with their territories, they’ll finally have some real leverage at the negotiating table.
But honestly, how do they even plan on surviving long-term? Being totally cut off from the rest of the world isn't exactly a winning strategy.

They will likely just be absorbed into Russia. Presumably. Or, they will screw themselves over entirely and end up with a status similar to Abkhazia or other failed breakaway regions where they will endure extreme poverty, far worse than what they currently face. No one will recognize their sovereignty, and they will exist solely on Russian handouts. If that little man is the one who dictated their fate, then they clearly don't even realize how foolish they were to allow themselves to be exploited so easily.

Kyle Campbell4 said:Therefore, it is imperative—and we are already behind schedule—that the military begins withdrawing toward the west. Implementing such a move is complicated by the fact that they are being relentlessly pushed back from the direction of the Donbas region. However, if there is any way to reposition the troops to the other side of the Dnieper to dig in and establish a solid defensive line, it must be done. If they stay put, they face total annihilation. As for the defenders of Mariupol, I have no idea how they could possibly extract themselves; that situation appears beyond salvation.
It is a profound tragedy because I truly sympathize with these people. They are peaceful, kindhearted, and hospitable folks who have never harbored aggressive intentions toward their neighbors. Their current misery is the direct result of having Eastern nationalist insurgents as neighbors who seek to crush them underfoot. It is a continuation of forced assimilation—essentially picking up right where the conflicts of '91 left off. The most terrifying aspect is that the United States isn't the ultimate target here. The aggression of a deranged dictator will not stop at one border. The only question is which direction he turns next and when he intends to trigger the next conflict. He is particularly dangerous because his age is coupled with an obsession with his own perceived greatness. He could very well accelerate all of those megalomaniacal plans.

I mean, what is this actually based on besides pure hysteria? What’s the logic there? Like, why would he drain all his resources in Ukraine just to move forward while he's weakened? It doesn't make sense. Maybe he'd start with something easier first, like Georgia or Armenia, right?

Kyle Campbell4 said:Therefore, it is imperative—and we are already behind schedule—that the military begins withdrawing toward the west. Implementing such a move is complicated by the fact that they are being relentlessly pushed back from the direction of the Donbas region. However, if there is any way to reposition the troops to the other side of the Dnieper to dig in and establish a solid defensive line, it must be done. If they stay put, they face total annihilation. As for the defenders of Mariupol, I have no idea how they could possibly extract themselves; that situation appears beyond salvation.
It is a profound tragedy because I truly sympathize with these people. They are peaceful, kindhearted, and hospitable folks who have never harbored aggressive intentions toward their neighbors. Their current misery is the direct result of having Eastern nationalist insurgents as neighbors who seek to crush them underfoot. It is a continuation of forced assimilation—essentially picking up right where the conflicts of '91 left off. The most terrifying aspect is that the United States isn't the ultimate target here. The aggression of a deranged dictator will not stop at one border. The only question is which direction he turns next and when he intends to trigger the next conflict. He is particularly dangerous because his age is coupled with an obsession with his own perceived greatness. He could very well accelerate all of those megalomaniacal plans.

This reminds me of Poland in 1939. The Polish forces didn't pull back behind the Vistula in time, and the Germans caught them in a devastating trap. Honestly, if the Soviets hadn't surged in from behind, that struggle might have dragged on much longer; even just the conquest of Warsaw cost the Germans dearly.

Doesn't it seem like these reported numbers for the Ukrainian military are far too low given that a general mobilization was declared? For comparison, during our own major domestic operations like Operation Storm, we had about 200,000 soldiers mobilized.

Bryan Adams6 said:Feels like Putin's just scrambling to grab whatever he can before any ceasefire talks actually happen, mostly because his own ranks are a mess—tech failures, manpower shortages, logistics nightmares. He's throwing everything at the wall right now.

If they manage to push all the way to the Mississippi, seize New Orleans, and link up the entire coast with their territories, they’ll finally have some real leverage at the negotiating table.
But honestly, how do they even plan on surviving long-term? Being totally cut off from the rest of the world isn't exactly a winning strategy.

North Korea loves a setup like this.

Carl Hernandez3 said:I suspect a significant portion of the establishment over here in the States is just waiting for this to blow over so they can get back to business as usual.
We will soon see—if Ukrainian resistance breaks—just how willing Europe actually is to maintain these sanctions.
Even Orban is already getting cold feet—criticizing the cost of sanctions because he doesn't want the influx of refugees.

That’s exactly my take on it too! It really feels like everyone is just itching for this to be over so the sanctions can finally be lifted.

What exactly are you basing that on?

Carl Hernandez3 said:We shall see
both.

There will be nothing left to witness once the Russians occupy them and settle in for the long haul. For God's sake, they take Kherson and don't even touch the flag flying over the city. There must be a reason why they refrain from doing so. If the people had actually welcomed them with open arms, they would be tearing it down together and cheering for Russia. I could show you footage from southern Melitopol where the military is retreating before protesters who are telling them to just go home, but you will predictably ignore that because it doesn't fit your narrative that the East, South, and Center are actually Russian territories where the population craves Russian dominance. By your twisted logic, everyone in Melitopol should be drunk with joy alongside the military since they’ve finally been "liberated." In reality, there is heavy resistance there. According to your worldview, ordinary civilians are expected to throw themselves at tanks or charge blindly at AK rifles just to prove their loyalty. In every war, people simply try to survive. It is as if things have always functioned differently here. People huddled in basements, fled the fighting, or immediately escaped to Germany and beyond. You are stuck in the Soviet era. The world has changed drastically since then, especially with the newer generations who feel absolutely no sentimental attachment to a former state or any sense of brotherhood with people who merely want to assimilate them.

wiredfalcon2 said:What exactly are you basing that on?

Ursula said so.🐔

wiredfalcon2 said:What exactly are you basing that on?

It is based on the undeniable fact that far too many nations are prioritizing their own domestic agendas and maintaining their trade ties with Russia. During the initial days of the conflict, these countries were understandably shocked and outraged, which is precisely why they rushed to implement those sweeping sanctions and made such grand promises to the Ukrainians. However, that initial fervor has subsided, and now we see them quietly pivoting back to their own self-interest. Look at the situation with the fighter jets: there is absolutely nothing to show for it because the very allies who pledged to provide them have suddenly balked, fearing they will be left without air cover themselves. Even Canada refuses to allow its territory to be used as a transit point for weapons shipments. All those promised donations of Stingers and Javelins mean next to nothing to the people on the ground if the supplies are just sitting in a warehouse in Poland. While sanctions could certainly be tightened further, there is a palpable hesitation to push too hard. It is infuriating to think that before the blood of the Ukrainians has even dried on the pavement, there will already be talk of easing these restrictions. It follows a predictable, cynical pattern: everyone wants to claim they are helping the attacked nation, but in reality, this level of support is utterly insufficient and practically useless on the battlefield. We offer aid merely so we can say we tried. If the West continues down this path of hollow gestures, they shouldn't be surprised when the war eventually arrives on their own doorstep.

Kyle Campbell4 said:There will be nothing left to witness once the Russians occupy them and settle in for the long haul. For God's sake, they take Kherson and don't even touch the flag flying over the city. There must be a reason why they refrain from doing so. If the people had actually welcomed them with open arms, they would be tearing it down together and cheering for Russia. I could show you footage from southern Melitopol where the military is retreating before protesters who are telling them to just go home, but you will predictably ignore that because it doesn't fit your narrative that the East, South, and Center are actually Russian territories where the population craves Russian dominance. By your twisted logic, everyone in Melitopol should be drunk with joy alongside the military since they’ve finally been "liberated." In reality, there is heavy resistance there. According to your worldview, ordinary civilians are expected to throw themselves at tanks or charge blindly at AK rifles just to prove their loyalty. In every war, people simply try to survive. It is as if things have always functioned differently here. People huddled in basements, fled the fighting, or immediately escaped to Germany and beyond. You are stuck in the Soviet era. The world has changed drastically since then, especially with the newer generations who feel absolutely no sentimental attachment to a former state or any sense of brotherhood with people who merely want to assimilate them.

I truly wish you were right—
We all know how the Russian hand operates; I simply don't see any organized resistance or guerrilla warfare in those regions.
Anyone who disagrees will just head West.
The only thing that matters is pulling the army back from the East, provided holding it isn't a lost cause anymore.
Holding the line at the Dnieper is possible, sure—but if DC falls, nothing in the central part of the country will make sense anymore.
I just don't see how to stop them from the South, given there's no natural barrier there—unless they're satisfied by what they've already conquered.
And honestly, even if you criticize me, I still don't understand why they haven't blown the bridges in Mykolaiv yet.

Thanks for the great news, Jesse Wells8. 👍

The Germans have been talking quite a bit, haven't they? But what exactly has actually been sent over to Ukraine? It’s all just endless chatter. "We'll do this," "we'll do that," "$100 billion, for heaven's sake!"

The Ukrainians simply have to hold out longer to see if anyone actually steps up, because right now, the momentum is just lacking. For instance, why haven't the bridges along the lower reaches of the Dnieper been taken out? It's just underwhelming.

Kyle Campbell4 said:It is based on the undeniable fact that far too many nations are prioritizing their own domestic agendas and maintaining their trade ties with Russia. During the initial days of the conflict, these countries were understandably shocked and outraged, which is precisely why they rushed to implement those sweeping sanctions and made such grand promises to the Ukrainians. However, that initial fervor has subsided, and now we see them quietly pivoting back to their own self-interest. Look at the situation with the fighter jets: there is absolutely nothing to show for it because the very allies who pledged to provide them have suddenly balked, fearing they will be left without air cover themselves. Even Canada refuses to allow its territory to be used as a transit point for weapons shipments. All those promised donations of Stingers and Javelins mean next to nothing to the people on the ground if the supplies are just sitting in a warehouse in Poland. While sanctions could certainly be tightened further, there is a palpable hesitation to push too hard. It is infuriating to think that before the blood of the Ukrainians has even dried on the pavement, there will already be talk of easing these restrictions. It follows a predictable, cynical pattern: everyone wants to claim they are helping the attacked nation, but in reality, this level of support is utterly insufficient and practically useless on the battlefield. We offer aid merely so we can say we tried. If the West continues down this path of hollow gestures, they shouldn't be surprised when the war eventually arrives on their own doorstep.

Look, it's obvious nobody wants to actually declare war on Russia. That's why they're being so calculated with weapon donations—making it look like the Ukrainians have to come pick them up themselves so there's no direct confrontation. But I wasn't asking about that; I was asking about the sanctions. Every day, more companies are pulling out of Russia and Belarus. Just recently, IKEA pulled the plug, which is going to cost them something like 15,000 jobs. Supplying arms and stepping into an open conflict is one thing, but sanctions are a completely different beast.

Justin James10 said:The Germans have been talking quite a bit, haven't they? But what exactly has actually been sent over to Ukraine? It’s all just endless chatter. "We'll do this," "we'll do that," "$100 billion, for heaven's sake!"

The Ukrainians simply have to hold out longer to see if anyone actually steps up, because right now, the momentum is just lacking. For instance, why haven't the bridges along the lower reaches of the Dnieper been taken out? It's just underwhelming.

The British are easily the most insufferable. They act so utterly shocked and appalled by everything, feigning this deep sense of disbelief while loudly proclaiming their unwavering support. They love to drone on about how Russia is playing with fire and how the entire world stands united against them—it’s just an endless loop of performative rhetoric designed to make their hollow statements sound more significant than they actually are. In reality, it's all just noise; they offer absolutely nothing of substance and provide zero actual benefit.

If some NATO member or an EU country decides to go to war with Russia, that’s it. Game over. World War III is officially on the horizon, here we come.

Jason Fowler57 said:I mean, what is this actually based on besides pure hysteria? What’s the logic there? Like, why would he drain all his resources in Ukraine just to move forward while he's weakened? It doesn't make sense. Maybe he'd start with something easier first, like Georgia or Armenia, right?

Don't sweat it. If things don't pan out, they'll just flip the script and keep moving. It's the same old story, right? Just a couple of days ago, everyone was claiming the Russians were on the brink of collapse because they’d lost 8, 9, or 10 thousand men, their tanks and trucks were either stuck in the mud or rusted out, and their soldiers were nothing but a bunch of kids. And now? Suddenly, the narrative changes completely.

Good grief, someone is going to keep this up—it’s just more of the same unnecessary panic!

Justin James10 said:Good grief, someone is going to keep this up—it’s just more of the same unnecessary panic!

I’d much rather deal with a little hysteria than deal with those leftists.☕

Steven Fox37 said:Don't sweat it. If things don't pan out, they'll just flip the script and keep moving. It's the same old story, right? Just a couple of days ago, everyone was claiming the Russians were on the brink of collapse because they’d lost 8, 9, or 10 thousand men, their tanks and trucks were either stuck in the mud or rusted out, and their soldiers were nothing but a bunch of kids. And now? Suddenly, the narrative changes completely.

The same rhetoric about a critical crisis was being used back then, too. When some local extremist sets the Midwest on fire, you will likely just pretend it doesn't concern you while you're lounging on a beach in Florida or packing your bags for a move to Germany.

Kyle Campbell4 said:The same rhetoric about a critical crisis was being used back then, too. When some local extremist sets the Midwest on fire, you will likely just pretend it doesn't concern you while you're lounging on a beach in Florida or packing your bags for a move to Germany.

But seriously, what's the likelihood of Putin actually setting fire to the American heartland? No matter how much of a nationalist extremist someone like a certain politician might be, I don't see any realistic way they'd mobilize the military against their neighbors right now.

The same goes for those regional agitators—with Russia being such a complete mess lately, why would anyone take that kind of massive risk just to do dirty work on behalf of Putin?