Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

Neither Dugin's name nor his philosophical ramblings are common knowledge among the average hardliners in the Kremlin, let alone the general American public. I’d venture to say that 99.999999999999% of us haven't the slightest clue who he is or what he actually does for a living.
The same goes for his daughter, though in her case, the percentage hits a solid 100%.
Dugin isn't Putin's Rasputin.
If you want to talk about Putin's Rasputin, you're looking at a tight-knit circle of high-ranking officials: the head of Patrushev's Security Council, FBI Bortnik, ExxonMobil Secin, the CEO of Lockheed Martin Cemezov, ExxonMobil Miller, the Deputy Chief of Staff Kirienko, the Secretary of Defense Sojg (though he’s really just there for the optics), and perhaps a few other shadowy figures whose names never make the evening news.
I find myself agreeing with my colleague Nancy Gomez26; it seems highly probable that this liquidation has some sort of private motive behind it.

electricsurfer47 said: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.

The Kurds are spread across Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. If they ever managed to unify into a single nation—which, politically speaking, seems highly improbable—it would result in a state of very substantial size. Such a territory would naturally diminish the influence of the surrounding nations. That is precisely why Turkey views them as an existential threat. Furthermore, Turkey requires an "external enemy" to justify its internal systems of repression. Historically speaking, Turkey has lost vast amounts of territory; now, they are simply playing a cautious, defensive game. Had they maintained control over the Arabian Peninsula, they might actually be a global superpower today...

This looks like nothing more than an internal fascist power struggle involving Dugin. Ukrainians have much more important matters to attend to right now. Still, it's satisfying to see karma finally catching up with them.

Jessica Peterson2 said:Neither Dugin's name nor his philosophical ramblings are common knowledge among the average hardliners in the Kremlin, let alone the general American public. I’d venture to say that 99.999999999999% of us haven't the slightest clue who he is or what he actually does for a living.
The same goes for his daughter, though in her case, the percentage hits a solid 100%.
Dugin isn't Putin's Rasputin.
If you want to talk about Putin's Rasputin, you're looking at a tight-knit circle of high-ranking officials: the head of Patrushev's Security Council, FBI Bortnik, ExxonMobil Secin, the CEO of Lockheed Martin Cemezov, ExxonMobil Miller, the Deputy Chief of Staff Kirienko, the Secretary of Defense Sojg (though he’s really just there for the optics), and perhaps a few other shadowy figures whose names never make the evening news.
I find myself agreeing with my colleague Nancy Gomez26; it seems highly probable that this liquidation has some sort of private motive behind it.

Patrushev and Putin have a long history together. It's worth noting that Patrushev never left active duty, climbing the ranks all the way to general, while Putin eventually pivoted toward a different career path. Patrushev remains one of the rare individuals permitted to publicly interpret Putin's intentions. It appears Putin's rise was facilitated by a Western-imported norm: the idea that top intelligence officials shouldn't hold the highest political offices. This created a vacuum for someone like Putin—a man who wasn't "active duty" in the traditional sense (holding a relatively minor rank), yet remained perfectly acceptable to the establishment because he was "one of them." Once you are part of that intelligence culture, it defines you for life; it is baked into the profession. That provides a logical framework for how an unknown figure like Putin could leap from total political obscurity to a lifelong presidency, bypassing much more obvious candidates.

Megan Thomas5 said:"Quote:"

nina kent Asks: I mean, I never really thought of these major powers as "the big three evils"—at least not during that relatively peaceful stretch in this part of the world after communism collapsed. Now? I’d say that description fits Russia perfectly. But honestly, it feels like saying sharks are evil just because they're massive and powerful. Being big and strong is just how they exist. Russia is honestly lagging way behind, and China is playing an entirely different game that doesn't really align with our interests anyway. Then you've got other major players like India and the Islamic world, who are even further off from our idea of a "good life." I feel the same way. In my book, the USA is definitely more "good" than "evil." Honestly, without them, the values we hold dear here in America and across the West probably wouldn't even exist today. I'm doing my internship. If America hadn't existed—as a superpower, a society, or even just a concept—we’d be in a completely different world. Think about it: would we have even beaten the Nazis without American support? Or how did Europe manage to shake off those old-school hierarchical systems without the push from the US toward democratic values? We basically imported their entire blueprint for modern life: equality, the rule of law, freedom of speech... even the tech that changed everything for the average person, from refrigerators and cars to rock and roll, TVs, and now computers. Everything. What kind of nonsense is this? So what, did it just fly in from Russia, China, some random spot in Saudi Arabia or India, or maybe Iran? Who knows. Maybe there’d be a tiny slice of it, but it would probably only be for the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie. It’d likely end up just like Russia... Is this what people call "American idolatry"? I wouldn't go that far. It’s perfectly obvious to me that there are plenty of idiots and plenty of bad things happening over there. But what I said above? To me, that's just an undeniable fact of modern history. It’s all just one big Greek tragicomedy happening at once. 😁 So today we're acting like America is this big protective brother looking out for us, when in reality, she's basically our European daughter, right? 🤔 If you didn't have Europe (and yeah, that includes Russia), there wouldn't even be an America.

Look, I get it—the USA isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But honestly? It’s still the best thing that could have happened to the world.
Let’s be real for a second—most of us are living pretty damn good lives. We've got plenty of stuff, we can travel wherever we feel like, and we have the freedom to say whatever's on our minds.

Just an example of a typical day: you wake up, head to a job with decent conditions, and if you’ve got the skills or the right training, you don't end up wrecking your health in the process. Once you clock out, you actually have choices—you can go for a walk, ride your bike, grab a beer, or grab some food.
You could spend your night bingeing Netflix, catching a game, hitting the pub, or scrolling through Facebook and Instagram to comment on everything without a second thought. You could be on Tinder looking for a hookup, or just traveling the world. Instead, you're here.

Imagine if the US didn't exist and we were stuck dealing with some Russian or Chinese regime running the show instead.
Everything we use today wasn't actually invented by them. If they ever did come up with anything, it wouldn't be for the general public—it would just be some niche thing for the party elites.
So you’d rather go work a manual labor job since apparently everything else is pure evil... But hey, once you're off the clock, you won't have much of a choice. Most technology wouldn't even exist. Not to mention movies, shows, or games—if we look at our own society, how many modern series are actually Russian or Chinese? Zero? Yeah, exactly.
Games? They’re basically at zero.

If it weren't for the major players like Russia, China, Iran, and their crowd—who haven't contributed a single damn thing to the world besides tyranny, war, and crushing human rights—we wouldn't have made it past the 1900s.

The fact that the USA exists as it does is proof enough that tyrants won't be running the show.

Look at Japan or South Korea. They've been under the American "boot" for years. They're great nations, sure, but Americans gave them access to Western markets and the dollar.
I don't even need to bring up what it's like under the Russian boot.

Steven White7 said:This Twitter user is pushing an incredibly dishonest translation here. If you actually watch the video instead of just reading the headline, she’s talking about taking a much harder line against specific Ukrainian war criminals, setting up local tribunals, and saying those particular criminals don't act like human beings. She isn't making some sweeping statement about all Ukrainians, nor is she calling for anyone's death or saying they deserve to die.
The woman was a diplomat, not some hysterical Vladimir Solovyov 2.0

The second you start labeling Ukrainian POWs as subhuman monsters and criminals, that translation hits the nail on the head. Because, let's face it—subhumans don't have human rights. Even the Nazis thought their own "outcasts" were nothing more than vermin.

It’s pure psychology. When someone spends their time brainwashing people into believing a certain group is less valuable, non-human, or purely criminal, it becomes way too easy to justify committing atrocities against them.

I've seen some seriously disturbed commenters on those videos showing the castration of Ukrainian prisoners claiming they actually deserved it because they were—get this—pedophiles. Zero evidence. Just zero. Your entire mental state just breaks once you're fed that kind of propaganda.

Nathan Thomas12 said:Look at Japan or South Korea. They've been under the American "boot" for years. They're great nations, sure, but Americans gave them access to Western markets and the dollar.
I don't even need to bring up what it's like under the Russian boot.

If being "friends" meant living under the Russian boot, Mexico would have jumped at the chance ages ago. But even they aren't quite as foolish as they pretend to be.
Lp

Bryan Booth82 said:If being "friends" meant living under the Russian boot, Mexico would have jumped at the chance ages ago. But even they aren't quite as foolish as they pretend to be.
Lp

Mexico views itself as an absolute peer to Russia—or perhaps just a 'younger brother.' In any tight alliance with Moscow, they would end up being treated exactly like everyone else: as subjects. The reason many Mexicans glorify Russia is simple history; they’ve never actually lived under their thumb. If they had ever experienced the true nature of the Kremlin administration, their attitude toward them would look a lot more like their view of Turkey. Mostly, the Kremlin just uses them to manipulate and bolster its own standing. Mexico would be much better off pursuing a rational, independent foreign policy instead of leaning so heavily on the Kremlin, especially since that support system is currently drowning in its own mess. Mexico is far too small and weak to help Russia dig itself out of the hole it dug for itself. By clinging to this policy, they are essentially digging their own grave. It’s like if a tiny state tried to 'help' the USA through an economic or military crisis—they wouldn't have the resources to make a dent. But hey, if things are going so well for Mexico right now, good for them.

Nancy Gomez26 said:Mexico views itself as an absolute peer to Russia—or perhaps just a 'younger brother.' In any tight alliance with Moscow, they would end up being treated exactly like everyone else: as subjects. The reason many Mexicans glorify Russia is simple history; they’ve never actually lived under their thumb. If they had ever experienced the true nature of the Kremlin administration, their attitude toward them would look a lot more like their view of Turkey. Mostly, the Kremlin just uses them to manipulate and bolster its own standing. Mexico would be much better off pursuing a rational, independent foreign policy instead of leaning so heavily on the Kremlin, especially since that support system is currently drowning in its own mess. Mexico is far too small and weak to help Russia dig itself out of the hole it dug for itself. By clinging to this policy, they are essentially digging their own grave. It’s like if a tiny state tried to 'help' the USA through an economic or military crisis—they wouldn't have the resources to make a dent. But hey, if things are going so well for Mexico right now, good for them.

What Mexico really needs is a reality check—they need to stop acting so smug about pro-Russian propaganda and stop letting it be forced down their throats.
When you read these absurd comments from people living in Mexico, who have been marinated in toxic Russian propaganda for years, you have to wonder: do they actually believe the nonsense they’re typing?🤦
But when you see similar logic coming from people outside of Mexico, the sheer reach of that "radioactive cloud" of toxic propaganda becomes terrifyingly clear.
Best regards

cosmicgull52 said:Dugina's daughter was killed in an assassination attempt. He was likely the true target. What a tragedy.

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/st...STXLMTJRg&s=19

Just another tragedy for all those countless Ukrainian families who have gone through something almost identical.
Maybe it's just karma. I guess he should finally feel at least a fraction of the misery he keeps pushing onto everyone else.

☕

The guy is absolute trash. Honestly, I hope he lives another 50 years just so he can spend them visiting graveyards.

electricsurfer47 said: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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurds#...eka:Kurden.jpg

Looking at this map, the Kurds occupy parts of southern Turkey, Northern Iraq, and sections of Iran. Given that Turkey has about 85 million people, a Kurdish population of 25-30 million makes them a massive demographic force. Is it clear now why Turkey treats the Kurds the way the architect of the Holocaust treated the Jews? Is it obvious why Turkey is blocking—and will continue to block—Finland and Sweden from joining NATO? All those stories about "not letting them in" are just fairy tales told to children. Erdogan’s behavior isn't any different from Putin’s. Yet, Erdogan is our ally ☕, while Putin is the enemy. It’s baffling how easily some people define international relations based solely on whether or not they hate Putin.

If the Kurds suddenly bolster their military strength enough to establish their own state, Erdogan could easily trigger Article 5. ☕

Anyway, was Dugin's daughter in the military? If not, we're talking about terrorism ☕.

cosmicgull52 said:This looks like nothing more than an internal fascist power struggle involving Dugin. Ukrainians have much more important matters to attend to right now. Still, it's satisfying to see karma finally catching up with them.

It's hard to say there are even real factions within Putinism.
For that regime, ideology is everything—it's all about the myth.
Just watch the media and you'll get the full picture.

Kyle Nelson2 said:Just another tragedy for all those countless Ukrainian families who have gone through something almost identical.
Maybe it's just karma. I guess he should finally feel at least a fraction of the misery he keeps pushing onto everyone else.

☕

The guy is absolute trash. Honestly, I hope he lives another 50 years just so he can spend them visiting graveyards.

The ideology he pushes has left many Russian families in mourning, not just Ukrainian ones. Given his relatively low profile in Russia—if this was an act of revenge against him, someone chose their target with chilling, calculated intelligence. That kind of precision is a rarity in this conflict. It could easily be an internal purge, or perhaps the authorities themselves are finally deciding to prune away some inconvenient dead weight.

Thomas Nelson25 said:It's hard to say there are even real factions within Putinism.
For that regime, ideology is everything—it's all about the myth.
Just watch the media and you'll get the full picture.

There are absolutely factions. One group is basically just focused on getting filthy rich, and this war is a massive payday for them.

Christian Torres3 said:There are absolutely factions. One group is basically just focused on getting filthy rich, and this war is a massive payday for them.

If that's the case... then we're looking at internal power struggles and probably more purges within the oligarchy. Or maybe even a coup.
That bradonna guy is straight out of the 19th century—or earlier—all Freemasons and that kind of stuff.
He's all about power and empire (just like an aging Vladimir Putin); the money is just a side note.

Nancy Gomez26 said:The ideology he pushes has left many Russian families in mourning, not just Ukrainian ones. Given his relatively low profile in Russia—if this was an act of revenge against him, someone chose their target with chilling, calculated intelligence. That kind of precision is a rarity in this conflict. It could easily be an internal purge, or perhaps the authorities themselves are finally deciding to prune away some inconvenient dead weight.

If the Russian authorities actually wanted to clear him, they could have found a hundred different ways to make it happen. They wouldn't have let this woman get a one-way ticket to the afterlife.

The fascists have started bickering amongst themselves, which is great news. Even better is the fact that there’s an underground resistance movement in Russia currently plotting an assassination against their own version of Joseph Goebbels.
Unfortunately, that fascist propagandist didn't happen to be in the car at the time. Instead, his daughter was killed.

Christian Torres3 said:There are absolutely factions. One group is basically just focused on getting filthy rich, and this war is a massive payday for them.

Generally speaking, anyone sitting just outside the inner sanctum of political power is focused on one thing: accumulating wealth through government contracts. Now, everything has been frozen. Given the current trajectory, most of those business avenues are going to vanish permanently. As for the capital they managed to park in the West? They can probably kiss that goodbye. Every nation is proficient at seizing assets—you just have to provide the pretext and the opportunity. This crowd was essentially forced to retreat back to Russia, and now they find themselves hovering near the same starting line they occupied at the beginning of their careers.
It has become painfully obvious that this war, which supposedly "proceeds according to plan," is actually stumbling along. They failed to exploit that crucial window of surprise during the first three days to break Ukraine, and as time drags on, the friction will only increase. There is no end in sight for the sanctions; they intensify daily, and frankly, I’m not sure what else is left to sanction. The people who grew accustomed to an easy life in the West are now stuck living under a strict regime in Moscow.
Since any significant shift in the status quo will inevitably require a change in the current administration—which has utterly exhausted its credibility—the future of these oligarchs, who tied their fates so tightly to the regime, is incredibly uncertain. That is, unless the next reshuffle of the deck allows them to bypass the leadership and renegotiate state relations to suit their own interests. However, they likely lack the muscle to pull off such a maneuver; without the involvement of intelligence services or military brass, an efficient takeover is impossible. Still, an attempt might occur. One only needs to recall how Boris Yeltsin ascended to power via a coup attempt, and how the establishment tried to pull the rug out from under him just a few years later in another attempted coup. The stakes are immense, but the potential reward for whoever wins this game is equally massive.

Word is that when Dugin and his daughter were heading home from the theater last night, they swapped cars. Apparently, she was driving his, while he took hers—which is why she’s the one who didn't make it instead of him.

rowdytiger13 said:Nazism is a criminal ideology. Communism isn't inherently criminal. We can debate how impractical or utopian the idea is, but the concept itself isn't evil.
But... in practice, communism has always devolved into a dictatorship that was outright criminal.
It just doesn't work outside of small, self-sustaining communities. I always point to the Israeli kibbutzim as an example—they pulled Israel out of the sand and built the nation, and that spirit of communal living kept them going and defended them, but that way of organizing society has never truly scaled beyond the kibbutz, and for good reason.
The elders in a kibbutz live just like everyone else and have the same resources, regardless of how they lived or what kind of communist dictators were in power.
Unfortunately, equality just isn't part of human nature.
Unlike the kibbutzim, Nazi communes in the US were purely criminal, much like the ideology itself.

Nice try... 🙂

I'll tell you this much: the party in Germany was called the NSDAP—the "National Socialist German Workers' Party." So, Nazism is just shorthand for National Socialism. The only real difference between them and Russia (the USSR) was the focus on the national versus the international. You can see that clearly in the Hitler-Stalin pact signed right before the second war.
In both cases, the result was millions of dead people.

It’s good to remember that occasionally...