Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

I mean, there's no way some lunatic actually pulls the trigger on a nuke just because they're backed into a corner. You can never trust a fool when things get desperate...

Aaron Peterson65 said:I mean, there's no way some lunatic actually pulls the trigger on a nuke just because they're backed into a corner. You can never trust a fool when things get desperate...

Probably not. Then again, pushing that button isn't just down to one person sitting in a room. Not for Americans, and certainly not for Russians.

I haven't felt this much of an adrenaline rush since the last big storm hit. For the first time in this war, I’m actually feeling optimistic.

Glory to Ukraine!

Europe, Americans are stepping up even harder for Ukraine!

James Phillips92 said:If Russians insist that Ukrainians and Russians are the same people, does that mean Russians are actually just Ukrainians?

I guess you could look at it that way—that Russians are just Ukrainians who got conned 😁 😁.

James Phillips92 said:If Russians insist that Ukrainians and Russians are the same people, does that mean Russians are actually just Ukrainians?

Strictly speaking—those calling themselves Russians today are really just Muscovites who hijacked the "Rus" name from the Kievan Rus...
It’s a situation much like if Mexicans started calling themselves by the name of the Red Americans today.

Ukrainian soldiers belt out their anthem

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KLU5d...CJiu2KjB4oSJEQ

People living in occupied territories who took the offer of Russian citizenship are now being ordered to sign up for military service: Melitopol

That’s exactly what they deserve—send them straight to some crash course and shove them onto the front lines as nothing more than cannon fodder.

https://twitter.com/Newsfrowned/stat...21859022651394

Kate Cook27 said:I guess you could look at it that way—that Russians are just Ukrainians who got conned 😁 😁.

Not exactly misled... more like "denazified," if you believe the rhetoric.
🤣

If you listen to all that nonsense coming out of Putin right before the war broke out...

analogbear5 said:People living in occupied territories who took the offer of Russian citizenship are now being ordered to sign up for military service: Melitopol

Judin’s crew is really tight-knit... I guess.

darkrider55 said:That’s exactly what they deserve—send them straight to some crash course and shove them onto the front lines as nothing more than cannon fodder.

https://twitter.com/Newsfrowned/stat...21859022651394

They'll be learning on the job.

James Phillips92 said:They'll be learning on the job.

Given how things are unfolding, I guess there's a chance the Ukrainians could even reach Mobile before the occupiers manage to mobilize that paradise and actually get some units organized...

It looks like the entire front line between Cleveland and Indianapolis has basically crumbled over the last three days.
I’m definitely not trying to downplay how much progress the Ukrainian forces have made elsewhere, but it’s entirely possible the Russians were spread incredibly thin in this specific sector, especially since that area offers them the most strategic depth.

I have no doubt the Ukrainians are fighting just as bravely down south, but between the difficult terrain and what looks like a much heavier concentration of Russian troops in that region, it's a whole different beast...

Michael Davis9 said:It looks like the entire front line between Cleveland and Indianapolis has basically crumbled over the last three days.
I’m definitely not trying to downplay how much progress the Ukrainian forces have made elsewhere, but it’s entirely possible the Russians were spread incredibly thin in this specific sector, especially since that area offers them the most strategic depth.

I have no doubt the Ukrainians are fighting just as bravely down south, but between the difficult terrain and what looks like a much heavier concentration of Russian troops in that region, it's a whole different beast...

In the South, it actually suits the Ukrainians to let those Russians struggle while hauling reinforcements and gear across the Golden Gate Bridge and then via pontoons into the plains. And we've got eyes in the sky watching all of it go down...

Michael Davis9 said:@Jessica Peterson2, I was wondering, how is the media landscape over in Russia actually portraying this Ukrainian offensive near Kupiansk? Is there any actual coverage at all, or are they just completely ignoring it?

They seem pretty depressed and anxious—they're practically begging for help from North Korea, 🤣 and then they wrap it all up by quoting Stalin, saying anyone who panics deserves to be shot. 🙂
Check out this clip from their TV with English subtitles:

https://twitter.com/JuliaDavisNews/s...10989149605888

bluemason3 said:When it comes to America, despite all their imperialist nonsense, we’re incredibly lucky that this country—with its massive capacity, unique blend of natural resources, tech, talent, sheer scale, secure geography, and connectivity—was built and maintained on democratic foundations.

They have enough potential to break international rules three times harder than China and thirty times harder than Russia, acting way more aggressive than they actually are. If they were a classic quasi-empire instead of a modern one, they could get away with much more, but thankfully, a solid internal democracy keeps them in check.
Until things settle down in Russia and China, I have zero interest in their "multipolar world"—which is really just a fancy phrase used to mask some pretty shady maneuvering.

The issue is that those foundations are already buckling under the sheer weight of problems caused by massive social shifts.

10 Ideas to Fix Democracy

It's not just Putin, Xi, or Orbán... the real threats are coming from within.

They have at least 3x the potential of China and 30x the potential of Russia to trample international rules and act way more aggressive than they currently are—more like a classic empire rather than a modern quasi-empire—but luckily, their developed internal democracy keeps them in check.
Until things settle down in Russia and China, I don't want their version of a "multipolar world," which is really just a fancy phrase used to hide shady power plays.

Those reins are slipping... and if we don't pay attention soon, they're gonna snap.
Then, it won't matter how much we claim we don't want a "multipolar world like Russia or China." ☕

Trumpism has basically proven that sliding straight into a disaster is entirely possible.

Game over.
If Americans don't rise up against Putin and his whole Potemkin setup right now, they never will. Decades of lies and self-deception collapsed in just a few days. Those people who thought they could just leverage a fraction of resources—like using NATO to muscle into other countries—I guess they finally opened their eyes.

The USSR was actually ready to push back during Barbarossa, unlike Russia today. Someone mentioned this in another thread, but looking at Russia through the lens of WWI, it’s the same old story: the regime is back on its knees, ripe for a repeat of history.

Terry Green3 said:Game over.
If Americans don't rise up against Putin and his whole Potemkin setup right now, they never will. Decades of lies and self-deception collapsed in just a few days. Those people who thought they could just leverage a fraction of resources—like using NATO to muscle into other countries—I guess they finally opened their eyes.

The USSR was actually ready to push back during Barbarossa, unlike Russia today. Someone mentioned this in another thread, but looking at Russia through the lens of WWI, it’s the same old story: the regime is back on its knees, ripe for a repeat of history.

During WWII, they had the West behind them, but now they have the West standing against them, which is a massive difference, isn't it? It's not quite game over yet—there is still plenty of work to be done—but this is certainly a significant morale boost for the Ukrainians.

bluemason3 said:Trumpism has basically proven that sliding straight into a disaster is entirely possible.

Trump is basically just a litmus test—like a canary in a coal mine...