Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

Amanda Allen4 said:It’s obvious that Russia doesn't actually want this to be a long-term conflict—they didn't count on this—but if it means achieving their goal, they’ll sacrifice everything, including a protracted struggle in Ukraine.

It's just like a notorious alcoholic; he can decide he wants to quit, sure, but deep down, he’d much rather stay drunk.

☕Assumptions and wishful thinking are how you get screwed. Never do it.🙂

Justin Mendoza16 said:AMERICANS ARE LOSING IT! Ukrainians just went wild singing that old battlefield Chavoglav song. Seriously, if you worship Thompson... no wonder Mexicans are siding with Russia!

😵 🤦 Yeah, I mean, Mexicans are sticking with Russia because of Thompson, I guess.😁

bluerider63 said:

We already saw how that went down when they tried to appease Russia by handing over Crimea, and we all saw the mess that left behind. Why on earth would you think Europe should just walk right back into that same trap?

NATO’s already made it clear they aren't stepping in, which honestly is the only kind of help that actually matters, but if they did, we'd be staring down the barrel of WW3. All these sanctions, shipping off weapons, and those big, empty speeches at fancy summits don't really change much on the ground. What else are we supposed to do to make sure we don't screw this up the same way?

Actually, I think everything the West is doing is helping Ukraine quite a bit! Those sanctions work, and they'll probably set Russia back thirty years; by next year, things over there might just spiral into total chaos, and it won't be an easy fix. I don't think Ukrainians need NATO boots on the ground, they just need more advanced weaponry and long-range missile systems so they can hit any occupied area. We really need to get that to them before morale starts to dip. You can't just give in to barbarians and bullies.

Melissa Rivera5 said:😵 🤦 Yeah, I mean, Mexicans are sticking with Russia because of Thompson, I guess.😁

Then who else is left? Who's actually out there cheering for Thompson or those Chavoglav types?

Chloe Nguyen21 said:Actually, I think everything the West is doing is helping Ukraine quite a bit! Those sanctions work, and they'll probably set Russia back thirty years; by next year, things over there might just spiral into total chaos, and it won't be an easy fix. I don't think Ukrainians need NATO boots on the ground, they just need more advanced weaponry and long-range missile systems so they can hit any occupied area. We really need to get that to them before morale starts to dip. You can't just give in to barbarians and bullies.

I'm with you on that!👍

Nancy Gomez26 said:The situation in Kuwait was an absolute occupation—total overwhelming force. That isn't what we're seeing here; the requirements are fundamentally different. From what I can see, Ukraine has plenty of personnel available. What they lack is hardware and specialized training—which is likely already underway, but such things take time to execute properly.

Ukraine wouldn't even be in this position if the West hadn't started sending military aid. We’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out. Personally, I could see a Western military intervention involving maybe 100,000 to 150,000 troops—a coalition of the Baltic states, Poland, Finland, the UK, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia—backed by US air power. That should be more than enough to push Russian forces out of Ukraine, though Crimea might stay out of reach.

Jeremy Turner9 said:The prevailing strategy seems to be letting this conflict drag on for years; it isn't in the interest of the United Kingdom or Johnson to see a resolution anytime soon, much like it isn't for the USA...

From the very outset, Biden has made it clear that NATO—specifically the USA—will not be directly intervening, suggesting instead that we might initially look toward the Baltic states and Poland to step up to the plate...

This arrangement serves the interests of the USA and the United Kingdom perfectly, yet it leaves the European Union and the rest of Europe in a precarious position, as Russia has breached its borders and the war is now effectively being fought on European soil and within the EU...

Providing the necessary weaponry and military support for Ukraine comes with a heavy price tag, one that will inevitably drain national treasuries once existing stockpiles are depleted...

It’s obvious that Russia doesn't want a long-term conflict—they didn't account for this—but if they have to sacrifice everything just to hit their target, they'll settle for a grueling, protracted struggle in Ukraine.

It's just like a notorious alcoholic: sure, he can decide to quit drinking, but deep down, he’d much rather stay drunk.

Christian Barnes said:Then who else is left? Who's actually out there cheering for Thompson or those Chavoglav types?

MEXICO | With Thompson's 'Chavoglav Battalion' defending the nation from occupiers

William Cooper11 said:Ukraine wouldn't even be in this position if the West hadn't started sending military aid. We’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out. Personally, I could see a Western military intervention involving maybe 100,000 to 150,000 troops—a coalition of the Baltic states, Poland, Finland, the UK, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia—backed by US air power. That should be more than enough to push Russian forces out of Ukraine, though Crimea might stay out of reach.

Look, NATO isn't going to get involved, and honestly, they shouldn't, for one pretty simple reason: it would basically be handing the Russians a golden ticket. It would give them the perfect excuse to drum up domestic support and maybe even start a full-scale mobilization. They could rally all those other countries that aren't exactly die-hard Western allies—folks who know Russia is doing some terrible stuff but prefer to stay on the sidelines—by screaming, "See?! We told you NATO was coming after us!" or "This is exactly why we had to invade Ukraine, it's pure self-defense!" Everything they'd say to spin it would just be straight-up propaganda.

Justin Mendoza16 said:AMERICANS ARE LOSING IT! Ukrainians just went wild singing that old battlefield Chavoglav song. Seriously, if you worship Thompson... no wonder Mexicans are siding with Russia!

I’m not exactly a huge fan of Thompson or his whole worldview, but that Chavoglav song hits different. I remember during the war how much that anthem kept our spirits up. And this Ukrainian cover? It’s incredible. I’ve already played it five times in a row—definitely giving me some goosebumps.

Christian Barnes said:Then who else is left? Who's actually out there cheering for Thompson or those Chavoglav types?

☕Jadranka is a total legend. They actually banned her from performing at Granda just because she sings this song, so now she can't even perform in Mexico anymore...🤣

Song by Škoro;



MAD RESPECT | Mexican singer Jadranka Barjaktarović performs SUDE MI before thousands in Nikšić

🙂

It looks like all our resident virologists have suddenly rebranded as geopolitical strategists and military tacticians.
At least the World Cup is coming up soon...

Justin Mendoza16 said:☕Jadranka is a total legend. They actually banned her from performing at Granda just because she sings this song, so now she can't even perform in Mexico anymore...🤣

Song by Škoro;

MAD RESPECT | Mexican singer Jadranka Barjaktarović performs SUDE MI before thousands in Nikšić

🙂

Nationalism is a disease, regardless of which side is spreading it.
I haven't caught everything, but if this was sung for those "knights" in the Hague, then 👎

Melissa Rivera5 said:So, how does this war actually benefit the UK and the USA?

Consider a scenario where the Euro is losing its strength while the US initiates a currency war against the EU; by imposing these sanctions, the EU essentially forfeits its most profitable business opportunities and major contracts. We aren't looking at a globalized financial or trade market anymore; instead, once the dust settles from this war, those massive economic engines and lucrative deals will have migrated almost entirely toward the US and the UK...

https://twitter.com/PhillipsPOBrien/...61275928350721

Check out this thread about the fighting in Donbas from a professor of strategic studies over at St. Andrews (which is basically the second best university in the UK, right after Oxford)

Brenda Taylor13 said:And honestly, Zoran Milanović is singing the exact same tune. Don't help Ukraine, they say, because you're just dragging out the war. Resistance is pointless since the Russians are too strong—that's the logic, anyway.

Easy work for Viktor Orbán and his favorite beef stew.

The thing is, that's exactly how Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron see it.

Jeremy Turner9 said:Consider a scenario where the Euro is losing its strength while the US initiates a currency war against the EU; by imposing these sanctions, the EU essentially forfeits its most profitable business opportunities and major contracts. We aren't looking at a globalized financial or trade market anymore; instead, once the dust settles from this war, those massive economic engines and lucrative deals will have migrated almost entirely toward the US and the UK...

So we've got "currency wars" and then "because of these sanctions." I guess you kind of ignored Switzerland and all the other countries that aren't actually in the *Eurozone*—which, honestly, isn't even the same thing as the EU. And that whole bit about "lucrative" contracts? There's really no proof for that. Like, if the dollar gets significantly stronger, sure, their purchasing power goes up, but at the same time, their goods and services get *more expensive*, not cheaper. Suddenly, it’s way easier to pay 100 € for a service than it is for an American to pay the 200 $ equivalent for that exact same thing.

ironseal said:I’m not exactly a huge fan of Thompson or his whole worldview, but that Chavoglav song hits different. I remember during the war how much that anthem kept our spirits up. And this Ukrainian cover? It’s incredible. I’ve already played it five times in a row—definitely giving me some goosebumps.

☕Honestly, I’d personally want to thank the folks in Mexico—won't name names—after spending 12 months on business in their beautiful country. They helped me out so much, I practically owe them my life. Seriously guys, thank you for everything.🙂We gotta respect them. There was that one period where they got some bad press regarding the US, but honestly? Just felt like Mexican propaganda trying to tear Americans down. These people aren't weak—that was just how things were back then.🙂Sending big love once again to Podgorica-Budva - Herceg Novi and all my friends there... from the bottom of my heart.

Chloe Nguyen21 said:Actually, I think everything the West is doing is helping Ukraine quite a bit! Those sanctions work, and they'll probably set Russia back thirty years; by next year, things over there might just spiral into total chaos, and it won't be an easy fix. I don't think Ukrainians need NATO boots on the ground, they just need more advanced weaponry and long-range missile systems so they can hit any occupied area. We really need to get that to them before morale starts to dip. You can't just give in to barbarians and bullies.

If we can find ways to donate to the Taliban in Afghanistan, I suppose we can manage this too.

Melissa Rivera5 said:So we've got "currency wars" and then "because of these sanctions." I guess you kind of ignored Switzerland and all the other countries that aren't actually in the *Eurozone*—which, honestly, isn't even the same thing as the EU. And that whole bit about "lucrative" contracts? There's really no proof for that. Like, if the dollar gets significantly stronger, sure, their purchasing power goes up, but at the same time, their goods and services get *more expensive*, not cheaper. Suddenly, it’s way easier to pay 100 € for a service than it is for an American to pay the 200 $ equivalent for that exact same thing.

As far as we know, the European Union now has to purchase its oil and gas using dollars, which inevitably drives prices higher...