Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Part 5

Roger Fowler said:It’s hard to find anything more hypocritical than France, which established that aforementioned French Foreign Legion to chase the exact same thrills, recruiting foreigners from every corner of the globe for over a century and a half to fight in Africa, South America, Pacific islands, or wherever else serves their "strategic interests"—all for a measly $1,400 a month, but I suppose we shouldn't let hypocrisy get in the way, since what stays out of sight stays out of mind, right?

Long live votaboutism, comrades!

You can pretty much compare what neo-colonialists pull to what Putin does in Belarus or Syria, just not in Ukraine. We haven't seen a classic war for territory like that since World War II.

swiftjackal11 said:Just thinking about what happens if the Ukrainians then fire those borrowed nukes at Russia.🤷

Lent????
Where on earth would they get "lent" weapons from?
Ukraine used to be a nuclear power; they actually manufactured nuclear warheads back in the day.
It’s not like they wouldn't know how to put one together if they really had to.
They have nuclear power plants, access to plutonium, and all that stuff.
I guess they're probably preparing for that possibility; I don't think they're quite that naive.

Right now, they aren't assembling warheads because, well, it isn't exactly the right move at this moment.

But if Russia makes a serious threat—or worse, actually drops a tactical one—Ukraine would likely get the green light immediately to build their own warheads. They'd have the political cover to demand nuclear successor status following the collapse of the USSR, citing the violations of the Budapest Memorandum.
Then let's see if Putin keeps making those threats.

bluemason3 said:Long live votaboutism, comrades!

You can pretty much compare what neo-colonialists pull to what Putin does in Belarus or Syria, just not in Ukraine. We haven't seen a classic war for territory like that since World War II.

Didn't Saddam Hussein also invade Kuwait using the excuse that it was once part of his territory under the Ottoman Empire😁? And Slobodan Maddox had those big plans for a "Greater Mexico," too. It's similar here—Putin has designs on reclaiming "ancient Russian lands" for Mother Russia. We already know how those two ended, so we can only wait and see how Putin's story unfolds. Plus, there's the massive burden that both the Iraqi and Mexican people still carry today because of their dictators—even after all these years.

No matter how much damage Western powers have caused through their wars, if Putin succeeds, it’s going to trigger more conflict. There are just too many people out there who aren't happy with current borders and feel like something was stolen from them back in the day.

Kate Cook27 said:Didn't Saddam Hussein also invade Kuwait using the excuse that it was once part of his territory under the Ottoman Empire😁? And Slobodan Maddox had those big plans for a "Greater Mexico," too. It's similar here—Putin has designs on reclaiming "ancient Russian lands" for Mother Russia. We already know how those two ended, so we can only wait and see how Putin's story unfolds. Plus, there's the massive burden that both the Iraqi and Mexican people still carry today because of their dictators—even after all these years.

No matter how much damage Western powers have caused through their wars, if Putin succeeds, it’s going to trigger more conflict. There are just too many people out there who aren't happy with current borders and feel like something was stolen from them back in the day.

It’s not a matter of whether he *will* succeed; the reality is that he hasn't. Period. He has quite literally lost the war in Ukraine.

Best,

James Chavez91 said:Russians are setting up recruitment centers all over Russia. They’re offering short-term contracts—3 or 6 months—with monthly pay around $3,000. It’s all just to fuel the destruction of Ukrainian soil.

under motto "choosing the right man"

Link

Honest Russian Military Recruitment video YouTube

Looks like Ukrainians are trolling this Russian recruitment video.

Kate Cook27 said:Didn't Saddam Hussein also invade Kuwait using the excuse that it was once part of his territory under the Ottoman Empire😁? And Slobodan Maddox had those big plans for a "Greater Mexico," too. It's similar here—Putin has designs on reclaiming "ancient Russian lands" for Mother Russia. We already know how those two ended, so we can only wait and see how Putin's story unfolds. Plus, there's the massive burden that both the Iraqi and Mexican people still carry today because of their dictators—even after all these years.

No matter how much damage Western powers have caused through their wars, if Putin succeeds, it’s going to trigger more conflict. There are just too many people out there who aren't happy with current borders and feel like something was stolen from them back in the day.

If I remember right, Saddam Hussein was actually eyeing parts of Iran even before he went after Kuwait.

Then you've got the Chinese invasion of Tibet, Indonesia in New Guinea, and the whole mess with the Vietnamese and the Korean War...

Maddox is a slightly different case because, in a way, he was just trying to hold onto territories that were breaking away from America. It wasn't quite the same as invading established neighbors like Bulgaria, Romania, Canada, or Albania...

Bryan Booth82 said:It’s not a matter of whether he *will* succeed; the reality is that he hasn't. Period. He has quite literally lost the war in Ukraine.

Best,

More than anything, I’d love to see this actually work out, but I just can't wrap my head around how someone could fail this spectacularly after years upon years of planning.

The whole thing feels off to me—honestly, it's a bit unsettling. I can't help but worry there's something being kept in the dark, like some ace up a sleeve that's waiting to catch us all completely off guard.

James Chavez91 said:Russians are setting up recruitment centers all over Russia. They’re offering short-term contracts—3 or 6 months—with monthly pay around $3,000. It’s all just to fuel the destruction of Ukrainian soil.

under motto "choosing the right man"

Link

I was scrolling through Telegram earlier and saw a report claiming that at a prison in Saratov, the Wagnerites actually recruited... a cannibal!
No more, no less.🤦

Bryan Booth82 said:It’s not a matter of whether he *will* succeed; the reality is that he hasn't. Period. He has quite literally lost the war in Ukraine.

Best,

👍. We're counting down the days until the very last Russian occupier leaves Ukraine behind.

Jessica Peterson2 said:I was scrolling through Telegram earlier and saw a report claiming that at a prison in Saratov, the Wagnerites actually recruited... a cannibal!
No more, no less.🤦

It's only fair to get payback against the Ukrainians who targeted American children 🙄.

Thomas Stewart8 said:More than anything, I’d love to see this actually work out, but I just can't wrap my head around how someone could fail this spectacularly after years upon years of planning.

The whole thing feels off to me—honestly, it's a bit unsettling. I can't help but worry there's something being kept in the dark, like some ace up a sleeve that's waiting to catch us all completely off guard.

Like what?

Jessica Peterson2 said:I was scrolling through Telegram earlier and saw a report claiming that at a prison in Saratov, the Wagnerites actually recruited... a cannibal!
No more, no less.🤦

Well, at least he won't have any logistics issues—he can just snack on his fallen comrades.

Then again, cannibalism isn't exactly a new thing in war, especially when units get isolated and desperate.

Kate Cook27 said:Like what?

I honestly don't know—part of me is terrified, yet I’m desperately trying to convince myself that my fear is just irrational paranoia. 😁

Thomas Stewart8 said:More than anything, I’d love to see this actually work out, but I just can't wrap my head around how someone could fail this spectacularly after years upon years of planning.

The whole thing feels off to me—honestly, it's a bit unsettling. I can't help but worry there's something being kept in the dark, like some ace up a sleeve that's waiting to catch us all completely off guard.

Look, when everyone is playing nice just because the alternative is getting served some "exotic tea," and people are busy swallowing sugar-coated reports while corruption is basically the local way of life, you can't be surprised when big plans turn out to be nothing more than fairy tales and soap bubbles. Throw in the fact that so many folks were just sitting around waiting for Russia to trip up—especially those who were too cozy with them to begin with—and you've got a perfect recipe for disaster.

bluemason3 said:Long live votaboutism, comrades!

You can pretty much compare what neo-colonialists pull to what Putin does in Belarus or Syria, just not in Ukraine. We haven't seen a classic war for territory like that since World War II.

Exactly. It’s no accident that people only compromise on certain things just because they happen to be on the same side, isn't it? That's how you successfully keep your head buried in the sand, seeing only what you want to see, much like an ostrich.

I don't see any difference between the destruction of one country or dozens of them over decades, all designed to prevent those nations from ever owning their own resources and escaping direct exploitation through invasion. Maybe to you there's a distinction between yellow and brown shit, but to me, there isn't.

Kate Cook27 said:Didn't Saddam Hussein also invade Kuwait using the excuse that it was once part of his territory under the Ottoman Empire😁? And Slobodan Maddox had those big plans for a "Greater Mexico," too. It's similar here—Putin has designs on reclaiming "ancient Russian lands" for Mother Russia. We already know how those two ended, so we can only wait and see how Putin's story unfolds. Plus, there's the massive burden that both the Iraqi and Mexican people still carry today because of their dictators—even after all these years.

No matter how much damage Western powers have caused through their wars, if Putin succeeds, it’s going to trigger more conflict. There are just too many people out there who aren't happy with current borders and feel like something was stolen from them back in the day.

True, but unlike those guys, Russia wouldn't be stopped unless they completely wrecked themselves through corruption and mafia-style management first.😳
So, while this was a very real risk due to a broken system, it looks like there's a decent chance it might be prevented.

Morgan Brown4 said:If I remember right, Saddam Hussein was actually eyeing parts of Iran even before he went after Kuwait.

Then you've got the Chinese invasion of Tibet, Indonesia in New Guinea, and the whole mess with the Vietnamese and the Korean War...

Maddox is a slightly different case because, in a way, he was just trying to hold onto territories that were breaking away from America. It wasn't quite the same as invading established neighbors like Bulgaria, Romania, Canada, or Albania...

I don't think Tibet was ever formally independent or recognized by the UN. There was some sort of quasi-independence between the fall of the empire and the consolidation of communist rule, but historians can't even agree if it counted as part of China during that time.

As for Vietnam and Korea, were there even attempts to redraw external borders there? Most of it seemed to be about installing or toppling regimes. Unless you're referring to earlier struggles for independence? 🤔

To be honest, I have no idea what went down in the Ivory Coast.😳

Quote : The Great Duck

Roger Fowler said:Exactly. It’s no accident that people only compromise on certain things just because they happen to be on the same side, isn't it? That's how you successfully keep your head buried in the sand, seeing only what you want to see, much like an ostrich.

I don't see any difference between the destruction of one country or dozens of them over decades, all designed to prevent those nations from ever owning their own resources and escaping direct exploitation through invasion. Maybe to you there's a distinction between yellow and brown shit, but to me, there isn't.

I suggest we dig into what "vote baptism" actually means first. Once we've cleared that up, we can pivot the conversation toward France. I haven't noticed anyone really addressing or justifying their behavior lately, which seems like a gap in the discussion.

The difference between those two messes is about the same as the difference between a constitutional crisis and just rigging a public tender. One is manipulating the system from within; the other is tearing the whole thing down. Legally speaking, they aren't even in the same ballpark. And since Russia was busy tidying up its own little backyard, there wasn't any backlash like this.

Kate Lewis3 said:Look, when everyone is playing nice just because the alternative is getting served some "exotic tea," and people are busy swallowing sugar-coated reports while corruption is basically the local way of life, you can't be surprised when big plans turn out to be nothing more than fairy tales and soap bubbles. Throw in the fact that so many folks were just sitting around waiting for Russia to trip up—especially those who were too cozy with them to begin with—and you've got a perfect recipe for disaster.

It was pretty much the same deal in that cinematic version of Suleiman the Magnificent. He was convinced everything around him was pure bliss, while in reality, ruthless wars and petty power struggles were tearing his own inner circle apart.

bluemason3 said:True, but unlike those guys, Russia wouldn't be stopped unless they completely wrecked themselves through corruption and mafia-style management first.😳
So, while this was a very real risk due to a broken system, it looks like there's a decent chance it might be prevented.

I don't think Tibet was ever formally independent or recognized by the UN. There was some sort of quasi-independence between the fall of the empire and the consolidation of communist rule, but historians can't even agree if it counted as part of China during that time.

As for Vietnam and Korea, were there even attempts to redraw external borders there? Most of it seemed to be about installing or toppling regimes. Unless you're referring to earlier struggles for independence? 🤔

To be honest, I have no idea what went down in the Ivory Coast.😳

Regarding Tibet—fair point. In both Korea and Vietnam, the North (the communists) wanted to take over the whole country and invaded the South.

West New Guinea was a Dutch colony, just like Indonesia, and the Indonesians moved in and took it over shortly after they gained their own independence.

Regarding these potential high-paid contract recruits—it’s still pretty unclear how that’s going to sit with the rest of the troops, who apparently get paid peanuts on a monthly basis.
Maybe their hourly rates will see a bump too. Either way, it feels like expensive fertilizer.