Sanctions on Russia

What use is technology to them? They seem perfectly content just clutching framed photos of Vladimir Putin.

George Robinson43 said:What use is technology to them? They seem perfectly content just clutching framed photos of Vladimir Putin.

They could even go without the frame, provided there’s enough material left to build a shoulder.

Sanctions don't really hurt if you've already decided to walk away from Western civilization altogether, right?
I mean, I can always just go work in a coal mine, flip on some state-run news channels to catch Vladimir Putin's latest speeches, hang out at local community clubs, and collect vintage political pins. That’s plenty of life for me.

Every once in a while, we find ourselves circling back to those days of starvation reminiscent of Stalin's era, waiting to receive humanitarian aid from a West we've grown to resent.

slyfox43 said:Every once in a while, we find ourselves circling back to those days of starvation reminiscent of Stalin's era, waiting to receive humanitarian aid from a West we've grown to resent.

I honestly think we have plenty of basic food supplies, and if they actually manage to conquer Ukraine, we'll probably have even more.
This war didn't just pop up overnight; it’s been in the works for years.
I've been saying it from the start: this is really a war against Western civilization.

Hannah Williams8 said:I honestly think we have plenty of basic food supplies, and if they actually manage to conquer Ukraine, we'll probably have even more.
This war didn't just pop up overnight; it’s been in the works for years.
I've been saying it from the start: this is really a war against Western civilization.

Look, everything hinges on whether Russia can maintain a system capable of such high levels of self-sufficiency, though that remains highly debatable. The pressure isn't just economic or technological anymore; it's becoming social too. Russia has pivoted toward a harsh form of Stalinism and a strictly centralized economy, an approach that historically never ends well. Sure, just as Russia continues to lean heavily on the technological legacy of the USSR, they might manage to scrape by for a while using the agricultural and industrial foundations built during periods of relative peace and symbolic sanctions, but those reserves aren't infinite. It will be interesting to see what happens when they start expropriating the very farmers who actually made that production possible...

Hannah Williams8 said:I honestly think we have plenty of basic food supplies, and if they actually manage to conquer Ukraine, we'll probably have even more.
This war didn't just pop up overnight; it’s been in the works for years.
I've been saying it from the start: this is really a war against Western civilization.

Honestly, I don't think the Russians would go along with that assessment at all. If anything, those essential goods are the first things to disappear from the shelves, while useless stuff like Pringles and junk food stays stocked up.
And yeah, sure, they might have been cooking up this war in their heads for years, but based on totally different assumptions—basically thinking, "this'll be easy" and "the West won't do anything, they're too soft"—so now the whole thing has come back to bite them twice as hard.

Hannah Williams8 said:I honestly think we have plenty of basic food supplies, and if they actually manage to conquer Ukraine, we'll probably have even more.
This war didn't just pop up overnight; it’s been in the works for years.
I've been saying it from the start: this is really a war against Western civilization.

Their grand design was to seize Ukraine within a mere forty-eight hours without significant resistance, effectively completing their regime change before the Western powers could even convene a meeting, let alone coordinate any meaningful sanctions.

It has become painfully obvious to everyone—including the fools residing within The Kremlin—that they have catastrophically miscalculated. Is it any wonder? That is precisely how things conclude when one chooses to live insulated within the delusional bubble of a dictatorship.

Timothy Kim9 said:I honestly don't buy the idea that sanctions are going to bring Russia down.
At least not anytime soon. Just look at FR America or Iran.
Since 2015, Iran has been under massive oil export bans—something Russia doesn't even have to deal with yet
—and despite incredibly heavy sanctions, nothing has changed.

The religious leaders are still in power, and they’re still preaching about Americans being the enemy and all that.

Even back in the day with FR America, it took nearly a decade to actually get Slobodan Maddox
to face justice—and that was when the USA had a much stronger hand than they do now.

Don't get me wrong, Russia isn't going to thrive under sanctions; they'll probably just slowly decline. But I doubt Putin will be touched for the next 5 to 10 years—unless there's some kind of palace coup.

After that, whether people like it or not, the next Russian President will eventually have to tell their own story. Though, let's be real: they probably won't tell a completely different story than Putin; the only real difference will be the methods used to carry out his policies.

Since you brought it up, the story of Iran is such a tragic, ugly mess.

Back in 1951, during democratic elections in Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh won and became Prime Minister, aiming to steer his country toward a completely new path of development. But he ended up hitting a "no-no!" zone by planning—heaven help us—to nationalize Iran's own oil resources.
In 1953, he was "overthrown" by a coup orchestrated by the CIA and MI6 under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt, aided by—well, goodness gracious—local assets...
That led to the installation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1953, who was, quite literally, an American puppet. Oh yes, he introduced Western standards of values and behavior, moved away from traditional dress, and the country seemed to progress thanks to endless amounts of oil (miracle of miracles!), buying up F-14 fighter jets... but he also crushed every single opposition group, absolutely everyone, except for the religious factions that he somehow viewed as his allies.
And what a disaster that turned out to be—eventually, Khomeini arrives in Iran, our friend Reza flees into exile... and Islamic fanatics seize control. Antiamericanism becomes the way of life and... fucking Iran remains a mortal enemy to the region, to Israel, and to the USA... a rogue state that you can't even have a friendly conversation with, let alone trade with.

Ultimately... What the fuck???
Who, in all their stupidity, selfishness, and narrow-minded pursuit of immediate interests... cooked up this whole mess? The Iranians? The religious fanatics?

brightheron64 said:Since you brought it up, the story of Iran is such a tragic, ugly mess.

Back in 1951, during democratic elections in Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh won and became Prime Minister, aiming to steer his country toward a completely new path of development. But he ended up hitting a "no-no!" zone by planning—heaven help us—to nationalize Iran's own oil resources.
In 1953, he was "overthrown" by a coup orchestrated by the CIA and MI6 under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt, aided by—well, goodness gracious—local assets...
That led to the installation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1953, who was, quite literally, an American puppet. Oh yes, he introduced Western standards of values and behavior, moved away from traditional dress, and the country seemed to progress thanks to endless amounts of oil (miracle of miracles!), buying up F-14 fighter jets... but he also crushed every single opposition group, absolutely everyone, except for the religious factions that he somehow viewed as his allies.
And what a disaster that turned out to be—eventually, Khomeini arrives in Iran, our friend Reza flees into exile... and Islamic fanatics seize control. Antiamericanism becomes the way of life and... fucking Iran remains a mortal enemy to the region, to Israel, and to the USA... a rogue state that you can't even have a friendly conversation with, let alone trade with.

Ultimately... What the fuck???
Who, in all their stupidity, selfishness, and narrow-minded pursuit of immediate interests... cooked up this whole mess? The Iranians? The religious fanatics?

None of the people who "cooked up" that mess are alive today... most have been dead for nearly half a century. So, how exactly does that relate to Russia's aggression in Ukraine?

Hehe, what a desperate attempt at playing both sides to make things look equal.
Honestly, I get why some people who are always rooting against the West don't want to touch these current events with a ten-foot pole. But let's be real here—Russia is heading toward a massive defeat, whether you look at it through the lens of the battlefield, the economy, their diplomatic standing, or their overall strategy. No matter how you spin it, the writing is on the wall.

"Quote:"

brightheron64 said:Since you brought it up, the story of Iran is such a tragic, ugly mess.

Back in 1951, during democratic elections in Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh won and became Prime Minister, aiming to steer his country toward a completely new path of development. But he ended up hitting a "no-no!" zone by planning—heaven help us—to nationalize Iran's own oil resources.
In 1953, he was "overthrown" by a coup orchestrated by the CIA and MI6 under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt, aided by—well, goodness gracious—local assets...
That led to the installation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1953, who was, quite literally, an American puppet. Oh yes, he introduced Western standards of values and behavior, moved away from traditional dress, and the country seemed to progress thanks to endless amounts of oil (miracle of miracles!), buying up F-14 fighter jets... but he also crushed every single opposition group, absolutely everyone, except for the religious factions that he somehow viewed as his allies.
And what a disaster that turned out to be—eventually, Khomeini arrives in Iran, our friend Reza flees into exile... and Islamic fanatics seize control. Antiamericanism becomes the way of life and... fucking Iran remains a mortal enemy to the region, to Israel, and to the USA... a rogue state that you can't even have a friendly conversation with, let alone trade with.

Ultimately... What the fuck???
Who, in all their stupidity, selfishness, and narrow-minded pursuit of immediate interests... cooked up this whole mess? The Iranians? The religious fanatics?

Did you forget about the Soviet ambitions and the messy political maneuvering happening over in Iran during that era?

Look, if you’re going to insist on holding onto a lesson while drifting into irrelevant off-topic tangents, you might at least try to be a little more... thorough.

slyfox43 said:"Quote:"

Did you forget about the Soviet ambitions and the messy political maneuvering happening over in Iran during that era?

Look, if you’re going to insist on holding onto a lesson while drifting into irrelevant off-topic tangents, you might at least try to be a little more... thorough.

Don't feed the trolls. Otherwise, they'll just pivot to claiming Stalin was from Georgia, that most communists weren't even Russian, or that communism was somehow forced on Russia by—who knows who.

Russians aren't going to starve to death, but let's be real—there are plenty of people over there who are going to feel the sting of being cut off from Europe. No travel, no European goods, no sports...

slyfox43 said:They could even go without the frame, provided there’s enough material left to build a shoulder.

Is there really a timber shortage in Russia?

You should probably focus your concerns on America instead.

https://www.google.com/search?q=2x4+...&bih=937&dpr=1

Gerald Chavez7 said:None of the people who "cooked up" that mess are alive today... most have been dead for nearly half a century. So, how exactly does that relate to Russia's aggression in Ukraine?

That was just a passing comment regarding the nefarious Iran, which is currently under sanctions. The way you're clinging to that mention is like flies swarming over... well, you know... that's a whole different conversation

And what does any of this have to do with the current situation... I mean, come on...😒
From learning about how bones get sharpened and clubs used for blunt force... all the way to Ivy Mike, everything is interconnected with what's happening in Ukraine.

slyfox43 said:"Quote:"

Did you forget about the Soviet ambitions and the messy political maneuvering happening over in Iran during that era?

Look, if you’re going to insist on holding onto a lesson while drifting into irrelevant off-topic tangents, you might at least try to be a little more... thorough.

Nothing here is irrelevant.

But hey, since you're such an incredibly well-versed and enlightened guru (🤣)...
https://www.dw.com/sr/sad-i-iran-od-...nas/a-51885550

Maybe the problem is just that because she wrote it, it must all be garbage, lies, and complete fabrications?

brightheron64 said:Since you brought it up, the story of Iran is such a tragic, ugly mess.

Back in 1951, during democratic elections in Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh won and became Prime Minister, aiming to steer his country toward a completely new path of development. But he ended up hitting a "no-no!" zone by planning—heaven help us—to nationalize Iran's own oil resources.
In 1953, he was "overthrown" by a coup orchestrated by the CIA and MI6 under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt, aided by—well, goodness gracious—local assets...
That led to the installation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1953, who was, quite literally, an American puppet. Oh yes, he introduced Western standards of values and behavior, moved away from traditional dress, and the country seemed to progress thanks to endless amounts of oil (miracle of miracles!), buying up F-14 fighter jets... but he also crushed every single opposition group, absolutely everyone, except for the religious factions that he somehow viewed as his allies.
And what a disaster that turned out to be—eventually, Khomeini arrives in Iran, our friend Reza flees into exile... and Islamic fanatics seize control. Antiamericanism becomes the way of life and... fucking Iran remains a mortal enemy to the region, to Israel, and to the USA... a rogue state that you can't even have a friendly conversation with, let alone trade with.

Ultimately... What the fuck???
Who, in all their stupidity, selfishness, and narrow-minded pursuit of immediate interests... cooked up this whole mess? The Iranians? The religious fanatics?

How on earth can you install someone to rule the country when they’ve been sitting in power for twelve consecutive years? It’s like trying to elect a new CEO when the current one hasn't stepped down since the turn of the millennium!
Pahlavi was actually on the execution list until he decided to back down regarding nationalization.

brightheron64 said:That was just a passing comment regarding the nefarious Iran, which is currently under sanctions. The way you're clinging to that mention is like flies swarming over... well, you know... that's a whole different conversation

And what does any of this have to do with the current situation... I mean, come on...😒
From learning about how bones get sharpened and clubs used for blunt force... all the way to Ivy Mike, everything is interconnected with what's happening in Ukraine.

Nothing here is irrelevant.

But hey, since you're such an incredibly well-versed and enlightened guru (🤣)...
https://www.dw.com/sr/sad-i-iran-od-...nas/a-51885550

Maybe the problem is just that because she wrote it, it must all be garbage, lies, and complete fabrications?

What does any of this actually have to do with the topic you're discussing?

Well, since you're such a well-informed and enlightened guru (🤣)...
https://www.dw.com/sr/sad-i-iran-od-...nas/a-51885550

Maybe the problem is just that she wrote it in "three phases," so naturally, it's all garbage and lies?

You’re charging ahead like a Russian soldier toward a goal you’ve imagined is waiting with open arms and waving flags, while leaving your flanks completely exposed; that’s what ideological blindness looks like.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_crisis_of_1946

Who knows, maybe you'll find a "three-phase" source for this one too. There's plenty in the Soviet archives regarding relations with Iran. But clearly, you aren't interested in that, nor in the fact that Iran has historically—and currently—been wary of claims from its hungry northern neighbor.

It's honestly funny that you think you need to "enlighten" me regarding American intervention in Iran, or that I'm somehow endorsing it.

And none of this has anything to do with Ukraine.

George Robinson43 said:How on earth can you install someone to rule the country when they’ve been sitting in power for twelve consecutive years? It’s like trying to elect a new CEO when the current one hasn't stepped down since the turn of the millennium!
Pahlavi was actually on the execution list until he decided to back down regarding nationalization.

Well, how?

It happens when a supposedly parliamentary monarchy turns into an untouchable autocracy, especially when they're more than willing to turn on the oil taps without asking too many questions...

slyfox43 said:What does any of this actually have to do with the topic you're discussing?

Well, since you're such a well-informed and enlightened guru (🤣)...
https://www.dw.com/sr/sad-i-iran-od-...nas/a-51885550

Maybe the problem is just that she wrote it in "three phases," so naturally, it's all garbage and lies?

You’re charging ahead like a Russian soldier toward a goal you’ve imagined is waiting with open arms and waving flags, while leaving your flanks completely exposed; that’s what ideological blindness looks like.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_crisis_of_1946

Who knows, maybe you'll find a "three-phase" source for this one too. There's plenty in the Soviet archives regarding relations with Iran. But clearly, you aren't interested in that, nor in the fact that Iran has historically—and currently—been wary of claims from its hungry northern neighbor.

It's honestly funny that you think you need to "enlighten" me regarding American intervention in Iran, or that I'm somehow endorsing it.

And none of this has anything to do with Ukraine.

No, nothing has anything to do with Ukraine—it's the same kind of confusion we see all over the world. 🙄

Did it ever even cross your mind that Putin might have reached a simple conclusion: "If George Walker could pull it off, why shouldn't I?"?