Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Someone earlier mentioned being old enough to remember. Now I like to think I'm still young enough, but there was a time when the South African Rand was worth around $1.25.

Now it's worth $0.07.

Sanctions played its part. Mismanagement etc took care of the rest.

Russia won't recover from this. They just don't have the wherewithal.

Anyway, always remember my mantra:

French : English

Putin : Whore

Literal translation as per Google Translate.

That's President Whore.

I haven’t posted much on here but been following it daily.

Really have to raise this because I’ve been thinking it for weeks, do you have some kind of weird pseudo-pro Russia thing going on? I actually know your posts before I check your name because they all follow the exact same structure; Russia bad but there only taking a break to secure logistics/weapons etc and any minute now there gonna actually get to work and we will all see what a force they actually are.

I get that the thread shouldn’t be an echo chamber but it seriously reads like you almost want the Russians to win as some kind of I told you so thing.

While I agree with some of your points you seem to go out of your way to excuse Russian actions and failings. Even that comment about Putin winning wars, let’s face it if America was “allowed” to act like Russia has in its wars it would have “won” as well. Pretty much every failed American intervention has failed due to political and social pressure at home, they’ve annihilated every military force they’ve encountered arguably since Korea.

Im not having a go but you’ve a decidedly odd take on this war and if I didn’t recognise your name from other forums I’d seriously think your just a far more subtle shill or “Putinbot” or whatever the internet is calling them these days.

Do you really not think that this last month hasn’t entirely shattered the perception of the Russian military as anything other than that of a third world tinpot dictators expensive and relatively useless plaything? There aren’t even on the same planet as the West in any way shape or form and this adventure has set Russia back 30 years in almost every conceivable way. Despite the overwhelming evidence to support this you seem properly unhappy about it if not entirely unwilling to accept it.

Tp protect the retail investors, duh!

The other VDV song is pretty good as well.

WARNING: May contain Ukrainian propaganda.

It's over

At this stage the russians are pretty much defeated

supply lines cut

soldiers starving

Ukranian victories at Buchas & Mykoliav

economy collapsed

The question is: Do we support the Ukrainian army entering russia?

It's a bit like Saddam after the gulf war.

Do we allow Putler to stay in power or do we support Polish or Ukrainian troops to liberate russia?

I'm no military expert, but maybe now is the time to send in NATO peacekeepers into russia?

I'm no military expert either but I have common sense enough to know that pushing into Russia isn't feasible. Ukraine aren't winning in the sense that they're poised to undertake that kind of operation. They're winning in the sense of preventing Russia from achieving its original objectives and even driving the Russians back in some places. As for NATO going into Russia, if anything is going to get Putin to press the button, it would probably be western forces threatening the very existence of Russia.

Exactly and they're only militarily effect as long as the US and NATO choose to let them be. Once they pull the plug on intelligence and weapons the gig is up. So there's no way you get a NATO supported Russian invasion.

Russia do have a very pressing issue however. As the gas purchases drop and their own stores fill then the wells must be shut down. Many will never be salvaged and others will prove difficult to get going again. Their ability to supply anything close to what they were will diminish even if China or Indian do a deal to purchase off them.

I'd imagine Zelensky knows that we have a tiny military so he's not gona try and convince us to join forces or send in weapons, tho I do have a feeling he will invoke the spirit of 1916 and Northern Ireland and make comment on our history and say real Irish men fight or words to that affect! Most likely will focus on the humanitarian response we have shown and maybe address his diaspora who will be watching. Then Michael Martin with reply with similar words again about our history etc. Will the other leaders speak? Marylou? This kinda feels like political theatre, Like you see Ukrainian TDs with guns and uniforms then compare them to our lot we kinda look so out of depth with dealing with an actual war and invasion.

Apart from the cabinet and opposition leaders what has been the response for the rest of the TDs? I'm in the Roscommon constituency and havent heard from our representatives for most of lockdown!

@Wibbs

The public and news media gave Covid nearly two years worth of its undivided attention before it was put on the back burner. If the war in Ukraine were to be the same, it would be given far more possible time and attention than any expert predicts it all to last for. Far from that being cynical, I think it sounds quite hopeful.

As for industry slowly filtering back into Russia - well, yeah. But that's not necessarily unqualified. Well run businesses want to mitigate risk. A stable, reasonable political establishment is easier to do business with than whatever Putin's crew is becoming. That's a risk. Another risk - continuing damage to brand image in Western markets by participating in the Russian economy. Realism goes both ways on this. The realism of the Post-WW2 world order, where business was supposed to dominate world affairs, says these kind of sh*tty wars are untenable.

You really come across like you are fascinated with him or even admiring him.

There is nothing to admire. He is running the largest country, with so high population and natural resources yet with quite poor economy. I don't see any smartness or skills in it. And people with KGB background can very easily climb the ladder because they have "files" on others, so they are way ahead of any competition. And match such knowledge with a lack of conscience and you will get results. At the end at the top there are not so many people. So organise cronies net and you are set for years in undemocratic setting without checking systems in place. Also it is not a biggie to rule people with washed up brains. And no, Russians are in any way "different" in that matter. All this 1000 years of obedience is b***t. People can be very easily brain washed very quickly as it happens in any sects. It just lays in human's nature.

He is a psychopath, a ruthless murderer with no qualms. He will use any dirty trick to get ahead. Other people achieve less in such a race simply because they are humans. They wouldn't be able to sleep blowing up apartment blocks with innocent people to further their career. He is "winning" because he is an animal, who should be eliminated at all cost.