Russia - threadbanned users in OP

Did I hear a report that there is a new planned squeeze on oil exports from an OPEC group? A group that includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq AND Russia.

Is this Putin's next play in the economic war? If true, are the Saudis not capable of reading the room. Lots of commercial & other interests in Europe.....

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61188579

The weather channel ☁️⛅⛈️🌤️

Once the threat of nuclear weapons in an offensive capacity is introduced, there aren't really any great options. If you respond with the suggestion that you will use some kind of equivalent force, you risk raising the temperature. But if you give any indication that a nuclear threat is what will bring negotiations, you validate that tactic, and it will be used again. And then again. And then again. Up until the bluff is called.

If Mr. Putin wants to salvage any idea that he's a reasonable man, it rests on his shoulders to back down on the nuclear threat. If he wishes to be unreasonable, the rest of the world shouldn't have to humour a madman.

I have a solution to propose - Putin can offer to 'return' all annexed territories, for the sake of peace, aka to stop with the charade of unilaterally recognising these oblasts as Russian. Russia can offer to pay reparations in return for an easing of sanctions. Russia offers to withdraw forces from all Ukrainian territories. Russia shall return every single person they have forcefully displaced from Ukraine. In return, Russia shall get an internationally-observed referendum on Crimea within 5 years, but NATO and EU membership stays on the table for Ukraine. Putin and every member of his cabinet must withdraw from politics. Assurances given on the security of ethnic Russians living in Ukraine.

That's more than generous, considering the potential rout that Russian forces are currently facing in Ukraine if these counter-offensives keep up. It involves no nuclear exchange, and Putin plus cronies may even get the possibility of a quiet retirement, which is a hell of a lot more than they deserve.

You don't f@@k with the Israelis

So who is supposed to be number 2?

China with their massed troops and third rate weapons systems - Russian designed but built to Chinese materials standards?

I'm not having a dig, just trying to get someone else's opinion of where things stand.

My thoughts are that after this war it is Ukraine no. 2 and Israel no.3 because the Israelis have to have learned something from their last disastrous incursion into Lebanon.

He is actually a Russian war corrospondant

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evgeniy_Poddubny?wprov=sfla1

I would agree with you on France but despite the projection I can't reconcile UK or Canada as being very strong militarily. They have the training and professionalism but to use a footballing metaphor they don't have the hunger. The UK do have some of best the weapons platforms however, like they have had for centuries and despite the best efforts of more than half a century of fiscally responsible British government.

Australia are a different quantity. Good training, professionalism and half decent equipment, questionable ability - long time since they have been really tested.

Edit: these are just the musings of an armchair observer who has travelled a bit and been in a few "interesting" places.

It's called Aspergers.

Interesting little snippet suggesting that even Olga Skabayeva has some cop on - she shuts down a Russian propagandist when he tries to claim the Ukrainian army have poor winter gear.