We can't trust what the Russians tell us. We can however see what they're doing or not doing through photos by surveillance satellites. We're also rather proficient at intercepting communications. We do have a pretty idea as to whether they're lying or not.
Really? Is that why they invaded Ukraine last week when Biden said they would? I know our intelligence is typically flawless. (Iraq WMD and more recently Kabul will not fall). I'm sure we're at the point now where Biden can use the force to intercept Vlad Putin's thoughts.
Putin could attack Ukraine on Feb. 16, Biden told allies Biden said that they "could" attack not that they would. "Could" and "would" have different meanings. Just saying.
Jesus, dude. We can see troop movement. It's not about believing anything. That's a completely different thing than predicting what another actor will do. Apply a little reason here.
He showed up here on February 8 and has been spewing the Russian position since. Suggest you read his posting history in both threads. It is all “lose Lose” on the right. Basically, the extreme right wingers are arguing that Biden invented an invasion threat that Biden is too weak to stop. They live in a fantasy land that is all political. Biden is warmongering for a war he is too weak to get involved in. Read both threads through again.
At this point, as Americans, what is to be gained by spewing the rhetoric day in and day out? You've told them what they can't do and that there would be severe consequences if they do it. You've told them no American boots on the ground. You've issued dozens of warnings publicly. If they invade, then hit them with the real sanctions your old boss should have hit them with in 2014 and move on. Biden is making it a public spectacle. I mean, it's fine to do that 2 or 3 times. But it's every day. I think the Russians get the point, so what other reason is there to continue the narrative daily if you're not going to put boots on the ground?
If I need to link this for you, you're in the wrong thread. I'd advise debating a topic you actually know something about.
so there is no link that President Biden said in your words “Russians were going to invade Ukraine within 48 hours.” (Post 78) And now with no recourse, you can only engage in silly personal attacks
Have you ever thought Biden may make public statements trying to influence Putin's behavior. Not every public statement is to increase your awareness of the situation.
The point might be to let Putin know that we are still paying attention. We Americans do seem to have an awfully short attention span. What were we talking about again?
The intelligence community writ large did not say that there were WMD in Iraq. That was a political exercise. I don’t recall intelligence saying Kabul wouldn’t fall. I think most people with any experIence in the region gave it a 50/50 chance at best that the Government of Afghanistan would survive.
There were assessments that the Kabul Government would hold out for months. Biden seemed to operate under that assumption. The fact that the Afghan government up and left basically in the middle of the night was certainly an intelligence failure. They knew it would likely fall eventually, but if it was inevitable, it was a bad assumption to think there was even a window of time to operate in (as far it holding up long enough to continue slow paced evacuations). This is totally different as its not predicting how long a government can “hold on”. It’s not claiming there are WMD’s (when there weren’t). Literally, it is satellite imagery of the Russians massing their troops. A provocative move by the Russians that can only be seen as a threat to Ukraine. Pretty bizarre (Sputnik newz) take to turn that around and blame Biden or “western propaganda” for wanting to trigger a war. How about those Rooskies go home…
This is a really stupid game of chicken. Has a 1914 vibe I don't like one bit. I'm still hope this is all brinkmanship, but it doesn't take much of a misstep for things to go south. And today's shelling limits sane options even more.
