Ukraine suspects that Russia is behind Nord Stream gas pipeline explosions. I think they are too, but for a different reason. Ukraine thinks it is severing its energy relationship with Europe. (Obviously, Putin's successor--should he be deposed before winter--could not re-start the pipeline.) I think Russia did it to create the impression with its citizens that Europe and the U.S. are at war with Russia, and not just supporting Ukraine with weapons. Putin is desperate to get Russians to care enough about his war that they might get on board with military service. The only way to do that is to create the impression that there is an existential war going on with Russia's future at stake. Nord Stream pipeline sabotage beneficial only to Russia, says ex-Ukrainian FM
Good article on Putin trying to negotiate from a position of pretended strength. Analysis: Putin has his back to the wall with the clock ticking ever louder Reminds me of this scene from The Breakfast Club where Bender was still trying to intimidate Clark even after Clark had just floored him with ease. Skip to 1:00 mark if you don’t know what I’m referencing:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin may well succeed in mobilizing the 300,000 reservists he says he needs for the war in Ukraine — but since his announcement, some 360,000 men have already traveled to Georgia and Kazakhstan to escape this fate, and countless others have made their way to other countries. Simply put, the more the Kremlin mobilizes, the more men will try to leave the country, and that has massive implications for all manner of Russian workplaces, and consequently, the economy. With so many men gone, or about to pack their bags, sectors critical to the functioning of society — from factories to internet providers — are at risk of serious disruption. And Russia has no plan in place to deal with this. “ Putin’s mobilization will further upend the Russian economy
To be fair, is CPAC really supporting the aggression of Putin or are they simply opposing American funding of the war? To me, it feels like my heart says "send weapons, funds to Ukraine" and my brain says "when has American aid to fund wars outside our borders ever worked out well?" While I fully detest what Putin is doing in Ukraine, I really don't know if it's in the American people's interests to be sending billions in military aid to Ukraine. If nothing else, all it does is puts us one step closer to being directly involved in the conflict. You'd have to at least agree with that, right?
Side note...One of my favorite movies from my youth for a variety of reasons. Not sure why that movie seems to resonate. Maybe because it was so easy yo relate to?
I don't doubt the numbers of men fleeing Russia, but it does seem high. 360,000 men fleeing in the span of two weeks? How are they leaving without being caught? (assuming Russia would try to keep them from leaving, which I think they would as it would be viewed as a deserter type scenario by the Russians). And how are they counting these amounts of men who have left? Are Georgia and Kazahkstan reporting these figures? I'm not questioning your post, I'm just curious how these numbers are being arrived at and if we can truly believe them. You would think public outcry in Russia would be bigger than it's been reported if almost half a million men have fled the country in the past two weeks. Just trying to figure out what we can believe and what we can discount...
No, it’s the beginning of the end for NATO, I mean Ukraine. It is a politically expedient last gasp attempt to press the envelope before partial-mobilization is in place. And the first of these called-up troops, all of whom had been removed from service less than six months ago, are arriving in Lugansk.
Peace ? You can’t have it if you don’t want it ... Caitlin Johnstone: Fable of 'Unprovoked' War Blocks Peace
Feels a lot like the "partial mobilization" the U.S. did in Vietnam. Russia faces the same issue. Simply sending more men into a situation where they're fighting for foreign turf, where the morale is already extremely low, will just lead to a larger-scale catastrophe for the Russian army. If it was simply a matter of having more men, Russia would have conquered Kyiv within a few weeks, as the Russians already out-numbered and out-gunned the Ukrainians by a wide margin at the start of the war. Why would you assume more men will shift the tide? They're being forced to fight a war they want no part of and there are no underlying motivations like "saving the fatherland". It's a purely imperialistic endeavor that most Russian soldiers don't give two shits about.
I think it’s in our interest to send weapons, advisors, and any other items that will allow them to fight off and weaken Putin’s Russia. Countries need to know that others will not sit idle while they attack another country in a effort to take them over. Damn no brainer for me.
Reports of some significant Ukranian breakthroughs in the South around Kersohn happening as well, not just Lyman ........ I completely disagree with this: "When has American aid to fund wars outside our borders ever worked out well?" - Of course you can look at Vietnam to support this statement but that would ignore Korea, the Phillipines, The Balkans, The Baltic States, Poland, Germany, The fall of the former Soviet Union, Afganisthan, (The 80's) and now of course Ukraine. The "West" and US foreign policy does not "always" win. This is true. Vietnam and Cuba (Bay of Pigs), Nicaragua, being examples, but I suggest you re-evaluate. If nothing else, all it does is puts us one step closer to being directly involved in the conflict. Americans seem oblivious to a simple fact, Ever since Tehran and Yalta, and the close of WW2 there has been an ideological war Geo/Politically between Western Europe i.e. the "West" and communisim, (now re-constituted) as "totalitarian" regimes. It is a complicated struggle with the intracicies of internal politics, corruption, religon and cultural attributes. But make no mistake, it has never stopped, since 1945. (Actually during WW2 itself). Hitlers last insane hope was his belief that a political fracture would occur amongst the allies regarding the very thing I am posting about, but herr Hitler's insanity was recognized by both sides, and created an uneasy alliance between diamterically opposed ideologies, united to stamp out a particularly virulent form of evil, injustice and inhumanity. Have NO DOUBT that the Ukraine is serving the exact role invisioned by Western diplomats, when the former Soviet Union, broke apart...............a buffer zone, between Western Europeans and Russian expansionist aggression. Americans should also come to terms with the fact that Moscow think tanks were very much involved with a dis-information campaign to steer the American public, the voting public, AWAY from our traditional foe ...........Eastern Block (RUSSIA) and against, ourselves, manifesting with the Trump election.The ENEMY of the United States are not progressives and liberals, although many believe that. The Russians were running a rather easy "bloodless coup", and their efforts almost paid off, Jan. 6th. The student of history recognizes they (The Russians) are quite good at that sort of thing. I personally believe that their are agents of this ideological mis-direction propoganda that are ACTIVE on this very site, which should alarm people, because it shows just how infiltrated America has become by these types vis a via social media.
I mean, I'm right there with you, but for the same reasons we don't have actual boots on the ground, I'm not sure if the aid is really going to have the best outcome. I hope it does, but these things are a very slippery slope. I don't think we can oversimplify by just saying "countries need to know that others will not sit idle..." If only it was that simple..
