- #1,366
neilparker62
Homework Helper
- 1,114
- 630
Somebody needs to tell him he's lost the plot! Who better ?!phinds said:You actually believe that Putin would listen to his ex-wife? What optimism. Totally unfounded in my opinion.
Somebody needs to tell him he's lost the plot! Who better ?!phinds said:You actually believe that Putin would listen to his ex-wife? What optimism. Totally unfounded in my opinion.
An FSB hit squad?neilparker62 said:Somebody needs to tell him he's lost the plot! Who better ?!
I did try to follow up on these reports, but I did not post about it here. There were several different rumors/stories about what this was about, mainly (1) military exercises by Belarus, (2) sonic booms from Russian jets flying there, (3) sabotage actions by (pro-Ukrainian) Belarus resistance and (4) possible preparations for a coup attempt in Belarus (!).DennisN said:Edit: Btw, I've just read reports on Twitter of many explosions heard in south Belarus. I'm keeping an eye on what that is about.
ON BOARD THE SUPPLY SHIP ELBE, Latvia (Reuters) - Hours after Russian missiles first struck Ukrainian cities on Feb. 24, German naval commander Terje Schmitt-Eliassen received notice to sail five warships under his command to the former Soviet Republic of Latvia to help protect the most vulnerable part of NATO's eastern flank.
From https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/02/ukraine-crisis-putin-military-opposition.html - a link which I also posted in #1022.Borg said:An FSB hit squad?
My grandmother's husband and her two brothers died organizing "sabotage/interference with the railway (and other transportation) in Belarus" it was about 1942. Hope the present lap is the last.DennisN said:'ve also heard about some alleged sabotage/interference with the railway (and other transportation) in Belarus
fresh_42 said:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heim_ins_Reich
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_Agreement
The rest started on 9/1/39. We leap exactly 83 years and 5 months.
in Moscow -- yesartis said:based on your information from within, is it accurate that there are sugar shortages in Russia malls?
I've actually found a news article about it:DennisN said:I've also heard about some alleged sabotage/interference with the railway (and other transportation) in Belarus. It's unclear to me (1) if it has happened and (2) by whom, so I decided to not link to where I read it.
https://news.yahoo.com/witnessed-mariupols-agony-fled-russian-100217753.htmlMARIUPOL, Ukraine (AP) — The Russians were hunting us down. They had a list of names, including ours, and they were closing in.
We were the only international journalists left in the Ukrainian city, and we had been documenting its siege by Russian troops for more than two weeks. We were reporting inside the hospital when gunmen began stalking the corridors. Surgeons gave us white scrubs to wear as camouflage.
Putin is definitely channeling Hitler and Goebbels.fresh_42 said:It is one of the constants in any dictatorship so far, that they accused others by what they essentially have been guilty themselves!
Indeed.Astronuc said:Putin is definitely channeling Hitler and Goebbels.
I've thought a lot about that during this war on several occasions.fresh_42 said:It is one of the constants in any dictatorship so far, that they accused others by what they essentially have been guilty themselves!
Well, I think it should not be forgotten that the guy on the right also has a lot more military capabilities (including a substantial nuclear arsenal) at his disposal, compared to what the guy on the left had.artis said:So there is safety in "numbers" as they say , especially if you can hide behind them
Yes Putins army both personal and Russian official sure does give him almost endless immunity, but I think it is true in the general sense even without nuclear weapons, that it is much harder to bring judgement to a leader of a huge organization or country than it is to do to a smaller group or an individual.DennisN said:Well, I think it should not be forgotten that the guy on the right also has a lot more military capabilities (including a substantial nuclear arsenal) at his disposal.
Plus the fact, that the mean distance between Putin and even his faithful dog is meanwhile 10 meters and counting.DennisN said:Well, I think it should not be forgotten that the guy on the right also has a lot more military capabilities (including a substantial nuclear arsenal) at his disposal, compared to what the guy on the left had.
I agree. Also, I would say that the risk of various political consequences (etc) for eliminating leaders of countries goes up significantly compared to eliminating terrorist leaders/terrorist groups.artis said:Yes Putins army both personal and Russian official sure does give him almost endless immunity, but I think it is true in the general sense even without nuclear weapons, that it is much harder to bring judgement to a leader of a huge organization or country than it is to do to a smaller group or an individual.
If Bin Laden was say the head of North Korea instead of a radical hiding in a house somewhere in Pakistan he too would be harder to eliminate.
Another one, on 'who knows' level:artis said:someone slipped some numbers
Sounds easier than it actually is. Hitler survived two serious assassination attempts by pure luck. And Putin with his paranoia is far more cautious.DennisN said:... the risk of various political consequences (etc) for eliminating leaders ...
caz said:Ukraine’s ”sin” was seeking stronger relations with the West. Even if it had followed your suggestions, Putin would have found another excuse.
And Orwell.Astronuc said:Putin is definitely channeling Hitler and Goebbels.
I think that's wrong. That might be a distant third reason but the two main reasons are (1) to have a buffer between Russia proper and NATO and (2) to capture all of the gas and oil reserves that belong to Ukraine (they are massive).Jarvis323 said:(6) Russia's interest in Ukraine is largely to have control industries in Ukraine.
Not really. There have been many despots better than Putin. Animal Farm described communism, and 1984 a surveillance society. Both have been practiced by actual communistic regimes better than Putin is able to control private communications nowadays. E.g. WhatsApp is still online.phinds said:And Orwell.
Well, the oil/gas industry is one of many, but clearly, capture of ALL Ukrainian industry and resources, is a huge incentive, and control of trade and transportation, and huge agricultural. A second, and perhaps equally important goal is to prevent Ukraine from becoming part of EU/NATO, after which the goal of controlling Ukraine is no go. A third goal is to prevent Ukraine from being a successful and thriving democracy and open society, something that is anathema to Putin and his corrupt cohorts. Imagine how many young Russians would leave Russia for Ukraine, if Ukraine was a free and open society.phinds said:I think that's wrong. That might be a distant third reason but the two main reasons are (1) to have a buffer between Russia proper and NATO and (2) to capture all of the gas and oil reserves that belong to Ukraine (they are massive).
I was referring to his calling things the opposite of what they are and accusing his enemies of doing what he does.fresh_42 said:Not really. There have been many despots better than Putin.
Sounds familiar?phinds said:I was referring to his calling things the opposite of what they are and accusing his enemies of doing what he does.
phinds said:I was referring to his calling things the opposite of what they are and accusing his enemies of doing what he does.
A politician?fresh_42 said:Sounds familiar?
I know several examples. One was Hitler but I hesitate to call him a politician. Or Ulbricht: "Nobody has the intention to build a wall!" Putin is just an extreme example.Bystander said:A politician?
fresh_42 said:Or Ulbricht [GDR]: "Nobody has the intention to build a wall!" [A week before he actually built the wall in Berlin.]