Is Ukraine about to have a war?
Good to hear the alternate view, although I do wonder whether you're being entirely honest, wary that someone may be watching...
The answer to that question will surprise you, I suspect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/442nd_...(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/761st_...(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/442nd_...(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/761st_...(United_States)
That said, history has shown that suppressing people's native language creates long- lasting hatred and separation tendencies. Give people some level of autonomy and you have a chance (but not a guarantee) that they will stick with you. Suppress them and you can be sure that one day the time will come for them to spin off.
From my perspective that move of suppressing native peoples' native languages serves no immediate purpose (even if they can't speek Russian in public they will do in private and anyway remain pro- Russian. Should Russia send 'Green Men' they will still support them). But it saws anger an hatred. Not a clever move IMHO, although emotionally I can somewhat understand it.
It's a two- sided sword. Looking at the current situation I can understand that Russian speaking parts of the population are considered a potential threat by Ukarinian Government and Western Ukrainian population in general as well.
That said, history has shown that suppressing people's native language creates long- lasting hatred and separation tendencies. Give people some level of autonomy and you have a chance (but not a guarantee) that they will stick with you. Suppress them and you can be sure that one day the time will come for them to spin off.
From my perspective that move of suppressing native peoples' native languages serves no immediate purpose (even if they can't speek Russian in public they will do in private and anyway remain pro- Russian. Should Russia send 'Green Men' they will still support them). But it saws anger an hatred. Not a clever move IMHO, although emotionally I can somewhat understand it.
That said, history has shown that suppressing people's native language creates long- lasting hatred and separation tendencies. Give people some level of autonomy and you have a chance (but not a guarantee) that they will stick with you. Suppress them and you can be sure that one day the time will come for them to spin off.
From my perspective that move of suppressing native peoples' native languages serves no immediate purpose (even if they can't speek Russian in public they will do in private and anyway remain pro- Russian. Should Russia send 'Green Men' they will still support them). But it saws anger an hatred. Not a clever move IMHO, although emotionally I can somewhat understand it.
Indeed, It doesn't! But it gives a false 'felt legitimacy' to those who seek to get involved anyway. It victimises the Russian minority and gives Vlad' a welcome excuse to help his poor fellow neighbours at least in the eyes of his own population (and that's what counts for him).
The answer to that question will surprise you, I suspect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/442nd_...(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/761st_...(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/442nd_...(United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/761st_...(United_States)
I would have thought this was another worrying indicator of Putin's direction of travel https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59808624
A dictator wishing to re-write history
A dictator wishing to re-write history
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This already happened, but in the opposite direction. Pro-nazi Ukrainian nationalists threw bottles with this "cocktails" to the Russian consulate in Lvov (Lviv). Russia replied with the diplomatic note, only.
Regarding troops.
1. Ukraine concentrated more troops near the border than Russia (more than a half of their army) and started doing it first. Why this fact is not addressed when blaming Russia?
2. Any country is free to locate their forces on its territory. Imagine Cuba would start demanding to remove all the US forces out of Florida because they are too close to "the island of freedom" and they are scared?
Regarding escalation.
1. If any country plans to attack another, the first thing is to break all diplomatic and trade links, withdraw the personnel and warn its citizens that the territory is unsafe and they should relocate. Is this happening? No.
2. IMO, Russia has one serious move in its pocket - to recognise Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states. Like it did with South Ossetia and Abhazia after Georgia started the war and killed many Russian peacekeeping staff there. After that it can sign treaties to secure their security. But there are no signs of such warnings as yet.
Regarding troops.
1. Ukraine concentrated more troops near the border than Russia (more than a half of their army) and started doing it first. Why this fact is not addressed when blaming Russia?
2. Any country is free to locate their forces on its territory. Imagine Cuba would start demanding to remove all the US forces out of Florida because they are too close to "the island of freedom" and they are scared?
Regarding escalation.
1. If any country plans to attack another, the first thing is to break all diplomatic and trade links, withdraw the personnel and warn its citizens that the territory is unsafe and they should relocate. Is this happening? No.
2. IMO, Russia has one serious move in its pocket - to recognise Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states. Like it did with South Ossetia and Abhazia after Georgia started the war and killed many Russian peacekeeping staff there. After that it can sign treaties to secure their security. But there are no signs of such warnings as yet.
Ukraine may have more troops at the borders, but that was only in direct response to the threat of invasion that proved correct when you invaded Crimea, which no matter how you dress it up was Russia, and now those troops are preventing the loss of more of the Country while attempting to regain the lands lost, funny is put it, the never needed to put them on the western borders because they never feared an invasion from the west.
Recognise independent states….. what like they did with Poland, East Germany, Romania, Etc etc etc, all supposedly independent states answering to and under the control of Russia.
As for the Molotov Cocktails, as I said, bomb your own building then blame it on a neo nazi group to add to the list of excuses / reasons to eventually invade.
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No, I am living in the middle of the events addressed, having friends and relatives in the Ukraine too. While you are somewhere far away being brainwashed by BBC, CNN and other russophobic propaganda.
Study history and geography of this region, please. Russia did not invade Crimea, nor did I personally. Before the Crimeans voted for independence, there were about 20K of the Russian troop legally in Crimea and the same amount of the Ukrainian troops. After the vote, about 30% of the Ukrainian troops were happy to volunteerly join the Russian army, about 30% retired and remained living there, and the last one third peacefully relocated to the mainland. No shooting, just 1 Russian and 1 Ukrainian killed by an unidentified sniper who likely wanted to start a big fire. Civil war in Ukraine started after the pro-nazi coup de etat inspired and supported by the West.
The reality is opposite to what you said. Insane nationalists threw bottles to the Russian consulate and they did not hide themselves.
More dangerous is "playing" with chemical stuff by the US mercenaries (or you may call them contractors or instructors) planning the same dirty tricks as "white helmets" (controlled by them) did in Syria.
Hope it will not happen.
More dangerous is "playing" with chemical stuff by the US mercenaries (or you may call them contractors or instructors) planning the same dirty tricks as "white helmets" (controlled by them) did in Syria.
Hope it will not happen.
Originally Posted by [email protected]
I would have thought this was another worrying indicator of Putin's direction of travel https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59808624
A dictator wishing to re-write history
A dictator wishing to re-write history
There is yet another interesting story : https://www.dw.com/en/foreigners-in-...cks/a-60182104
It gives you the idea that Russians really want to get rid of all the foreigners.
Quote: "The amendment states that foreign professionals, their family members living in Russia and any foreigner who wants to stay in the country for an extended period of time have to be tested every three months for infectious diseases, including syphilis, HIV, leprosy, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. They are also required to take a drug test and must submit their fingerprints and a biometric photo to the authorities."
In essence, everyone over the age of 6 (six) has to test for eg syphilis and drugs every three months...
Now here's the catch: it does not apply if you are a belarusian... Being on Putins leash gets yet another meaning.
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Quote: "The amendment states that foreign professionals, their family members living in Russia and any foreigner who wants to stay in the country for an extended period of time have to be tested every three months for infectious diseases, including syphilis, HIV, leprosy, tuberculosis, and COVID-19. They are also required to take a drug test and must submit their fingerprints and a biometric photo to the authorities."
assuming you are living in country and have been tested a couple of times, the only place you are going to get those diseases is from the local untested populace.
Just a ruse to get DNA samples . If you have to get an X-ray ask the technician when it was last calibrated . If the technician does not know , you might want to re-book the tests at a facility that checks their equipment . It does not take much error to make you bald or turn your hair white .
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[QUOTE=NutLoose;11162308]Gas prices are tumbling after US sends liquified gas tankers to the EU
Putin hits back! Russia ramps up pressure on EU after Biden's gas threat crumbles (msn.com)
In a televised government meeting, the Russian President said today (Wednesday) that the Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline would stabilise gas prices in Europe.
His remarks appear to indicate that the US's decision to send 20 liquefied natural gas tankers to Europe was interpreted as a threat to the Kremlin .
Mr Putin also told the meeting that the second line of the pipe would soon be filled with gas.
Construction on the pipeline - which runs from Russia to Germany on the bed of the Baltic Sea - was completed in September.
However, it has laid idle while awaiting regulatory approval from Berlin and Brussels and has become a political tool in growing tensions between the West and Russia.
Earlier today, Russian state media reported that Alexander Novak, the country's Deputy Prime Minister, believed the pipeline would be given the green light in the first half of 2022.
The EU has been struggling with an energy crisis since a global shortage of natural gas earlier this year.
The economic bloc - whose largest supplier of gas is Russia - had been hampered by a reduced supply.
Mr Putin has faced accusations that he was engineering the crisis, using the monopoly on gas in Europe to drive up prices.
After the US sent its own tankers laden with liquefied natural gas, the price of gas in Europe tumbled.
EU natural gas prices extended losses for the sixth day in a row to €100 (£84.19) per megawatt-hour, the lowest in three weeks.
It is now trading roughly 45 percent below a record high of €180.27 (£151.78) reached last week.
Russia has appeared at times anxious to have the pipeline, which unlike the current supply to Europe would circumvent Ukraine, certified by the EU.
The EU's hesitancy to agree to the new pipeline comes amid tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Today, Mr Novak said: "The project vehicle implementing the Nord Stream 2 project is acting strictly in line with European laws.
"Any demands above current laws are of political nature."
Nord Stream 2 is opposed by Washington, which believes the pipeline will make the EU even more reliant on Russian gas.
In November, the Biden administration imposed further sanctions connected to the pipeline in an effort to stop its approval.
At the time, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said America must "push back against harmful Russian activities, including in the energy sphere".
Putin hits back! Russia ramps up pressure on EU after Biden's gas threat crumbles (msn.com)
In a televised government meeting, the Russian President said today (Wednesday) that the Nord Stream 2 undersea gas pipeline would stabilise gas prices in Europe.
His remarks appear to indicate that the US's decision to send 20 liquefied natural gas tankers to Europe was interpreted as a threat to the Kremlin .
Mr Putin also told the meeting that the second line of the pipe would soon be filled with gas.
Construction on the pipeline - which runs from Russia to Germany on the bed of the Baltic Sea - was completed in September.
However, it has laid idle while awaiting regulatory approval from Berlin and Brussels and has become a political tool in growing tensions between the West and Russia.
Earlier today, Russian state media reported that Alexander Novak, the country's Deputy Prime Minister, believed the pipeline would be given the green light in the first half of 2022.
The EU has been struggling with an energy crisis since a global shortage of natural gas earlier this year.
The economic bloc - whose largest supplier of gas is Russia - had been hampered by a reduced supply.
Mr Putin has faced accusations that he was engineering the crisis, using the monopoly on gas in Europe to drive up prices.
After the US sent its own tankers laden with liquefied natural gas, the price of gas in Europe tumbled.
EU natural gas prices extended losses for the sixth day in a row to €100 (£84.19) per megawatt-hour, the lowest in three weeks.
It is now trading roughly 45 percent below a record high of €180.27 (£151.78) reached last week.
Russia has appeared at times anxious to have the pipeline, which unlike the current supply to Europe would circumvent Ukraine, certified by the EU.
The EU's hesitancy to agree to the new pipeline comes amid tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
Today, Mr Novak said: "The project vehicle implementing the Nord Stream 2 project is acting strictly in line with European laws.
"Any demands above current laws are of political nature."
Nord Stream 2 is opposed by Washington, which believes the pipeline will make the EU even more reliant on Russian gas.
In November, the Biden administration imposed further sanctions connected to the pipeline in an effort to stop its approval.
At the time, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said America must "push back against harmful Russian activities, including in the energy sphere".
A Van
Who is trying to brainwash who here? The rest of the world recognises Putin and his pseudo dictatorship for what it is but only the Russian media is telling the truth?????
While you are somewhere far away being brainwashed by BBC, CNN and other russophobic propaganda.
Removing political opponents, promoting fear of foreigners amongst the people, pursuing expansionist policies, controlling the media, massive increase in military spending - all sounds frighteningly similar to 1930's Germany.
Van has been missing for some time until now - etudiant less so. Often its useful to have the other side's view and in this case I think we're hearing the authentic line from the Russian side
I don't think there is anything 'authentic' about A Van's posts - just part of his FSB day job.
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Originally Posted by [email protected]
I don't think there is anything 'authentic' about A Van's posts - just part of his FSB day job.
interestingly I was watching a programme on the Yom Kimpur war and they were saying Syria kept building up forces then reducing them at the border until the actual invasion when the Israelis were lulled into a false sense of security allowing people to go on leave having seen it many times before. It struck me as rather like what Russia is doing.
Last edited by NutLoose; 30th Dec 2021 at 11:38.
interestingly I was watching a programme on the Yom Kimpur war and they were saying Syria kept building up forces then reducing them at the border until the actual invasion when the Israelis were lulled into a false sense of security allowing people to go on leave having seen it many times before. It struck me as rather like what Russia is doing.
I don't think there is anything 'authentic' about A Van's posts - just part of his FSB day job.
A Russian nationalist who criticised Vladimir Putin and predicted civil war fell to his death from a fifth-floor window in Moscow.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ow-window.html