War in Ukraine

[DonjoVol]

False pretense. There is no peace and order in the region. Putin has been actively sponsoring uprisings and using them as justification to annex regions of other countries.

The Transnistria, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia independence movements were going on long before Putin was elected.

Crimea is almost 80% ethnic Russian. It shouldn't bother you guys and gals that they don't want to be part of Ukraine.

 

[DonjoVol]

I think the common social distancing guidelines suffice. But again he called for voluntary action that would lower infection rates and with no penalties. It's like someone saying cover your mouth when you cough.

So you listened to his full statement. Care to share that real quick? It sounded rather totalitarian to me.

And what proof do you have that unvaccinated individuals were and are more likely to spread it?

 

[MG1968]

That was from a university here in the United States. I was making the point that even our own history textbooks here in the U.S. are obviously flawed. There's also the Southern Strategy myth these college textbooks are teaching. I can tear apart that myth in no time.

Second. I've been told college professors are nothing but a bunch of liberals. Why I should listen to them if they are a bunch of liberals? Same with our mainstream media. I don't need to listen to them and need to do my own research and come up with my own conclusions. Correct?

I'm a free and independent thinker. That's what I've been encouraged and told I should do years ago and is exactly what I have done. Or is free and independent thinking something you are against?

Free and independent thinkers view all media as suspect, not just Western media. You, Ras, volgr and a few others are great at knocking down US media as propaganda. You’re not so great at viewing Russian and pro-Russian media with the same jaundiced eye.

 

[DonjoVol]

Free and independent thinkers view all media as suspect, not just Western media. You, Ras, volgr and a few others are great at knocking down US media as propaganda. You’re not so great at viewing Russian and pro-Russian media with the same jaundiced eye.

Where have I posted links to Russian media or quoted Russian media? I have praised some of the more independent journalists for practicing real journalism. That's it.

Certain US media outlets are propaganda. I'm sure you have possibly made the same statements yourself. I'm certain Dallas has.

 

[davethevol]

Russia TV warns Putin more likely to start WW3 than accept defeat in Ukraine

These aren’t empty threats. If they continue to suffer embarrassment, they are going nuclear.

 

[Rickyvol77]

So you're saying what that textbook taught regarding the Carter administration was true? I don't need to question anything college professors are teaching?

No I’m saying just because a college professor disagreed with you on a political issue and may have been wrong doesn’t mean EVeRYONE is wrong when saying the earth isn’t flat or that the moon landing was faked. Same logic.

 

[Rickyvol77]

Where have I posted links to Russian media or quoted Russian media? I have praised some of the more independent journalists for practicing real journalism. That's it.

Certain US media outlets are propaganda. I'm sure you have possibly made the same statements yourself. I'm certain Dallas has.

Lmao Lancaster IS Russian media Dumbass. He is paid directly by RT and his wife is a Soviet officials daughter.

 

[EasternVol]

So you listened to his full statement. Care to share that real quick? It sounded rather totalitarian to me.

And what proof do you have that unvaccinated individuals were and are more likely to spread it?

I did an internet search and read a blurb from the Independent: Noam Chomsky has argued that those who do not get vaccines should be “isolated” from others. In an interview recorded earlier this year, which went viral last month, the 92-year-old philosopher offered his views on mandating vaccines and while disagreeing with the policy, suggested those who refuse jabs "should" isolate to avoid becoming “a danger to the community". "People who refuse to accept vaccines, I think the right response for them is not to force them to but rather to insist that they be isolated," Chomsky said."
Is that what you had referenced?
There's a lot of information out there that says the unvaxxed are more likely spreaders. For example, Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 cases clear more quickly, less likely to spread infection over time

 

[USF grad in TN]

Russia TV warns Putin more likely to start WW3 than accept defeat in Ukraine

These aren’t empty threats. If they continue to suffer embarrassment, they are going nuclear.

Putin's best strategy at this point is to convince the West that he's crazy.

 

[IluvdoubleD's]

There is a common theme in the horror stories of russian occupied towns. Everyone says the same thing.

"They were very, very drunk."

 

[norrislakevol]

Russia TV warns Putin more likely to start WW3 than accept defeat in Ukraine

These aren’t empty threats. If they continue to suffer embarrassment, they are going nuclear.

See this is what I have been asking since this started. What is the end game here? Will Russia simply accept defeat and go home? Putin most definitely knows that he doesn't stand a chance in a conventional war against the west.

 

[MG1968]

Where have I posted links to Russian media or quoted Russian media? I have praised some of the more independent journalists for practicing real journalism. That's it.

Certain US media outlets are propaganda. I'm sure you have possibly made the same statements yourself. I'm certain Dallas has.

Independent journalists with a heavy pro-Russian narrative bias.

 

[hog88]

Russia TV warns Putin more likely to start WW3 than accept defeat in Ukraine

These aren’t empty threats. If they continue to suffer embarrassment, they are going nuclear.

Hopefully the generals that will relay the order have better sense than Putin.

 

[MG1968]

Russia TV warns Putin more likely to start WW3 than accept defeat in Ukraine

These aren’t empty threats. If they continue to suffer embarrassment, they are going nuclear.

But, according to the usual suspects, Russia is kicking ass and taking names and are the crusading saviors of the Donbas and the liberators of Mariupol.

 

[Electric Orange]

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Nato absolutely has a right to take in a sovereign county that wants to be in it. I thought you were about personal freedom and choice? Unless it goes against what YOU believe

You don't understand English. I didn't say NATO didn't have a right to add Ukraine. I said NATO has no obligation to add Ukraine.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

 

[tvolsfan]

The Transnistria, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia independence movements were going on long before Putin was elected.

Crimea is almost 80% ethnic Russian. It shouldn't bother you guys and gals that they don't want to be part of Ukraine.

Funny, didn't see you mention anything about the Chechen independence movement.

And I hate to break it to you, but Ukraine's current struggle is an independence movement.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Its like they live in an alternate reality when it comes to Ukraine and Russia.

Yeah, as opposed to the free and fair elections we have here in the US.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

Are you suggesting that literally everyone else in the world is wrong about the 2014 election there? I mean there are literally tons of articles about it and it’s in actual history books. The Ukrainian parliament and their people themselves threw the autocrat out of office and exiled him and he went to putin and begged to be a Soviet again.

Oh, well that settles it. It must be true then. We have to believe Western media. They would never lie to their audience to promote an agenda.

 

[MontyPython]

Really nice article...

Tomorrow the Crimean Bridge maybe just maybe gets blown.

How to Take Crimea: The (Coming?) Siege of Crimea

So given all this, how should Ukraine proceed?

Well, first and foremost, they should find a way to take out the pride of recent Russian infrastructure achievements, the Crimean Bridge. This would make it far more difficult to supply Crimea and Russian forces that have invaded further into Ukraine from Crimea; with the anti-ship missile threat looming for the Russia Navy, that leaves the treacherous land corridor from the Donetsk, subject to Ukrainian partisan attacks and Ukrainian military raids, counterattacks, and air, drone, and missile strikes. The destruction of the bridge will also further weaken Russia’s low morale, not just its pathetic logistical efforts.

Then, it could be possible for Ukraine, now getting reinforced by heavy weapons and troops that were victorious to the north, to launch an attack to break through the Kherson front and advance to the Crimean border, cutting it off from other Russian forces. Yet, as Russia seems keen on an offensive in the area, it would be wise to first allow Russian forces to smash themselves into pieces as they have with their offensives elsewhere. Unlike, say, the situation in Mariupol, where a small number of Ukrainian defenders have held on heroically despite the odds and inflicted outsized casualties on Russian forces, the Russians will find far more, better-rested, better-equipped, and better-supplied Ukrainian troops near Kherson. If the Russians are stupid enough to attack and repeat their failures near Kyiv and elsewhere in the north, the Ukrainians can play defense and inflict heavy casualties before launching their own counterattack.

But if Russia is slow to attack or is bluffing around Kherson to focus more on the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of the Donbas, Ukraine may be able to catch Russia off-guard and still launch an offensive from around Kherson that could cut off Crimea from Russian positions to its north and roll back many of the gains Russia has made in south-central Ukraine. Such a move might prompt Russia to weaken its support for the Donbas offensives to meet the Ukrainian offensive.

Whether it waits for the Russians to mash its battalion tactical groups (BTGs) against better equipped Ukrainian troops or takes the initiative and launches an assault first, Ukraine will be able to seriously threaten Crimea sooner rather than later if it can knock out that Crimean Bridge and destroy or drive off the Russian Navy with anti-ship missiles; indeed, both of these are well-within Ukraine’s capabilities.

With most forces that were in Crimea taking part in the invasion to Crimea’s north, again, we can expect a not terribly strong troop presence in Crimea. Adding support to the idea that Crimea is not the best-supplied area at the moment is that the Russians are looting grain from granaries in Kherson and elsewhere and moving the plundered grain into Crimea, along with vegetables.

Thus, it would be relatively easy to put Crimea under a form of siege. With its one bridge to Russia destroyed and Russian naval vessels either sunk from anti-ship missile or fleeing out of their range and into irrelevance, land and sea routes to resupply and reinforce Crimea will be cut off, and, as noted, it is unlikely large numbers of quality troops will have been left behind in Crimea. Air drops would be possible but aircraft will also be at risk from stinger missiles and Ukrainian air defense systems Ukraine could move to the border of Crimea, including air defense systems recently sent by NATO’s Slovakia. Russia has its own advanced air-defense systems in Crimea, so airstrikes would be difficult and risky for Ukraine. Thus, a siege to soften up the Russians before a ground assault would make the most sense, as the Russian troops will begin feeling it over the course of the siege, which would further weaken morale and combat effectiveness before that assault would come. If Ukraine can neutralize Russian air defenses during the course of the campaign, it could then utilize aircraft with far less risk to help finish the job.

The Siege of Crimea would weaken whatever resistance the Russian troops there—unable to be reinforced or resupplied by land or sea and not able to get much from the air if anything—would be able to offer, and when Ukraine does attack, it can use its more advanced, more precise, and heavier weapons it is now getting or about to get from the West.

It is true that most Crimeans are ethnic Russians who supported Russia’s illegal annexation, with those disagreeing having been mostly silenced, suppressed, “disappeared,” arrested (even for displaying the flag of Ukraine), tortured, or even killed, especially journalists, activists, and Crimean Tatars (who have a long history of persecution and oppression at the hands of Russia). But contrary to the expectations of many of those supporting Russia in Crimea, prosperity did not come to Russian-occupied Crimea; rather, stagnation, isolation, and sanctions did, along with a collapse of the tourism industry and an overall deterioration in the quality of life. The population would have declined were Russia not moving in large numbers of military, security, and intelligence personnel and their families from Russia to Crimea. Morale among those living in Crimea would likely have been much higher right after the 2014 takeover than it is now. Ukraine will almost certainly be far more careful than Russians in avoiding civilian casualties, as Russia engages in indiscriminate bombings (or, more accurately, deliberate) of civilian areas. The people there, already suffering under a depressed economy for years, will likely see a further drop in morale during a siege. Many will try to leave, and, unlike the Russians with civilians elsewhere in Ukraine, Ukrainians are near-certain to allow them to do so. For the above reasons, even though pro-Russia sentiment remains high, it is doubtful that many Crimean civilians will want to fight Ukrainians in the way Ukrainians rose up to resist Russians. If Ukraine were to invade, Russian troops weakened by the siege and suffering from low morale and the ubiquitous poor Russian leadership, knowing no reinforcements are coming and having nowhere to retreat to, would likely be defeated relatively quickly.



Losing Crimea Would be Russia’s Most Devastating Loss of the War

The loss of Crimea would be a devastating blow to not only morale for the Russian military, it would be quite substantive: one of its main bases in the region, including the main base of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol, would be in Ukrainian hands. Perhaps even more importantly, it would—as I have previously argued—shatter Russians’ confidence in their incompetent Putin: the retaking of Crimea was a great source of pride and their faith and confidence in him, and, regardless of what nonsense, mindless propaganda is thrown at them by Russian state television, losing Crimea would make it painfully obvious...

 

[Hunerwadel]

I want to make sure all of you are on record once the partition of Ukraine begins. I don't want to hear or see any nonsense once that happens. Nothing about the sovereignty of Ukraine or any of that.

For someone who doesn't want to hear or see any nonsense you sure spout enough of it.
When this is over Ukraine may very well be partitioned or completely defeated. Every one with a pulse thought it would have happened two months ago.
Whatever does happen there is no win here for Russia. They are going to suffer economic and political damage for decades. The ineffectiveness of their military has been exposed and they aren't going to have the funds or technology to build a real one any time soon. Their actions have solidified NATO and will likely lead to its expansion. So go right on and celebrate your victory stooge. But do it fast before your wine turns.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

And I hate to break it to you, but Ukraine's current struggle is an independence movement.

This is funny. So Ukraine is in a struggle for independence. But within Ukraine, the Donbas region is in a struggle for independence.

I want to see the mental gymnastics you use to defend one struggle for independence, but not the other.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

For someone who doesn't want to hear or see any nonsense you sure spout enough of it.
When this is over Ukraine may very well be partitioned or completely defeated. Every one with a pulse thought it would have happened two months ago.
Whatever does happen there is no win here for Russia. They are going to suffer economic and political damage for decades. The ineffectiveness of their military has been exposed and they aren't going to have the funds or technology to build a real one any time soon. Their actions have solidified NATO and will likely lead to its expansion. So go right on and celebrate your victory stooge. But do it fast before your wine turns to vinegar.

There is so much wrong with this post, I don't even know where to start.

 

[Hunerwadel]

Doesn't that just burn your ass Ras?