We've covered all of the major players but have only picked and chosen on Russia, usually on the subject of President Putin. Obviously, there's much more to Russia than Putin.
Recently I came upon this.
Russia unveils new Marussia luxury sports car
http://www.bbc.com/news/12021255 (http://www.bbc.com/news/12021255)
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia-cache-ec0.pinimg.com%2F736x%2Fdf%2Ff1%2Fb1%2Fdff1b1074779f18d8c9e0e33f3312611.jpg&hash=2f50a50db188ad8866c6038d8c51de86" rel="cached" data-hash="2f50a50db188ad8866c6038d8c51de86" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/df/f1/b1/dff1b1074779f18d8c9e0e33f3312611.jpg)
I want one!
Can I add a user to "ignore" right through the user's profile? I couldn't find a button.
Can I add a user to "ignore" right through the user's profile? I couldn't find a button.
You mean user or thread?
Is this your first button problem?
Here's breaking news on the Russian burger giant.
http://www.theonion.com/audio/russia-takes-control-of-struggling-burger-king-cha,13882/ (http://www.theonion.com/audio/russia-takes-control-of-struggling-burger-king-cha,13882/)
Can I add a user to "ignore" right through the user's profile? I couldn't find a button.
You mean user or thread?
I think he means me.
Threads started by an ignored user are unignorable. Secondary posts are ignorable.
Threads started by an ignored user are unignorable. Secondary posts are ignorable.
D&D allowed ignoring the posts of a member, but I don't see anything like that here.
It's in a different place. Go to your profile > Buddies/Ignore list https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?action=profile;area=lists;sa=ignore;u=29
Found it...thanks. You're now blocked! :D :beer:
Well, Crimea has been annexed by the evil Russian dictator, VP.
Obama has issued a stinging rebuke and has ordered McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets to refuse service to Russian diplomatic staff in the US. Evidently, Putin has crossed one of Obama's many red lines.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fthumbs.dreamstime.com%2Fx%2Fkfc-restaurant-russia-18906140.jpg&hash=f9bd3bbcfa3f856b8d6483ca681a8584" rel="cached" data-hash="f9bd3bbcfa3f856b8d6483ca681a8584" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/kfc-restaurant-russia-18906140.jpg)
Syria, you're next.
======================================
In the long run does all of this really matter? What would Mr. Putin have to do to upset Europeans?
You mean user or thread?
Hm...
I'd like to! :idea:
You mean user or thread?
Hm...
I'd like to! :idea:
It's easy to ignore a thread. All you have to do is choose not to open it.
Ignoring users is a little harder, and for some of us it isn't practical.
For an intelligent man it is painfully obvious that jimbro is not any different from anyone else he moans at for being constantly on the attack.He lives still in a Cold War mentality. I will remind him that President Putin was democratically elected. The election was overseen by international observers. What utter silliness harping on about the Russian dictator. You elect a President who goes on killing innocent people with drones and your elections till see 40 million poor and suffering people over there and so on. Anyone with any common sense who visited Russia in the strident and controlled days of the USSR and walked about today would be gob-smacked. There is a fixed and illicit mindset from him and others on Russia and coming from a land that is a mockery of rights, freedoms and all that false guff needs to use the grey cells more astutely. When it comes to fixations he has one which is superglued into his brain and makes him look narrow and very unbecoming. Have a nice day......
The idea that Putin was democratically elected is a joke. He's an unabashed dictator who likes to show his tits.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hellomagazine.com%2Froyalty%2F2007%2F08%2F14%2Falbert-putin-fishing%2Fimgs%2Fputin-albert-1b.jpg&hash=68efbb4557223a10097217bb3134f19d" rel="cached" data-hash="68efbb4557223a10097217bb3134f19d" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2007/08/14/albert-putin-fishing/imgs/putin-albert-1b.jpg)
Cameron was elected. Obama was elected. Putin was deified.
Former Soviet spy chief claims Putin regime is an ‘intelligence agency dictatorship’
The highest ranking defector to flee from the old Soviet bloc has a message to share about Vladimir Putin — he’s still a KGB agent at heart and that mindset is heavily influencing his tactics for furthering Russia’s interests.
Ion Mihai Pacepa was the head of the Romanian communist regime’s foreign intelligence service before he defected to the West in 1978. Due to the threats on his life, Pacepa refuses to appear in public, but he has communicated his message to the co-author of his most recent book ”Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom, Attacking Religion, and Promoting Terrorism.”
that jimbro is not any different from anyone else ... I will remind him that President Putin was democratically elected.
1. You're proving really the same, RJ...
2. I ain't know nuttn' 'bout some "PRESIDENT Putin" - even who that shit is, but when we'd considered somebody else - namely the impostor V.Poo-tin - we'd clearly see that this well know person OBVIOUSLY WAS elected - a couple of times - which can't make any sense for
today.
that jimbro is not any different from anyone else ... I will remind him that President Putin was democratically elected.
1. You're proving really the same, RJ...
2. I ain't know nuttn' 'bout some "PRESIDENT Putin" - even who that shit is, but when we'd considered somebody else - namely the impostor V.Poo-tin - we'd clearly see that this well know person OBVIOUSLY WAS elected - a couple of times - which can't make any sense for today.
And here he is with a few adoring fans. Eat your heart out Grigory Sokolov.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngwH6Zy5vb8[/video]
Careful Josh. Pootin is listening to everything.
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fmattsheadspace.files.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fnimwt.jpg&hash=ebb593ff0ffe3e801e6176bb577a66de" rel="cached" data-hash="ebb593ff0ffe3e801e6176bb577a66de" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://mattsheadspace.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/nimwt.jpg)
- namely the impostor V.Poo-tin - we'd clearly see that this well know person ...
Keep calm Josh. Excitement could degrade your grammar :P
- namely the impostor V.Poo-tin - we'd clearly see that this well know person ...
Keep calm Josh. Excitement could degrade your grammar :P
Josh's grammar...
(https://dndsanctuary.eu/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fargentina.indymedia.org%2Fuploads%2F2004%2F05%2Findymedia_buenos_aires_-_abuela_-_enojada.jpg&hash=0fec6364af96c0bf37c34a541ef47ba0" rel="cached" data-hash="0fec6364af96c0bf37c34a541ef47ba0" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://argentina.indymedia.org/uploads/2004/05/indymedia_buenos_aires_-_abuela_-_enojada.jpg)
Keep calm Josh.
Calm Josh? Is it me?..
:rolleyes:
Yes Putin was democratically elected jimbro and the international people there to see it never mind the vast amount spent overseeing security. In actual practice Putin had a decline in his votes (although different today!).You really are not that much different from many in your country brought up inn the days of Cold War and after learning the alphabet had to learn of the evil enemy of the USSR. That dictatorship was evil and the place a boring nightmare but even with problems the place is vastly different than the old days even allowing for JoshL. Trouble is the West did not adapt to that or much try. You are so besotted by your ignorance and hate there no benefit of the doubt. You personally cannot even find a real person to vote for in your Presidential elections and live in a past world. Considering the state your nation is in it does you no consideration. You are quick to condemn others for a jaundiced eye but like most self satisfiers never see it in yourself. Kind of sad as one would have thought a broader mentality really. Disappointing. :worried:
Yes Putin...
Ah! I get it now!..
"Yes" and "President" are the first names of some Scottish brothers! :idea:
Yes Putin ...democratically elected jimbro and the international people there...
(https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/3D_emoticon_Frog002.gif)He elected jimbro and all the other people there, (https://www.smileyfaze.tk/slides/2691k.gif).
Hi Josh :up:
Since you are the forum expert for Russia, one question to you: Who is the actual president of Russia?
It is the wrong question (as the post itself is vacant, by law).
Pics of Sochi after olympics http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/festival/589265.html?ext=anpo
Pics of Sochi after olympics http://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/festival/589265.html?ext=anpo
As long as the economy can handle it, it will fill up. Sochi is conveniently placed between Russian-controlled Abkhazia and Russian-controlled Crimea, a few hours drive from either.
The Sochi photos are misleading. Shame on you! You cherry picked photos of the Olympic village after the games. In the city proper things are much better.
If you’re looking for an experience to remember in Sochi there is little to rival the memories that you’ll make spending a night in one of the city’s gentlemen’s clubs. Sochi’s gentlemen and strip clubs feature talented girls from the Sochi area in a discreet and welcoming environment. Whether you are looking for your first experience with live adult entertainment or are coming to discover the differences between Russian gentleman’s clubs and your home variety, Sochi’s strip clubs are the right choice in entertainment for you.
Sochi is conveniently placed between Russian-controlled Abkhazia and Russian-controlled Crimea, a few hours drive from either.
Geography is a bit different. Sochi ends directly at Russian-Abkazian border. Border itself is a small river, Abkhazia is on one riverside, Adler district of Sochi is on another riverside. So, one can see Abkhazia from house in Sochi :).
Distance from Sochi to Simferopol (capital of Crimea) is ~500km.
For an in-depth analysis of what's going on in Russia, take a look at this.
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/8gpcf5/big-vladdy---semi-delusional-autocrats (http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/8gpcf5/big-vladdy---semi-delusional-autocrats)
Only plays in the US of A is says. When it comes to principles and rights and all that stuff you don;t have to look at some other country. Indeed start with the way the State of Michigan is run! Heavens you volunteered to return there!
Try this one. It's mostly a slam at out teabag conservatives...Republicans, of course.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/07/jon-stewart-fox-news-putin-shirtless-obama-mom-jeans-daily-show_n_4919517.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/07/jon-stewart-fox-news-putin-shirtless-obama-mom-jeans-daily-show_n_4919517.html)
Tried it as well jimbro. Guess i am going to be unlucky oh this one. :(
Too bad. It's a funny clip. If it's not on Youtube, it may not work.
Not the ones I wanted, but give a look.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TnZ3iGOBO0[/video]
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmIUm1E4OcI[/video]
Russian Black Sea spy ship Лиман collided with the freight ship Youzarsif-H (an apparently Lebanese ship under the flag of Togo, just departed from Romania). The Russian spy ship was cut below the waterline and sank https://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=2882587
The incident occurred 40 km NW of Bosphorus (i.e. closest to Turkey). Nobody died.
My condolences, ersi. No Russians died. :P
My condolences, ersi. No Russians died. :P
The funny part is that the other ship was carrying cattle. No harm to that ship, its crew or cargo. Wouldn't a military ship be more durable?
The funny part is that the other ship was carrying cattle.
Professional reporting terminology can be even more funny. :lol:
If it belongs to to the good guys (NATO) then it's spelled "reconnaissance ship".
If it belongs to the bad guys (Russia) then it's spelled "spy ship".
If it's sunk by a collision with a cow-carrier, how can it be called a "Major Power" ship? :)
Moo…
Perhaps carrying cows take more power than carrying [Russian] soldiers. :cow:
In America, Mueller says this (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/02/16/us/politics/document-The-Special-Counsel-s-Indictment-of-the-Internet.html) about Russia. I think he merely caught up with Finnish news. Yle in 2015 https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-7804386
We all are Russian infiltrated agents in DnD, disguised as different nationals, in order to manipulate the world.
The ex-colonist stuff about the Russian government interfering in America's election is so pathetic. There may well be individual Russian business minds or general individuals voicing opinions but how can Americans just simply be so simple a election can be influenced. Russia did not help put Trump in the Yanks did that themselves and the nonsense (and is that) he and the bears got into a cuddle to win the election is plain silly. On a secondary level America is making itself look like idiots with the rubbish. Secondly the thing is they accuse the Kremlin of is the very thing they have been doing for decades on other countries but of course that side is okay?! There is no way Russia affected the American Election and it is all so childish and stupid.
It was safe to say ahead of time that Putin was already elected. The interesting question was who the electors would be.
Kremlin officials privately acknowledge some voters are reluctant to show up and vote, even if they support Putin, because they believe his victory is already a foregone conclusion. The officials say though the vote will be fair.
Ella Pamfilova, head of the commission organising the vote nationwide, has said any fraud will be stamped out. She said those alleging the election was rigged were biased against Russia.
Reuters reporters at polling stations across Russia spoke to multiple voters who said they had been instructed by bosses or academic supervisors to vote. Many took photographs of themselves voting, saying they were needed as proof.
In one case, a senior election official inspecting a polling station said the photographs of voting should not be allowed, and ordered election staff there to stamp it out.
UPDATE: Putin Easily Wins Another Six-Year Term in the Kremlin
How long Putin wants to stay in power is uncertain.
Putin does do well however he I think, is musing on that's it for this term. Now if they made him Tsar instead of one of the Romanovs he would be longer!
Elections in Russia. You can mute the sound and let the picture do the talking https://youtu.be/Ux--TRSAD8I?t=2120
Things going wrong were a tiny matter and the eventual result shows that as factual. Putin is extremely popular in Russia and he had no problem wining the election. We in the West cannot get such a vast result so we get the daft attitude towards Russia.
Putin is a menace to Europe.
Everything is a menace to Europe.
Things going wrong were a tiny matter and the eventual result shows that as factual.
In Russian elections, things don't go a tiny wee bit wrong. Instead, people do exactly as told. They did what they did because they were told to do that. It was not just ordinary people getting it in their head for fun to vote a dozen-fold at a time, but they were also election officials and election supervisors.
The fun part is that they do it by manipulating the voting box and people, instead of simply manipulating the numbers, which is much easier to do. And it would be easier still if they had digital voting.
What silly propaganda stuff you swallow ersi.
The greatest and by far population who voted did vote for Putin but you like many here and the media go hell bent on nonsense. Putin would never have lost the election but it doesn't suit minds like yours that just swallows the propaganda. Even allowing for the examples of illegality they were still tiny and the general and vast majority of polling stations were A1. Here in the West we are easily brained and because such outstanding voting would not happen in Europe, Gt Britain or America the propaganda merchants go bananas. Even allowing for incidents the election was fair and the stations concerned were still a very tiny thing in a big country that your brain doesn't figure on. When one considers that the leader of the "Free World" has a political system run by corporates and that is simple overlooked the situation is laughable.
Britain had poison stuff stored back in the 1950's and the USA dropped Agent Orange from planes in the South Viet am war. It killed, left people maimed for life and even effected some US military.
Here in the West we are easily brained
Yes you are. I happen to reside exactly at the border so I know the worst of both worlds.
Britain had poison stuff stored back in the 1950's and the USA dropped Agent Orange from planes in the South Viet am war. It killed, left people maimed for life and even effected some US military.
This is connected to Russian elections how?
Yup, you are brained.
Navalny is pointing out manipulation with numbers too (this time subtitled) https://youtu.be/BplJQtpfero?t=194
You are being a tad near silly ersi.
That there were election misuse is one thing but it was NOT a general and routine majority issue whatsoever. You are just as easily fooled no matter where you physically sit. And that stuff suggesting Russians suffer more or less control freakery. They voted in an election in which the massive majority of places the thing was carried out properly and filmed too. They don't need to bother to vote just like in any country but they did in sufficient numbers to put Putin back into office and is as obvious as a nose on the face. Because of the incidents that did happen and a tiny reflection of the mass situation you are not being very balanced at all. Russians have indicated their support for the President's re-election and you use a minority of wrong points into somehow yakking that Russians are being brained into things and that the falseness is bigger than it actually was.
Russia is a big country and the people are very loyal to their place and want a strong leader so that is their choice and there is not possible way that Putin would not win fair and square. Using the creeps who tried interfering in the election as if standard and the majority is plain stupid to make it simple. The West if it cannot control somewhere they will go hell bent on damaging or misusing things and you are good cannon fodder for that silly stance.
They voted in an election in which the massive majority of places the thing was carried out properly and filmed too.
Why don't you take a look at what ended up on the film?
And "massive majority of places" is irrelevant. Election deception does not have to be carried out in any sort of majority, but simply in sufficient scale. Not much is needed: Lower the total number of voters and the participation percent goes up by itself. Granted that most voters vote for Putin anyway, but when every rigged vote is also for Putin, the result is guaranteed.
Russia is a big country and the people are very loyal to their place and want a strong leader so that is their choice...
Do you think exact same about Belarus? And Central Asian and African countries?
Let me remind that you like man in the West are brained automatically into an anti-Russian direction. You totally ignore the hard factual truth that Putin would have won the election and the percentage which was misused was tiny. Whether we in the "West" are not so keen is not a legitimate point at all. Putin started getting Russia away from the mess up that his predecessor Boris Yelstin was in and going nowhere after the collapse of the USSR. We might be so used to mass leaders like Vladimir Putin but that does not make what he tries to do somehow automatically wrong. Russians are very strong on their country and he has even allowing for economy pressure on his country moved it forward and it is broader than the old days. We are not used to political leaders getting such strong votes and headway but when you look at the other candidates from the parties they were hopeless compared to him. There is no way even allowing for fraud attempts which are not in millions were going to diminish his popularity and progress. Face hard truths poor man.
Let me remind that you like man in the West are brained automatically into an anti-Russian direction.
And you are not brained? How come? Because no brains at all ???
Please get the basic facts straight. Between you and I, you are the one in the West, whereas I am next to Russia. I know Russian since childhood and I have been constantly following the developments for many decades now. I know the system almost from the inside.
...the percentage which was misused was tiny.
How tiny? Please tell.
Anyway, given Putin's massive and genuine popularity, why would there be any at all? And why on the systemic scale, instead of on the level of a few occasional mishaps?
RjHowie should be paid by Russia Today for posting here.
Or for killing some Russian double ex spies in his beloved Britain if he prefers.
Look Belfrager I make allowances for you being from a poor place dependent on EU handouts or you wouldn't exist but how silly can one get. Britain and America have had spies in Russia and I well remember a British one caught many moons ago using a false stone to hide messages in a park and so it goes on whatever side one is on. Everyone is into the spying game.
As for you ersi.
Where you live does not make you a damn an automatic expert not matter how you are chuffed with your grey cells. It is a hard fact of life sonny that Putin is widely popular because as I straightforward explained the place improved after Yeltsin. Why any idiot thinks he or she is doing something crookedly to help is daft because of Putin's popularity. Those that are anti-Putin are a MINORITY. The vast and wide majority of votes were legal but you want to exaggerate things as if the election was going to be close. The hard fact is the opposition were going nowhere. You are waffling on wanting me to indicate how many polling stations had faults and that is just immature and juvenile nonsense and I still say that eeven allowing for those idiots that fiddled they ARE in the vast numb er of votes carried out a tiny minority. Your waffle is heading out towards a daftness that hints on the falsehoods being a close run election. Piffle
In other words, that great political philosopher said it a long time ago: It doesn't matter who votes for whom. It only matters who counts the votes. — V.I.Lenin
In other words, that great political philosopher said it a long time ago: It doesn't matter who votes for whom. It only matters who counts the votes. — V.I.Lenin
Or you could just have googled who really said that.
Wikiquote or death.
Or you could just have googled who really said that.
I associate that with Stalin but I have no idea how to Google about any correctness in that matter.
There's https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/category/quotes/ but… oh wait, they actually have an article on it (https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/stalin-vote-count-quote/).
In 2006, Wikiquote dug up such a source: The Memoirs of Stalin’s Former Secretary by Boris Bazhanov, published in 2002. Translated from the Russian, the version which, according to Bazhanov, was uttered in 1923 by Stalin in reference to a vote in the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, was this:
“I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this — who will count the votes, and how.”
The quote is a rough match for the words commonly attributed to Stalin, with the notable difference that the context is quite specific. Stalin wasn’t speaking of elections and voting in general. He was speaking of a particular vote by a particular body.
While it would be a bit of a stretch to assert (given the vagaries of translation, the unreliability of memory, and the existence of earlier examples) that the sentiment “The people who cast the votes decide nothing; the people who count the votes decide everything” originated with Stalin, there is at least some evidence that he once said something like it.
Or you could just have googled who really said that.
I associate that with Stalin but I have no idea how to Google about any correctness in that matter.
The quote may not be historically correct, but it's particularly gross when it's not even in character. It's in Stalin's character, but not in Lenin's.
Lenin was a dangerous and ignorant dictator git. The seedling democracy in 1917 was kicked out by the Reds when they took over in 1918 and produced a massive dictatorship that killed more than the Nazis did. Just a pity the Whites lost the Civil War and had to wait until the 1990's to sort things........
Putin signs Russia's constitutional reform lawRussian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed the package of constitutional reforms he had proposed, including a clause giving him an option to run for two more terms.
Well, of course the constitutional reform was just an excuse to start over the term count in order to stay put for life. Didn't anybody see this coming?
He is still an outstanding Russian whatever he does.
He is still an outstanding Russian whatever he does.
Did you endorse Stalin’s authoritarianism back in the Stone Age, too?
What a daft thing to say even for a young man inexperienced in general modern life. Shaving Putin into the same corner as that evil man is head shaking. Indeed the mass evil of the Reds has no comparison with the progress of modern Russia. America boasts a lot about things such as democracy and other aspects when the hard daily practice shows something else.
Indeed the mass evil of the Reds has no comparison with the progress of modern Russia.
Putin's evil is not universal indiscriminate mass evil like Stalin's, but it is evil. And it is fairly massive, even though it is also calculated, not indiscriminately universal.
The second Chechen war was evil - particularly the fake FSB-made house explosions which were blamed on Chechens in order to start the war. The wrong reactions to the theatre hostage crisis (2002) and Beslan school siege (2004) where most of the hostages died were evil. I blame them on Putin because he is in tight connection to FSB career-wise. Annexation of Crimea was evil too, unless you think the bridge (https://youtu.be/cZtcQqcRGgM?t=95) is wonderful progress.
Putin projects a strong ruler figure in Russia. In reality he is weak and indecisive in true crises, such as the Kursk submarine disaster, when he went into hiding for at least three days, but he has managed to build up a personality cult for himself. In the parliamentary discussions about the latest constitutional changes, the speaker of the parliament said, when handling the point about starting to count Putin's terms from zero, "Our riches is not oil or gas. The price of those can go down. Our best asset is Putin." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pux067U2cL0
A few notable points here:
- This was said by the SPEAKER of the parliament, i.e. instead of moderating the discussion, he led the discussion
- This was said when the constitutional amendments were under discussion, i.e. at this important moment, he took the discussion away from the parliament to himself
- He said this exactly when the most controversial point of the amendments, the обнуление (zeroing), was taken up.
So he did this to suppress any contrary views. This is the personality cult of Putin, if nobody knew this until now.
Moreover, for the record, also the constitutional amendments are evil. Also halving the value of the rouble in 2015 was evil. And so will be the upcoming halving of rouble this year.
Incidentally, this Russian YouTuber has made some videos about the topic. On average I greatly prefer reading, but I like his videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI4aTiY0n34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ8wKYZLnPw
Dear oh dear ersi you really do succumb to western propaganda relating to President Putin.
Incidentally, this Russian YouTuber has made some videos about the topic.
Heh, his interview with bald and bankrupt is great. Bald and bankrupt is a travel youtuber with epic adventures on the Dead Chicken Bridge https://youtu.be/VShysRB6oyU?t=48
Here in the West we have been controlled by anti-Russian attitudes by politicians and media corners. Led by America (a farce itself politically and generally) the West corner has been the base for bashing Russia.
Here in the West we have been controlled by anti-Russian attitudes by politicians and media corners. Led by America (a farce itself politically and generally) the West corner has been the base for bashing Russia.
I expect you and Herr Trumpenfuehrer would get along nicely.
Russia apologists seemingly do little more than invent bizarrely irrelevant tu quoques and whataboutisms. Russia's annexing Crimea? What about our annexation of Indonesia? It was also in the '10s and '20s after all… you know, the 1610s and 1620s. And remember when we kicked the native Americans out of New Amsterdam? How dare we say anything about Chechnya and Georgia?!
They might at least try to come up with something we're actually doing right now (e.g., absurd immigration policies), even if "we do some bad things too" is hardly a defense.
Oh, you have those Russia apologists in Benelux too? So their network is wider than some self-hating Germans and unquestioning Trumpites. And an isolated Scotsman.
A particularly funny aspect of those Western Russia apologists is that their sources are obscure conspiracy websites or darknet forums. Why do they not check their information against Russia's official news - in Russian? Well, they would be too astonished to find a direct correlation, that's why.
Doesn't it occur to them that it is possible to condemn all colonialism, both historical and current, whether done by USA, UK, or Russia? This takes away their tu quoque defence.
Some Europeans thinks that the best way of being anti-American is by being pro-Russia.
I think that the best way for Europeans to be should be to be Patriots first and pro-Europe second. Enough things to be.
Even for an educated American you border on rubbish Colonel starting with the daftness on Stalin who was an evil and despicable dictator. America leads the constant nipping at Russia yet you lot cannot even run your own country right when you see the level of poverty, legal nonsense and control freakery. Over 40 million on food stamps over 2 million in jail, people on death row for months and from time to time years. You spend half the world's military expense as well, interfere with places, try to spike countries that will not accept your control. Oh and you have over a dozen security agencies! The Stalin thing you came up with made me shake my head and how nonsensical that was and even more so as dictatorship ceased before Putin! I am smiling now because you lot will get stuck with Trump yet again later in the year!
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRoAXbOQhDI[/video]
Better to end up in Georgia than in Central Asia, I guess.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6fZ3HgYwWI[/video]
I didn't know you also watched NFKRZ. I enjoy the explorations of dilapidated Soviet architecture.
Post-Soviet architecture in ex-USSR countries is even more dilapidated, if that's your thing.
I have done some of my own similar explorations in the countryside where I live. But I don't youtube about it, just keeping a small private photo collection. Hope to be more active on this theme now that the covid restrictions are receding.
Iran shares tips and tricks with Russia on how to circumvent sanctions https://smotrim.ru/article/2697464
For example, in response to unilateral sanctions by Donald Trump, some EU countries devised an alternative scheme of transactions, says a representative of foreign affairs at the central bank of Iran.
Iran also proposes trade with Russia based on local currencies.
Why exactly the remaining Russian troops packed up and left Trostyanets last Friday remains unclear. Was there an order? Did they just flee the city due to mounting exhaustion and dwindling supplies of munitions? Before they left, the Russians mined the chocolate museum. They had already mined the botanical garden and its Nymph Grotto dating from 1809. At the train station and other locations, they left behind graffiti reading "Zelenskyy is a fag," the same phrase sprayed on a number of walls, or "For the honor of Russia." Or simply a heart next to the word "Russia." From Russia with Love. Trostyanets now looks as though it was descended upon by a horde of teenagers armed with spray cans and tanks.
@Frenzie: How accurate is the description you posted? (Yes, I read the whole piece...)
There must be an out for Putin, but I don't see it. And I don't believe he himself sees one... Now would be a very good time for some "masterful" diplomacy. Or a miracle.
Starting at 28:34 in the most recent episode of What The Frock (https://d3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net/staging/2022-3-3/ee16d64e-96b4-9555-9ac4-0b21fc8dec1e.mp3) is some worthy and welcome speculation, from Dave Bowman... (The most reassuring bit comes at 38:10.)
(Yes, I can still readily find things that make me smile.).
How accurate is the description you posted? (Yes, I read the whole piece...)
I'm not sure what you're asking?
Now, I have not read the article, but I can tell what Putin's exit plan is.
First, from the beginning, Putin has never called this a war or invasion. These words are banned in Russian press. Also the invasion to Crimea was not a war, invasion, not even a military or special operation. In Putin's mind (and according to Russian press) it was a "re-uniting" by the voluntary manifestation of Crimean people. (In reality it was a "green men" operation taking hostage Crimea's parliament.)
Of course, Putin's real plan, Plan A, is to capture entire Ukraine. This was the plan already in 2014, but downing the Malaysian airplane full of Dutch by accident delayed the plan. Also in 2014, even though annexation of Crimea and separation of Donbass went smooth as butter (since at that moment there was no government in Kiev), it became evident that taking entire Ukraine was not going to be very smooth and in worst case might fail.
So, Putin's exit plan, Plan B, is to say that the little he achieved was all he had planned. [Edit]He'd say that this had been just a tiny "special operation" by kind invitation of the brotherly Donbass republics, nothing more; "war" and "invasion" be Western propaganda.[/edit] And unfortunately in the West there are some (not just some random some; they are you know who) who are calling for ceasefire and end of hostilities, basically rewarding Putin for yet another military incursion and encouraging him to try better next time.
The way to stop Putin (and his regime) is to make him actually retreat. Specifically, beat him out of Donbass, Crimea AND Sevastopol. Nuke cowards be damned.
@Frenzie: I was asking if there's any reason to doubt any of it? Is it managed story-telling — or straightforward reporting?
Yes, I should have been more explicit... The viciousness of the Russian troops, I don't doubt. It's the lack of discipline that I find most remarkable, even from conscrips.
I think Bowman has it right when he opines that this Russian military would not stand a chance against any NATO force.
The sad fact is, it takes a lot of money to train and equip an effective military. And KGB was never known for its understanding the military...
I'm afraid I have to agree with you, ersi. Putin has to realize how much American weapons have advanced... If he begins an "exchange" it won't last long, and since it will have to be limited — and then it becomes open target season, on him.
Yes, it's probably too late to allow a face-saving retreat from his invasion: For the safety of Europe, it must be defeated.
I'd hoped the world had moved past such "history"...
History (or "history", that is history as a legendary backbone of a nation) is super duper important to Putin. Two things to look up in this context:
- Vladimir Putin: The Real Lessons of the 75th Anniversary of World War II (my review (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?topic=361.msg84135#msg84135))
- Vladimir Putin: On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians (a Harvard review (https://huri.harvard.edu/news/putin-historical-unity))
I think Der Spiegel is a credible source. But Russia's military being even worse than I anticipated is not a new story. The story is the liberation, the destruction and the mining.
Anyway, have an opinion piece from them.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/opinion-peace-in-europe-must-now-be-defended-against-putin-s-russia-a-51e18953-7328-4bc3-b08f-0c18fcf61cfd
I keep hearing folks say Putin/Russia has to answer for war crimes, "like the Nazis did at Nuremberg"...seemingly without realizing that the Nazis were first defeated. Putting the cart before the horse...
How is saying Russia should be defeated putting the cart before the horse?
"Russia should be defeated" is what is missing... Unless the sentiment is only aspirational, in which case talk about war crimes is akin to saying "God will punish them."
It's like Zelinsky's plaint to the U.N. "Then what are you for?" To which everyone mutters under their breath "How droll. How naive..."
The U.N. is for posturing, and spending other people's money more inefficiently than their own governments can.
"Russia should be defeated" is what is missing...
But how and where? Just because it's unsaid doesn't mean it's missing.
Okay. Point taken. Also left unsaid is by whom...
A Russian trying to scratch the surface of the extent and magnitude of Russia's propaganda. Not a bad scratch. I sincerely hope she won't get novichoked by Putin.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B9diixt1L4[/video]
OakdaleFTL, pay attention. Similar to an average older-generation Russian, you have the same unquestioning attitude to the alternate reality that your favourite party has built.
you have the same unquestioning attitude to the alternate reality that your favourite party has built.
Is your presumptuousness innate or learned? If the latter, did you absorb it in schools swamped by Communist bilge? :) At any rate, it is truly a marvel to behold! Your perceptions regarding my "orthodoxy" as a member of the Republican Party are woefully inadequate, mainly due -I'm sure- to an understandable ignorance and an obvious
superiority complex that borders on the pathological...
My allegiances are to the Constitution that secures bedrock freedoms
You have fundamental misconceptions about where your allegiances lie. A Trumpite's allegiances lie with Trump. Only a Trumpite can say that Trump had successes in office. Actually, a Trumpite *must* say that Trump had successes, because otherwise you'd be labelled a R.I.N.O. and that would be an existential disaster when Trumpism is your driving ideology.
Anyway, back on topic, yesterday I discovered a YT channel called Redacted that declares that "our constitutional “right to know” should not be compromised by media-driven falsehoods and corporate storylines." They represent "a concerted effort to save the truth, preserve information, and fight propaganda." With just two talking heads, a former Fox News anchor and his probable wife, it's not very concerted, I'd say.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UppxrKiNkzg[/video]
Their saving of truth and fighting of propaganda entails making the case for Putin. In the above video, they say Ukraine has Nazis (without a single relevant example) so it should be de-Nazified, Russian troops are greeted with blessings (in "Eastern Ukraine" instead of an actual location, and the little group of women looks obviously imported, not local), and Russian army sets up humanitarian centres (as every occupying force always must do to some extent). And they present it all as if it were hidden from Western audience. But in reality, they are snipping reportage clips from Telesur (state broadcaster of Venezuela) who only has access to the Russian side and makes a much feebler case for Putin than Russian state media. I have access to Russian state media, so I can compare. To make a lie appear truthful, you should provide it with sufficient detail (at least proper dates and locations) as you would a common truth and Russian state media does not miss this when they present e.g. allegedly captured Ukrainian soldiers who say things like "We were being told that Russians pillage and rape and murder, but it is very peaceful here and we are treated humanely..."
The channel anchor thinks he is doing journalism. What he is really doing is sharing readily available "content" soaked in his commentary. Which is the same activity as the half-naked youtuber I shared earlier. Except that, in comparison between the two, the former Fox News employee manages to obtain worse quality content, serving it with a far more obviously slanted commentary.
A very sad state of affairs in American journalism. Not saying just right-wing American journalism. There should be no right-wing or left-wing to journalism.
[
Typical blather from Mini-Howie, about what i believe...]
Anyway, back on topic, yesterday I discovered a YT channel called Redacted that declares
...And jumped right on it!
Aha! says ersie: I found someone stupid on YouTube who says lots of stupid and uninformed things... Who once worked at Fox! Therefore, Fox promotes stupid and uninformed opinions! OakdaleFTL won't denounce Fox; hence OakdleFTL believes and supports stupid and uninformed opinions and those who hold them, and hence OakdaleRTL is an ignoramus.. QED!
I'd never heard of the Morrises... Now that I have (...I listened for a minute or so) I know enough not to waste my time on their "work". But you should know, ersi, I'm not going to pay much attention to your suggestions for podcasts if you persist in merely mendaciously trolling!
This is your source? A real-estate con artist?He graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1999.[self-published source?] He was a frequent guest-panelist on the Fox News late-night satire show, Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld.
Get a hobby! :) Maybe learn some logic, beyond simple Venn Diagrams and a few syllogisms... (Or at least use WVO Quine's axiomatization! Let the symbolism do the heavy lifting you're incapable of doing.)
For posting: Keep to discussing things you know something about! (I ask as a favor: It's become painful, seeing you embarrass yourself. (If I find a cure or palliative for your TDS, I'll inform you post haste!)
For posting: Keep to discussing things you know something about! (I ask as a favor: It's become painful, seeing you embarrass yourself. (If I find a cure or palliative for your TDS, I'll inform you post haste!)
...says a sworn Trumpite who did not notice the insurrection happen and doesn't know what news is. It is easy for you to say those things because you are at a point where it is impossible to embarrass yourself any further.
In the previous post, Fox News was the least of my concerns. For what I care (namely I don't), the Morrises may only be claiming a connection to Fox News while having no real connection. Actual Ukraine events are my main concern.
Redacted's take is interesting for using knee-jerk left-wing material while they themselves are knee-jerk right-wingers. The interesting phenomenon here is that knee-jerk left-wing and knee-jerk right-wing are on the same page for the time being.
The phenomenon works as follows. For knee-jerk left-wingers any conflict anywhere must somehow be the fault of USA and the USA is always on the wrong side in every conflict. For knee-jerk right-wingers Democrats are evil and whatever Democrats do is wrong or evil. Right now Democrats have the presidency, so both right-wing and left-wing knee-jerk activist-commentators converge to the same goal: Let's propagate something that makes the current US administration look bad. Wrt Ukraine, it happens to be Russia's talking points that readily serve the purpose.
..says a sworn Trumpite who
Your pejorative is both silly and wrong! Why do you persist in using it? (To use a phrase not in my everyday vocabulary): Stop "beclowning yourself"...
Your "explanation" (or do you call it "analysis"?) relies on -as usual, when you'd talk about U.S.
anything- your necessary categories informed only by your prejudices. You choose to pay attention only to the most extreme factional examples, and then exaggerate them to the point of caricature.
You end up with -for you- a very comfortable Reverse No-True-Scotsman fallacy.
..says a sworn Trumpite who
Your pejorative is both silly and wrong!
Telling a Trumpite apart from other people is not too hard. The test questions are: Did Trump incite an insurrection? What successes did Trump's administration have? Yup, you are a Trumpite.
You choose to pay attention only to the most extreme factional examples, and then exaggerate them to the point of caricature.
This is a weird complaint because on this forum my main example is yourself. Are you calling yourself an extreme factional example now? In any other country you would be, yes, but interactions with Americans elsewhere show me that your type is not that special over there.
In USA, Fox News - which for any other country would indeed be extremely factional - is mainstream. It's so mainstream that it recently needed Newsmax and RSBN to spice things up. Yet those outlets and their audience consider themselves normal, simply standing up for the constitution.
Americans should be able to apply their laws and constitution as per normal, but lately due to the deepening brainwash of the likes of you, Fox News etc. whenever an American says "constitution" it tends to be a major red flag. Do you have a proposal how to fix the situation? How would you make it so that Americans saying "constitution" would have a similar meaning like a citizen of any other country talking about the constitution of their country? Or do you still hold that no other country has a constitution, rule of law, rights, freedoms etc?
Quote from: OakdaleFTL on 2022-05-02, 16:19:08 (https://dndsanctuary.eu/index.php?msg=86962)You choose to pay attention only to the most extreme factional examples, and then exaggerate them to the point of caricature.
This is a weird complaint because on this forum my main example is yourself. Are you calling yourself an extreme factional example now? In any other country you would be, yes, but interactions with Americans elsewhere show me that your type is not that special over there.
:troll: (But he won't starve to death! I'll keep him, as a pet... :) )
Telling a Trumpite apart from other people is not too hard. The test questions
Much the same as the American Left (and, of course,Putin!) would use to tell who's a Nazi! And as silly... An unappealing mix of projection, prejudice and perverse palinody. (When they're feeling accommodating, the term
fascist serves the same purpose. :) )
Since direct links to Moody's don't work, let's try a workaround.
Moody’s Declares Russia in Default“Missed coupon payment constitutes a default,” Moody’s said in a statement late Monday.
[...]
The Kremlin dismissed reports that it defaulted on its external debt Monday, saying the
payment had been made in foreign currency in May.
“The fact that the funds have not been transferred to the recipients is not our problem,”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Some voices close to the source say the "foreign currency" that Russia attempted to use was RUB. But the (at least two different) bonds (scheduled for last week) are nominated in EUR and USD.
Usually when a country defaults, its rating is downgraded, but credit rating agencies have stopped rating Russia since the war with Ukraine.
“The fact that the funds have not been transferred to the recipients is not our problem,”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Not our problem seems very cavalier, but afaik the basic tenet of it is true? That is, if you phrased it as "not our fault" instead of "not our problem" it would be accurate. Because no matter whose fault it is, it is their problem.
The check is in the mail?
According to Russian news:
- Samuel Furfari of Université libre de Bruxelles says that Erdogan of Turkey is awesome for achieving the grain deal between Ukraine and Russia. Also, EU and USA suck because they did not achieve this deal https://ria.ru/20220723/zerno-1804493452.html
- Syrian economist Zulfiqar 'Abboud thinks that, given the grain deal, the sanctions should be cancelled https://ria.ru/20220723/sanktsii-1804437601.html
According to Western news:
- Russians attack Odessa, the port that was supposed to be safe for grain according to the grain deal https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12548358
The latter incident is not mentioned in Russian news. It also makes Erdogan look kind of not having achieved anything, so, I don't know, fake news ??? Edit: TASS says that the defence minister of Turkey says that Russians say they have no connection to the Odessa bombing https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/15293823
Over at Le Figaro, a business banker says that, instead of imposing sanctions on Russia and supporting Ukraine, we should democratically discuss the costs of doing so and then probably not do it. The commentators under his opinion piece agree whole-heartedly https://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/monde/philippe-villin-les-sanctions-contre-la-russie-quoi-qu-il-nous-en-coute-20220718
Samuel Furfari of Université libre de Bruxelles says that Erdogan of Turkey is awesome for achieving the grain deal between Ukraine and Russia.
I can't find the guy saying anything like that in Dutch/French.
Over at Le Figaro, a business banker says that, instead of imposing sanctions on Russia and supporting Ukraine, we should democratically discuss the costs of doing so and then probably not do it.
lol what? They barely cost us anything at all.
Samuel Furfari of Université libre de Bruxelles says that Erdogan of Turkey is awesome for achieving the grain deal between Ukraine and Russia.
I can't find the guy saying anything like that in Dutch/French.
According to the source I gave, the guy spoke directly to RIA Novosti, so it's the primary source. Why would you look for western biased sources? Whose side are you on?