Chomper Higgot

This is a ‘discussion forum’. We discuss stuff here.

Putin unleashes new weapon to pummel Ukraine into defeat, currency controls: https://finance.yahoo.com/m/52f09776-5fbd-3163-8b4f-accb9c649468/putin-signs-decree-to.html

So why did you bring it up?

Refer the post I was replying to. And my apologies, I wasn’t trying to usurp your position as leading authority on what Putin is thinking.

Precisely, but of course the ‘free thinkers’ are in chorus claiming this a victory for all the anti-vaccines, anti-public health measures garbage they’ve married their heads to.

What are on about. The idea that mask mandates and other public health measures would be removed as vaccination uptake slowed hospitalizations has been a fixture in discussions on this forum. Your assertion that anyone is ‘invested’ in mask mandates is a strawman argument.

Completely different situations. 1. The Iraqis wanted to see the back of the murderous Sadat Hussein regime and we’re not about to take up arms in his defense. Most of the Iraqi army were not prepared to do that. 2. The US and coalition forces were well trained, well equipped and motivated. Not so Russia’s army. Ukraine is not Chechnya.

Putin clearly thought it would take two days, he was wrong. On what basis do you claim two weeks?

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has assured the future of the two organizations he has spent so much time and effort undermining, NATO and the EU. The Western politicians onboard with his efforts to get rid of these organizations need to re-set their messaging. Support for Russia and Putin is not going to sell well after this debacle.

Take a look at a map of Ukraine and see how long the border is.

The EU have acted swiftly (pun intended) and have taken measures to undermine the Russian economy. I doubt Putin believes these actions by the world’s largest trading block are ‘hot air’.

You frequently mention what you assume are Putin’s motives. Whst do you suppose are the motives of Ukrainian civilians, willing to face the Russian army with homemade petrol bombs but then given the opportunity to receive and use modern military weapons?

Ukraine is a sovereign nation recognized as such by the UN. I very much doubt things are going as Putin planned. For the record, Ukraine in the Soviet Union was not Ukraine in Russia. Russia is a country, the Soviet Union was not a country and is anyway defunct. But, do keep sticking up for the thug Putin by all means.

Putin was told point blank that if he invades Ukraine he would face sanctions, he lied through his teeth saying he would not invade and now he has invade he’s discover Western nations were not lying when they said he would face sanctions. Putin painted himself into the corner, the Russian economy is responding accordingly.

The West hasn’t cornered anything. Putin has made a military invasion of a sovereign nation, it clearly isn’t going as well as he planned. He’s staked his future in this move, as have a number of Western politicians who are eagerly praising him. There is a great deal more at stake than the Ukraine.

Elon Musk’s provision of satellite internet services is a master stroke. Putting aside the publicity value of demonstrating the technology by assisting an invaded democracy, he’s providing the Ukrainians with the internet communications they need while at the same time providing Russian troops with the opportunity to access non Russian news and send messages back to their friends and families. Of course Russia’s supporters here might believe Russian soldiers are only sending home and receiving good news. Raw unfiltered news from the front. Well done Elon.

Hogwash. EU, US and UK media can report whatever they want. Russian propaganda outlets have very rightly been blocked. But don’t despair, there’s always Tucker.

I wonder if the Thailand Russia bilateral trade agreement would allow me to ship wheelbarrows to Russia. Stock market collapsed and closed, a run on the banks, interest rates already more than doubled to 20% and sanctions hitting the economy. Hyper-inflation is a distinct possibility. Wheel barrows will be useful to carry payment for the coleslaw.

Not entirely true, pensioners are a very active voting demographic, they receive a great deal of consideration. Not so expats. The UK should follow the French example and have an MP who is voted into office by expats.

The policy makes no sense at all. Apart from the moral arguments (which of course fall on deaf ears), the, math clearly adds up in favor of encouraging pensioners to retire overseas. The state pension is only part of financial supports very many UK pensioners receive; they also receive, housing support, heating support, welfare services support, home help payments and of course health care. For very many, these other costs far outweigh the pension they receive and all are not payable to pensioners who retire overseas. The math is clear, support people to retire overseas. Unfortunately the one MP who was vociferous in support of fair pensions, Kieth Vaz was ‘outed’ and disgraced. He was of course primarily campaigning on behalf of the British-Indian constituency, very many of whom retire back to India but he was campaigning for fair pensions for all. Addressing one other issue mentioned in the OP, UK v European Pensions. The ‘triple-lock’ used to move UK pensions up to the value of the EU median was this year suspended, with a ‘politician’s promise’ that it will be reinstated next year (make of that what you will), but at precisely the time inflation takes off UK pensions are being de-linked from inflation. Enjoy.

Because they can’t win a street battle. Utter hogwash.

He’s shilling.

It’s not just the sanctions against Russia, nor the fact the Russian stock market has tanked. The Russia currency has also taken a dive. Russia is the epitome of a Banana Republic, it’s principal export is oil and gas, raw resources commodities with zero added value. The currency dive is bad news for Russia’s already anemic economy.

Given there were mass demonstrations in 53 cities across Russia it is reasonable to expect many Russian soldiers don’t want to be forced to fight in Ukraine. The Ukrainians are however very much more motivated, as would the vast majority of people be if their home was invaded by a foreign army (one exception here noted).

It is now being reported that Kazakhstan has turned down Putin’s request to supply troops to fight in Ukraine and is too not recognizing justification for the invasion: [second article down] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/russia-ukraine-live-updates-n1289976/ncrd1289985#liveBlogCards Why the mighty Russian army needs support is a question to be answered.