I never would have guessed that it would still be going on a week later. Where it ends, I'm not sure. Those Ukrainians sure have some pluck.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cm2n77mvrz4t

"We can't overestimate the significance of such a huge incursion by Ukraine: The occupation of Russian territory for the first time since the Second World War."

===========================================

For me this whole thing about Russia invading Ukraine is too much to comprehend.

So, your title "I'm not sure what to make of this" is correct, but for me it applies to the whole scope of the mess.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Bertram:
I never would have guessed that it would still be going on a week later. Where it ends, I'm not sure. Those Ukrainians sure have some pluck.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cm2n77mvrz4t

Of course.

Supported by the whole of NATO!

Who started this whole shebang!

World War III is in progress!

The whole idea was to destroy Russia.

If America got the same treatment Russia when they ill invade and destroy countries….

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Bertram:
I never would have guessed that it would still be going on a week later. Where it ends, I'm not sure. Those Ukrainians sure have some pluck.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cm2n77mvrz4t

Of course.

Supported by the whole of NATO!

Who started this whole shebang! Rubbish.

World War III is in progress!

The whole idea was to destroy Russia.

If America got the same treatment Russia when they ill invade and destroy countries….

I see that the UAE is making remarkable progress expanding the famine that you have brought to the Sudanese. What will your next gift for them be? I'm rooting for pestilence myself

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Bertram:
I never would have guessed that it would still be going on a week later. Where it ends, I'm not sure. Those Ukrainians sure have some pluck.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cm2n77mvrz4t

Of course.

Supported by the whole of NATO!

Who started this whole shebang!

World War III is in progress!

The whole idea was to destroy Russia.

If America got the same treatment Russia when they ill invade and destroy countries….

Where on earth do you get your news, my friend? NATO didn't start this. Ukraine didn't start this. Putin and Russia started it. Any other version of the origin of the dispute is propaganda spewed by Russia and Russian surrogates.

quote:

The whole idea was to destroy Russia.

In my worldview tainted opinion, there was never an idea to destroy Russia. The idea was for Russia to make its own future by shifting away from communism and imperialism into a more fruitful and peaceful worldview.

We were there to help.

Nixon had a vision:

https://youtu.be/kgG_fLNBv6A?si=FSe4W8AATmUDHbVX

Nixon Warned That THIS Would Happen To Russia (1992)

In his BIG vision, Russia would join the rest of the world as a partner, in basically all respects, economic, trading, peace, etc. And there would be benefit for all to share.

IMO, Nixon was right about Russia in transition and his vision of a possible future and if he had succeeded the world would be a better place, and Russia today would be strong in a good way in the community of nations.

If Nixon's vision became real, it might be that NATO would not even be necessary today.

But Russia's very old imperialistic worldview prevailed. Bad habits are hard to break.

Now, here we are. Breaking Russia's bad habit will be costly and the damage is hard to measure, partly because it ain't over yet.

As long as we have BLOCKS in the world, we will never have political or economic freedom.

Right now we have two major BLOCKS.

One control the West.

The other is controlled by China!

Well, I'm no visionary, nor claim to have a handle on world affairs especially super-powers.

But I did take notice that China exports many products that are available for us to buy. And, some US companies have production infrastructure in China. And there are several Chinese own production companies in the US.

There has to be some similarities in Canada.

I don't see any parallels with Russia. Whatever markets they have are not the US. Oil exports seem to be their biggest money maker.

That has to mean something.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
As long as we have BLOCKS in the world, we will never have political or economic freedom.

Right now we have two major BLOCKS.

One control the West.

The other is controlled by China!

Says a prominent member of OPEC, a huge BLOCK that manipulates the price of energy that the whole world pays, and a proud member of the BRICS BLOCK. That is truly RICH Saeed.

Yes, I believe Canada also sells out to the Chinese at every opportunity. In fact, Canada's Prime Minister greatly admires Communist China. Of course, he is a slimy bootlicking wimp, so there is that. Regards, Bill

I could look it up later, but if I remember correctly Russia has no exports other than natural resources.
France is a larger producer of vodka I think.
Nobody buys Russian vehicles, Russia sells no commercial machinery, they don't make any textiles, they don't build computer chips.

Remember, these are the guys who were buying Cabela's gps's to tape on the dashboards of their jet fighters. These are the guys whose tanks take one hit and then the gun turret does the "funky chicken" till it runs out of gas. They have one single aircraft carrier that burns bunker fuel, has to have full time tug boat assist and can't leave the dock.

quote:

Originally posted by Scott King:
I could look it up later, but if I remember correctly Russia has no exports other than natural resources.
France is a larger producer of vodka I think.
Nobody buys Russian vehicles, Russia sells no commercial machinery, they don't make any textiles, they don't build computer chips.

Remember, these are the guys who were buying Cabela's gps's to tape on the dashboards of their jet fighters. These are the guys whose tanks take one hit and then the gun turret does the "funky chicken" till it runs out of gas. They have one single aircraft carrier that burns bunker fuel, has to have full time tug boat assist and can't leave the dock.

Compared to American weapons.

Used all over the world.

Against rice paddy farmers.

FAILED.

Against Stone Age cave dwellers.

FAILED!

It isn’t the weapons that count.

It is the men behind them!

Didn’t you have a Cadet Bone Spur as CnC of the armed forces??

https://www.thenewatlantis.com...lds-most-popular-gun

The World’s Most Popular Gun
The Long Road to the AK-47

quote:

Russia sells no commercial machinery

I thought they made tractors for export? Maybe not now.....

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:

quote:

Russia sells no commercial machinery

I thought they made tractors for export? Maybe not now.....

I briefly looked and they do. 7.4% of their exports are equipment and machinery, that from an economy the size of Texas.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Bertram:
I never would have guessed that it would still be going on a week later. Where it ends, I'm not sure. Those Ukrainians sure have some pluck.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cm2n77mvrz4t

Of course.

Supported by the whole of NATO!

Who started this whole shebang!

World War III is in progress!

The whole idea was to destroy Russia.

If America got the same treatment Russia when they ill invade and destroy countries….

Good on NATO.

Putin was given a free hand too long and look what it brought, more territorial aggression.

Funding Ukraine to chip away is a lot less expensive in money and blood then NATO being engaged directly.