Zelensky had nothing to do with that. |
I don’t get it. Are you saying invading other countries is wrong? Annexing other people’s land is bad? Is this, like, a new policy of some sort? |
Lol and many aren’t. |
I’m saying it sounds like you are a Russian stooge. Read my post again before commenting. Go get your shine box. |
Same old shoe still fits |
Why can’t you just openly and completely lay out your true stoogish opinions on all this rather than coyly slinking around dancing on the issue? We want to hear them. Your answer, with all the bs, euphemisms, and doublespeak stripped away is going to be stop helping Ukraine and let Russia take it. But please expound on your case. |
Sausage-making? That's the State Duma's job. "THE STATE DUMA FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION Increases the age limit for conscripts in the reserve. For citizens with military ranks of senior officers, it will be 65 years, for junior officers - 60 years, and for those with other ranks - 55 years." "The age limit for such persons liable for military service belonging to the first category is increased from 35 to 40 years, for the second category - from 45 to 50 years, for the third - from 50 to 55 years." http://duma.gov.ru/news/57528/ And no, I doubt it will take 5-10 years for Russia to be economically incapacitated. I think it's closer to two. "As of January 1, 2023, retirees in Russia received a gross pension of approximately 19.3 thousand Russian rubles on average, or 236 U.S. dollars per month at the exchange rate as of April 18, 2023. The amount of retirement benefits increased by roughly 2,438 Russian rubles compared to the previous year" https://www.statista.com/statistics/1093950/average-monthly-retirement-benefit-value-russia/#:~:text=As%20of%20January%201%2C%202023,compared%20to%20the%20previous%20year. That's a 12% increase in one year. However, the question to ask is why the Russian Government would raise pensions 12% if the Russian Central Bank lowered it's inflation forecast to less than half that amount? I believe that Russian inflation (at least for imported goods, not domestic goods) is easily 20%. "The bank also lowered its year-end inflation forecast to 4.5-6.5% from 5.0-7.0%" https://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/russian-central-bank-keeps-key-interest-rate-75-2023-04-28/#:~:text=The%20bank%20also%20lowered%20its,%2447%20billion%20from%20%2466%20billion. https://cdn.statcdn.com/Statistic/1090000/1093950-blank-754.png If in April (three months ago) 19,300 Rub was worth USD$236, today it's worth USD$209.90, according to today's exchange rate. In this clip of a Russian grocery store taken this week, the photographer was careful to not show the meat or seafood section. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yeNbBWBSSvQ The clip is fuzzy, with most prices unreadable. However, there was a shot at the end of the 24 ct Ferrero Rocher candy claiming to be only 1039 Rub (USD$11.30 - it's about the same price here in the US - however, it should be much cheaper in Europe, not the same price!). Making an inaccurate generalization - the point is that in April, the average Russian pensioner could have splurged their entire monthly paycheck and purchased 20 boxes of candy - but today, only 18. That's about a 10% inflation rate (at least for non-domestic goods) in just one month. Add to that what the price of Ferrero Rocher is in europe (usually about 8 or 9 euros, or about USD$ 9 or 10), that's another 10 or 15% difference. Candy is easy to get and commonly available, so imagine the cost of a scarce commodity. That's why I think imported goods could easily be more than 20%. |
I don’t care how I sound to you. I doubt it’s as stupid as an American pontificating on the evils of invading other countries. Only America is allowed to invade. Then it’s part of god’s plan. |
| Zelensky needs to go. Klitchkov will make the peace |
DP... Oh come now. Don't be so ignorant and naive. A huge number of the United States' foreign interventions came directly as a result of prior meddling by the Soviet Union or Russia. For the last 70 years Russia ran all around the globe staging coups, installing dictators, arming, funding and propping up warlords and terrorist groups. And right now, Russia is the only country currently actively invading and attempting to colonize another country. In context of historic reality, for some pro-Russia stooge to presume to wag their finger at the US over foreign interventions is absolutely preposterous. |
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This war is great for everyone but Ukraine.
I hope it goes on for however long it takes Ukraine to win….and at this rate it is going to be a few more years. Russia losing so many males is good for the world. |
Not being subjugated / exterminated / colonized by Russia is good for Ukraine. All the more reason they need to fight. |
This is a very revisionist view of US history. For some reason Ukraine supporters take US actions, attribute them to Russia, then say see how bad those Russians are? Why bother with all these mental gymnastics to justify our imperialism and condemn others? Washington and the other founders gave us a better path. |
The one exterminating the Ukrainians is Zelensky. The longer this goes on, the more people and territory they will lose. The entire existence of Ukraine is now dependent on the fickle support of western nations. They can pull the rug out from under them any time they want to, and suddenly Zelensky will get the Noriega/Saddam Hussein/Qaddafi treatment. |