Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Main administrative building of Shebekino, Belgorod Russia is on fire.

Looks like the UA has stopped trying to win the war and has moved on to the insurgency phase.

Those are Russian nationals fighting Putin's troops in Belgorod. Russia now has its own insurgency regardless of Ukraine.

No there’s no Russian insurgency. There are Russian citizens who defected.
I don’t know if that’s of any importance but just wanted to say that the Russian “uprising” is still a fantasy. There are two sides as in two countries and of course there are defectors
-DP

Sure, and keep telling yourself that all of these various military recruitment centers, FSB offices, refineries, manufacturing plants and other things across Russia spontaneously blowing up or catching on fire are indeed just "careless smokers" and keep telling yourself that recreational grade drones can somehow make it all the way to Moscow from the Ukrainian border.

There are in fact a lot of Russian partisans working against Putin's regime.

They are Ukrainian recruits
I don’t think it matters much but they are ALL recruited and directed by Ukraine and its allies

Uh huh, sure. And you can prove this how? You can show how guys burning down military recruitment centers in Siberia received their orders to do so from Kyiv?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You had me until you said there was nothing bad about Russian food. Russian food is horrible. All the good stuff is Polish or Georgian. The rest is just cabbage and dill.

I'm counting Beef Stroganoff, Pelmeni, Syrniki, Pirozhki, Blini, Shashlik... I know I know, you're gonna say it's "not Russian", but that's like saying tandoori isn't mainstream English food.. the fact is that without tandoori, I probably would've starved in London..

Everything you listed is Russian except shashlyk.

Anonymous wrote:You had me until you said there was nothing bad about Russian food. Russian food is horrible. All the good stuff is Polish or Georgian. The rest is just cabbage and dill.

Lol. Here’s someone who never had the flavor of Russian soups, the indulgence of pirozhkis, the thousand baked good, the childhood joys of syrniki, the honey cake, the pine nut cake, the myriad fermented and brined vegetables, crepes with a dozen fillings, the breads, the fish….it’s ok if you’ve never heard of it but to claim it’s not there is just so provincial of you.

Anonymous wrote:You had me until you said there was nothing bad about Russian food. Russian food is horrible. All the good stuff is Polish or Georgian. The rest is just cabbage and dill.

I'm counting Beef Stroganoff, Pelmeni, Syrniki, Pirozhki, Blini, Shashlik... I know I know, you're gonna say it's "not Russian", but that's like saying tandoori isn't mainstream English food.. the fact is that without tandoori, I probably would've starved in London..

You had me until you said there was nothing bad about Russian food. Russian food is horrible. All the good stuff is Polish or Georgian. The rest is just cabbage and dill.

Anonymous wrote:America (as we know it) will fall someday.
Rome fell, Byzantine empire rose.
Rome lasted (we think) 1000 years; Byzantine empire 1100.
Russia is just going through another phase - theirs are just faster and fascinating for some reason. Africa has a civil war or new country split off once a month and no one really notices or cares.

I think Russians and Americans hate each other so much because we are actually very similar- America is controlled anarchy (disputable) and Russia is anarchy with the guise of dictatorship and complete control (disputable).

Russians cannot figure out the balance America pulls off and America cannot figure out how they can’t pull it off. Both have skilled labor forces and elite scientists; but cannot relate beyond that.

First of all real American's don't hate real Russians. There's nothing bad about Russian food, clothing, culture, art, music, language, etc. and that is the part that is "similar" between the two countries. Same goes for China, for that matter.

I think what Americans (well, except maybe the MAGA crowd) generally finds distasteful is indoctrination of children, government authoritarianism, corruption, lying, lack of freedom, lack of free speech, lack of personal rights (if you're East of Moscow, lack of Nutella, indoor plumbing, asphalt roads and toilets.. that's a joke.. will explain later). That stems directly from the Russian Government and their methods of control over their population.

Remember that the War in Ukraine is the Russian Government's counter-reaction to the Russian people growing closer to the European Union and "West" in general. That normalization was undoing their control mechanisms, which Russian leadership could not tolerate.

But I also feel that's a global theme as well. Look at Ukraine, Turkey and Pakistan as the most recent examples. The difference is Ukraine's leadership had the strength to enough to standup and fight, whereas Turkey and Pakistan are just screwed.

Back to Nutella...

The brain trust of the Russian State is on TV masterfully laying out the Ukrainian success strategy. When Solovyov said the aim of the West is "the destruction of Moscow!", Dmitry Evstafiev (Professor, School of Integrated Communications) steps up with the answer of the means by which the West was planning to undermine the Russian Empire.

"I've been thinking, why are they doing this? They are hypocrites! The whole West is built on the principle of hypocrisy. Political, cultural, and every other kind. They have to say, 'guys surrender! Russians, surrender! We will give you Nutella, asphalt, and toilet bowls! One toilet bowl for every region!'"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arQETNJUifE

Side note - "22.6% of Russians do not have indoor plumbing. In rural Russia, almost 2/3 have no access to indoor toilets, 48.1% use outhouses"
https://twitter.com/KatyaYushchenko/status/1497796113218383873

Now that the master strategy of The West has been blown, everyone will need to scramble to find another method. Admittedly, it will be tough. Bueno? Astroturf? Bidets? I can't believe the Russians figured it out. I'm at a loss here.

But seriously, Russian state propaganda is in disarray, which is why I believe the Kremlin now jumps on every little rumor that could start a wildfire. I'm not 100% sure I've ever seen the Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation go public to counter a rumor of full mobilization before?

"Alleged FSB source in Moscow: Full mobilization is most likely to be announced in the coming days in Russia."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/putin-orders-full-mobilization-of-military-that-could-be-on-scale-of-ww2-in-coming-days/ar-AA1bWYyn

"Imposing martial law is a "prerogative of the highest federal power," a spokesperson reminded the press. Russia is dismissing calls to impose martial law after a series of drone attacks reportedly struck Moscow this week. "This is entirely the prerogative of the highest federal power, no decisions have been made on that account, and no discussions are being held on this matter," Peskov said.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/kremlin-wants-everyone-chill-firebrand-043515416.html

Meanwhile, the brain trust of the Russian State propaganda was on TV masterfully laying out the Ukrainian success strategy. When Solovyov said the aim of the West was "the destruction of Moscow!", Dmitry Evstafiev (Professor, School of Integrated Communications) steps up with the answer of the means by which the West was planning to undermine the Russian Empire.

"I've been thinking, why are they doing this? They are hyprocrites! The whole West is built on the principle of hypocracy. Political, cultural, and every other kind. They have to say, 'guys surrender! Russians, surrender! We will give you Nutella, asphalt, and toilet bowls! One toilet bowl for every region!'"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arQETNJUifE

The panel's speechless reaction at the end of the clip said it all.

I don't think the Russians have a playbook anymore. The lies aren't working. Russian propaganda tried freeing Donbass, saving Ukrainian children, fighting NATO, countering Nazi's.. none of the jello stuck to the wall. This is dangerous because Russians are turning off their TV's. They're listening to rumors, not believing the State Propaganda. I believe this is why the Russian Government is so afraid of the rumor mill right now - because they're vulnerable. This is also why I believe they will likely hit an anarchic crossroad within 2 1/2 years. It's a similar pattern to when the Soviet Union broke up.

I know the pro-Russian propagandists monitoring this thread will say "so what" or "means nothing." Let me give you a nightmare scenario that will change your mind about that.

You remember the Kerch Bridge? The primary lifeline between the Crimean Peninsula and the massive supply lines from Russia? The rail was supposed to be repaired by next month. Russian propaganda proudly touted how quickly it had been restored



If you recall, the train traffic was a significant logistical nightmare for the Russians.

"between 9 October and 24 November 2022, 2,622 rail cars, 24,227 vehicles and 37,114 passengers were transported by ferry."

"By now you’ve all seen these cracks in the Kerch Bridge support columns. Now even though we have only a couple pictures, there is more to say."

https://www.polskieradio.pl/396/7818/Artykul/3181568,на-некаторых-апорах-крымскага-моста-зявіліся-расколіны

Imagine the morale hit to Russia if anything.. anything at all.. happens to that bridge?

Anonymous wrote:America (as we know it) will fall someday.
Rome fell, Byzantine empire rose.
Rome lasted (we think) 1000 years; Byzantine empire 1100.
Russia is just going through another phase - theirs are just faster and fascinating for some reason. Africa has a civil war or new country split off once a month and no one really notices or cares.

I think Russians and Americans hate each other so much because we are actually very similar- America is controlled anarchy (disputable) and Russia is anarchy with the guise of dictatorship and complete control (disputable).

Russians cannot figure out the balance America pulls off and America cannot figure out how they can’t pull it off. Both have skilled labor forces and elite scientists; but cannot relate beyond that.

Lol, Russia's Congo on a different continent. There's nothing special or unique about it. Just a bog standard third world kleptocracy.

America (as we know it) will fall someday.
Rome fell, Byzantine empire rose.
Rome lasted (we think) 1000 years; Byzantine empire 1100.
Russia is just going through another phase - theirs are just faster and fascinating for some reason. Africa has a civil war or new country split off once a month and no one really notices or cares.

I think Russians and Americans hate each other so much because we are actually very similar- America is controlled anarchy (disputable) and Russia is anarchy with the guise of dictatorship and complete control (disputable).

Russians cannot figure out the balance America pulls off and America cannot figure out how they can’t pull it off. Both have skilled labor forces and elite scientists; but cannot relate beyond that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Main administrative building of Shebekino, Belgorod Russia is on fire.

Looks like the UA has stopped trying to win the war and has moved on to the insurgency phase.

Those are Russian nationals fighting Putin's troops in Belgorod. Russia now has its own insurgency regardless of Ukraine.

No there’s no Russian insurgency. There are Russian citizens who defected.
I don’t know if that’s of any importance but just wanted to say that the Russian “uprising” is still a fantasy. There are two sides as in two countries and of course there are defectors
-DP

Sure, and keep telling yourself that all of these various military recruitment centers, FSB offices, refineries, manufacturing plants and other things across Russia spontaneously blowing up or catching on fire are indeed just "careless smokers" and keep telling yourself that recreational grade drones can somehow make it all the way to Moscow from the Ukrainian border.

There are in fact a lot of Russian partisans working against Putin's regime.

They are Ukrainian recruits
I don’t think it matters much but they are ALL recruited and directed by Ukraine and its allies

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Main administrative building of Shebekino, Belgorod Russia is on fire.

Looks like the UA has stopped trying to win the war and has moved on to the insurgency phase.

Those are Russian nationals fighting Putin's troops in Belgorod. Russia now has its own insurgency regardless of Ukraine.

No there’s no Russian insurgency. There are Russian citizens who defected.
I don’t know if that’s of any importance but just wanted to say that the Russian “uprising” is still a fantasy. There are two sides as in two countries and of course there are defectors
-DP

Sure, and keep telling yourself that all of these various military recruitment centers, FSB offices, refineries, manufacturing plants and other things across Russia spontaneously blowing up or catching on fire are indeed just "careless smokers" and keep telling yourself that recreational grade drones can somehow make it all the way to Moscow from the Ukrainian border.

There are in fact a lot of Russian partisans working against Putin's regime.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because you don’t want to get it over too quickly

That’s strategically a bad choice when there is a once in millennium opportunity to finish russia

I don't think it makes sense to attempt to "finish Russia", even if it were possible.

What would emerge in the aftermath?

I think the resulting mess might present a larger set of problems, risks, and dangers than Russia in its present form.

I think you've overestimated NATO and US long-term intentions / strategies / plans. Sure, someone at the Pentagon or Whitehall may be listening to an AI who's plotting every move thinking they've got some game plan, but as the wise Knarl Barkley says, "ha, ha, bless your soul.. do you really think you're in control?"

I think this is what NATO is doing..

I think this is what the EU is doing..

I think this is what the US is doing..

Let's be perfectly clear here. Russia is destroying itself. Whatever emerges (remains?) will likely be very scary. The situation is volatile enough without adding risk to this very delicate and complicated scenario.

Will Russia ask for Western help to rebuild someday? Will they launch nuclear weapons? Will they become a satellite of China? Will they devolve into a collection of balkanized warlord regions? Who knows what the future holds.

I believe the appropriate phrase would be 'circumstance will decide'

If we're talking about the long term future of Russia then I have no idea what will happen. And frankly it will be up to the citizens of Russia to decide. But it will be interesting because Russia the country is a vestigal colonial empire. Many of its constituent parts are not ethnic Russian and have a long history and culture of their own. There is also the issue of North Manchuria.

Kosovo Sérbia kicking off

I love Slavs!

Anonymous wrote:

Because you don’t want to get it over too quickly

That’s strategically a bad choice when there is a once in millennium opportunity to finish russia

I don't think it makes sense to attempt to "finish Russia", even if it were possible.

What would emerge in the aftermath?

I think the resulting mess might present a larger set of problems, risks, and dangers than Russia in its present form.

I think you've overestimated NATO and US long-term intentions / strategies / plans. Sure, someone at the Pentagon or Whitehall may be listening to an AI who's plotting every move thinking they've got some game plan, but as the wise Knarl Barkley says, "ha, ha, bless your soul.. do you really think you're in control?"

I think this is what NATO is doing..

I think this is what the EU is doing..

I think this is what the US is doing..

Let's be perfectly clear here. Russia is destroying itself. Whatever emerges (remains?) will likely be very scary. The situation is volatile enough without adding risk to this very delicate and complicated scenario.

Will Russia ask for Western help to rebuild someday? Will they launch nuclear weapons? Will they become a satellite of China? Will they devolve into a collection of balkanized warlord regions? Who knows what the future holds.

I believe the appropriate phrase would be 'circumstance will decide'

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Main administrative building of Shebekino, Belgorod Russia is on fire.

Looks like the UA has stopped trying to win the war and has moved on to the insurgency phase.

Those are Russian nationals fighting Putin's troops in Belgorod. Russia now has its own insurgency regardless of Ukraine.

No there’s no Russian insurgency. There are Russian citizens who defected.
I don’t know if that’s of any importance but just wanted to say that the Russian “uprising” is still a fantasy. There are two sides as in two countries and of course there are defectors
-DP

Anonymous wrote:

Because you don’t want to get it over too quickly

That’s strategically a bad choice when there is a once in millennium opportunity to finish russia

I don't think it makes sense to attempt to "finish Russia", even if it were possible.

What would emerge in the aftermath?

I think the resulting mess might present a larger set of problems, risks, and dangers than Russia in its present form.

DP. I don’t think anyone cares about what emerges.
As long as Russia loses whatever influence it had in the region - they don’t care if it’s chaos, refugees, dictatorship, whatever!
As long as this territory is not dangerous as a geopolitical rival - it’s fine for them. If it more or less plays by the rules, their rules - that’s even better.