Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I am bored of this war and Gaza war.

I think the US needs to give Ukraine a lot more weapons and more advanced weapons.
If the west gave Ukraine maybe 5x the weapons and cooler stuff this war would be more exciting and Ukraine could kill Russians a lot faster and in higher volumes.

I know the Apaches are a lot of training and pretty high maintenance but a few squadrons of those would be awesome to see on the front lines. Maybe a few of those spectre gun ships would be fun too.

For k street the carnage is “fun.”

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And all they had to say was no NATO.

So sad.

So naive - why do you think Putin made that demand? He did not want the weight of US and allies on him when he invaded … he would have invaded anyway …

What is wrong with invading? We have millions invading US on daily basis. Why are we suddenly against Russians crossing Ukrainian borders illegally?

You cannot be serious.

One sovereign country invading another sovereign country violates
- international laws,
- the Just War framework for when and how war is justified and that has guided Western countries for centuries
- humanitarian laws since they targeted civilians.

Illegal immigrants in the US are deported not tortured and bombed into oblivion.

Democrats do not support open borders and have usually deported illegal Inmigrant at much higher rates than Trump or Bush.

Not wanting to cage Inmigrant children and separate families at the border does not amount to promoting open borders but wanting humans treated in humane ways.

If you're posting from a Western country, you're either blissfully ignorant of history, or equally blissfully devoid of irony.

Posting from US

What western countries invade their neighbors, target civilians and spend 17 years arming terrorist groups to attack Israel?

None.

You cannot live in a western democracy or value rule of law or human life if you think Putin’s invasion of sovereign countries and targeting of civilians is legal or acceptable and comparable to illegal immigrants …

We have been invaded from the south by Russians, Palestinians and others for the last two years. They are arming terrorist groups and getting organized in US (look at all those massive pro Hamas protests). To say none, you must be completely ignorant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another great Christmas thanks to war profiteering. Thanks Joe!

Meanwhile, Russia continue to occupy even more of Ukrainian territory. Almost two years later, people trying to convince themselves that "Ukrainian victory over Russia is inevitable". Do you remember Russian meme when the hedge hock meditates and keep saying "I am not goin to fart, I am not goin to fart", and then he farts and continue to meditate: "It wasn't me, it wasn't me..". Keep telling yourself that the victory of Ukraine is inevitable.

Although I'm not the OP, I believe the OP is correct. Putin is taking Russia into the Abyss. Here are examples that went into effect right before the Russian New Year.

Protecting the Honor of Rosgvardia Volunteers. The new legislation broadens the existing articles of the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offences, making them applicable to Rosgvardia’s volunteers. Any act of discrediting these volunteers now leads to criminal liability, with a penalty of up to 15 years of imprisonment.

Stricter Laws on Discreditation. President Putin has reinforced this stance with additional laws on discreditation. These laws extend to conscription service in the Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Service of Russia and the voluntary formations of Rosgvardia. The maximum punishment for discrediting these formations and the National Guard has been set at up to 5 years in prison.

https://bnnbreaking.com/world/russia/putin-signs-law-penalizing-discredit-of-rosgvardia-volunteers/

I thought this move was unusual since there are already draconian laws already in effect. This indicates Russian Public sentiment has moved from anger against military failures into anger against the FSB and Rosgvardia internal security forces protecting Putin's regime. I believe the last time this happened was a year before the breakup of the USSR, when the Russian people began to turn against the MVD / Interior Ministry Troops, the predecessor of Rosgvardia and the FSB?

Existing Russian Laws from 2022

Punishments for discrediting or disseminating unreliable information about the Russian Armed Forces; discrediting Russian state bodies or disseminating unreliable information about the exercise of their powers outside Russian territory; punishments for discrediting or disseminating unreliable information regarding volunteer groups aiding the Russian Armed Forces.

Russian Federal Laws No.31-FZ and No.32-FZ; Criminal Code of the Russian Federation with articles 207.3, 280.3 and 284.2: Sets punishments for making statements against the Russian Armed Forces or for calling for sanctions. A "discrediting" of the armed forces, including calls that their use was not in the interests of the Russian Federation.
Article 20.3.3: Penalties carry a large fine for natural and juridicial persons.
Article 280.3: Penalties up to five years imprisonment.

Article 207.3: The dissemination of "unreliable information" about the armed forces and its operation could be punished with up to fifteen years imprisonment.
Article 284.2: Calls to impose sanctions against Russia, Russian citizens or Russian legal entities.
Article 20.3.4: Penalties carry a large fine and up to 3 years imprisonment.

Russian Federal laws No.62-FZ and No.63-FZ; articles 20.3.3[9] and 207.3[10]: extend the punishments for discrediting or disseminating unreliable information regarding the extraterritorial exercise of powers by other Russian state bodies. This includes National Guard, Federal Security Service (FSB), Ministry of Emergency Situations, General Prosecutor's Office, Investigative Committee, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Russian Federal laws No.57-FZ and No.58-FZ: extends the punishments for discrediting or disseminating unreliable information to the activities of volunteers, their formations and organizations aimed at assisting the tasks of the armed forces. This included all participants of military operations for Russia, including military volunteers and mercenaries such as Wagner Group (ironically, mercenaries are fully prohibited and criminally punishable under article 359 of Russia's criminal code). Punishments increased the maximum prison terms: with up to 5 years imprisonment for calling for sanctions and up to 7 years imprisonment for discrediting or disseminating unreliable information about the armed forces.

Another new Russian law passed this December is an eye-opener as well.

"allowing Russian citizens to serve in the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) Border Service"
"Putin has instructed the Ministry of Defense to conduct the autumn conscription of 2024 using the state information system of the single registry of summons"
https://bnnbreaking.com/world/russia/putin-signs-law-for-conscript-service-in-fsbs-border-service/

The first part means that Putin is concerned that the FSB (internal and border security) is understaffed. The second part is even more interesting - it means that Regional and local officials won't be able to remove their cronies off of the list to protect political supporters and curry favor locally. I believe this is a sign that Putin doesn't want Regional and local officials to build up independent power bases by doing favors. Although this move will temporarily strengthen Putin's centralized control, I believe it will also reduce his de-centralized support base even further.

Another unpopular move will alienate many Russian intellectuals and elites.

"Russians who have been banned from traveling abroad will have to hand over their passports to authorities within five days after being notified, according to a government decree that comes into force on Monday."
"authorities can impose a travel ban on conscripts, employees of the Federal Security Service (FSB), convicts, or people who have access to state secrets or “information of special importance,” among others"
https://www.tv360nigeria.com/travel-banned-russians-to-hand-over-passports-within-five-days/

This is in addition to the current ban on Russian senior officials and state company executives. Before, elite Russians could still travel abroad to relax in Egypt or Thailand. I think the only reason for doing this might be a call for Partial or Full Mobilization or at least a massive conscription within Russia?

I guess Putin never soul-searched the existential questions, "what happens to people in a pressure-cooker unable to unwind?" or "what do parents whose children died have to lose?" Putin's island of control seems to be shrinking further and further.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another great Christmas thanks to war profiteering. Thanks Joe!

Meanwhile, Russia continue to occupy even more of Ukrainian territory. Almost two years later, people trying to convince themselves that "Ukrainian victory over Russia is inevitable". Do you remember Russian meme when the hedge hock meditates and keep saying "I am not goin to fart, I am not goin to fart", and then he farts and continue to meditate: "It wasn't me, it wasn't me..". Keep telling yourself that the victory of Ukraine is inevitable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another great Christmas thanks to war profiteering. Thanks Joe!

Meanwhile, Russia continue to occupy even more of Ukrainian territory. Almost two years later, people trying to convince themselves that "Ukrainian victory over Russia is inevitable". Do you remember Russian meme when the hedge hock meditates and keep saying "I am not goin to fart, I am not goin to fart", and then he farts and continue to meditate: "It wasn't me, it wasn't me..". Keep telling yourself that the victory of Ukraine is inevitable.

Anonymous wrote:Another great Christmas thanks to war profiteering. Thanks Joe!

Anonymous wrote:Personally I am bored of this war and Gaza war.

I think the US needs to give Ukraine a lot more weapons and more advanced weapons.
If the west gave Ukraine maybe 5x the weapons and cooler stuff this war would be more exciting and Ukraine could kill Russians a lot faster and in higher volumes.

I know the Apaches are a lot of training and pretty high maintenance but a few squadrons of those would be awesome to see on the front lines. Maybe a few of those spectre gun ships would be fun too.

Anonymous wrote:Personally I am bored of this war and Gaza war.

I think the US needs to give Ukraine a lot more weapons and more advanced weapons.
If the west gave Ukraine maybe 5x the weapons and cooler stuff this war would be more exciting and Ukraine could kill Russians a lot faster and in higher volumes.

I know the Apaches are a lot of training and pretty high maintenance but a few squadrons of those would be awesome to see on the front lines. Maybe a few of those spectre gun ships would be fun too.

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Anonymous wrote:I am laughing at the Russian bot farm posts.

This totally sucks for Ukraine- but still a great ROI and easy way to kill Russians.

I want Ukraine to win; fund them at 3x current levels.

Russians are like the worst people on the planet with those whacko ISIS groups.
The more dead of them both the better for the civilized world.
This is simply an investment to diminish the barbarian horde known as Russia. Money well spent.

Only if you assign the Ukrainian dead the value of zero.

At least they are dying with a rifle in their hand and not in a prison or gas chamber that the Russians will put most Ukrainian in if they took over.

Putin would kill all Ukrainians if given the opportunity. He is like Hitler- but more of a jerk.

Don’t be dramatic. This is not reality.

Actually, it is. It's a stated goal to wipe out Ukraine as a nationality.

Here's a link - watch all the clips on the right hand side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMjd1IVgAQU&list=PLLWQyEN3YRo7bpdyPlWscpvx2O8qSu0T1

You may have missed Putin's threat when he first started the war? His "sleeping beauty" comment?

"Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for failing to implement the protocol, and referenced an obscene song lyric to demonstrate what he wanted. "Whether you like it or don't like it, bear with it, my beauty," Putin said. Russia experts noted that Putin appeared to be quoting from "Sleeping Beauty in a Coffin" by the Soviet-era punk rock group Red Mold. "Sleeping beauty in a coffin, I crept up and f****d her. Like it, or dislike it, sleep my beauty," the English translation of the Russian lyrics reads."
https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-macron-meeting-quote-obscene-lyrics-show-russia-ukraine-demands-2022-2

Sure enough, he let his soldiers use rape as a weapon in Ukraine.

But you seem okay with that?

Putin's army has been in Crimea since 2014. In Eastern Ukraine just about since then. Have there been mass executions? I think not. I despise the guy but let's not pretend he "wants to kill all Ukrainians". That's just overwrought nonsense.

What do you think would Biden say if Putin announced he no longer wants to abide by the terms of the treaty to which his country was a signatory? It wouldn't be as crude as that, but I'm sure it would be some version of "a deal's a deal no matter how you feel."

Here are civilian apartment buildings burning.

2018: "247,000 Russians have moved to Crimea since annexation. At the same time, about 140,000 people have left, mostly Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars who moved to the Ukrainian mainland"
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-accused-of-reshaping-annexed-crimea-demographics-ukraine/29262130.html

2023: "more than 500,000 Russian citizens moving to Crimea since 2014"
https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/in-crimea-pro-ukraine-feelings-prompt-a-russian-crackdown-123494b0

"the reformatting of the World is underway. We should clearly understand we have the goals of our special military operation, but as the President [Putin] said, we also have a goal of a strategic reformatting of the World. It can't be postponed. We should take advantage of the fact that Western institutions are largely destabilized."
[6:53 / 7:53] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqS3uguNl5M

I really don't like liars (or traitors).

Your personal preferences are irrelevant. Nothing you posted constitutes proof of Putin wanting to kill every last Ukrainian.

There are in fact, several million Ukrainians who live in Russia. And ethnic Ukrainians are one of the largest ethnic groups in Russia. If Putin aimed to kill Ukrainians, he really didn't need to leave home.

1. The other poster who you were arguing with said "Putin would kill all Ukrainians if given the opportunity. He is like Hitler- but more of a jerk"
2. Your response was "Don’t be dramatic. This is not reality."
3. My response to your response was "Actually, it is. It's a stated goal to wipe out Ukraine as a nationality."
4. This is where you changed the argument to read "let's not pretend he "wants to kill all[\b] Ukrainians". [b]That's just overwrought nonsense. "
5. I supplied evidence to counter your (false) assertion that the deaths in Ukraine were "just overwrought nonsense"
6. To which you twisted the words a second time to claim "Your personal preferences are irrelevant. Nothing you posted constitutes proof of Putin wanting to kill every last Ukrainian.", using the basis of ethnicity when the original state dealt with Ukrainian nationalism. Ex. Margharita Simonian is an ethnic Armenian, but is banned in her own home country of Armenia for her pro-Russian propaganda.

What a wonderfully narrow semantic definition. You're truly a poser channeling Neville Chamberlain, using simplistic Russian-style sophistry. And you are Russian, correct? Your dismissal of logic and statement that "personal preferences are irrelevant" give you away, my friend.

https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/Rasha-Parasha-Putin-Khujlo-by-Yaroslavka/140750311.6VDG0

But you'll be happy to know that a very special event will happen in 11 days. I believe it will be the trigger for an 18 month sequence of events in Russia that even Putin can't stop. You should start shopping your resume now and getting the t-shirt would be a nice touch? You know, to get ahead of the curve.

Let's cut this down to the good bits:

"Putin would kill all Ukrainians, given an opportunity".

"This is nonsense."

Also, I believe you've made quite a few predictions over the course of this thread, and none of them have come true so far. You make a very poor Cassandra but don't let that stop you - for comedy value alone is good enough.

Simonian isn't banned for pro-Russian propaganda, she is banned for other reasons.

I got Prigozhin correct. Did you?

True, the prediction regarding either or both Solovyov and Shoigu did not come true by the end of December (yet). Let me explain why.

Putin desperately needs a scapegoat to pin failures in Ukraine upon. I thought he would be smart enough to do this by January 1st, ahead of the March elections. If he replaced Solovyov, then he would be blaming the ultranationalists for goading him into war. If he replaced Shoigu, then he would be blaming the military for failing to take Ukraine. Until now, he's done neither. This means that he's still (to his own detriment) owning the failure(s) personally. Honestly, I thought Putin was smarter than this, but this seems to indicate his personal internal power base is weak and he needs their support no matter what?

""In this sense, if I may say so, they outplayed us," Putin said"
https://www.newsweek.com/putin-west-outplayed-russia-ukraine-2014-minsk-agreements-1853765

So the question now is - how long can this go on? Like I said, my prediction is 18 months from January. What's yours? Come on, now. Put your cards down. Let's see your hand and who's a better Cassandra?

DP. My prediction is that this will go on in one shape or form or another for 10 more years

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
And all they had to say was no NATO.

So sad.

So naive - why do you think Putin made that demand? He did not want the weight of US and allies on him when he invaded … he would have invaded anyway …

What is wrong with invading? We have millions invading US on daily basis. Why are we suddenly against Russians crossing Ukrainian borders illegally?

You cannot be serious.

One sovereign country invading another sovereign country violates
- international laws,
- the Just War framework for when and how war is justified and that has guided Western countries for centuries
- humanitarian laws since they targeted civilians.

Illegal immigrants in the US are deported not tortured and bombed into oblivion.

Democrats do not support open borders and have usually deported illegal Inmigrant at much higher rates than Trump or Bush.

Not wanting to cage Inmigrant children and separate families at the border does not amount to promoting open borders but wanting humans treated in humane ways.

If you're posting from a Western country, you're either blissfully ignorant of history, or equally blissfully devoid of irony.

Posting from US

What western countries invade their neighbors, target civilians and spend 17 years arming terrorist groups to attack Israel?

None.

You cannot live in a western democracy or value rule of law or human life if you think Putin’s invasion of sovereign countries and targeting of civilians is legal or acceptable and comparable to illegal immigrants …