BOTH

Biden is clearly trying to leave Putin an offramp by not sanctioning big state banks – Sberbank, VTB, Gazprombank – because that’d cause problems for ordinary Russians.

But Putin seems to have no interest in stepping back and thinks the US will sanction Russia whatever happens.

— max seddon (@maxseddon) February 22, 2022

Russians utilizing electronic warfare weaponry, sending spoofed texts to Ukrainian soldiers. https://t.co/h0flWxDwjU

— Doge (@IntelDoge) February 22, 2022

Rossticus said:

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Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

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Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

This is probably correct, but listening to all the wrong parts of the state department. Tufts and all those Ivy leaguers think that the 21st century is supposed to be kinder and gentler and don't realize it's the 19th century with nukes, hypersonic weapons, drones and whatever else they come up with in the next 80 years.

aezmvp said:

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This is probably correct, but listening to all the wrong parts of the state department. Tufts and all those Ivy leaguers think that the 21st century is supposed to be kinder and gentler and don't realize it's the 19th century with nukes, hypersonic weapons, drones and whatever else they come up with in the next 80 years.

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Agreed.

We are bringing sanctions to a tank fight.

Sully Dog said:

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javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

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Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

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Ah yes, the old wife beater's "she had it comin'" defense.

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Nice clickbait response, I expect nothing less from some of you.

Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania are interesting locations for re-deployment. Non-escalatory inter-theater movement to get forces closer to Poland just in case things get weird? Those countries don't seem to be at particular risk.

yes, this is where the decades of corruption sabotage Ukraine.

all that money (or most of it) should have been spent on defense

jabberwalkie09 said:

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Russians utilizing electronic warfare weaponry, sending spoofed texts to Ukrainian soldiers. https://t.co/h0flWxDwjU

— Doge (@IntelDoge) February 22, 2022

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the reality is more like 2 hours

not 2 days.

those T-80s are going to roll over that border like a hot knife through butter.

TxTarpon said:

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Quote:

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Would Russia ever come back for Alaska?

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Nope
Czar wanted it gone.
Needed the cash.

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Who knows, he might return it back and keep 10% for the big guy.

Rossticus said:

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Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania are interesting locations for re-deployment. Non-escalatory inter-theater movement to get forces closer to Poland just in case things get weird? Those countries don't seem to be at particular risk.

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These are former USSR Baltic states (now NATO) that Russia has it's eyes on.

Rossticus said:

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Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania are interesting locations for re-deployment. Non-escalatory inter-theater movement to get forces closer to Poland just in case things get weird? Those countries don't seem to be at particular risk.

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they have been at risk just like Crimea was-

small populations with a large minority being ethnic Russians

Putin can replay the 'Strange Green Men" game and easily take over the Baltics if he wants to.

Well Peepaw just struck fear into Putin with that speech. Holy **** we are screwed

javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

---

Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

---

Massive progress has been made toward reforms in recent years which they've been working extraordinarily hard on once they ousted the pro-Russian government. They've been doing exactly what you've said they should. The US and other EU countries have been directly involved in that. And they're a sovereign nation.

Trying to insulate themselves from Russian influence is a good thing. Not something to use as a criticism. "It's their fault for allying closer to our allies than Russia!".

Saying that nobody in Ukraine will cry over it shows how uneducated you are on the matter and how little, if any, exposure you have to Ukrainians in-country.

Hack. Try again.

Rossticus said:

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Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania are interesting locations for re-deployment. Non-escalatory inter-theater movement to get forces closer to Poland just in case things get weird? Those countries don't seem to be at particular risk.

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But all in the immediate vicinity of Belarus.

jabberwalkie09 said:

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Rossticus said:

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Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania are interesting locations for re-deployment. Non-escalatory inter-theater movement to get forces closer to Poland just in case things get weird? Those countries don't seem to be at particular risk.

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But all in the immediate vicinity of Belarus.

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I thought about that. Would Russia really re-deploy to the opposite side of Belarus to invade NATO countries? Seems like a hell of a gamble.

Rossticus said:

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javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

---

Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

---

Massive progress has been made toward reforms in recent years which they've been working extraordinarily hard on once they ousted the pro-Russian government. They've been doing exactly what you've said they should. The US and other EU countries have been directly involved in that. And they're a sovereign nation. Trying to insulate themselves from Russian influence is a good thing. Not something to use a criticism. "It's their fault for allying closer to our allies than Russia!".

Hack. Try again.

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Like it or not, part of their withdrawal from the Soviet union was to remain neutral. Getting more involved with the US and EU scares the crap out of Putin.

If they wanted to get into NATO, they should have been the first of the Soviet countries to do so, not the last.

Edit: Also, I did not suggest they ally closer with Russia. But if they wanted out of the Soviet Union they needed to keep their distance from both sides enough to remain neutral to both.

China doesn't even have to take Taiwan - they just need to carpet bomb every fab and chip plant and blockade. That would grind us to a halt - until we can somehow mobilize onshore. Given our current culture - I'm not optimistic.

Rossticus said:

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jabberwalkie09 said:

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Rossticus said:

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Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania are interesting locations for re-deployment. Non-escalatory inter-theater movement to get forces closer to Poland just in case things get weird? Those countries don't seem to be at particular risk.

---

But all in the immediate vicinity of Belarus.

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I thought about that. Would Russia really re-deploy to the opposite side of Belarus to invade NATO countries? Seems like a hell of a gamble.

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No, I think it's just additional pressure with no real force behind it.

javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

---

Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

---

Massive progress has been made toward reforms in recent years which they've been working extraordinarily hard on once they ousted the pro-Russian government. They've been doing exactly what you've said they should. The US and other EU countries have been directly involved in that. And they're a sovereign nation. Trying to insulate themselves from Russian influence is a good thing. Not something to use a criticism. "It's their fault for allying closer to our allies than Russia!".

Hack. Try again.

---

Like it or not, part of their withdrawal from the Soviet union was to remain neutral. Getting more involved with the US and EU scares the crap out of Putin.

If they wanted to get into NATO, they should have been the first of the Soviet countries to do so, not the last.

---

Oh, well since that's all they needed to do. If I'd known it was that easy…. It's not like Russia hasn't been doing everything possible to subvert their efforts. What they've managed to accomplish takes a hell of a lot of resolve. Not to mention being in a proxy war for the last 8 years.

⚠️🛰️Sentinel-2 imagery taken this morning 08:36 UTC shows at least nine Ilyushin Il-76 military cargo aircraft departing🇷🇺Taganrog-Central Air Base near Taganrog in Russia, located on the shores of the Sea of Azov, 40 km from 🇺🇦Ukraine (DPR).

Three of them airborne, six taxiing. pic.twitter.com/wJ650An9jl

— Gerjon | חריון (@Gerjon_) February 22, 2022

Rossticus said:

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javajaws said:

---

Rossticus said:

---

javajaws said:

---

Rossticus said:

---

Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

---

Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

---

Massive progress has been made toward reforms in recent years which they've been working extraordinarily hard on once they ousted the pro-Russian government. They've been doing exactly what you've said they should. The US and other EU countries have been directly involved in that. And they're a sovereign nation. Trying to insulate themselves from Russian influence is a good thing. Not something to use a criticism. "It's their fault for allying closer to our allies than Russia!".

Hack. Try again.

---

Like it or not, part of their withdrawal from the Soviet union was to remain neutral. Getting more involved with the US and EU scares the crap out of Putin.

If they wanted to get into NATO, they should have been the first of the Soviet countries to do so, not the last.

---

Oh, well since that's all they needed to do. If I'd known it was that easy…

---

If you point a gun at a bear often enough either one of two things will happen: 1) The bear will get used to it and ignore you, or 2) He will maul the crap out of you!

javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

---

Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

---

Tell you what.

If you ever want a shining example of why you shouldn't give up nuclear weapons, Ukraine is a great example.
It's why NKorea and Iran will never do so.

New World Ag said:

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What is he supposed to do? There is very little support on either side for direct US involvement in Ukraine.

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Much stronger sanctions, ejection of Russian diplomats from the U.S.

javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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javajaws said:

---

Rossticus said:

---

Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

---

Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

---

Massive progress has been made toward reforms in recent years which they've been working extraordinarily hard on once they ousted the pro-Russian government. They've been doing exactly what you've said they should. The US and other EU countries have been directly involved in that. And they're a sovereign nation. Trying to insulate themselves from Russian influence is a good thing. Not something to use a criticism. "It's their fault for allying closer to our allies than Russia!".

Hack. Try again.

---

Like it or not, part of their withdrawal from the Soviet union was to remain neutral. Getting more involved with the US and EU scares the crap out of Putin.

If they wanted to get into NATO, they should have been the first of the Soviet countries to do so, not the last.

---

Oh, well since that's all they needed to do. If I'd known it was that easy…

---

If you point a gun at a bear often enough either one of two things will happen: 1) The bear will get used to it and ignore you, or 2) He will maul the crap out of you!

---

Now imagine there's a fence around you and the bear and it makes the bear angry when you try to get out. You'll get eaten for sure if you stay in the fence but might also get eaten if you try to escape. At least escape gives you a fighting chance.

deddog said:

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javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

---

Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

---

Tell you what.

If you ever want a shining example of why you shouldn't give up nuclear weapons, Ukraine is a great example.
It's why NKorea and Iran will never do so.

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Turns out NATO may have shot themselves in the ass by forcing that issue. Oof.

We were there. I can confirm barrage went on the entire time we were on the ground. https://t.co/trYuCLnwvh

— Dan Rivers (@danriversitv) February 22, 2022

Putin is starting to sound seriously unhinged.

nm

Starting?

Rossticus said:

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javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

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javajaws said:

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Rossticus said:

---

javajaws said:

---

Rossticus said:

---

Just listened to a Ukrainian rip into Biden's sanctions as essentially useless. Punitive but will have no impact on the extant situation. Of course, we know this.

---

Ukraine is not without blame in this situation. They knew full well the friction it would cause with Russia when they try to cozy up to NATO. They are also to blame for not getting rid of their corruption problems and fixing their economy and military. They had it in their own power to stand on their own and make themselves defensible (as much as possible given their unenviable location).

Really, no one will cry much if Putin goes in and puts a new government in place. Not saying they deserve it...but THEY could have prevented it if they weren't such a s**t show of a country.

---

Massive progress has been made toward reforms in recent years which they've been working extraordinarily hard on once they ousted the pro-Russian government. They've been doing exactly what you've said they should. The US and other EU countries have been directly involved in that. And they're a sovereign nation. Trying to insulate themselves from Russian influence is a good thing. Not something to use a criticism. "It's their fault for allying closer to our allies than Russia!".

Hack. Try again.

---

Like it or not, part of their withdrawal from the Soviet union was to remain neutral. Getting more involved with the US and EU scares the crap out of Putin.

If they wanted to get into NATO, they should have been the first of the Soviet countries to do so, not the last.

---

Oh, well since that's all they needed to do. If I'd known it was that easy…

---

If you point a gun at a bear often enough either one of two things will happen: 1) The bear will get used to it and ignore you, or 2) He will maul the crap out of you!

---

Now imagine there's a fence around you and the bear and it makes the bear angry when you try to get out. You'll get eaten for sure if you stay in the fence but might also get eaten if you try to escape. At least escape gives you a fighting chance.

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Not when Biden takes his son to the zoo and throws honey on you!