Europe at War

[Karl Henning]

Merely exercising his chief talent.

(* chortle *)

And:

Putin Compounds His Bad Decisions

[Todd]

From WaPo: Alexei Navalny: This is what a post-Putin Russia should look like

The future model for Russia is not "strong power" and a "firm hand," but harmony, agreement and consideration of the interests of the whole society. Russia needs a parliamentary republic. That is the only way to stop the endless cycle of imperial authoritarianism.

In short, regime change is the answer.

[Todd]

What Russian annexation means for Ukraine's regions

Ukraine announces fast-track NATO membership bid, rules out Putin talks

A bustling Friday!  So much propaganda, so little time!!

[71 dB]

Okay Todd, seriously, Back off. I know I havent always seen eye to eye with Florestan myself but youre going way over the line and just being needlessly provocative.

Todd is a pathological American exceptionalist who thinks NATO without the US is "nothing" and that Finland and Sweden joining NATO is a catastrophe. I have had him on ignore for some time now.

[Spotted Horses]

Todd is a pathological American exceptionalist who thinks NATO without the US is "nothing" and that Finland and Sweden joining NATO is a catastrophe. I have had him on ignore for some time now.

Actually he is not an American exceptionalist. He has often expressed the view that the U.S. domination of the world is inevitably receding. It seems to me that his world view is defined by cynicism.

[Todd]

Actually he is not an American exceptionalist. He has often expressed the view that the U.S. domination of the world is inevitably receding. It seems to me that his world view is defined by cynicism.

The first two sentences are spot on, while the last is half complete.

[Spotted Horses]

The first two sentences are spot on, while the last is half complete.

... cynicism and self interest?

[Todd]

... cynicism and self interest?

Cynicism and Realism, in the international relations conception of that word.  It is more comprehensive than just self-interest. 

[drogulus]

     Yampil is deannexed. There's a single road out of Lyman.

     Lyman is well defended from frontal assault by high quality troops by Russian standards. They should leave yesterday. I'm baffled by this. What purpose is served by leaving them in an impossible situation? These troops are badly needed at the next line of defense.

[Todd]

From the Beeb: US suggests Russia could be behind Nord Stream gas leaks

Now we know who did it.

[LKB]

     Yampil is deannexed. There's a single road out of Lyman.

     Lyman is well defended from frontal assault by high quality troops by Russian standards. They should leave yesterday. I'm baffled by this. What purpose is served by leaving them in an impossible situation? These troops are badly needed at the next line of defense.

Considering the reports of Putin personally contacting and directing unit commanders, this might be an example of his bias against intelligent choices.

[Todd]

Nord Stream leaks will not delay Oct. 1 Baltic Pipe start-up

[Que]

Well, after Putin's rambling annexation speech I might have to change the title of this thread to:

Vladimir Putin's war against the West

Putin's annexation speech: more angry taxi driver than head of state

"We" allow for gender reassignment surgery!  I guess that makes invading your sovereign neighbour and sabotaging international energy infrastructure quite all right...

[LKB]

Well, after Putin's rambling annexation speech I might have to change the title of this thread to:

Vladimir Putin's war against the West

Putin's annexation speech: more angry taxi driver than head of state

"We" allow for gender reassignment surgery!  I guess that makes invading your sovereign neighbour and sabotaging international energy infrastructure quite all right...

Putin is still considered by the majority of the so- called " experts " to be rational. Since rational people are rarely suicidal, it's a fair bet that the nuclear bluster is still what it was months ago: a tool intended to force Ukraine and the West to hesitate, and possibly fragment.

I still believe it more likely for a Russian chemical or biological attack, particularly since the interested parties are so focused on nuclear scenarios. Make your opponent prepare for your right hand, then strike with your left.

We'll know soon enough.

[Que]

Putin is still considered by the majority of the so- called " experts " to be rational. Since rational people are rarely suicidal, it's a fair bet that the nuclear bluster is still what it was months ago: a tool intended to force Ukraine and the West to hesitate, and possibly fragment.

I still believe it more likely for a Russian chemical or biological attack, particularly since the interested parties are so focused on nuclear scenarios. Make your opponent prepare for your right hand, then strike with your left.

We'll know soon enough.

The trend is clear: in the face of defeat, Putin keeps escalating...

If he would sabotage the Baltic Pipeline next, that would be an act of war possibly triggering an armed stand off in the Balticum.

Putin is as rational as any conspiracy theorist with an overinflated ego, like the many that are roaming the internet these days. Not exactly certifiable but I wouldn't call them sane of mind either.

[Madiel]

Given a choice between the indecent thing and possible nuclear armageddon, I think it's time to be considering the indecent thing.

How does this align with the choices you imposed on prospective Russian conscripts?

[Que]

Interesting developments. Ukrainian forces are encircling Lyman (3.000 - 5.000 Russian soldiers). They are trying to move in northern direction to connect with the bridgehead in Kupyansk, which would open up the railway on the eastern bank of the Oskil river. And they are attacking Kreminna, which would enable them to cut off Russian connections to Rubizhne, Severodonetsk and Lysyschank. The Russian front in the northeast is crumbling...

Just in time for winter... during which thousands of Putin's best elite troops will be cut off and trapped in Kherson city.

[Florestan]

Putin is as rational as any conspiracy theorist with an overinflated ego, like the many that are roaming the internet these days. Not exactly certifiable but I wouldn't call them sane of mind either.

+ 1.

[Todd]

If he would sabotage the Baltic Pipeline next, that would be an act of war possibly triggering an armed stand off in the Balticum.

We've already seen the short-term result of sabotaging pipelines.  Were the new Baltic pipeline to be sabotaged, one would first need to be able to prove whodunnit.*  The same would be true were an LNG carrier to go down as winter weather makes the northern seas choppy.  One might wonder if the Yelets–Kremenchuk–Kryvyi Rih pipeline might experience more maintenance issues. 


* Time magazine already published the truth: Russia Blows Up Gas Pipelines, Declaring an All-Out Energy War It May Already Have Lost

Putin is as rational as any conspiracy theorist with an overinflated ego, like the many that are roaming the internet these days. Not exactly certifiable but I wouldn't call them sane of mind either.

One should always question the veracity of internet psychological analysis.

One might also question the propriety of the most bellicose suggestions raised during intense bouts of keyboard warfare.

[Madiel]

The most fascinating thing about all of Todd's pronouncements about the lack of knowledge on the internet is how they never, ever apply to any of his own posts.