Europe at War

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

A recent statement by the leader of Donetsk People's Republic- the self-declared Russian-backed "nation": "the enemy continues to transfer reserves in large quantities, and this slowed down the liberation of this settlement."

[drogulus]

    We Await Silent Moldova's Empire

    W.A.S.M.E.? Maybe the Moldovans should check for tattoos like so:

   

     

[drogulus]

     
     Ukrainians have a far greater ability to replace casualties with new recruits who are being well trained and motivated to defend their country. The Ukes don't do human wave attacks like the Russians, so it's very unlikely they are suffering losses at the same rate.

     'Our Losses Were Gigantic': Life in a Sacrificial Russian Assault Wave

[drogulus]

Russians abandon wartime Russia in historic exodus

     The fun part is this. Russia is preparing incentives to bring Russians home. But as the WAPO article you refer to says:

But there has also been talk in parliament of punishing Russians who left by stripping them of their assets at home. Putin has referred to these people as "scum" and said their exit would "cleanse" the country — even though some who left did not oppose him, or the war.

     

     

[Todd]

From WSJ: Major Russian Offensive Is Under Way in Ukraine, NATO Says: Russia is tightening its noose around Bakhmut in the country's east, Western officials say

From NATO: Secretary General calls for more support to Ukraine as NATO Defence Ministers meet

Escalation good; settlement negotiations bad.

[Todd]

From Reuters: Ukraine's Zelenskiy met JPMorgan bankers over rebuilding efforts

The Russo-Ukrainian War is about nothing less than the future of Democracy!^®

[drogulus]

    Here's an article I deem to be instructive for any wavering TuckerPutinists.

    'They Didn't Understand Anything, but Just Spoiled People's Lives'

But even as they inflicted pain on the most civic-minded Ukrainians, even as they assaulted local leaders, Russian soldiers seemed not to know how to replace them. Unlike their Soviet Communist forebears, who could at least name the ideology that had driven them into Poland, or Estonia, or Romania, the modern Russian army seems to have no coherent theory of government or administration, no concrete plans to run the region, even no clear idea of the meaning of Russkiy mir, the "Russian world" that some of President Vladimir Putin's ideologues extol.

     Then there's this:

After the mayors, town councilors, and other elected officials, the Ukrainians who disturb the occupiers most are volunteers: people who run charities, people who run civic organizations, people who spontaneously rush to help others. Perhaps they seem suspicious to Russian officials because their own country crushes spontaneity, independent associations, and grassroots movements.

     The Russian occupiers seem to have trouble with the concept of liberty. Perhaps the US could send a few of its vast surplus of crankitarians to occupied Ukraine to explain it to them. Ukrainians seem to get the idea.

[Karl Henning]

Here's an article I deem to be instructive for any wavering TuckerPutinists.

    'They Didn't Understand Anything, but Just Spoiled People's Lives'

But even as they inflicted pain on the most civic-minded Ukrainians, even as they assaulted local leaders, Russian soldiers seemed not to know how to replace them. Unlike their Soviet Communist forebears, who could at least name the ideology that had driven them into Poland, or Estonia, or Romania, the modern Russian army seems to have no coherent theory of government or administration, no concrete plans to run the region, even no clear idea of the meaning of Russkiy mir, the "Russian world" that some of President Vladimir Putin's ideologues extol.

    Then there's this:

After the mayors, town councilors, and other elected officials, the Ukrainians who disturb the occupiers most are volunteers: people who run charities, people who run civic organizations, people who spontaneously rush to help others. Perhaps they seem suspicious to Russian officials because their own country crushes spontaneity, independent associations, and grassroots movements.

    The Russian occupiers seem to have trouble with the concept of liberty. Perhaps the US could send a few of its vast surplus of crankitarians to occupied Ukraine to explain it to them. Ukrainians seem to get the idea.

Just brutality in the service of suppressing democracy. No wonder the TuckerPutinists, not excepting Huggy Bear, are all in.

[Florestan]

Unlike their Soviet Communist forebears, who could at least name the ideology that had driven them into Poland, or Estonia, or Romania,

This is wrong. Russia had annexed territories from Poland and Romania, and Estonia as a whole, long before Communism made its entrance, let alone USSR.

[Karl Henning]

This is wrong. Russia had annexed territories from Poland and Romania, and Estonia as a whole, long before Communism made its entrance, let alone USSR.

Russian imperialism certainly predates Communist imperialism. The real novelty is the Americans who are cheering them on.

[Florestan]

Russian imperialism certainly predates Communist imperialism. The real novelty is the Americans who are cheering them on.

I'm not that sure. John Reed and Angela Davis predate GMG.

[Karl Henning]

Emendation noted!

[Todd]

What Americans on this forum or anywhere are cheering on Russian imperialism, whatever that means in the current geopolitical context?

[Madiel]

Mirror mirror on the wall...

[Todd]

Exclusive: Christiane Amanpour speaks with Brazil's President Lula

A nice interview with Lula.  About 17'30" or so, the topic of the Ukraine War comes up.  The purportedly respectable Ms Amanpour asks Lula dishonest questions premised on false choices, a standard tactic of the intelligentsia as it pertains to this war.  Hey, at least Lula's out there working for peace.  Maybe more principled leaders can join him. 

[Florestan]

There is only one single person in the world who could stop the war right now. His name is Vladimir Putin.

Everything else is claptrap.

[Todd]

There is only one single person in the world who could stop the war right now. His name is Vladimir Putin.

Everything else is claptrap.

Incorrect.

[Madiel]

Incorrect.

Why?

[Todd]

Human Rights Watch urges investigation of alleged use of land mines by Ukraine

In a new report, Human Rights Watch suggests that Ukraine scattered so-called petal mines in and around the eastern Ukrainian city of Izium. Petal mines are prohibited under the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, of which Ukraine is a signatory, because of their ability to indiscriminately maim and kill.

Will Ukraine be held to account for its war crimes?

[LKB]

Human Rights Watch urges investigation of alleged use of land mines by Ukraine

Will Ukraine be held to account for its war crimes?

Hopefully everyone will be held to account for their war crimes, starting with one Vladimir Vladimirovich Fuckface Putin, the one person in the world who could stop the war right now.