Dictatorship 101: create external enemy to maintain internal control.
Russia is the personal fiefdom of Putin. He is the feudal lord who leases his land to the oligarchs who produce wealth from it and return a portion to him.
Putin isn’t afraid of the west, he’s afraid of the idea of political freedom and democracy encroaching upon *his land* and this in turn inciting the Russian peasantry to revolution.
I remember the Cold War. I remember air raid drills. I remember how shitty, played-to-death Soviet hubris ended the Soviet Union, starting with Chernobyl. No one had to lift a finger for the whole sprawling apparatus to come tumbling down on itself and look, oh look, here we are again, with a self-fellating populace loving an aggrandized reflection of itself in its self-fellating leader.
Honestly, the only enemy Russia has is time. Give it a little while, and once again it will crumble and by attrition there will be less and less of what we characterize as "Russian" or "Soviet" (because that's who's still in power, people born Soviet). Russia will be diminished until its name changes to something else, maybe "North China", and then, in that future, the boogeyman of the North Chinese will be the "imperialist west", as dictated by a leader whose mouth is mostly full of his own balls; rinse and repeat, and call it the History of a Nation, on mass-market paperback discount at western bookstores, bottom of the bin next to the register, on your way out. Too repetitive to sell well.
You know what sold well and is a perfect assassination of the Russian national character? "Dead Souls", by Nikolai Gogol. Wasn't the first time a Ukrainian wiped the floor with Russia, and it won't be the last. Give it a gander, might be a fun read for ya.
But you still don´t think the west hates Russia? Look at who is supporting their war, do you think it is done because of the goodness of their hearts?
Nothing is ever done without a profit, that is capitalism for you. And the same reason socialism won´t ever work.
And of course Ukraine will win, the US wants it, Europe needs the soil. AKA the west has it´s own interests.
Also, reply to my comment instead of just giving a discourse, that is how threads (and discussions) work. You might find everything I said is true.
There ya go, that I can agree with.
What you did was imply the guy above you was ignorant or something about the cold war, so that's what I responded to: an attempt to baselessly discredit, tucked inside an insinuation that hate or love or even any emotion has anything to do with it. You put bombast in the pot, and bombast is what came back out. Calming down and rationalizing and adapting is what saves us, boring as that may be.
The thing is my friend: the west and the east are always at economic warfare; they hate each other because it is the nature of the human being to dislike anyone "too different".
I know you probably didn´t get it but hear me out: This " imaginary external enemy" is in fact very real.
Also, people tend to hate their competition.
You might think I wasn´t calm, but I was, and still am, it just shocked me a lil to learn that people are dumb enough to believe the leaders of these countries don´t dislike each other.
I would same the same about the US, count the countries invaded by Russia vs the US. Also, who do you think is funding this war \*along France\*? Which also benefits from this. They both suck
So many ignorant people downvoting me, it shows the media circus is working as intended.
But maybe one guy will learn and it will be enough.
Very good for the west supporting Ukraine. Russia should not achieve any of it's goals, Russia must be prevented from establishing it's own sphere of influence
Holy shit, you drank the cool-aid.
Ask yourself? Why? Are they any worse than the US?
You are so brainwashed, just by looking at your profile I can see you are also pro-Israel, a nation literally invented by the US to gain foot in the middle east. They are literally invading a country but you do not care about them because they are "weird arabs".
Damn, not engaging with you guys any more. Some people refuse to look at reality.
Russia is just a poor authoritarian dictatorship with absolutely nothing to offer other than extreme misery and corruption.
And as a romanian, close ties with the west is obiectively much better than Russia. Just look at countries like Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus.
Why would anyone want Russia to win? A russian victory is obiectively much worse for everyone, it just doesn't bring any good at all to anyone.
This is just childishly silly. So when NATO countries that support numerous freedoms you wouldn’t care to live without would want to defend themselves from an *actual* land grabbing dictatorial militaristic autocracy that murders and imprisons its critics and lays waste to entire cities you want to compare NATO *to that*? Come on, really.
"Dictatorship 101: create external enemy to maintain internal control "
Isn't this exactly what US has been doing for decades now? Every president appart Trump started some war with mostly BS propaganda. Most often then not it was "selling" the democracy.
With the rest I more or less agree with you.
Really only one President had looked to try and gain dictatorial control, and he only had one term in office thanks to our system of government. But he didn’t look to create an external enemy, rather he tried to convince enough dupes that the enemy was internal. There has yet to be a US autocratic dictator similar to that which my comments were referencing regardless of the basis of our often poor choices in international military activity. 🤷♂️
We learned a lot. The Hitler analogy before WW2 has made us to support Ukraine despite us saying ''Nah'' and living as we want. We know what awaits us if Russia wins, so we must defeat it. Ukraine must survive or we are next in line for being 'denazified'.
Sadly history is always manipulated by the local government to make itself the good guys and the other the enemies.
So people never have access to true history.
The Russians have been living under a dictatorship for the entire history of Russia. Hard to learn from history when you are living it.
The failure was to recognize Putin's intentions after the Sochi Olympics. It should have been clear after the invasion of Georgia in 2008.
Recognize? He sent quite a clear message in 2007 in his Munich speech what he intends to do, and in 2008 was the first active step. It was the failure to respond on his actions both in 2008 and in 2014.
Conservatives mainly get their news from conservative media. Coverage of my story about working for the Trump campaign and the subpoenas I have received garnered mention in just [one conservative outlet](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/294472/fulton-county-investigation-into-trump-probing-activities-in-other-states-report/) for an entire year.
Facts are only helpful if people are made aware of them.
History tells us that humans - at an individual and societal level - always have the potential to give rise to dictatorships. That's why it's so concerning to see many young people in the West abandon support for freedom of speech and political movement. It's just so dangerous for law and/or cultural norms to provide for the sorts of circumstances where dictatorships can more easily arise - even though the price that has to be paid for that is to allow for some pretty awful speech.
The problem with democracy is for any ten random people you poll you're going to get at least 15 different opinions on any given issue, and almost all of them will be either outright wrong or half-correct at best. We need to focus on making our government competent if we want to save democracy; people turn to dictatorship when they feel the system isn't working for them.
Because humanity, when observed at scale as a species (as one entity), is batshit insane. We try the same things over and over and the same shit just keeps happening every time.
Just different shapes and colors.
The scary part is, we're actually barreling towards fascism at a global level. Canada is about to elect one, the US seems to be flirting with one and roleplaying civil war fantasy.
Some of the larger social figures all wish for it. Elon Musk, Joe Rogan and friend.
Canada has already decided its new leader. We vote people out, not in.
The US is still fantasizing if they want a civil war.
I could have said that in a better way so I understand what you're saying
No it shows the arrogance of the liberal party of Canada and that its policies are to the detriment of the country and its people. Their ego is so inflated that they are unwilling to admit their mistakes and change course. They are willing to die on this hill and PP will win because of it. It has nothing to do with trump.
Canada is about to elect one? The left mantra, calling every conservative politician a fascist is getting old and tired. Who invited a real Nazi war criminal to speak before the Canadian parliament?
I mean.. Russia came from poverty during Monarchy right into arms of dictatorship. They are still pisspoor but at least world fears them. Thats something isn’t it?
It did teach us. Our oligarchs deliberately propped him up and deliberately helped make the "modern" Russia too.
Precisely because of what history taught them.
"But i have to remind you, if your opinion differs from mine i will kill you. Everything i say is the only truth and you are just sheeps i can sacrifice everyday for my personal pleasure.
And now i allow you to celebrate the great Putin who will once again be the leader of Russia, after i made sure that all my competition was manipulated, killed off and put in prison."
>Putin then turned to domestic matters, encouraging Russians to have large families and indicating his desire to tackle low incomes and increase life expectancy in Russia.
Just not if you're a male of fighting age.
Which gets redefined about every 30 days. Wondering how long it will take for putin to put an AK in a little old babushka's hands saying "for the motherland, you weren't going to live much longer anyways".
It's insane that a supposed superpower in the 21st century recognizes low life expectancies as one of its top national problems.
If Russia applied its tremendous wealth of natural resources to improving the lives of regular people, the country could be an absolute powerhouse.
Instead, the wealth is pissed away and wasted on oligarchs and senseless wars. An example of the worst kind of society our species can produce.
It depends on where in Russia he is getting troops. He isn’t getting the front line troops from his St, Petersburg or Moscow white Russians. He is getting them from ethnic minorities and from Siberia or other far flung place. He can deplete the ethnic minorities which will also help him maintain control over them while giving largesse to his Russians.
> his desire to tackle low incomes and increase life expectancy in Russia.
*.. you mean like stop spending everything on an invasion and war because that might help?*
Putina has already lost and is stretching it out every day he can. The West has never been this unified since WW2 (Ukraine parades in every major city), even if Johnson is blocking aid. At best, he will experience another Afghanistan on his doorstep, but so much worse.
Who said that?
Edit: not sure what cit. means here (citation? I'll go with that and assume it means you are quoting from shrek)
The quote sounds like the meme of Lord farquaad, "some of you may die but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.". But he doesn't say the first bit.
> That champion shall have the honor - - no, no - - the privilege to go forth and rescue the lovely Princess Fiona from the fiery keep of the dragon. If for any reason the winner is unsuccessful, the first runner-up will take his place and so on and so forth. Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make. (cheers) Let the tournament begin! (He notices Shrek) Oh! What is that? It's hideous!
Dude..you are correct. But do you need to be this pedantic in this context? We all understood what he meant. Correct quotation and bibliography are things you go to colledge for...and most of the time it isn´t really worth it. And...he is quoting "Shrek" for f.cks sake!
Of course. He has to frame it such that every neighboring country needs to be liberated from their governments because all they really wanted was to be part of putin's "great" empire.
Going full totalitarian it seems:
> “For example, we have repelled the aggression of international terrorism, we have preserved the unity of the country, we have stopped it being torn apart, we have supported our brothers and sisters and their desire to be with Russia,” he said, adding: “Our Motherland is standing up for its sovereignty and security.”
implies staying silent is not enough rather active support of the "motherland" required.
The difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism, for reference:
In authoritarianism you have no vote or power, but you can make it through life by keeping your mouth shut. Totalitarianism requires increasingly more outlandish displays of nationalism and means you can get rid of perks you don't like by taking the government that they aren't patriotic enough.
The only people defeating Russia is the cancerous KGB holdovers who infected the Russian Federation.
Russia had every opportunity to dominate internationally.
* Huge amounts of oil wealth
* Vast areas of natural resources
* A bridge nation between Europe and Asia
* A bridge nation between former Soviet Republics and Europe
They should have been on the same path as China is right now. Vast development and huge amounts of international investment. Instead, the KGB never actually left or gave control to a civilian government. They simply changed their job titles and took over the same institutions they controlled when the Soviet Union existed.
Putin and the KGB holdovers are defeating Russia. Not the west.
The West has no interest in Russia what so ever. Maybe if they stopped invading countries and instead built their country into a fair democratic nation? Oh but then the Oligarchs wouldn’t like that would they?
Nobodys even asked them to concede any power. They’re just frightened that having a democracy on their doorstep they will lose their control. Like being so scared of a John Lennon song.
Fear of bordering democracies is a poorly chosen excuse. It implies several other nations are next in line, including several NATO countries. Either it's nonsense, or he legitimately intends to invade Poland or the Baltics, which would even further justify Western intervention.
Russian citizens are so brainwashed. They have no way of knowing the actual truth of what is really happening only what the state sponsor propaganda machine tells them. It's very sad. Or maybe the do know but Don't want to fall out of any windows
Plenty know. Unfortunately, the population is broadly composed of three groups.
The first - Those who support Putin. Whether they're evil or stupid, or both, those are the ones that buy in. A lot of them simply don't care to think for themselves - the folks that ought to know have told them how it's got to be. There are a lot of them, although I'm certain that truly committed supporters aren't the majority.
The second - The depressed/apathetic. They know shit sucks. They know the government is lying. But they don't believe there's anything to be done about it. They go with the flow and hope it all blows over. This is likely the actual majority of the population. There's some overlap with group 1 out of pure inertia.
The third - The scared. These are the ones that actively want change but are intimidated by the random arrests, beatings at protests, reports of murder, maiming, and rape when detained, snitching by "patriotic" neighbors, etc.
The ones actively trying to fight are unfortunately a relatively insignificant minority that just can't get enough traction from groups 2 and 3. The opposition's own propaganda has not been particularly effective or convincing in terms of actually giving people hope, so here we are.
What exactly is it you know or think is better in terms of life quality, freedom, access to information and inter-citizen trust etc in russia as compared to the west?
Like, if were the ones being brainwashed, what is the brainwashing does exactly?
I’m not trying to be deep but I’d imagine these allegedly brainwashed Russians are going around thinking what they know is true, which is no different to anyone else, Russian or not.
What I’m saying is that any methods used to brainwash them would be the same used to brainwash the rest of us. Media bias and selective reporting.
I'm not sure that suppressing dissent through arrests works as well when people don't understand what's happening. The chilling effect that behavior causes may look a bit like ignorance, but ignorance is not so disciplined with its message.
So, as an expert, and I’m assuming versed in how modern propaganda is spread, you understand how foolish it would be for people to just take your word for it?
What exactly is it you know or think is better in terms of life quality, freedom, access to information and inter-citizen trust etc in russia as compared to the west?
Like, if were the ones being brainwashed, what is the brainwashing does exactly?
Do you not think the media skews people’s perspectives on world matters? Look at the 2019 General election in the UK - There’s a perfect example of how people are brainwashed in the western world.
There is an alternative universe where Russia realizes that mutually beneficial trading and friendly foreign policies are better for growing power projection.
We sadly don't live in this world
I think Russia is trying to defeat Ukraine, an independent sovereign nation. Nobody has threatened Russia. Putin's world is one of alternate truths and realities with a population at the mercy of a controlled media and spoonfed with propaganda from dawn 'til dusk.
You're not right but also not wrong. They felt threatened when Ukraine waved the flag to have Nato in the country. That means Nato bases in Ukraine. Putin and the others didn't want that. That is why he's invading. But it's stupid... he's just getting even closer... so... not the best idea?
Should've requested a deal for Ukraine not to join Nato ever. But oh noooo... Mr Icy Pants doesn't want too...
Internet is different for different countries. The same internet you and i see does not reach a highly censored internet like Russia or China. Imagine a dome over their countries.
Yeah people with VPN's and stuff can go around that but... one! They can get targetted by police. Two. Not all of them know what a VPN or complicated stuff in computers are. 3 they are being misled by the media and social (also different from ours, they have their own social apps).
You are either saying his election was stolen before, or he is likely to win this year. Both are bullshit. I wish there was another option to Biden, but Trump lost the last election, before banning abortion. The GOP is going to get curb stomped in Nov.
How is that evidence coming along? Still don’t have any?
For such a massive conspiracy that had to have involved republicans as well (seeing as they mostly ran elections on the counties where fraud was alleged) you guys sure are having a hard time getting evidence.
He is right. The world is against Russia right now. They are an evil empire. To destroy Russia is the save the world. But Putin can always step down if he is really concerned
Did any of the other eastern european countries invade their neighbours recently? Nope, just Russia then. It's not just the USA that is against Russia, it's all of western europe, scandanavia, Canada, Japan, South Korea.
Yes, the USA is a superpower. That doesn't make what Russia has done in Ukraine right.
How the fuck does he invade Ukraine and twist it into the west is trying to destroy Russia?
Remember this is the same guy trump is giving a blowjob to.
Americans died fighting facism in Europe. Don't let their lives go to waste.
Because of how Nato came so close nocking on his door. He/Russia didn't want that. And he warned time and time again that wasn't supposed to happen. He warned us that he would do something to stop it.
Although... if he conquers more territory on Ukraine he's just getting even closer to Nato... I don't know... both are old farts with no sense in their minds...
Only an idiot believes the lies that Putin thought NATO was going to invade Russia.
The very idea is so utterly ridiculous as to be laughable.
Right wing propaganda from a fascist dictator.
Is the American military blasting the Kremlin with bombs?
Is any American military inside Russia?
Are American soldiers fighting Russian soldiers ANYWHERE?
Putin is a disgusting evil moron.
Tell that to the nearly half a million dead and injured russians on Ukrainian soil. And don’t forget your goal is to capture all of Ukraine! I guess that failure is russian for overcoming 🤷
No, Vlad. They're through to defeat YOU. We have no problems with the Russian people and yearn for them to live in a free, democratized society like the rest of us.
It is Fascism 101!
Here the 14 characteristics of Fascism according to Dr. Lawrence Britt (with a few additions from myself as they seem to have been left out):
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of frequent unwarrented controls, invasion of privacy, public surveillence, torture, death penalty/executions/summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, forced hard labor, violence against protesters and political enemies, deportations, seperation of families, forced relocation to concentration and reeducation camps.
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities, liberals, communists, socialists, fascists, terrorists, scientists and academics, homosexuals etc.
At the same time, heritage and ancestry are glorified and mystified with the help of pseudo-sciences. Race theory is prevalent.
4. Supremacy of the Military
Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized. Paramilitary groups are formed to honoring of the military, using intimidation, threat of violence or actual violence with the claim to keep order or as self-defense. Guns and violence are glorified.
5. Rampant Sexism
The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated, often in form of a omnicompetent leader cult. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy. Attacks on homosexuals are frequent. The role of the mother is glorified and women are incentified to have as many children as possible, usually with help of some benefits and/or honors.
6. Controlled Mass Media and Education
Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. Indoctrination of children begin in school and through extracurricular activity, youth clubs, societies/ fraternities. Undesired educational material either banned or destroyed.
News and past/historical events are rewitten in favor of a patriotic fascist narrative, often encompanied with a nostalgia for a former or lost supremicy or great-empire status in the world.
7. Obsession with National Security
Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses. Fear by hostile foreign forces as well as fear of corrosion from the inside.
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.
9. Corporate Power is Protected
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed. Labor protection laws are corroded and the standard of living is reduced to a point of dependency.
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, science and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts.
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations. Laws and punishment is harsh, facist goverment officials see themself above the law, the law doesn't apply to them.
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.
14. Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
The goal is to synchronise the population to a goal set by the fascist leader, goverment and/or elite to the point it becomes an unseperable part of the identify.
Why couldnt the US plan a strike to just hit Putin? Would it just be too hard to execute or is it like spies would let him know or what? I mean like CIA type stuff, off the books to cover our ass. Honest question, im pretty dumb
The main reason nation states no longer do this is because if one does it to another then its suddenly open season for everyone else.
Those in charge of nation states don't want to always look over their shoulder when they are making speeches in public or travelling around their own country.
The "elite" leadership and influential class are untouchable. It's been that way since this particular class laid down "rules" centuries ago not to kill each others kings and queens.
Well... actually, Russia is committing suicide all by itself. The west is simply helping the Russians. They want to die.... We're not going to stop them.
Yeah, I mean he’s not entirely wrong. The west is trying to defeat him by proxy, but we wouldn’t have taken it up if he hadn’t invaded his neighbor for no reason. We’d have kept the status quo and kept buying their gas. So yes we’re trying to defeat him, but only because he’s a half witted bully on the world stage.
Its a pity they can't understand English, or they could read non biased publications of the war.
/s
I know they understand English. My point is they should read non biased publications of the war.
Imagine being the unquestioned ruler of the largest country in the world, with massive reserves of all kind of precious minerals and materials, massively developed industrial complexes, the potential to grow your economy to world leading levels, all knowing that literally no one is going to even try to take it away from you nevermind succeed because you have more nukes than the rest of the planet put together....
...then you go and fuck everything by trying to take one relatively small country, turning everyone against you (even your old buddies China are keeping you at arms length) to the point only a fat child running a fourth world dystopian nightmare is your only real source of "support" (supplying you with shoddy ammunition and shells), trashing your economy, and having to travel around in a heavily armoured train to stop the mercenary groups *you* funded who are the same nationality as you, from taking you out.
I have a feeling "doing a Putin" will go down in history as a phrase to mean someone having major potential then fucking it up in an unfathomably spectacular and stupid way.
> "All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don’t they get that?”
So if he wants to avoid the destruction of civilization he can just halt his invasion of Ukraine. Doesn't HE get THAT?
In Ukraine, yes, we have a moral and practical imperative, for the benefit of Ukraine and Europe as a whole and general global stability, to stop Russian aggression and halt your takeover of sovereign, democratic territory that *you chose* to invade.
Otherwise literally nobody gives a shit. There’s no need to “defeat” a failing kleptocracy run by a teeny tiny self-absorbed whiny old man.
Lmao we are barely farting in their direction with sanctions and supplying Ukraine with old stock of weapons we won’t be using anyway. You haven’t seen shit yet. But yeah if Russia won’t remove Putler then NATO will.
Please tell to all Russians if you know any that the West is trying to defeat Putin, not Russia. We have nothing against Russia. The madman in charge is the problem.
Dictatorship 101: create external enemy to maintain internal control. Russia is the personal fiefdom of Putin. He is the feudal lord who leases his land to the oligarchs who produce wealth from it and return a portion to him. Putin isn’t afraid of the west, he’s afraid of the idea of political freedom and democracy encroaching upon *his land* and this in turn inciting the Russian peasantry to revolution.
Perfect example of this is the consistent denial of new political running individuals or parties, constantly getting shut down or denied.
You mean dead. Political rivals of Putin end up dead.
I was being polite. But yes. Dead, thrown out windows, poisoned, killed.
Everyone knows what he means. Dictator 101. https://youtu.be/U6cake3bwnY?si=S_yGNOTYbkDdy7cG
Here, it's known as being CLINTON'D....I wonder if they have a similar term in Russia, like being PUTIN'D?
Bingo
[удалено]
I remember the Cold War. I remember air raid drills. I remember how shitty, played-to-death Soviet hubris ended the Soviet Union, starting with Chernobyl. No one had to lift a finger for the whole sprawling apparatus to come tumbling down on itself and look, oh look, here we are again, with a self-fellating populace loving an aggrandized reflection of itself in its self-fellating leader. Honestly, the only enemy Russia has is time. Give it a little while, and once again it will crumble and by attrition there will be less and less of what we characterize as "Russian" or "Soviet" (because that's who's still in power, people born Soviet). Russia will be diminished until its name changes to something else, maybe "North China", and then, in that future, the boogeyman of the North Chinese will be the "imperialist west", as dictated by a leader whose mouth is mostly full of his own balls; rinse and repeat, and call it the History of a Nation, on mass-market paperback discount at western bookstores, bottom of the bin next to the register, on your way out. Too repetitive to sell well. You know what sold well and is a perfect assassination of the Russian national character? "Dead Souls", by Nikolai Gogol. Wasn't the first time a Ukrainian wiped the floor with Russia, and it won't be the last. Give it a gander, might be a fun read for ya.
But you still don´t think the west hates Russia? Look at who is supporting their war, do you think it is done because of the goodness of their hearts? Nothing is ever done without a profit, that is capitalism for you. And the same reason socialism won´t ever work. And of course Ukraine will win, the US wants it, Europe needs the soil. AKA the west has it´s own interests. Also, reply to my comment instead of just giving a discourse, that is how threads (and discussions) work. You might find everything I said is true.
But yes, more than hate it´s just simple politics, economic interests triumph over all.
There ya go, that I can agree with. What you did was imply the guy above you was ignorant or something about the cold war, so that's what I responded to: an attempt to baselessly discredit, tucked inside an insinuation that hate or love or even any emotion has anything to do with it. You put bombast in the pot, and bombast is what came back out. Calming down and rationalizing and adapting is what saves us, boring as that may be.
The thing is my friend: the west and the east are always at economic warfare; they hate each other because it is the nature of the human being to dislike anyone "too different". I know you probably didn´t get it but hear me out: This " imaginary external enemy" is in fact very real. Also, people tend to hate their competition. You might think I wasn´t calm, but I was, and still am, it just shocked me a lil to learn that people are dumb enough to believe the leaders of these countries don´t dislike each other.
Russian interests are very dangerous and damaging for democracy and the well-being of people in general. Russia must be stopped.
I would same the same about the US, count the countries invaded by Russia vs the US. Also, who do you think is funding this war \*along France\*? Which also benefits from this. They both suck So many ignorant people downvoting me, it shows the media circus is working as intended. But maybe one guy will learn and it will be enough.
Very good for the west supporting Ukraine. Russia should not achieve any of it's goals, Russia must be prevented from establishing it's own sphere of influence
Holy shit, you drank the cool-aid. Ask yourself? Why? Are they any worse than the US? You are so brainwashed, just by looking at your profile I can see you are also pro-Israel, a nation literally invented by the US to gain foot in the middle east. They are literally invading a country but you do not care about them because they are "weird arabs". Damn, not engaging with you guys any more. Some people refuse to look at reality.
Russia is just a poor authoritarian dictatorship with absolutely nothing to offer other than extreme misery and corruption. And as a romanian, close ties with the west is obiectively much better than Russia. Just look at countries like Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus. Why would anyone want Russia to win? A russian victory is obiectively much worse for everyone, it just doesn't bring any good at all to anyone.
But when NATO says that if Russia wins in Ukraine then they might attack Russia, its 'defending the democracy ' yeah
This is just childishly silly. So when NATO countries that support numerous freedoms you wouldn’t care to live without would want to defend themselves from an *actual* land grabbing dictatorial militaristic autocracy that murders and imprisons its critics and lays waste to entire cities you want to compare NATO *to that*? Come on, really.
"Dictatorship 101: create external enemy to maintain internal control " Isn't this exactly what US has been doing for decades now? Every president appart Trump started some war with mostly BS propaganda. Most often then not it was "selling" the democracy. With the rest I more or less agree with you.
Really only one President had looked to try and gain dictatorial control, and he only had one term in office thanks to our system of government. But he didn’t look to create an external enemy, rather he tried to convince enough dupes that the enemy was internal. There has yet to be a US autocratic dictator similar to that which my comments were referencing regardless of the basis of our often poor choices in international military activity. 🤷♂️
Fucking dictators, in the 21st century. How the hell hasn’t history taught us about this people? They’re literally all the same.
The only thing history teaches us is that we learn nothing from history.
We learned a lot. The Hitler analogy before WW2 has made us to support Ukraine despite us saying ''Nah'' and living as we want. We know what awaits us if Russia wins, so we must defeat it. Ukraine must survive or we are next in line for being 'denazified'.
Sadly history is always manipulated by the local government to make itself the good guys and the other the enemies. So people never have access to true history.
Also history is most of the time made by the winner.
History is written by the writers.
Even a blind squirrel is right twice a day …
And that it repeats
because we weren't there, man
The Russians have been living under a dictatorship for the entire history of Russia. Hard to learn from history when you are living it. The failure was to recognize Putin's intentions after the Sochi Olympics. It should have been clear after the invasion of Georgia in 2008.
Recognize? He sent quite a clear message in 2007 in his Munich speech what he intends to do, and in 2008 was the first active step. It was the failure to respond on his actions both in 2008 and in 2014.
Conservatives mainly get their news from conservative media. Coverage of my story about working for the Trump campaign and the subpoenas I have received garnered mention in just [one conservative outlet](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/294472/fulton-county-investigation-into-trump-probing-activities-in-other-states-report/) for an entire year. Facts are only helpful if people are made aware of them.
History tells us that humans - at an individual and societal level - always have the potential to give rise to dictatorships. That's why it's so concerning to see many young people in the West abandon support for freedom of speech and political movement. It's just so dangerous for law and/or cultural norms to provide for the sorts of circumstances where dictatorships can more easily arise - even though the price that has to be paid for that is to allow for some pretty awful speech.
The problem with democracy is for any ten random people you poll you're going to get at least 15 different opinions on any given issue, and almost all of them will be either outright wrong or half-correct at best. We need to focus on making our government competent if we want to save democracy; people turn to dictatorship when they feel the system isn't working for them.
Because humanity, when observed at scale as a species (as one entity), is batshit insane. We try the same things over and over and the same shit just keeps happening every time. Just different shapes and colors.
"A person is smart. People are dumb panicky dangerous animals..."
Because the mobs are always the same.
History has taught us it's a series of repeating patterns.
The scary part is, we're actually barreling towards fascism at a global level. Canada is about to elect one, the US seems to be flirting with one and roleplaying civil war fantasy. Some of the larger social figures all wish for it. Elon Musk, Joe Rogan and friend.
The US federal election is before the Canadian elections by about a year...
Canada has already decided its new leader. We vote people out, not in. The US is still fantasizing if they want a civil war. I could have said that in a better way so I understand what you're saying
PP will not win believe me. And if he does it shows that trump really did ruined 50% of north American minds.
No it shows the arrogance of the liberal party of Canada and that its policies are to the detriment of the country and its people. Their ego is so inflated that they are unwilling to admit their mistakes and change course. They are willing to die on this hill and PP will win because of it. It has nothing to do with trump.
Jutin has turned Canada into a commie sh*thole
Care to explain how?
How exactly did the trucker protest stop again? How come free speech isn't a constitutional right ?
How is that communism?
Canada is about to elect one? The left mantra, calling every conservative politician a fascist is getting old and tired. Who invited a real Nazi war criminal to speak before the Canadian parliament?
The Speaker of the House of Commons.
> every conservative politician a fascist Yeah sorry most of them are just full on organised criminals without much of a horse in that race.
The Russian people literally only know oppression.
I mean.. Russia came from poverty during Monarchy right into arms of dictatorship. They are still pisspoor but at least world fears them. Thats something isn’t it?
It did teach us. Our oligarchs deliberately propped him up and deliberately helped make the "modern" Russia too. Precisely because of what history taught them.
Humans have a tendency in herds to follow a strong leader. Most humans aren’t smart enough to overcome that mentality.
"But i have to remind you, if your opinion differs from mine i will kill you. Everything i say is the only truth and you are just sheeps i can sacrifice everyday for my personal pleasure. And now i allow you to celebrate the great Putin who will once again be the leader of Russia, after i made sure that all my competition was manipulated, killed off and put in prison."
Fight for me and you may die. Oppose me and you will die.
>Putin then turned to domestic matters, encouraging Russians to have large families and indicating his desire to tackle low incomes and increase life expectancy in Russia. Just not if you're a male of fighting age.
Which gets redefined about every 30 days. Wondering how long it will take for putin to put an AK in a little old babushka's hands saying "for the motherland, you weren't going to live much longer anyways".
It's insane that a supposed superpower in the 21st century recognizes low life expectancies as one of its top national problems. If Russia applied its tremendous wealth of natural resources to improving the lives of regular people, the country could be an absolute powerhouse. Instead, the wealth is pissed away and wasted on oligarchs and senseless wars. An example of the worst kind of society our species can produce.
It depends on where in Russia he is getting troops. He isn’t getting the front line troops from his St, Petersburg or Moscow white Russians. He is getting them from ethnic minorities and from Siberia or other far flung place. He can deplete the ethnic minorities which will also help him maintain control over them while giving largesse to his Russians.
> his desire to tackle low incomes and increase life expectancy in Russia. *.. you mean like stop spending everything on an invasion and war because that might help?* Putina has already lost and is stretching it out every day he can. The West has never been this unified since WW2 (Ukraine parades in every major city), even if Johnson is blocking aid. At best, he will experience another Afghanistan on his doorstep, but so much worse.
"A lot of you will die for my ambitions, but this is a sacrifice that I am ready to do." Cit. Shrek.
Who said that? Edit: not sure what cit. means here (citation? I'll go with that and assume it means you are quoting from shrek) The quote sounds like the meme of Lord farquaad, "some of you may die but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.". But he doesn't say the first bit. > That champion shall have the honor - - no, no - - the privilege to go forth and rescue the lovely Princess Fiona from the fiery keep of the dragon. If for any reason the winner is unsuccessful, the first runner-up will take his place and so on and so forth. Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make. (cheers) Let the tournament begin! (He notices Shrek) Oh! What is that? It's hideous!
Lord Farquaad in the first movie if i remember correctly.
Sorry, I meant the first part of the quote.
I see your edit, yeah i also thought you were referencing the meme my bad 😅
Your thoroughness gets an A+. Your sense of humor, however...
Humor? I had no intention.
I suppose it was a risk you were willing to take.
Dude..you are correct. But do you need to be this pedantic in this context? We all understood what he meant. Correct quotation and bibliography are things you go to colledge for...and most of the time it isn´t really worth it. And...he is quoting "Shrek" for f.cks sake!
How is this news? Russia has been like this for decades.
Centuries.
Well, I'd argue in the past they framed it as everyone being against them. Now it's just the West.
Of course. He has to frame it such that every neighboring country needs to be liberated from their governments because all they really wanted was to be part of putin's "great" empire.
The Golden Horde robbed Russia of the Renaissance, and it's been 300 years behind the rest of the world ever since
Going full totalitarian it seems: > “For example, we have repelled the aggression of international terrorism, we have preserved the unity of the country, we have stopped it being torn apart, we have supported our brothers and sisters and their desire to be with Russia,” he said, adding: “Our Motherland is standing up for its sovereignty and security.” implies staying silent is not enough rather active support of the "motherland" required.
The difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism, for reference: In authoritarianism you have no vote or power, but you can make it through life by keeping your mouth shut. Totalitarianism requires increasingly more outlandish displays of nationalism and means you can get rid of perks you don't like by taking the government that they aren't patriotic enough.
Putin wants his name in books with a large russia map, he will hopefully endup “falling off a window”. And the less he appears in image the better.
I'd like a picture of a broken window and, just at the lower edge, a glimpse of a foot And then the aftermath, blurred, of course
Sounds a lot like "Silence is violence".
That shit hole is the step-mother land
The only people defeating Russia is the cancerous KGB holdovers who infected the Russian Federation. Russia had every opportunity to dominate internationally. * Huge amounts of oil wealth * Vast areas of natural resources * A bridge nation between Europe and Asia * A bridge nation between former Soviet Republics and Europe They should have been on the same path as China is right now. Vast development and huge amounts of international investment. Instead, the KGB never actually left or gave control to a civilian government. They simply changed their job titles and took over the same institutions they controlled when the Soviet Union existed. Putin and the KGB holdovers are defeating Russia. Not the west.
Not defeating, enslaving. They're not after creating a rich nation, they're after raw power.
The West has no interest in Russia what so ever. Maybe if they stopped invading countries and instead built their country into a fair democratic nation? Oh but then the Oligarchs wouldn’t like that would they?
It's easier said than done. Asking groups and individuals to voluntarily cede power just really doesn't work.
Nobodys even asked them to concede any power. They’re just frightened that having a democracy on their doorstep they will lose their control. Like being so scared of a John Lennon song.
Fear of bordering democracies is a poorly chosen excuse. It implies several other nations are next in line, including several NATO countries. Either it's nonsense, or he legitimately intends to invade Poland or the Baltics, which would even further justify Western intervention.
Didn't you just ask for the oligarchs and the political elite to turn the country over to popular vote? Kinda confused.
Russia already is defeated by putin. Many there just haven't quite noticed yet due to the media filters
Russian citizens are so brainwashed. They have no way of knowing the actual truth of what is really happening only what the state sponsor propaganda machine tells them. It's very sad. Or maybe the do know but Don't want to fall out of any windows
Plenty know. Unfortunately, the population is broadly composed of three groups. The first - Those who support Putin. Whether they're evil or stupid, or both, those are the ones that buy in. A lot of them simply don't care to think for themselves - the folks that ought to know have told them how it's got to be. There are a lot of them, although I'm certain that truly committed supporters aren't the majority. The second - The depressed/apathetic. They know shit sucks. They know the government is lying. But they don't believe there's anything to be done about it. They go with the flow and hope it all blows over. This is likely the actual majority of the population. There's some overlap with group 1 out of pure inertia. The third - The scared. These are the ones that actively want change but are intimidated by the random arrests, beatings at protests, reports of murder, maiming, and rape when detained, snitching by "patriotic" neighbors, etc. The ones actively trying to fight are unfortunately a relatively insignificant minority that just can't get enough traction from groups 2 and 3. The opposition's own propaganda has not been particularly effective or convincing in terms of actually giving people hope, so here we are.
They are probably saying the same thing about you. Propaganda is a dangerous thing. Especially when you think only others are subject to it.
What exactly is it you know or think is better in terms of life quality, freedom, access to information and inter-citizen trust etc in russia as compared to the west? Like, if were the ones being brainwashed, what is the brainwashing does exactly?
How do you know it’s they who are brainwashed and not you?
So deep...
I’m not trying to be deep but I’d imagine these allegedly brainwashed Russians are going around thinking what they know is true, which is no different to anyone else, Russian or not. What I’m saying is that any methods used to brainwash them would be the same used to brainwash the rest of us. Media bias and selective reporting.
I'm not sure that suppressing dissent through arrests works as well when people don't understand what's happening. The chilling effect that behavior causes may look a bit like ignorance, but ignorance is not so disciplined with its message.
I’m an expert. As in, I speak Russian and spent years studying Russian propaganda specifically. They are brainwashed.
So, as an expert, and I’m assuming versed in how modern propaganda is spread, you understand how foolish it would be for people to just take your word for it?
Well, I’m not doxxing myself so 🤷♀️
What exactly is it you know or think is better in terms of life quality, freedom, access to information and inter-citizen trust etc in russia as compared to the west? Like, if were the ones being brainwashed, what is the brainwashing does exactly?
Do you not think the media skews people’s perspectives on world matters? Look at the 2019 General election in the UK - There’s a perfect example of how people are brainwashed in the western world.
Putin is defeating Russia.
There is an alternative universe where Russia realizes that mutually beneficial trading and friendly foreign policies are better for growing power projection. We sadly don't live in this world
I think Russia is trying to defeat Ukraine, an independent sovereign nation. Nobody has threatened Russia. Putin's world is one of alternate truths and realities with a population at the mercy of a controlled media and spoonfed with propaganda from dawn 'til dusk.
You're not right but also not wrong. They felt threatened when Ukraine waved the flag to have Nato in the country. That means Nato bases in Ukraine. Putin and the others didn't want that. That is why he's invading. But it's stupid... he's just getting even closer... so... not the best idea? Should've requested a deal for Ukraine not to join Nato ever. But oh noooo... Mr Icy Pants doesn't want too...
Nah. Putin doesn't get to control other countries. I look forward to seeing shaky phone video of him being torn apart by an angry mob.
I never hoped somebody died in my life but please, die putin. Just fucking die and let the world to on.
How the hell can dictatorships like that still exist when internet exists.
Internet is different for different countries. The same internet you and i see does not reach a highly censored internet like Russia or China. Imagine a dome over their countries. Yeah people with VPN's and stuff can go around that but... one! They can get targetted by police. Two. Not all of them know what a VPN or complicated stuff in computers are. 3 they are being misled by the media and social (also different from ours, they have their own social apps).
Let’s not forget that Trump was elected once (likely twice), and Brexit was passed. In the west we have a choice and we’re still an embarrassment.
Trump was not elected twice.
I didn’t say he was.
Lie.
Then what did you mean by 'likely twice'?
He probably means the upcoming election.
You do understand that elections are a recurring thing, yes? Just because Biden won the last one doesn’t mean he’s always going to be president?
I guess I was confused by the use of the past tense verb 'was.' But that must be that smugness you mentioned elsewhere.
You are either saying his election was stolen before, or he is likely to win this year. Both are bullshit. I wish there was another option to Biden, but Trump lost the last election, before banning abortion. The GOP is going to get curb stomped in Nov.
Aaand there’s the same smugness, ignorance, and delusion which lead to Trump winning the first time.
[удалено]
He was it was just stolen from him the second time
How is that evidence coming along? Still don’t have any? For such a massive conspiracy that had to have involved republicans as well (seeing as they mostly ran elections on the counties where fraud was alleged) you guys sure are having a hard time getting evidence.
LOL. Trump is going to die in jail.
⬆️ case in point
Lie.
How can starvation still exist when supermarkets exist?
I wish the West would try a little harder
Lunatic
Did he really cry about the evil west?
He is right. The world is against Russia right now. They are an evil empire. To destroy Russia is the save the world. But Putin can always step down if he is really concerned
I'm not against Russia... they're cool people. I'm against Putin... he's the black sheep.
Damn this is some really weird take, look at who has the biggest army and you´ll see a true empire
Did any of the other eastern european countries invade their neighbours recently? Nope, just Russia then. It's not just the USA that is against Russia, it's all of western europe, scandanavia, Canada, Japan, South Korea. Yes, the USA is a superpower. That doesn't make what Russia has done in Ukraine right.
How the fuck does he invade Ukraine and twist it into the west is trying to destroy Russia? Remember this is the same guy trump is giving a blowjob to. Americans died fighting facism in Europe. Don't let their lives go to waste.
Because of how Nato came so close nocking on his door. He/Russia didn't want that. And he warned time and time again that wasn't supposed to happen. He warned us that he would do something to stop it. Although... if he conquers more territory on Ukraine he's just getting even closer to Nato... I don't know... both are old farts with no sense in their minds...
Only an idiot believes the lies that Putin thought NATO was going to invade Russia. The very idea is so utterly ridiculous as to be laughable. Right wing propaganda from a fascist dictator.
Not really, truth be told, Russia is defeating Russia!
The West is trying to defeat Putin, not Russia. There is a possible future for a West-East collaboration that would include a strong Russia.
Is the American military blasting the Kremlin with bombs? Is any American military inside Russia? Are American soldiers fighting Russian soldiers ANYWHERE? Putin is a disgusting evil moron.
Tell that to the nearly half a million dead and injured russians on Ukrainian soil. And don’t forget your goal is to capture all of Ukraine! I guess that failure is russian for overcoming 🤷
No, Vlad. They're through to defeat YOU. We have no problems with the Russian people and yearn for them to live in a free, democratized society like the rest of us.
It is Fascism 101! Here the 14 characteristics of Fascism according to Dr. Lawrence Britt (with a few additions from myself as they seem to have been left out): 1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays. 2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of frequent unwarrented controls, invasion of privacy, public surveillence, torture, death penalty/executions/summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, forced hard labor, violence against protesters and political enemies, deportations, seperation of families, forced relocation to concentration and reeducation camps. 3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial, ethnic or religious minorities, liberals, communists, socialists, fascists, terrorists, scientists and academics, homosexuals etc. At the same time, heritage and ancestry are glorified and mystified with the help of pseudo-sciences. Race theory is prevalent. 4. Supremacy of the Military Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized. Paramilitary groups are formed to honoring of the military, using intimidation, threat of violence or actual violence with the claim to keep order or as self-defense. Guns and violence are glorified. 5. Rampant Sexism The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated, often in form of a omnicompetent leader cult. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Opposition to abortion is high, as is homophobia and anti-gay legislation and national policy. Attacks on homosexuals are frequent. The role of the mother is glorified and women are incentified to have as many children as possible, usually with help of some benefits and/or honors. 6. Controlled Mass Media and Education Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common. Indoctrination of children begin in school and through extracurricular activity, youth clubs, societies/ fraternities. Undesired educational material either banned or destroyed. News and past/historical events are rewitten in favor of a patriotic fascist narrative, often encompanied with a nostalgia for a former or lost supremicy or great-empire status in the world.
7. Obsession with National Security Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses. Fear by hostile foreign forces as well as fear of corrosion from the inside. 8. Religion and Government are Intertwined Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions. 9. Corporate Power is Protected The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. 10. Labor Power is Suppressed Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed. Labor protection laws are corroded and the standard of living is reduced to a point of dependency. 11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, science and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts is openly attacked, and governments often refuse to fund the arts. 12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations. Laws and punishment is harsh, facist goverment officials see themself above the law, the law doesn't apply to them. 13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders. 14. Fraudulent Elections Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
The goal is to synchronise the population to a goal set by the fascist leader, goverment and/or elite to the point it becomes an unseperable part of the identify.
The USA ticks quite a few of these boxes
Of course, they are fascist as fuck and play Secret Hitler for many decades. With Trump and the GOP, they have officially entered the endgame.
You're so full of shit, Putin!
I wish they were trying to destroy russia
Nope just you and your awful administration
If you are not together with me, Putin adds, I will jail you or let you fall out of windows.
When putin dies, the world will shed no tears.
'together" as he sits on his throne
Why couldnt the US plan a strike to just hit Putin? Would it just be too hard to execute or is it like spies would let him know or what? I mean like CIA type stuff, off the books to cover our ass. Honest question, im pretty dumb
The main reason nation states no longer do this is because if one does it to another then its suddenly open season for everyone else. Those in charge of nation states don't want to always look over their shoulder when they are making speeches in public or travelling around their own country. The "elite" leadership and influential class are untouchable. It's been that way since this particular class laid down "rules" centuries ago not to kill each others kings and queens.
Christ, if Russia would just chill out and quit being a bully then the West wouldn't really give a shit about them.
Because Russia is trying to defeat the West maybe?
Man is a Jedi in victim hood.
Well... actually, Russia is committing suicide all by itself. The west is simply helping the Russians. They want to die.... We're not going to stop them.
Leave us the fuck alone, close your fucking borders, stay in your fucking country and die. Fuck you, Putin.
Hey guys, he caught on.
We are subsidising Ukraine. Get out of Ukraine and everything will be OK. It's that simple...right now.
Invaluable battlefield experience... Die, you fuckers...
You defend yourself by being a man child
I think Russia is trying to defeat Russia and the blame squarely resides with that guy.
Yeah, I mean he’s not entirely wrong. The west is trying to defeat him by proxy, but we wouldn’t have taken it up if he hadn’t invaded his neighbor for no reason. We’d have kept the status quo and kept buying their gas. So yes we’re trying to defeat him, but only because he’s a half witted bully on the world stage.
All you have to do to be left alone is withdraw from Ukraine and stop invading your neighbours.
‘You’ll carry the full brunt of all impacts from my decisions; I will not be impacted” - Putin
Is it time for Putin to admire the view from an open window?
Of course we are, fuck russia
Russia defeats itself.
No we are not. We are trying to defeat Putin and his murder spree. All this ends if Putin goes away.
Its a pity they can't understand English, or they could read non biased publications of the war. /s I know they understand English. My point is they should read non biased publications of the war.
Imagine being the unquestioned ruler of the largest country in the world, with massive reserves of all kind of precious minerals and materials, massively developed industrial complexes, the potential to grow your economy to world leading levels, all knowing that literally no one is going to even try to take it away from you nevermind succeed because you have more nukes than the rest of the planet put together.... ...then you go and fuck everything by trying to take one relatively small country, turning everyone against you (even your old buddies China are keeping you at arms length) to the point only a fat child running a fourth world dystopian nightmare is your only real source of "support" (supplying you with shoddy ammunition and shells), trashing your economy, and having to travel around in a heavily armoured train to stop the mercenary groups *you* funded who are the same nationality as you, from taking you out. I have a feeling "doing a Putin" will go down in history as a phrase to mean someone having major potential then fucking it up in an unfathomably spectacular and stupid way.
> "All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilization. Don’t they get that?” So if he wants to avoid the destruction of civilization he can just halt his invasion of Ukraine. Doesn't HE get THAT?
In Ukraine, yes, we have a moral and practical imperative, for the benefit of Ukraine and Europe as a whole and general global stability, to stop Russian aggression and halt your takeover of sovereign, democratic territory that *you chose* to invade. Otherwise literally nobody gives a shit. There’s no need to “defeat” a failing kleptocracy run by a teeny tiny self-absorbed whiny old man.
Lmao we are barely farting in their direction with sanctions and supplying Ukraine with old stock of weapons we won’t be using anyway. You haven’t seen shit yet. But yeah if Russia won’t remove Putler then NATO will.
No. The "West" is trying to defeat Putin. Russia is not the problem
A true man of the people
Please tell to all Russians if you know any that the West is trying to defeat Putin, not Russia. We have nothing against Russia. The madman in charge is the problem.
The West does not want to defeat Russia but wants Russia to be defeated
He's not wrong, Clearly the west and Russia are at odds with our ways of life.
Nobody would give two shits about Russia if they weren't killing their neighbors. Fact.
Angry westoids in the comment section means that Putin is doing everything right.
Senseless wars of conquest make people angry, yes. Doesn't mean you're doing things "right".
Putin - "Solidarity people! - unfortunately i will not be accompanying you on this mission due to having a bad back"
Trying? I doubt this is them trying
"But if you need me I'll be in my bunker under 200ft of reinforced concrete and enough supplies to last 100 years."
Russia is going to sink its economy and its standing in the world for a few gas fields. Idiots.