Oh, FFS…
https://twitter.com/vanmaneuro/status/1500459470702485512?s=21
https://twitter.com/vanmaneuro/status/1500461141562167301?s=21
🇬🇧
"No, there’s no treaty and Taiwan isn’t officially recognized as a country. The US position is to be ambiguous about it."
Yes, I read here that there was;
https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-ukraine-crisis-standish/31678140.html
but looking further into it I can see it's not the case. However Trump, then Biden have both ramped up rhetoric over Taiwan. Scary times.
'it is all the people of Ukraine. Stop the war', you make my point very well.
This is interesting- anti war protests still going strong in Russia- 1,700 arrested today alone! 11,000 in total.
Hopefully the next Russian Revolution gets going
Air Marshall Philip Osbourn talking here about no fly zones (which he’s been involved with before) and the general strategic/military/political situation.
That was really interesting! And very well put
Hopefully the next Russian Revolution gets going
That would be nice. Although the next guy might be even worse!
Report on R4 this morning that putin may have terminal bowel cancer.
I certainly wish he was dead.
Let's assume he's terminally ill - how will that influence his decision making on the basis that...if I'm not around, why should I care?
His death will leave a power void in the kremlin; no obvious successor so further upheaval likely.
Older generations in Russia are more likely to believe state propaganda; younger generations aren't as they are avid users of social media and have connections outside of the country - they are also feeling the impact of sanctions more directly through withdrawal of western products and services to which they've become accustomed/addicted.
Evidenced by interviews with Russians of different ages.
Demographics are against putin.
Twitter is awash today with Russians posting video of demonstrations, people confronting officials, getting arrested and even brawling with riot police. Another couple of thousand demonstrators arrested today. Brave people. I know there is an argument that Putin is unmoved by home grown public opinion but this seems to be gaining momentum. Interesting to see the demographic of the protesters too. Plenty of young people as you would expect, but no shortage of middle aged and older too. Also, it seems Putin's attempt to shut down social media and control the narrative isn't working out too well for him. This Twitter feed is just one example, scroll down for the videos.
https://twitter.com/brewerov?s=20&t=S3DnE6-Z35pvjhhLM2FbMg
It's probably total fantasy, but I'm hoping for internal rebellion in Russia prompted by the war and sanctions.
Alexi Navalny is someone I have huge respect for (especially returning to Russia and certain imprisoning after the poisoning episode); he's trying to organise anti-war protests from within prison.
In my fantasy outcome he gets sprung from jail by the rebellion but I suspect that in reality he's in line for an unfortunate accident in prison if things start looking bad for Putin.
I would love to believe I would have the guts to protest like this, under that kind of regime, but I really don’t think I would…
https://twitter.com/sarahrainsford/status/1500468214312148996?s=21
That is ballsy!!
Report on R4 this morning that putin may have terminal bowel cancer.
Based on what information?
Based on what information?
I wasn't the reporter.
I wasn’t the reporter.
That wasn't a challenge, just wondering why they thought that. I wondered if the reporter had offered more information.
If you Google it there are a few reports apparently based on the musings of an unidentified intelligence analyst now working at the Pentagon, but it's pretty tenuous.
It’s probably total fantasy, but I’m hoping for internal rebellion in Russia prompted by the war and sanctions.
It's only a matter of time surely.
Ruble crashing through the floor.
Interest rates going through the ceiling.
Visa and mastercard have stopped doing business with Russia.
mols - there are a few kremlinologists and putin-watchers commenting about his health; I posted a link to an interview with Fiona Hill a few days ago which I think is on pg59.
IF his health is declining I fear for him looking at an end of days attitude.
That is ballsy!!
Really. That stuff gives even more hope than the Ukrainian resistance
It’s only a matter of time surely.
Ruble crashing through the floor.
Interest rates going through the ceiling.
Visa and mastercard have stopped doing business with Russia.
Near complete control of the media means that opinion polls in Russia show huge support for his actions.
Just introduced a mandatory 15 year sentence for people broadcasting 'fake' news about the non war in Ukraine
Sanctions are something he can spin as justifying what he's doing and use to galvanise his support
His latest line through state media seems to be that Ukraine have succeeded in building a Nuclear Bomb, and have moved it to Lviv for safety. That seems to be creating a reason for some kind of nasty attack on Lviv, but I hope I’m wrong……
IF his health is declining I fear for him looking at an end of days attitude.
Hopefully that is the case, and also hopefully those around him don't have terminal illnesses and if he wanted a slash and burn finale, they might be tempted to 'dissuade' him, having more to stick around for.
Near complete control of the media means that opinion polls in Russia show huge support for his actions.
It won't matter when thier cards are canceled and they can't pay thier rent's or buy a pint of milk for less than a tenner.
Last I heard, cards originating from Russian banks will not be affected, unless they leave the country. Card-holders from other countries won't be able to use their cards in Russia. Presumably more about online merchant services from abroad rather than trying to stop the population being able to buy stuff.
Sensible I guess, don't alienate the common Russian who works for a living.
In the long game Russia is seriously screwed for this.
I just hope our fellow Europeans can winter the storm, as they'd be fools to think a country of racists like the UK will give a flying elephant, at least that is, until thier utility bills go up 200%.
Alexi Navalny is someone I have huge respect for
Hmmm...you might want to do a bit of reading...he's possibly not the nicest person in the world....Amnesty aren't impressed
The way we celebrate and glorify that conflict over here can only be seen as obscene by any of our European neighbours.
I don't think you could be more wrong about how many Europeans (including Russians and for that matter Ukrainians) see the efforts of the Allied forces to liberate them from Hitler's Nazis TBH. If it wasn't for The US, for instance supplying the Russians with over 4000 Sherman tanks, or the 18,000 aircraft that they rec'd from allied factories the war on the Eastern front may have been completely different.
50 Sovietss died for every Briton for example
You do know why some of the reasons their deaths were so much higher than the UK's though, right? nearly a million soldiers were executed as "convicts " or "deserters" by the soviets themselves, Over two hundred thousand were shot after being court marshalled. While seven million Soviet civilians were killed, in both the sieges of Leningrad and Stalingrad, Stalin refused to let civilians leave, and those that tried and were caught by Russian soldiers were summarily shot as traitors, and children who were found exchanging collecting water for bread with Germans soldiers were shot...
Alexi Navalny is someone I have huge respect for
Hmmm…you might want to do a bit of reading…he’s possibly not the nicest person in the world….Amnesty aren’t impressed
Oh dear, that is a shame, perhaps he's not the ideal replacement for Putin then, but he does seem to be about the only person who's galvanised any meaningful resistance to him.
I'm fairly clueless about Russian (or indeed, world) politics beyond the news headlines. Assuming revolution in Russia is possible, is there anyone who could spearhead it and hopefully head up a new, democratic Russia without turning into Putin MkII?
Assuming revolution in Russia is possible, is there anyone who could spearhead it and hopefully head up a new, democratic Russia without turning into Putin MkII?
Where's Pussy Riot when you need 'em?
There doesn't seem to be anyone obvious...Putin has effectively (or literally) killed off any meaningful opposition. It may be my bias but in these authoritarian countries, the people we think are going to be liberal saviours often turn out to be at least as bad as the authoritarian they replace...look at that woman in Myanmar for example.
Twodogs
Full Member
Alexi Navalny is someone I have huge respect forHmmm…you might want to do a bit of reading…he’s possibly not the nicest person in the world….Amnesty aren’t impressed
yeah he's seems more than a bit iffy.
When he was growing up do you think it was in putin’s game plan that one day pretty much the entire world hoped he would have cancer?
That must be a life fail by any measure..
Where’s Pussy Riot when you need ’em?
Still in prison I think...?
Where’s Pussy Riot when you need ’em?
Funnily enough I was just thinking about them. At least some of them are still active - https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/pussy-riot-nadya-tolokonnikova-ukraine-nft-1235195900/
There is a lot of resistance in Russia (some of the bravery involved in the ongoing anti-war protests is huge) but it's so ruthlessly put down.
Meanwhile in London - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60638289
50
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60640460
Fifty Ukrainians have been granted visas under a scheme for refugees with family links to the UK, the Home Office has announced.
It is about 1% of the 5,535 people who have applied since the programme launched 48 hours earlier.
Sir Keir Starmer has called for a senior parliamentary committee to investigate claims Boris Johnson pushed for a Russian-born businessman to get a peerage, despite security concerns.
Thanks Pjay.
All the sanctions I hear about are from Europe and the US, are the rest of the world doing similar? If not I'd assume Russia will just increase trading elsewhere and this will carry on for a very Long time.
Probably mssively over simplified everything.
Stop ascribing western values to Navalny. We may look at these things as negatives but Russia is a completely different culture. Just because he's white doesn't make him one of "us".
Sometimes the "good guy" just has to be the "better guy". You can't change attitudes overnight.
What's the fuss about Lebedev BTW? I thought he was fairly liberal.
@kelvin that's shameful. Between aid being turned back at one side and refugees on the other this country is a ****ing disgrace.
Lebedev's father is billionaire and ex-kgb.
Concern is that johnson allegedly pushed to over-ride concerns raised about the proposed peerage.
When it comes to lebedev, Private Eye is your essential guide.
Stop ascribing western values to Navalny. We may look at these things as negatives but Russia is a completely different culture. Just because he’s white doesn’t make him one of “us”.
What?
so, it seems Putin’s attempt to shut down social media and control the narrative isn’t working out too well for him.
Social nyet-work
Right now I’d settle for ANYBODY other than Putin in charge.
50
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60640460
Fifty Ukrainians have been granted visas under a scheme for refugees with family links to the UK, the Home Office has announced.
It is about 1% of the 5,535 people who have applied since the programme launched 48 hours earlier.
I’ll bet if you add in family members more conservative donors have left the country than that.
