Russian aggression in Eastern Europe

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed May 30, 2018 16:27

C'mon, who hasn't staged the 'Being shot 3 times in the back then dying in an ambulance" caper because the 'one final swift half before closing' turns into a missed train, casino and expensive cab ride?

Kern · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2018 13:21

If you had 'Saudi Arabia' and 'Canada', get to the port immediately as your ship might be coming in.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Jun 14, 2019 10:45

Outside chance on Scotland v Ireland.

BBC wrote:

The Scottish government has warned Irish vessels could be boarded if caught fishing inside a 12-mile radius.

The Irish and Scottish governments are locked in talks to try and resolve the dispute

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

To try TO resolve the dispute, FFS. The Beeb is really going down hill.

myp · **Posted:** Fri Jun 14, 2019 15:26

Warhead wrote:

To try TO resolve the dispute, FFS. The Beeb is really going down hill.

Meh. It’s fine in informal use and has been for a long time so imo it’s fine now.

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

But this is the Beeb. I expect them to maintain certain standards.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Jan 03, 2020 10:07

Ah, Mr Trump wants a distraction. That, or he's taken onboard the advice of seasoned experts and has a clear strategy for the region and .... hang on, it's Mr Trump, isn't it?

devilman · **Posted:** Fri Jan 03, 2020 10:59

Kern wrote:

Ah, Mr Trump wants a distraction. That, or he's taken onboard the advice of seasoned experts and has a clear strategy for the region and .... hang on, it's Mr Trump, isn't it?

You'd hope people might throw things that like back in his face, but I guess not.

https://twitter.com/TimOBrien/status/12 ... 2132476929

â€œOur president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate...So the only way he figures heâ€™s going to get reelected, and as sure as youâ€™re sitting there, is to start a war with Iran.â€ pic.twitter.com/CCKsY7SKoV
— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) January 3, 2020

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Jan 03, 2020 13:43

Woah. Big moves!

MaliA · **Posted:** Sat Jan 04, 2020 16:22

Admittedly, it would be funny if Nuclear Armageddon prevented Liverpool from winning the premier League this year.

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

Hearthly wrote:

I didn't realise he could just push the button whenever he fancied, I always assumed there'd be military types and suchlike who'd refuse to enter their launch codes on the grounds that Trump is clearly fucking psychotic.

If this is accurate then it's really quite scary.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... orth-korea

Quote:

As Trump has learned in recent months, the man in the Oval Office cannot simply issue a decree changing, say, the US healthcare system. He has to build majorities in the House and Senate, which is harder than it looks. If he wants to change immigration policy, a mere order is not enough. He can be stopped by the courts, as Trump saw with his travel ban. But if he wants to rain fire and fury on a distant enemy, bringing more fire and fury down on his own citizens and many hundreds of millions of others, there is no one standing in his way. Not for nothing does the geopolitical literature refer to the US president as the “nuclear monarch.”

The more you hear of the simplicity of the system, the more frightening it becomes. If Trump decides he has had enough of Kim Jong-un’s verbal threats, he merely has to turn to the low-level military aide at his side and ask them to open up the black briefcase that officer keeps permanently in their grasp. The bag is known as the nuclear “football”. (It gets its name from the code word for the very first set of nuclear war plans: dropkick.) Inside the bag is a menu of options, explained in detail in a “black book,” but also set out in a single, cartoon-like page for speedy comprehension. Trump has only to make his choice, pick up the phone to the Pentagon war room, utter the code words that identify him as the president and give the order. That’s it.

I only read this today. So, he HASN'T got his finger on the button, it's a minion in the Pentagon who will actually press it. Or who might say, "Fuck off, Mr President, you're batshit crazy.".

We can only hope, anyway.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Yes, I fully believe that the US military is packed full of principled conscientious objectors, willing to disobey direct orders and probably go to jail for doing so. You can tell that's the case because of all the warmongering.

Warhead · Noob as of 6/8/10

Cras wrote:

Yes, I fully believe that the US military is packed full of principled conscientious objectors, willing to disobey direct orders and probably go to jail for doing so. You can tell that's the case because of all the warmongering.

Or maybe they're all Russian sleepers, who've infiltrated the Pentagon in readiness for just such an opportunity.

Doctor Glyndwr · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 32619

Cras wrote:

Yes, I fully believe that the US military is packed full of principled conscientious objectors, willing to disobey direct orders and probably go to jail for doing so. You can tell that's the case because of all the warmongering.

This has, of course, already happened in history, albeit on the other side of the cold war:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Petrov

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6515

Just as long as James Blunt still is around to singlehandedly stop WWIII, we'll all be OK!

Kern · **Posted:** Mon Jan 06, 2020 14:57

Squirt wrote:

Just as long as James Blunt still is around to singlehandedly stop WWIII, we'll all be OK!

See NervousPete's discussion of Blunt's skills from way back.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6515

James Blunt could write an opinion piece for a newspaper and call it something like " To The Point with James Blunt - cutting remarks from Britain's sharpest columnist"

Findus Fop · **Joined:** 14th May, 2009 **Posts:** 4299

Squirt wrote:

James Blunt could write an opinion piece for a newspaper and call it something like " To The Point with James Blunt - cutting remarks from Britain's sharpest columnist"

I'd go with:

Let Me Be Blunt.

MaliA · **Posted:** Mon Jan 06, 2020 18:31

I like James Blunt. He seems a decent human being.

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Jan 06, 2020 22:47

I really like the "Cold" song he did late last year.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Dec 17, 2021 9:35

Heck of a lot of Russian troops holidaying just outside Ukraine right now. Wonder if Putin will risk going for the seasonal surprise?

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Jan 26, 2022 15:55

I am sure that Truss has this in hand.

Findus Fop · **Joined:** 14th May, 2009 **Posts:** 4299

It's all trussed up

Kern · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2022 9:02

Just think how much the UK's influence over these situations could be amplified if as well as using military pressures being a leading part of a large alliance, they could also use economic pressures through some large European economic organisation.

MaliA · **Posted:** Fri Feb 11, 2022 20:05

https://twitter.com/MaliciousA/status/1 ... 4672750595

Liz Truss did her best https://t.co/oJ7IAEETBr
— MaliciousA (@MaliciousA) February 11, 2022

Findus Fop · **Joined:** 14th May, 2009 **Posts:** 4299

In Liz we truss

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Sat Feb 12, 2022 9:36

My favourite gag about Liz Truss and her blunderous makeover is about the wistful photo ops in Moscow.
Some wag said she misheard Dominic Raab’s reply when she told him she was going to Moscow. She thought he said “Wear the fox hat”

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5155

Russia has officially declared war and started a full scale invasion.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-europe-60454795

Can we get the thread title changed, as it doesn’t feel so funny any more.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Russia's declared war? I thought they very much had not done that

krazywookie · **Posted:** Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:08

I thought that changed this morning?

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5155

It has indeed.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6515

No actual, formal "Declaration of War" though, right? None of the proper diplomatic procedures, just rocking over the border with a chunk of tanks and trucks.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49232

Squirt wrote:

No actual, formal "Declaration of War" though, right? None of the proper diplomatic procedures, just rocking over the border with a chunk of tanks and trucks.

Yes, this is what I meant. Putin is supposedly 'liberating' the area, not declaring war on Ukraine

Trooper · **Joined:** 4th Mar, 2010 **Posts:** 22270

Correct. Technically Russia hasn't declared war. Just like technically Boris hasn't said he is a bellend, regardless of what everyone knows to be true.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6515

I don't know what difference that actually makes in the grand scheme of things though. Maybe some legal impact somewhere along the line, but there's a de facto war going on.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Thu Feb 24, 2022 12:45

War is still technically illegal under UN law, so as the word is never used. 'Conflict', 'incursion' and 'security operation' are fine. Anyway, feeling absolutely gutted. As of two weeks ago I felt confident it could be resolved through the dragging out of diplomacy, and I'm usually the pessimist in the house.

One thing's for sure if this doesn't finally convince us and the rest of Europe to being putting the flesh back on the bones of our military, I'm not sure what will. I'm feeling desperately sad for the Ukraine, and my Polish friends are understandably nervous.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

Not sure what's going to stop him now really. Unless the Ukranians end up fighting in the streets and the Russian bodies begin piling up. Is this the end of the era of peace brought about by nuclear weapons? Because that only really works if everyone is behaving somewhat rationally.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Thu Feb 24, 2022 13:06

Well it works better if you don't give all your nuclear weapons to your neighbour on the promise that they won't invade you.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Thu Feb 24, 2022 16:30

Looks like a helicopter assault on the airport outside of Kiev. Several helicopters have been downed. You don't do that for laughs so I expect they were probably landing ground forces before an armoured drive down to Kiev gets there. It doesn't look as if the Russian forces have had an entirely easy time of it yet. There's some footage of a wrecked tank with its turret popped off and some hit APCs. Also footage of jets duelling. That's about as much as I had the stomach to watch right now.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14489

If you were not already freaked out there is currently fighting around Chernobyl with the Russians trying to seize control of the ruins

**edit **

I may only be fooling myself but this story does make it sound less worrying to me :

https://www.newscientist.com/article/23 ... chernobyl/

Dimrill · **Posted:** Thu Feb 24, 2022 17:04

Nice tactic after they left Ukraine with the debt for removing and cleaning up the site. Wonder how the companies who are still expecting payment on the 10billion dolllareydos feel now.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5155

zaphod79 wrote:

If you were not already freaked out there is currently fighting around Chernobyl with the Russians trying to seize control of the ruins

**edit **

I may only be fooling myself but this story does make it sound less worrying to me :

https://www.newscientist.com/article/23 ... chernobyl/

If they end up having to retreat, I would expect Russia to lob some explosives that way out of spite.

Kern · **Posted:** Fri Feb 25, 2022 19:58

Spent the last 2 days following the situation with mix of horror and despondency.

About the only glimpse of hope is how much solidarity there is with the Ukrainians right now.

I don't have much else to add, other than to get angry about reports that the government aren't making it easy for Ukrainians to get to safety in the UK.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5155

There’s a small chance that the Ukrainians might put up a strong enough defence to make Putin think twice about continuing. I don’t think they were expecting so many civilians to take up arms.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16560

Have to wonder how into it all the Russian army are as well if the fighting gets drawn out.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2022 1:33

If anyone wants to stare into the abyss of utter utter loathsomeness.

War as a spectator sport. (via MrDave)

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38464

Probably sponsored by World of Tanks

MaliA · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2022 14:13

I am getting the impression that Russia isn't getting very far with this campaign. However, I am slightly suspicious of the news given the attitude towards Russia and Ukraine's underdog status leading to more positive coverage

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5155

It’s definitely not a quick and easy victory. They could start launching huge amounts of artillery into cities, but that would remove any pretence that they are liberating Ukraine. It’s pretty clear that the Ukrainians have far better resolve and motivation, and the amount of modern anti-tank and anti-air weapons they are getting must make a big difference. The sanctions are also more united and wide ranging than seemed likely.

Hopefully they’ll agree to talks soon, and Putin will see some sort of sense.

Malc · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2022 14:45

In a slightly worrying development, Putin seems to have just said that if he's not allowed to take Ukraine, he might just nuke the planet.

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Russian aggression in Eastern Europe
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Russian aggression in Eastern Europe Come on guys

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Russian aggression in Eastern Europe
Come on guys