Ukraine - somebody explain to me

[BlueK]

Really? We had Trump for four years with his rotating, musical chairs cabinet where only the truly debased could endure the indignity, along with congressional seats won by the likes of Lauren Boebert, Margerie Taylor Green and Madison Cawthorne. Have no resume, talent, or intelligence to match your ambition? No problem! There is a spot for you on a GOP ticket near you!

Ok, good point

[PaloAltoCougar]

glenn greenwald never met a wet trump fart he didn’t want to dutifully lap up and savor

Lol at the “and savor” finish.

[Pelado]

My Ukrainian tutoree is understandably very upset and frustrated, especially since her family still lives between Crimea and Kiev. Last night she texted me, "Unfortunately, nobody is going to help us. We are too small to fight with Putin alone, but the rest of the world is just watching and not doing anything. Pray for Ukraine, please." It would be a stupid and futile gesture, but I'd love it if, worldwide, big crowds demonstrated (nonviolently!) in front of every Russian embassy and consulate. I'd be happy to head over to SF to rage impotently in front of the consulate there.

As for the post above, I hope Putin burns in hell, along with everyone else who shares his "Christian values." Lauren Witzke probably fantasizes about a helmeted Jesus driving a T-14 down the road toward Kiev.

KyivNotKiev is an online campaign started by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) together with the 15 member centre for strategical communications "StratCom Ukraine" on 2 October 2018. Its goal is to persuade English-language media and organisations to exclusively use Kyiv (derived from the Ukrainian language name) instead of Kiev (derived from the Russian language name) as the one true name of the Ukrainian capital.^[1][2] It is a part of the wider campaign "CorrectUA".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KyivNo...22CorrectUA%22.

[BlueK]

Isn't the fact that Ukraine was pushing hard to be in the NATO club really the reason Putin invaded? The US and Ukraine should just make a deal... promise Putin that Ukraine, Georgia, and the other border countries won't be part of NATO if he will leave them alone. And Joe should make Germany buy all its oil from West Texas instead of Russia...

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No, it is not the REAL reason he invaded. He told everyone the real reason on Monday in his speech. It's because he doesn't think Ukraine deserves to be its own country and because he believes Russia needs to retake control of all territories it lost following the end of the cold war. This isn't speculation. it's what he said himself on Monday. Putin would never hold himself to such an agreement for long anyway.

[PaloAltoCougar]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KyivNo...22CorrectUA%22.

Thanks, I’m working on both the spelling and the pronunciation. Took me years to stop saying “the Ukraine.”

[Pelado]

Thanks, I’m working on both the spelling and the pronunciation. Took me years to stop saying “the Ukraine.”

I had no idea it was a thing until I saw something on Twitter about it - yesterday, I think.

[Jeff Lebowski]

The ukranians are badass. I love them all.

[chrisrenrut]

The ukranians are badass. I love them all.

Yes, they are. Even the women.

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[BlueK]

Putin isn't as genius or prophetic as he's been given credit for.

He didn't anticipate the west uniting and NATO responding with more troops and weapons. That's the last thing he would have wanted.

Putin didn't anticipate the bravery or resiliency of Ukraine. He seems to have not realized they would put up any fight at all. Yes, he has the military might to assume control but he's in for an ugly insurgency for the rest of the time Russia is there with the west giving them weapons. Chechnya took Russia like 20 years to keep under control. He should have learned. This will be far more difficult. He couldn't have really wanted that.

Putin didn't anticipate the response of his own people and unpopularity at home over the war. It will get worse

He's frustrated already or he wouldn't be spouting off about having nuclear weapons.

His speech Monday was anything but measured and level headed. It was insane. It was rage filled and bizarre. It was no more rational than a Hitler or Mussolini speech.

This is a guy who used an internationally-banned nerve gas agent in a totally different country to attempt to murder a political opponent.

He's not acting rationally at all now, which should at the very least be concerning.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Putin isn't as genius or prophetic as he's been given credit for.

He didn't anticipate the west uniting and NATO responding with more troops and weapons. That's the last thing he would have wanted.

Putin didn't anticipate the bravery or resiliency of Ukraine. He seems to have not realized they would put up any fight at all. Yes, he has the military might to assume control but he's in for an ugly insurgency for the rest of the time Russia is there with the west giving them weapons. Chechnya took Russia like 20 years to keep under control. He should have learned. This will be far more difficult. He couldn't have really wanted that.

Putin didn't anticipate the response of his own people and unpopularity at home over the war. It will get worse

He's frustrated already or he wouldn't be spouting off about having nuclear weapons.

His speech Monday was anything but measured and level headed. It was insane. It was rage filled and bizarre. It was no more rational than a Hitler or Mussolini speech.

This is a guy who used an internationally-banned nerve gas agent in a totally different country to attempt to murder a political opponent.

He's not acting rationally at all now, which should at the very least be concerning.

One fervently hopes there are others in Russian leadership (as there were with Trump) who will be able to restrain their leader's nuttiest or most dangerous impulses.

[myboynoah]

Yes, they are. Even the women.

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This speaks to a big challenge for Russian troops moving forward. They have invaded a people who look like them, speak like them, dress like them, etc. They look at the Urkrainians and its like looking in a mirror. The men, the women, the children could be their fathers, their mothers, their brothers, their sisters, their sons and daughters, their wives and husbands. Ukrainians can readily confront and argue with the Russian soliders. That's got to wear on a person. It's not like going to a totally different culture (think U.S. soldiers in Viet Nam or Iraq) with a different language where one could easily "other" the people one has invaded.

[myboynoah]

One fervently hopes there are others in Russian leadership (as there were with Trump) who will be able to restrain their leader's nuttiest or most dangerous impulses.

Did you watch that "cabinet" meeting with Putin and his team? Just like a Trump cabinet meeting. People nodding and fully on board (or else). Putin got very irritated with his intelligence chief who didn't immediatly endorse the action. I wonder where that guy is now.

Trump used to lament that he didn't have the power of Putin or Kim.

[BlueK]

Even in today's crazy polarized political climate, in light of what is happening now I can't see how a pro-Putin stance within the Trumpist side of the GOP is a winning political strategy

[myboynoah]

Even in today's crazy polarized political climate, in light of what is happening now I can't see how a pro-Putin stance within the Trumpist side of the GOP is a winning political strategy

Yeah, it's not. The Repub and Fox TPs steer away from that and instead focus on what a failure Biden has been on Ukraine.

I think the Biden strategy of exposing Putin's plan a week ahead of time has been genius.

And WTH hell, Russia? No shock and awe? And you call yourself a superpower.

[Uncle Ted]

Biden's strategy of exposing Putin's plan... LOL:

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I am sure President Biden is working this weekend to help the poor Ukrainian folks in this critical time.

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Oh sh*t... Joe has left to go hide in his basement again.