Russia just declared war and started bombing cities in Ukraine unprovoked. My wife is from there so this is really hitting us hard. Not to mention nothing else seems to be going right.

I just hope that the west will find some much stronger answers this time than when Russia took Crimea.

On the other hand do we even have a leg to stand on after the invasion of Iraq? ::)

I just hope that the west will find some much stronger answers this time than when Russia took Crimea.

On the other hand do we even have a leg to stand on after the invasion of Iraq? ::)


I hope we will have stronger answers than just sanctions. You can't compare it to Iraq since that's totally different. It may or may not have been about the oil, but the country was under an oppressive regime. Ukraine is a sovereign country which was blatantly attacked. It's not just about Ukraine either, the rest of the world will feel the effects of this, and it's about to get ugly. I'll take 2020 and the pandemic over this.

I hope we will have stronger answers than just sanctions. You can't compare it to Iraq since that's totally different. It may or may not have been about the oil, but the country was under an oppressive regime. Ukraine is a sovereign country which was blatantly attacked. It's not just about Ukraine either, the rest of the world will feel the effects of this, and it's about to get ugly. I'll take 2020 and the pandemic over this.
Iraq was a sovereign country too so it's actually the exact same thing.The type of government is completely irrelevant. One country attacks another one without being provoked to do so.

Iraq was a sovereign country too so it's actually the exact same thing.The type of government is completely irrelevant. One country attacks another one without being provoked to do so.


I still don't think it's the same, but that's missing the point of this entire thread.

Uefa will take the 2022 Champions League final away from St Petersburg following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The decision will be made at Friday's emergency meeting of European football's governing body. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine on Thursday. World football's governing body Fifa is to meet on Thursday, with Russia and Ukraine both scheduled to play in World Cup play-off matches in March. Russia are set to play Poland on 24 March, while Scotland host Ukraine on the same day.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60504979

And the majority of Canadians seem to be on the government's side rather than the people's side.
Do you see a contradiction here?

*edit*
Nevermind, seems the post was deleted while I responded.

I agree BatFan. 2022 is looking like it is gonna really suck. Like "2020 too" as the name suggests. But even worse than 2020 it seems so far. This is very sad and horrifying what's happening in the Ukraine now. I am sorry you're family is there. I cannot believe they are attacking civilians. This makes me so angry.

Do you see a contradiction here?

*edit*
Nevermind, seems the post was deleted while I responded.

I deleted that whole post since I didn't see the news and what's happening in the Ukraine until right now. What's going on over there is much more important and concerning. Despite government overreach here, it cannot compare to what's happening with the Russia-Ukraine situation.

Let's all hope it doesn't happen, but this could quickly spiral out of control.

The best thing we can do right now is try our best to be strong and keep cool heads.

Eurovision: Russia can compete despite invasion of Ukraine

For me this is all wrong!

Russia will be allowed to participate in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, despite launching a military assault on neighbouring Ukraine.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60514388

I agree BatFan. 2022 is looking like it is gonna really suck. Like "2020 too" as the name suggests. But even worse than 2020 it seems so far. This is very sad and horrifying what's happening in the Ukraine now. I am sorry you're family is there. I cannot believe they are attacking civilians. This makes me so angry.


We're not even into the 3rd month in 2022 and how can you say that 22 sucks?  ::)

I agree BatFan. 2022 is looking like it is gonna really suck. Like "2020 too" as the name suggests. But even worse than 2020 it seems so far. This is very sad and horrifying what's happening in the Ukraine now. I am sorry you're family is there. I cannot believe they are attacking civilians. This makes me so angry.


Thank you for the support. Yeah, suddenly not being able to get a haircut or attend concerts or sporting events doesn't seem so bad. The surreal feeling from watching the news (especially since it's a city I'm familiar with from visiting family) is what brings back the feelings from 2020.


Let's all hope it doesn't happen, but this could quickly spiral out of control.

The best thing we can do right now is try our best to be strong and keep cool heads.


Putin has gone psycho. I wouldn't put anything past him, and that's scary knowing his/Russia's capabilities and his threats.

What we are seeing is something that hasn't been seen by anyone under around 80, and could be worse than that.

We're not even into the 3rd month in 2022 and how can you say that 22 sucks?  ::)


Mainly because of the last 18 hours. Ever since about 10 pm Eastern (5 am Ukraine time) has been every minute "but wait, there's more!" At least in 2020 we had until mid-March. I don't think it's going to get better over the next 10 months either. We're going to be feeling the impact of this, on top of the impacts we're already dealing with from the pandemic.

In the meantime, China sent warplanes into the Taiwan airspace. While the world is not looking when concentrating on Ukraine, who knows what will go on?

In the meantime, China sent warplanes into the Taiwan airspace. While the world is not looking when concentrating on Ukraine, who knows what will go on?


It is a perfect storm for a World War III scenario. China allying with Russia, and possibly India. Don't forget North Korea with their capabilities. What the world has always feared could become a reality.

Suddenly the pandemic has become old news, and it's not technically over. Just something more concerning is happening.

I think this is basically "Count Vlad's" last hurrah. He has overstepped this time. For a few years now, I have been saying that Count Vlad's days are numbered. Yeah, he basically just took Crimea before anyone knew what happened. This time, the entire world is watching and the entire world will hold him accountable. And when this is all said and done, Russia will have a new leader and Crimea will once again be part of Ukraine.

Unfortunately, before all of that will happen, the people of Ukraine ARE in the cross-hairs. They have been for the past 8 years. I am hoping that the European Union along with the U.S., U.K. and most other nations of the world will help defend Ukraine against a Hitler wannabee trying to take over the European continent. 



Cat

I think this is basically "Count Vlad's" last hurrah. He has overstepped this time. For a few years now, I have been saying that Count Vlad's days are numbered. Yeah, he basically just took Crimea before anyone knew what happened. This time, the entire world is watching and the entire world will hold him accountable. And when this is all said and done, Russia will have a new leader and Crimea will once again be part of Ukraine.

Unfortunately, before all of that will happen, the people of Ukraine ARE in the cross-hairs. They have been for the past 8 years. I am hoping that the European Union along with the U.S., U.K. and most other nations of the world will help defend Ukraine against a Hitler wannabee trying to take over the European continent. 



Cat


I can't see how this doesn't blow up in Putin's face but if it does and he ends up getting backed into a corner, who knows what he'll do out of desperation.  :o :o :o

I can't see how this doesn't blow up in Putin's face but if it does and he ends up getting backed into a corner, who knows what he'll do out of desperation.  :o :o :o


Very true. I think I heard that he has already threatened to use nukes.


Cat

Very true. I think I heard that he has already threatened to use nukes.


Cat


I would not be surprised if he disrupted our supply chains and power grid with cyberattacks.

I would not be surprised if he disrupted our supply chains and power grid with cyberattacks.


He already has. Last year Russia launched the SolarWinds hack and several hospitals were also hacked.



Cat

He already has. Last year Russia launched the SolarWinds hack and several hospitals were also hacked.



Cat


And the Colonial Pipeline which affected the region I live, with ransomware.

Interesting all the fuss about Russia invading the Ukraine. Where was the outrage when the US invaded Iraq without provocation, or when the US bombed Libya? (Both actions, by the way, that I staunchly opposed)

I am not advocating what the Russkies are doing, but hypocrisy is in ample supply here.

Interesting all the fuss about Russia invading the Ukraine. Where was the outrage when the US invaded Iraq without provocation, or when the US bombed Libya? (Both actions, by the way, that I staunchly opposed)

I am not advocating what the Russkies are doing, but hypocrisy is in ample supply here.



I was against that, too. I was VERY angry when the U.S. invaded Iraq. You can go back into the archives and read what I wrote back then.


Cat

I would not be surprised if he disrupted our supply chains and power grid with cyberattacks.


I've thought about that too, this is a very bad situation that seems lose-lose, if the US/NATO doesn't do anything/or not enough then faith in the US and it's economy will tank. If the US reaction is too strong, we risk a tit for tat that could escalate into thermonuclear warfare.

The global US lead order created after World War 2 has been crumbling for several years, in fact around 2015-ish, before Trump's election and Brexit, I predicted major upheaval and I got flak for it from a poster on here, I've hated to been right about my predictions.

Interesting all the fuss about Russia invading the Ukraine. Where was the outrage when the US invaded Iraq without provocation, or when the US bombed Libya? (Both actions, by the way, that I staunchly opposed)

I am not advocating what the Russkies are doing, but hypocrisy is in ample supply here.

The international outrage was there. Your coalition of the willing was pretty small after all. I guess you just didn't hear much about it in the US? ???
But overall I agree with you. However I don't think it would have been in our interest to put massive sanctions on the US for obvious reasons. :-X

The international outrage was there. Your coalition of the willing was pretty small after all. I guess you just didn't hear much about it in the US? ???
But overall I agree with you. However I don't think it would have been in our interest to put massive sanctions on the US for obvious reasons. :-X


Throughout US history we have done lots of reprehensible things, no doubt about it.  On the other hand, we have done some rather good things, as has every other nation.  There's enough hypocrisy in this world to go around ten times over.  In this case, I think Putin is an existential threat to the western world, which I for one am rather fond of, so I hope NATO and the EU  stop him in his tracks

I think Putin is an existential threat to the western world, which I for one am rather fond of, so I hope NATO and the EU  stop him in his tracks

So do I.
I also really hope that Europe in general and Germany in particular will finally get their act together before it's too late. For more than 20 years I've been saying that we can't just let our armed forces deteriorate the way we have to the point of them being non functional. Freedom has a price tag and one is either willing to pay it or will fall under "new management" at some point. >:(
Too bad so many people here have been fast asleep when it comes to that and there were/are even people who wanted to get rid of the armed forces all together and get out of NATO. I hope they realize what a huge egg they have on their face right now but I doubt it.

This, from the Washington Post, lays out some of whats at stake:

By David Ignatius
Columnist
Yesterday at 8:20 p.m. EST

When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his all-out invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, he effectively ended the post-Cold War era. A new architecture for global relations must be built, and its shape will depend on whether Putin’s brutal campaign succeeds or fails.
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Putin’s attack awakened the ghosts of war that had haunted Europe for a century. The world watched in horror as a massive assault force attacked Ukraine from three sides with missiles, bombs, tanks and the electronic wizardry of cyberwarfare. Scores of nations condemned the invasion. But the gut-wrenching fact is that Ukraine is fighting Putin by itself.

The Post's View: Why Ukraine -- and Russian aggression against it -- matters to Americans

This conflict isn’t a case of sleepwalking toward war, as historians have described the blind march into World War I in 1914. It is closer to the attack that a bitter, vengeful German leader launched on neighboring Czechoslovakia in 1939. Putin isn’t Adolf Hitler — yet — but he shares a similar brooding obsession with settling scores by military force.

Putin’s willingness to escalate all the way to war has been increasingly clear to the Biden administration since CIA Director William J. Burns visited Moscow in early November. He traveled there to warn Putin that U.S. intelligence had concluded that behind a Russian troop buildup along Ukraine’s border lay serious war-planning.

Burns told colleagues that Putin, normally a cool calculator, seemed ready to go to war. Partly, it appeared to be a sense of personal destiny as Putin neared age 70, partly his calculation that the moment was ripe because the United States and its allies were disoriented while Russia was relatively strong. At the core was Putin’s long-standing obsession with a defiant Ukraine, which he saw moving inexorably toward the West despite Kremlin warnings — and against the weight of Russian history itself.

Sebastian Mallaby: How Putin has fortified Russia against the West's sanctions

Putin had expressed his fixation with Ukraine to Burns back in 2008, when Burns was the U.S. ambassador to Moscow. That conversation, described in Burns’s 2019 memoir, makes for eerie reading now, with missiles falling on Kyiv. “Doesn’t your government know that Ukraine is unstable and immature politically and NATO is very divisive there?” Putin admonished Burns. “Don’t you know that Ukraine is not even a real country? Part of it is really East European and part is really Russian.”

Putin repeated those words almost precisely this week in announcing the war. Ukraine is his rawest nerve. He evidently believes that Russia cannot be a great power unless it controls Ukraine.

The Biden administration tried to deter Putin by warning him of potentially crippling sanctions, which it imposed on Thursday shortly after the invasion began. The White House also adopted a novel disruption tactic of revealing Russian military planning, false-flag plots to provoke war and even schemes for targeted killings.

Officials believe this information barrage checked some of Putin’s plans; it also shattered the narrative Putin had hoped to create. For once, the United States had the initiative in the information wars in which the Russian leader has been so adept.

As Putin moved toward all-out war, he was counseled by a tiny inner circle, led by three hard-liners: Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu; FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov; and security council chief Nikolai Patrushev. Lower down in the military and Kremlin bureaucracy, some were skeptical about the Ukraine war plans, U.S. officials believe. But that questioning clearly didn’t penetrate to Putin himself.

Now that Russian troops have surged into Ukraine, how does Putin plan to extricate himself? It’s likely that he hopes to keep Russian ground troops out of Kyiv and other big cities, instead using Spetsnaz special forces and FSB operatives to neutralize these targets. He will probably seek to install a puppet government. But here’s where U.S. officials believe Putin’s planning breaks down.

What Putin doesn’t appear to realize, with his vision of Russian-Ukrainian oneness, is that his bullying has deeply alienated Ukrainians. I saw that anti-Putin sentiment when I visited Kyiv in late January, and it’s undoubtedly even stronger now that Russian tanks are on the streets and jets are in the sky. Putin obviously believed his own rhetoric that Ukraine wasn’t a real country. That level of self-absorption so often leads to mistakes.

Eugene Robinson: Putin's attack on Ukraine is about more than his own delusions of grandeur

With his unprovoked invasion, Putin has shattered the international legal rules established after World War II, along with the European order that followed the Cold War. That old architecture was getting shaky, and it was destined to be replaced eventually.

The Ukraine assault, pitting a messianic Russian autocrat against the wishes of every other major nation, perhaps including China, will determine the shape of the new order to come. If Putin loses his battle to subjugate Ukraine, the new order will have a solid and promising foundation. If Putin wins, the new era will be very dangerous indeed.

Eurovision: Russia can compete despite invasion of Ukraine

For me this is all wrong!

Russia will be allowed to participate in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, despite launching a military assault on neighbouring Ukraine.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-60514388


Not anymore. Russia has been banned.

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60530513

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Interesting all the fuss about Russia invading the Ukraine. Where was the outrage when the US invaded Iraq without provocation, or when the US bombed Libya? (Both actions, by the way, that I staunchly opposed)

I am not advocating what the Russkies are doing, but hypocrisy is in ample supply here.


See and I love how, after GeeDubya voiced his opposition to Trump a few years back, the media stsrted to portray him as being some genial, affable elder statesman.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom" was the biggest foreign policy disaster in American history, and GeeDubya should never, ever be forgiven for it.

Now here’s a bit of background. While the Russian invasion is clearly wrong, what really burns me is the “virtue signaling” that somehow Ukraine is some sort of bastion of democracy. It isn’t.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s election campaign was heavily funded by one oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky. Ol’ Ihor is not permitted to enter the USA because he and his cronies (a couple of whom I’ve had the displeasure of having to meet, and all of with whom I refused to do business) were laundering billions of dollars of funds through US institutions.  Said money having been plundered from Ukraine’s Privat Bank, which ultimately was nationalized (~$5.5 Billion missing) due to the shenanigans. None of this stopped Zelenskyy from allying with Kolomoisky.

But more about the oligarch. He funded the rise of Yulia Tymoshenko. He then funded her ouster when she did not play ball with him. He funded his own private army to strong-arm businesses from other owners. He then funded his own army again in 2014 during the “revolution” and was appointed Governor of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (roughly equivalent to an American state).

Exiled from Ukraine prior to Zelenskyy’s election, Ihor immediately came back, and officials in the “democratically elected” government have learned to not mess with him. Read about it here: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/will-zelenskyy-target-all-ukrainian-oligarchs-equally/.

My point in all of this? Virtue-signaling about the Ukrainian “democracy” is misplaced. The government over there is bought and paid for by the oligarchs.

But don’t listen to me. Read what the US State Department has to say about this confidante of President Zelenskyy: https://www.state.gov/public-designation-of-oligarch-and-former-ukrainian-public-official-ihor-kolomoyskyy-due-to-involvement-in-significant-corruption/

Now here’s a bit of background. While the Russian invasion is clearly wrong, what really burns me is the “virtue signaling” that somehow Ukraine is some sort of bastion of democracy. It isn’t.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s election campaign was heavily funded by one oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky. Ol’ Ihor is not permitted to enter the USA because he and his cronies (a couple of whom I’ve had the displeasure of having to meet, and all of with whom I refused to do business) were laundering billions of dollars of funds through US institutions.  Said money having been plundered from Ukraine’s Privat Bank, which ultimately was nationalized (~$5.5 Billion missing) due to the shenanigans. None of this stopped Zelenskyy from allying with Kolomoisky.

But more about the oligarch. He funded the rise of Yulia Tymoshenko. He then funded her ouster when she did not play ball with him. He funded his own private army to strong-arm businesses from other owners. He then funded his own army again in 2014 during the “revolution” and was appointed Governor of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast (roughly equivalent to an American state).

Exiled from Ukraine prior to Zelenskyy’s election, Ihor immediately came back, and officials in the “democratically elected” government have learned to not mess with him. Read about it here: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/will-zelenskyy-target-all-ukrainian-oligarchs-equally/.

My point in all of this? Virtue-signaling about the Ukrainian “democracy” is misplaced. The government over there is bought and paid for by the oligarchs.

But don’t listen to me. Read what the US State Department has to say about this confidante of President Zelenskyy: https://www.state.gov/public-designation-of-oligarch-and-former-ukrainian-public-official-ihor-kolomoyskyy-due-to-involvement-in-significant-corruption/


This is why Ukraine is not already part of the EU or NATO.  But apparently it is (was) moving to end the corruption and build a working democracy.  In any case it appears that the Ukrainians don't want to be part of Putin's paradise and it is in the interests of the EU and NATO to support their desire for independence     

This is why Ukraine is not already part of the EU or NATO.  But apparently it is (was) moving to end the corruption and build a working democracy.  In any case it appears that the Ukrainians don't want to be part of Putin's paradise and it is in the interests of the EU and NATO to support their desire for independence   


The President courting Mr. Kolomoisky is not what I would characterize as “moving to end the corruption”.

Germany has finally decided to send anti tank and anti air weapons to Ukraine. The government also allowed other nations to deliver arms of German production to Ukraine.

Germany has finally decided to send anti tank and anti air weapons to Ukraine. The government also allowed other nations to deliver arms of German production to Ukraine.



Good! I was saying to Carlos yesterday, "It is great that everyone is wearing Ukraine colors in solidarity but the Ukrainians are alone in this fight. I wish that other nations would send military to help them."


Cat

Good! I was saying to Carlos yesterday, "It is great that everyone is wearing Ukraine colors in solidarity but the Ukrainians are alone in this fight. I wish that other nations would send military to help them."


Cat


Since the United States Air Force is phasing out the A-10 Warthog, why couldn't our government just donate some of them to the Ukrainian Air Force and train their pilots to fly them? They'd make mincemeat out of Russian tanks.

Plus, I don't know if you ever seen them in action but the A-10 is one of the most awesome and terrifying warplanes ever built, and the effect they'd have on the morale of Russian troops would be devastating.

Since the United States Air Force is phasing out the A-10 Warthog, why couldn't our government just donate some of them to the Ukrainian Air Force and train their pilots to fly them? They'd make mincemeat out of Russian tanks.

Plus, I don't know if you ever seen them in action but the A-10 is one of the most awesome and terrifying warplanes ever built, and the effect they'd have on the morale of Russian troops would be devastating.



I know we are giving them some firepower but I don't know exactly what.



Cat

I know we are giving them some firepower but I don't know exactly what.



Cat


Mostly Javelin anti-tank missiles from what I've heard, which are also supposed to be very effective against Russian armored vehicles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzgViS4Rpf8


Cat

We will see how this all plays out.

Since the United States Air Force is phasing out the A-10 Warthog, why couldn't our government just donate some of them to the Ukrainian Air Force and train their pilots to fly them? They'd make mincemeat out of Russian tanks.

Plus, I don't know if you ever seen them in action but the A-10 is one of the most awesome and terrifying warplanes ever built, and the effect they'd have on the morale of Russian troops would be devastating.

Because you need to train pilots and ground crews for months or even years to become effective. Another thing is that the Warthog is super slow and has very limited air to air capabilities. It's a pure bred ground attack aircraft. It can only be used when air superiority is achieved or it will be destroyed by enemy fighters with ease. There is no way for Ukraine to get air superiority over Russia so the A10 would be worthless to them. Besides to my knowledge all plans to phase the A10 out of US service were stopped indefinitely and the plane isn't going anywhere.

If Ukraine request jets I would suggest F16s (should be in ample supply in your bone yards). They can do both air to air and air to ground combat. But again training the personnel would probably take too long.

Interesting all the fuss about Russia invading the Ukraine. Where was the outrage when the US invaded Iraq without provocation, or when the US bombed Libya? (Both actions, by the way, that I staunchly opposed)

I am not advocating what the Russkies are doing, but hypocrisy is in ample supply here.


You must’ve missed the entire first page of this thread.

You must’ve missed the entire first page of this thread.


Again, I don't want to sound like one of those biased Americans that say "America is always the good one" or "God is always on our side", but you cannot compare the likes George W. Bush or any US president to the likes of Putin, and you cannot compare the likes of Vladimir Zelensky to the likes of Saddam Hussein or Gaddafi. I'll admit I wasn't for going to war with Iraq, even when I had to act like I was in 2003 since I was in the military, but that wasn't near the level of evil and malice that Putin is going against Ukraine. Also Ukraine is not a breeding ground for extremist groups like Iraq which our troops also had to help protect the free Iraqis from.

Again, I don't want to sound like one of those biased Americans that say "America is always the good one" or "God is always on our side", but you cannot compare the likes George W. Bush or any US president to the likes of Putin, and you cannot compare the likes of Vladimir Zelensky to the likes of Saddam Hussein or Gaddafi. I'll admit I wasn't for going to war with Iraq, even when I had to act like I was in 2003 since I was in the military, but that wasn't near the level of evil and malice that Putin is going against Ukraine. Also Ukraine is not a breeding ground for extremist groups like Iraq which our troops also had to help protect the free Iraqis from.

I'm not so sure about that. I mean I don't want to come across as an America hating a$$hole but from my perspective it is comparable:
Did the Iraqi people invite you? No.
Did Iraq threaten you or any other nation at that point? No.
Did you need fabricated evidence as an excuse for your invasion? Yes.
Did the invasion and it's aftermath leave hundreds of thousands dead? Yes (some sources claim up to 460,000 dead).

Sorry but that doesn't sound "good" to me.
You can't just invade a country and pile up the bodies because you don't like the government and then call it justified without asking the people who you "liberated".
Besides to my knowledge Iraq wasn't a breeding ground for extremists until you removed Saddam. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here as I'm not that deep into that, but to my knowledge Saddam saw all Islamic extremists groups as a danger to his absolute power and would therefore crack down on them. If that's correct you actually created the need to protect the Iraqis from extremists yourself.

Anyway, enough America bashing from me back to the Ukrainian mess.
In the wake of the Putin invasion Germany has finally announced to massively improve it's military spending (as was long demanded by NATO allies but skillfully ignored for decades). At least they seem to have finally woken up from their nice "peaceful world" dream. ::)

I'm not so sure about that. I mean I don't want to come across as an America hating a$$hole but from my perspective it is comparable:
Did the Iraqi people invite you? No.
Did Iraq threaten you or any other nation at that point? No.
Did you need fabricated evidence as an excuse for your invasion? Yes.
Did the invasion and it's aftermath leave hundreds of thousands dead? Yes (some sources claim up to 460,000 dead).

Sorry but that doesn't sound "good" to me.
You can't just invade a country and pile up the bodies because you don't like the government and then call it justified without asking the people who you "liberated".
Besides to my knowledge Iraq wasn't a breeding ground for extremists until you removed Saddam. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here as I'm not that deep into that, but to my knowledge Saddam saw all Islamic extremists groups as a danger to his absolute power and would therefore crack down on them. If that's correct you actually created the need to protect the Iraqis from extremists yourself.

Anyway, enough America bashing from me back to the Ukrainian mess.
In the wake of the Putin invasion Germany has finally announced to massively improve it's military spending (as was long demanded by NATO allies but skillfully ignored for decades). At least they seem to have finally woken up from their nice "peaceful world" dream. ::)


Elor, I AM an American and I agree with you. In the run-up to the Iraq war, I was in a Rio De Janeiro on business. The Brazilians were curious as to what I thought about it.

I told them “Iraq is no threat to us, and they certainly are not in bed with Al Qaeda.  If anything, in their eyes he’s gotta go too. Invading Iraq will be a disaster because it will unleash all sorts of intra-Islamic violence”.

And I was right on all counts. Invading Iraq was a stupid move. GWB just wanted to “get back at Saddam” for his attempt on GHWB’s life years before, and both Democrat and Republican senators went along for the ride.

It was a waste of American blood, fortune, and credibility.

I'm hearing stories of Ukrainians refusing to let Africans go into Poland, threatening them at gun point, time for racism even during an invasion.

I'm not a African immigrant but as a black american I find this despicable, we're being ramped into hating Russians but the US backed and funded neo nazi groups in Ukraine, I'm guessing that's what Putin was referring to when he said he wanted to "de nazify" Ukraine. 

 

I'm hearing stories of Ukrainians refusing to let Africans go into Poland, threatening them at gun point, time for racism even during an invasion.

I'm not a African immigrant but as a black american I find this despicable, we're being ramped into hating Russians but the US backed and funded neo nazi groups in Ukraine, I'm guessing that's what Putin was referring to when he said he wanted to "de nazify" Ukraine. 




Despite the various “virtue signalling” you read about the Ukraine, it is far from the bastion of democracy and virtue that people would have you believe. Mind you, none of that justified Russia’s invasion of the country.

The Ukraine is shadow-governed by its oligarchs, who trace their riches back to the post-Soviet era when they plundered the country’s resources by deception, outright theft, and violence. I’ve heard that black people are not treated well over there, but given what we sometimes see in the USA, I cannot say if it’s any worse or better in UA.  Calls of “Naziism” from either side of this current conflict are disingenuous. When in doubt, always call the other side “Nazis”.  ::)

Gotta give the Ukrainians credit, they are standing up against the Russkies pretty well. But the virtue being endowed upon their country is a tad misplaced. Note that the primary co-sponsor of President Zelenskyy’s political campaign is barred from entry into the USA by our own State Department, for money laundering and bank fraud. Nevertheless he returned to Ukraine for exile, after Selenskyy entered office.

I'm not so sure about that. I mean I don't want to come across as an America hating a$$hole but from my perspective it is comparable:
Did the Iraqi people invite you? No.
Did Iraq threaten you or any other nation at that point? No.
Did you need fabricated evidence as an excuse for your invasion? Yes.
Did the invasion and it's aftermath leave hundreds of thousands dead? Yes (some sources claim up to 460,000 dead).

Sorry but that doesn't sound "good" to me.
You can't just invade a country and pile up the bodies because you don't like the government and then call it justified without asking the people who you "liberated".
Besides to my knowledge Iraq wasn't a breeding ground for extremists until you removed Saddam. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here as I'm not that deep into that, but to my knowledge Saddam saw all Islamic extremists groups as a danger to his absolute power and would therefore crack down on them. If that's correct you actually created the need to protect the Iraqis from extremists yourself.

Anyway, enough America bashing from me back to the Ukrainian mess.
In the wake of the Putin invasion Germany has finally announced to massively improve it's military spending (as was long demanded by NATO allies but skillfully ignored for decades). At least they seem to have finally woken up from their nice "peaceful world" dream. ::)



I hope you realize that there are many Americans who agree with you. I was angry when Bush decided to give us a war that we did not need nor want. I had hoped that Bush & company would have been held accountable for that but unfortunately, they weren't and won't be.

I also know that there are many Americans throughout the world who have that arrogance because they are American so they can be @$$holes. I have seen it first hand when I was stationed in Greece. There were people who I was stationed with thinking their sh!t didn't stink. I was on our shuttle bus going from our little remote site to Athens. Our driver was going a little bit too fast and was stopped by a cop. When the cop came on the bus, there were these @$$holes yelling obscenities from the back of the bus. We were trying to get them to shut their mouths but they just thought it was funny because they assumed that the cops didn't speak English. It was a good thing for all of our sakes that they didn't. They didn't realize that we were GUESTS in that country and we should treat them with respect! But, many Americans do not know the word RESPECT and how to use it!

Sorry. Rant over.


Cat

I hope you realize that there are many Americans who agree with you.

Don't worry, I do. ;)

Don't worry, I do. ;)


I just don't think now is the time or place to be having this discussion. The situation has gotten even worse over this past week. The Russians are ruthless and destroying any targets at random including residential apartments, schools, children's hospitals, etc. and last night they were trying to create a Chernobyl x10 with the largest NPP in Europe. What's really upsetting is now the US and NATO don't want to get involved.

I was really looking forward to The Batman finally being released. I actually keep forgetting that it's opening this weekend. I don't know when I'll go see it and if I'll be in the mood for it. I wish it would have released back in summer of 2021 when it was supposed to.

What's really upsetting is now the US and NATO don't want to get involved.


That's the smart thing to do, I wouldn't risk a nuclear war over Ukraine as Putin has warned, if Putin would've invaded some random African country nobody would care or risk serious war with a nuclear power.

Meanwhile gas/oil prices have had their biggest spike since right after Katrina in 2005, and could top the record high back in 2008.

What's really upsetting is now the US and NATO don't want to get involved.


Bottom line, for all the blabbering that we’ve heard for the past 8 years,  The Ukraine is of no strategic value to the US or NATO. So it is not a situation where NATO or the US could justify entering with lethal force.

And a “no fly zone” ultimately would have to deal with Soviet S-400 and possibly S-500 air defense systems. This is not a cake walk like Libya or Iraq.

Bottom line, for all the blabbering that we’ve heard for the past 8 years,  The Ukraine is of no strategic value to the US or NATO. So it is not a situation where NATO or the US could justify entering with lethal force.

And a “no fly zone” ultimately would have to deal with Soviet S-400 and possibly S-500 air defense systems. This is not a cake walk like Libya or Iraq.


On the other hand, Russians are targeting Ukrainian civilians. Ukraine may not have strategic value (except it kinda does considering it’s right on the border with Russia’s economic and political center), but by not intervening we’re turning a blind eye to war crimes by the dozens.

On the other hand, Russians are targeting Ukrainian civilians. Ukraine may not have strategic value (except it kinda does considering it’s right on the border with Russia’s economic and political center), but by not intervening we’re turning a blind eye to war crimes by the dozens.


We've gotten involved for less before, and with less to gain from it. What we're seeing (and not doing anything about) is a total disregard for humanity. America used to be the world's police, and not even trying to make a reference to the animation movie.

We've gotten involved for less before, and with less to gain from it. What we're seeing (and not doing anything about) is a total disregard for humanity. America used to be the world's police, and not even trying to make a reference to the animation movie.


US world policing means invading countries, indiscriminately murdering civilians, sanctioning poor brown people into starvation, instigating coups, arming various terrorist groups, ect,  f*** that kind of foreign policy.  America gets away with it because might makes right, the dollar is the reserve currency and it has nukes.

On the other hand, Russians are targeting Ukrainian civilians. Ukraine may not have strategic value (except it kinda does considering it’s right on the border with Russia’s economic and political center), but by not intervening we’re turning a blind eye to war crimes by the dozens.


We turn a blind eye to it all the time in other areas of the world. The Ukraine is no different.

This is Europe’s problem. They can handle it.

Spotify just had a major outage. My wife called and said her and our daughter both got logged out. I thought it was something with our family account so I switched to online and then I got booted out. I searched Google and saw some reports.

Spotify just had a major outage. My wife called and said her and our daughter both got logged out. I thought it was something with our family account so I switched to online and then I got booted out. I searched Google and saw some reports.

My coworkers had the same thing. I don't use Spotify though. I'm old fashioned and still use mp3s.

Spotify just had a major outage. My wife called and said her and our daughter both got logged out. I thought it was something with our family account so I switched to online and then I got booted out. I searched Google and saw some reports.

When did this happen?

My coworkers had the same thing. I don't use Spotify though. I'm old fashioned and still use mp3s.

I use Spotify for listening to music.

When did this happen?


It was just a temporary outage. It was working again when I tried later.

The pandemic is not quite over yet as cases are rising again in UK/Europe with the BA.2 subvariant. It's just in the shahow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine so it seems like old news. Also the case numbers have dropped in the US since the holidays, but the same thing happened last year right before the Delta wave.

Meanwhile in New York there was a hate crime incident in which an Asian woman was attacked and punched over 125 times after being called a racial slur.

The pandemic is not quite over yet as cases are rising again in UK/Europe with the BA.2 subvariant. It's just in the shahow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine so it seems like old news. Also the case numbers have dropped in the US since the holidays, but the same thing happened last year right before the Delta wave.

Meanwhile in New York there was a hate crime incident in which an Asian woman was attacked and punched over 125 times after being called a racial slur.


I don't know what the hell is going on with these moronic people lately, they're probably off their medicine, almost every day now I've seen violence & it's never going to end and I wish people would start loving one another.

I don't know what the hell is going on with these moronic people lately, they're probably off their medicine, almost every day now I've seen violence & it's never going to end and I wish people would start loving one another.


I love it. That's how we talked in the 60s and early 70s. 

"Come on people now
Smile on your brother (and sister)
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now..."
:-*

Meanwhile in New York there was a hate crime incident in which an Asian woman was attacked and punched over 125 times after being called a racial slur.

At least they got him. That guy even killed his own mother... 8-P

At least they got him. That guy even killed his own mother... 8-P


Just disgusting behavior!  >:(

I love it. That's how we talked in the 60s and early 70s. 

"Come on people now
Smile on your brother (and sister)
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now..."
:-*


We also said “Burn, baby, burn.”  :-X

We also said “Burn, baby, burn.”  :-X


We certainly did. And "up against the wall, motherfker". Yin and yang.

Recession is forecasted for the summer:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/prepare-for-a-recession-this-summer-a-bear-market-in-real-estate-and-a-drop-in-stock-prices-warns-strategist-david-rosenberg-11647438915

Recession is forecasted for the summer:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/prepare-for-a-recession-this-summer-a-bear-market-in-real-estate-and-a-drop-in-stock-prices-warns-strategist-david-rosenberg-11647438915

I thought we were already in a recession. I can't even keep up anymore. Who knows what they're planning next.

Just FYI, journalists will always predict doom and gloom. Depression and anxiety = clicks = money for the website. So I'd take their economic predictions with a pound of salt.

Just FYI, journalists will always predict doom and gloom. Depression and anxiety = clicks = money for the website. So I'd take their economic predictions with a pound of salt.


Or, you could always shut off your phone and your TV and just enjoy the day.

Trying to be happy isn't a crime against humanity even though the 24-hour news channel pundits try to tell you it is.

I thought we were already in a recession. I can't even keep up anymore. Who knows what they're planning next.


We were for a bit in 2020 mainly with the jobs lost in the service industry, but we quickly recovered from that as unemployment dropped to the pre-pandemic levels.

We also said “Burn, baby, burn.”  :-X


and also "What's Up My Brother."

Just FYI, journalists will always predict doom and gloom. Depression and anxiety = clicks = money for the website. So I'd take their economic predictions with a pound of salt.


Now they are saying there might not be a recession this year.

The thing about 2020 is while some of it sucked, some of it was actually good especially in the early part of the year before the lockdown. Plus in my personal life I made so many friends during that time and I felt very happy and wasn't depressed, in the first half of the year at least. Plus you had some good music come out all through the year to lighten the mood. But in 2022 EVERYTHING sucks unfortunately.

In 2022, music isn't horrible so far. But 2020 was a lot better for music no doubt. So on the whole I think 2022 is a lot worse than 2020 so far. 2020 was the best early '20s year so far.

The thing about 2020 is while some of it sucked, some of it was actually good especially in the early part of the year before the lockdown. Plus in my personal life I made so many friends during that time and I felt very happy and wasn't depressed, in the first half of the year at least. Plus you had some good music come out all through the year to lighten the mood. But in 2022 EVERYTHING sucks unfortunately.

In 2022, music isn't horrible so far. But 2020 was a lot better for music no doubt. So on the whole I think 2022 is a lot worse than 2020 so far. 2020 was the best early '20s year so far.


For me the first two months of 2020, and from about August to December were pretty good.

So far in 2022, it seems like literally nothing is going right, and the invasion of my wife's home country to top it off. Yes, everything sucks. The Batman and the Bel-Air reboot are about the only redeeming things about this year so far, and a handful of decent songs. But even during the worst years for music there will be at least some good songs. My playlist is pretty short compared to last year by this time.

Even 2021 is looking better compared to 2022. Of course the first half was pretty good as was the later part of 2020 I mentioned, but even the later part doesn't seem so bad now looking back with Dune, Squid Game, and Coldplay's Music of the Spheres album.

Even 2021 is looking better compared to 2022. Of course the first half was pretty good as was the later part of 2020 I mentioned, but even the later part doesn't seem so bad now looking back with Dune, Squid Game, and Coldplay's Music of the Spheres album.


How do you think 2022 is looking 3 months into the year?

How do you think 2022 is looking 3 months into the year?


It's been looking looking pretty bleak for about the past month (3 days from today will be exactly one month since all this started). We didn't even get two full months of "normal". Also I can't believe we're still not 3 months into the year. I feel like it's been 2022 for like two years now.

It's been looking looking pretty bleak for about the past month (3 days from today will be exactly one month since all this started). We didn't even get two full months of "normal". Also I can't believe we're still not 3 months into the year. I feel like it's been 2022 for like two years now.


Good thing, March is almost over.

Good thing, March is almost over.


I just can't wait until the invasion of Ukraine is over, whenever that's going to be.

I just can't wait until the invasion of Ukraine is over, whenever that's going to be.
When the Russian military decides to put a few holes in Putin's body. Otherwise I don't see much of a chance for this to end soon. Even the sanctions might not stop him as he's using old equipment that has been payed off years if not decades ago.
The people won't be able to overthrow him. They get lied to on all fronts and Putin's SA thugs are everywhere to "ensure peace". They have a lot to loose if Putin is done for so they'll stay loyal even if that means betraying their own people. Just like in Belarus.

When the Russian military decides to put a few holes in Putin's body. Otherwise I don't see much of a chance for this to end soon. Even the sanctions might not stop him as he's using old equipment that has been payed off years if not decades ago.
The people won't be able to overthrow him. They get lied to on all fronts and Putin's SA thugs are everywhere to "ensure peace". They have a lot to loose if Putin is done for so they'll stay loyal even if that means betraying their own people. Just like in Belarus.


And that will be when the Ukrainians kick their butts out, so the sooner the west gives them the hardware they need, the better.  And this troubling article makes that more urgent:

The man known as ‘Putin’s brain’ envisions the splitting of Europe — and the fall of China
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By David Von Drehle
Columnist
Yesterday at 4:47 p.m. EDT
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4 min
Alexander Dugin in his TV studio in central Moscow in 2016. (AP Photo/Francesca Ebel)

On the eve of his murderous invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a long and rambling discourse denying the existence of Ukraine and Ukrainians, a speech many Western analysts found strange and untethered. Strange, yes. Untethered, no. The analysis came directly from the works of a fascist prophet of maximal Russian empire named Aleksandr Dugin.
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Dugin’s intellectual influence over the Russian leader is well known to close students of the post-Soviet period, among whom Dugin, 60, is sometimes referred to as “Putin’s brain.” His work is also familiar to Europe’s “new right,” of which Dugin has been a leading figure for nearly three decades, and to America’s “alt-right.” Indeed, the Russian-born former wife of the white nationalist leader Richard Spencer, Nina Kouprianova, has translated some of Dugin’s work into English.

But as the world watches with horror and disgust the indiscriminate bombing of Ukraine, a broader understanding is needed of Dugin’s deadly ideas. Russia has been running his playbook for the past 20 years, and it has brought us here, to the brink of another world war.

A product of late-period Soviet decline, Dugin belongs to the long, dismal line of political theorists who invent a strong and glorious past — infused with mysticism and obedient to authority — to explain a failed present. The future lies in reclaiming this past from the liberal, commercial, cosmopolitan present (often represented by the Jewish people). Such thinkers had a heyday a century ago, in the European wreckage of World War I: Julius Evola, the mad monk of Italian fascism; Charles Maurras, the reactionary French nationalist; Charles Coughlin, the American radio ranter; and even the author of a German book called “Mein Kampf.”

Dugin tells essentially the same story from a Russian point of view. Before modernity ruined everything, a spiritually motivated Russian people promised to unite Europe and Asia into one great empire, appropriately ruled by ethnic Russians. Alas, a competing sea-based empire of corrupt, money-grubbing individualists, led by the United States and Britain, thwarted Russia’s destiny and brought “Eurasia” — his term for the future Russian empire — low.

In his magnum opus, “The Foundations of Geopolitics: The Geopolitical Future of Russia,” published in 1997, Dugin mapped out the game plan in detail. Russian agents should foment racial, religious and sectional divisions within the United States while promoting the United States’ isolationist factions. (Sound familiar?) In Great Britain, the psy-ops effort should focus on exacerbating historic rifts with Continental Europe and separatist movements in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Western Europe, meanwhile, should be drawn in Russia’s direction by the lure of natural resources: oil, gas and food. NATO would collapse from within.

Putin has followed that counsel to the letter, and he must have felt things were going well when he saw window-smashing rioters in the corridors of the U.S. Congress, Britain’s Brexit from the European Union and Germany’s growing dependence on Russian natural gas. With the undermining of the West going so well, Putin has turned to the pages of Dugin’s text in which he declared: “Ukraine as an independent state with certain territorial ambitions represents an enormous danger for all of Eurasia,” and “without resolving the Ukrainian problem, it is in general senseless to speak about continental politics.”

So what comes next, should Putin manage to “resolve” Russia’s “problem” in Ukraine? Dugin envisions a gradual dividing of Europe into zones of German and Russian influence, with Russia very much in charge thanks to its eventual stranglehold over Germany’s resource needs. As Great Britain crumbles and Russia picks up the pieces, the empire of Eurasia will ultimately stretch, in Dugin’s words, “from Dublin to Vladisvostok.”

Putin’s double-dealing encroachments into the Middle East are influenced by Dugin’s idea of a Moscow-theran axis. (Israel’s government should wake up, smell the samovar and stop playing footsie with Russia.) His seduction of the nationalist government in New Delhi is a reflection of Dugin’s insistence that the Eurasian empire must extend to the Indian Ocean.

As important as it is for Western decision-makers to take Dugin’s mystical megalomania seriously, it’s just as urgent for China’s Xi Jinping. Xi and Putin announced a partnership last month to cut the United States down to size. But according to Dugin, China, too, must fall. Russia’s ambitions in Asia will require “the territorial disintegration, splintering and the political and administrative partition of the state,” Dugin writes. Russia’s natural partner in the Far East, according to Dugin, is Japan.

In a sense, Dugin’s 600-page doorstop can be boiled down to one idea: The wrong alliance won World War II. If only Hitler had not invaded Russia, Britain could have been broken. The United States would have remained at home, isolationist and divided, and Japan would have ruled the former China as Russia’s junior partner.

Fascism from Ireland to the Pacific. Delusional? I sure hope so. But delusions become important when embraced by tyrants.