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Quite an odd situation. Was it an ammunition accident or a strike? A lot of conflicting information.Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
Another mass surrender in Mariupol yesterday. Once Mariupol is completely under Russian control, it'll be interesting to see what they do.
Most likely a strike, but we'll probably never really know. Russia is as incapable of telling the truth as our three character bureaucracies here in the US. All we get is BS narrative to guide our decisions to expend American treasure (both human and financial), and that narrative is normally spun by folks who are attempting to profit from our losses.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
Nail on the head.Quote:
Originally Posted by DawgyNWindow
Former US Navy "expert" on the Russian navy says the Ukrainians struck the cruiser with two missiles. Claims it has been confirmed by "international sources," which include satellite images (video) of two missiles in flight and striking the cruiser, the Moskva. Was erroneously reported last week to be a Russian combat support ship, not the cruiser.
I remain open to the possibility that Russia's economy is a bit stronger than CNN told me it wasQuote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDawg
Yeah, don't ever believe CNN. I actually heard they have sold quite a bit more oil this year than last. Europe should do what we are doing....grovel to Iran, the Saudis and Venezuela. You know, FRIENDLY nations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
I have been wondering why the Ukrainian military has not sabotaged the Russian gas pipelines. Seems like the kind of move that could cause havoc to the Russian war machine.
Strengthening the ruble seems to be paying off so far.Quote:
Originally Posted by DawgyNWindow
That's a trap and Ukraine knows it - that would essentially be a declaration of war on the rest of Europe. Zelenskyy has to settle for bitching at Germany online.
This is why I don't (necessarily) buy that Russia's economy is weak just because they don't have a high GDP. The strength of an economy is much more than that, and it includes vast natural resources - which Russia has.
That doesn't mean they have a strong economy on the other hand, but it does mean that other countries will have to think twice about actual boycotts when all their nickel comes from Russia.
As I recall Trump warned against the EU agreeing to run the gas pipelines through Ukraine saying it would make it an obvious takeover target for Putin. Of course, routing those pipelines though Poland or elsewhere would have shifted the risk to another country. Except! Poland is a member of NATO and as such it would have been less likely Putin would act. Are the gas pipelines the reason, or the main reason, for Putin's invasion? Not so sure about that, but it gave him another reason to invade and also placed him in a position to hold the EU/Ukraine hostage.
The reason Trump was concerned is exactly what DawgyNWindow mentioned and exactly why Putin would want to have control of Ukraine.
Well apparently the oil and gas that Biden has been releasing from our strategic reserves has been going to Europe instead of helping out US citizens here..Quote:
Originally Posted by DawgyNWindow
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-supply-crunch
Yeah, not seeing that as a declaration of war on Europe. Wouldn't Europe financing Russia's invasion just as likely be a declaration of war on Ukraine?Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Dawg
Was watching a documentary the other day (this stuff is likely major common knowledge to dawg80 and our other history buffs), and I saw where England went to the self governing part of France after the evacuation at Dunkirk and sank all of France's warships as they sat in harbor. They were not declaring war on France. They were making sure that Germany could not use these ships in the war against them. This seems more like that than anything else.
I hope we are at least getting the market price for our reserves, but knowing the diaper dandy.....we're probably giving them away.Quote:
Originally Posted by FriscoDog
I get what you're saying. These days, of course, you can bomb a place for 20 years without needing to "declare" a war.Quote:
Originally Posted by DawgyNWindow
Ukraine possibly considering an invasion of Transnistria - which is claimed by Moldova. Interesting. Would divert badly needed troops from the Donbass front where Russia continues to concentrate focus.
Also might change some of the unspoken proxy war terms. Everyone knows this is a US-Russia proxy war in Ukraine, but Russia so far hasn't done anything but wag fingers at non-Ukraine countries. If Ukraine were to attack Moldova, that might change.