Russia

[dawg80]

Fighting erupted in the breakaway province of Karabakh which is a region of ethnic Armenians completely landlocked in the country of Azerbaijan. Early reports are 4 civilians killed and 5-6 soldiers killed/wounded. This is nothing new as much worse fighting took place in 2020. Russia has pledged to support Armenia and protect its claim in Karabakh, and some pundits reason that Azerbaijan senses weakness in Russia given its war/pre-occupation with Ukraine. Both Turkey and Iran have made statements of support for one side and issued warnings against the other.

Ironically, while Russia has supported Armenian claims to Karabakh, Armenia has claims to a region in Russia where most of the population is ethnic Armenians. Some recent rhetoric between the two nations has some believing a war may break out between Russia and Armenia. But, Armenia is facing a greater threat from Azerbaijan.

[Blue Dawg]

Saw your signature and had to smile. Sure do miss ole 65 being on the board.

He is definitely missed.

[dawg80]

Fighting erupted in the breakaway province of Karabakh which is a region of ethnic Armenians completely landlocked in the country of Azerbaijan. Early reports are 4 civilians killed and 5-6 soldiers killed/wounded. This is nothing new as much worse fighting took place in 2020. Russia has pledged to support Armenia and protect its claim in Karabakh, and some pundits reason that Azerbaijan senses weakness in Russia given its war/pre-occupation with Ukraine. Both Turkey and Iran have made statements of support for one side and issued warnings against the other.

Ironically, while Russia has supported Armenian claims to Karabakh, Armenia has claims to a region in Russia where most of the population is ethnic Armenians. Some recent rhetoric between the two nations has some believing a war may break out between Russia and Armenia. But, Armenia is facing a greater threat from Azerbaijan.

Just watched a video hosted by some geopolitical pundits very well versed on that region, and Wow! talk about convoluted! As a quick summary, Armenia invaded and seized land they have a historical claim on back in the 1990's, right after the Soviet Union break up, which Azerbaijan also claims. The US (the west) supported the Armenians then, (the Clinton administration) and then pulled the rug out from under them so the Armenians couldn't advance further. In 2020 the Azerbijanians purchased drones from Turkey and used them to destroy Armenian forces...this was the first use of drones in actual combat, not just spying and surveillance...but they lacked the ground forces to follow up and Armenia was able to cling to its gains. So, today the uneasy stalemate exists, and the geopolitical scene is so jumbled, so confusing...Iran supports both Azerbaijan, for its Muslim ties, but also Armenia because of economic ties, and Turkey despises Armenia for its Christian historical ties and culture but doesn't want Iran to gain in economic power so has been trying to cut off those economic/commerce ties. Russia has supported Armenia but is presently in no position to do much to help, so Armenia has renewed its lobbying efforts in the US and Europe seeking aid, and this has pissed off Russia. Turkey supported Russia's help for Armenia, for reasons given, while at the same time opposing it as a member of NATO.

If all of this sounds confusing, it is actually much worse and more complicated than this. I just tried to give the Cliff Notes version

[Blue Dawg]

Unfortunately, I don't get paid Youtube rates, I have to settle for BBB. I guess the sanctions ARE finally working after all!

NYT (certainly not one to go against the Deep State narrative) has released an analysis of the "outdoor mall bombing" and concluded it was most likely a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile based on the direction of fire and the debris pattern.

Mark Milley, that fine offensive mind, has upgraded the summer offensive (formally the spring offensive) to a winter offensive. It's well known of course that nations on the brink of total victory often utilize a Volkssturm for the final push. To the last Ukrainian, I suppose.

The Real History of the War in Ukraine

[dawg80]

The NYT is nothing but a mouthpiece for worldwide communism. Whatever they say, print, is the exact opposite of the truth. Of course they're in bed with Putin, who is trying to spread communism.

Ya know...whatever Ukraine/the Ukrainians do is up to them and righteousness is on their side. If they all die fighting the good fight (which they won't) then so be it. To me it's as simple as a home invasion. Some folks, like you Blue Dawg based on your series of comments, might advocate for giving in with the home invaders. Just let them run roughshod over you, my Gosh! don't fight back it might upset them. BULLSHIT! Not me. First, my dogs will attack and there is a very good chance the home invaders will be begging for me to shoot them to put them out of their misery. Otherwise, I will just shoot them. Regardless me, and my dogs, and my wife who can be very vicious when threatened, will fight the invaders to the bitter end. Period.

To the last Ukrainian, I suppose. That's what you posted. Hmmm, as if you actually give a damn about the Ukrainians. But why not post: To the last Russian, I suppose. Putin is sending under-trained, poorly equipped conscripts to their deaths, tens of thousands surpassing 300,000 KIA according to sources. Oh, BTW, Putin just ordered another 230,000 body bags in anticipation of more casualties. What a fellow! Let the war continue until not a single Russian is left. That'll happen before the last Ukrainian is killed.

You have been rooting for the Putinites ever since the evil invasion began. Yeah, comparing a war, an invasion, to a home invasion might not seem comparable, but it is. The Ukrainians were living peacefully and bam! here comes an unprovoked attack! And just as a reminder, because of the POS obummer Putin was able to invade Crimea in 2014. Turkey and other NATO members were ready to try to do something but the US, thanks to obummer (who supports worldwide communism) made it very clear they were turning a blind eye towards it. Then last year, emboldened by the weakass Biden, Putin invaded Ukraine. He thought it would be a cakewalk, he announced his intentions to take over the whole country and murder all Ukrainian officials and their combined families. The Russian inner circle, like Medevez, have clearly articulated their ultimate goal to invade Poland next, and then other eastern European nations to recreate the defunct USSR. And so here we are, 18 months later, and the gallant Ukrans are standing alone, with the help of supplies and some few thousands of volunteer mercenaries, against what many considered to be the 4th largest/most powerful military in the world. And still there are idiots who actually advocate for the Ukrans to grab their ankles and take it up the ass from the evil invaders. I cannot fathom such thinking.

[dawg80]

The Real History of the War in Ukraine[/URL]

Who is Jeffery Sachs? He teaches at the VERY libtard Columbia University. His most prominent positions and writings have been on climate change, worldwide poverty, and other WOKE issues. And the kicker is George Soros referred to him as a "messiah." That is all you need to know about Sachs, and so anything he writes is the exact opposite of the real truth.

[dawg80]

Just watched a video hosted by some geopolitical pundits very well versed on that region, and Wow! talk about convoluted! As a quick summary, Armenia invaded and seized land they have a historical claim on back in the 1990's, right after the Soviet Union break up, which Azerbaijan also claims. The US (the west) supported the Armenians then, (the Clinton administration) and then pulled the rug out from under them so the Armenians couldn't advance further. In 2020 the Azerbijanians purchased drones from Turkey and used them to destroy Armenian forces...this was the first use of drones in actual combat, not just spying and surveillance...but they lacked the ground forces to follow up and Armenia was able to cling to its gains. So, today the uneasy stalemate exists, and the geopolitical scene is so jumbled, so confusing...Iran supports both Azerbaijan, for its Muslim ties, but also Armenia because of economic ties, and Turkey despises Armenia for its Christian historical ties and culture but doesn't want Iran to gain in economic power so has been trying to cut off those economic/commerce ties. Russia has supported Armenia but is presently in no position to do much to help, so Armenia has renewed its lobbying efforts in the US and Europe seeking aid, and this has pissed off Russia. Turkey supported Russia's help for Armenia, for reasons given, while at the same time opposing it as a member of NATO.

If all of this sounds confusing, it is actually much worse and more complicated than this. I just tried to give the Cliff Notes version

The US wrapped up joint military exercises with the Armenians and have sped the removal of our troops on the ground. Citing rising tensions, the Pentagon announced our troops would be flown out today, rather than their originally scheduled departure over the weekend.

Azerbijian released drone video of Armenian units withdrawing from some frontline defenses. The Azerbaijanis said they would not attack withdrawing Armenians if they continued across the border back into Armenia.

[Blue Dawg]

I actually appreciate a good deal of what you share but if anyone who sincerely believes the invasion was "unprovoked" is severely handicapped.

[dawg80]

I actually appreciate a good deal of what you share but if anyone who sincerely believes the invasion was "unprovoked" is severely handicapped.

I'll play along, please explain the provocation.

[Blue Dawg]

I'll play along, please explain the provocation.

Imagine some scenario where Texas secedes from the US. This generates a lot of disagreement about whether "Texans" and "Americans" are in fact distinct peoples (this example is not great because Texas has a much longer history of thinking of themselves as distinct people than the Ukrainians do).

Austin and Houston continue to consider themselves American, even though they are now in the Republic of Texas.

The new Republic of Texas wants to enter into an anti-US alliance with Mexico, something the US is wary of since Canada is also in this alliance.

Relations are not great but the President of Texas at the time seems to be fairly pro-US and so there's no need to worry.

Then Mexico funds a color revolution in Texas, overthrowing the pro-US government and installing a pro-Mexico government. They openly brag about doing this on talk shows and state that this will weaken their great enemy, the US.

The US is increasingly worried (and of course, wants Texas back anyway). The Texas government begins a low-intensity but still indiscriminately violent campaign against Austin and Houston, who appeal to the US for decades to help them. The US refuses openly (but does provide some covert support).

The US asks for a guarantee that Mexico will not attempt to put Texas in the anti-US alliance. Mexico refuses, and openly speculates about putting nukes in Tyler that can hit DC.

These are provocations. You may not feel these are sufficient to justify an invasion (although you have repeatedly justified all of the US's actual real-world invasions, so I don't know how this would differ). I might actually agree that there were probably other solutions to the problem. But to say that this is "unprovoked" is simply untrue. The story is long and complex, and boiling it down to some libtard "evil Putin" caricature is simply not conducive. When your sworn enemy says he is going to do something to hurt you, specifically to hurt you, that is a provocation. "Justification" is therefore only a matter of who wins the actual war (and who is writing the think-pieces during it).

[dawg80]

Sorry, don't see how any of this applies to Putin's stated ambitions and his UNPROVOKED invasion of a sovereign neighbor. Yeah, I'm aware of Putin's lame-ass excuse that he feared Ukraine would join NATO and then...what? There were already something like 30+ members, NATO did not need Ukraine to complete the puzzle such that only then an attack on Russia made strategic sense. Now Finland and Sweden have joined NATO and Georgia and Armenia want to. Why? because they fear the aggressor Russia, that's why.

We don't have to speculate as to his reasons, Putin has publicly stated what his ambitions are: the reformation of the old USSR. He thought Ukraine would be easy-pickings, a non-NATO nation stripped of its nukes as part of a STUPID deal that some moronic Ukrans agreed to years ago. He illegally seized Crimea and the world mildly protested but did nothing. He expected more of the same with this invasion.

And so, back to your argument of provocation. Why would a peaceful, non-aggressive Russia have any fear of an expanding NATO? If Russia harbored no aggressive desires and would never unilaterally invade another country, then it wouldn't matter one iota if Russia was the only non-NATO country on Earth....would it. Instead, Russia (the former Soviet Union) has a history of aggression, as does China and a stated ambition to expand their holdings as well. Ukraine did nothing, absolutely nothing to change the status quo prior to February, 2022. If anything, Ukraine was at "war with itself" battling political intrigue and corruption. They hardly represented any threat to the 4th largest military power on Earth.

As for another concern out there, i.e. corruption in Ukraine, well hello! The US government is as corrupt as any, and more than some. President Z has been trying to clean that crap up but ya know, he's kind of distracted with a foreign invader occupying four provinces and said foreign occupier has openly stated its desire to murder him and his family. Still, even with that threat hanging over him, President Z has managed to clean out some of the corruption, just recently 8 more high government officials were dismissed. How many corrupt government officials have been dismissed from the Biden administration? I'll wait...

There was no, is no provocation that warranted Putin's evil invasion. He is nothing but an international criminal thug and the sooner he is gone, the better off the world will be.

Want to speak to your alleged US history of invasions but can do that in another post.

[Blue Dawg]

[dawg80]

President Z delivered a powerful speech to the UN yesterday, but his real test is today when he faces GOP congressmen and senators. It is really simple, Ukraine is dependent on foreign aid, assistance, and supplies/equipment. It has no large military complex of its own. If the US suspends aid, then most likely most, if not all, NATO countries will too. Now, probably, we wouldn't just pull the rug out from under them, but rather broker a deal where the war ends, and Putin gets to keep Donbas and Crimea. Without western aid Ukraine cannot sustain offensive operations, best Ukraine can hope for is enough military aid to defend the rest of its territory.

This would probably satisfy Putin for the time being. He gets to claim victory, save face, and continue his tyrannical rule over Russia. But, then the next big question will be NATO membership for Ukraine. Of course, the loony Putin will see that as a "provocation" as would laughing boy here. That is so stupid that it hardly warrants a response. This is like those lefty thugs advocating for defunding the police because blue shows up when they ransack stores. Anyway, I hope if the US decides to suspend aid to Ukraine it is part of a deal that guarantees Ukraine membership in NATO.

[dawg80]

In a separate issue, Ukrainian commerce officials are pissing off Poland over a grain deal. I haven't looked for the details because the big picture in this is just plain stupid! Poland has been Ukraine's biggest supporter as they share the threat of a Putin invasion, this is no time for petty squabbles over grain deals.

[Blue Dawg]

I can't see why Russians would be upset about more members in the anti-Russia alliance. Makes no sense at all!