Russian invasion of Ukraine

[jastons]

Who will be getting the construction contracts to rebuild Ukraine?

[WCpete]

Maybe the greatest freudian slip in history.

[Hummer_I_mean_Hammer]

Ok , from my limited knowledge of Vladimir Putin's decision making I would say that neither Sweden nor Finland had nothing to fear from Russia , I honestly think that ......when was the last time they fell out ??

Right, that's it, I'm sticking my house on Russia to invade Sweden & Finland in the next 72 hours.

ToMoS has an uncanny sense for getting things arse around elbow where Putin is involved.

[Hummer_I_mean_Hammer]

Is it expansionism if you are taking it back?

All depends on which map you look at which brings me back to declaring war on cartographers. The root of all evil in the world.

Central Europe would be at each other constantly if 'taking it back' wasn't seen as war.... in fact everywhere would.

[sendô]

We in the British Isles are fortunate that we have a nice bit of sea surrounding the "us" ethnicity and "them" ethnicity. Except for the obvious place over there of course. In Europe there is no such neat divide, and almost every country has borders that are drawn through the pockets of "ethnicity".

The idea that one nation is justified in attacking, invading or otherwise occupying another country in whole or in part in order to protect peoples that share "ethnicity" with you is 19th century nationalist thinking at best, and naked imperialism at worst.

Otherwise we'd be perfectly justified in invading Benidorm, for instance.

Actually, that's not a bad shout.

[The Old Man of Storr]

Yeah I think it is time for me to leave this one. Good luck Evil

Listen , MB , I don't want to spoil your enjoyment of this thread or upset anyone else with my views , so I think it's myself who should leave this one alone , so please carry on , I've enjoyed reading your posts .

[MB]

Listen , MB , I don't want to spoil your enjoyment of this thread or upset anyone else with my views , so I think it's myself who should leave this one alone , so please carry on , I've enjoyed reading your posts .

It’s all right mate, I’ll just swerve certain bits. Oh and you may be interested/pleased to see this:

[Hummer_I_mean_Hammer]

Hy can't we get a PM like that? I'd tune in to watch her me thinks.

[EvilC]

Listen , MB , I don't want to spoil your enjoyment of this thread or upset anyone else with my views , so I think it's myself who should leave this one alone , so please carry on , I've enjoyed reading your posts .

I can't see anyone being particularly upset, they just disagree with you (and in my case, think that the basis for your opinions on this subject is flawed).

[The Old Man of Storr]

I can't see anyone being particularly upset, they just disagree with you (and in my case, think that the basis for your opinions on this subject is flawed).

Yeah , I understand - I'll still stay away though [ from this thread , not Kumb ] .

[Up the Junction]

Brave fella.

[Bend it like Repka]

Hmmm , Russia going in to help Russian-speaking Ukrainians is hardly expansionist

Even after you Gretna Green debacle still you carry on with this nonsense.

Seriously, you are actually being an apologist for Putins "Special Mission".

[Billydinho]

TOMOS I’m convinced you’re just playing devils advocate because you’re far too rounded a poster to truly believe some of this nonsense.

Protecting Russian speakers? Why does a shared language permit invasion in any case?!

[Rays Rock]

I studied Russian history for two years and one of my teachers was a Marxist

Just one ?

[Tenbury]

Why would a teacher of Russian history be a 'Marxist'?

[MB]

Just one ?

Yeah the other one was a lefty just not as full blown!

[MB]

Why would a teacher of Russian history be a 'Marxist'?

She was a weird one. Left the sixth form college after teaching my year.

[The Old Man of Storr]

TOMOS I’m convinced you’re just playing devils advocate because you’re far too rounded a poster to truly believe some of this nonsense.

Protecting Russian speakers? Why does a shared language permit invasion in any case?!

I think there were more than one reason for this invasion / special operation - helping out the people of the Donbas would have been just one - I believe the No 1 reason was the NATO threat and by NATO I mean the US - Russia feel threatened and who can blame them , the US have placed strategic missiles in most countries which surround Russia , the Ukraine were the last straw , I think Putin feels betrayed that a country with such strong links to the old Soviet Union would want to join NATO and the EU rather than do their business with Russia - wrapped in within the No 1 reason are Ukraine's resources - the US have their eyes on them as do Russia so this is a proxy war for Ukraine's resources . What other reason could the US have to pour so much money into this war ? They want a share of those resources and they want Ukrainian cheap labour .

The ' De-militarise and De-Nazify ' reasons - hopefully , now that the Asov Battalion have all been captured this could lead to the beginnings of a withdrawal , mission accomplished kinda thing , I don't know . Putin said that his objectives are ' to liberate the Donbas ' , maybe that'll be enough , I don't know ?

It'll either end here or things are going to escalate - The West have been pouring in weapons and some have got through - those M777 Howitzers have caused the Russians damage and more will arrive - they can either mobilise more men or they can call it a day .

Some , like Bendy will say I'm rootin for Putin - well , I am sympathetic to the Russians that's for sure but I feel terribly sad for those innocent Ukrainians caught up in all this too , of course I am , none of them deserved what's happening to them just now - and it all could have been avoided .

Like The Pope , I blame NATO and The West - is the Pope a Putin apologist ??

Ok , no more , I'm done .

[alf git]

If you honestly believe that load of old b*****s, I've got some magic beans for sale.

[smuts]