71–80 of 110 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, they are propably not allowed to keep them, just sell them for tax free revenue.
If an individual is concerned enough about tax implications of a new acquisition, the individual probably has enough foresight to consider the cost of fuel.
The Ukranian social media propaganda operation is just incredible, and they should keep at it because I think it's been a big part of the massive popular support in the West causing rapid government and NGO response to the invasion. Conversely they've been pretty effective at stopping information about their own disposition of forces being posted to social media, or at least it's not being retweeted anywhere I've see…
It's all fun and games until Putin totally rages and dials it up to 11 without even a "no fly zone" being offered by the rest of the world. They have almost the military power of the US and look at the total decimation we did to Iraq. I mean they are already bombing civilian areas so thousands are dying, just not being reported to keep moral up. Putin will threaten maybe nukes in response but there has to be a no-fly…
This. The war is treated as some kind of theatrical performance, with gags, magical heroes killing Russians by the thousands a day and God knows what else. It's crazy.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's often claimed that a loosening of media restrictions post-Korean war contributed to the domestic lack of support for the Vietnam War. But there are a lot of ways to shape a narrative in 2022 that involve amplification instead of censorship. https://www.rewire.org/vietnam-war-media-shapes-public-opini...
If you are invading, it’s always a different story. The incentives are different
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Firstly, there are zero tanks on the videos. Secondly, "snatched" is a very bold claim. There is a sizable number of videos of discarded Russian vehicles, but if you watch closely there is no blood and zero dead bodies. It looks like the Russian army simply discards vehicles with technical issues to keep forces mobile (this is why you see the vehicles towed, not moving by themselves). And lastly, in the second half o…
You seem to have a different angle than most here. I'm not sure I can join you in rationalizing an invading army but I believe in your right to say what you want, and value hearing from all sides. Can you share any sources or background on your point of view?
While I have zero sympathy for the post-2014 Ukrainian regime (it's really far from being a cute little democracy as portrayed by the Western media) and I am fed up with the Western hypocrisy (simply compare the number of invaded countries and how those invasions were performed), based on information I have, I think that Putin has made a huge mistake and miscalculation based on a wrong understanding of situation inside Ukraine, which has evolved significantly in 8 years (not without a bunch of PsyOps help from the West).
Currently I mostly form my opinion based on a number of Telegram channels (I will keep them to myself) and I do not watch ANY TV channels be they in Russian, Ukrainian, English, or other languages. I prefer mostly objective channels which simply repost videos and reports from those on the ground. Also after I see several blatant fakes on a channel or wild speculations, I quickly unfollow it.
The Ukranian social media propaganda operation is just incredible, and they should keep at it because I think it's been a big part of the massive popular support in the West causing rapid government and NGO response to the invasion. Conversely they've been pretty effective at stopping information about their own disposition of forces being posted to social media, or at least it's not being retweeted anywhere I've see…
It's all fun and games until Putin totally rages and dials it up to 11 without even a "no fly zone" being offered by the rest of the world. They have almost the military power of the US and look at the total decimation we did to Iraq. I mean they are already bombing civilian areas so thousands are dying, just not being reported to keep moral up. Putin will threaten maybe nukes in response but there has to be a no-fly…
I thought so too, until I heard their economy is as big as the Benelux. Then I though, how can they be a "world power"?
I looked at military spending:
US: 778 bn China: 252 bn India: 72.9 bn Russia: 61.7 UK: 59.2
So in other words, they spend about the same as UK, and 12x less than US alone.
They are still riding the old Soviet days. We believe their military is a world power, they (probably) believe their military is a world power. Until you look at the actual numbers. Their tanks are Soviet, their planes and helis are Soviet, their walkie-talkies are customer products. Their entire nuclear arsenal is inherited from the Soviets. It's all old, and they don't have the budget for a modern big army.
That might als explain why they are struggling so much in Ukraine.
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Yes, I’m assuming post-Soviet Russia will have a little skepticism of state-run media. There’s pretty good historical precedent.
Well that's completely wrong. Putin's propaganda machine is arguably even more performant than Soviets ever had it.
If anyone wonders why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HxRJIwXj3s Gypsy snatched the tank, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX2EYOWBmBY Ukrainian farmer stole a russian tank.
Firstly, there are zero tanks on the videos. Secondly, "snatched" is a very bold claim. There is a sizable number of videos of discarded Russian vehicles, but if you watch closely there is no blood and zero dead bodies. It looks like the Russian army simply discards vehicles with technical issues to keep forces mobile (this is why you see the vehicles towed, not moving by themselves). And lastly, in the second half o…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's all fun and games until Putin totally rages and dials it up to 11 without even a "no fly zone" being offered by the rest of the world. They have almost the military power of the US and look at the total decimation we did to Iraq. I mean they are already bombing civilian areas so thousands are dying, just not being reported to keep moral up. Putin will threaten maybe nukes in response but there has to be a no-fly…
> They have almost the military power of the US I thought so too, until I heard their economy is as big as the Benelux. Then I though, how can they be a "world power"? I looked at military spending: US: 778 bn China: 252 bn India: 72.9 bn Russia: 61.7 UK: 59.2 So in other words, they spend about the same as UK, and 12x less than US alone. They are still riding the old Soviet days. We believe their military is a world…
Entertainingly, in 2019 a general went to jail because the supposed "made in Russia" radios were Chinese cheap consumer Baofeng radios which had had the labels swapped.
https://warsawinstitute.org/deputy-chief-russias-general-sta...
The Ukranian social media propaganda operation is just incredible, and they should keep at it because I think it's been a big part of the massive popular support in the West causing rapid government and NGO response to the invasion. Conversely they've been pretty effective at stopping information about their own disposition of forces being posted to social media, or at least it's not being retweeted anywhere I've see…
Any negative new related to ukraine is either shot down, assumed to be russian propaganda, not talked about. There has been widespread racism faced by blacks and indians. If you goto reddit any news related to it are downvoted as russian propaganda, uncivilized people not following orders etc. Even HN did not pick it up.
This unfortunately appears to be true; there's a number of people there, especially international students, who've been trying to flee and report getting blocked at the borders.
Ukraine is not a flawless guilt-free country, nowhere is, but that should not be used to distract people from the reality of the invasion.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well that's completely wrong. Putin's propaganda machine is arguably even more performant than Soviets ever had it.
Improvements in propaganda operations are significantly counterbalanced by ease of access. The Internet is a wild place, and there are lots of venues like Telegram available for largely unfettered conversations. Plenty of Russians still on Reddit; the chances of them remaining entirely unexposed to external information is slim.