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Alexei Navalny has died

reuters.com

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Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#221

Post by KingOfCoders »

luch wrote: post #173
cglace wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US has provided more funding to Ukraine than the world combined by a large margin, and the lesson you take away is that the US is somehow at fault. The one bill that was blocked by Congress would be more support than Europe as a whole has provided to Ukraine to date. While I agree that European countries should start to take their defense seriously I don't see how you fault US support of Ukraine.

Honestly what's the difference whether it's POTUS or Congress blocking the bill ? The writing on the wall is here: if Russia invades Poland, NATO article 5 or not the US will not go into full blown war with Russia. And honestly it was the European's fault to believe in this pipe dream.

"And honestly it was the European's fault to believe in this pipe dream."

Having lived through Reforger exercises, with US tanks everywhere and sonic booms every few minutes, I believe up and including Reagan it was clear the US would not let Soviet Russia invade Western Europe b/c of the resulting shift in world power.

After the EU got more powerful and expanded, dynamics changed.

It's unclear with the Bushes and clear that Clinton/Obama/Trump would not aid Europe.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#222

Post by helpfulContrib »

JohnBooty wrote: post #118
AndyMcConachie wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And Julian Assange is still in prison. Let's not pretend that Russia is the only country on the planet that houses political prisoners in its jails. I'm sure I'll get downvoted to hell for this, but seriously, the west isn't any better.

Zero large entities (countries, corporations, political parties, etc) have clean records. We still need to fight -- or at the very least, call out -- injustice when it happens. Pointing out Russia's misdeeds doesn't mean one thinks the West is innocent. It certainly is not. That's why you're being downvoted.

[dead]

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#223

Post by Clubber »

GartzenDeHaes wrote: post #87
Clubber wrote: post #38

People calling for the US to do more against Russia, be careful what you wish for. You have no idea how close the US is to a draft. The US has been woefully low at filling military recruiting quotas. Keep in mind both presidents during WWI and WWII campaigned to keep us out of those wars. Any major conflict like that will most certainly require a draft. Better keep your saber rattling to a minimum. Though the percent…

The people behind this propaganda are pushing for privatization, not a draft. The US Army is dramatically downsizing its uniformed troop strength at the same time its budget is dramatically increasing. "Under end strength levels outlined in the annual defense authorization bill passed by the Senate Wednesday evening and expected to be passed by the House on Thursday, the total number of active-duty troops in the arme…

Second paragraph after the one you pasted:

Lawmakers say the reason for the lower target isn’t a decrease in missions or threats in recent years. Instead, the number reflects recruiting challenges across the services and an expectation of what level of personnel is realistic in coming months.

They aren't lowering troop numbers because they want to, they're moving the goalposts to meet the reality of diminished recruiting.

Also, privatization is for non-combat roles, logistics and what not. It allows us to keep more US military personnel in combat roles instead of support roles.

When all of these hack aren't enough to fill ranks in a major conflict, the next step is a draft. Iraq I, II and Afghanistan were not major conflicts in terms of total deployment.

https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/factsheets/fs_americas_w...

Also, no politician will utter the word "draft," or they will lose all support. If a major conflict arises with Russia, it will get instituted, make no mistake about it. Everyone pushing for war with Russia needs to consider the consequences.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#224

Post by wombat-man »

neom wrote: post #192
kemotep wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you propose the west avoids conflict with Russia and China? Is there any examples in history of appeasement leading to less bloodshed?

Fan fiction, but: Civil wars might do it, the Russians need to overthrow Putin, Xi in China, and we need to elect peace hawks in places that have democracy. People would have to really really really really not want a word war. On the history part, I have no clue, but I do know that today the citizenry is more connected and able to strategize for ourselfs than at any point in history before.

Putin's old, but he isn't that old. Plus I assume there are similar people waiting in the wings to takeover. Idk how to fix the situation but it would make me nervous for them to have a civil war in a nuclear power.

Xi might go, but that party isn't going anywhere.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#225

Post by secondary_op »

Being young Russian citizen with liberal world views I passionatly followed Alexey Navalny and his team work, at the time it was seemingly altruistic, positive, and very entertaining. But now not so young anymore and hopefully smarter, I am looking back and seeing that what it was, was play to hijack power for the sake of it, create instability as means to gain power, and from more recent interview with people worked side by side with Navalny [1] [2] it is clear that what he was on public was facade and underneatch was power hungry man that weaponised internet platforms, populism and worked by the book-play of a typical foreign NGO interfering with sovereign state.

[1] Anastasia Vasilyeva: Navalny’s harassment and FBK’s deception /// EMPATHY OF MANUCHI https://youtu.be/ei-9Wh_jaCs

[2] YandexGPT a short summary of the video from the neural network https://300.ya.ru/v_6k8mRO4e?t=1063

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#226

Post by inference-lord »

zulban wrote: post #214
bdjsiqoocwk wrote: post #11

[flagged]

There's a world of difference between Tucker (dabbles where he's deeply misinformed, "just asking questions" in total safety) and Russian "apologist" journalists who fear for their job and life.

"Just asking questions", "Just wanting to have a conversation"

I love your comment, the dude is ridiculous, he should go live in Russia for a bit.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#227

Post by belter »

odiroot wrote: post #160
KingOfCoders wrote: post #93

The (small) upside of all this missery, death and pain is Europe will lose some territory but gain it's own military security after decades of living from the US strategy alignment. Countries like Poland will no longer buy US weapons but increase European defense spending - they fear just like Ukraine that US congress just turns around and will stop delivering parts for F-35s in a conflict [0]. The US lost all it's t…

> Countries like Poland will no longer buy US weapons but increase European defense spending - they fear just like Ukraine that US congress just turns around and will stop delivering parts for F-35s in a conflict That's absolutely not the sentiments among Poles. If anything, there's a belief we can only rely on US when poo hits the fan.

Looking at it historically, you are going to be short changed again...

Suddenly the following scenario, is not far fetched anymore: Russia will find an excuse around Kaliningrad Oblast, and a NATO hostile US president will negotiate a cease fire in the name of stopping a Nuclear conflict...

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#228

Post by postingawayonhn »

Clubber wrote: post #38

People calling for the US to do more against Russia, be careful what you wish for. You have no idea how close the US is to a draft. The US has been woefully low at filling military recruiting quotas. Keep in mind both presidents during WWI and WWII campaigned to keep us out of those wars. Any major conflict like that will most certainly require a draft. Better keep your saber rattling to a minimum. Though the percent…

Do you realise how easy it would be for the US to defeat the depleted Russian military? The US Air Force alone could probably do it in a weekend.

The war in Ukraine only drags on for so long because of the refusal of the west (partly tachnical issues, partly political hesitation) to equip Ukraine with modern weapons in sufficient quantities.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#229

Post by KaiserPro »

Clubber wrote: post #205
ethanbond wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Uhhh that’s why it’s better to fund Ukraine to fight the battle for us before it’s actually on NATO’s doorstep. Not that confusing.

Sure, I support funding Ukraine 100% for that very reason, but consider what happens when Ukraine runs out of troops. Russia has a 3:1 advantage. https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-demography-of-war-ukraine-vs-...

If you use your troops as bait for tanks, then sure having a 3:1 people advantage is useful.

If you have a bit more respect for the lives of your citizens, its not so much of a disadvantage.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#230

Post by KingOfCoders »

odiroot wrote: post #160
KingOfCoders wrote: post #93

The (small) upside of all this missery, death and pain is Europe will lose some territory but gain it's own military security after decades of living from the US strategy alignment. Countries like Poland will no longer buy US weapons but increase European defense spending - they fear just like Ukraine that US congress just turns around and will stop delivering parts for F-35s in a conflict [0]. The US lost all it's t…

> Countries like Poland will no longer buy US weapons but increase European defense spending - they fear just like Ukraine that US congress just turns around and will stop delivering parts for F-35s in a conflict That's absolutely not the sentiments among Poles. If anything, there's a belief we can only rely on US when poo hits the fan.

As I've said, when the Suwałki Gap falls and the US stands by - and the US will under Trump - sentiments will turn 180°.

Poland hoped the UK would safe them from Germany and Russia and was betrayed.

Poland now hopes the US would safe them from Russia, and they will be betrayed.

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