Is Russia about to invade Ukraine? (1 Viewer)

[superchuck500]

Russia continues to mass assets within range of Ukraine - though the official explanations are that they are for various exercises. United States intelligence has noted that Russian operatives in Ukraine could launch 'false flag' operations as a predicate to invasion. The West has pressed for negotiations and on Friday in Geneva, the US Sec. State Blinken will meet with the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.

Certainly the Russian movements evidence some plan - but what is it? Some analysts believe that Putin's grand scheme involves securing Western commitments that NATO would never expand beyond its current composition. Whether that means action in Ukraine or merely the movement of pieces on the chess board remains to be seen.

VIENNA — No one expected much progress from this past week’s diplomatic marathon to defuse the security crisis Russia has ignited in Eastern Europe by surrounding Ukraine on three sides with 100,000 troops and then, by the White House’s accounting, sending in saboteurs to create a pretext for invasion.

But as the Biden administration and NATO conduct tabletop simulations about how the next few months could unfold, they are increasingly wary of another set of options for President Vladimir V. Putin, steps that are more far-reaching than simply rolling his troops and armor over Ukraine’s border.

Mr. Putin wants to extend Russia’s sphere of influence to Eastern Europe and secure written commitments that NATO will never again enlarge. If he is frustrated in reaching that goal, some of his aides suggested on the sidelines of the negotiations last week, then he would pursue Russia’s security interests with results that would be felt acutely in Europe and the United States.

There were hints, never quite spelled out, that nuclear weapons could be shifted to places — perhaps not far from the United States coastline — that would reduce warning times after a launch to as little as five minutes, potentially igniting a confrontation with echoes of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Russia Issues Subtle Threats More Far-Reaching Than a Ukraine Invasion

If the West fails to meet its security demands, Moscow could take measures like placing nuclear missiles close to the U.S. coastline, Russian officials have hinted.

www.nytimes.com

Blinken Will Meet With Russia as U.S. Pushes for More Diplomacy

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will meet with Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov of Russia in Geneva on Friday as the United States warns that Russia could soon attack Ukraine.

www.nytimes.com

How to think about war in Ukraine

Start with the Ukrainians

snyder.substack.com

 

[faceman]

 

[efil4]

Unless Senator Wicker can make Trump change course, i dont give a !@#$@!# what Senator Wicker thinks.

Rubio, Trump and the rest of the administration has sold out to Russia.

We all had a thought this would happen, held out hope that it wouldnt, but here we are.

 

[faceman]

Unless Senator Wicker can make Trump change course, i dont give a !@#$@!# what Senator Wicker thinks.

Rubio, Trump and the rest of the administration has sold out to Russia.

We all had a thought this would happen, held out hope that it wouldnt, but here we are.

Yes, I let him know about the Hegseth appointment. I posted to show the cracks are showing in the
Trump foundation.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

I agree with him, but he's also soo old. Seriously, why can't they just relinquish power to a younger generation.

 

[DaveXA]

I agree with him, but he's also soo old. Seriously, why can't they just relinquish power to a younger generation.

I generally agree, but can promise you this. Some of the younger generation (Rs) are more likely to kowtow to Trump than anyone else. They want to be validated and Trump will make sure they are as long as they do his bidding.

I'm kinda shocked how many young MAGAts there are.

 

[faceman]

I agree with him, but he's also soo old. Seriously, why can't they just relinquish power to a younger generation.

The problem is Chris McDaniel is waiting in the wings. McDaniel is an avowed racist and came close in 2018. He
won with the help of democrats who crossed the line to vote for him. Wicker has been moderate throughout
his career. We need those.

 

[faceman]

I generally agree, but can promise you this. Some of the younger generation (Rs) are more likely to kowtow to Trump than anyone else. They want to be validated and Trump will make sure they are as long as they do his bidding.

I'm kinda shocked how many young MAGAts there are.

see my post on Mcdaniel above

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

I generally agree, but can promise you this. Some of the younger generation (Rs) are more likely to kowtow to Trump than anyone else. They want to be validated and Trump will make sure they are as long as they do his bidding.

Oh I agree... I prefer the older Republicans to the younger ones, but still, it's just frustrating seeing all these older leaders just hanging on.

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

The problem is Chris McDaniel is waiting in the wings. McDaniel is an avowed racist and came close in 2018. He
won with the help of democrats who crossed the line to vote for him. Wicker has been moderate throughout
his career. We need those.

yes, i understand, but has he been mentoring a successor that is more in line with him?

 

[superchuck500]

This is forking crazy

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

He's gonna find out that he has a fighting force that has more loyalty to our allies than he has because they know, live, trust and fought beside them. During his 1st term, trump worked to draw down our forces in Europe to set the stage for poots, but the remaining forces are on large installations and if he continues this crap, those nations will put pressure on our congress to take actions by threatening to kick us out. The only hope that we will have is that Congress will finally decide to act in out country's interest and side with our traditional allies.

 

[efil4]

This is forking crazy

1 phone call
1 meeting

thats all it took for the Trump administration to do a complete about face on Ukraine. He still seething over Zelensky refusing to play ball re Biden/Burisma, got promises from the Kremlin probably regarding development deals, mineral rights and who else knows what, and doesnt care about anything else other than attaining money/power on a global stage to wield influence long after he gone.

1 phone call
1 meeting.

Kellogg is in Kyiv RIGHT NOW. Meeting with Zelensky, Yermak and Syrski ( General ). I told everyone that Kellogg is window dressing. Put out there to say stuff that the allies WANT to hear, but back at HQ, totally different message. And when our allies say " well Kellogg said..." - well Kellogg isnt the POTUS now is he?

 

[DaveXA]

He's gonna find out that he has a fighting force that has more loyalty to our allies than he has because they know, live, trust and fought beside them. During his 1st term, trump worked to draw down our forces in Europe to set the stage for poots, but the remaining forces are on large installations and if he continues this crap, those nations will put pressure on our congress to take actions by threatening to kick us out. The only hope that we will have is that Congress will finally decide to act in out country's interest and side with our traditional allies.

Absolutely, NATO needs to stand strong and not be bullied by an idiot. And yes, absolutely, threaten to kick them out of every military base, of which there are many, and show how much leverage they truly have. Congress, including a lot of Congressional Republicans are gonna realize Trump is destroying all of the goodwill and hard work that's been built with the EU over the years. This will go down as one of the biggest blunders our country has ever gone through, and it won't be close.

The fat orange idiot is leading us to a point of no return.

 

[bird]

I generally agree, but can promise you this. Some of the younger generation (Rs) are more likely to kowtow to Trump than anyone else. They want to be validated and Trump will make sure they are as long as they do his bidding.

I'm kinda shocked how many young MAGAts there are.

I wish I could say that I was surprised at the number of young MAGAts but I can’t. Bigotry, intolerance et al are learned. How often have we heard people say that the young people get it? Where do people think MAGAts came from? They were young once. Look at the neocons and see how many were liberal in the ‘60’s.

Critical thinking has never been a priority in this country. Too many would rather wallow in the theomythology that has been blasted about this country for decades.

The leopards have plenty of faces to eat.

 

[J-DONK]

This is forking crazy

Does anyone know where the 350 billion number comes from?

 

[UncleTrvlingJim]

Does anyone know where the 350 billion number comes from?

His arse.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Does anyone know where the 350 billion number comes from?

Wherever it came from, it's not cash! The dollar amount represents the cost of all the supplies we have sent to Ukraine and those supplies were used to save lives, as well as to take lives in that country's defense from an illegal land grab.

 

[efil4]

Does anyone know where the 350 billion number comes from?

it changes daily. 200B last week, $350b this week

There are bets being taken on next week it being $500b

none of which are close to the truth. But then again, his audience doesnt seek truth. it seeks affirmation.