Is Russia about to invade Ukraine? (7 Viewers)

[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]

None of them can! To Congressional Republicans, trump has become He Who Shall Not Be Named.

I'll name him because I'm at the point of IDGAF. Trump is the biblical anti- christ

 

[efil4]

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

…

 

[Incumbent]

We might hear this kind of crap from some GOP senators - but come on, it was so obvious where all of this was going. For any of them now to act surprised and faux outraged is pure nonsense.

Everything that is happening now is exactly what was warned about before the election, or otherwise known. All of it. Project 2025. His unexplained and cozy relationship with Putin. His intentions to surround himself with sycophants. His poor temperament and lack of fitness for the office. Nobody should act surprised or unexpectedly disappointed now. The only justified outrage is from those of us who pleaded with voters not to let this happen again. The only real way out of this is for enough Republicans to quit with the meaningless admonishments and break with him completely, and help re-establish our democratic government while there’s still time to do so.

 

[MT15]

Trump’s dismissal of the reporter who asked him what he would do if Putin breaks his agreement has been nagging at me. Why don’t they ever ask the follow-up? Something like - why do you dismiss the idea of someone breaking their signed agreements who has already done so repeatedly? Wouldn’t the smart response be to have considered that option and have a plan in place?

I think if we can get these professional journalists to actually do their job, we might have a fighting chance at restoring our democracy. But as long as they are cowed by him, we have no shot.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Trump’s dismissal of the reporter who asked him what he would do if Putin breaks his agreement has been nagging at me. Why don’t they ever ask the follow-up? Something like - why do you dismiss the idea of someone breaking their signed agreements who has already done so repeatedly? Wouldn’t the smart response be to have considered that option and have a plan in place?

I think if we can get these professional journalists to actually do their job, we might have a fighting chance at restoring our democracy. But as long as they are cowed by him, we have no shot.

In a normal conversation with an intelligent person, that follow-up questioning would be worth it. However, we are dealing with an actual idiot that believes he is a genius, so his response to that question would be along the lines of "they wouldn't break the deal with ME"!

 

[MT15]

In a normal conversation with an intelligent person, that follow-up questioning would be worth it. However, we are dealing with an actual idiot that believes he is a genius, so his response to that question would be along the lines of "they wouldn't break the deal with ME"!

I get that, however I think the second question - Wouldn’t it be smart to be prepared for all possibilities in such a situation? - has the potential to cause a tantrum or a meltdown. If he is pushed enough he will act inappropriately, we have seen it in the past. And we have seen his popularity fall as these kinds of outbursts pile up. The press shouldn’t abdicate the tough questions that need to be asked.

 

[MT15]

 

[MT15]

Follow-up answered:

 

[Lapaz]

Will that jerk, that tried to embarrass and badger Zelensky about wearing a suit, ask Musk why he doesn’t wear a tie and disrespects the office by wearing a baseball cap in formal meetings?

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Will that jerk, that tried to embarrass and badger Zelensky about wearing a suit, ask Musk why he doesn’t wear a tie and disrespects the office by wearing a baseball cap in formal meetings?

That would be against State Media rules!

 

[Optimus Prime]

 

[superchuck500]

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

Insane.

Congratulation Republicans, you have invited the wolves into the hen house.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

The WaPo is going out with a whimper. Hey Bezos, in a world of Musks, be a Buffet!

 

[faceman]

That’s a weak-arse, lily-livered tweet by Murkowski. She can’t even say Trump and Vance.

I mean - contrast this piece of drivel from Murkowski with Liz Cheney’s tweet.

Its a beginning. Trump about to lose national support

 

[DaveXA]

The WaPo is going out with a whimper. Hey Bezos, in a world of Musks, be a Buffet!

Why not if Trump doesn't mend the breach with Zelensky, he must resign?

 

[efil4]

The WaPo is going out with a whimper. Hey Bezos, in a world of Musks, be a Buffet!

The pivot to removing Zelensky will continue.
But it's muted because 80% of the world saw it for what it really was, an ambush and appeasement to the Kremlin.
It didn't accomplish what they had hoped.