The War in Russia

[tower912]

Only because the new Yorker URL told you it was humor.

Please.

[tower912]

Reports that the Putin Prigozhin truce is already showing signs of crumbling.

What?  Putin holds a grudge and goes back on a deal as soon as he no longer feels threatened?  Strong, brilliant leader.

[real chili 83]

Now that I no longer live in Russia and have all my assets out it's ok to comment.

1.  Putin is drunk on power like many long term autocrats such as Pinochet, Soeharto, Mahatir, Pol Pot, etc.
2.  Most Russians still think the devil you know is better than the devil you don't
3.  None of the immediate successors would be better or more stable than Putin.  Prigozhin is a criminal through and through, and is always available to the highest bidder.
4.  As much as the west likes to blame them, the Oligarchs are not to blame in this case.  That would be the equivalent of the US citizenry and press asking Musk, Buffet, Bezos, Ellison and Gates to overthrow the US president.  Regardless of how they gained their companies and their positions, these guys are now businessmen.  Most were the smartest guy in the room when it was there for the taking, and they now run some serious companies. 
5.  No-one in Russia today is strong enough to take down Putin.  It will take more mistakes by Putin PLUS a series of external and internal "events".  It would also take any individual or political party many years to usurp Putin... if they survive.  The level of checks and balances in place to maintain the power structure is unreal. 

Don't take any of this please as pro-Putin.  Russia is a great country with great people.  The 2nd most patriotic country I've ever experienced.  Putin is no longer Russia and Russia never was Putin.  Putin has invaded a sovereign state and this sort of action must never be tolerated, no matter where or by whom.

The end game hasn't even started, and will take a long time to unveil. 

Word to the wise:  Watch China's role in all this.

So, you're saying the KGB reads scoop.

[tower912]

So, you're saying the KGB reads scoop.

Poor bastards.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

So, you're saying the KGB reads scoop.

The Hauser letter was really a KGB plot.

Buzz was just avoiding KGB listening devices with aids flushing the toilet.

[WarriorFan]

So, you're saying the KGB reads scoop.

I'm sure they miss it now that I'm not using a Russian IP address.

[lawdog77]

I'm sure they miss it now that I'm not using a Russian IP address.

Are you the infamous UGG dealer?

[WarriorFan]

Are you the infamous UGG dealer?

нет

[lawdog77]

нет

жаль, я хотел пару

[pbiflyer]

So, you're saying the KGB reads scoop.

So, he invaded Ukraine in search of an arby's?

[CreightonWarrior]

So, he invaded Ukraine in search of an arby's?

Its the wagyu burger, can you blame him?

[tower912]

Prigozhin and Putin met.   On June 29.   

[4everwarriors]

Putin losin' da war in Iraq. God save da Queen, aina?

#Buffoon

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Is he Sleepy? Or coked up? It's all so confusing.

Expanding NATO instead of dismantling like Putin ordered, infrastructure projects underway, CHIPs act, bipartisan agreement on the debt ceiling, unemployment at 3.7%, GDP expanding, inflation plummeting*.

Imagine what he could do if he wasn't so old, infirm, and senile.



* Although Goose will tell you the government is lying just like China's government lies.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Yeah, Biden has run circles around Putin. Of course, that's mostly due to Putin stepping on a garden rake, but Sweden and Finland will be in NATO, the eastern European NATO members who were casting eyes upon Russia are now firmly entrenched, and reports are that Turkey may join the EU.  Oh and Ukraine be FIRMLY pro-Western for generations to come.

From a realpolitik point of view, Biden has recovered from the disaster that was the Afghanistan evacuation and has severely weakened a historic foe.

[JWags85]

Turkey joining the EU and moving towards stability in that regard may be the biggest impact of all of this IMO.

[jesmu84]

Are cluster bombs a war crime or not?

[Pakuni]

Are cluster bombs a war crime or not?

Depends on whether you've signed on to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The U.S., Russia and Ukraine have not.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Are cluster bombs a war crime or not?

Depends on if it's 2022 or 2023.

[Jockey]

Are cluster bombs a war crime or not?

Does it depend on whether you are the aggressor or whether you are defending your land.

[jesmu84]

Depends on if it's 2022 or 2023.

Yup

[jesmu84]

Does it depend on whether you are the aggressor or whether you are defending your land.

It shouldn't.

[NCMUFan]

Be nice to the invaders.

[Coleman]

Are cluster bombs a war crime or not?

I am of the opinion that sometimes merely the use of a certain weapon is not enough to determine whether a war crime has been committed. How it is used is also important.

Some weapons like biological or chemical weapons are always off limits.

But I think there are legitimate defensive uses for cluster munitions. The primary risk is undetonated munitions to civilians on the territory they are being used. If this is a risk Ukraine is willing to take to defend their territory, I am comfortable with the decision.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I am of the opinion that sometimes merely the use of a certain weapon is not enough to determine whether a war crime has been committed. How it is used is also important.

Some weapons like biological or chemical weapons are always off limits.

But I think there are legitimate defensive uses for cluster munitions. The primary risk is undetonated munitions to civilians on the territory they are being used. If this is a risk Ukraine is willing to take to defend their territory, I am comfortable with the decision.

Apparently the ones the US are sending have a very low dud percentage which is a good thing.