In other Putin's War profiteering news. 80% of Americans want Big Oil taxed for its massive profits (pocket stuffing) it made during the first weeks of the war when oil supplies were never in danger. Some have started a campaign called STOP for Stop the Oil Profiteering.
"A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction. Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my predecessors in peacetime, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or Korea. Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations. This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."
It's very early to declare it to be over and the impact known...
Putin is a cornered animal with nuclear weapons.
He views defeat in Ukraine as an existential threat to Russia.
His inner circle is just as crazy as he is.
Casualties do not bother Russia.
Putin will burn Ukraine to the ground before he just retreats with his tail between his legs and accepts a pro-Western Ukraine in NATO.
It’s over and everyone knows it except for you.
You are right he is cornered which should scare everyone.
I'm not really sure he is cornered...he'll just turn this into a forever war and stage atrocities against russians to keep in power.
the argument against that is that he has arrested several big shots. Coups happen when people fear they have to move now....or they will be arrested next.
if you register a name rather than hiding behind 40 aliases it actually tells you how many posts you've made.
Well, Sally, you have used a LOT more than 500 aliases on LRC in the last 15 years. 5000 is too low. 50,000 is closer to the truth ... that is not quite 10 aliases per day. Seems too low.
Just because it isn't on your TV doesn't mean nothing is happening...
I posted direct evidence of astounding Russian loses against a (supposedly) vastly inferior army. You pretend it's not happening.
Russia isn't just fighting Ukraine.
They're fighting a proxy war with NATO. Ukraine is being flooded with weapons, money, intelligence, mercenaries, and covert support while simultaneously unleashing "weapons of financial mass destruction".
"Advisors" have been training the Ukraine army for the last 8 years how to best use these weapons.
We are talking many TENS of billions in direct military aid.
Yet, Ukraine was not given NATO (and EU) membership. If they'd been either admitted or disavowed, this war wouldn't be taking place.
The tragedy splashing our headlines didn't "just happen". Western countries stacked, stoked, and tend this funeral pyre.
You are right he is cornered which should scare everyone.
I'm not really sure he is cornered...he'll just turn this into a forever war and stage atrocities against russians to keep in power.
the argument against that is that he has arrested several big shots. Coups happen when people fear they have to move now....or they will be arrested next.
Looks like America will have to wait two more years for their "coup", unless Biden goes full slobbering senile first.
Earlier this month, he was worried Putin was going to invade Russia:
"How do we get to the place where, you know, Putin decides he's gonna just invade Russia? Nothing like this has happened since World War II."
I posted direct evidence of astounding Russian loses against a (supposedly) vastly inferior army. You pretend it's not happening.
Russia isn't just fighting Ukraine.
They're fighting a proxy war with NATO. Ukraine is being flooded with weapons, money, intelligence, mercenaries, and covert support while simultaneously unleashing "weapons of financial mass destruction".
"Advisors" have been training the Ukraine army for the last 8 years how to best use these weapons.
We are talking many TENS of billions in direct military aid.
Yet, Ukraine was not given NATO (and EU) membership. If they'd been either admitted or disavowed, this war wouldn't be taking place.
The tragedy splashing our headlines didn't "just happen". Western countries stacked, stoked, and tend this funeral pyre.
it's true that Putin had no agency in this matter. NATO is responsible, absolutely. Russians can't help themselves. Not really adults. /sarcasm
They're fighting a proxy war with NATO. Ukraine is being flooded with weapons, money, intelligence, mercenaries, and covert support while simultaneously unleashing "weapons of financial mass destruction".
"Advisors" have been training the Ukraine army for the last 8 years how to best use these weapons.
We are talking many TENS of billions in direct military aid.
Yet, Ukraine was not given NATO (and EU) membership. If they'd been either admitted or disavowed, this war wouldn't be taking place.
The tragedy splashing our headlines didn't "just happen". Western countries stacked, stoked, and tend this funeral pyre.
it's true that Putin had no agency in this matter. NATO is responsible, absolutely. Russians can't help themselves. Not really adults. /sarcasm
Explain Cuba to me. Cuba tried to align with Russia. We threatened nuclear war to prevent it and we've been punishing Cuba ever since.
The US encouraged Georgia to join NATO in 2008. Russia invaded.
Ukraine's pro-Russian government was overthrown by the US in 2014 and the US encouraged Ukraine in it's NATO aspirations. Russia immediately took Crimea in 2014 saying Sevastopol would never be a NATO naval base.
In early 2021 Zelensky said he planned to take Crimea back by force if necessary. (He would not say that without permission) Russia immediately moved troops the border.
It is naive nonsense to just pretend Russia invaded out of the blue for no reason.
They discredited the award forever when they gave one to Barry for nothing more than having a pulse. Barry went on to kill more innocent civilians than Putin...
it's true that Putin had no agency in this matter. NATO is responsible, absolutely. Russians can't help themselves. Not really adults. /sarcasm
Explain Cuba to me. Cuba tried to align with Russia. We threatened nuclear war to prevent it and we've been punishing Cuba ever since.
The US encouraged Georgia to join NATO in 2008. Russia invaded.
Ukraine's pro-Russian government was overthrown by the US in 2014 and the US encouraged Ukraine in it's NATO aspirations. Russia immediately took Crimea in 2014 saying Sevastopol would never be a NATO naval base.
In early 2021 Zelensky said he planned to take Crimea back by force if necessary. (He would not say that without permission) Russia immediately moved troops the border.
It is naive nonsense to just pretend Russia invaded out of the blue for no reason.
we are not rational toward Cuba. We overreacted then and are still overreacting. Just like Putin is overreacting toward UKR. Doesn't excuse either. But to our credit we never really invaded - just the indirect bay of pigs fiasco.
Georgia was invaded because it, like Ukraine, overthrew a tyranny and installed a sort of democracy. Putin just can't have that kind of revolution succeed in his sphere because it threatens his hold on power. To Putin's (correct) thinking, if Georgians and Ukrainians get to rule themselves and choose their alliances, then so can Russians. And they might not pick Putin. So Georgia was crushed. As Ukraine might be crushed.
Explain Cuba to me. Cuba tried to align with Russia. We threatened nuclear war to prevent it and we've been punishing Cuba ever since.
The US encouraged Georgia to join NATO in 2008. Russia invaded.
Ukraine's pro-Russian government was overthrown by the US in 2014 and the US encouraged Ukraine in it's NATO aspirations. Russia immediately took Crimea in 2014 saying Sevastopol would never be a NATO naval base.
In early 2021 Zelensky said he planned to take Crimea back by force if necessary. (He would not say that without permission) Russia immediately moved troops the border.
It is naive nonsense to just pretend Russia invaded out of the blue for no reason.
we are not rational toward Cuba. We overreacted then and are still overreacting. Just like Putin is overreacting toward UKR. Doesn't excuse either. But to our credit we never really invaded - just the indirect bay of pigs fiasco.
Georgia was invaded because it, like Ukraine, overthrew a tyranny and installed a sort of democracy. Putin just can't have that kind of revolution succeed in his sphere because it threatens his hold on power. To Putin's (correct) thinking, if Georgians and Ukrainians get to rule themselves and choose their alliances, then so can Russians. And they might not pick Putin. So Georgia was crushed. As Ukraine might be crushed.
note the same pattern in Belarus. Overthrowing a tyranny was attempted. Had it succeeded, Putin would have invaded that country too. Same reasons.
it failed in Belarus so Putin didn't have to invade.
Little to do with NATO. Just old fashioned tyranny not wanting green shoots of democracy to start.
note that it does have a little to do with countries wanting to join NATO, but only a little.
Explain Cuba to me. Cuba tried to align with Russia. We threatened nuclear war to prevent it and we've been punishing Cuba ever since.
The US encouraged Georgia to join NATO in 2008. Russia invaded.
Ukraine's pro-Russian government was overthrown by the US in 2014 and the US encouraged Ukraine in it's NATO aspirations. Russia immediately took Crimea in 2014 saying Sevastopol would never be a NATO naval base.
In early 2021 Zelensky said he planned to take Crimea back by force if necessary. (He would not say that without permission) Russia immediately moved troops the border.
It is naive nonsense to just pretend Russia invaded out of the blue for no reason.
we are not rational toward Cuba. We overreacted then and are still overreacting. Just like Putin is overreacting toward UKR. Doesn't excuse either. But to our credit we never really invaded - just the indirect bay of pigs fiasco.
Georgia was invaded because it, like Ukraine, overthrew a tyranny and installed a sort of democracy. Putin just can't have that kind of revolution succeed in his sphere because it threatens his hold on power. To Putin's (correct) thinking, if Georgians and Ukrainians get to rule themselves and choose their alliances, then so can Russians. And they might not pick Putin. So Georgia was crushed. As Ukraine might be crushed.
We didn't invade because we got what we wanted. If we didn't we would have. Anyone who says otherwise has missed out on the last 80 years of American history.
Putin thinks he's acting in Russia's best interest. It's not accurate to say he's only motivated by power. NATO on Russia's border weakens Russia. Opposing this as a Russian is perfectly logical.
we are not rational toward Cuba. We overreacted then and are still overreacting. Just like Putin is overreacting toward UKR. Doesn't excuse either. But to our credit we never really invaded - just the indirect bay of pigs fiasco.
Georgia was invaded because it, like Ukraine, overthrew a tyranny and installed a sort of democracy. Putin just can't have that kind of revolution succeed in his sphere because it threatens his hold on power. To Putin's (correct) thinking, if Georgians and Ukrainians get to rule themselves and choose their alliances, then so can Russians. And they might not pick Putin. So Georgia was crushed. As Ukraine might be crushed.
note the same pattern in Belarus. Overthrowing a tyranny was attempted. Had it succeeded, Putin would have invaded that country too. Same reasons.
it failed in Belarus so Putin didn't have to invade.
Little to do with NATO. Just old fashioned tyranny not wanting green shoots of democracy to start.
note that it does have a little to do with countries wanting to join NATO, but only a little.
we are not rational toward Cuba. We overreacted then and are still overreacting. Just like Putin is overreacting toward UKR. Doesn't excuse either. But to our credit we never really invaded - just the indirect bay of pigs fiasco.
Georgia was invaded because it, like Ukraine, overthrew a tyranny and installed a sort of democracy. Putin just can't have that kind of revolution succeed in his sphere because it threatens his hold on power. To Putin's (correct) thinking, if Georgians and Ukrainians get to rule themselves and choose their alliances, then so can Russians. And they might not pick Putin. So Georgia was crushed. As Ukraine might be crushed.
We didn't invade because we got what we wanted. If we didn't we would have. Anyone who says otherwise has missed out on the last 80 years of American history.
Putin thinks he's acting in Russia's best interest. It's not accurate to say he's only motivated by power. NATO on Russia's border weakens Russia. Opposing this as a Russian is perfectly logical.
we only got part of what we wanted in cuba. we wanted regime change. we did not get that.
note the same pattern in Belarus. Overthrowing a tyranny was attempted. Had it succeeded, Putin would have invaded that country too. Same reasons.
it failed in Belarus so Putin didn't have to invade.
Little to do with NATO. Just old fashioned tyranny not wanting green shoots of democracy to start.
note that it does have a little to do with countries wanting to join NATO, but only a little.
Russian puppets don't join NATO...
You're completely missing the larger picture.
sounds like you aren't familiar with the protests in Belarus a few years ago. check it out. The people tried to get a non-russia puppet in charge in Belarus. it failed.
we are not rational toward Cuba. We overreacted then and are still overreacting. Just like Putin is overreacting toward UKR. Doesn't excuse either. But to our credit we never really invaded - just the indirect bay of pigs fiasco.
Georgia was invaded because it, like Ukraine, overthrew a tyranny and installed a sort of democracy. Putin just can't have that kind of revolution succeed in his sphere because it threatens his hold on power. To Putin's (correct) thinking, if Georgians and Ukrainians get to rule themselves and choose their alliances, then so can Russians. And they might not pick Putin. So Georgia was crushed. As Ukraine might be crushed.
note the same pattern in Belarus. Overthrowing a tyranny was attempted. Had it succeeded, Putin would have invaded that country too. Same reasons.
it failed in Belarus so Putin didn't have to invade.
Little to do with NATO. Just old fashioned tyranny not wanting green shoots of democracy to start.
note that it does have a little to do with countries wanting to join NATO, but only a little.
The US has approved the $10.5 billion sale of a Patriot anti-missile system to NATO ally Poland. Eastern European NATO states have been ramping up their military capabilities in the face of perceived Russian aggression.
We told Russia in the 90s that NATO wouldn't move east. Fast forward 30 years and we've moved all the way to their border and we're trying to get Ukraine in.
If Russia was putting anti-missile batteries in Canada and Mexico the US would go absolutely bananas. The US would not care about Canada or Mexico's opinion. They would view it as an existential threat just like Russia does.
sounds like you aren't familiar with the protests in Belarus a few years ago. check it out. The people tried to get a non-russia puppet in charge in Belarus. it failed.
Russia doesn't care what the people want... Russia is looking out for Russia. Why can't you grasp this?
