Discussions about serious topics, for serious people
-
Martin Y
- Stummy Beige
- Posts: 3091
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:08 pm
Post
by Martin Y » Tue Feb 15, 2022 3:00 pm
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Mon Feb 14, 2022 4:33 pm
A vial of nerve agent might be more Putin's style.
Speaking of people Putin's used Novichok on, I see Navalny is back in court.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60387695
Well, not so much "in court" as still in maximum security prison but back on trial there for some new charge.
That we get to see pictures of this process makes me think Putin feels it's time for a reminder of what happens to anyone who f.cks around with his right to rule, as if Russia was some kind of democracy or something. Following the train of thought, I am a bit anxious about whatever circumstances lead Putin to think the warning is needed. And of course ruefully noting that it sucks to be Navalny.
-
Martin Y
- Stummy Beige
- Posts: 3091
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:08 pm
Post
by Martin Y » Wed Feb 16, 2022 10:57 am
Actually, having slept on it, perhaps the above is good news. If Putin now expects to draw back without invasion, that itself might be enough of a reason to get a bit of show trial publicity out, just to give pause to anyone at home being rash enough to remark that not invading makes him look weak.
-
JQH
- After Pie
- Posts: 2150
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:30 pm
- Location: Sar Flandan
Post
by JQH » Wed Feb 16, 2022 10:27 pm
I don't think he cares about the views of the commuter on the Moscow subway. The views of the generals however will probably bother him a good deal.
And remember that if you botch the exit, the carnival of reaction may be coming to a town near you.
Fintan O'Toole
-
jdc
- Hilda Ogden
- Posts: 1928
- Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2019 4:31 pm
- Location: Your Mum
Post
by jdc » Thu Feb 17, 2022 2:20 am
According to the Guardian
In Russia, coverage of this buildup is less focused on the movement of tanks and Iskander missiles than on the information battle, where the main aggressors are seen as western officials and media reporting breathless predictions of all-out war or false-flag attacks.
-
TopBadger
- Catbabel
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 6:33 pm
- Location: Halfway up
Post
by TopBadger » Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:47 pm
Russia's talk of de-escalating could well have been a ploy to buy time whilst continuing to build up. How are the markets now lpm?
-
Trinucleus
- Dorkwood
- Posts: 997
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 6:45 pm
Post
by Trinucleus » Thu Feb 17, 2022 12:53 pm
I have this image of Putin quietly humming the hokey-cokey to himself....
-
Woodchopper
- Princess POW
- Posts: 7134
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 9:05 am
Post
by Woodchopper » Thu Feb 17, 2022 2:18 pm
There has been increased cross border shelling from the Russian backed separatist areas and Russia is expelling the US Deputy Ambassador from Moscow.
Its not really looking like a de-escalation.
-
monkey
- After Pie
- Posts: 1912
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2019 5:10 pm
Post
by monkey » Thu Feb 17, 2022 3:18 pm
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 2:18 pm
There has been increased cross border shelling from the Russian backed separatist areas and Russia is expelling the US Deputy Ambassador from Moscow.
Its not really looking like a de-escalation.
No it's not. But saying you're doing one thing while you do the opposite is a very Putiny thing to do.
-
TopBadger
- Catbabel
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 6:33 pm
- Location: Halfway up
Post
by TopBadger » Thu Feb 17, 2022 3:49 pm
Nope - it's looking like a pretext to an invasion... which is exactly what Putin wants it to look like.
-
jdc
- Hilda Ogden
- Posts: 1928
- Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2019 4:31 pm
- Location: Your Mum
Post
by jdc » Thu Feb 17, 2022 6:37 pm
monkey wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 3:18 pm
But saying you're doing one thing while you do the opposite is a very Putiny thing to do.
It's very annoying. I blame Surkov.
-
Brightonian
- Dorkwood
- Posts: 1445
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:16 pm
- Location: Usually UK, often France and Ireland
Post
by Brightonian » Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm
Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to
this blog post but he'd want more than that.
-
science_fox
- Snowbonk
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:34 pm
- Location: Manchester
Post
by science_fox » Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:32 pm
Brightonian wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm
Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to
this blog post but he'd want more than that.
https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/ukraine-russia-crisis/
Aljazeera often have a less western focused take than many other news sources. Whether they are pro-russia I'd be less sure.
I'm not afraid of catching Covid, I'm afraid of catching idiot.
-
Brightonian
- Dorkwood
- Posts: 1445
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:16 pm
- Location: Usually UK, often France and Ireland
Post
by Brightonian » Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:52 pm
science_fox wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:32 pm
Brightonian wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm
Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to
this blog post but he'd want more than that.
https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/ukraine-russia-crisis/
Aljazeera often have a less western focused take than many other news sources. Whether they are pro-russia I'd be less sure.
Thanks for that.
-
individualmember
- Catbabel
- Posts: 654
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 4:26 pm
Post
by individualmember » Fri Feb 18, 2022 8:00 am
science_fox wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 10:32 pm
Brightonian wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm
Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to
this blog post but he'd want more than that.
https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/ukraine-russia-crisis/
Aljazeera often have a less western focused take than many other news sources. Whether they are pro-russia I'd be less sure.
The stuff I do for Al Jazeera is the main way I keep up to date in foreign affairs. The English language side of it is in the Shard and they don’t get a lot of editorial interference from the owners. My experience is the journalists there aren’t particularly pro-Russia, but they aren’t particularly pro anyone else either.
-
Woodchopper
- Princess POW
- Posts: 7134
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 9:05 am
Post
by Woodchopper » Fri Feb 18, 2022 8:25 am
Brightonian wrote: ↑Thu Feb 17, 2022 8:03 pm
Are there any good news sources that aren't so pro-Ukraine? My father has asked, but I don't really know. I don't think he's after Russia Today. I have pointed him to
this blog post but he'd want more than that.
As well as Al Jazeera, some non-western English language sources are:
The
South China Morning Post, it's based in Hongkong and has more editorial independence than mainland Chinese media, but isn't as independent as it used to be.
The Times of India and
The Hindu.
The
Mail and Guardian from South Africa.
-
bob sterman
- Dorkwood
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 10:25 pm
- Location: Location Location
Post
by bob sterman » Fri Feb 18, 2022 10:49 am
I understand that Russia Today is reporting that the newly completed military pontoon bridge across the Pripyat River - near the Belarus-Ukraine border - has been built because a lot of Belarusian farmers need to get foxes, chickens and sacks of corn across a river. But there's only one rowing boat available in the area.
-
lpm
- Junior Mod
- Posts: 5969
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:05 pm
Post
by lpm » Fri Feb 18, 2022 4:15 pm
Starting tonight I guess.
Awarded gold star 4 November 2021
-
monkey
- After Pie
- Posts: 1912
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2019 5:10 pm
Post
by monkey » Fri Feb 18, 2022 4:47 pm
For anyone wondering, I think lpm is referring to an explosion at a government building in Donestk -
clicky. Not much detail on it so far.
lpm wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 4:15 pm
Starting tonight I guess.
Maybe, but if they want to make it look slightly realistic they've got to arrest the "suspect" and get a "confession" out of them first, so maybe a bit longer. Mind you, after the "I went to Sailsbury to see the cathedral" bit, I'm not sure how much the Russians care about things looking realistic.
-
lpm
- Junior Mod
- Posts: 5969
- Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:05 pm
Post
by lpm » Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:02 pm
- Russian civilians being herded onto buses to evacuate from the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine
- massive military exercise scheduled to end, will be converted into the attack
- Biden to make address
Awarded gold star 4 November 2021
-
Woodchopper
- Princess POW
- Posts: 7134
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 9:05 am
Post
by Woodchopper » Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:21 pm
lpm wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:02 pm
- Russian civilians being herded onto buses to evacuate from the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine
- massive military exercise scheduled to end, will be converted into the attack
- Biden to make address
Ongoing Russian exercise involving strategic nuclear forces.
-
Woodchopper
- Princess POW
- Posts: 7134
- Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2019 9:05 am
Post
by Woodchopper » Fri Feb 18, 2022 6:25 pm
Woodchopper wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:21 pm
lpm wrote: ↑Fri Feb 18, 2022 5:02 pm
- Russian civilians being herded onto buses to evacuate from the occupied eastern regions of Ukraine
- massive military exercise scheduled to end, will be converted into the attack
- Biden to make address
Ongoing Russian exercise involving strategic nuclear forces.
Putin claims that there is a genocide going on in the Donbas.
https://twitter.com/olliecarroll/status ... 71916?s=21