Of course the US and its allies are guilty of unspeakable crimes. Do you know anything about what they did in Iraq, in Fallujah, Abu Graib, and elsewhere, over a million dead on the basis of lies? Do you know anything about the history of US interference in Haiti? Russia has a long way to go to come anywhere close to the scale and depravity of US foreign “interventions” as they euphemistically term their illegal wars. The rest of the world knows this all too well which is why the US and its allies talking about “human rights” is increasingly met with the derision it deserves. Power is slipping away and the mask is coming off.
NO SUPPORT FOR EXJWS DRAFTED IN UKRAINE
by raymond frantz 37 Replies latest watchtower bible
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TonusOH
I don't think US power is slipping. We still spend an insane amount of money to keep troops stationed around the world, and this has two effects. One, it means the US has troops just about everywhere. Two, many countries have relatively small military budgets and armed forces of their own, which would change drastically if the US took its ball and went home. US decline is, essentially, world decline.
Ukraine is in a vital position between Europe and Russia. It is a reliable point for launching a war in either direction, providing cover for the army holding it, while forcing the other side to funnel its forces. It also has a lot of fertile farmland and considerable oil and natural gas reserves. NATO would love to have Ukraine join it, as it would allow them to seriously reduce the threat from Russia. Russia would love to have it for exactly the opposite reason-- it would provide them a much more secure front and allow them to keep some pressure on NATO.
The problem for Russia is that the invasion has dragged on for far too long and cost them significantly. For the west, the invasion has worked out very well-- they are able to wear down Russia both militarily and economically, while leaving the fighting --and dying-- to Ukraine. I'm not sure there is a way out for Russia at this point. Even if they win, the cost of rebuilding Ukraine without western support would be overwhelming. And yet, a defeat or withdrawal would also be bad economically, as well as a political disaster.
I don't think it will lead to WW3. For the west, there is no reason to get any more involved than they already are, sending massive amounts of money and materiel to Ukraine and letting Russia wear itself out. For Russia, they are in a trap of their own making, and have no real option other than to keep going until they defeat Ukraine or run out of men and weapons. Perhaps, if Putin is removed, they will be able to end the war and put the blame on him, but it would still be a disaster for them.
I expect that politicians here will continue to gripe openly about it, but behind closed doors they are quite content to keep sending aid to Ukraine. Putin had hoped to restore some of the glory of the former Soviet Union and perhaps begin to rebuild the buffer between it and Europe. But that has backfired and the worst may still be to come.
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resolute Bandicoot
One thing that you can be sure of - All wars are bankers wars.
RB
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slimboyfat
The problem for Russia is that the invasion has dragged on for far too long and cost them significantly.
The power of propaganda right there.
The reality:
https://www.ft.com/content/21a5be9c-afaa-495f-b7af-cf937093144d
The US is struggling to fund a war its people don’t want. It is the US and the west that has lost friends and influence as a result of this unnecessary war.
I don't think it will lead to WW3.
We can but hope, but the idea it is a risk worth taking is just insane.
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Simon
I don't understand why anyone would or should expect the WTS to somehow stand up for them if they have clearly left and no longer identify as one of them.
Personally, anyone conscripted should start shooting their commanding officers as soon as they are given a weapon.
Ukraine is not winning the war that they started, despite the $billions being poured into the country. Of course much of that money isn't going to the war but is instead enriching the undemocratic government leaders and being fed back to the western politicians and the military industry.
What tells you they are losing? The lack of media footage. If they were winning, it would be on the news. It isn't because they aren't.
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Rivergang
RB
You are quite correct in that during all the wars that have ever been fought, there was always some dirty β@$t@ЯÐ who made money out of it.
This country is by no means immune - it was the boom in wool prices during the Korean War which led to the transformation of Australia's economy from agricultural to industrial.
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Rivergang
Personally, anyone conscripted should start shooting their commanding officers as soon as they are given a weapon.
I finished high school during the days when this country still had compulsory military service, and the Vietnam War was still going. That was exactly the advice my Dad gave me, should my number have been called!
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TonusOH
SBF: The power of propaganda right there.
I don't see where the propaganda is in my statement. The war has gone on much longer than Russia anticipated, and it has come at a significant cost. Up to a million Russians have left the country, they have suffered far more casualties than expected, they have had to dip into their cash reserves and have suffered losses of materiel greater than expected.
How does the expected increase in economic growth (driven largely by wartime spending) render any of that as propaganda?