DIY-HP-LED
Well-Known Member
Dunno WTF is going on here, but if he did, he's a dead man, it could be an intelligence operation by the Ukrainians.
this is why we won't be able to lift sanctions, even when the russians finally withdraw from Ukraine. They can't be trusted not to rearm and come straight the fuck back. They have to be crushed financially so thoroughly that they won't have a ruble to spare for aggression for decades.Then keep them busy internally trying to keep the empire together. Not many of them appear to want to fight for fascism or imperialism, talk is cheap. It would be the veterans who fuel such movements, those with real grievances and resentments after a defeat in war caused by incompetence and corruption at the highest levels.
with any luck at all, seized oligarch money and assets will pay a large portion of those debts.The EU is leading Ukraine into a sovereign debt crisis
Brave and economically ravaged Ukraine needs a debt deal to win the coming peace — and grants rather than loans.www.politico.eu
The solution is obvious, though not as simple as some in the EU pretend it is. If Ukraine joins EU and more specifically the Euro, Germany won’t want Ukraine’s national debt to be so high it risks Euro stability and interest rates other member states pay. Traumatized by their own history, Germany fears inflation and an unstable Euro far more than Russian aggression.
“This “inner core” of the original Marshall Plan wrote off Germany’s post-1933 debts and enabled West Germany to start off with a debt-to-GDP-ratio of under 20 percent, following the London Debt Agreement of 1953.”
From which they still benefit today. In EU, a low national debt translates to power/influence over those with higher debts. EU will make sure Ukraine is in debt to EU before it will ever really allow Ukraine to join.
While it’s an attractive idea, the execution is a major challenge. To permanently seize frozen assets from private individuals they have to prove they were profits from criminal activities (which of course they are but proving something that happened in Russia is another thing), or change the international laws, which EU and also Biden administration isn’t enthusiastic about. If it happens, it’ll be needed for reconstruction, not debts.with any luck at all, seiazed oligarch money and assets will pay a large portion of those debts.
That's quite the fucking trick..."We won't just give you what you need to defend US as well as yourselves, but we'll loan you what you need to defend US as well as yourselves, at an attractive interest rate." That's just a fucking shitty attitude, and a shitty way to treat a country that is sacrificing a whole generation to keep the rest of Europe safe from a nation of homicidal empire builders.
I pretty much agree with the idea that this war is not about defending Europe from Russian territorial aggression. Not sure exactly what Europe's reasons are for helping Ukraine. From the US's perspective, Russia, with its nukes and Putin's frequent reference to using them, is an existential threat. Ukraine has its own reasons for fighting against Russian territorial expansion so the US isn't "using" Ukraine but helping Ukraine for its own reasons. The US's aid to Ukraine degrades Russia's economy and military. It's possible that this will lead to an end of Putin, though his successor may not be any better wrt policies toward the US. As a bonus, after sanctions that makes Russia's prosecution of war against Ukraine made bank transfers out of Russia difficult, Putin's campaign to erode democracy and elevate right wing authoritarian government seems to be losing ground.While it’s an attractive idea, the execution is a major challenge. To permanently seize frozen assets from private individuals they have to prove they were profits from criminal activities (which of course they are but proving something that happened in Russia is another thing), or change the international laws, which EU and also Biden administration isn’t enthusiastic about. If it happens, it’ll be needed for reconstruction, not debts.
It’s not about the money used for military defense though, it’s money used to prevent Ukraine’s economy from collapsing entirely. In a way, they treat Ukraine as an EU member, if you need money to keep your economy afloat, the EU will provide in exchange for demanding reforms aimed at improving and stabilizing the economy.
Aside from people in a few states near Ukraine, some politicians and north americans, hardly anyone here subscribes to the idea Ukraine is defending the rest of Europe or even keeping it safe. EU has a far larger population, defense budget and gdp than Russia. It’s just rhetoric to keep support high. If Russia were to attack a NATO member Russia would be decimated. The main real threat is Russia’s nukes and not even the brave Ukrainians can stop those.
True and I'm sure Russia is ready for air operations against a Ukraine counter offensive. But also too, Ukraine is ready for that. A few days ago, four aircraft were shot down in one day. Coincidence? Friendly fire? Ukraine military testing readiness to protect forces on the ground?a cautionary reminder: it’s not all about ground forces. The air force and navy are essentially intact, and no space asset has been degraded.
Russia's "eroded" ground forces have run into "big problems"—U.S. general
"They've lost a lot of people, they've lost a lot of equipment," General Christopher G. Cavoli told the Lennart Meri Conference.www.newsweek.com
to the first question.....from my sluething....all 4 of those aircraft were shot down by friendly fire.......all over the Bryansk Region...nothing like a bunch of drunks with an anti-air system.....True and I'm sure Russia is ready for air operations against a Ukraine counter offensive. But also too, Ukraine is ready for that. A few days ago, four aircraft were shot down in one day. Coincidence? Friendly fire? Ukraine military testing readiness to protect forces on the ground?
But Russian air force and navy "essentially intact"?. What intact means is up for debate. It was during the early days of this war that Russian air capabilities were shown to be already degraded by its own corruption. Pilots were using handheld GPS units to find targets because the jets own navigation systems were old and outdated. Also, how in hell was the Russian flagship downed so easily?
Downed Russian fighter jets are being found with basic GPS 'taped to the dashboards,' UK defense minister says
As the invasion of Ukraine drags on, evidence is emerging that much of Russia's military equipment is outdated and often ineffective.www.businessinsider.com
This article was written during the early days of the war, when Russia thought it could win in days or weeks. It could be that they didn't want to commit their best but to me that doesn't make sense. It could also be that this was their best. Which means what's in reserve is worse.
I'm just speculating and am frequently wrong when I do that. Still though, wtf, Russia? If they are a top notch military, where are the top notch capabilitie?.
They have been careful with their fixed-wing aircraft after the early days. This is very speculative, but if they put together a large strike, they might lose thirty of two hundred aircraft, but chances are they’ll do real damage to the military and infrastructure targets that artillery and missiles haven’t worked against. That could be a game changer.True and I'm sure Russia is ready for air operations against a Ukraine counter offensive. But also too, Ukraine is ready for that. A few days ago, four aircraft were shot down in one day. Coincidence? Friendly fire? Ukraine military testing readiness to protect forces on the ground?
But Russian air force and navy "essentially intact"?. What intact means is up for debate. It was during the early days of this war that Russian air capabilities were shown to be already degraded by its own corruption. Pilots were using handheld GPS units to find targets because the jets own navigation systems were old and outdated. Also, how in hell was the Russian flagship downed so easily?
Downed Russian fighter jets are being found with basic GPS 'taped to the dashboards,' UK defense minister says
As the invasion of Ukraine drags on, evidence is emerging that much of Russia's military equipment is outdated and often ineffective.www.businessinsider.com
This article was written during the early days of the war, when Russia thought it could win in days or weeks. It could be that they didn't want to commit their best but to me that doesn't make sense. It could also be that this was their best. Which means what's in reserve is worse.
I'm just speculating and am frequently wrong when I do that. Still though, wtf, Russia? If they are a top notch military, where are the top notch capabilitie?.