Russia Masses Military Equipment Near Ukraine Borders: A Prologue to WWIII?

[Helen of Annoy]

16 hours ago, razman said:

Maybe he got a super sized , super rich bunker built in the Urals .

It's not my intention to sound morbid, but being in a bunker offers protection from bombs, shells,  missiles... it doesn't offer protection from poisoning or being killed by someone in the same bunker etc. Possibilities are endless.  

[L.A.T.1961]

Russia Keeps Stock Market Closed in Longest Pause Since 1998.

The three-day shuttering of stock trading on the Moscow bourse is its longest closure for extraordinary circumstances since October 1998, according to the exchange. The halt came after the U.S. and Europe imposed harsher sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, sending the country’s assets plunging. 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-02/russia-keeps-stock-market-closed-in-longest-shutdown-since-1998

 

[Helen of Annoy]

Certain western diplomat, whose name I won't mention, because he explained later that he gave that statement while under the influence of emotions, said that he wishes Russian people would eliminate Putin. 

He doesn't expect this conflict can be resolved through diplomacy and negotiations. 

I'm under impression most of us think the same. 

 

And if you thought there's no law or convention left for Putin to break, you were wrong. Russians forced a civilian ship in Black Sea to be the shield for their navy vessels. 

 https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/ukraine-closes-shipping-lanes-in-northwestern-region-of-black-sea

 

[Occult1]

8 hours ago, Noteverythingisaconspiracy said:

Ukraine is a sovereign country. Russia have no right to dictate their policy.

Wasn't Iraq a sovereign country before the 2003 invasion?

Edited March 2, 2022 by Occult1

[Setton]

2 hours ago, joc said:

All I know is that I, myself, personally think that it is incredibly strange to presume that anyone outside of the Putin Hierarchy actually knows what they thought going into Ukraine.

Gosh, if only we had people who could find that out. Some kind of body dedicated to getting information

 You could call them something like the Government Communications Headquarters. Or the National Security Agency. Or the Central Intelligence Agency, or Secret Intelligence Service.

Shame no such thing exists, right? Luckily we have internet randomer #6 aka Joc to stand in for them.

[Guest Xetan]

2 hours ago, joc said:

First of all, there is no larger conflict with American and/or the rest of Europe.  Attacking America directly or any NATO member triggers World War Three instantly.  How does being thrust into World War help Putin and Russia to achieve whatever goals they may have?  Any use of nukes would trigger more use of nukes and the whole entire world would cease to exist as the 21st Century knows it. 

This all exists within the realm of speculation, and because I am not speculating, I am not addressing it.

Threatening nuclear responses to interference, directly threatening specific nations (including NATO members), blasting a Japanese cargo ship, attacking foreign consulates, and indicating that sanctions are "attacks" on their nation would all be evidence enough to prove intent in a court of law. It doesn't suddenly become less meaningful evidence when scaled up.

[ExpandMyMind]

5 minutes ago, Occult1 said:

Wasn't Iraq a sovereign country before the 2003 invasion?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism

[Occult1]

‘Constant shelling’ as Russian forces lay siege to key Ukrainian cities

Russian forces in Ukraine moved on Wednesday to tighten their siege of key cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and the southern port of Mariupol, as one mayor told residents he had been given an ultimatum to surrender or the city would be razed by shelling.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/02/constant-shelling-as-russian-forces-lay-siege-to-key-ukrainian-cities-kyiv-mariupol

Key Ukrainian cities are under siege according to reports. I don't know how long this will last, seems Ukraine will have no choice but to capitulate.

Edited March 2, 2022 by Occult1

[Helen of Annoy]

7 minutes ago, Occult1 said:

Wasn't Iraq a sovereign country before the 2003 invasion?

What you are saying is that you think Putin is doing exactly that, what he saw Americans do and he obviously liked it. 

But it doesn't explain or exculpate Putin. 

He's an aggressor. And a war criminal.  

[Helen of Annoy]

2 minutes ago, Occult1 said:

 

Key Ukrainian cities are under siege according to reports. I don't know how long this will last, but Ukraine will have no choice but to capitulate.

There is constant shelling. And missiles. Murdering civilians in their homes. 

But Ukraine will survive this. Putin won't. 

[Occult1]

7 minutes ago, Helen of Annoy said:

What you are saying is that you think Putin is doing exactly that, what he saw Americans do and he obviously liked it.

It's possible.

The US had no qualms about invading a sovereign country for security concerns and to install a government friendly to their interests.

The Bush administration enjoyed full support of the congress to use ''any means necessary'' against Iraq.

Edited March 2, 2022 by Occult1

[Helen of Annoy]

10 minutes ago, Occult1 said:

It's possible.

The US had no qualms about invading a sovereign country for security concerns and to install a government friendly to their interests.

The Bush administration enjoyed full support of the congress to use ''any means necessary'' against Iraq.

I don't care. No one sane cares for Russian whataboutism. I don't care about the opinion of Iraq from Russian perspective, especially since Syria. I don't care for excuses for war crimes because nothing can excuse Putin's war crimes in Ukraine.

Putin is imperialist and a war criminal. 

But it's so amusingly ridiculous that Russian propaganda is trying to justify attack on Ukraine by insisting that it's something Americans did. 

They're unintentionally claiming that Putin learned from Americans. Certainly, victims of neo-soviet propaganda in the West are too ignorant or irrational to understand what's so hilarious about that. 

Not that it's the only bizarre Russian attempt to deflect something.

See that weird iron cage on top of that marvelously ****ed up tank? Russians believed it can stop a Javelin  

   

[Helen of Annoy]

Oh, that reminds me!

Ukrainian authorities informed the public that no tax will have to be paid for any Russian tanks and other armored vehicles which were taken by Ukrainian citizens.  

Which is only logical, most of these vehicles are in the state of extreme disrepair   

[Helen of Annoy]

Slovenia won't invoke Article 5 because of the Russian attack on their embassy in Kharkiv. 

https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/slovenija-od-rusije-zatrazila-naknadu-stete-za-unisten-konzulat-u-harkivu/2344068.aspx?index_ref=clanak_vijesti_najnovije_d

 

Quote

SLOVENIA handed the Russian ambassador in Ljubljana a protest note over the destruction of the premises of the Slovenian consulate in Kharkiv and reiterated its condemnation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and demanded compensation. 

Quote

Slovenia strongly condemns the inadmissible act of military aggression of the Russian Federation against a sovereign state, the ministry said, on the occasion of Russia's attack on Ukraine and the continuation of attacks on Ukrainian cities. It is further added that this is a gross violation of international law and human rights and that the destruction of civilian targets is a war crime.

 

Edited March 2, 2022 by Helen of Annoy

[+Noteverythingisaconspiracy]

35 minutes ago, Occult1 said:

Wasn't Iraq a sovereign country before the 2003 invasion?

On what basis are you assuming that I supported the 2003 invasion ?

Btw you neatly avoided to tell where you are from. As you can see in my profile I'm from Denmark, so if I'm brave enough to tell why can't  you ?

In case you aren't good a geography I can tell you that Denmark is very close to Russia, and Russia actually treathened us with nuclear weapons if we upgraded our ships with anti ballistic missile defences. Which we are anyway, so take that Putin !

[Katniss]

3 hours ago, joc said:

I find the best way to make an educated decision is to leave the Media Heads out of my head.  Then you can think clearly...once you turn any of the Media Outlets on, what you are actually doing is inviting them to tell you what to think and how to think.  Who needs that?

Or...or the best way to make an educated decision is to go by their actions. Like...um I don't know...like trying to assassinate people with nerve gas or poison, eliminate or imprison political opponents, shut down any opposition to a person's high political position, staying in power for as long as they want. It says a lot about a person and what they may be capable of. There is a lot to be learned from their past history, Joc.

[Duke Wellington]

1 hour ago, L.A.T.1961 said:

Russia Keeps Stock Market Closed in Longest Pause Since 1998.

The three-day shuttering of stock trading on the Moscow bourse is its longest closure for extraordinary circumstances since October 1998, according to the exchange. The halt came after the U.S. and Europe imposed harsher sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine, sending the country’s assets plunging. 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-02/russia-keeps-stock-market-closed-in-longest-shutdown-since-1998

 

They wont reopen unless sanctions are lifted or they decide on a package of measures to prop it up.

[Helen of Annoy]

15 minutes ago, Cookie Monster said:

They wont reopen unless sanctions are lifted or they decide on a package of measures to prop it up.

 Well, it is possible to prop up a cadaver, but it's still a cadaver. 

All the enormous wealth oligarchs accumulated will never go back into Russian economy. 

Which makes western salon left's defense of Putin even more ridiculous.  

[+joc]

1 hour ago, Xetan said:

This all exists within the realm of speculation, and because I am not speculating, I am not addressing it.

Threatening nuclear responses to interference, directly threatening specific nations (including NATO members), blasting a Japanese cargo ship, attacking foreign consulates, and indicating that sanctions are "attacks" on their nation would all be evidence enough to prove intent in a court of law. It doesn't suddenly become less meaningful evidence when scaled up.

So...you aren't going to address your own speculation because it is just speculation....very well.

If you actually had a clue Xetan, you would know that you didn't actually have one.  But since you think you do, that just makes it all the more obvious that you do not.

[Occult1]

Russia captures parts of Kherson as troops make strategic gains in southern Ukraine

''Russian forces have occupied the centre of Kherson, a strategically important city of 300,000 in southern Ukraine, in a key advance that positions invading soldiers to move along the economically critical southern Black Sea coast.

On the seventh day of its war on Ukraine, Russian troops continued to fire rockets, missiles and artillery into some of the country’s most important centres, targeting densely populated areas in tactics reminiscent of the ruthless campaigns the Kremlin has waged in Syria and Chechnya.''

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-ukraine-russia-war-kherson-kyiv-kharkiv/

Russian ministry claim full control of Kherson according to some sources. Ukrainian defenses seem to degrade as Russia increases it's attack on major cities.

Edited March 2, 2022 by Occult1

[DarkHunter]

The Ukranian military is counter attacking in some areas and have pushed into Donetsk and have so far captured the town of Horlivka.  

[DarkHunter]

Starting to be reports that the Ukranians are starting to attack the 40 mile long convoy of Russian vehicles.  

[Grey Area]

12 minutes ago, DarkHunter said:

Starting to be reports that the Ukranians are starting to attack the 40 mile long convoy of Russian vehicles.  

Given the time that has elapsed since reports came in on the convoy, I hope it’s a planned coordinated attack.

Good hunting Ukraine!

[+joc]

40 minutes ago, Katniss said:

Or...or the best way to make an educated decision is to go by their actions. Like...um I don't know...like trying to assassinate people with nerve gas or poison, eliminate or imprison political opponents, shut down any opposition to a person's high political position, staying in power for as long as they want. It says a lot about a person and what they may be capable of. There is a lot to be learned from their past history, Joc.

It does say a lot about a person.  Putin is a bad man.  A Genuine Bad Man!  Not a Trumped up baaaaaaaaaad maaaaaaaaan...but rather an actual evil person.

You are so right Katniss...we have so much to learn from history...factual things about Russia.  Putin isn't an anomaly to Russia. He is just one guy in a long line of Russian Bad Guys...there is a reason Reagan referred to them as The Evil Empire...they actually were and actually still are.  All I am saying is that we do not need the media to script the war for us...but they are going to...24 hours a day, non-stop analyzation of minutia and trivialized bs...and they all say the same thing and parrot each other...which...gives the illusion that the truth is somewhere in there, when, in reality...they know nothing and are spinning propaganda.

This time the narrative is ....Putin is such a dolt, thought it would be a a cake walk...had no idea...yada, yada.  If the Russians are anything, they are very smart and very cunning and love playing games with the West.  Anyone who is led down the catwalk of underestimating Putin does so at their own peril.  And the media does absolutely nothing but confuse the truth with all of their bs commentary as if, because some one put a mic in front of them and wrote them a huge check, suddenly they are brilliant thinkers.  pfffft  They talk good, they look good, they look intelligent and seem to have all the answers...it's a myth...it is all propagandized bs.

That's my story and I'll stick with it.  Let's face the fact shall we...people to listen to the press for entertainment.  Because...well...like The Eagles sang about ...it's interesting when people die...  

 

[+joc]

3 hours ago, ExpandMyMind said:

Probably from everything we've seen from the military campaign to date. It's rather obvious that Putin expected this to be far easier.

 

I don't know what Putin expected...ya'll can speculate all you want.  But ya'll are all getting your news feeds from the same place and I am not getting a news feed at all...so...if all of the news feeds are saying something, well, I guess that means something...   I trust the  press to tell me the truth as much as I would trust Putin to tell me the truth...if it's the Thinking of the Day...fine, think what you will...you may be right...But feigning and deceit are both ploys of the Russians...so...pfffft...be careful who you trust.