Ukraine
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from WSJ, by Yulia Latynina
https://www.wsj.com/articles/arms-race-ukraine-russia-himars-conquer-conquest-invade-nuclear-drones-11657119063Rich, sedentary civilizations have always been vulnerable. Plato wrote that the gods destroyed Atlantis because it had grown wealthy and debauched. The more a civilization produces, the more alluring a target it becomes: Bronze Age kingdoms fell to the sea peoples; Germanic barbarians took apart the Roman Empire; the Mongols conquered Chinaās empires. In the Islamic world the succession of Umayyads, Abbasids, Mamluks and Ghaznavids reflected Ibn Khaldunās cyclical theory of historyābloated sedentary economies get dismantled and consumed by predatory barbarians.
This cycle was broken by the development of firearms. Technological advance became an instrument for successful conquest. The Vikings left North America because of the ferocity of the natives, but the next wave of invaders conquered the Indians with ease. The difference? Guns.
No zealot or rogue king selling his followers on the certainty of victory in war can stand against superior technology. When the Mahdi tried to build an Islamic state in Sudan in the late 19th century, the machine guns of Maj. Gen. Horatio Herbert Kitchener ensured British victory at the Battle of Omdurman. A similar fate befell rebels in Matabeleland in 1896-97 in modern-day Zimbabwe. The leaders of the 1899 Boxer Rebellion in China promised their followers invulnerability against the bullets of foreign devils. This turned out to be an exaggeration.
For much of recent history, technological progress was the only route to success for a nation. Even the Soviet Union understood. The Vietnam War, the Iranian revolution and Sept. 11 each turned the wheel again. The barbarians had the advantage because their adversary had grown flabby and satisfied. It was impossible to fight Osama bin Laden the way Kitchener fought the Mahdiās followers, not because al Qaeda had advanced weapons, but because a civilized nation couldnāt fight an uncivilized war.
The only war a modern, prosperous, open society is willing to fight is a comfortable one. This has been noticed by the worldās rogue dictators. Vladimir Putinās war in Ukraine is a challenge to the prevailing international order, presided over by a sedentary, prosperous U.S. hegemon. Unless this challenge is met by superior technology, it will likely succeed.A new arms race is the only option for the West. The Russian offensive flounders in the face of superior firepower. On battlefields where there are no modern weapons, the barbarian Russian army, with its tactics of cannon fodder and indiscriminate shelling, slowly prevails. Where the Ukrainian defenders have been equipped with Western artillery, Russiaās stockpiles explode into fireworks and its fodder troops are burnt like chaff.
A world without a war is only a dream. When the strong and just refuse to fight with the weapons they have, thugs and bullies can do what they want. The West must build precision weapons that can take out Russiaās nuclear silosāand let Mr. Putin know that they arenāt afraid to use them. Develop drones that can hunt and kill terrorists. An open society canāt dictate to rogue states how to live. But it should be able to prevent aggression like the invasion of Ukraine.
Ms. Latynina was a journalist with Echo of Moscow and Novaya Gazeta, Russian press outlets that have been shut down during Russiaās war with Ukraine.
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Pay wall, never mind but could you post the article itself please.
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just to keep the post alive....
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https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/08/6/7362137/
Orcs mined Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (literally X10 Chernobyls, more then enough even for khuilo lovers in Serbia or NeUtRaLiTy keepers in Ireland)
Nitrogen-oxygen unit is destroyed..
This snowy Mordor is a pure terrorist state which Mankind never seen before -
He is trying to evoke war flames. This is the point that would be better for the world to take actionāa sane action not playing in his game and with his rules.
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I have an eye on Finland's decision.
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Hi Guys,
I did a quick catchup read since my last comments. I see this thread is going strong with all sides having their say.
Even here is Ennis (a small town in the West of Ireland where I live ..... currently!) is showing the effects of the mess in Ukraine. I have met with a number of people that have fled the Ukraine and I welcomed them. They are just ordinary people like you and me trying to get by the best they can!
Until we see the World being run by 'ordinary people' we will never have peace and real prosperity. From what I see the World has and is being run by the elites from their cushy and safe positions. This has been the situation for many years. Does anyone seriously think that Hitler would have got into power and stayed for as long as he did without the backing of the elites?
So, until we see something that resembles Direct Democracy happening Worldwide nothing will change and we will see 'business as usual' for the Elites. As Major General Smedley Butler said ..... 'War Is A Racket'. I think it's a great racket if you are part of the Elite group that finances it and profits hugely from it. By the way, the real Elites have no country and they don't want one! It's just a case of profit and lose for them. I imagine they would be totally happy living in outer space if they could have all the creature comforts they are used to. From this position they could really treat us like pawns on a chessboard. I would include, Biden, Jinping, Putin, Jong-un, Johnson etc etc in the group of pawns even though may feel otherwise.
So you may as well start being happy being a pawn as it's not going to change anytime soon.
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I hope I didn't depress too much with that last post.
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You have got a lovely town, Mike!
Also, I am in total agreement with your thought, with a minor modification. -
Not sure this thread would still be going what with the news fatigue etc. We are still being shocked though.
Health issues joined by a total pc failure it has taken some weeks to deal with. Very grateful for Chilblast who sorted the problems for me.
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My closest friend lives in Moscow, so I have very regular contact. He reported 2 days ago that a number of Polititions in St Petersburg offically called for the sacking of Putin. He then stated that a number of Polititions in Moscow mirrored the sentiment. The sentiment can be summed up by this translated quote " We ask the President to resign due to the fact his views (sic) outdated beyond hope and prevent Russia from delevoment"
I know nothing of Russian politics but I am thinking they would not have made a statement without some sort of leverage, because they all face the wrath of POO-TIN and they risk there own freedom and perhaps lives.
I wonder how much length and breadth this sentiment has at those levels and how what it means in optential outcomes. I think this is exiting as it is the first such stirring of this type, as I understand it and the opinion of my Moscovite freind. -
Wow Liam I had to go look that up, and it's true! What I was hoping, that the people would rise up against that guy, could be happening.
This is that statement- āThe rhetoric you and your subordinates use is full of intolerance and aggression,ā the statement said. āPeople once again fear and hate Russia while we threaten the whole world with nuclear weapons.ā The Lomonosovsky district added: āTherefore, we ask for you to be relieved of your duties as your views and governance model are hopelessly outdated.ā
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/09/lawmakers-putin-impeachment-censure-war/
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Unknown to many outside Russians get a lot of information through Telegram it is very popular now and is fully enkypted, so a popular form of secure information platform Thats how I had this news days ago.
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It seems the boot is on the other foot militarily too with significant gains by the Ukrainians.
They seem more positive than ever that they can win on the ground which is a good sign.
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It saddens me to see continuing revelations of humanitarian crimes in this conflict. Various mentions to the effect that Putin is being criticised with impunity suggest he is coming to the end of his popularity in Russia. For the sake of everyone, including Russians, I wish they would get a move on and depose Putin and his murdering associates. Before they do something monumentally bloody stupid and devastating for all.
Stay well folks, you and yours.
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Mordor is heading to mobilization. It's a matter of nearest period.
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Discovering those crimes on the recaptured grounds would remain an everlasting wound on the face of humanity. It has been a while since I have not chased after the Ukraine news as here has been an absolute mess after the death of Mahsa Amini. such tragic death...
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Tragic.
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1941
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