War with Russia

[Finlandia]

toppstuff said:

Jimbeaux said:

Halb said:

toppstuff said:

There are a lot of "Republic of Crapastan" countries there that no-one in the west should really care about.

No-one should care about them?

I have spent considerable time in the 'Stan countries over a 10 year period. The memories of the Soviets raping their resources and treating them as second class cattle are fresh.

Very interesting. Do you think they will stand behind Putin or stand up to him, if push comes to shove?

Chances of survival if standing up against Russia are slim to none, yet standing behind Russia isn't an option for most, hence the hurry to send in membership requests to NATO and EU.

I think one needs to have spent lots of time or lived in a country bordering to Soviet/Russia to really understand the deeply rooted fear and hate. Saying that, the fear and hate is not of the "it's payback time, lets get the bds" kind, but of the "leave us be in our own country" kind, which is hard enough as the Soviets relocated people all over the place for 50 years, and there are many ethnic Russians in all surrounding countries.

[jmorgan]

Bluebarge said:

jmorgan said:

Neutral with respect to whom? Sort of takes away from the term "neutral".

Indeed - Switzerland is neutral because it chooses to be. A country that is forced by its neighbour not to join an association that it wants to join is not "neutral" it is "neutered".

They had to tread very carefully in the last WW and could be argued they were far from it but under duress. Odd really from a nation with quite a martial history.

[Jimbeaux]

toppstuff said:

Jimbeaux said:

Halb said:

toppstuff said:

There are a lot of "Republic of Crapastan" countries there that no-one in the west should really care about.

No-one should care about them?

I have spent considerable time in the 'Stan countries over a 10 year period. The memories of the Soviets raping their resources and treating them as second class cattle are fresh.

Very interesting. Do you think they will stand behind Putin or stand up to him, if push comes to shove?

I cannot say. When I was there, the vast majority of citizens, including mid to lower level government people, despised the Russians (except those that were Russian nationals). However, top officials often had ties to the old Soviets yet managed to get elected, either through fraud or innocent ignorance of the populace. Therefore, which way they would guide their nation is unpredictable.

[Jimbeaux]

Finlandia said:

toppstuff said:

Jimbeaux said:

Halb said:

toppstuff said:

There are a lot of "Republic of Crapastan" countries there that no-one in the west should really care about.

No-one should care about them?

I have spent considerable time in the 'Stan countries over a 10 year period. The memories of the Soviets raping their resources and treating them as second class cattle are fresh.

Very interesting. Do you think they will stand behind Putin or stand up to him, if push comes to shove?

Chances of survival if standing up against Russia are slim to none, yet standing behind Russia isn't an option for most, hence the hurry to send in membership requests to NATO and EU.

I think one needs to have spent lots of time or lived in a country bordering to Soviet/Russia to really understand the deeply rooted fear and hate. Saying that, the fear and hate is not of the "it's payback time, lets get the bds" kind, but of the "leave us be in our own country" kind, which is hard enough as the Soviets relocated people all over the place for 50 years, and there are many ethnic Russians in all surrounding countries.

Well said and true.

[rich85uk]

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, but seems things have gotten pretty grim with reports a local politician tortured to death, along with another man

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27118875

[roachcoach]

Kiev pushing back with armoured units, can't see Russia being too happy with that.

Interesting times.

[Wills2]

Kiev claiming to have killed 5 "terrorists" and cleared buildings held by pro Russians, Russia starting more exercises on the border, Putin issuing warnings again.

This isn't over and could take a turn for the worse.

[Rick_1138]

Scary biscuits, but I am happier to see Ukrainian forces standing up to them a bit rather than just rolling over.

I cant see Russia fancying a full on war NATO but you never know.

[jmorgan]

The excuse Putin is looking for if he kept pushing from the sidelines where no one can see him? Ukraine never looked to be a good position, they are damed if they do and damned if they don't.

[Wills2]

Nobody wants that I hope. (war between NATO and Gazprom er I mean Russia)

[Esseesse]

Anyone else surprised that the Chevron share price has not slumped? AFAIK they were on for progressing shale gas production in Ukraine.

I wonder what CND supports have to say about Trident at the moment...

[raftom]

Wills2 said:

Kiev claiming to have killed 5 "terrorists" and cleared buildings held by pro Russians, Russia starting more exercises on the border, Putin issuing warnings again.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Bluebarge said:

Indeed - Switzerland is neutral because it chooses to be.

I disagree. It is "allowed" to be neutral because all sides have their filthy money stored there, and it has so little to offer that it's not worth anyone bothering to invade.

[fido]

Ozzie Osmond said:

I disagree. It is "allowed" to be neutral because all sides have their filthy money stored there, and it has so little to offer that it's not worth anyone bothering to invade.

Well it's a bit of both. I mean they are "allowed" and the people "choose" to be Swiss first because it benefits them to be that way. Unlike say the Scots who would be bankrupt without the UK. Oops .. wrong thread.

[toppstuff]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Bluebarge said:

Indeed - Switzerland is neutral because it chooses to be.

I disagree. It is "allowed" to be neutral because all sides have their filthy money stored there, and it has so little to offer that it's not worth anyone bothering to invade.

Thats really not true anymore.

Switzerland is not secret anymore. Hasn't been for a while. And people really don't have their "filthy money" there any more. All the hot cash has flown to other places.

[skyrover]

Latest VICE news dispatch from Simon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6rPlH0K7o4

After this press conference with the "self-declared" mayor of Sloviansk, Simon was kidnapped, blindfolded and beaten. They held him for 48 hours before releasing him where he was picked up by passing Canadian journalists.

[Pesty]

There is a lot of armour moving around out there

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=o8_...

[fiatpower]

Pesty said:

There is a lot of armour moving around out there

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=o8_...

That is one big convoy! Where abouts in Russia is that?

[Esseesse]

fiatpower said:

Pesty said:

There is a lot of armour moving around out there

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=o8_...

That is one big convoy! Where abouts in Russia is that?

http://pissinontheroses.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/3-k...

[PugwasHDJ80]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Bluebarge said:

Indeed - Switzerland is neutral because it chooses to be.

I disagree. It is "allowed" to be neutral because all sides have their filthy money stored there, and it has so little to offer that it's not worth anyone bothering to invade.

I disagree

Its neutral because it has a surprisingly large and well equipped army, with an armed populace to back it up, in terrain which is ridiculously defensible (and is still prepared to be defended).

It is far far easier to go round Switzerland than through it on all sides!