Generally speaking, this is a strong article that makes great points. But you seriously undermine your case by saying one thing that is outright stupid:
"Putin has zero incentive to attack Europe if it is no threat to him."
Really?
You think dictators make their decisions based on only going to war with people who they're sure can fight back? You think Putin's being careful only to attack places he absolutely really has to for survival? Putin conquered Georgia in 2008 because it was a THREAT? Seriously? Georgia was about to go to war with Russia, was it?
You think Putin attacked Chechnya because of it's dangerous plans to conquer the rest of the homeland? You think South Ossetia was about to randomly kidnap some Russians for entertainment and Putin bravely stopped them?
Failing dictators attack other countries for DOMESTIC political reasons, not foreign ones. Putin likes wars. They eliminate opposition and conquering other people makes his legacy look good to other Russians. It's that simple.
Yes, "NATO is threatening Russia" was the excuse. But come on. If Putin actually thought Ukraine was a threat he wouldn't have risked attacking it! Putin didn't think Ukraine could threaten him in any way. He expected to win the war in three days. He had news articles ready to go about his stunning victory on the day he invaded.
That was the point.
If Europe is no threat to Putin... Putin won't attack Europe. He'll attack one, weaker nation, next to his borders, conquer it, murder all resistance and loot it bare. THAT is how Putin works. And disingenuously pretending he wouldn't is outright offensive, given that he's done so already. Repeatedly.
Just because Starmer's an authoritarian asshat who shouldn't be trusted to run a supermarket checkout doesn't make Putin some kind of saint.
So tell me about Netanyahu who is ACTUALLY DOING THOSE THINGS THAT MR PUTIN MIGHT DO? Or is it OK to shoot up olive skinned people as they are not us.Or do you also stand under the occult Satanic star.
Superb stuff Ricky! Perfectly captures the surreal - and quite frightening - insanity of the present moment.
Some independent journalists and analysts have, quite reasonably, raised concerns about the apparent, deranged eagerness of European 'powers' to keep this quagmire going, but I personally can't see this happening. Not a single one of them has a military worthy of the name that could successfully lead a peacekeeping operation in a prospective demilitarised zone, let alone enter direct conflict with Russia. "Starmer will likely be remembered as the guy who tried and failed to start a war to boost his poll ratings" is about right. Or at least, we can only hope.
After this article was published, Scholz reportedly stormed out of an emergency meeting on Ukraine deployment with France and Britain because he believed the proposals they were putting forward were "highly inappropriate". Which is of course a euphemism for completely unattainable, unrealistic fantasy. Of course, Britain could do what is does best, and indeed has done since the proxy war started, which is to seek escalation via provocation, false flags, etc. to draw other countries deeper and more overtly into the proxy war. But if the Kremlin and Biden administration managed to avoid that for the best part of three years, despite London's best, most determined efforts, I doubt Trump and his cabal will be any more malleable.
While it's correct that the publicly-stated US position isn't far removed from that of Europe, my hunch - and it's just that - is Trump is laying a large number of traps are being laid for the most hawkish elements, including Zelensky himself. Rubio recently issued six detailed questions (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/politics/government/u-s-questions-for-european-governments-on-ukraine-security/ar-AA1z9Rep) for European governments to seriously consider, about what would be required of them, and the US, to provide Kiev with security guarantees. Even if European leaders are able to come up with credible answers to a single one of them - highly questionable - could that be backed with concrete, real-world action in any instance? I'm not seeing it. Many European countries have as good as disarmed themselves over the course of this conflict and are completely financially and militarily dependent on the US, which clearly wants this wrapped up ASAP.
Yes,so they can start extracting the mineral wealth,they got the contracts signed with Zelensky in 2023. I wonder how many farmers and small plotholders are going to get a Big Surprise that Blackrock owns their family property when they thought they did
Great stuff (again). I would say this warmongering is a liberal disease, not neo-liberal. I work on climate change stuff, and the progressives who talk of justice, fair transitions, flourishing and other nonsense are the most vicious, blood thirsty backers of mass slaughter I have encountered anywhere.
Unbelievable: someone standing beneath an umbrella labelled ‘anti imperialist nexus’ would like the imperialist government of the U K to spend more on the military.
‘Muddled’ comes nowhere near an adequate description of such foolishness.
It's more sinister than that. Starmers plan,or someone elses plan he's presenting is to show how inadequate our military is thus justifying Conscription. Not spending actual money on keeping our Army up to date. This is what 40 years worth of military folk warned us but they always got brushed off with - it's all about high tech now. The army has been deliberately run down over 40 years in order to create a pretext for CONSCRIPTION.
Know what I think, I reckon the left wing maniacs: Starmer, Macron, Scholz, Harris/Biden/Obama, etc., have taken millions in cash to fight Russia ‘til their army is done so that China can steamroll in from their border and just take over.
I wonder how much of this madness is to do with the gravy train, how much is their stupid ideology. WE know Putin has no designs on the majority of Ukraine, never mind Europe. Anyone who screams otherwise is either a fool or a liar. In any case, European politicians rant about the far right while they're very keen to continue supporting the actual Nazis in Ukraine. Of course much of it is projection, as they are copying a lot of moves from the far right playbook. I hope Keith understands that - after even more Ukrainians die and their country is totally wrecked (but those contracts...) - he will have paved the way for Nigel Farage.
Oh come on. Putin literally invaded Kiev. He had the "we won and Ukraine is entirely ours again" articles prepared and ready to print the first DAY of the invasion. Russian state news outlets were _surprised_ by not conquering the majority of Ukraine.
We can condemn imperialism and the military-industrial complex without pretending a genocidal dictator is our friend. Or pretending he didn't try to take the majority of Ukraine. Or pretend he wouldn't invade anywhere else like he already did repeatedly. In the opening days of Ukraine where he thought he'd win easily, he was openly eyeing Finland for fuck's sake.
Ask the Georgians what it's like after Putin has no designs on your country.
Gosh, it's good to be talking with the left where we value honest debate based on facts, condemn racism and bigotry in any form, and discuss ideas instead of attacking people.
I'm so glad I'm not posting in one of those right wing fascist shitholes where the instant you say something someone doesn't like they call you a Jewish woke r-word leftie and pretend they've won an argument.
Hey, what's the different between council estate and Reform MAGA bootlickers? Trick question: today, thanks to you, there wasn't one.
There is a lot here with which I agree. The double-standard with regard to Russia and Israel is egregious, to say the least. The notion of Europe at work is absolutely bankrupt. Ultimately, however, I think that willingness to aid Ukrainian resistance to Russian imperialism and Russian fascism is to be welcomed.
You’ve been distracted by the War and haven’t realized Starmer has achieved a coup de tat over parliamentary UK with his annihilation of Jeremy Corbyn.
Starmer is a ancient agent of the rich oppressors you so often remark upon.
I wouldn’t trust Putin any more than I trust Trump. Zelensky took a gamble and played Americas game in the hopes of a big win, but Trump has drawn the line and he has lost.
I agree, that the people of Ukraine deserve for this to be over now…
However, the result is same as it would have been whatever the alternative outcomes.
Instead of either Russia or U.S. exploiting the country, Ukraine is now going to be sucked dry of her natural resources by both Russian AND American profit hungry Oligarchs
That certainly could have been worded better. You don’t know what is going to happen in Ukraine unless you are claiming to be Miss Cleo back from the grave in order to predict the future.
Exactly. Putin,Biden,Harris,Trump all in that Big Club,all working together. Putin must be laughing at our simplicity. As you say it's going to be a carve up now.
The best thing that can happen to Ukraine is ending a war they could never win. That war started in 2014 under Obama and his state department. Provoked and escalated during Biden. Over a million Ukrainian and Russian lives have been wasted as a result. Putin understandably didn’t want NATO military bases and nukes on Russia’s borders. Reasonable, understandable and logical.
Just because leaders talk doesn’t mean what you are suggesting. You’re engaging in intellectual laziness.
Well,the carve up has started. USA is getting rare earths + minerals from Ukraine. Will they be paying top market price? Will any landowner be able to say No to drilling or mining on their land?
So you do not want me "on the same side as you" you deliberately set me as "the opposite side ie I belong to the bad guys side. Why do you feel the need to OTHER me,not quite MONSTER me,but no doubt that's next.This is why the Globalists ruled by Satan are going to achieve their aims in this short term because the opposition is so fractured.
Its not actually about preference, its about serial transgenerational ideological programming.
It goes back to £ord Pa£merston's imperial cartographers mapping Russia for carve-up in the 1840s, before his Crimean fiasco of the 1850s.
It goes back to Rome Mars-worship war-cults, and even beyond to our primitive bestial instincts for dominance, in their war against humanity, both as a collective endeavour, and even as a concept.
Yeah it's totally unforgiveable
You are clearly paying attention...
Generally speaking, this is a strong article that makes great points. But you seriously undermine your case by saying one thing that is outright stupid:
"Putin has zero incentive to attack Europe if it is no threat to him."
Really?
You think dictators make their decisions based on only going to war with people who they're sure can fight back? You think Putin's being careful only to attack places he absolutely really has to for survival? Putin conquered Georgia in 2008 because it was a THREAT? Seriously? Georgia was about to go to war with Russia, was it?
You think Putin attacked Chechnya because of it's dangerous plans to conquer the rest of the homeland? You think South Ossetia was about to randomly kidnap some Russians for entertainment and Putin bravely stopped them?
Failing dictators attack other countries for DOMESTIC political reasons, not foreign ones. Putin likes wars. They eliminate opposition and conquering other people makes his legacy look good to other Russians. It's that simple.
Yes, "NATO is threatening Russia" was the excuse. But come on. If Putin actually thought Ukraine was a threat he wouldn't have risked attacking it! Putin didn't think Ukraine could threaten him in any way. He expected to win the war in three days. He had news articles ready to go about his stunning victory on the day he invaded.
That was the point.
If Europe is no threat to Putin... Putin won't attack Europe. He'll attack one, weaker nation, next to his borders, conquer it, murder all resistance and loot it bare. THAT is how Putin works. And disingenuously pretending he wouldn't is outright offensive, given that he's done so already. Repeatedly.
Just because Starmer's an authoritarian asshat who shouldn't be trusted to run a supermarket checkout doesn't make Putin some kind of saint.
So tell me about Netanyahu who is ACTUALLY DOING THOSE THINGS THAT MR PUTIN MIGHT DO? Or is it OK to shoot up olive skinned people as they are not us.Or do you also stand under the occult Satanic star.
I'd use a word rather more vicious than unforgivable.
Superb stuff Ricky! Perfectly captures the surreal - and quite frightening - insanity of the present moment.
Some independent journalists and analysts have, quite reasonably, raised concerns about the apparent, deranged eagerness of European 'powers' to keep this quagmire going, but I personally can't see this happening. Not a single one of them has a military worthy of the name that could successfully lead a peacekeeping operation in a prospective demilitarised zone, let alone enter direct conflict with Russia. "Starmer will likely be remembered as the guy who tried and failed to start a war to boost his poll ratings" is about right. Or at least, we can only hope.
After this article was published, Scholz reportedly stormed out of an emergency meeting on Ukraine deployment with France and Britain because he believed the proposals they were putting forward were "highly inappropriate". Which is of course a euphemism for completely unattainable, unrealistic fantasy. Of course, Britain could do what is does best, and indeed has done since the proxy war started, which is to seek escalation via provocation, false flags, etc. to draw other countries deeper and more overtly into the proxy war. But if the Kremlin and Biden administration managed to avoid that for the best part of three years, despite London's best, most determined efforts, I doubt Trump and his cabal will be any more malleable.
While it's correct that the publicly-stated US position isn't far removed from that of Europe, my hunch - and it's just that - is Trump is laying a large number of traps are being laid for the most hawkish elements, including Zelensky himself. Rubio recently issued six detailed questions (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/politics/government/u-s-questions-for-european-governments-on-ukraine-security/ar-AA1z9Rep) for European governments to seriously consider, about what would be required of them, and the US, to provide Kiev with security guarantees. Even if European leaders are able to come up with credible answers to a single one of them - highly questionable - could that be backed with concrete, real-world action in any instance? I'm not seeing it. Many European countries have as good as disarmed themselves over the course of this conflict and are completely financially and militarily dependent on the US, which clearly wants this wrapped up ASAP.
Yes,so they can start extracting the mineral wealth,they got the contracts signed with Zelensky in 2023. I wonder how many farmers and small plotholders are going to get a Big Surprise that Blackrock owns their family property when they thought they did
Great stuff (again). I would say this warmongering is a liberal disease, not neo-liberal. I work on climate change stuff, and the progressives who talk of justice, fair transitions, flourishing and other nonsense are the most vicious, blood thirsty backers of mass slaughter I have encountered anywhere.
Unbelievable: someone standing beneath an umbrella labelled ‘anti imperialist nexus’ would like the imperialist government of the U K to spend more on the military.
‘Muddled’ comes nowhere near an adequate description of such foolishness.
It's more sinister than that. Starmers plan,or someone elses plan he's presenting is to show how inadequate our military is thus justifying Conscription. Not spending actual money on keeping our Army up to date. This is what 40 years worth of military folk warned us but they always got brushed off with - it's all about high tech now. The army has been deliberately run down over 40 years in order to create a pretext for CONSCRIPTION.
Know what I think, I reckon the left wing maniacs: Starmer, Macron, Scholz, Harris/Biden/Obama, etc., have taken millions in cash to fight Russia ‘til their army is done so that China can steamroll in from their border and just take over.
I wonder how much of this madness is to do with the gravy train, how much is their stupid ideology. WE know Putin has no designs on the majority of Ukraine, never mind Europe. Anyone who screams otherwise is either a fool or a liar. In any case, European politicians rant about the far right while they're very keen to continue supporting the actual Nazis in Ukraine. Of course much of it is projection, as they are copying a lot of moves from the far right playbook. I hope Keith understands that - after even more Ukrainians die and their country is totally wrecked (but those contracts...) - he will have paved the way for Nigel Farage.
Oh come on. Putin literally invaded Kiev. He had the "we won and Ukraine is entirely ours again" articles prepared and ready to print the first DAY of the invasion. Russian state news outlets were _surprised_ by not conquering the majority of Ukraine.
We can condemn imperialism and the military-industrial complex without pretending a genocidal dictator is our friend. Or pretending he didn't try to take the majority of Ukraine. Or pretend he wouldn't invade anywhere else like he already did repeatedly. In the opening days of Ukraine where he thought he'd win easily, he was openly eyeing Finland for fuck's sake.
Ask the Georgians what it's like after Putin has no designs on your country.
You are the little inbred banjo pickin’ boy from Deliverance. 🪕
You're Jewish and Zionist I'm sure now.
He’s an inbred retard for sure.
Gosh, it's good to be talking with the left where we value honest debate based on facts, condemn racism and bigotry in any form, and discuss ideas instead of attacking people.
I'm so glad I'm not posting in one of those right wing fascist shitholes where the instant you say something someone doesn't like they call you a Jewish woke r-word leftie and pretend they've won an argument.
Hey, what's the different between council estate and Reform MAGA bootlickers? Trick question: today, thanks to you, there wasn't one.
There is a lot here with which I agree. The double-standard with regard to Russia and Israel is egregious, to say the least. The notion of Europe at work is absolutely bankrupt. Ultimately, however, I think that willingness to aid Ukrainian resistance to Russian imperialism and Russian fascism is to be welcomed.
It is a false choice. Same tired old conservative trick - either for us or against us, you're either a commie or you agree with me.
I mean fuck off with this bullshit.
Ukraine was ruthlessly and illegally invaded by Russia.
Putin can just stop invading and return to Russia and the war ends tomorrow.
Asshole.
The military industrial complex doesn’t profit when there’s peace.
Neville Chamberlain would be proud
He was right. Churchill was a useful idiot prepared to sign death warrants
You’ve been distracted by the War and haven’t realized Starmer has achieved a coup de tat over parliamentary UK with his annihilation of Jeremy Corbyn.
Starmer is a ancient agent of the rich oppressors you so often remark upon.
He has won !
I wouldn’t trust Putin any more than I trust Trump. Zelensky took a gamble and played Americas game in the hopes of a big win, but Trump has drawn the line and he has lost.
I agree, that the people of Ukraine deserve for this to be over now…
However, the result is same as it would have been whatever the alternative outcomes.
Instead of either Russia or U.S. exploiting the country, Ukraine is now going to be sucked dry of her natural resources by both Russian AND American profit hungry Oligarchs
Trump has not lost.
If you re-read my comment you’ll see I’m speaking about Zelensky…
Seems to me that Zelensky (and the Ukrainian people) are the only losers out of this America/Russia proxy war!
That certainly could have been worded better. You don’t know what is going to happen in Ukraine unless you are claiming to be Miss Cleo back from the grave in order to predict the future.
Exactly. Putin,Biden,Harris,Trump all in that Big Club,all working together. Putin must be laughing at our simplicity. As you say it's going to be a carve up now.
The best thing that can happen to Ukraine is ending a war they could never win. That war started in 2014 under Obama and his state department. Provoked and escalated during Biden. Over a million Ukrainian and Russian lives have been wasted as a result. Putin understandably didn’t want NATO military bases and nukes on Russia’s borders. Reasonable, understandable and logical.
Just because leaders talk doesn’t mean what you are suggesting. You’re engaging in intellectual laziness.
Well,the carve up has started. USA is getting rare earths + minerals from Ukraine. Will they be paying top market price? Will any landowner be able to say No to drilling or mining on their land?
So you do not want me "on the same side as you" you deliberately set me as "the opposite side ie I belong to the bad guys side. Why do you feel the need to OTHER me,not quite MONSTER me,but no doubt that's next.This is why the Globalists ruled by Satan are going to achieve their aims in this short term because the opposition is so fractured.
Its not actually about preference, its about serial transgenerational ideological programming.
It goes back to £ord Pa£merston's imperial cartographers mapping Russia for carve-up in the 1840s, before his Crimean fiasco of the 1850s.
It goes back to Rome Mars-worship war-cults, and even beyond to our primitive bestial instincts for dominance, in their war against humanity, both as a collective endeavour, and even as a concept.
But don't mind me, I'm drunk on history.