8,500 troops deployed
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I read an opinion piece that speculated the disconnect between the Ukrainians and the US/NATO re the imminence of Russian invasion is because the Ukrainians have been at low level war with the Russians since 2014 when the Russians grabbed the Crimea. The Ukrainians are accustomed to Russian troops on their doorstep.
I also watched an interview yesterday with the Ukrainian ambassador to the US. She made the point that the Russians, with their bullying behavior, are trying to rattle, trying to panic, the Ukrainians. Remaining calm and downplaying the invasion risk is the Ukrainian way of resisting this pressure.
I also watched an interview yesterday with the Ukrainian ambassador to the US. She made the point that the Russians, with their bullying behavior, are trying to rattle, trying to panic, the Ukrainians. Remaining calm and downplaying the invasion risk is the Ukrainian way of resisting this pressure.
The pessimist in me thinks Ukraine is being used as a vehicle to influence domestic polling data.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Well, yes, to a degree, but it's a two-way street: Putin's economy is largely at the mercy of those gas payments, which make up a huge chunk of Russia's state budget. So these two need each other to dance.
Nobody but Russia and Ukraine are actually going to fight if it comes to an attack. But it's still a good idea to show a united front and make it as diplomatically and economically painful for Putin and Russia as is feasible. The oligarchs that are the real power behind Putin have worldwide business interests and aren't going to let him drive Russia into total isolation.
Plus, any Ukraine invasion, especially a larger comprehensive one aimed at regime change in Kiev, is a huge risk. The Russian military is vastly superior on paper, and you can find lots of supposedly "objective documentaries" placed on youtube praising its new and modern capabilities. The reality is that the Russian army has performed unimpressively in every conflict since the fall of the USSR, from Chechnya in the 90s to Syria recently. Ukraine isn't the mountains of Afghanistan, but it's large, and the Russians could expect a super-sized version of our Iraq scenario.
In fact, there is a certain irony if, just as we got painfully rid of our Afghanistan after a couple decades, now the Russians buy themselves another one like that.
OP
Putin, right now, is figuring the number of body bags he needs to return back to Russia.
Any housing in which I lived in Europe (left Sarajevo in 2020) had dual systems, gas and electric, as a result of Putin's last shutoff.
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len917
Member
That 65/Bil+ equipment left in Afghanistan would have helped the Ukraine.
Based on what was actually done (left behind) this gift to Ukraine would have actually not cost us anything.
Based on what was actually done (left behind) this gift to Ukraine would have actually not cost us anything.
Putin knows that invading Ukrainian will be his Afghanistan. He's cynical,corrupt and ruthless,but he's no dummy
I see where some congressmen from both sides of the aisle are lobbying for sending equipment made in their states to be send over to deter the Russians. Surprise surprise surprise
Lawmakers press Biden admin to send more military aid to Ukraine | TheHill
How will the Ukraine pay for this equipment you ask? Well, with money printed by the friendly US government. One think you can depend on both sides supporting is printing and spending more money. They may argue on what to print and spend it for, but that just the fine print.
We have sent the Ukraine 2.7 billion since 2014. But, ramped up last year sending 650 million, and just recently another 200 millions.
Follow the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Lawmakers press Biden admin to send more military aid to Ukraine | TheHill
How will the Ukraine pay for this equipment you ask? Well, with money printed by the friendly US government. One think you can depend on both sides supporting is printing and spending more money. They may argue on what to print and spend it for, but that just the fine print.
We have sent the Ukraine 2.7 billion since 2014. But, ramped up last year sending 650 million, and just recently another 200 millions.
Follow the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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JJEH
Member
I'm so tired of these political games and people that could do something refuse to act.
Remember old-school politicians who actually cared, like Rep. Leo Ryan?!
He went to Guyana, South America to see with his own eyes what was going on after some outcry here in the States. This is how it's supposed to work, and I respect him very much for his actions. Unfortunately, he and his delegation lost their lives there in the service to the people of the United States.
Nowadays it seems to me that politicians are in for the wrong reasons...
I hope diplomacy will prevail in Ukraine but I'm afraid it won't.
Remember old-school politicians who actually cared, like Rep. Leo Ryan?!
He went to Guyana, South America to see with his own eyes what was going on after some outcry here in the States. This is how it's supposed to work, and I respect him very much for his actions. Unfortunately, he and his delegation lost their lives there in the service to the people of the United States.
Nowadays it seems to me that politicians are in for the wrong reasons...
I hope diplomacy will prevail in Ukraine but I'm afraid it won't.
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StakeOut
US Veteran
Do you know that the US buys oil from Russia now and you are paying the high prices at the pump because Alaska drill has stopped and pipelines have been shut down .Oil ships by rail now and it's more expensive.
Elections Have Consequences
Elections Have Consequences
HardToHandle
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This update is accurate to what is going on.
- The 8500 US troops are not going to the Ukraine. The President ruled out US troops on the ground weeks ago. There is very limited US forces based in Europe these days. This is also not Task Force Smith, the pentultimate speed bump.
- European support is quite variable - with Poles readying for war to the Germans and Italians opposing sanctions.
- Federal agencies have been expecting this for six months or more. Many large businesses have been prepping for months.
- Also remember that Boston has been importing Natural Gas from Russia.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
There were several reasons the Trump administration permitted the Russian gas to bypass the sanctions.
Mainly, gas was not on the sanctions list, and the gas was owned by France's Total, who are partners in the Russian gas project. It was also shipped on French LNG tankers from ports in Great Britain.
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OP
2012 a candidate was ridiculed for suggesting Russia was the greatest threat.
2014 Crimea overrun.
2014 Crimea overrun.
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
One thing to keep in mind when talking energy and who buys what from whom:
In Western Europe and the US, energy purveyors are private multinationals with legions of lawyers and lots of power to influence a fairly complex political process to arrive at decisions about sanctions and such. Governments can't just decide to buy or not.
In Russia, Gazprom is largely owned by the state and controlled by Putin and the people behind him. Very different decision-making.
Putin has ways to rub that in, for example by buying prominent Western politicians as highly paid Gazprom "advisors" after they leave office. Most notorious example: former German chancellor Schröder, a "close friend" of Putin and for a time Gazprom chairman of the board.
In Western Europe and the US, energy purveyors are private multinationals with legions of lawyers and lots of power to influence a fairly complex political process to arrive at decisions about sanctions and such. Governments can't just decide to buy or not.
In Russia, Gazprom is largely owned by the state and controlled by Putin and the people behind him. Very different decision-making.
Putin has ways to rub that in, for example by buying prominent Western politicians as highly paid Gazprom "advisors" after they leave office. Most notorious example: former German chancellor Schröder, a "close friend" of Putin and for a time Gazprom chairman of the board.
Attachments
Actually the only pipe line that has been shut down is the construction of Keystone XL. Its financiers got the original permits claiming it would only be used to ship Canadian Tar Sands oil to the Gulf for export. No actual operating pipeline has been shut down. Leases in Alaska ANWAR have been curtailed and those have been fought over forever.
Curtailing fracking has done more to limit supply than that. But most US refinery are only running at around 80-90% capacity because limiting supply increase demand. Current crude prices are almost exactly what they were in 2004 and less than 1/2 that they were at their peak in August of 2008
HOUSTON RICK
Member
Our competitor's rightly sense weakness, fear and indecisiveness
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