There is an interesting briefing article (behind a paywall) in the current double number of the Economist - a history of Russian Fascism - it points out that tho definitions of fascism can be contentious the Russian state under Putin has moved so much that the usually accepted definitions of fascism well apply to Putin's Russia - it also gives little or no hope that Russia will cease being a menace to both its neighbours and the wider world.
Ukraine
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Originally posted by Frances_iom View Postit also gives little or no hope that Russia will cease being a menace to both its neighbours and the wider world.It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.
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Originally posted by french frank View PostI paused over the BBC's headline that "Russia accuses US of direct role in Ukraine war" … Pot, kettle? Also interesting that Russians fully accept (do they really, though?) that Russia is fighting a Nazi regime in Ukraine. Why would the EU and Nato welcome a Nazi state into membership - or were the Russians the only ones who fought and conquered Nazism in WW2?
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Presumably after Ms Pelosi's absurd grandstanding, the hawks in the Chinese administration will now have more clout when it comes to supplying arms to Mr Putin and that government will presently do so, either overtly or covertly. It suits the Chinese for the West to become bogged down and weakened in Ukraine: it will make their task of eventually retaking Taiwan so much easier.
It's hard to see how any sort of peace can be achieved. The West's sanctions against Russia have backfired appallingly, with the threat of recession throughout Europe and the rise of extremist parties as a consequence. If China does supply arms to Russia and the West applies sanctions to them they will -as the BBC reported - simply blockade Taiwan, stopping the export of the essential components for most of our modern technologies. And now that the ghastly Liz Truss looks set to become our next leader with her silly talk of Ukraine retaking the Donbas, one sees even less cause for hope.
But hope one must. If only we had leaders strong enough to know not only the strength of compromise but how awful War actually is: bodies torn apart by metal in the most appalling and painful way. As the great Australian writer Patrick White said, 'Bombs are unbelievable until they actually fall.'
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Originally posted by Bella Kemp View PostPresumably after Ms Pelosi's absurd grandstanding ....
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Originally posted by Dave2002 View Post
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Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View PostPutin's government will probably respond by re-nationalising the fleeing companies without compensation - the Right there being not beyond learning a trick or two from its originally more progressive forbears, I would have thought.
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Today marks six months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as thirty-one years of Ukrainian independence.
I am still optimistic that Ukraine will be able to start rolling back the invading forces, albeit not in a sweeping offensive but rather in a series of small 'bites'. Russian progress in the last six weeks has varied from non-existent to glacial while Ukraine has made advances in several areas. More importantly, they now have the capability to systematically degrade Russian logistics and lines of communication (which is one of the main reasons for the lack of Russian advances).
However, I can't see this war ending any time soon. I hope am wrong.
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Originally posted by DracoM View PostJohnson manifestlt PR grandstanding - or has he got a place there for his 'retirement'?
IMO pretty unashamed sick-making stuff from him.It isn't given us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal. A moment too late and we can never reach them any more in this world.
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Originally posted by DracoM View PostJohnson manifestlt PR grandstanding - or has he got a place there for his 'retirement'?
IMO pretty unashamed sick-making stuff from him.
There are stories (spin/placemen/non-resident media owners) in the press that he will be waiting for a comeback as the saviour of his party - if so, the prospects for our benighted country gets worse at every turn.
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Originally posted by Cockney Sparrow View PostThere are stories (spin/placemen/non-resident media owners) in the press that he will be waiting for a comeback as the saviour of his party - if so, the prospects for our benighted country gets worse at every turn.
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Originally posted by Cockney Sparrow View PostForeign political leaders view him as a joke and now irrelevant. Somewhat (?) reviled at home. He's used to being popular, warmly regarded - the crucial attribute which (unaccountable as it is to me) made the ruling party choose him as electoral "magic ingredient" to stay in power in 2019. Now, the only place he gets warmly welcomed, without being contained in a tightly controlled bubble (hard hat & hi vis, in sympathiser's factories) is Kyiv.
There are stories (spin/placemen/non-resident media owners) in the press that he will be waiting for a comeback as the saviour of his party - if so, the prospects for our benighted country gets worse at every turn.I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.
I am not a number, I am a free man.
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