Russia-Ukraine War - News and Developments

[thetutle]

Most people don't know, US is not actually a democracy, we are a republic, so the guy we voted into office does not really represent us, it is the representation of representation of the United States.

Thats ridiculous, having the electoral college does not disqualify a country from being a democracy. Its actually more democratic than having a "first past the post" system.

Being a republic has nothing to do with a democracy or lack thereof. You can have a democratic republic or a dictatorial republic. The "republic" part does not describe a level of democracy.

Why?

First, what made you think we stole it? Second, What the Ukrainians do with their products are their rights, so if they want to share the technicals of the Kolchuga system with US, why should we say no? Maybe you should educate yourself on the IP rights issue.

There is no point in anyone pressing on what we WILL learn of the Kolchuga system. Our 'foreign technology exploitation' offices of all branches of the US military is the best in the world, and given what we got in the Nevada desert, the best in the solar system. Personally, I have some good guesses on what we will learn. But as of now, this is just another step in making sure our lead in 'stealth' remains the lead for everyone, including China, to follow.

As far as Russia's Su-57 go, once this war is over, the 57 will become another trophy in OUR museum. Russia's low radar observability program is over. It was never a good start in the first place.

You will learn that America needlessly spends so much money on defence.

 

[Wood]

Boom another loss...Putin blinked first. Gas must not be paid in ruble .

https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2022-03/liveblog-ukraine-krieg-aktuell


Russia is a complete joke.

First putin said 31.03. is deadline to pay in ruble. Germany and EU said no...today kremlin said...nevermind. maybe later?


@Ich

I was right.

Putin is a degenerate gambler.

He is used to win repeatedly by diplomatically bullying the west. After Crimea, he thought that he can militarily bully Europe as well. The gamble failed and he is finding that hard to digest

 

[gambit]

Thats ridiculous, having the electoral college does not disqualify a country from being a democracy. Its actually more democratic than having a "first past the post" system.

Being a republic has nothing to do with a democracy or lack thereof. You can have a democratic republic or a dictatorial republic. The "republic" part does not describe a level of democracy.

When some refused to call the US a 'democracy', they usually referred to the raw populist style of democratic practice, which is literally popular vote. The danger is that %51 can vote to enslave the other %49. But YOU are essentially correct, the US is a 'democracy' in the sense that we employ democratic practices at as much levels as possible with provisions to protect minority views.

 

[jhungary]

Thats ridiculous, having the electoral college does not disqualify a country from being a democracy. Its actually more democratic than having a "first past the post" system.

Being a republic has nothing to do with a democracy or lack thereof. You can have a democratic republic or a dictatorial republic. The "republic" part does not describe a level of democracy.


You will learn that America needlessly spends so much money on defence.

Well, US is not democratic........That's the entire point, not the point of being a republic.

Unlike in Australia. we do not have a party majority rule, which mean you can elect a governor (or president) of one party and the entire legislature from another party, that is why Bi-partisanship is VERY important in the US not as much as in Australia or other commonwealth system

The President in particular, is not a product of direct vote. If you had studied the Constitution, it was intentionally made not being a democratic country.

Not being a dictatorship does not mean it is democratic

 

[Apollon]

Putin is a degenerate gambler.

He is used to win repeatedly by diplomatically bullying the west. After Crimea, he thought that he can militarily bully Europe as well. The gamble failed and he is finding that hard to digest

German magizine "Welt" says now Putins speaker Peskov said in pressconference, that kremlin never said gas would stop tomorrow. He just want call a meeting to discuss.

Gaslieferungen in Rubel? Putin sichert Scholz Zahlungen in Euro zu - WELT

Dreht Russland den Gashahn ab? Müssen Deutschland und die EU künftig die Gasrechnungen in Rubel bezahlen? Der russische Präsident Putin wird heute über weitere Maßnahmen mit Gazprom sprechen. Energiemarktexperten sagen: Unabhängig davon könnte es bei der Liefermenge Veränderungen geben.

www.welt.de

Putin is done. Nothing is worse than threatening and then blinking first.


Where are all the putinists here now?

 

[F-22Raptor]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1509162529259503618

https://twitter.com/x/status/1509151957247832073

 

[jhungary]

When some refused to call the US a 'democracy', they usually referred to the raw populist style of democratic practice, which is literally popular vote. The danger is that %51 can vote to enslave the other %49. But YOU are essentially correct, the US is a 'democracy' in the sense that we employ democratic practices at as much levels as possible with provisions to protect minority views.

lol, he should tell that to the rural state and see how they like them "Democracy"

It is done exactly like this IMO to give more power to rural state, when they have the same number of senator than big city state. The imbalance of power is written in our constitution so that it will not be biased to any one system.

People confused being "Democratic" and a state with "Democratic Value, as in freedom of speech, freedom to vote and so on" We are the latter, not the former.

 

[thetutle]

That East German kid at the end got a banana and a chocolate bar, he just won the lottery. Imagine he was given a can of coke. it would be like meeting an alien. In the 80's you could probably get exchange a whole night with a Czech hooker for a six pack can of Coca Cola. Not a bottle, but a can. It was unheard of.

Deputy Mikhail Delyagin on the Russian state channel "Russia 1" TV channel:

"There are problems against Azerbaijan. Do we need Azerbaijan's oil industry? No, it is extremely vulnerable. If people don't understand words, they will have to start understanding from actions"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1508540527058292736

If Russia extends the war to the territory of Azerbaijan, this will mean the physical unification of the Turkic world. I'm sure the political mind in russia is not as stupid as this deputy.

If russia extends the war to Azerbaijan, which it will soon, it will mean the end of Azerbaijan. And it will expose the supposed muslim Putin lovers here for what they really are. It will also show turkey made a serious error in appeasing Russia. But I can understand the Turkish position, as there is a slight chance russia might not invade. Only a slight chance.

 

[Vergennes]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1509160195443855363

 

[thetutle]

I also think the fall out from this Ukraine loss for Russia is Russian's active role to destabilize other regions e.g. middle east and take revenge by supporting proxies against the West...

Yes, thats what russia will do. and it will not end well. I dont see how Assad can last, USA will be looking to get rid of him more actively. So far US strategy was to merely destroy syria.

I’m of the same opinion as you brother. I’m not supporting Russians cause I like them, but they serve my interests to open a front in Europe and hopefully more pain down the road so they see how it feels. There’s a reason Muslims are quite in this conflict and watching on the sidelines and Blinken running around like a horny goat in the Middle East with none to pick his balls. As you put it, it’s White on White action I could careless how many perish or they nuke themselves.

Let’s not forget the media did a good job spreading Islamophobia last 20+ years and they expected some sort of Kumbaya gathering? Or us holding hands in Kyiv and switching Facebook profile pictures? Lol. Then Sino phobia and now Russian phobia good job uniting all three.

Would you support Russia china India block even if it meant accepting India's control over Kashmir and Indias future genocide/expulsion of muslims?

Yep Chinese have some hard thinking to do as well, from workers to private business owner to government. What is a real safe investment, what are real risks. Hopefully this convinces the most corrupt elites that the only way to ensure their personal best interest is not to loot and take money to foreign banks but to build up their own national strength. Why loot and run when you can loot and rule?

China isn't even the worst about this. At least our oligarchs can't buy random football clubs or something.

Chinese dictators aren't stupid, they know their wealth is safer in the west than in china. Yes west could confiscate it, but China can confiscate it far easier.

 

[Meengla]

Would you support Russia china India block even if it meant accepting India's control over Kashmir and Indias future genocide/expulsion of muslims?

I think the more likely scenario is that Russia and China, now firmly allied, well, until at least Putin dies, are going to make India and Pakistan do compromises on Kashmir. BTW, in another post above, you are overthinking Russian capabilities and intentions such as mentioning Russia invading Azerbaijan.
Let Putin pass away and this will be all sorted out.

 

[thetutle]

Personally, I don't understand why countries keep their foreign reserves in other countries. This includes government investments in other countries.

For example, Saudi Arabia and UAE have billions invested in the West, and then they go around asking foreigners to FDI in their own countries. Why not invest your own billions in your own country instead of leaving it hostage in other countries?

Because they know all too well how perilous their hold on these countries is. Whole dynasties have been ready to flee in the middle of the night and have suitcases packed.

 

[WotTen]

Because they know all too well how perilous their hold on these countries is. Whole dynasties have been ready to flee in the middle of the night and have suitcases packed.

I am talking about state assets, not personal wealth. Saudi Arabia and UAE have national funds worth tens of billions invested in the West instead of their own countries. And then they ask foreigner to invest in their countries. Makes no sense.

 

[SuvarnaTeja]

You can buy new equipment to replace what inevitably will fail from usage, and upgrade as technology improves. If you lose the war, the MICs die. So in the end, MICs make money in peacetime, not war.

No. MICs will not die if US loses the war.

MICs make money irrespective of the result of the war.

What dies is military personnel and countries image which MICs could not care less.

 

[jhungary]

Personally, I don't understand why countries keep their foreign reserves in other countries. This includes government investments in other countries.

For example, Saudi Arabia and UAE have billions invested in the West, and then they go around asking foreigners to FDI in their own countries. Why not invest your own billions in your own country instead of leaving it hostage in other countries?

It's a fiat currency thing.

You cannot back your own currency with your own currency. Otherwise it would just be a "What you said is true" kind of situation.

In layman term, country around the world uses foreign currency to back their own currency, that is how it work. let's say your central bank have AUD$100 bill in it. How do you guarantee this worth A$100 when it was printed on a 10c piece of plastic? You guarantee it by holding A$100 equivalent of foreign currency, say you have a A$100 note and $75 USD in the bank, you can use that $75 USD to back your A$100 note, because at any time, you know you can trade your $75 USD to the US Central bank and get A$100 dollars. the same is done in the US to balance their own currency (They uses A$100 to back $75 USD) which mean you can trade between country to back your own currency.

That is done on top of your country own limit of circulation, so you don't lost the excess value of your currency. Which mean you don't need to print as much money to have more tender in circulation and it act as a cushion for any monetary shock. Because Printing money is bad for monetary policy.