Canadian servitude secured. A tribute of their most attractive women to be offloaded at Bllingsgate Fish Market for the common folk of London to take to wife. Now thats tradition to savour
Are we sure about these Ukraine claims, the airport, cannot believe that and Isyum is it not split into two by the river and the bridges are down. I would hesitate, in any case such a speed of advance would mean the Ukrainians will be ahead of their supplies and support. There is nothing on the Kiev Post website.
Royal beekeeper informs the Queen's bees that Her Majesty has died
He adds:
“love our country, love our traditions, love our monarchy - fucking amazing”
🥂
There's a lot of scope for someone of appropriate bent to make up an even more ridiculous story - e.g.
* Duke of Cornwall swaps turds with the Earl Marshal, in a tradition dating back to Agincourt, or
* Lord Chamberlain wears his oldest servant's unwashed underwear on his head as he recites lines from the Book of Revelations in the direction of the Palace mousehouse.
Do it right, and Tory monarchists will praise it. They will say that such "traditions" make Britain a country that is so much finer than all the foreign countries. Some will refer to Chesterton's fence. They will sneer that only Kremlin-paid dirty oiks in the IRA who shop at Aldi's and don't deserve to get health treatment if they fall ill would think any differently. "Ignorant" - that's what any person who scoffs at this anthropologically wholly healthy and species-enriching behaviour is. That's obvious! Obvious once you have the sophistication and culture to approve of it!
There's gotta be scope to pull something like this. Some Tories are watching blokes dressed in mediaeval tabards on their TV sets and blubbing and saying they're living through such an important moment in history. They say this openly. They boast about it. They're half cracking up over it.
Maybe, but I do think his suggestion of making up even sillier traditions is a good one.
Though the suggestion you could get Establishment figures to support these ludicrous un-traditions has already been shown in Chris Morris's Cake edition of Brass Eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
That lot will still be blaming the West enthusiastically for everything even if the Ukrainians do manage to pull it off. All of the death and destruction is obviously our fault for scaring poor, vulnerable, innocent Czar Vladimir the Baby Butcher, innit?
I think Russia has been talking about alliance against the 'Imperialists' when talking up their better relations with North Korea? A term so ridiculous it can only be to try to give USA haters around the globe pretext for why they are supporting Russia's invasion.
I mean, lots of places won't care about Ukraine, it's not as though we care about all other places around the globe, but to actively support Russia rather than just not care takes a lot more effort.
Royal beekeeper informs the Queen's bees that Her Majesty has died
He adds:
“love our country, love our traditions, love our monarchy - fucking amazing”
🥂
There's a lot of scope for someone of appropriate bent to make up an even more ridiculous story - e.g.
* Duke of Cornwall swaps turds with the Earl Marshal, in a tradition dating back to Agincourt, or
* Lord Chamberlain wears his oldest servant's unwashed underwear on his head as he recites lines from the Book of Revelations in the direction of the Palace mousehouse.
Do it right, and Tory monarchists will praise it. They will say that such "traditions" make Britain a country that is so much finer than all the foreign countries. Some will refer to Chesterton's fence. They will sneer that only Kremlin-paid dirty oiks in the IRA who shop at Aldi's and don't deserve to get health treatment if they fall ill would think any differently. "Ignorant" - that's what any person who scoffs at this anthropologically wholly healthy and species-enriching behaviour is. That's obvious! Obvious once you have the sophistication and culture to approve of it!
There's gotta be scope to pull something like this. Some Tories are watching blokes dressed in mediaeval tabards on their TV sets and blubbing and saying they're living through such an important moment in history. They say this openly. They boast about it. They're half cracking up over it.
Maybe, but I do think his suggestion of making up even sillier traditions is a good one.
Though the suggestion you could get Establishment figures to support these ludicrous un-traditions has already been shown in Chris Morris's Cake edition of Brass Eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
Are we sure about these Ukraine claims, the airport, cannot believe that and Isyum is it not split into two by the river and the bridges are down. I would hesitate, in any case such a speed of advance would mean the Ukrainians will be ahead of their supplies and support. There is nothing on the Kiev Post website.
There's already been some fake stuff out there, there's bound to be more. But I could see a lot of disinformation being flooded to Russia right now so they think nowhere is safe.
Royal beekeeper informs the Queen's bees that Her Majesty has died
He adds:
“love our country, love our traditions, love our monarchy - fucking amazing”
🥂
There's a lot of scope for someone of appropriate bent to make up an even more ridiculous story - e.g.
* Duke of Cornwall swaps turds with the Earl Marshal, in a tradition dating back to Agincourt, or
* Lord Chamberlain wears his oldest servant's unwashed underwear on his head as he recites lines from the Book of Revelations in the direction of the Palace mousehouse.
Do it right, and Tory monarchists will praise it. They will say that such "traditions" make Britain a country that is so much finer than all the foreign countries. Some will refer to Chesterton's fence. They will sneer that only Kremlin-paid dirty oiks in the IRA who shop at Aldi's and don't deserve to get health treatment if they fall ill would think any differently. "Ignorant" - that's what any person who scoffs at this anthropologically wholly healthy and species-enriching behaviour is. That's obvious! Obvious once you have the sophistication and culture to approve of it!
There's gotta be scope to pull something like this. Some Tories are watching blokes dressed in mediaeval tabards on their TV sets and blubbing and saying they're living through such an important moment in history. They say this openly. They boast about it. They're half cracking up over it.
Maybe, but I do think his suggestion of making up even sillier traditions is a good one.
Though the suggestion you could get Establishment figures to support these ludicrous un-traditions has already been shown in Chris Morris's Cake edition of Brass Eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
That was hillarious TV from Chris Morris, the likes of which we will probably never see again. Bettered only by “Paedo-geddon”.
Royal beekeeper informs the Queen's bees that Her Majesty has died
He adds:
“love our country, love our traditions, love our monarchy - fucking amazing”
🥂
There's a lot of scope for someone of appropriate bent to make up an even more ridiculous story - e.g.
* Duke of Cornwall swaps turds with the Earl Marshal, in a tradition dating back to Agincourt, or
* Lord Chamberlain wears his oldest servant's unwashed underwear on his head as he recites lines from the Book of Revelations in the direction of the Palace mousehouse.
Do it right, and Tory monarchists will praise it. They will say that such "traditions" make Britain a country that is so much finer than all the foreign countries. Some will refer to Chesterton's fence. They will sneer that only Kremlin-paid dirty oiks in the IRA who shop at Aldi's and don't deserve to get health treatment if they fall ill would think any differently. "Ignorant" - that's what any person who scoffs at this anthropologically wholly healthy and species-enriching behaviour is. That's obvious! Obvious once you have the sophistication and culture to approve of it!
There's gotta be scope to pull something like this. Some Tories are watching blokes dressed in mediaeval tabards on their TV sets and blubbing and saying they're living through such an important moment in history. They say this openly. They boast about it. They're half cracking up over it.
Maybe, but I do think his suggestion of making up even sillier traditions is a good one.
Though the suggestion you could get Establishment figures to support these ludicrous un-traditions has already been shown in Chris Morris's Cake edition of Brass Eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
That was hillarious TV from Chris Morris, the likes of which we will probably never see again. Bettered only by “Paedo-geddon”.
A small voice in my head is worrying though whether Putin does something insane if he fears he is losing? Let's hope not.
Yes, of course, that is the fear
But you can’t fight a war based on fears like that. Because that way Putin can get anything he wants just with the threat, and we will never be rid of this scourge
We have to pray that saner voices in Russia, or perhaps the Chinese, sort him out
I totally agree with you.
Strange times, eh? ;-)
If - when?? - the war is won I am sure normal bickering can resume, and will do so. It will be a sign of real recovery when we are cruelly berating each other again
Are we sure about these Ukraine claims, the airport, cannot believe that and Isyum is it not split into two by the river and the bridges are down. I would hesitate, in any case such a speed of advance would mean the Ukrainians will be ahead of their supplies and support. There is nothing on the Kiev Post website.
According to the BBC, Russia's defence ministry says troops have retreated from Isyum "to regroup". So I'm sure w can believe that claim. The stated reason for the retreat is to "bolster efforts" on the Donetsk front.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
There are few options left for him other than full mobilisation (which takes time), abject retreat in disarray, or going full Tonto with the nuclear weapons.
A small voice in my head is worrying though whether Putin does something insane if he fears he is losing? Let's hope not.
Lots of questions to be answered.
Does he stay in power and sulk, leading Russia into North Korean style autarchy?
Or if he goes, does he go quietly, or does he get shoved out of a window? Does a third party offer him a way out - retire to a dacha and never be heard from again, exile in Belarus etc. Or does it all resemble Downfall only this time the madman in the bunker has a big red button to press.
I think at this stage it's important not to get too far ahead of ourselves but if we are heading into an endgame these are the questions that will need to be asked.
From an economic perspective, if Putin goes, how quickly would the energy crisis resolve itself? How soon would we be taking deliveries of Russian gas again? Would we want to? And could it be the beginning of the end for the cost of living crisis?
From a UK political perspective, if the war does end soon(ish) and the cost of living crisis abates, could Truss be the luckiest general ever?
As I say, it's dangerous to get too far ahead of ourselves just yet, but if we are witnessing a total collapse of the invasion, the political and economic landscape might look very, very different in a very short space of time.
Royal beekeeper informs the Queen's bees that Her Majesty has died
He adds:
“love our country, love our traditions, love our monarchy - fucking amazing”
🥂
There's a lot of scope for someone of appropriate bent to make up an even more ridiculous story - e.g.
* Duke of Cornwall swaps turds with the Earl Marshal, in a tradition dating back to Agincourt, or
* Lord Chamberlain wears his oldest servant's unwashed underwear on his head as he recites lines from the Book of Revelations in the direction of the Palace mousehouse.
Do it right, and Tory monarchists will praise it. They will say that such "traditions" make Britain a country that is so much finer than all the foreign countries. Some will refer to Chesterton's fence. They will sneer that only Kremlin-paid dirty oiks in the IRA who shop at Aldi's and don't deserve to get health treatment if they fall ill would think any differently. "Ignorant" - that's what any person who scoffs at this anthropologically wholly healthy and species-enriching behaviour is. That's obvious! Obvious once you have the sophistication and culture to approve of it!
There's gotta be scope to pull something like this. Some Tories are watching blokes dressed in mediaeval tabards on their TV sets and blubbing and saying they're living through such an important moment in history. They say this openly. They boast about it. They're half cracking up over it.
Maybe, but I do think his suggestion of making up even sillier traditions is a good one.
Though the suggestion you could get Establishment figures to support these ludicrous un-traditions has already been shown in Chris Morris's Cake edition of Brass Eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
That was hillarious TV from Chris Morris, the likes of which we will probably never see again. Bettered only by “Paedo-geddon”.
What was weirder was their stance that there would be no point in even trying to defeat or hold off Russia, so just end things now.
It's quite possible for someone to win militarily but at such cost they cannot hold onto their gains, and so well worth resisting.
Rather gave the game away about their real concerns.
I think it's fair to say that Dura Ace has utterly humiliated himself on this front. His "expert" military analysis has proven comprehensively and embarrassingly wrong at virtually every stage, from pea-shooter NLAWs on
He should stick to driving like a Count with nothing to lose
He was pretty spot on with his advice to you about your Ramboesque aspirations. I can’t recall if you said what foiled your plan B of driving supplies to Ukraine?
Charles’s “kind” comments about Harry and Meghan need to be seen in the context of Harry’s book deal. The firm are terrified about it’s contents.
Thanks to events, they’ve got H&M pinned down. This is their one and only opportunity.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall!
If Charles was smart, he’d recognise that Liz’s disastrous “no half-in-half-out” policy was a major factor contributing to the current situation.
Meghan and Harry's standing among the British people is not quite as bad as Prince Andrew's, but it's a long way below everyone else in the royal family. I don't think they are any sort of threat, however much insight they provide into the problems faced by titled multi-millionaires.
I am far less worried about them than I was 2 years ago, when I think they did real political damage - particularly in the Carribean and amongst younger non-white Britons here.
But, they've shot their bolt now.
Hmm. Arguably Harry identified the right question (what does the Spare Heir do once they're not needed any more?) and had a better answer than his uncles (get the hell out of Dodge and do something else with the rest of his life).
Which is not the answer that the tabloids wanted. And some of the fuckups on the way have been blown up into great evil as a result.
He could have chosen to withdraw from public life and work hard for his charities and causes.
Instead, he (and his wife) has built his ‘career’ on criticising his own family - something which was quickly wearing off before the events of this week.
You'll love Harry's book launch. Especially if it's at the Al Fayed place in Finland.
Why shouldn't a person criticise family members if they've treated them like absolute dirt? In real life, people do it all the time. Who TF does the king think he is?
I wonder whether Harry will be allowed to his grandmother's funeral.
"It is understood Harry was at Frogmore cottage in Windsor when Charles called to say he should not bring his wife.
The Sussexes had announced they would travel up to Balmoral together, without consulting royals, The Sun reported.
But a source told the paper: "Charles told Harry that it wasn't right or appropriate for Meghan to be in Balmoral at such a deeply sad time.
'It was pointed out to him that Kate was not going and that the numbers really should be limited to the very closest family. Charles made it very, very clear Meghan would not be welcome.' [...]
Harry was also refused a seat on the RAF plane that took up his brother William, now the Prince of Wales, as well as Prince Andrew and Prince Edward."
Thinking further about that, what an utterly appalling piece of shittiness declining to give your own brother a lift to see his dying grandmother. I don't do the Daily Mail blood boiling about the Royal Family thing, but that is as spiteful a bit of shittiness as it is possible to imagine.
The RAF lot got to balmoral at 5pm so landed Aberdeen say 1545 so left London 1415. So he has been told to fuck off by 2 pm absolute latest. So either he was - almost incredibly - deprived of the chance of final words with his grandmother, or everyone involved knew she was dead by then anyway (and it is still a jawdropping bit of petty shittiness).
We are straight into a Royal crisis when people cotton on to this.
Unwise to assume that a lot of speculation in a newspaper report resembles the facts.
Oh really? And there was me reaching my 60s thinking the best approach was to take every word as gospel. Thanks for the heads up.
The flight timetable is verifiable and speaks to a great extent for itself.
Are we sure about these Ukraine claims, the airport, cannot believe that and Isyum is it not split into two by the river and the bridges are down. I would hesitate, in any case such a speed of advance would mean the Ukrainians will be ahead of their supplies and support. There is nothing on the Kiev Post website.
There's already been some fake stuff out there, there's bound to be more. But I could see a lot of disinformation being flooded to Russia right now so they think nowhere is safe.
There’s loads of places that are safe. 6,601,670 sq miles of it, to be exact.
It’s called Russia, and it’s where Russians are supposed to be. If they go to Russia, they’ll be safe.
Are we sure about these Ukraine claims, the airport, cannot believe that and Isyum is it not split into two by the river and the bridges are down. I would hesitate, in any case such a speed of advance would mean the Ukrainians will be ahead of their supplies and support. There is nothing on the Kiev Post website.
The Russians have now announced a "withdrawal" from Kharkiv Oblast to Luhansk and Donetsk. Not everything that has been claimed will turn out to be true, but the substance of it is. Ukraine has comprehensively defeated Russia on the battlefields of Kharkiv Oblast.
It will be interesting to hear the details of how many troops were captured.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargement territorial expansion.
There are very good reasons why he hasn't gone in for such mass conscription tactics already - presumably the fact that putting AK47s in the hands of hundreds of thousands of angry, resentful young men who don't want to go and fight being near the top of the list?
The obvious risk is that the rank and file does what it did to the Tsar - they have a difference of opinion with the generals about whom the enemy is in all of this, and point their weapons in the opposite direction to that which their superiors intended.
Royal beekeeper informs the Queen's bees that Her Majesty has died
He adds:
“love our country, love our traditions, love our monarchy - fucking amazing”
🥂
There's a lot of scope for someone of appropriate bent to make up an even more ridiculous story - e.g.
* Duke of Cornwall swaps turds with the Earl Marshal, in a tradition dating back to Agincourt, or
* Lord Chamberlain wears his oldest servant's unwashed underwear on his head as he recites lines from the Book of Revelations in the direction of the Palace mousehouse.
Do it right, and Tory monarchists will praise it. They will say that such "traditions" make Britain a country that is so much finer than all the foreign countries. Some will refer to Chesterton's fence. They will sneer that only Kremlin-paid dirty oiks in the IRA who shop at Aldi's and don't deserve to get health treatment if they fall ill would think any differently. "Ignorant" - that's what any person who scoffs at this anthropologically wholly healthy and species-enriching behaviour is. That's obvious! Obvious once you have the sophistication and culture to approve of it!
There's gotta be scope to pull something like this. Some Tories are watching blokes dressed in mediaeval tabards on their TV sets and blubbing and saying they're living through such an important moment in history. They say this openly. They boast about it. They're half cracking up over it.
Maybe, but I do think his suggestion of making up even sillier traditions is a good one.
Though the suggestion you could get Establishment figures to support these ludicrous un-traditions has already been shown in Chris Morris's Cake edition of Brass Eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
This was my list:
So a quick review and summary of all the changes we can expect:
'God Save the Queen' becomes 'God Save the King' New coins, banknotes and stamps to be issued in due course CiiiR postboxes to appear slowly QCs become KCs (fees to remain the same) Members of the House of Commons will be banned from wearing ties, and required to wear cravats. The use of 'thee' and 'thou' will be added back into the Guardian style book. Liverpool FC will go back to wearing their traditional blue, and Everton red (everyone forgets that it used to be like this, but the last change was so long ago, and in black and white) Fans of the rock band Queen will now become fans of rock band King Crimson. Witches will be expected to ride their broomsticks astride, rather than sidesaddle. Stonehenge will be rotated thirty degrees sunwise. At the first full moon following the coronation, the White Horse at Uffington will be redrawn to face the other way, as has traditionally been done at the accession of every new monarch since Edmund Ironside.
Are we sure about these Ukraine claims, the airport, cannot believe that and Isyum is it not split into two by the river and the bridges are down. I would hesitate, in any case such a speed of advance would mean the Ukrainians will be ahead of their supplies and support. There is nothing on the Kiev Post website.
The Russians have now announced a "withdrawal" from Kharkiv Oblast to Luhansk and Donetsk. Not everything that has been claimed will turn out to be true, but the substance of it is. Ukraine has comprehensively defeated Russia on the battlefields of Kharkiv Oblast.
It will be interesting to hear the details of how many troops were captured.
Hopefully that might mean Ukraine can trade for some of theirs who have been captured.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
Even if he goes for full mobilisation how long will it actually take? The Ukrainians are already 6 months ahead. They would need the weapons and training.
What was weirder was their stance that there would be no point in even trying to defeat or hold off Russia, so just end things now.
It's quite possible for someone to win militarily but at such cost they cannot hold onto their gains, and so well worth resisting.
Rather gave the game away about their real concerns.
I think it's fair to say that Dura Ace has utterly humiliated himself on this front. His "expert" military analysis has proven comprehensively and embarrassingly wrong at virtually every stage, from pea-shooter NLAWs on
He should stick to driving like a Count with nothing to lose
He was pretty spot on with his advice to you about your Ramboesque aspirations. I can’t recall if you said what foiled your plan B of driving supplies to Ukraine?
Very true. He was right about that.
I realised I couldn't drive to Ukraine to drunk so I walked around Catalonia drunk instead
A small voice in my head is worrying though whether Putin does something insane if he fears he is losing? Let's hope not.
Yes, of course, that is the fear
But you can’t fight a war based on fears like that. Because that way Putin can get anything he wants just with the threat, and we will never be rid of this scourge
We have to pray that saner voices in Russia, or perhaps the Chinese, sort him out
I totally agree with you.
Strange times, eh? ;-)
If - when?? - the war is won I am sure normal bickering can resume, and will do so. It will be a sign of real recovery when we are cruelly berating each other again
The green shoots will come when a savage, week long, tyranny is brought upon me by merely lightly roasting a random personality. The gay abandon of randomized rage. The pant bulge of apparantly inexcusable accidental offence A personal evocation of a punishment beating for dissing Geoff Hoon Glory be
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
Even if he goes for full mobilisation how long will it actually take? The Ukrainians are already 6 months ahead. They would need the weapons and training.
Depends I suppose. How long does it take to ship cannon fodder, or useful resources?
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
Even if he goes for full mobilisation how long will it actually take? The Ukrainians are already 6 months ahead. They would need the weapons and training.
Depends I suppose. How long does it take to ship cannon fodder, or useful resources?
They could attempt to overwhelm the Ukrainians via the medium of mass surrender.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
Even if he goes for full mobilisation how long will it actually take? The Ukrainians are already 6 months ahead. They would need the weapons and training.
Depends I suppose. How long does it take to ship cannon fodder, or useful resources?
They could attempt to overwhelm the Ukrainians via the medium of mass surrender.
Aha! That's why Macron has been on the phone to Putin so often ...
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
Even if he goes for full mobilisation how long will it actually take? The Ukrainians are already 6 months ahead. They would need the weapons and training.
Depends I suppose. How long does it take to ship cannon fodder, or useful resources?
They could attempt to overwhelm the Ukrainians via the medium of mass surrender.
Well, Ukraine are going to have to house, feed and guard all these prisoners. That's not a trivial exercise in itself.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
There are few options left for him other than full mobilisation (which takes time), abject retreat in disarray, or going full Tonto with the nuclear weapons.
There are a couple of big problems with full mobilisation.
Firstly, they've consumed most of the training capability for mobilisation to provide officers for the volunteer battalions that they've cobbled together in recent months. Their ability to train thousands of conscripts is severely limited.
Secondly, they've resisted a declaration of war and full mobilisation for good reasons of internal politics and stability. Full mobilisation would be a very risky step.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargement territorial expansion.
There are very good reasons why he hasn't gone in for such mass conscription tactics already - presumably the fact that putting AK47s in the hands of hundreds of thousands of angry, resentful young men who don't want to go and fight being near the top of the list?
The obvious risk is that the rank and file does what it did to the Tsar - they have a difference of opinion with the generals about whom the enemy is in all of this, and point their weapons in the opposite direction to that which their superiors intended.
I imagine there has already been an element of fragging the Russian officer class in the past 48 hours....
Are there any decent maps of how much the Ukrainians have liberated this week, versus how much had been lost since the 2022 invasion began?
I think it's literally changing too quickly. One of the osint war mappers on Twitter said this morning that they know everything they are posting currently is already significantly out of date
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
Even if he goes for full mobilisation how long will it actually take? The Ukrainians are already 6 months ahead. They would need the weapons and training.
Depends I suppose. How long does it take to ship cannon fodder, or useful resources?
They could attempt to overwhelm the Ukrainians via the medium of mass surrender.
Be like that scene in Braveheart when the Irish get sent in and just stop and chat to the Scottish troops.
Twitter says that at the present rate of advance, the Ukes will be at the Russian border within 60 minutes
This is the Front which is quite near the border anyway, so it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
The leader of the "Donetsk People's Republic" Denis Pushilin has recorded a video while fleeing the city saying that they were fighting against the whole "collective West" and not sounding very confident.
Putin "obsessed" with avoiding an end like Gadhafi's? I doubt it. Other assertions have been that Putin is battling severe cancer, suffers from Parkinson's, has a secret daughter, is a paedophile, etc. As for Gadhafi, Reagan called him a transvestite. If anything, Putin may fear getting arrested by army brass, as Beria was - or just bumped off as Stalin may well have been.
PS Today the "Moscow Sun" big wheel opened in Moscow. It's almost but not quite on the same line of longitude as the Lubianka. If anyone knows the exact time it was declared open, I'd be very interested. Was it 12:59pm Moscow time (10:59am BST) by any chance, straight bang on today's full moon?
What was weirder was their stance that there would be no point in even trying to defeat or hold off Russia, so just end things now.
It's quite possible for someone to win militarily but at such cost they cannot hold onto their gains, and so well worth resisting.
Rather gave the game away about their real concerns.
I think it's fair to say that Dura Ace has utterly humiliated himself on this front. His "expert" military analysis has proven comprehensively and embarrassingly wrong at virtually every stage, from pea-shooter NLAWs on
He should stick to driving like a Count with nothing to lose
He was pretty spot on with his advice to you about your Ramboesque aspirations. I can’t recall if you said what foiled your plan B of driving supplies to Ukraine?
Very true. He was right about that.
I realised I couldn't drive to Ukraine to drunk so I walked around Catalonia drunk instead
I guess supportive homages can take different forms. Policing other peoples opinions on the subject is still doing your bit, PB can provide a whole fucking battalion in that area.
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
Because you might not be safe in Russia if you are shot as a deserter
Putin "obsessed" with avoiding an end like Gadhafi's? I doubt it. Other assertions have been that Putin is battling severe cancer, suffers from Parkinson's, has a secret daughter, is a paedophile, etc. As for Gadhafi, Reagan called him a transvestite. If anything, Putin may fear getting arrested by army brass, as Beria was - or just bumped off as Stalin may well have been.
The Gaddafi story has circulated for years, even prior to the invasion. That doesn't mean it is automatically true, but it isn't simply something that has sprung up as part of a package of negative stories about him.
Are there any decent maps of how much the Ukrainians have liberated this week, versus how much had been lost since the 2022 invasion began?
I think it's literally changing too quickly. One of the osint war mappers on Twitter said this morning that they know everything they are posting currently is already significantly out of date
Yesterday one commentator was predicting that “within 72 hours” we should see Ukrainian troops approaching a city. Four hours later he posted a photo of them on the outskirts.
The leader of the "Donetsk People's Republic" Denis Pushilin has recorded a video while fleeing the city saying that they were fighting against the whole "collective West"
Oh, is that unfair, Denis?
As the Ukrainians could tell him, if the collective west was fighting (rather than supporting) things would be going much much better for them long before now, and worse for Denis.
Twitter says that at the present rate of advance, the Ukes will be at the Russian border within 60 minutes
This is the Front which is quite near the border anyway, so it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
This psychology could unfold across the war zone
I'm sceptical about these reports. It's difficult to believe anything coming out of a war zone.
The leader of the "Donetsk People's Republic" Denis Pushilin has recorded a video while fleeing the city saying that they were fighting against the whole "collective West" and not sounding very confident.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
There are few options left for him other than full mobilisation (which takes time), abject retreat in disarray, or going full Tonto with the nuclear weapons.
There are a couple of big problems with full mobilisation.
Firstly, they've consumed most of the training capability for mobilisation to provide officers for the volunteer battalions that they've cobbled together in recent months. Their ability to train thousands of conscripts is severely limited.
Secondly, they've resisted a declaration of war and full mobilisation for good reasons of internal politics and stability. Full mobilisation would be a very risky step.
Yes, mobilization says to Russians “I have made a terrible mistake, now we all have to go to war to fight all of NATO, which is much richer and more powerful than us and will probably win”
What was weirder was their stance that there would be no point in even trying to defeat or hold off Russia, so just end things now.
It's quite possible for someone to win militarily but at such cost they cannot hold onto their gains, and so well worth resisting.
Rather gave the game away about their real concerns.
I think it's fair to say that Dura Ace has utterly humiliated himself on this front. His "expert" military analysis has proven comprehensively and embarrassingly wrong at virtually every stage, from pea-shooter NLAWs on
He should stick to driving like a Count with nothing to lose
To be fair, he was basing that on the fact that historically, anti-tank weapons have never stopped tank offensives. Even when the attackers have acted stupidly. The a recent example of that was the Israeli tanks vs missiles in 2006 - the Israelis drove a tank column into a trap due to poor recon. Despite facing a zillion high end anti-tank missiles, the Israelis lost 5 tanks (22 damaged, in total).
In addition the Ukrainian military had transformed itself, since 2014, into an extremely disciplined, well trained and effective force. From being worse than the French army in 1940.
The Russians, in contrast have proven to have dedicated the years since 2014 to making their military worse. A lot worse.
Putin "obsessed" with avoiding an end like Gadhafi's? I doubt it. Other assertions have been that Putin is battling severe cancer, suffers from Parkinson's, has a secret daughter, is a paedophile, etc. As for Gadhafi, Reagan called him a transvestite. If anything, Putin may fear getting arrested by army brass, as Beria was - or just bumped off as Stalin may well have been.
I believe the army know people who could give him a 'special operation'.
If the Russian rout continues, then Biden could well come out smelling of roses, while the Trumpists have rather a lot of egg on their faces.
As a firm believer in the horseshoe theory it is no surprise to me the far right would say the same things.
To many Republicans, ever since Trump’s first impeachment, Ukraine is a corrupt country that paid Hunter Biden, while Russia’s invasion is a “nothing burger” because the real threat is China. Also, energy prices going up are all daddy Biden’s fault or because of COVID lockdowns, but definitely nothing to do with the war.
Putin "obsessed" with avoiding an end like Gadhafi's? I doubt it. Other assertions have been that Putin is battling severe cancer, suffers from Parkinson's, has a secret daughter, is a paedophile, etc. As for Gadhafi, Reagan called him a transvestite. If anything, Putin may fear getting arrested by army brass, as Beria was - or just bumped off as Stalin may well have been.
PS Today the "Moscow Sun" big wheel opened in Moscow. It's almost but not quite on the same line of longitude as the Lubianka. If anyone knows the exact time it was declared open, I'd be very interested. Was it 12:59pm Moscow time (10:59am BST) by any chance, straight bang on today's full moon?
So sentence 1-2 LOL at the idea he fears being assassinated like a despot, but sentence 5 he may well fear being assassinated like a despot.
Are we sure about these Ukraine claims, the airport, cannot believe that and Isyum is it not split into two by the river and the bridges are down. I would hesitate, in any case such a speed of advance would mean the Ukrainians will be ahead of their supplies and support. There is nothing on the Kiev Post website.
The Russians have now announced a "withdrawal" from Kharkiv Oblast to Luhansk and Donetsk. Not everything that has been claimed will turn out to be true, but the substance of it is. Ukraine has comprehensively defeated Russia on the battlefields of Kharkiv Oblast.
It will be interesting to hear the details of how many troops were captured.
Another "goodwill gesture"?
They should try really ingratiating themselves with the Ukrainian people - by fucking off back to Russia en masse.
Leaving their kit behind. The Ukrainians are hospitable people - they'll drive them to the border.
Twitter says that at the present rate of advance, the Ukes will be at the Russian border within 60 minutes
This is the Front which is quite near the border anyway, so it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
This psychology could unfold across the war zone
I'm sceptical about these reports. It's difficult to believe anything coming out of a war zone.
Well yes, the fog of war and all that.
Bu the piccies and videos coming out do not give a positive impression for the Russian forces, and are hard to fake. Villages and town recaptured (including pictures of Ukrainian troops at village signs), blown up and captured Russian equipment, and captured Russian POWs. The Ukrainian advance does seem more coherent than the Russian retreat.
I wonder what PutinGuy1983's 'alternative' sources are saying about this? A triumphant advance eastwards by the Russian forces? A pre-planned objective to reinforce other areas? It's all a lie?
Twitter says that at the present rate of advance, the Ukes will be at the Russian border within 60 minutes
This is the Front which is quite near the border anyway, so it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
This psychology could unfold across the war zone
Ukraine forces need to be more careful once they near that border though, if they are not permitted to attack anything or anyone beyond it. It could be like a lethal game of playground tig where the Russians can rest and then strike and nip back over the border where they are untouchable. no idea whether they will have the stomach to try that though.
Tanks seem to be doing a bit better these last few days than they did in the first six months of the war
There was a paper presented by a serving Ukrainian officer, not long ago (must find it) that was saying that, far from being obsolete, tanks were doing more tasks than ever. He was arguing for the West sending modern tanks.
The bizarre thing the Russians do, sending single unsupported tanks down roads to star in Ukrainian videos, is not representative of how tanks are supposed to be used.
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
Because you might not be safe in Russia if you are shot as a deserter
Except the status of the war has always been a real problem for the Russians when it comes to enforcing discipline. As we all know, the Russian Government maintains the ridiculous conceit that the Ukrainian invasion is a "special military operation" and not a war.
IANAE but, insofar as I understand it, this has stripped the Russian commanders of much of their ability to punish reluctant conscripts. Desertion under those circumstances seems to be regarded legally as broadly equivalent to quitting your job without giving notice, rather than quitting your post in the face of the enemy - and those who succeed in running back home are more liable to suffer cessation of pay and perhaps, at worst, a stern telling off, than an appointment with the firing squad.
Twitter says that at the present rate of advance, the Ukes will be at the Russian border within 60 minutes
This is the Front which is quite near the border anyway, so it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
This psychology could unfold across the war zone
I'm sceptical about these reports. It's difficult to believe anything coming out of a war zone.
There are far too many videos, reports, tweets, pics, Telegram messages, you name it - and from all sides - for these Ukrainian advances to be fictional
Of course it may all be a brilliant Russian feint, but as every hour goes by that seems less likely
Royal beekeeper informs the Queen's bees that Her Majesty has died
He adds:
“love our country, love our traditions, love our monarchy - fucking amazing”
🥂
There's a lot of scope for someone of appropriate bent to make up an even more ridiculous story - e.g.
* Duke of Cornwall swaps turds with the Earl Marshal, in a tradition dating back to Agincourt, or
* Lord Chamberlain wears his oldest servant's unwashed underwear on his head as he recites lines from the Book of Revelations in the direction of the Palace mousehouse.
Do it right, and Tory monarchists will praise it. They will say that such "traditions" make Britain a country that is so much finer than all the foreign countries. Some will refer to Chesterton's fence. They will sneer that only Kremlin-paid dirty oiks in the IRA who shop at Aldi's and don't deserve to get health treatment if they fall ill would think any differently. "Ignorant" - that's what any person who scoffs at this anthropologically wholly healthy and species-enriching behaviour is. That's obvious! Obvious once you have the sophistication and culture to approve of it!
There's gotta be scope to pull something like this. Some Tories are watching blokes dressed in mediaeval tabards on their TV sets and blubbing and saying they're living through such an important moment in history. They say this openly. They boast about it. They're half cracking up over it.
Maybe, but I do think his suggestion of making up even sillier traditions is a good one.
Though the suggestion you could get Establishment figures to support these ludicrous un-traditions has already been shown in Chris Morris's Cake edition of Brass Eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
That was hillarious TV from Chris Morris, the likes of which we will probably never see again. Bettered only by “Paedo-geddon”.
Are there any decent maps of how much the Ukrainians have liberated this week, versus how much had been lost since the 2022 invasion began?
I think it's literally changing too quickly. One of the osint war mappers on Twitter said this morning that they know everything they are posting currently is already significantly out of date
Yesterday one commentator was predicting that “within 72 hours” we should see Ukrainian troops approaching a city. Four hours later he posted a photo of them on the outskirts.
Or the analyst who said he was very sceptical of claims the Ukrainians could have reached Lysychenko (sp?), only to tweet two minutes later a picture of Ukrainian soldiers outside the town hall.
The leader of the "Donetsk People's Republic" Denis Pushilin has recorded a video while fleeing the city saying that they were fighting against the whole "collective West" and not sounding very confident.
Brave Sir Robin.....
To be fair, the Chicken of Kyiv turned out to be very fierce.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
Even if he goes for full mobilisation how long will it actually take? The Ukrainians are already 6 months ahead. They would need the weapons and training.
Depends I suppose. How long does it take to ship cannon fodder, or useful resources?
They could attempt to overwhelm the Ukrainians via the medium of mass surrender.
Well, Ukraine are going to have to house, feed and guard all these prisoners. That's not a trivial exercise in itself.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
Even if he goes for full mobilisation how long will it actually take? The Ukrainians are already 6 months ahead. They would need the weapons and training.
Depends I suppose. How long does it take to ship cannon fodder, or useful resources?
They could attempt to overwhelm the Ukrainians via the medium of mass surrender.
Well, Ukraine are going to have to house, feed and guard all these prisoners. That's not a trivial exercise in itself.
Unless they ship them to Poland, of course.
Rwanda, surely?
The Poles would be very happy to see some defeated Russians. The Rwandans perhaps less so.
Tanks seem to be doing a bit better these last few days than they did in the first six months of the war
There was a paper presented by a serving Ukrainian officer, not long ago (must find it) that was saying that, far from being obsolete, tanks were doing more tasks than ever. He was arguing for the West sending modern tanks.
The bizarre thing the Russians do, sending single unsupported tanks down roads to star in Ukrainian videos, is not representative of how tanks are supposed to be used.
Twitter says that at the present rate of advance, the Ukes will be at the Russian border within 60 minutes
This is the Front which is quite near the border anyway, so it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
This psychology could unfold across the war zone
Ukraine forces need to be more careful once they near that border though, if they are not permitted to attack anything or anyone beyond it. It could be like a lethal game of playground tig where the Russians can rest and then strike and nip back over the border where they are untouchable. no idea whether they will have the stomach to try that though.
I think that it is only Western weapons that are an issue inside Russia. UkR has attacked Belgorod several times already.
What was weirder was their stance that there would be no point in even trying to defeat or hold off Russia, so just end things now.
It's quite possible for someone to win militarily but at such cost they cannot hold onto their gains, and so well worth resisting.
Rather gave the game away about their real concerns.
I think it's fair to say that Dura Ace has utterly humiliated himself on this front. His "expert" military analysis has proven comprehensively and embarrassingly wrong at virtually every stage, from pea-shooter NLAWs on
He should stick to driving like a Count with nothing to lose
I think Dura Ace has plenty to contribute given experience, but when people were hanging on his every word of analysis they missed one of his own comments that he should not be regarded as talking gospel about such matters. A more pessimistic analysis may well be needed against general optimism, but as we've seen for at least the last week, sometimes good news does happen.
What was weirder was their stance that there would be no point in even trying to defeat or hold off Russia, so just end things now.
It's quite possible for someone to win militarily but at such cost they cannot hold onto their gains, and so well worth resisting.
Rather gave the game away about their real concerns.
I think it's fair to say that Dura Ace has utterly humiliated himself on this front. His "expert" military analysis has proven comprehensively and embarrassingly wrong at virtually every stage, from pea-shooter NLAWs on
He should stick to driving like a Count with nothing to lose
I think Dura Ace has plenty to contribute given experience, but when people were hanging on his every word of analysis they missed one of his own comments that he should not be regarded as talking gospel about such matters. A more pessimistic analysis may well be needed against general optimism, but as we've seen for at least the last week, sometimes good news does happen.
He can speak for himself, but he was pretty clear that what happens next is unpredictable. And that his expertise is about aircraft: note he was entirely correct from early on about the TB2s.
Did I ever tell you about when the King told me to fuck off?
I think it was 28 years ago, when I was 16, and I was helping out a farrier friend of mine at a polo match - possibly at Tidworth but I'm not sure. We had his van parked in the quiet far corner of the ground away from the spectators and were ready to make any running repairs required. I was watching the match but had no idea what was going on
When one of the horses came cantering towards our corner I had no idea it was Charles until my friend said "Here comes Charlie, he'll be pissed off"
I asked why and he said he'd not played well. Then I heard our new monarch launch into a foul mouthed tirade - including fuck, fucking and fucker - all aimed at himself. His mallet, though, was hurled right at his chap (an Equerry I guess?) who'd come to grab his horse, followed by his helmet. The chap absorbed the blows and apologised for the horse not being at his best
Then my mate piped up and called out "Good game, your highness"
He turned round and told us to "fuck off" but with a smile, before storming off
About ten minutes later his chap came over to tell us the Prince had asked him to apologise for his language
Tanks seem to be doing a bit better these last few days than they did in the first six months of the war
There was a paper presented by a serving Ukrainian officer, not long ago (must find it) that was saying that, far from being obsolete, tanks were doing more tasks than ever. He was arguing for the West sending modern tanks.
The bizarre thing the Russians do, sending single unsupported tanks down roads to star in Ukrainian videos, is not representative of how tanks are supposed to be used.
The leader of the "Donetsk People's Republic" Denis Pushilin has recorded a video while fleeing the city saying that they were fighting against the whole "collective West" and not sounding very confident.
Given the shit state of their conventional weapons, can Russia actually still fire off a Nuke?
That's not something we really want to discover, is it? Just because their infantry, their armoured BTGs, their anti-air defence, and military planning have all proven to be poor, does not mean their nuclear systems are...
Putin has to know that using nukes just puts him much deeper in the sh*t.
Tanks seem to be doing a bit better these last few days than they did in the first six months of the war
There was a paper presented by a serving Ukrainian officer, not long ago (must find it) that was saying that, far from being obsolete, tanks were doing more tasks than ever. He was arguing for the West sending modern tanks.
The bizarre thing the Russians do, sending single unsupported tanks down roads to star in Ukrainian videos, is not representative of how tanks are supposed to be used.
Starring in viral videos is a common ambition for the youth of today.
Royal beekeeper informs the Queen's bees that Her Majesty has died
He adds:
“love our country, love our traditions, love our monarchy - fucking amazing”
🥂
There's a lot of scope for someone of appropriate bent to make up an even more ridiculous story - e.g.
* Duke of Cornwall swaps turds with the Earl Marshal, in a tradition dating back to Agincourt, or
* Lord Chamberlain wears his oldest servant's unwashed underwear on his head as he recites lines from the Book of Revelations in the direction of the Palace mousehouse.
Do it right, and Tory monarchists will praise it. They will say that such "traditions" make Britain a country that is so much finer than all the foreign countries. Some will refer to Chesterton's fence. They will sneer that only Kremlin-paid dirty oiks in the IRA who shop at Aldi's and don't deserve to get health treatment if they fall ill would think any differently. "Ignorant" - that's what any person who scoffs at this anthropologically wholly healthy and species-enriching behaviour is. That's obvious! Obvious once you have the sophistication and culture to approve of it!
There's gotta be scope to pull something like this. Some Tories are watching blokes dressed in mediaeval tabards on their TV sets and blubbing and saying they're living through such an important moment in history. They say this openly. They boast about it. They're half cracking up over it.
Maybe, but I do think his suggestion of making up even sillier traditions is a good one.
Though the suggestion you could get Establishment figures to support these ludicrous un-traditions has already been shown in Chris Morris's Cake edition of Brass Eye. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
This was my list:
So a quick review and summary of all the changes we can expect:
'God Save the Queen' becomes 'God Save the King' New coins, banknotes and stamps to be issued in due course CiiiR postboxes to appear slowly QCs become KCs (fees to remain the same) Members of the House of Commons will be banned from wearing ties, and required to wear cravats. The use of 'thee' and 'thou' will be added back into the Guardian style book. Liverpool FC will go back to wearing their traditional blue, and Everton red (everyone forgets that it used to be like this, but the last change was so long ago, and in black and white) Fans of the rock band Queen will now become fans of rock band King Crimson. Witches will be expected to ride their broomsticks astride, rather than sidesaddle. Stonehenge will be rotated thirty degrees sunwise. At the first full moon following the coronation, the White Horse at Uffington will be redrawn to face the other way, as has traditionally been done at the accession of every new monarch since Edmund Ironside.
Hang on, you're conflating Mr Rees-Mogg's reforms with the Royal traditions in cases 5 and 6.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
There are few options left for him other than full mobilisation (which takes time), abject retreat in disarray, or going full Tonto with the nuclear weapons.
Or we could offer him the "exile in whatever grandiosely vulgar socially distanced palace is available" option?
What was weirder was their stance that there would be no point in even trying to defeat or hold off Russia, so just end things now.
It's quite possible for someone to win militarily but at such cost they cannot hold onto their gains, and so well worth resisting.
Rather gave the game away about their real concerns.
I think it's fair to say that Dura Ace has utterly humiliated himself on this front. His "expert" military analysis has proven comprehensively and embarrassingly wrong at virtually every stage, from pea-shooter NLAWs on
He should stick to driving like a Count with nothing to lose
I think Dura Ace has plenty to contribute given experience, but when people were hanging on his every word of analysis they missed one of his own comments that he should not be regarded as talking gospel about such matters. A more pessimistic analysis may well be needed against general optimism, but as we've seen for at least the last week, sometimes good news does happen.
What was weirder was their stance that there would be no point in even trying to defeat or hold off Russia, so just end things now.
It's quite possible for someone to win militarily but at such cost they cannot hold onto their gains, and so well worth resisting.
Rather gave the game away about their real concerns.
I think it's fair to say that Dura Ace has utterly humiliated himself on this front. His "expert" military analysis has proven comprehensively and embarrassingly wrong at virtually every stage, from pea-shooter NLAWs on
He should stick to driving like a Count with nothing to lose
I think Dura Ace has plenty to contribute given experience, but when people were hanging on his every word of analysis they missed one of his own comments that he should not be regarded as talking gospel about such matters. A more pessimistic analysis may well be needed against general optimism, but as we've seen for at least the last week, sometimes good news does happen.
He can speak for himself, but he was pretty clear that what happens next is unpredictable. And that his expertise is about aircraft: note he was entirely correct from early on about the TB2s.
Yes. Eg I know about bond trading but that doesn't mean I know how the debt markets will react to Liz Truss bingeing on the national credit card.
Sounds like but for domestic events Ukraine would be all over the news today then - Gosh.
Overall RU military morale must be close to terminal breakdown?
Surely Putin has to go for full mobilisation? He's tied everything into his dream of penis enlargementterritorial expansion.
There are few options left for him other than full mobilisation (which takes time), abject retreat in disarray, or going full Tonto with the nuclear weapons.
Or we could offer him the "exile in whatever grandiosely vulgar socially distanced palace is available" option?
BBC News push notification: funeral confirmed for Monday 19th.
I have 3 clinical sessions booked that day. Bit of a sod for the patients cancelled, I suppose find out on Monday what is working. I would happily take a lieu day another time.
For comparison, total NATO defence spending is around $1 trillion
That is 2/3 of Russia’s entire GDP - $1.4 trillion
Russia cannot win all out conventional war with NATO, it would have to use nukes and commit suicide to get a draw
Hence the irrationality of calls for more defence spending because of this.
Not really. I think the rational is that European countries should not be relying on the US to protect them.
That does need to be thought about, yes. But with Russia in decline and China not directly our business I think the long term trend on UK defence spending as % of gdp should probably be down.
Comments
Now thats tradition to savour
I would hesitate, in any case such a speed of advance would mean the Ukrainians will be ahead of their supplies and support.
There is nothing on the Kiev Post website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbq3kc29Tmg
I mean, lots of places won't care about Ukraine, it's not as though we care about all other places around the globe, but to actively support Russia rather than just not care takes a lot more effort.
penis enlargementterritorial expansion.Genius
Does he stay in power and sulk, leading Russia into North Korean style autarchy?
Or if he goes, does he go quietly, or does he get shoved out of a window? Does a third party offer him a way out - retire to a dacha and never be heard from again, exile in Belarus etc. Or does it all resemble Downfall only this time the madman in the bunker has a big red button to press.
I think at this stage it's important not to get too far ahead of ourselves but if we are heading into an endgame these are the questions that will need to be asked.
From an economic perspective, if Putin goes, how quickly would the energy crisis resolve itself? How soon would we be taking deliveries of Russian gas again? Would we want to? And could it be the beginning of the end for the cost of living crisis?
From a UK political perspective, if the war does end soon(ish) and the cost of living crisis abates, could Truss be the luckiest general ever?
As I say, it's dangerous to get too far ahead of ourselves just yet, but if we are witnessing a total collapse of the invasion, the political and economic landscape might look very, very different in a very short space of time.
Edit: I see that's what the link is.
The flight timetable is verifiable and speaks to a great extent for itself.
It’s called Russia, and it’s where Russians are supposed to be. If they go to Russia, they’ll be safe.
It will be interesting to hear the details of how many troops were captured.
The obvious risk is that the rank and file does what it did to the Tsar - they have a difference of opinion with the generals about whom the enemy is in all of this, and point their weapons in the opposite direction to that which their superiors intended.
So a quick review and summary of all the changes we can expect:
'God Save the Queen' becomes 'God Save the King'
New coins, banknotes and stamps to be issued in due course
CiiiR postboxes to appear slowly
QCs become KCs (fees to remain the same)
Members of the House of Commons will be banned from wearing ties, and required to wear cravats.
The use of 'thee' and 'thou' will be added back into the Guardian style book.
Liverpool FC will go back to wearing their traditional blue, and Everton red (everyone forgets that it used to be like this, but the last change was so long ago, and in black and white)
Fans of the rock band Queen will now become fans of rock band King Crimson.
Witches will be expected to ride their broomsticks astride, rather than sidesaddle.
Stonehenge will be rotated thirty degrees sunwise.
At the first full moon following the coronation, the White Horse at Uffington will be redrawn to face the other way, as has traditionally been done at the accession of every new monarch since Edmund Ironside.
I realised I couldn't drive to Ukraine to drunk so I walked around Catalonia drunk instead
The gay abandon of randomized rage. The pant bulge of apparantly inexcusable accidental offence
A personal evocation of a punishment beating for dissing Geoff Hoon
Glory be
Unless they ship them to Poland, of course.
Firstly, they've consumed most of the training capability for mobilisation to provide officers for the volunteer battalions that they've cobbled together in recent months. Their ability to train thousands of conscripts is severely limited.
Secondly, they've resisted a declaration of war and full mobilisation for good reasons of internal politics and stability. Full mobilisation would be a very risky step.
This is the Front which is quite near the border anyway, so it’s not quite as dramatic as it sounds
However someone else makes this point: why on earth would you turn and fight and risk your life for a Ukrainian town 3km from your own country, when you can just slip over the frontier and be safe in Russia?
This psychology could unfold across the war zone
PS Today the "Moscow Sun" big wheel opened in Moscow. It's almost but not quite on the same line of longitude as the Lubianka. If anyone knows the exact time it was declared open, I'd be very interested. Was it 12:59pm Moscow time (10:59am BST) by any chance, straight bang on today's full moon?
As the Ukrainians could tell him, if the collective west was fighting (rather than supporting) things would be going much much better for them long before now, and worse for Denis.
Hard sell
In addition the Ukrainian military had transformed itself, since 2014, into an extremely disciplined, well trained and effective force. From being worse than the French army in 1940.
The Russians, in contrast have proven to have dedicated the years since 2014 to making their military worse. A lot worse.
This is all taking its toll on you.
They should try really ingratiating themselves with the Ukrainian people - by fucking off back to Russia en masse.
Leaving their kit behind. The Ukrainians are hospitable people - they'll drive them to the border.
That is 2/3 of Russia’s entire GDP - $1.4 trillion
Russia cannot win all out conventional war with NATO, it would have to use nukes and commit suicide to get a draw
Bu the piccies and videos coming out do not give a positive impression for the Russian forces, and are hard to fake. Villages and town recaptured (including pictures of Ukrainian troops at village signs), blown up and captured Russian equipment, and captured Russian POWs. The Ukrainian advance does seem more coherent than the Russian retreat.
I wonder what PutinGuy1983's 'alternative' sources are saying about this? A triumphant advance eastwards by the Russian forces? A pre-planned objective to reinforce other areas? It's all a lie?
The bizarre thing the Russians do, sending single unsupported tanks down roads to star in Ukrainian videos, is not representative of how tanks are supposed to be used.
IANAE but, insofar as I understand it, this has stripped the Russian commanders of much of their ability to punish reluctant conscripts. Desertion under those circumstances seems to be regarded legally as broadly equivalent to quitting your job without giving notice, rather than quitting your post in the face of the enemy - and those who succeed in running back home are more liable to suffer cessation of pay and perhaps, at worst, a stern telling off, than an appointment with the firing squad.
Of course it may all be a brilliant Russian feint, but as every hour goes by that seems less likely
Bomb Dogs!
Edit - I think it was this story:
https://www.newsweek.com/russian-force-sees-mass-desertion-amid-putins-recruitment-push-report-1741284
It would seem Lavrov shares your fears anyway, given the random threats he's been making to Moldova.
Putin: Tanks.
General: Don't mention it.
Plus, I am quite sure that stealing the tritium from the warheads has been a thing.
I think it was 28 years ago, when I was 16, and I was helping out a farrier friend of mine at a polo match - possibly at Tidworth but I'm not sure. We had his van parked in the quiet far corner of the ground away from the spectators and were ready to make any running repairs required. I was watching the match but had no idea what was going on
When one of the horses came cantering towards our corner I had no idea it was Charles until my friend said "Here comes Charlie, he'll be pissed off"
I asked why and he said he'd not played well. Then I heard our new monarch launch into a foul mouthed tirade - including fuck, fucking and fucker - all aimed at himself. His mallet, though, was hurled right at his chap (an Equerry I guess?) who'd come to grab his horse, followed by his helmet. The chap absorbed the blows and apologised for the horse not being at his best
Then my mate piped up and called out "Good game, your highness"
He turned round and told us to "fuck off" but with a smile, before storming off
About ten minutes later his chap came over to tell us the Prince had asked him to apologise for his language
Wiki map
https://twitter.com/mammothwhale/status/1568627012503306247?s=21&t=YzEW6TmAynt8RD_F31rC8A
https://twitter.com/kensingtonroyal/status/1568623203404201984
Putin has to know that using nukes just puts him much deeper in the sh*t.
Edit - just posted
https://www.royal.uk/arrangements-funeral-her-majesty-queen
However, it will have new leadership and while they might be madder, they might also be more wary of biting off more than they can chew.
https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2022/03/09/what-to-do-with-a-cornered-rat/
Sounds like but for domestic events Ukraine would be all over the news today then - Gosh.
Where is this reserve army supposedly resting in Russia?