You mean we could have Arsenal Birds and space elevators in our future? What's not to like?I mean, it's kinda weird to admit I can totally see Russia going full Belka, as horrifying as that would be.
You mean we could have Arsenal Birds and space elevators in our future? What's not to like?I mean, it's kinda weird to admit I can totally see Russia going full Belka, as horrifying as that would be.
Fair enoughYou mean we could have Arsenal Birds and space elevators in our future? What's not to like?
Oh, he certainly does not want war with NATO. He already knows how his army is loosing against the Ukraine, he knows that NATO fully entering the war would be certain defeat.I guess the question for me is: IF Putin wants war with NATO, what the fuck is stopping him? He's all but claimed Russia is at War with the West, yet does nothing directly to NATO. He's apparently blamed NATO nations for his pipeline blowing up and does fucking nothing, despite that being ample casus belli if true. Ukraine keeps taking his precrious "Russia" away by the day and they continue to do this. I don't think he's dumb enough to believe NATO is gonna sit back and watch a nuke go off without doing anything, so if he wants to avoid a war with NATO, a nuke would be a great way to screw that up too.
If all had gone to plan, Putin and Russia would certainly have been richer.I appreciate the discussion and fully acknowledge that they're all 100% good reason not to start throwing nuke around.
But attacking Ukraine was a dumb move even when though it would be an easy special operation, and he still did it. Even if it all worked out, he wouldn't have been any richer or any better situated, but he still went ahead with it. I'm just starting to worry he'll act like a spoil kid who's losing monopoly and will flip the board.
He can't do that himself, he needs support of lots of people who have stuff to live for. One notes that nuclear devices have not been used since the end of WW2, and lots of people have been in positions where they'd want to flip the table. It's a matter of some concern for various nations to have such weapons, but nobody has been in a rush to get themselves wiped out.I'm just starting to worry he'll act like a spoil kid who's losing monopoly and will flip the board.
"Mission Acomplished!"He can't do that himself, he needs support of lots of people who have stuff to live for. One notes that nuclear devices have not been used since the end of WW2, and lots of people have been in positions where they'd want to flip the table. It's a matter of some concern for various nations to have such weapons, but nobody has been in a rush to get themselves wiped out.
As mentioned, he can do the old trick of deciding that whatever has happened is a win condition. If you squint your brain a bit, annexing land with a false referendum, but losing lots of everything and only being vaguely able to hold it might even count as something like a legit win.
Even if they didn't have massive problems with corruption et al, their military is trying to be bigger and more powerful than they have the budget for, which only works short term. Big cutbacks would have allowed them to keep a small but respectable force, but that's generally unpopular with anyone who isn't directly concerned with how well the military functions."Mission Acomplished!"
Putin could use an aircraft carrier for the job but their sole Carrier is still being repaired for...*Checks notes* damaged due to a falling 70-ton crane from the floating dry dock PD-50 and a fire that killed two during the refit. The dry dock sank due to a power outage while holding Admiral Kuznetsov.
Jesus Christ Russia, is everything okay over there?
One could argue it is cowardly to blow up Russian Ammo dumps and Supply depots from 300 km away. It still hasn't helped Russia any as the HIMARS go ROAR!Oh, he certainly does not want war with NATO. He already knows how his army is loosing against the Ukraine, he knows that NATO fully entering the war would be certain defeat.
But he is still convinced that the West is decadent and full of cowards. He might still believe that NATO would indeed just back off if he were using a nuke. And as that increasingly seems like the only scenario resulting in a win for him, he might go for it.
Bigger and more powerful then they have the logistics for, but I see what you mean. Apparently a million uniforms are missing. I don't know how reputable that source is thoughEven if they didn't have massive problems with corruption et al, their military is trying to be bigger and more powerful than they have the budget for, which only works short term. Big cutbacks would have allowed them to keep a small but respectable force, but that's generally unpopular with anyone who isn't directly concerned with how well the military functions.
Poor kids don't have oligarch daddies to complain.Putin has issued a "correction" to the mobilisation order, introducing a deferment for students of private universities and postgraduates of the same.
So... state University students get drafted, but rich kids don't.
Only kids from poor families are worth sending to die, apparently.
If Putin's mind things that Russia is overif they can't win the war then he may do it. He said it himselfI appreciate the discussion and fully acknowledge that they're all 100% good reason not to start throwing nuke around.
But attacking Ukraine was a dumb move even when though it would be an easy special operation, and he still did it. Even if it all worked out, he wouldn't have been any richer or any better situated, but he still went ahead with it. I'm just starting to worry he'll act like a spoil kid who's losing monopoly and will flip the board.
And I don't necessarily mean nuking the US, say there's a major offensive by Ukraine on crimea or something, maybe Putin will try his luck with a relatively small nuke to stop the advance (either the advance itself, or maybe Kyiv just as a distraction). Or imagine the war drag on and there's a lot of skirmish around the border, maybe he'll feel like its okay to use nuke on his territory to stop an advance.
"Why Do We Need a World if Russia Is Not In It?”-Putin
There's a version of "Fortunate Son" on Youtube with Russian lyrics.Putin has issued a "correction" to the mobilisation order, introducing a deferment for students of private universities and postgraduates of the same.
So... state University students get drafted, but rich kids don't.
Only kids from poor families are worth sending to die, apparently.
Do they have to admit anything though? Them backing Putin, and Putin allowing them to rob the state blind in return was the explicit deal they struck with each other. In general the Putin regime supports stealing government funds.Eventually Putin will expect actual results, and his generals will have two options; admit they've been lying about gains and victories and stealing government funds for their own luxury lifestyles, or just shoot Putin in the head and steal as much money as they can.
Oh it does, but it doesn't support making Putin look like an idiot and lying to him. Putin may have been aware of the generals skimming off the top when it came to funds, I don't think he was aware his entire army was a potemkin army. I think the Generals never believed he would ever try to use the army and thus they never had to build one and now Putin expects all those super soldiers he paid for to come win the war. And the generals are sweating because they used that money for luxury yachts and call-girls.Do they have to admit anything though? Them backing Putin, and Putin allowing them to rob the state blind in return was the explicit deal they struck with each other. In general the Putin regime supports stealing government funds.
Fixed that for youNATO boots should have been on the ground inMarch.2014
NATO boots should have been on the ground in March.
I don't think so.Fixed that for you