Ukraine

[Mithrandir777]

So..... WW3 eh? Or not? What do people think is likely to be the long-term outcome of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine?

[Globalfightback]

I'm dubious about this escalating to full scale global war, but it's a powder keg, so nobody can be certain. I don't have a lot of faith in most global leaders, they tend to be driven more by ego than objective reasoning, and people like that, in this case Putin, having perceived they have been affronted, might be foolhardy enough to ramp things up to a point where we are on the brink of global war. After that, objective reasoning might not be in sufficient supply to pull us back from the brink. We've seen what happened in WW1, where pacts and alliances led countries into a perceived obligation to go to war, and we've also seen what happened in WW2 when the invasion of Poland escalated into global conflict. Lessons just don't get learned. In this respect, the West also has to be very careful with regard to the consequences of imposing sanctions on Russia, because, as explained here, gas and oil comprises approximately 60% of Russia's exports, and we saw the consequences of driving Germany into impoverishment, and the resultant rise in nationalist fervour that empowered Hitler back in the 1920s. Having said that, the invasion of Ukraine is an outrage. The history between these two nations is complex (for example, Ukrainians fought on both sides in WW2), but it's hard to use any past events to justify, in the 21st century, the invasion of a sovereign country.

[DownUnder]

This is already well beyond the usual posturing of national leaders though, and once again innocent civilians are dying whilst the world watches on (relatively) helpless. Of course, the West have already been there and got the t-shirt (probably literally knowing the Yanks!) in Iraq and elsewhere.

[Mithrandir777]

I'm dubious about this escalating to full scale global war, but it's a powder keg, so nobody can be certain. I don't have a lot of faith in most global leaders, they tend to be driven more by ego than objective reasoning, and people like that, in this case Putin, having perceived they have been affronted, might be foolhardy enough to ramp things up to a point where we are on the brink of global war. After that, objective reasoning might not be in sufficient supply to pull us back from the brink.

Welll Putin sure is ramping things up!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/ ... urt-europe

[Globalfightback]

Welll Putin sure is ramping things up!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/ ... urt-europe

Posturing, hopefully. Or not. As per the earlier post, who knows for sure? One thing's for certain, it's a dangerous game using nuclear weapons as a playing piece in diplomatic chess. No human has either a right or a mandate to threaten not only human life, but all life on this planet - because that in effect is what bringing out the nuclear toys is doing. Humans have, at most, stewardship over this planet, and certainly not lordship - anybody with an inkling of spiritual insight would see this. World leaders think (or at least claim) that they represent the people - but it's a sham, almost everywhere in the world. And this is not going to change until, imo, we have a true democracy of the people and by the people. You could argue that having two heavily armed power blocs opposing and distrusting each other was always going to end like this - the paranoia of Ego. The only saving grace is that Trump is not still in power, because that fool would probably be even more likely to press the button.

[Froggers]

Even the meerkats have been sanctioned!

[DownUnder]

[Froggers]

The only saving grace is that Trump is not still in power, because that fool would probably be even more likely to press the button.

Or welcome the Russian army onto Western soil with open arms?

https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reido ... -rcna17328

[Globalfightback]

The only saving grace is that Trump is not still in power, because that fool would probably be even more likely to press the button.

Or welcome the Russian army onto Western soil with open arms?

https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reido ... -rcna17328

Perhaps. Who's to say who Trump would point the missiles at anyway, given the chance. It probably varies from day to day depending on who he perceives has affronted his ego the most.

[Globalfightback]

Dodgy money and fluid ethics: a look into the UK Conservative Party's links with Russia.

https://bylinetimes.com/2019/11/09/russ ... u-to-know/