Do you want to learn a bit about the history of why things have gone wrong in Ukraine.

[Rjk]

Any opinions about these photos - https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...t=0&ajaxserp=0

1, Are they fake?
2, They are real but there's an innocent explanation... Putin and the former leaders of China, USA and Canada weren't attending a Masonic shindig but modelling Primark's 2006 mens dressing gown.
3, Who's the woman, Gordon Brown in drag?

2 minutes of googling has uncovered that this isn't in fact a masonic grand lodge meeting, bit in fact the final day of the APEC summit in Vietnam in 2006.
it seems the final day of APEC summits there's something of a tradition to wear the traditional dress of the host nation.

[life on mars]

Not sure if this has been posted .

It appears poor old Ukraine has had it bad since the 9th Century some on here may remember that era ?

https://www.historyextra.com/period/...conflict-facts

Best to start at point 4 when with the collapse of the Russian monarchy in 1917 which bifacially is their start point for independence since then the Rusike's have try to grab it on many occasions this last line below is regrettable and very poignant now :


Is Ukraine going to join Nato?
The aim of joining Nato is now enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution, and its armed forces are gradually transitioning to Nato standards, but in 2008, the last time that Nato members discussed the idea of Ukraine’s accession.

Germany and France blocked it so as not to provoke Russia. This may change with President Putin’s current gamble.

[Dorcus]

Why does Russia need Buffer states though, NATO / The West isn't going to invade

Russians don't believe that. This situation is far more complex than anyone on here could understand. However, the ethical position is that the Ukrainian people deserve to be free. Nothing can vindicate the use of force to subjugate these people.

[Organ Morgan.]

I have no problem with the idea of Putin being an evil dictator as it seems to be that way, but there is also the juxtaposition of him being associated with the World Economic Forum since 1992, where he was a young global leaders alongside Blair, Macron, Merkel, Trudeau, etc.

Yes. Putin's one of Schwab's self-confessed graduates is playing the part of an iniquitous villain on the world's stage.

Is this Ukraine thing one big distraction, or is it the set-up to pin the blame on him for causing financial and economic chaos?

Schwab's spoken several times stating a cyber pandemic would prove far more destructive than Covid-19. Putin's forces cutting undersea internet cables would have much the same result because the world has become so dependent on it economies and power grids and banking services would collapse faster than an overcooked soufflé without it.

[Rjk]

Russians don't believe that. This situation is far more complex than anyone on here could understand. However, the ethical position is that the Ukrainian people deserve to be free. Nothing can vindicate the use of force to subjugate these people.

Russia's position is the Ukrainian people deserve to be freed from the current government , who they call Nazi's

[Dorcus]

Russia's position is the Ukrainian people deserve to be freed from the current government , who they call Nazi's

Yes that's the bullshit propaganda they're promulgating as justification. If that were true you would only expect them to annexe the Donbass in the East rather than trying to effect regime change. The real reasons for the invasion have all to do with the balance of power and Putin's ego and legacy wishes.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X7Ng75e5gQ

Watch the first 40 minutes . It is eye opening . Scary .... Not quite as cut and dried as we are being led to believe .

Thats my take on it.

I watched the whole video, including the question and answer session. He's a charming, well-educated man but still comes over as an apologist for Putin, despite his best efforts not to. The man who is responsible for locking up protestors, poisoning opposition figures and for invading a democratic nation is not the victim that the speaker makes out him to be.

[Wales-Bales]

More comment on NATO enroachment from Col Doug MacGregor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1HFCTXamos

[NYCBlue]

People are overcomplicating this.

Putin, a former KGB agent and current premier of the Russian Federation is on record as saying that the dissolution of the USSR is the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century. (I can think of at least two that I consider more "tragic") He is a de facto dictator, he controls the press, he remains in power due to sham elections and of course, he has been known to eliminate opposition. Now he has to try to maintain this grip on power with a "sister country" right on his doorstep that has a democratically elected government, a free press and an enlightened electorate. Must be a pain in the arse. Putin chooses to see peace, freedom and democracy as a threat. He has brought war to central Europe as a result. No matter what happens in Ukraine in the short term, he's played himself. This will not end well for him.

[the other bob wilson]

I watched the whole video, including the question and answer session. He's a charming, well-educated man but still comes over as an apologist for Putin, despite his best efforts not to. The man who is responsible for locking up protestors, poisoning opposition figures and for invading a democratic nation is not the victim that the speaker makes out him to be.

And for all the conspiracy theorist stuff from those who think they’re cleverer than the rest of us, this is the one thing more than anything else which should never be forgotten - Putin is a psychopath.

[life on mars]

Any opinions about these photos - https://www.bing.com/images/search?v...t=0&ajaxserp=0

1, Are they fake?
2, They are real but there's an innocent explanation... Putin and the former leaders of China, USA and Canada weren't attending a Masonic shindig but modelling Primark's 2006 mens dressing gown.
3, Who's the woman, Gordon Brown in drag?

Its alleged Gordon has Russian connections , not sure about his dressing up habits or gowns ??

Other Scottish ex Russian TV presenters have been seen in second hand Burton suits??

[Dorcus]

Its alleged Gordon has Russian connections , not sure about his dressing up habits or gowns ??

Other Scottish ex Russian TV presenters have been seen in second hand Burton suits??

Gordon Brownski? Was he in the Brownski Beat?

[Wales-Bales]

People are overcomplicating this.

Putin, a former KGB agent and current premier of the Russian Federation is on record as saying that the dissolution of the USSR is the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century. (I can think of at least two that I consider more "tragic") He is a de facto dictator, he controls the press, he remains in power due to sham elections and of course, he has been known to eliminate opposition. Now he has to try to maintain this grip on power with a "sister country" right on his doorstep that has a democratically elected government, a free press and an enlightened electorate. Must be a pain in the arse. Putin chooses to see peace, freedom and democracy as a threat. He has brought war to central Europe as a result. No matter what happens in Ukraine in the short term, he's played himself. This will not end well for him.

That's how it appears at first glance, but there are some nuances in play. The west know his trigger points, and could be taking advantage of his self-declared line in the sand. There is also his cosy 30 year relationship with the WEF. I think we have to wait and see how it plays out, because all we have at the moment are competing narratives.

[Wales-Bales]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X7Ng75e5gQ

Watch the first 40 minutes . It is eye opening . Scary .... Not quite as cut and dried as we are being led to believe .

Thats my take on it.

This may be of interest regarding the video you posted.

https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-b...on-transitions

[stan butler]

This may be of interest regarding the video you posted.

https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-b...on-transitions

Putin with a bomber jacket on

[chrisp_1927]

It's an interesting speech, some very good points made. I wonder how serious Putin was about trying to joint Nato mind. The version given by an ex nato sec gen was that Russia expected to be invited, rather than applying.

[Wales-Bales]

Putin with a bomber jacket on

He's an interesting character with an even more interesting backstory.

[WJ99mobile]

I get sense of Russian love in hear maybe I'm wrong??

Let's remember Ukraine gave up it's Nuclear weapons and now it's people live in terror and are not allowed to join any organisation because uncle Puchface says so . FFS

The fact that things are raw now with Ukraine and this is filmed in 2016/17 makes it look more one sided than it probably is

[NYCBlue]

That's how it appears at first glance, but there are some nuances in play. The west know his trigger points, and could be taking advantage of his self-declared line in the sand. There is also his cosy 30 year relationship with the WEF. I think we have to wait and see how it plays out, because all we have at the moment are competing narratives.

GW Bush's attempts to expand NATO could be seen as irksome. But hardly threatening to Russia. The perceived threat to authoritarianism is the demonstration that democracy works and makes people happier. I can see no plausible narrative that vindicates Putin's actions.

[Wales-Bales]

Update from Col Douglas Macgregor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRi_TCehkBY

[Organ Morgan.]

Update from Col Douglas Macgregor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRi_TCehkBY

He won't be invited back to a news studio in a hurry.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden made another howler in his State of the Union address yesterday.

Biden: "Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he'll never gain the hearts and souls of the 'Iranian' people." https://twitter.com/newsmax/status/1498846893555818503

He makes so many gaffes there's loads of speculation he performs his morning bowel movements while still in bed.

[NYCBlue]

He won't be invited back to a news studio in a hurry.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden made another howler in his State of the Union address yesterday.

Biden: "Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he'll never gain the hearts and souls of the 'Iranian' people." https://twitter.com/newsmax/status/1498846893555818503

He makes so many gaffes there's loads of speculation he performs his morning bowel movements while still in bed.

His speech got a 78% approval rating in polls.

[Wales-Bales]

His speech got a 78% approval rating in polls.

78% of what?

[Dorcus]

His speech got a 78% approval rating in polls.

I think he's right; there's no love lost between Iran and Russia 😂

Sorry NYC, that was meant for Organ

[Rjk]

He won't be invited back to a news studio in a hurry.

Meanwhile, Joe Biden made another howler in his State of the Union address yesterday.

Biden: "Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he'll never gain the hearts and souls of the 'Iranian' people." https://twitter.com/newsmax/status/1498846893555818503

He makes so many gaffes there's loads of speculation he performs his morning bowel movements while still in bed.

he also says Ukrainian people several times in the same speech, he just misspoke, not like he's the first US president to have done that in recent memory