Russia has invaded Ukraine

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Hugh

One side - invades country, indiscriminately shells civilians, breaches International Law in many ways, including cluster munitions & thermobaric bombs

Other side - calls the leader of the country an accurately descriptive name

OB - "neither side looks good here"

Your moral equivalence setting may need some slight adjustment…

Well, I think it was fairly obvious I was referring to the name calling. Russia(Putin) is the bully who thinks he can do as he likes.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Well, I think it was fairly obvious I was referring to the name calling. Russia(Putin) is the bully who thinks he can do as he likes.

Were either of Biden's statements inaccurate?

'murderous dictator.'

“pure thug.”

Johnson has called Putin a bully and a war criminal - do you feel the same about those statements?

[1andrew1]

Interesting article on the BBC about the US's new contributions to Ukraine. Well worth a read. Points made in it include:

- Anti-tank weapons are likely to have the most impact in Ukraine as the Russian forces are mainly armoured convoys.

- The shoulder-fired Stinger system is the only anti-aircraft weapon included in the package. It is effective against low-flying helicopters or aircraft at up to about 12,400ft but useless against higher flying bombers. John Herbst, a former US ambassador in Kyiv said weapons against bombers are a serious omission.

- Former US Army Colonel Christopher Mayer said that the transfer of Mig-29 or similar jets by US allies would be an effective way of helping Ukraine fight for control of its skies. He noted that the Soviet Union provided both aircraft and pilots to North Vietnam to operate against US aircraft without starting a wider confrontation.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60774098

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Were either of Biden's statements inaccurate?

'murderous dictator.'

“pure thug.”

Johnson has called Putin a bully and a war criminal - do you feel the same about those statements?

Yes, I do. This only succeeds in mounting up the tension. That’s why we have diplomatic language.

Name-calling tends to indicate a loss of control, which we don’t need with all those nuclear buttons lying around.

Latest UK Intel of Russian effort via Map detail:-

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Yes, I do. This only succeeds in mounting up the tension. That’s why we have diplomatic language.

Name-calling tends to indicate a loss of control, which we don’t need with all those nuclear buttons lying around.

Normally I would agree with you that language is important in setting the tone but we're at the point where Russia is bombing children's hospitals to send a message so calling Putin a war criminal and thug is hardly escalatory. It's putting it nicely if anything.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Damien

Normally I would agree with you that language is important in setting the tone but we're at the point where Russia is bombing children's hospitals to send a message so calling Putin a war criminal and thug is hardly escalatory. It's putting it nicely if anything.

Yes, but he is an unstable thug who has become prone to outbursts of anger. It’s better to outmanoeuvre and emasculate him than to provoke an instant reaction to a comment about him personally that he feels is offensive.

Bring the ******* down before you stamp on his head, if you get my meaning.

BREAKING: China's President Xi tells U.S President Joe Biden during video call conflicts between states 'in no-one's interest' - AFP News Agency

Originally Posted by Mick

BREAKING: China's President Xi tells U.S President Joe Biden during video call conflicts between states 'in no-one's interest' - AFP News Agency

As well they might.

This graphic shows how much China actually needs Russia, in trade terms, compared to other places in the world. Ultimately, China’s interests simply are not served by backing Russia at the expense of the goodwill of the USA and Europe.

In case you missed it, Arnie’s 9-minute twitter video aimed at Russians is worth a watch. It seems to be making some headway within the country as well.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60794809

Originally Posted by Chris

In case you missed it, Arnie’s 9-minute twitter video aimed at Russians is worth a watch. It seems to be making some headway within the country as well.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60794809

Yes I thought it was a well worded thoughtful response.

BREAKING: Russian Embassy in the UK calls on Government/Ofcom to revoke BBC’s license because RT’s was revoked earlier today:

Comedy gold. It’s a pity they don’t like being the butt of satire as much as they like dishing it out:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60745569

Russia has accused Canada of "kindergarten-level" diplomacy in a Twitter tiff over a social media post by Canada's United Nations mission.
The diplomatic spat is over a letter seeking support for a draft Russian resolution about aid in Ukraine.
Canada posted the letter to Twitter with "suggested edits", which led to retweets from other UN missions.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Mick

BREAKING: Russian Embassy in the UK calls on Government/Ofcom to revoke BBC’s license because RT’s was revoked earlier today:

Good to see them annoyed.

And great that the UK has now banned RT, though we've not been able to receive it for a couple of weeks due to agile action elsewhere.

Russian cosmonauts arrive at ISS in colours of Ukraine flag

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/2...fe9eb008d63578

Three Russian cosmonauts arrived at the International Space Station last night in flight suits made in the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag, in what appeared to be a daring statement against the war.

Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov blasted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a six-month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory yesterday, joining the crew of two Russians, four Americans and one German.

In an extraordinary move, the three new arrivals emerged from their Soyuz capsule after docking with the space station wearing bright yellow jumpsuits with blue stripes, instead of the standard-issue blue uniform.

Russian crew members’ flight suits, which they change into on route — ditching the pressure suits and helmets required for launch — are usually packed aboard the spacecraft weeks before lift off.

The colour scheme and its dramatic divergence from usual dress codes drew gasps from Nasa officials and members of Nasa’s astronaut corps. “Wow. Just wow,” said Terry Virts, a former US commander of the ISS.