The War in Ukraine

[MartyG]

Perhaps people are trying to learn from the past.

As unpalatable as it is, it must be this way. At the moment there is still the possibility this will end through negotiation. The realisation in the few seconds you will have left after seeing the fireball, that kicking off an avoidable escalation wasn't such a good idea, will be too late.

[Dogg Thang]

Yep. Avoiding escalation is crucial here. Although I'm feeling a little less optimistic today just because it feels like Putin is going all-in. I was hoping once he realised that this wouldn't be easy that he would look for a way out, like a bully who realises their victim might actually fight back.

[charlesr]

This is uniquely evil:
https://www.twitter.com/KevinRothroc...5103957434369?

What sort of message does this send to troops?
"Being a soldier is punishment"
"We value soldiers as much as dissenters"

[Golgo]

What sort of message does this send to troops?
"Being a soldier is punishment"
"We value soldiers as much as dissenters"

That punishment for dissenters is just bizarrely perverse, a truly mad kind of symmetry. I think it proves that Russia has now entered the decadent stage, as all empires eventually do.

[Lebowski]

What sort of message does this send to troops?
"Being a soldier is punishment"
"We value soldiers as much as dissenters"

You'd have to ask how would they keep these in line whats to stop massive swaves of them when sent into Ukraine deserting and joining the opposition.

[charlesr]

Maybe "sent to Ukraine" = never to be seen again because they "died in combat, honest"

[MartyG]

Yep. Avoiding escalation is crucial here. Although I'm feeling a little less optimistic today just because it feels like Putin is going all-in.

If you watch the news you will believe it's impossible. Need to be careful that the media doesn't talk us into starting a war thru its narrative to the public. For this reason, I've limited myself to watching only at breakfast - don't need that 24 hours a day.

[Asura]

If you watch the news you will believe it's impossible. Need to be careful that the media doesn't talk us into starting a war thru its narrative to the public. For this reason, I've limited myself to watching only at breakfast - don't need that 24 hours a day.

More and more that episode of The Day Today comes into focus where they start a war just because they goad two politicians on the news.

[Golgo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-...omments-button

"Sainsbury's said it would also change the name of chicken Kiev to 'Chicken Kyiv' to match the Ukrainian spelling of the capital."*

Can't you just imagine the meeting where Janet from marketing proposed that?

*No, this is not from the Daily Mash.

[monel]

It's depressing how the media is blatantly expressing in various ways that because this is in Europe, it's completely different to all the other countries who got shafted in the past, they never mattered.

Also online and the news is a lot like some guy who randomly approaches people and says 'Oooooh are you going to let them do that? Are you?'

[Dogg Thang]

It's depressing how the media is blatantly expressing in various ways that because this is in Europe, it's completely different to all the other countries who got shafted in the past, they never mattered.

Some of the comments I've seen have been flat out racist,

But I guess beyond those instances where they are just pretty shocking and xenophobic, it is easy to understand why it does feel different. We live in communities and we learn to accept those communities as our own. Europe is our community. And you can be very sure that a war in Europe will have a very direct effect on us in a way that a war somewhere else won't. That doesn't make those other wars okay in any way. But I get why they are easier not to think about.

And the other part of that is, just because people didn't get outraged about some other war doesn't mean they should be okay with this one. There are some people using that whataboutery to muddy things. This is an unacceptable war and that does not in any way invalidate any other unacceptable war. But it is on our doorstep. And the reality is, that is different. For us at least.

But yeah, I do know what you're saying. I have seen a few "these people are just like us" comments where people really haven't thought about what they implying with those statements.

[monel]

I agree with your message overall but the last bit, when you witness it is just so blatant. Kind of a Freudian slip or something.

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/04/ukraine-news-russia-war-vladimir-putin-zelenskiy-kyiv-latest-live-updates-russian-invasion-nuclear-power-plant?page=with:block-62224b708f08d4a3a989ed18#block-62224b708f08d4a3a989ed18

Microsoft pulls out of Russia

[Neon Ignition]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/mar/04/ukraine-news-russia-war-vladimir-putin-zelenskiy-kyiv-latest-live-updates-russian-invasion-nuclear-power-plant?page=with:block-6221fb908f08ae33016aa65a#block-6221fb908f08ae33016aa65a

Putin says he doesn't want things to escalate so don't pressure him any further

You know, because he's the victim right?

#Imadonkeyontheedge

[Cassius_Smoke]

There are snippets coming out of the Putin Administration.
A quote was 'Everything is ****ed'. People are leaving or being fired left and right and it's chaos in there.