Russia invades Ukraine

I think Putin is mentally ill, as a supposed strategist, chess player etc these actions appear to have more downsides than upsides. I hope his inner circle can see that and he is removed from his position asap, can't have somebody who can't think straight with their finger on the nuclear button. We shouldn't, in my opinion be doing anything other soft sanctions at the moment, we don't want to be drawn into a conflict where the leader on the other side is a loon.

 

The Taliban have called for restraint on both sides.

World’s f,ucked.

 

There's a lot to be gained by appearing unhinged. Everyone knows that a calm and collected leader would never push the button for a first nuclear strike. And if you know the other side isn't going to push that button then you can be more bold on your actions against them. However if people think that you actually might do it, then they're going to be more reluctant to oppose you with force and may limit their reaction to more indirect opposition via sanctions and funding your enemy.

So allowing yourself to be seen as unpredictable and volatile could be the actions of a master strategist, as it potentially gives you more leeway before the west comes windmilling in.

 

Saw that this morning. Just shows how the West, and Russia, look to outsiders.

 

I'm not sure it is helpful to label him as being mentally ill. Just because someone is perceived to be doing something dangerous or reckless it doesn't automatically mean they are mentally unwell.

 

Again, not a great look blaming this on mental illness and referring to 'loons'.

Mental illness is stigmatised enough.

 

Restrain from defending themselves?

 

Fair point, amended.

 

I don't subscribe to narrative myself. I think we have to remember that the whole world does not operate on the same moral framework.
In the West it is that our leaders may be corrupt and evil, but they at least have to *pretend* to be motivated by peace and humanitarianism..
Russia and China are acting entirely consistently with their moral framework: the world is a battle between the weak and the strong. The West has been strong and kept us down. Now the West is divided and distracted, it's time for us to rise. That's the mindset.
The idea that the leader of a Western nation would justify invading a neighbour based on a historical claim to
its land is unthinkable to the Western mind. But it is exactly how people think in much of the rest of the world.

 

Just look back through history, Scotland, England etc.. then how the British empire was created, just then there was no media nor anyone to challenge us should we wish to expand the empire.

Nothing has changed apart from mass media and certainly within Europe, countries becoming more powerful in terms of military force to level the playing field.

 

He deserves an Oscar for kidding us into thinking he`s unpredictable & volatile.

 

Reading about these poor Ukrainian soldiers literally sacrificing themselves instead of surrendering and then thinking about all these modern day footballers of which we will see this weekend chucking themselves to the ground & whinging every two minutes is making my blood boil.

 

Not really as since Coronavirus there have been no direct flights from St Petersburg to the UK. Options - Moscow or Tallinn. Tallinn is actually closer and really easy so we've been going with that. Added bonus that it's to Stansted, rather than the hell-holes of Gatwick or Heathrow.

As for a VPN - only for watching English telly.

 

That video doing the rounds, which I won't share here, of the tank driving over the car, just shows what sort of a 'man' Putin is and that there is very little politics involved in his thinking, just blood lust of a sick mind.

 

I sure our troops have committed equally horrible acts in Irag and Afghanistan. This isn't a attempt to excuse of even suggest Putin isn't by our moral standards a evil man. I just think the fact of the matter is that much of the world operates on a different moral framework. It's not on I agree with but we have to accept that it's the case and not just brand them as unhinged and irrational.
History shows is this is in fact very typical human behaviour.

 

"dangerous or reckless"?? I think by initiating a war and invading a country who have not presented any threat and killing innocent maiming innocents he has to be mentally ill. No sane person would put hundreds of thousands of his own countrymen in harms way unless they were under attack or 100% certain an attack was imminent neither of which was the case.

 

There are often two sides to every story and I suspect we are only hearing one side.

Perhaps if/when the full facts behind Putin's motives become known perceptions of what is happening in Ukraine at the moment might be very different.

 

Can I please advise everyone to not feed the troll? There is a very nifty ‘ignore’ button that can help with this.