OT: World Politics

[MindzEye]

Well, they are the most “politically unreliable” for autocrats.

Yeah, I wish this was surprising, but students are traditionally one of the biggest demographics where unrest and change comes from.

 

[LeafGm]

Appears to be official

It would be nice to believe that this would generate some pushback against the regime.

But whoever doesn’t manage to flee the country is either going to meekly or enthusiastically report for duty.

A nation of slaves & cowards, as well as a lot of true believers in the Russian imperial project.

 

[lecoqsportif]

The people most likely to have toppled him are the ultra right wing nationalist psychos who were mad he didn’t fully mobilize sooner. The ordinary people will be mowed down the Rosgvardia and the cops.

 

[CH1]

What a fucking disaster. Putin just keeps putting more chips on the table. I fear he has no exit strategy.

 

[MindzEye]

Here's another open secret. Most people vastly overstate the strength of China's geopolitical position as well. Geographically hemmed in by a collection of direct adversaries and neighbouring nations flat out worried about future Chinese goals, and are out looking for friends. All of whom are backstopped by the US.

 

[CH1]

China had a great half century but may have peaked for now

 

[MindzEye]

 

[CH1]

It’s like watching the William H Macy character in Fargo. Bad plan, doomed to fail but sees it through the end

 

[MindzEye]

I really wonder how far he gets to take this before even his paranoia isn't enough to avoid the assassination.

 

[axlsalinger]

The people most likely to have toppled him are the ultra right wing nationalist psychos who were mad he didn’t fully mobilize sooner. The ordinary people will be mowed down the Rosgvardia and the cops.

I mean I do understand how hard it is to risk your life to protest. But at this point they're more likely to die fighting in this idiotic war. People in that country have got to find a way to end this, it's the most pointless war of all time.

 

[Volcanologist]

Here's another open secret. Most people vastly overstate the strength of China's geopolitical position as well. Geographically hemmed in by a collection of direct adversaries and neighbouring nations flat out worried about future Chinese goals, and are out looking for friends. All of whom are backstopped by the US.

case in point, Japan building up forces bigly around their island borders to Taiwan. China just cruises around Japanese territorial waters with their cocks out like they already own the place, and the Japanese are preparing for what they see as the inevitable.

 

[manny]

China is definitely not as big, bad and scary as it sometimes seems. Because the level of big, bad and scary has been wildly overblown in the first place.

 

[manny]

O

Here's another open secret. Most people vastly overstate the strength of China's geopolitical position as well. Geographically hemmed in by a collection of direct adversaries and neighbouring nations flat out worried about future Chinese goals, and are out looking for friends. All of whom are backstopped by the US.

Overstate the strength and misinterpret the ambition.

 

[Wayward DP]

Here's another open secret. Most people vastly overstate the strength of China's geopolitical position as well. Geographically hemmed in by a collection of direct adversaries and neighbouring nations flat out worried about future Chinese goals, and are out looking for friends. All of whom are backstopped by the US.

Means nothing when the fascist revolution succeeds in America though

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Appears to be official

Another time tested Russian/Stalinist tradition: kill off anyone smart enough to organize a revolt against you.

 

[lecoqsportif]

It’s like watching the William H Macy character in Fargo. Bad plan, doomed to fail but sees it through the end

And it was his ally/friend who fired up the wood chipper.

 

[lecoqsportif]

What a fucking disaster. Putin just keeps putting more chips on the table. I fear he has no exit strategy.

The US and Euros (who are useless) let them get away with shit time after time. Georgia, Ukraine 1.0, Syria, Skripal, Wagner in Africa, US and other elections. US political dysfunction and the Afghanistan retreat further convinced Russia that the US was hamstrung.

Now, there was intelligence that the Ukrainians were not gonna greet them as liberators and the CIA director went to Moscow in the fall of 2021 to warn them against an invasion. But apparently they were high on their own supply and Patrushev brushed off US warnings.

So, if anything, it seems as if it was the west that was erratic and did a 180, which surprised the Russians (who arrogantly played themselves into a trap). I don’t think it was deliberate, I kinda think there’s some opportunistic revenge for the 2016 election. But from what I understand, no one in the Biden admin was or is under any illusions about Putin, there can be no reset with him. Their hope was that he wouldn’t do any crazy shit during their tenure. Alas, it was not to be.

 

[lecoqsportif]

case in point, Japan building up forces bigly around their island borders to Taiwan. China just cruises around Japanese territorial waters with their cocks out like they already own the place, and the Japanese are preparing for what they see as the inevitable.

 

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

I mean I do understand how hard it is to risk your life to protest. But at this point they're more likely to die fighting in this idiotic war. People in that country have got to find a way to end this, it's the most pointless war of all time.

Vietnam War and Afghanistan war are up there too

 

[TheCountofMonteCristo]

Another time tested Russian/Stalinist tradition: kill off anyone smart enough to organize a revolt against you.

good reason for us not to draft Michkov,,,