Except the loudest aren't your open mouth basement dwellers, its your camo wearing, yeti cup drinking, Ford-50000000 driving guys that are the loudest. Their also the "I would have served, but didn't…" crowd.
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Don't be so sure. I know that recruiting and retention is always a problem, and the US military has really loosened the physical and mental standards of late, but, we don't need any mouth-breathing basement-dwellers. Present company excluded, of course.
The Russians have a detailed understanding of the importance of controlling the narrative, both in domestic and international terms.
I'd rant about the "fake news" trope but it would shut this thread down mos' rickey-tick, so I'll leave the readers to ascertain my opinion.
The sanctions are a double edge sword. By crippling him, it might further drive him to do something stupid because he believes he has no other options.
The sanctions are a double edge sword. By crippling him, it might further drive him to do something stupid because he believes he has no other options.
With Putin implementing laws that imprison anyone for spreading "fake news" (oh, how I HATE that term!), here are some first-hand experiences that demonstrate the power of Russian propaganda:
Ukraine war: 'My city's being shelled, but mum won’t believe me'
These Ukrainians say their Russian relatives only trust the narratives they see on TV at home.www.bbc.com
The Russians have a detailed understanding of the importance of controlling the narrative, both in domestic and international terms.
I'd rant about the "fake news" trope but it would shut this thread down mos' rickey-tick, so I'll leave the readers to ascertain my opinion.
I am trying to get my head around the situation between our "support" for Ukraine and the "crippling sanctions" against Russia. On the one hand were trying to get Javelins and other supplies into Ukraine without directly provoking Putin, but on the other hand were still buying Russian oil with U.S. dollars at $100+ per barrel. Now I think Nancy Pelosi is a complete moron, but even today she realized that was bad policy. Also, the exchange rate today for dollars to rubles was 1:121, and considering the tens of billions of petrodollars he compiled over the last year as oil prices rose, did we give Putin more purchasing power to fund the war by devaluing the ruble? I know a devalued ruble will have severe consequences for Russia's economy and people, but Putin doesn't give a shit about that. I'm suspicious of any effect sanctions will have. Just curious to know what you guys think.
I guess people never got the memo: Biden stopped the flow of money into Russia. It doesn't matter if a tanker shows up with Russian oil, the Russians are not getting paid for it.I am trying to get my head around the situation between our "support" for Ukraine and the "crippling sanctions" against Russia. On the one hand were trying to get Javelins and other supplies into Ukraine without directly provoking Putin, but on the other hand were still buying Russian oil with U.S. dollars at $100+ per barrel. Now I think Nancy Pelosi is a complete moron, but even today she realized that was bad policy. Also, the exchange rate today for dollars to rubles was 1:121, and considering the tens of billions of petrodollars he compiled over the last year as oil prices rose, did we give Putin more purchasing power to fund the war by devaluing the ruble? I know a devalued ruble will have severe consequences for Russia's economy and people, but Putin doesn't give a shit about that. I'm suspicious of any effect sanctions will have. Just curious to know what you guys think.
Well what do you propose. I ask because I honestly don't know the solution.
We can't go to war. Sanctions are our own option. They are a doubled edged sword.
[...]
but on the other hand were still buying Russian oil with U.S. dollars at $100+ per barrel. Now I think Nancy Pelosi is a complete moron, but even today she realized that was bad policy. Also, the exchange rate today for dollars to rubles was 1:121, and considering the tens of billions of petrodollars he compiled over the last year as oil prices rose, did we give Putin more purchasing power to fund the war by devaluing the ruble?
[...]
Just curious to know what you guys think.
The US buys very little Russian petroleum. Most of our imports are products (i.e. stuff that comes from refineries). And how much of that is then re-exported I do not know, but US exports of petroleum products is almost as large as our imports.
I don't have a solution because I'm not sure my assessment is even correct. I was just kinda thinking out loud, but I do believe we're not really impacting his ability to fight the war. The sanctions so far seem to be intended to generate political pressure on Putin, which I do not believe he cares about, or cause a coup. While that would be great, I think the fear of failure and the consequences of that failure will prevent that from occurring. I do not think a Brutus will emerge anytime soon. And I agree with you Lindsey Graham is an idiot. But, I think a good start might be to stop buying his most valued commodity (a global embargo would ideal) and lower the global price of oil by producing it again here in the U.S. and making some type of deal with the Middle East producers. We only import about 7% of our oil from Russia, roughly 500,000 barrels a year. Increasing our production levels would help if we cut that offWell what do you propose. I ask because I honestly don't know the solution.
We can't go to war. Sanctions are our own option. They are a doubled edged sword.
I don't have a solution because I'm not sure my assessment is even correct. I was just kinda thinking out loud, but I do believe we're not really impacting his ability to fight the war. The sanctions so far seem to be intended to generate political pressure on Putin, which I do not believe he cares about, or cause a coup. While that would be great, I think the fear of failure and the consequences of that failure will prevent that from occurring. I do not think a Brutus will emerge anytime soon. And I agree with you Lindsey Graham is an idiot. But, I think a good start might be to stop buying his most valued commodity (a global embargo would ideal) and lower the global price of oil by producing it again here in the U.S. and making some type of deal with the Middle East producers. We only import about 7% of our oil from Russia, roughly 500,000 barrels a year. Increasing our production levels would help if we cut that off
The sanctions so far seem to be intended to generate political pressure on Putin, which I do not believe he cares about, or cause a coup.
[...]
But, I think a good start might be to stop buying his most valued commodity (a global embargo would ideal) and lower the global price of oil by producing it again here in the U.S. and making some type of deal with the Middle East producers.
We only import about 7% of our oil from Russia, roughly 500,000 barrels a year. Increasing our production levels would help if we cut that off
And secondly his people will suffer, and hopefully they will revolt. Hopefully before he does something stupid.
That is the part missing in autocracies, seldom could one speak freely (asIt's not that hard to understand your opponent, but first you must park your own hubris, ego and especially confirmation bias. This requires you to listen to others with an open mind, trust the expertise of others, but first your advisors must feel free to speak without fear.
I do agree with this as stated in the past tense. However even the most amateur warrior can look at the huge logjams of equipment many miles long and imagine what a co-ordinated airstrike would do to them.I don't think he was actually afraid of NATO. I personally believe he was using NATO expansion as a "justification" for his ambition to rebuild the Russian empire.
That is the part missing in autocracies, seldom could one speak freely (asSaparotRob said, once at most) not only for fear of reprisals, also because you are in the same mindset than the others in the room.
As they say, for a hammer everything is a nail.