"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (7 Viewers)

[Thumpalumpacus]

The US, UK, and France ended WW2 with either spheres of influence or outright colonial empires. They all wanted to make sure that the UN wouldn't interfere with, say, their actions in Central America, Iraq (basically run by the UK through a puppet government), or Algeria. While it's impossible to argue that Stalin was interested in freedom anyplace or at anytime, there were times and places when the US, UK, and France weren't terribly concerned with it, either.

Which is a bit different than saying the UN worked "exactly" as intended. It sure didn't help Eastern Europe in the late 40s, despite UK, US, and France being on the SC and being against the Sovietization of the region.

In other words, the various countries that founded the organization had different intentions, and so how "exact" can you be, really? No, the member states used what leverages they could to get as much as they could, but it didn't work "exactly" for any of them.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

One of the flaws with the League of Nations was that the US was not a member, in this case voluntarily. Germany was also excluded until 1926, and the USSR expelled in Dec 1939 when it invaded Finland. You need to have all the world powers involved in any such global forums as the UN.

They also have to share the same ethical premises.

 

[GTX]

Russian and Ukrainian leaders vow to achieve victory in 2023 New Year speeches

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaks of gratitude and pain as Russia's Vladimir Putin paints the war as a near-existential fight.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GTX]

Russia "quickly running out" of weapons Putin needs in Ukraine: General

Moscow has reportedly been shoring up its political partnership with China, with Vladimir Putin pressing the ally nation for military support as well.

www.newsweek.com

 

[GTX]

View: https://twitter.com/Bodbe6/status/1609521024965517312

 

[SaparotRob]

As much as I've been hearing Russia is quickly running out of ammo, it would be nice if they would be quicker about it.

 

[buffnut453]

More alternate reality from Putinworld:

Ukraine war: New year in Putin’s Russia - nothing is normal

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg on the Kremlin's alternative reality as 2023 begins.

www.bbc.com

 

[GTX]

'A lot of pain and suffering': The battle of firefighters on Ukraine's frontline

Firefighters in war-torn Bakhmut describe their duties as "de-mine, evacuate, put out fires, provide water and clear the rubble", while battling the emotional toll of working during wartime.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GTX]

Defiant Ukrainians cheer as Russian drones shot down above Kyiv on New Year's Eve

Ukrainians cheer from their balconies while air defences blast Russian missiles and drones from the sky in the first hours of 2023.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MiTasol]

I am not hearing anything about this lately. Was it a failure? Or did the orcs harden the drones against it?

Ukraine's anti-drone gun brings down Russian DJI Mavic Pro UAV

A new video shows Ukraine using an anti-drone gun to force a surveilling Russian DJI Mavic Pro drone to execute an emergency landing.

dronedj.com

 

[GTX]

Putin Has No Red Lines

There are better ways to think about strategy.

www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[swampyankee]

I'm not so sure about that. The way China treats its Muslim (the Uigars) doesn't really foster much goodwill with other Islamic countries. If they keep treating their own Muslims that way, other Muslim countries will think twice about a relationship with them.

...on the other hand, a lot of Islamic countries treat Muslims like crap, especially if they're the wrong variety of Islam.

 

[Snautzer01]

View: https://twitter.com/christogrozev/status/1609764123633659904

 

[buffnut453]

Even the Russians are admitting casualties this time, so it must have been bad:

Ukraine claims hundreds of Russians killed by missile attack

Ukraine says 400 were killed - the total has not been verified, but Russia acknowledged the strike.

www.bbc.com

 

[Denniss]

judging from their official death figures for their "special military operation" they probably admit only 10% (or lower) of real losses.

 

[GTX]

Putin's theory of victory and four other factors that will shape the war

Predicting outcomes of the Ukraine war is nearly impossible. However, five variables are likely to have a significant impact on the course of the conflict in 2023, writes Mick Ryan.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GTX]

View: https://twitter.com/TadeuszGiczan/status/1609180990538223617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1609180990538223617%7Ctwgr%5Ee63a1dbe3cc449dda864aaf525309f7cb2d66b9b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.news.com.au%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fmystery-woman-among-recurring-faces-flanking-vladimir-putin-at-official-events%2Fnews-story%2F51248c1420a480c40d62ff6166917ba6

 

[fubar57]

Putin's theory of victory and four other factors that will shape the war

Predicting outcomes of the Ukraine war is nearly impossible. However, five variables are likely to have a significant impact on the course of the conflict in 2023, writes Mick Ryan.

www.abc.net.au

What about this little wannabe git?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/north-korea-increase-nuclear-warhead-production-kim-jong-un-1.6700878

 

[GTX]

What about this little wannabe git?

View attachment 700776​

As you said, a wannabe...hence why he is firing missiles and making pronouncements - "look at me...look at me...!!!!". If he ever does anything truly serious like fire a nuke at the west his little kingdom will become glass.

 

[GTX]

View: https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1609657637133766657