Current Affairs

[Manoverboard]

One thing is for sure ' we ' cannot force Putin to do anything ... no chance.

World wide sanctions will inevitably lead to Putins demise.
It’s just a matter of when and also what is left of Ukraine and the Russian economy by the time he goes.
The Russians who have enjoyed their western lifestyle will be the first to question, followed by the others as the cupboards run bare.
It’s the only way without going all in.

It's a bit like saying we could force the American ... even the Chinese. No, it will have to burn itself out because the situation can only get worse with too much involvement from the West.

ps ... earlier on this afternoon I gave a couple of quid ( sans book ) to a BIG ISSUE seller who was raising funds for his Countrymen, allegedly

[barney]

Putin is only in power because of the complicity of the average Russian person.
It was the White Rose Movement that eventually bought Hitler down and I think similar will happen in Russia.

[towny44]

Putin is only in power because of the complicity of the average Russian person.
It was the White Rose Movement that eventually bought Hitler down and I think similar will happen in Russia.

Considering that Hitler remained in power until his suicide in the bunker, the White Rose Movement seemed to have failed to convince the majority of germans.

[Stephen]

I really admire the people of Ukraine. Even amongst all the cr*p that is happening a group of soldiers in Odessa were shown playing their brass instruments ‘don’t worry be happy’ to bring a lighter moment to all the carnage.

[barney]

Putin is only in power because of the complicity of the average Russian person.
It was the White Rose Movement that eventually bought Hitler down and I think similar will happen in Russia.

Considering that Hitler remained in power until his suicide in the bunker, the White Rose Movement seemed to have failed to convince the majority of germans.

On the contrary John.
It was the start of the questions.
Until people start to question and challenge the propaganda that is force fed down their throats, the despots get away with it.
It was after White rose that Hitler almost disappeared from public gaze.
Because of his ego, he found it difficult when he thought he'd lost the trust and love of the people.

[towny44]

Putin is only in power because of the complicity of the average Russian person.
It was the White Rose Movement that eventually bought Hitler down and I think similar will happen in Russia.

Considering that Hitler remained in power until his suicide in the bunker, the White Rose Movement seemed to have failed to convince the majority of germans.

On the contrary John.
It was the start of the questions.
Until people start to question and challenge the propaganda that is force fed down their throats, the despots get away with it.
It was after White rose that Hitler almost disappeared from public gaze.
Because of his ego, he found it difficult when he thought he'd lost the trust and love of the people.

I would guess that the fact germany was losing the war might have had more to do with him disappearing from public life, and cowering in his underground bunker, and equally the growth of the white rose movement would also have been bolstered by the state of the war. Whether sanctions will impact sufficiently on the average Russian is debatable, but that may take years, which the Ukranians dont have.

[Stephen]

Just been watching a bit of PMQ’s. I don’t know what planet Boris is on but it’s certainly not this one when it comes to welcoming Ukrainian refugees into the UK. From what I’ve seen on tv they couldn’t make the bureaucracy more difficult if they tried.

[barney]

Just been watching a bit of PMQ’s. I don’t know what planet Boris is on but it’s certainly not this one when it comes to welcoming Ukrainian refugees into the UK. From what I’ve seen on tv they couldn’t make the bureaucracy more difficult if they tried.

It’s quite shameful Stephen, in my opinion.

Interesting that the Ukrainian men are getting the women and children out then returning to fight while the Syrian men arrived in Europe leaving the women and children behind.

[Stephen]

I might understand the thorough checks if the majority were young people trying to get in but it isn't. It's mainly women and children and the elderly. According to a news report all men under sixty are required to stay and fight.

[Manoverboard]

After chatting to the BIG ISSUE seller in Blandford Forum yesterday I gained the distinct impression that the vast majority wanted to go to Romania or Poland because of logical family ties ... so, are we being exploited again as a soft touch given the much closer and perfectly acceptable alternatives.

[Mervyn and Trish]

The only country that should be ashamed by this is Russia. Political point scoring by the opposition and the Frogs isn't helpful.

[Onelife]

Putin has just bombed a maternity hospital with as yet unknown casualties and what does the West do…Raise the white flag because Putin threatens NukiBoo…Pathetic!

[Onelife]

The only country that should be ashamed by this is Russia. Political point scoring by the opposition and the Frogs isn't helpful.

I for one am ashamed of our reluctance to stop this slaughter ...every missile that is dropped on Ukraine is the equivalent of using a Nazi Gas Chamber.

[Gill W]

After chatting to the BIG ISSUE seller in Blandford Forum yesterday I gained the distinct impression that the vast majority wanted to go to Romania or Poland because of logical family ties ... so, are we being exploited again as a soft touch given the much closer and perfectly acceptable alternatives.

The Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK appear to be ones with family here already. Not sure Romania or Poland would be acceptable if their relative was already here in the UK

Anyway, they've just fled a war zone and are completely traumatised - I can't think for a minute that the mothers, children and the elderly would put themselves through a further journey across a whole continent unless they were desperate.

The Home Office needs to get act together, as they are internationally shaming us at the moment. Allow the people in - they can be 'processed at Manston (about 28000 people crossing the Channel in little boats were processed there last year), then they can be reunited with their families, and be allowed time to get the full paperwork paper done. MP Roger Gale is quite right, the current treatment is inhumane.

[Mervyn and Trish]

The only country that should be ashamed by this is Russia. Political point scoring by the opposition and the Frogs isn't helpful.

I for one am ashamed of our reluctance to stop this slaughter ...every missile that is dropped on Ukraine is the equivalent of using a Nazi Gas Chamber.

Sorry OL we don't have the power to stop it by force. Only to spread it and make it worse.

[towny44]

The only country that should be ashamed by this is Russia. Political point scoring by the opposition and the Frogs isn't helpful.

I for one am ashamed of our reluctance to stop this slaughter ...every missile that is dropped on Ukraine is the equivalent of using a Nazi Gas Chamber.

Sorry OL we don't have the power to stop it by force. Only to spread it and make it worse.

Not sure that's really true Merv, just because Putin threatened us with such power as has never been seen before, possibly only means his bluff worked. If NATO were to give him 24 hours to agree an unconditional ceasefire or they would send in troops and planes to support Ukraine, do you seriously think the Russkies would sign their own death sentence?
PS I dont know for sure but I guess NATO would have air superiority which would stop the Russkies advance in its tracks.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I for one am ashamed of our reluctance to stop this slaughter ...every missile that is dropped on Ukraine is the equivalent of using a Nazi Gas Chamber.

Sorry OL we don't have the power to stop it by force. Only to spread it and make it worse.

Not sure that's really true Merv, just because Putin threatened us with such power as has never been seen before, possibly only means his bluff worked. If NATO were to give him 24 hours to agree an unconditional ceasefire or they would send in troops and planes to support Ukraine, do you seriously think the Russkies would sign their own death sentence?
PS I dont know for sure but I guess NATO would have air superiority which would stop the Russkies advance in its tracks.

Chamberlain famously gave Hitler such a deadline. That worked well didn't it? You assume Putin will make a sane decision. I don't. In the past he has said he sees no point in the world if Russia isn't in it.

[david63]

do you seriously think the Russkies would sign their own death sentence?

If by "Russkies" you mean the Russian people then no I don't think that they would - the question is though "would they have any say in the matter?"

If, on the other hand, you mean the "Russkies" by proxy through Putin then I would not rule anything out.

[Mervyn and Trish]

My Mum used to say two wrongs don't make a right and that is certainly true and doesn't excuse for one second what Putin is doing and the barbarity of it. However I've already pointed out the parallels between Iraq and Ukraine that Putin has used to shout hypocrite. Now he is claiming he has evidence that Ukraine has been developing or trying to obtain weapons of mass destruction. I have no doubt it is lies. But it's uncomfortably familiar.

[Stephen]

Putin knows the West haven't got the balls to stop him militarily and that he has everyone by the short and curlies. So what's to be done when he's finally conquered Ukraine and decides to move onto some other country, roll over again?

Someone with some bottle at last even though it will probably be the end of their careers if or when they return.

https://www.forces.net/ukraine/awol-bri ... 0the%20war.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I don't think he will ever conquer Ukraine. If he wins this round he will have to occupy it against guerilla resistance and it will tie up his resources for a long time. He won't have the capacity to invade anywhere else, with Nato troops and planes ready to welcome him. Meanwhile sanctions will cripple Russia and dissent will grow at home until he is overthrown.

[Manoverboard]

After chatting to the BIG ISSUE seller in Blandford Forum yesterday I gained the distinct impression that the vast majority wanted to go to Romania or Poland because of logical family ties ... so, are we being exploited again as a soft touch given the much closer and perfectly acceptable alternatives.

The Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK appear to be ones with family here already. Not sure Romania or Poland would be acceptable if their relative was already here in the UK

I didn't suggest that other options shouldn't be available, I simply passed on the opinion of an elderly gent from the region who would, on the surface, know far more about it than any of us.

[Onelife]

PS I dont know for sure but I guess NATO would have air superiority which would stop the Russkies advance in its tracks.

Chamberlain famously gave Hitler such a deadline. That worked well didn't it? You assume Putin will make a sane decision. I don't. In the past he has said he sees no point in the world if Russia isn't in it.

The one thing I know to be true, which is that NukiBoo Putin is a bigger bullshiter than onelife…and that really is saying something.

[Onelife]

Putin knows the West haven't got the balls to stop him militarily and that he has everyone by the short and curlies. So what's to be done when he's finally conquered Ukraine and decides to move onto some other country, roll over again?

Someone with some bottle at last even though it will probably be the end of their careers if or when they return.

https://www.forces.net/ukraine/awol-bri ... 0the%20war.

I salute everyone of them Stephen

[david63]

I salute everyone of them

Will you still be saying that when they drag us into this conflict?