Play Nice The NM Devils Chessboard thread.

[Kangaroos4eva]

UK announces first wave of sanctions against Belarus

Senior military figures targeted for role in joining and facilitating Russian invasion of Ukraine

www.google.com.au

 

[Sopwiths North]

Got some extended family over there, in the west of the country fortunately.

All doing ok, working to get displaced people and supplies to and from where they need to be.



The abstract discussion on here is a difficult one for me to parse. I understand for many here it is a thing that's happening elsewhere, to other people. But I hope you can all agree it shouldn't be happening to anyone. The people didn't ask to be saved and certainly not with the help of rockets. I don't think the sins of other governments are relevant here at all

Really well said Tectonic.

I hope your family keeps well, and safe. All good wishes to them, and to the people that they're helping.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

I don't know any ancient Romans either but I still know things.

Full text of "On the borders of Slavic identity: the search for self-determination and comparative analysis"

That article reads like it's been translated by Google translator so it's pretty difficult to grasp. But I'd be cautious about assuming that a common language means people see each other as "brothers and sisters". The article talks a lot about the history of Czech literature, but the relationship between the Czechs and Russians is hardly one of brotherly love.

When I was in Bosnia somebody showed me their cigarette packet. "Look at the health warning," he said. "By law it has to be written in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian". There was one warning in Cyrillic script, and two in Roman script that looked almost identical.

"If you read them out loud," he said. "They are all pronounced virtually the same"

 

[B4Bear]

fu** you are thick sometimes.

Who cares that you think no one from Europe is invading them? What do the people in the establishment in Russia think might happen in the next two decades given the last three? Especially as the oil and gas runs out and they are sitting on shitloads of it. Their nukes aren't much use to keep them safe if all their C&C networks are down before they notice. Its too late then so everything gets nuked and everyone loses in a nuclear war.

You really think post cold war history makes the western world look like anything other than a bunch of thieving warmongers who talk alot of sh*t about freedom to cover the fact that they are coming for your stuff? WE won't even help vaccinate the poorest people on earth during this pandemic unless the patent owners get their cut.


You provided an academic paper. That's got nothing to do with what ordinary Russians think about what is happening. If you gave an academic paper about western cultural identity to a mine worker they'd tell you to use your woke rubbish as toilet paper.

I may be thick ferball, but I have a moral compass and it is pointed 180 degrees away from yours. You talk in the hypothetical of what 'might happen'. I talk in the here and now of the murder that is happening before our very eyes.

That you defend that says all I need to know.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

Got some extended family over there, in the west of the country fortunately.

All doing ok, working to get displaced people and supplies to and from where they need to be.



The abstract discussion on here is a difficult one for me to parse. I understand for many here it is a thing that's happening elsewhere, to other people. But I hope you can all agree it shouldn't be happening to anyone. The people didn't ask to be saved and certainly not with the help of rockets. I don't think the sins of other governments are relevant here at all

I hear what you are saying but we can walk and chew gum at the same time. The problem is that the issues of hypocrisy are always pushed down the road to another time. While I understand that it can seem offensive to talk about those issues now, a lot of them are ongoing.

I heard Linda Reynolds being interviewed this morning. She was asked about the $1000 disaster relief payment, the amount of which was set in 2006. Did she think it was still sufficient in 2021? Like any politician she gave the standard answer of, "We're dealing with a disaster now, it's not the time to think about this". How many disasters since 2006 and apparently it's never been the time to consider it?

Or the stock standard response that talk about climate change during a drought/bushfire/flood is offensive to the victims. We need to focus on the disaster in front of us, not the causes apparently.

 

[Ether]

I hear what you are saying but we can walk and chew gum at the same time. The problem is that the issues of hypocrisy are always pushed down the road to another time. While I understand that it can seem offensive to talk about those issues now, a lot of them are ongoing.

I heard Linda Reynolds being interviewed this morning. She was asked about the $1000 disaster relief payment, the amount of which was set in 2006. Did she think it was still sufficient in 2021? Like any politician she gave the standard answer of, "We're dealing with a disaster now, it's not the time to think about this". How many disasters since 2006 and apparently it's never been the time to consider it?

Or the stock standard response that talk about climate change during a drought/bushfire/flood is offensive to the victims. We need to focus on the disaster in front of us, not the causes apparently.

To be fair, Charlie, I'm sure they get right onto it as soon as soon as all disasters, wars and climate change are sorted.

 

[ferball]

Mate if you don’t think the following:

1: it’s an invasion

2: the Ukrainians aren’t being “liberated”

3: Russia isn’t taking extreme casualties

All of the above are facts

Being withheld from the Russian people

If you don’t agree, you’re not worth my time for further discussion

I don't agree with the third point.

How the **** would you know? What are extreme casualties.

 

[Tectonic]

I hear what you are saying but we can walk and chew gum at the same time. The problem is that the issues of hypocrisy are always pushed down the road to another time. While I understand that it can seem offensive to talk about those issues now, a lot of them are ongoing.

I heard Linda Reynolds being interviewed this morning. She was asked about the $1000 disaster relief payment, the amount of which was set in 2006. Did she think it was still sufficient in 2021? Like any politician she gave the standard answer of, "We're dealing with a disaster now, it's not the time to think about this". How many disasters since 2006 and apparently it's never been the time to consider it?

Or the stock standard response that talk about climate change during a drought/bushfire/flood is offensive to the victims. We need to focus on the disaster in front of us, not the causes apparently.

Like I said, it's hard for me to process the broad strokes as it's a bit more personal, which is why I'm trying to stay out of discussion.
But you might have me a bit backwards here.

As an example, I don't think Australia needs to sort out its own problems before it sends money to Ukraine.
As you say, we can walk and chew gum at the same time.

 

[ferball]

I hear what you are saying but we can walk and chew gum at the same time. The problem is that the issues of hypocrisy are always pushed down the road to another time. While I understand that it can seem offensive to talk about those issues now, a lot of them are ongoing.

I heard Linda Reynolds being interviewed this morning. She was asked about the $1000 disaster relief payment, the amount of which was set in 2006. Did she think it was still sufficient in 2021? Like any politician she gave the standard answer of, "We're dealing with a disaster now, it's not the time to think about this". How many disasters since 2006 and apparently it's never been the time to consider it?

Or the stock standard response that talk about climate change during a drought/bushfire/flood is offensive to the victims. We need to focus on the disaster in front of us, not the causes apparently.

Here's a press release from some of Putin's mates. AKA the Foreign Press Association of Africa.

 

[Makeshift Park]

I don't agree with the third point.

How the fu** would you know? What are extreme casualties.

Yeah. I know that the Ukrainians are fighting an information war, but their govt’s estimates are 5k Russians and 400 Ukrainians dead. Beggars belief.

I think US State Dept are backgrounding journalists around 1500 dead either side.

Which I guess is extreme from the perspective that the Americans lost 2500 over twenty years in the Afghanistan war and this assault hasnt been going on a week.

 

[DesertRoo]

Can anyone explain t the conventual wisdom of Putin not sending aircraft to neutralise targets before sending ground troops?
is the Russian military completely dysfunctional(like before the break up of the ussr) tactical did they make a blunder thinking theyd have more support on the ground?

what they believe Putin’s preferred demarcation line is?
Does it included Kiev.
Are they looking to just take the Sea of Azov?

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Can anyone explain t the conventual wisdom of Putin not sending aircraft to neutralise targets before sending ground troops?
is the Russian military completely dysfunctional(like the break up of the ussr) tactical did they make a blunder thinking theyd have more support on the ground?

what they believe Putin’s preferred demarcation line is?
Does it included Kiev.

Air strikes were launched and destroyed the bulk of Ukraine’s small Air Force and air defences. And their air strikes have been used on other targets, but it can be hard to coordinate ground and air forces at the best of times. All the USA air power in the world couldn’t root out the Taliban.

 

[Swallow_Wood]

Here's a press release from some of Putin's mates. AKA the Foreign Press Association of Africa.

Anyone who is upset by this invasion because Ukrainians are white are idiots.

Anyone who doesn't realise that this invasion is garnering more media coverage and prompting a greater international response from governments because the perpetrators are the worlds greatest nuclear power and are carrying out their actions on the border with, and in direct opposition to an EU with a long memory of Soviet aggression are also idiots. The potential geopolitical ramifications of this are huge and multi-generational.

If this was China invading Taiwan then we would also have wall to wall coverage and disgust at Chinese aggression.

No offence to anyone or any nation, but if Ethiopia and Somalia are attacking each other it really doesn't have much of an impact on the global geopolitical landscape, hence there is little interest. As shit as that is, it is the way of the world. Skin colour has noting to do with it. The reality of power dynamics in a post colonial world does, and that's another conversation altogether.

 

[DesertRoo]

Air strikes were launched and destroyed the bulk of Ukraine’s small Air Force and air defences. And their air strikes have been used on other targets, but it can be hard to coordinate ground and air forces at the best of times. All the USA air power in the world couldn’t root out the Taliban.

Is it just I’m used to seeing Israel in the Golan heights..
by reports it seems to be a whole lot more rocket attacks then demonstrating air superiority.

 

[Val Keating]

Is it just I’m used to seeing Israel in the Golan heights..
by reports it seems to be a whole lot more rocket attacks then demonstrating air superiority.

Didn’t they take out most of Ukrainian aircraft with those missiles so they do have air superiority?

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Is it just I’m used to seeing Israel in the Golan heights..
by reports it seems to be a whole lot more rocket attacks then demonstrating air superiority.

Russian air power is applied slightly differently to Israeli and western standards, with the latter being fairly uniform and standardised. Rockets are cheaper and can be concentrated a lot easier than constant aerial sorties.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Didn’t they take out most of Ukrainian aircraft with those missiles so they do have air superiority?

Pretty much, but not entirely. Ukrainian air power atm is similar to where the Luftwaffe was in 1944-45. Functioning and capable of harassment, but not much else.

 

[B4Bear]

Here's a press release from some of Putin's mates. AKA the Foreign Press Association of Africa.

look at me, look at me. Don't forget me.

Zero relevance to what is happening.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Here's a press release from some of Putin's mates. AKA the Foreign Press Association of Africa.

Of course it’s self evident that newsrooms should be places of diversity and that the industry as a whole needs to improve big time on this front.

But ****, what a self defeating way to make a point. People should be encouraged to care about what happens in other countries, not made to feel guilty about it. This is sub-Pilgeresque whataboutism.

 

[DesertRoo]

Russian air power is applied slightly differently to Israeli and western standards, with the latter being fairly uniform and standardised. Rockets are cheaper and can be concentrated a lot easier than constant aerial sorties.

You wouldn’t happen to know Putin’s preferred demarcation line is?
at what point he deems this action is successful?

 

[ferball]

Anyone who is upset by this invasion because Ukrainians are white are idiots.

Anyone who doesn't realise that this invasion is garnering more media coverage and prompting a greater international response from governments because the perpetrators are the worlds greatest nuclear power and are carrying out their actions on the border with, and in direct opposition to an EU with a long memory of Soviet aggression are also idiots. The potential geopolitical ramifications of this are huge and multi-generational.

If this was China invading Taiwan then we would also have wall to wall coverage and disgust at Chinese aggression.

No offence to anyone or any nation, but if Ethiopia and Somalia are attacking each other it really doesn't have much of an impact on the global geopolitical landscape, hence there is little interest. As sh*t as that is, it is the way of the world. Skin colour has noting to do with it. The reality of power dynamics in a post colonial world does, and that's another conversation altogether.

Yeah. Sure.

Disturbing Videos Show Indian Students Fleeing Ukraine Brutally Beaten By Forces At Borders

A video that is now going viral and has been shared by many verified handles on Twitter shows forces of Romania and Poland kicking and beating stranded Indian students, girls and boys alike.

www.indiatimes.com

 

[Del191229]

Anyone pretending the "Europe at war" narrative and its obvious racial implications aren't a huge part of this is kidding themselves.

 

[B4Bear]

You wouldn’t happen to know Putin’s preferred demarcation line is?
at what point he deems this action is successful?

It doesn't matter. If he attacks Moldova next, a non-Nato country his apologists here and abroad will have their excuses ready.

 

[ferball]

Czechia Mulls Penalising Support of Ukraine Invasion

The Czech Republic's chief prosecutor has warned that expressing support for Russia’s attack on Ukraine could be a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment.

balkaninsight.com

Striz’s statement cited sections 365 and 405 of the Czech Criminal Code, which state that whoever publicly approves a crime or publicly praises the perpetrator can be imprisoned for up to a year, and that anyone who “publicly denies, questions, approves or seeks to justify Nazi, communist, or other genocide” can face a jail sentence of up to three years.

Czech Republic hopes to establish ‘strategic partnership’ with Saudi Arabia, Czech FM tells Arab News

Last week, Jakub Kulhanek, foreign minister of the Czech Republic, paid his first official visit to Saudi Arabia to hold meetings with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir. In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Kulhanek spoke on...

www.arabnews.com

Okay.

I guess they're only goat herders.

Not real people.

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

Anyone who is upset by this invasion because Ukrainians are white are idiots.

Anyone who doesn't realise that this invasion is garnering more media coverage and prompting a greater international response from governments because the perpetrators are the worlds greatest nuclear power and are carrying out their actions on the border with, and in direct opposition to an EU with a long memory of Soviet aggression are also idiots. The potential geopolitical ramifications of this are huge and multi-generational.

If this was China invading Taiwan then we would also have wall to wall coverage and disgust at Chinese aggression.

No offence to anyone or any nation, but if Ethiopia and Somalia are attacking each other it really doesn't have much of an impact on the global geopolitical landscape, hence there is little interest. As sh*t as that is, it is the way of the world. Skin colour has noting to do with it. The reality of power dynamics in a post colonial world does, and that's another conversation altogether.

It's not really their point though.

By all means cover the geopolitical dimensions. Cover the nuclear threat situation. But don't frame it as if it is somehow more shocking because the participants are "blonde and blue-eyed", or middle-class Europeans. Don't make invidious comparisons with Iraqis and Afghanis.

And why not have the conversation about "power dynamics in post colonial world"? We may think that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan has huge implications geopolitically, but our disgust at their aggression should be no greater than disgust at aggression anywhere (unless the level of aggression warrants it).