Russia

[John Wright]

4 minutes ago, manxman1980 said:

If true let's hope he is replaced by someone more reasonable who will end this madness.

This is disturbing but hardly unexpected. 

If they are true it’s likely the two are connected so that opposition can’t coalesce around Navalny.

Of course the old joke is that it can’t be announced because no one has plucked up courage to tell Putin.

Any Kremlin insider successor is likely to be even more hardline. They’re in that paranoid rabbit hole of believing that NATO and Ukraine are an existential threat. And over the last 20 years NATO and the West haven’t done anything apart from make that appear true.

[P.K.]

The view of a Professor of History at Yale Uni on "Hunger Politics". Make of it as you will:

Russia has a hunger plan. Vladimir Putin is preparing to starve much of the developing world as the next stage in his war in Europe.

In normal times, Ukraine is a leading exporter of foodstuffs. A Russian naval blockade now prevents Ukraine from exporting grain. If the Russian blockade continues, tens of millions of tons of food will rot in silos, and tens of millions of people in Africa and Asia will starve.

The horror of Putin's hunger plan is so great that we have a hard time apprehending it. We also tend to forget how central food is to politics. Some historical examples can help. The idea that controlling Ukrainian grain can change the world is not new. Both Stalin and Hitler wished to do so. For Stalin, Ukraine's black earth was to be exploited to build an industrial economy for the USSR. In fact, collectivized agriculture killed about four million Ukrainians. Notably, as people began to die in large numbers, Stalin blamed the Ukrainians themselves. Soviet propaganda called those who drew attention to the famine "Nazis."

Actual Nazis had related ideas. They liked the idea of controlling Ukrainian agriculture. This was in fact Hitler's central war aim. Hitler wished to redirect Ukrainian grain from the Soviet Union to Germany, in the hope of starving millions of Soviet citizens. So the Second World War was fought for Ukraine and in considerable measure in Ukraine, between dictators who wanted to control food supplies.

Russian memory politics prepared the way for a 21st-century hunger plan. Russians are told that Stalin's famine was an accident and that Ukrainians are Nazis. This makes theft and blockade seem acceptable. 

Putin's hunger plan is, I believe, meant to work on three levels. First, it is part of a larger attempt to destroy the Ukrainian state, by cutting off its exports. Putin's hunger plan is also meant to generate refugees from North Africa and the Middle East, areas usually fed by Ukraine. This would generate instability in the EU. Finally, and most horribly, a world famine is a necessary backdrop for a Russian propaganda campaign against Ukraine. Actual mass death is needed as the backdrop for a propaganda contest. 

When the food riots begin, and as starvation spreads, Russian propaganda will blame Ukraine, and call for Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine to be recognized, and for all sanctions to be lifted. 

Russia is planning to starve Asians and Africans in order to win its war in Europe. This is a new level of colonialism, and the latest chapter of hunger politics. 
 

[The Phantom]

On 6/18/2022 at 1:14 PM, P.K. said:

The view of a Professor of History at Yale Uni on "Hunger Politics". Make of it as you will:

Russia has a hunger plan. Vladimir Putin is preparing to starve much of the developing world as the next stage in his war in Europe.

In normal times, Ukraine is a leading exporter of foodstuffs. A Russian naval blockade now prevents Ukraine from exporting grain. If the Russian blockade continues, tens of millions of tons of food will rot in silos, and tens of millions of people in Africa and Asia will starve.

The horror of Putin's hunger plan is so great that we have a hard time apprehending it. We also tend to forget how central food is to politics. Some historical examples can help. The idea that controlling Ukrainian grain can change the world is not new. Both Stalin and Hitler wished to do so. For Stalin, Ukraine's black earth was to be exploited to build an industrial economy for the USSR. In fact, collectivized agriculture killed about four million Ukrainians. Notably, as people began to die in large numbers, Stalin blamed the Ukrainians themselves. Soviet propaganda called those who drew attention to the famine "Nazis."

Actual Nazis had related ideas. They liked the idea of controlling Ukrainian agriculture. This was in fact Hitler's central war aim. Hitler wished to redirect Ukrainian grain from the Soviet Union to Germany, in the hope of starving millions of Soviet citizens. So the Second World War was fought for Ukraine and in considerable measure in Ukraine, between dictators who wanted to control food supplies.

Russian memory politics prepared the way for a 21st-century hunger plan. Russians are told that Stalin's famine was an accident and that Ukrainians are Nazis. This makes theft and blockade seem acceptable. 

Putin's hunger plan is, I believe, meant to work on three levels. First, it is part of a larger attempt to destroy the Ukrainian state, by cutting off its exports. Putin's hunger plan is also meant to generate refugees from North Africa and the Middle East, areas usually fed by Ukraine. This would generate instability in the EU. Finally, and most horribly, a world famine is a necessary backdrop for a Russian propaganda campaign against Ukraine. Actual mass death is needed as the backdrop for a propaganda contest. 

When the food riots begin, and as starvation spreads, Russian propaganda will blame Ukraine, and call for Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine to be recognized, and for all sanctions to be lifted. 

Russia is planning to starve Asians and Africans in order to win its war in Europe. This is a new level of colonialism, and the latest chapter of hunger politics. 
 

With Ukraine now receiving and successfully using Harpoon missiles with a range of 100 miles, it will be very difficult for Russia to blockade Odessa.  

The Ukrainians have mined the whole area to stop a seabourne assault.  Again with the Harpoons (and Russia's incompetence) this now looks very unlikely. 

However, the mines are a double edged sword.  They stop Russian military boats coming in, but also Ukrainian cargo boats going out.  Will be interesting to see if the Ukrainians trust the Harpoons enough to clear the mines. 

It's a bit more complicated at the other ports however. 

[Chinahand]

 

[P.K.]

I see the Orcs have deliberately fired a missile to strike a shopping centre.

A sign of desperation perhaps? Or a warning...

Nato plans huge upgrade in rapid reaction force 

Nato has announced plans to massively increase the number of its forces at high readiness to over 300,000 troops.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-61954516

As a Russian Staff Officer once remarked about the UK Light Assault elements:

"The bastards get there so quick...."

 

[The Phantom]

16 hours ago, P.K. said:

I see the Orcs have deliberately fired a missile to strike a shopping centre.

Funny how when I originally called them Orcs near the start of the conflict, some people were claiming I was some sort of fascist.  Now it's pretty much the accepted nickname for them. 

[Passing Time]

44 minutes ago, The Phantom said:

Funny how when I originally called them Orcs near the start of the conflict, some people were claiming I was some sort of fascist.  Now it's pretty much the accepted nickname for them. 

Only when it suits them... only when it suits them

[The Voice of Reason]

I went on to look at this thread. And (seriously) was greeted by a pop up ad inviting me to meet single Ukrainian women. Thought that was in poor taste.

[TheTeapot]

18 minutes ago, The Voice of Reason said:

I went on to look at this thread. And (seriously) was greeted by a pop up ad inviting me to meet single Ukrainian women. Thought that was in poor taste.

Ads are based on a users search history. 

[The Voice of Reason]

Just now, TheTeapot said:

Ads are based on a users search history. 

Like following the Russian / Ukraine conflict?
I hope you’re not suggesting otherwise!

[TheTeapot]

You're in the hands of the algorithm now, it knows what you want.

[The Voice of Reason]

1 hour ago, TheTeapot said:

You're in the hands of the algorithm now, it knows what you want.

Well I don’t want a single Ukrainian lady.

(Nothing to do with nationality. I’m happily married.)

[The Voice of Reason]

11 hours ago, Roxanne said:

Do you know Jim? The ‘Prof’ from The Archers? When I read your posts I hear them in his voice. He’s also extremely reasoned - most of the time.

(this is a compliment - just so you know and don’t come at me again). 😀

Thanks Rox

Never really got on with the Archers. Tend to change channels when I hear the “de de de de de da da” come on.

I wouldn’t come at you.  I have an image of you and the sort of person you are in my head from your posts (as I do certain others). And it’s positive.

It’s curious isn’t it corresponding with people you don’t know the first thing about, just the opinions you form from what they write?

 

 

[P.K.]

On 7/2/2022 at 8:39 PM, The Voice of Reason said:

I went on to look at this thread. And (seriously) was greeted by a pop up ad inviting me to meet single Ukrainian women. Thought that was in poor taste.

Was it perhaps a cleverly disguised recruiting poster for the Zbroyni Syly Ukrayiny (Ukrainian Military) designed to snare the unwary? You know "Sign up and meet me in Sanger 5 and we'll have a cuddle whilethe Katyushas start to raze everything to the ground..."

Have to say the footage of old men dressed as soldiers defending their country is singularly depressing. Yes I know it's a fight for survival and the whole country has to mobilise to face the threat but the sheer lethality of modern AFV combat means it's extremely hazardous even for the very fit and highly trained professionals.

The old folks, well....

[Passing Time]

On 7/2/2022 at 10:19 PM, The Voice of Reason said:

Well I don’t want a single Ukrainian lady.

(Nothing to do with nationality. I’m happily married.)

Do you have a link to that site... asking for a friend