geordief

I don't think global destabilization would have been a conscious goal of his but I can see that he might welcome it and foster it if occurred "on his watch" as it were And yes ,very hard to juggle those balls but he might feel that his ineptitude has set a very low bar and so might ,if allowed be willing to roll the dice

What is surprising to an outsider is that Finland should have had any misconceptions about the character of the Russian political system. Indeed, notwithstanding those recent polls for staying out of Nato,I have heard that the memory of the last Russo- Finnish war has lain very close to the surface of the public's conscience there ever since. Perhaps the Fins like all of us were taken aback by the neck of Putin who imagined that the invasion of a neighbouring country could be undertaken almost for sport. The fate of his endeavour seems to pivot on some kind of a "success" in the Dombas. I wish him God speed to Hell this time around and a dose of smelling salts to his lackeys in the Russian political system.

Pissing in the bath?

I think I may be more worried about the idea that there may have been nuclear weapons on board the Moskva and that the Ukrainian missile had to somehow avoid hitting them directly. I am only just learning about this Is it routine for the major militaries to carry nuclear weapons into war zones?

You might send the Russians a few echo locators so you can be even handed about things.

Wonder if it sank in Ukraine's territorial waters.

Russia has a deployed a new submarine corps in the Sea of Azos https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61101906

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigonish_(poem)

Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there He wasn't there again today I wish, I wish he'd go away... When I came home last night at three The man was waiting there for me But when I looked around the hall I couldn't see him there at all! Go away, go away, don't you come back any more! Go away, go away, and please don't slam the door... (slam!) Last night I saw upon the stair A little man who wasn't there He wasn't there again today Oh, how I wish he'd go away

With regards to the Taiwan part of the OP Stephen Sakur interviewed the Taipei representative to the EU on Hard Talk on the BBC last night. Quite pointed questions and relevant to this thread,which was started before the actual invasion. I imagine it can be found on satellite or the BBC player.(eventually youtube)

Russian State TV apparently (have posted this elsewhere, but I think it deserves sharing)

Sniffs?

All politicians are lying wind bags? Any other sections of society this can also be said of? Btw I used until recently to think Churchill's "fight on the beaches..." speech was all front ...until I heard Zelensky

https://youtu.be/zSmZ1Mlz5k8 "The Deserter" is very good(part 3)

At least the Russian expeditionary force had their papers in order when they crossed over the border. Apparently the Ukranians are denying responsibility....(as of course do the Russians-for everything) Oh ,this was a nice story about that long convoy that never made it to Kiev(how true I have little idea) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/28/the-drone-operators-who-halted-the-russian-armoured-vehicles-heading-for-kyiv

Scummy is as scummy does. Edit: is that stuff all projection? (getting your retaliation in first)

It has occurred to me that Putin 's demise may be brought about just by his accepting the offer of face to face negotiations with Zelensky. ** He continues to impress-no donkey he. Here's hoping.

More like gnats crawling through his lobes. A BBC report on Abrahamovich last night suggesting he might be Putin's banker. Good riddance(even if he was also being used for espionage purposes,hopefully)

Very incidental.I am ignoring you from here on in and hopefully this thread can continue on topic.

So take your own advice.

So racism just comes naturally to you?

You have some evidence for that or is it a willingness on your part to disparage the Russians? (I don't mean that Stalin didn't purge intellectuals,but that "gene pool" language sounds racist to my ears)

Maybe Moscow should start printing Campaign Medals of Interested Credulity (Dept of Foreign Affairs) What of Fiji?

I wasn't bringing up the planes except as a reference point. I was just wondering how close to the edge can Nato countries operate with an unacceptable risk of escalation (piece of string?) ? (But I thought I had understood that the planes in question were familiar to Ukranian pilots as being old Soviet era models.And maybe a shortage of planes will occur at some stage)

Would cyber warfare be considered direct conflict? Eg would it be less risky than the idea of providing Polish planes which has seemingly been dropped? (if it was ever considered seriously) I think Nato is providing real time intelligence to Ukranian forces.Can they be proactive in this domain?