Yep.

Although the worry is that they may be quashed or silenced ASAP. Not as if there's a lack of history of such things in that particular corner of the world.

Validity in the grievance too. I would be surprised if a pariah status was yearned for by many Russians. Strange thing to say but I think they strode that line quite well between the modern world and their insular ways. Not so much anymore one would imagine.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

The east and south of the Ukraine is majority ethnically Russian.

I think the western media have convinced people that the Ukraine hasn't actually been having a low scale civil war for eight years.

The only reason the west and centre are doing well is because the western economies are bankrupting themselves to do that.

But no one should be in any doubt.....there is a hell of a lot of Russian support in the east and south....they have been fighting the rest of the Ukraine for over eight years.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

The Ukrainian counter attack has been perfectly timed. They will continue to make gains until winter hits and the Russian Armour wont be able to move in fields.

With their armour restricted to roads it will be easier to pick off and an infantry battle will take place over winter.

The demoralised russian army is not equipped to deal with a well motivated Ukrainian army fighting for their country.

russia will continue to throw long distance missiles and artillery into the Ukrainian held positions.

In terms of resources, The USA has just approved another $2.6billion.

Timeline is quite insane really.

US abandons Afghanistan with Biden failing to inform allies the plan.

US withdrawal is an absolute disaster resulting in dead us soldiers, dead civilians & enough money & equipment to keep the Taliban going for another 80 years.

Russia see's how pathetic the leadership of the US is & pushes on with its invasion of Ukraine.

Relationship between China & the US is in the gutter which results in China firing missiles over Taiwan.

Azerbaijan seeing the Russians have completely f***ed up in Ukraine seize the opportunity to start shelling Armenia whilst the Russians are flapping.

Border clashes between Kyrgistan & Tajikistan breaking out as I write this.

The whole region is starting to destabilise mainly because Russia is upto it's neck in Ukraine.

Let's not forget trouble brewing in Serbia, Israel planning missile strikes on Iran.

And yes Stirling's last post is troubling,

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Insane. There isn't a first front. Are they talking a full on attack of Russia? Talk about The Mouse that Roared.

I would also add that Russians retreating so forcing the enemy to extend their supply lines is a standard tactic (scorched earth) that they have used many times over hundreds of years e.g. Napoleon's invasion.

What actually happened in WW2 was that Stalin purged the senior staff in the late 1930's and didn't modernise the armed forces so was caught completely off guard by Hitler. He had to use up millions of Russian soldiers in a war of attrition to slow down the German advance even moving regimes from Asia across to Europe.

The Russian fought bravely but suffered huge losses because of inefficiency and Stalin's couldn't care less attitude to their losses.

Somethings never change which is why I am suspicious of talks of Ukrainian victory. The Russians can absorb huge losses and make many mistakes but just like the inflatable clown they will keep bouncing up from the floor.

The best outcome is for Putin to go and the new leader to call a truce.

Edited by Badger11 (14 Sep 2022 10.16am)

One more point