As labor demands higher wages, capital has a choice: raise prices or take a hit. So they raise prices. — frank
Hard to tell how much Old Joe Knows. His age is reportedly starting to show. — jorndoe
The US media commentators surely wanted payback during the Trump era when an Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan. Of course the Taleban weren't as successful as the Ukrainians have been with the intel. But then again, if you use Ukrainian mobile phone network, you're asking for it. Ukrainian military intelligence is far more capable than the Taleban could be, even with the help of Pakistani ISI.The Biden Administration, however, has to know what a dangerous game they're playing wrt Ukraine and Russia. If Russia was giving intel to one of our enemies that resulted in deaths of many senior officers (and they were still doing it!), we would want some payback. — RogueAI
Dude, if I’m a “deranged Putinist” to you, you are a “deranged NATO Nazi” to me. So, basically, we have nothing to say to each other. But this thread seems to be about the Ukraine business, not about you and me. — Apollodorus
The fact is that I’ve criticized Russia extensively on other threads, including the crimes it has committed against its own people, the oligarchs, its collaboration with criminal dictatorships like Turkey, etc., etc. So, I think people who label me “pro-Russian” or “pro-Putin” are knowingly telling lies. — Apollodorus
Moreover, as I said, this thread is about the Ukraine crisis or conflict. Like all conflicts, there are two sides to it. On one side there is Russia, on the other side is America (+ UK, NATO, EU, G7, etc.). If some criticize one side, others are entitled to criticize the other. Otherwise, the discussion becomes one-sided and, ultimately, no discussion at all. — Apollodorus
Maybe that’s what you’re aiming at because despite calling yourself “philosopher”, you clearly see this as a “political discussion” (your own phrase!) and you sound very much like a political activist and not so much like a philosopher. — Apollodorus
I think my proposal that every country and continent should belong to its rightful owners is pretty reasonable in a philosophical context. Yet you inexplicably react to it by cursing and getting mad:
no, I don’t have to be prepared to give Tibet back to the Tibetans, etc., (whatever the fuck that means) — neomac — Apollodorus
There is nothing “Putinist” or “deranged” about suggesting that Tibet should be returned to the ethnic Tibetans to whom it rightfully belongs. Nor is there anything unclear about the facts. — Apollodorus
5. Historically, except for the very brief Khrushchev-instigated episode whose legitimacy is contested (1991-2014, i.e., 23 years to be precise), Crimea NEVER belonged to Ukraine. — Apollodorus
That was the point I was making, I never said Russia should invade the Baltic or Scandinavian countries and even less England or America. If that’s what you’re saying, then you’re making it up. — Apollodorus
As for Zelensky, he seems to be another nutjob who's either confused or a liar. First he said everyone “should calm down as there wasn’t going to be any invasion”, then he said “WW3 has started” and later that “the end of the world has come”! One minute he says he “is ready to negotiate”, next minute he says he “will fight to the end”. One minute he says Ukrainian troops hiding in Mariupol “will never surrender”, next minute he says “Russia should let them go”. He accuses Germany of “financing Russia’s war” when many other countries have been and still are doing business with Russia. He accuses Russia of trying to “exterminate the Ukrainian people” when so far only a few thousand got killed out of 40 million (compare 150,000+ killed by America’s Iraq War), etc. — Apollodorus
Incidentally, the Ukraine issue here seems to be approached exclusively from a Western-NATO, i.e., minority-interest angle. This is unacceptable because the West is a minority in the world. The overwhelming majority of the world population – Russia, China, India, Africa, the Arab World, Latin America – do NOT see the conflict the same way the West does. I see no logical reason why non-Western views should be suppressed on a discussion forum! — Apollodorus
In sum, I really don’t know — Apollodorus
On the other hand, to think that Russia will ever consider developing an army capable of controlling, not only Ukraine, but both Sweden and Finland is crazy. Heck, the US couldn't even deal with Afghanistan, much weaker than Ukraine.
The issue is, by joining having them join NATO, Russia will be forced to put nukes on the borders with Finland, making the situation much more delicate. — Manuel
If you don't find Zelensky credible why did you bring him up in support of your claim that Crimea belongs to Russia? — neomac
The latest polling shows that Zelensky’s approval ratings have almost tripled since December 2021, when just 31 per cent of Ukrainians supported him.
Ukraine could declare neutrality, offer security guarantees to Russia and potentially accept a compromise on contested areas in the country’s east to secure peace “without delay,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said ahead of another planned round of talks ....
While saying “Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are beyond doubt,” Zelensky also suggested compromise might be possible over “the complex question of Donbas.”
It was not clear how the two goals could be squared. Russia and Ukraine also remain far apart on other issues ....
Russia cannot 'control' Finland but it could destroy it. — Olivier5
At least Chomsky is honest that he doesn't have much to say when it comes to Sweden and Finland, and is puzzled. When it comes to Russia, perhaps Chomsky ought to know the famous line that "Russia is never as strong as she looks at her best, but also Russia never as weak as she looks at her weakest." Russia isn't a "floundering paper-tiger" as Chomsky puts it. It still has the largest arsenal of nuclear weapons.This is quite interesting, especially the first 15-20 minutes, made faster if one chooses 1.5 or x2 speed — Manuel
OK this doesn't make sense. Russia has nukes in Russia. Russia has already nukes in Kaliningrad. Russia's nuclear bombers can launch their cruise missiles well within deep in Russian aerospace out of the reach of Finnish air defenses or Hornet fighters and hit targets allover Finland.On the other hand, to think that Russia will ever consider developing an army capable of controlling, not only Ukraine, but both Sweden and Finland is crazy. Heck, the US couldn't even deal with Afghanistan, much weaker than Ukraine.
The issue is, by joining having them join NATO, Russia will be forced to put nukes on the borders with Finland, making the situation much more delicate. — Manuel
Having the Soviet air defence shield in Finland and a coastal defense on both sides of the Gulf of Finland was the dream of the Soviet Union. Leningrad's (later again St. Peterburgs) defense and the defense of Murmansk would need this "defense in depth". Last time Soviets proposed to the Finnish leadership to have Soviet Air Defense units taking care of Finnish aerospace happened in the 1970's. Along with demands Finland joining the Warsaw Pact. The suggestions were politely refused, but not forgotten.Yep. Destroying Finland has always been Russia's dream. — Apollodorus
Russia isn't a "floundering paper-tiger" as Chomsky puts it. — ssu
Perhaps it's hard for an American to understand that security policy can be about the survival and existence of your country, as Finland and the Baltic States are quite expendable — ssu
And still, we know that there is a possibility, not a big one, but still a possibility, that Russia's response to a NATO application is a military response. The armed forces understand that this possibility exists. — ssu
OK this doesn't make sense. Russia has nukes in Russia. Russia has already nukes in Kaliningrad. Russia's nuclear bombers can launch their cruise missiles well within deep in Russian aerospace out of the reach of Finnish air defenses or Hornet fighters and hit targets allover Finland. — ssu
So before he was 20 years, he was talking about it? OK, if you say so...I don't think it's hard for him to understand that concept at all.
For instance, he's spoken about the Palestinian issue, and was worried about the problem, before Israel came into existence as a state. — Manuel
As both Sweden and Finland have now at least gotten spoken promises that during the time when they admit their application and when they are accepted as members (which will take time), they will be supported, I think the probability of a Russian response like in Ukraine or Georgia won't happen.Again, a small skirmish in the border would be drastically different if NATO were involved, it seems to me. — Manuel
But Chomsky refers only to those instances where it's either the US or an ally of the US that shows aggression. Chomsky doesn't see it's his role to comment on the aggression of Russia. If Russia does something bad, he doesn't see it's his role to comment it. Well sorry, but we have that over 1000 km border with Russia, not Israel or the US. — ssu
The fact is that Russia has shown enough recklessness and that it's untrustworthy with also having it's hands tied in Ukraine. If Ukraine was now under control of Russia, it could draw back it's troops for example to the Finnish border. So now you both have a) an obvious reason to join and b) a window of opportunity to join.but, my guess would be that if Ukraine had completely fallen, then, Finland and Sweden would be even more enthusiastic about joining NATO. — Manuel
Russian imperialist aspirations are always veiled in defensive arguments. — ssu
Last time Soviets proposed to the Finnish leadership to have Soviet Air Defense units taking care of Finnish aerospace happened in the 1970's. — ssu
I don't see any benefit, from any perspective, that would justify such actions, maybe there's some crazy person in the military or some extreme right-winger in the Kremlin that wants Russia to invade all of Eastern Europe. — Manuel
There is a possibility that we as a nation will soon be at war with Russia. We in this country must recognise that our security starts not on the white cliffs of Dover - it starts in the forests of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
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