UKRAINE updates

[Sean KZN]

When you roll your troops into a neighbour you're invading even if their uniforms are unmarked. If you keep the ground they're standing on you're annexing even if you stage referenda under martial law. Vlad definitely holds the title for that kind of activity over the last 25 years. No other major power holds a candle to him.

Yes there certainly have been some fires for Vlad to extinguish, other than the 2 I mentioned, the rest have been within the Russian borders, so don't really qualify as invasions unless invading your own country counts.
He has helped to prop up some of the autocrats outside of Russia, the last 2 I remember were Kazakhstan and Belarus both fairly recently.

They do seem a bit intolerant as regards political dissent goes. I'd imagine freedom and democracy are at the bottom of the to do list.

[KevinF]

Patrick has finally gone off the edge.

WHen you are an ideological fanatic, reality comes as a nasty shock!

[KevinF]

I wonder what the percentage turnout was. That would tell one more about the elections.

I remember a joke from when I was in school:

"There was panic in the Kremlin today. Someone broke in and stole next years election results!"

[oafpatroll]

Yes there certainly have been some fires for Vlad to extinguish, other than the 2 I mentioned, the rest have been within the Russian borders, so don't really qualify as invasions unless invading your own country counts.

I think you damn the Tsar with your faint praise. Assimilating a 5th of Ukraine and a meaningful slice of Georgia into the empire is pretty good going. He's the closest thing that we'eve got to a 1930's style great warlord at the mo.

[mac 13]

Several weeks ago I watched a Triggernometry discussion on youtube called Putin Decoded. It was almost an hour long and historian Mark Galleoti gives some insights into the Russian situation and concludes that in future, the rule of law and democracy could result from the current system .

[oafpatroll]

Several weeks ago I watched a Triggernometry discussion on youtube called Putin Decoded. It was almost an hour long and historian Mark Galleoti gives some insights into the Russian situation and concludes that in future, the rule of law and democracy could result from the current system .

Galleoti knows his stuff. Well worth listening to what he's got to say.

[Sean KZN]

I think you damn the Tsar with your faint praise. Assimilating a 5th of Ukraine and a meaningful slice of Georgia into the empire is pretty good going. He's the closest thing that we'eve got to a 1930's style great warlord at the mo.

Yes, just not much competition in that field these days.

[Sean KZN]

WHen you are an ideological fanatic, reality comes as a nasty shock!

How did you enjoy your adventure in the UK. Sounded so exciting before you left and went quite on us.

[oafpatroll]

Yes, just not much competition in that field these days.

True that. There's a modern day emperor in a silly suit to their south east who's got a bit of form though.

[KevinF]

How did you enjoy your adventure in the UK. Sounded so exciting before you left and went quite on us.

Never did get to go to the UK. However, our daughter is in Scotland, so we might get to go sometime.

I'm not really sure why I went quiet. Probably just too many other irons in the fire.