re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Armenia invoked Article 4 of the CSTO charter today (mutual defense). Going to be interesting to see how Russia responds. Not doing anything will risk losing influence or acting to lightly and going to heavy risks upsetting Azerbaijan's allies in Turkey and Israel.

This thread has had ample examples of those from the right side of the political spectrum who appear to side with Russia over Ukraine. This is the first article I've seen discussing this. This is from National Review a Conservative US media outlet.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/09/ukraine-and-the-right/

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In times past, Ukraine would have been a great cause of American conservatives. What about now?

An uncomfortable topic, for many of us. I mean, the one I have indicated in my heading: “Ukraine and the Right.” By “the Right,” I mean the American Right, i.e., the Republican Party, the conservative movement, etc.

Steve Bannon and his confreres speak of “Conservatism, Inc.,” or “Conservative, Inc.” I think they mean Reaganites and other fossils. Yet some of us think of Bannon et al. — Trump World — as Conservative, Inc. (though it is painful to cede the word “conservative” to the Bannonites).

Said Bannon, “Every member of Conservative, Inc., that backs this Ukraine war is a simp. Is a simp. It’s a disgrace.”

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#BREAKING Shooting breaks out between Kyrgyz, Tajik border guards: Russian agencies

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And that’s in addition to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Problems, problems everywhere for Putin

Trump has shown support for Ukraine and condemned Russia's actions.

IMO, these are populists not conservatives. IMO, Conservative, Inc. are those who profited for years such as Kristol and others with speaking cruises, etc...

Bannon is all over the place in his stances. Remember that Trump fired him in a public way and trashed him for a few days on Twitter.

FTR, Cato Institute funded the fact finding mission proposed and by a friend of mine in visiting all of the nations where rebellions against Russia influence existed in the Americas, Africa and the Middle East. That fact finding mission was the foundation of "small wars" against Russia and a gathering of rebel leaders showed each that they were not alone. It took place in Africa. Then the Reagan admin began funding their fighting with weapons and ammo. The truth be known is that the CIA was more involved in shipping dollars and Reagan aides actually had the weapons delivered. Reagan had to fight the State Dept (and the CIA) during this internal struggle not seen by the public. The CIA catering to their longtime contacts who were mostly inactive and ineffective.

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Bannon is all over the place in his stances. Remember that Trump fired him in a public way and trashed him for a few days on Twitter.

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Trump pardoned Bannon most recently.

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Trump pardoned Bannon most recently.

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And called Putin a "genius" for his approach to Ukraine.

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When you invade another country and attempt to project power you better have the arse to back it up. Russia is weak and this is a prime opportunity for Turkey to assert real power in that region. Top 2 winners in the Russian death spiral (self induced) are Poland and Turkey. Fun to watch.

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I wonder if there have been any quiet discussions in Tbilisi or Chi?inau to go ahead and deal with the separatist areas of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria while Russia is down? Now would be the best time for those countries to act.

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I wonder if there have been any quiet discussions in Tbilisi or Chi?inau to go ahead and deal with the separatist areas of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria while Russia is down? Now would be the best time for those countries to act.

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Oh sure, but its in their best interest to keep building and watch the decline...for now.

For me the two biggest developments in the last 7 months have been:

The Russian military is complete garbage;

Turkey said two weeks ago the Crimea rightfully belongs to Ukraine.

Seismic shifts.

Seems more a flood control/reservoir dam and not a very large one. The Vermillion Bayou is larger than this river per photos I've viewed of the river itself.

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You must be referring to the Chechens, and it is all but proven that Putin ran a false flag operation in blowing up apartment building in Moscow to blame it on them.

The fact has been reported about a decade ago that Moslems were just shy of 50% of Russia's military, though this is almost exclusively in the enlisted ranks. The national talk show most seen by me often has Chechen soldiers on it. When the speak of god, it isn't the same god. I use the lower case g because I'm not so certain that most Russians actually believe in any diety.

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Those are the ones. Interesting that Muslims make up a large part of the Russian military.

Russia seems to be stretched way too thin and could be seeing internal and external forces start to test what they have left.