The Official Russian Invasion of Ukraine Thread

2,166,376 Views | 13677 Replies | Last: 3 days ago by movielover
sycasey
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Cal88 • 1:53p, 6/2/26
Cal88 said:
sycasey said:
Cal88 said:


Prof. John Mearsheimer :

A number of European leaders have basically said we should fight to the last Ukrainian, which I find morally sickening.

The Ukrainians are going to lose this war. They should have quit a long time ago for their own good.

Ukraine is in a demographic death spiral, and we're encouraging them to throw bodies into the meat grinder when they're going to lose anyway.

The British, French, and German leaders are really enthusiastic about continuing the war, but that's because their people are not dying."

I'm pretty sure Russia is the aggressor and therefore only they can actually stop the war. This ask from Mearsheimer is basically telling Ukraine to just give up and let Russia take what they want.

I can't believe other European leaders wouldn't be interested in this approach!


The Ukrainians signed on to Minsk, and all but ratified the Istanbul agreement, The Russians would agree to an Istanbul Plus type of agreement which would be a basis for a permanent settlement. The coalition that wants the war to go on to the last Ukrainian consisting of corrupt leaders in Kyiv, ultranationalists and NATO stands in the way.

You all are very confident about Russia holding to some kind of peace agreement when they think they have the advantage. I am not.
Reply Quote
4
movielover
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to sycasey • 6:41p, 6/2/26
sycasey said:
movielover said:
sycasey said:
Cal88 said:


Prof. John Mearsheimer :

A number of European leaders have basically said we should fight to the last Ukrainian, which I find morally sickening.

The Ukrainians are going to lose this war. They should have quit a long time ago for their own good.

Ukraine is in a demographic death spiral, and we're encouraging them to throw bodies into the meat grinder when they're going to lose anyway.

The British, French, and German leaders are really enthusiastic about continuing the war, but that's because their people are not dying."

I'm pretty sure Russia is the aggressor and therefore only they can actually stop the war. This ask from Mearsheimer is basically telling Ukraine to just give up and let Russia take what they want.

I can't believe other European leaders wouldn't be interested in this approach!


Not really.

Yes, really.


Actually, the CIA was the aggressor. This is well known and documented.

Ukraine is now allegedly heavily recruiting women for its meat grinder "to the last man" suicide mission.

Much of the Russian public was already very supportive of the war, now moreso with the targeting of a women's dormitory. Several talking heads claim since NATO countries directly support Ukraine's attacks, but suffer no consequences, Russia may strike the Baltics or another prominent NATO member. Which may be crooked Zelensky's plan - to continue his thievery and retain power.
Reply Quote
2
2 edits
sycasey
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to movielover • 9:04p, 6/2/26
movielover said:
sycasey said:
movielover said:
sycasey said:
Cal88 said:


Prof. John Mearsheimer :

A number of European leaders have basically said we should fight to the last Ukrainian, which I find morally sickening.

The Ukrainians are going to lose this war. They should have quit a long time ago for their own good.

Ukraine is in a demographic death spiral, and we're encouraging them to throw bodies into the meat grinder when they're going to lose anyway.

The British, French, and German leaders are really enthusiastic about continuing the war, but that's because their people are not dying."

I'm pretty sure Russia is the aggressor and therefore only they can actually stop the war. This ask from Mearsheimer is basically telling Ukraine to just give up and let Russia take what they want.

I can't believe other European leaders wouldn't be interested in this approach!


Not really.

Yes, really.


Actually, the CIA was the aggressor. This is well known and documented.

The CIA did not invade anyone. Basically your argument here is that they "provoked" Russia into attacking. That is not the same as aggression. The attacker is the aggressor.
Reply Quote
4
movielover
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to sycasey • 9:33p, 6/2/26
sycasey said:
movielover said:
sycasey said:
movielover said:
sycasey said:
Cal88 said:


Prof. John Mearsheimer :

A number of European leaders have basically said we should fight to the last Ukrainian, which I find morally sickening.

The Ukrainians are going to lose this war. They should have quit a long time ago for their own good.

Ukraine is in a demographic death spiral, and we're encouraging them to throw bodies into the meat grinder when they're going to lose anyway.

The British, French, and German leaders are really enthusiastic about continuing the war, but that's because their people are not dying."

I'm pretty sure Russia is the aggressor and therefore only they can actually stop the war. This ask from Mearsheimer is basically telling Ukraine to just give up and let Russia take what they want.

I can't believe other European leaders wouldn't be interested in this approach!


Not really.

Yes, really.


Actually, the CIA was the aggressor. This is well known and documented.

The CIA did not invade anyone. Basically your argument here is that they "provoked" Russia into attacking. That is not the same as aggression. The attacker is the aggressor.


Civil War = aggression
Training Ukrainian Nazi's in Poland = aggression
Coup against a duly elected PM = aggression
Strangling their culture = aggression
Reply Quote
4
Muckieeye
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to movielover • 9:41p, 6/2/26
That is some Grade A, 100% pure, Russian propaganda! Do you snort it or mainline it?
Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives...
I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative.
-John Stewart Mill
Reply Quote
4
Big C
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Muckieeye • 10:39p, 6/2/26
Muckieeye said:
That is some Grade A, 100% pure, Russian propaganda! Do you snort it or mainline it?

Can he just slurp it up?
Reply Quote
4
Cal88
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to sycasey • 4:58a, 6/3/26
sycasey said:
Cal88 said:
sycasey said:
Cal88 said:


Prof. John Mearsheimer :

A number of European leaders have basically said we should fight to the last Ukrainian, which I find morally sickening.

The Ukrainians are going to lose this war. They should have quit a long time ago for their own good.

Ukraine is in a demographic death spiral, and we're encouraging them to throw bodies into the meat grinder when they're going to lose anyway.

The British, French, and German leaders are really enthusiastic about continuing the war, but that's because their people are not dying."

I'm pretty sure Russia is the aggressor and therefore only they can actually stop the war. This ask from Mearsheimer is basically telling Ukraine to just give up and let Russia take what they want.

I can't believe other European leaders wouldn't be interested in this approach!


The Ukrainians signed on to Minsk, and all but ratified the Istanbul agreement, The Russians would agree to an Istanbul Plus type of agreement which would be a basis for a permanent settlement. The coalition that wants the war to go on to the last Ukrainian consisting of corrupt leaders in Kyiv, ultranationalists and NATO stands in the way.

You all are very confident about Russia holding to some kind of peace agreement when they think they have the advantage. I am not.


So you're saying you can't stop this war where Ukraine has been losing hundreds of thousands of men every year because there is a chance it might restart?
Reply Quote
2
smh
User Profile
Private Message
Ignore User Stop Ignoring
How long do you want to ignore this user?
24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
In reply to Muckieeye • 8:48a, 6/3/26
Muckieeye said:
Big C said:
Muckieeye said:
That is some Grade A, 100% pure, Russian propaganda! Do you snort it or mainline it?

Can he just slurp it up?


Of course he can! But I chose not to use that word. An overly sensitive poster seems to be triggered by onomatopoeia.

had to look it up again this morning, thanks M..
Quote:
onomatopoeia /n-mt-p, -mt-/
noun
[ol]
  • The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.
  • The property of a word sounding like what it represents.
  • A word that sounds like what it represents, such as "gurgle" or "hiss".
    • [/ol]

    Reply Quote
    2
    2 edits
    Cal88
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    9:24a, 6/3/26


    Translated from Spanish:

    "The moment when a bus full of Donetsk civilians was bombed tonight with drones of European origin by the Zelensky regime, killing 7 people and injuring another 11 who were on the vehicle.

    This is what the EU is funding, 90 billion euros in drones and missiles to kill families on a bus.

    Who gave permission to use taxpayers' money for bombs that kill innocents? So why do they call it democracy?"
    Reply Quote
    2
    2 edits
    Cal88
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    9:34a, 6/3/26


    Translated from Spanish
    On June 2, 2014, Ukrainian warplanes launched 150 airstrikes over Luhansk, including on the regional government building, killing 8 people inside it and injuring at least 28 more.

    That day truly marked the beginning of the war in Ukraine, although there had been earlier battles at Donetsk airport; this bombing marked a before and after for the Donbass population, it was a point of no return.

    It was a massacre that should have shaken all of Europe, a regime bombing its own population just for refusing to accept the coup d'tat organized by the US/EU... yet they chose to look the other way and use Ukrainians as cannon fodder, all to destabilize and provoke the war against Russia."
    Reply Quote
    2
    movielover
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to Cal88 • 9:54a, 6/3/26
    New barage of missiles and drones into Ukraine, estimated at over 800 yesterday.

    Colonel Douglass MacGregor suggests Russia should take Odessa to bring reality to them, and a TASS article claims Russia doesn't know who to speak with for actual negotiations. Ukraine source claims much success with midrange drones.
    Reply Quote
    2
    1 edit
    Muckieeye
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to movielover • 9:57a, 6/3/26
    movielover said:
    New barage of missiles and drones into Ukraine, estimated at over 800 yesterday.

    Colonel Douglass MacGregor suggests Russia should take Odessa to bring reality to them, and a TASS article claims Russia doesn't know who to speak with for actual negotiations. Ukraine source claims much success with midrange drones.


    Is this the part where we are supposed to shake our red white and blue pom poms and yell "Go team!"?
    Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives...
    I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative.
    -John Stewart Mill
    Reply Quote
    2
    sycasey
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to Cal88 • 10:19a, 6/3/26
    Cal88 said:
    sycasey said:
    Cal88 said:
    sycasey said:
    Cal88 said:


    Prof. John Mearsheimer :

    A number of European leaders have basically said we should fight to the last Ukrainian, which I find morally sickening.

    The Ukrainians are going to lose this war. They should have quit a long time ago for their own good.

    Ukraine is in a demographic death spiral, and we're encouraging them to throw bodies into the meat grinder when they're going to lose anyway.

    The British, French, and German leaders are really enthusiastic about continuing the war, but that's because their people are not dying."

    I'm pretty sure Russia is the aggressor and therefore only they can actually stop the war. This ask from Mearsheimer is basically telling Ukraine to just give up and let Russia take what they want.

    I can't believe other European leaders wouldn't be interested in this approach!


    The Ukrainians signed on to Minsk, and all but ratified the Istanbul agreement, The Russians would agree to an Istanbul Plus type of agreement which would be a basis for a permanent settlement. The coalition that wants the war to go on to the last Ukrainian consisting of corrupt leaders in Kyiv, ultranationalists and NATO stands in the way.

    You all are very confident about Russia holding to some kind of peace agreement when they think they have the advantage. I am not.


    So you're saying you can't stop this war where Ukraine has been losing hundreds of thousands of men every year because there is a chance it might restart?

    I'm saying that only Russia can actually stop the war.
    Reply Quote
    5
    sycasey
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to movielover • 10:20a, 6/3/26
    movielover said:
    sycasey said:
    movielover said:
    sycasey said:
    movielover said:
    sycasey said:
    Cal88 said:


    Prof. John Mearsheimer :

    A number of European leaders have basically said we should fight to the last Ukrainian, which I find morally sickening.

    The Ukrainians are going to lose this war. They should have quit a long time ago for their own good.

    Ukraine is in a demographic death spiral, and we're encouraging them to throw bodies into the meat grinder when they're going to lose anyway.

    The British, French, and German leaders are really enthusiastic about continuing the war, but that's because their people are not dying."

    I'm pretty sure Russia is the aggressor and therefore only they can actually stop the war. This ask from Mearsheimer is basically telling Ukraine to just give up and let Russia take what they want.

    I can't believe other European leaders wouldn't be interested in this approach!


    Not really.

    Yes, really.


    Actually, the CIA was the aggressor. This is well known and documented.

    The CIA did not invade anyone. Basically your argument here is that they "provoked" Russia into attacking. That is not the same as aggression. The attacker is the aggressor.


    Civil War = aggression
    Training Ukrainian Nazi's in Poland = aggression
    Coup against a duly elected PM = aggression
    Strangling their culture = aggression

    Which of these things did the CIA actually do? Because it looks to me like most of these are internal Ukrainian issues. I don't deny that the US and/or NATO has tried to influence the direction of Ukraine's government, but then again . . . so has Russia. The civil war in particular was inflamed by Russian support.
    Reply Quote
    4
    Muckieeye
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to sycasey • 10:57a, 6/3/26
    sycasey said:
    movielover said:
    sycasey said:
    movielover said:
    sycasey said:
    movielover said:
    sycasey said:
    Cal88 said:


    Prof. John Mearsheimer :

    A number of European leaders have basically said we should fight to the last Ukrainian, which I find morally sickening.

    The Ukrainians are going to lose this war. They should have quit a long time ago for their own good.

    Ukraine is in a demographic death spiral, and we're encouraging them to throw bodies into the meat grinder when they're going to lose anyway.

    The British, French, and German leaders are really enthusiastic about continuing the war, but that's because their people are not dying."

    I'm pretty sure Russia is the aggressor and therefore only they can actually stop the war. This ask from Mearsheimer is basically telling Ukraine to just give up and let Russia take what they want.

    I can't believe other European leaders wouldn't be interested in this approach!


    Not really.

    Yes, really.


    Actually, the CIA was the aggressor. This is well known and documented.

    The CIA did not invade anyone. Basically your argument here is that they "provoked" Russia into attacking. That is not the same as aggression. The attacker is the aggressor.


    Civil War = aggression
    Training Ukrainian Nazi's in Poland = aggression
    Coup against a duly elected PM = aggression
    Strangling their culture = aggression

    Which of these things did the CIA actually do? Because it looks to me like most of these are internal Ukrainian issues. I don't deny that the US and/or NATO has tried to influence the direction of Ukraine's government, but then again . . . so has Russia. The civil war in particular was inflamed by Russian support.

    IOIYR(ussian)
    Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives...
    I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative.
    -John Stewart Mill
    Reply Quote
    3
    smh
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to Muckieeye • 11:05a, 6/3/26
    Muckieeye said:
    IOIYR(ussian)

    sorry, i don't get it, which happens lots
    Reply Quote
    1
    Muckieeye
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to smh • 11:11a, 6/3/26
    smh said:
    Muckieeye said:
    It's OK If You're R(ussian)

    sorry, i don't get it, which happens lots
    Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives...
    I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative.
    -John Stewart Mill
    Reply Quote
    2
    Aunburdened
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    11:01a, 6/4/26
    Reply Quote
    1
    bearister
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    6:26a, 6/5/26
    Putin faces Ukraine drone threat and stagnating economy at 'Russian Davos' https://www.nbcnews.com/world/russia/putin-speech-st-petersburg-forum-ukraine-drones-economy-russia-davos-rcna348452
    “Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
    Send my credentials to the House of Detention
    I got some friends inside”
    —Jim Morrison

    “I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
    Reply Quote
    4
    movielover
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    7:02a, 6/5/26
    "Today Europe Is a Rabid Dog." Those were among the most controversial remarks made by former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter during a panel discussion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

    Reply Quote
    2
    movielover
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    12:58a, 6/6/26
    Redacted and a second video stream claim Russia eviscerated some key military installations with their recent barage, thus Zelensky's backhanded offer for peace talks.

    They claim that Russia is making progress in 4-5 areas, and that between 8 and 12 Hazel hypersonic missiles hit key targets, including military sites sometimes hidden under school buildings.

    Unsure how factual this is, or propoganda.

    Putin tells his soldiers to "work".

    Reply Quote
    1
    2 edits
    bearister
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    8:15a, 6/6/26
    Why is such a large segment of MAGA pro Russia/Putin?

    Contrarianism to the Establishment: Because the traditional political and foreign policy establishment in Washington broadly supports Ukraine, MAGA figures often take the opposite stance as part of their broader rejection of the political status quo. Cato Institute

    Some elements of the movement view Russia under Vladimir Putin as a defender of traditional, conservative Christian values. They contrast this with what they perceive as the "woke," progressive, and secular culture of Western institutions and the Ukrainian. The Globalist

    Donald Trump and certain other MAGA leaders have historically praised Putin's strongman style of leadership and absolute control over his country, viewing him as a more effective and decisive leader than democratic politicians. The Globalist

    “Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
    Send my credentials to the House of Detention
    I got some friends inside”
    —Jim Morrison

    “I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
    Reply Quote
    3
    Cal88
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to bearister • 9:32a, 6/6/26
    bearister said:
    Why is such a large segment of MAGA pro Russia/Putin?

    Contrarianism to the Establishment: Because the traditional political and foreign policy establishment in Washington broadly supports the Ukraine war.

    This is how I see it, along with neutral observers like John Mearsheimer or Jeffrey Sachs.



    This war is an incredible waste, pushed for cynical geopolitical reasons, and sold at home through the use of cultural cliches and in Ukraine by pushing an outdated and dangerous revival of 1930s ultranationalism, fed by the MIC and war grift self-licking cone.
    Reply Quote
    1
    movielover
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to bearister • 9:33a, 6/6/26
    I personally came into this agnostic, believing Russia was still in the sad economic state it was in around 1995, 2000. I read a number of articles, and listened to non-Trump analysts and observers.

    All evidence points to the CIA / NATO / EU instigating this confrontation. They broke peace deals, Minsk I and Minsk II, and we armed Ukraine. EU leaders publicly stated they armed Ukraine to confront Russia, and we wanted to degrade Russia. Biden / Blinken / Sullivan / CIA / NATO / EU / Globalists wanted to weaken or depose Putin, and there are written plans to break up Russia to ensure American hegemony over the world. Ukraine historically and geographically serves as the logical gateway into attacking Russia.

    We instigated and funded a civil war, we installed a leader, and Big Ag and Globalists are salivating over $75 Trillion in mineral wealth.

    Crimea flipped during Obama, it's historically Russian. Deal with it.

    Russia entered Ukraine under sleepy, incompetent Biden and Blinken. Blinken and Afghanistan, what a turd. President Trump is correct that Russia would have never invaded if he were in the WH.

    On top of all this Putin agreed to the Istanbul Peace Accords, partly led by Israeli PM Bennett. Ukraine basically had to commit to being neutral, pretty simple. NATO / EU / CIA / MIC wanted to "weaken" Russia according to our DEI military leader Loyd Austin, and others. They thought blowing up NS2, financial restrictions, and NATO could topple Putin.

    FA-FO.
    Reply Quote
    3
    1 edit
    bearister
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to movielover • 9:56a, 6/6/26
    "President Trump is correct that Russia would have never invaded if he were in the WH."

    See Iran Police Action
    “Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
    Send my credentials to the House of Detention
    I got some friends inside”
    —Jim Morrison

    “I love Cal deeply, by the way, what are the directions to The Portal from Sproul Plaza?”
    Reply Quote
    3
    Cal88
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    10:03a, 6/6/26
    The only way to prevent Russia from invading in 2022 would have been to call off the Kyiv assault on the Donbas, and to force the Zelensky government to abide by Minsk. Not sure that Trump could have done that, purtily because he was dogged at home by the Russiagate hoax.
    Reply Quote
    2
    sycasey
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to Cal88 • 2:55p, 6/6/26
    Cal88 said:
    The only way to prevent Russia from invading in 2022 would have been to call off the Kyiv assault on the Donbas, and to force the Zelensky government to abide by Minsk. Not sure that Trump could have done that, purtily because he was dogged at home by the Russiagate hoax.

    I think we have seen from multiple examples that the US cannot force a foreign government to do something if they really don't want to. We can pull ourselves out of it, stop offering support, but that doesn't guarantee they'll stop.
    Reply Quote
    4
    sycasey
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to bearister • 4:00p, 6/6/26
    bearister said:
    Why is such a large segment of MAGA pro Russia/Putin?

    Contrarianism to the Establishment: Because the traditional political and foreign policy establishment in Washington broadly supports Ukraine, MAGA figures often take the opposite stance as part of their broader rejection of the political status quo. Cato Institute

    Some elements of the movement view Russia under Vladimir Putin as a defender of traditional, conservative Christian values. They contrast this with what they perceive as the "woke," progressive, and secular culture of Western institutions and the Ukrainian. The Globalist

    Donald Trump and certain other MAGA leaders have historically praised Putin's strongman style of leadership and absolute control over his country, viewing him as a more effective and decisive leader than democratic politicians. The Globalist

    Folks on the fringe of the left and right have different reasons for this that sometimes overlap.

    On the right they actually see Putin and his form of strongman government as a standard to aspire to, not an enemy per se.

    On the left it comes out of a general "USA bad" assumption that gets laid over all else. The idea is that whatever the US wants to do in other countries is bad, so if we oppose Russia then there must be something wrong with that. It must actually be our fault even if Russia actually appeared to start the war this time.

    You see the overlap in that some folks on the right also generally agree with an anti-interventionist stance (America First!) in foreign policy so will go along with the left's "USA bad" framing to help achieve that. Or sometimes they will also agree with the "USA bad" framing but in a different way: it's not so much that we are militaristic, it's that we have become decadent and soft because of the feminists or the gays or whatever, so indeed the country is bad and needs to be rescued from that. Look at Putin, he doesn't have that problem!

    (And to be clear, I'm talking about folks who are largely on the fringes politically. It's still a pretty mainstream belief in the US to not like Putin or Russia.)
    Reply Quote
    3
    1 edit
    movielover
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    1:32p, 6/8/26
    Reply Quote
    1
    Cal88
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to sycasey • 1:52p, 6/8/26
    sycasey said:
    bearister said:
    Why is such a large segment of MAGA pro Russia/Putin?

    Contrarianism to the Establishment: Because the traditional political and foreign policy establishment in Washington broadly supports Ukraine, MAGA figures often take the opposite stance as part of their broader rejection of the political status quo. Cato Institute

    Some elements of the movement view Russia under Vladimir Putin as a defender of traditional, conservative Christian values. They contrast this with what they perceive as the "woke," progressive, and secular culture of Western institutions and the Ukrainian. The Globalist

    Donald Trump and certain other MAGA leaders have historically praised Putin's strongman style of leadership and absolute control over his country, viewing him as a more effective and decisive leader than democratic politicians. The Globalist

    Folks on the fringe of the left and right have different reasons for this that sometimes overlap.

    On the right they actually see Putin and his form of strongman government as a standard to aspire to, not an enemy per se.

    On the left it comes out of a general "USA bad" assumption that gets laid over all else. The idea is that whatever the US wants to do in other countries is bad, so if we oppose Russia then there must be something wrong with that. It must actually be our fault even if Russia actually appeared to start the war this time.

    You see the overlap in that some folks on the right also generally agree with an anti-interventionist stance (America First!) in foreign policy so will go along with the left's "USA bad" framing to help achieve that. Or sometimes they will also agree with the "USA bad" framing but in a different way: it's not so much that we are militaristic, it's that we have become decadent and soft because of the feminists or the gays or whatever, so indeed the country is bad and needs to be rescued from that. Look at Putin, he doesn't have that problem!

    (And to be clear, I'm talking about folks who are largely on the fringes politically. It's still a pretty mainstream belief in the US to not like Putin or Russia.)


    Perhaps it's a matter of depth in the analysis of the situation there, taking into consideration the history, culture and regional geopolitics.

    If you accept this and do your homework, you might come to the same conclusion as sound realist Mearsheimer.
    Reply Quote
    2
    sycasey
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to Cal88 • 1:53p, 6/8/26
    Cal88 said:
    sycasey said:
    bearister said:
    Why is such a large segment of MAGA pro Russia/Putin?

    Contrarianism to the Establishment: Because the traditional political and foreign policy establishment in Washington broadly supports Ukraine, MAGA figures often take the opposite stance as part of their broader rejection of the political status quo. Cato Institute

    Some elements of the movement view Russia under Vladimir Putin as a defender of traditional, conservative Christian values. They contrast this with what they perceive as the "woke," progressive, and secular culture of Western institutions and the Ukrainian. The Globalist

    Donald Trump and certain other MAGA leaders have historically praised Putin's strongman style of leadership and absolute control over his country, viewing him as a more effective and decisive leader than democratic politicians. The Globalist

    Folks on the fringe of the left and right have different reasons for this that sometimes overlap.

    On the right they actually see Putin and his form of strongman government as a standard to aspire to, not an enemy per se.

    On the left it comes out of a general "USA bad" assumption that gets laid over all else. The idea is that whatever the US wants to do in other countries is bad, so if we oppose Russia then there must be something wrong with that. It must actually be our fault even if Russia actually appeared to start the war this time.

    You see the overlap in that some folks on the right also generally agree with an anti-interventionist stance (America First!) in foreign policy so will go along with the left's "USA bad" framing to help achieve that. Or sometimes they will also agree with the "USA bad" framing but in a different way: it's not so much that we are militaristic, it's that we have become decadent and soft because of the feminists or the gays or whatever, so indeed the country is bad and needs to be rescued from that. Look at Putin, he doesn't have that problem!

    (And to be clear, I'm talking about folks who are largely on the fringes politically. It's still a pretty mainstream belief in the US to not like Putin or Russia.)


    Perhaps it's a matter of depth in the analysis of the situation there, taking into consideration the history, culture and regional geopolitics.

    If you accept this and do your homework, you might come to the same conclusion as sound realist Mearsheimer.

    I looked at all of this material, including Mearsheimer's arguments and concluded that while the US and/or NATO has certainly made some mistakes the war is still Putin's fault.
    Reply Quote
    5
    Cal88
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    6:49a, 6/9/26
    Ukraine apparently targeting Russian family in Russian border town.

    Reply Quote
    1
    BearlySane88
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to Cal88 • 7:02a, 6/9/26
    Cal88 said:
    Ukraine apparently targeting Russian family in Russian border town.



    Notably not in this video:
    four children
    drone
    explosion

    This looks like some solid propaganda. The account posting it is also likely not a real person.
    Reply Quote
    4
    Cal88
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to BearlySane88 • 7:54a, 6/9/26
    BearlySane88 said:
    Cal88 said:
    Ukraine apparently targeting Russian family in Russian border town.



    Notably not in this video:
    four children
    drone
    explosion

    This looks like some solid propaganda. The account posting it is also likely not a real person.


    You can see at least one small figure getting out from the backdoor of that car (which didn't open by itself - duh)

    The fact that the drone and explosions were not captured by the home surveillance camera actually bolsters the case of this having been a real attack as opposed to a staged event.

    There are plenty of well-documented cases of Ukraine bombing civilians, such as the recent bombing of a college dorm at night in successive drone waves killing 21 nursing students. What makes the case above more dramatic is that it happened in a city in Russian territory 100km from the border. These drone attacks on Russian civilians have been increasing.


    Reply Quote
    1
    2 edits
    movielover
    User Profile
    Private Message
    Ignore User Stop Ignoring
    How long do you want to ignore this user?
    24 hours One week Permanently Cancel
    In reply to Cal88 • 9:01a, 6/9/26
    Some analyst claimed drone operators have goals and a point system, and if they don't have military or high-value targets, they'll strike anything.

    Tony Blair recently claimed Russia has had 300K KIAs.
    Reply Quote
    2
    First Page Last Page
    Page 389 of 391 ▼
     
    ×
    subscribe Verify your student status
    See Subscription Benefits
    Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.