Why are we rushing to defend Ukraine? [merged threads]

[millefleur 5,039]

7 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

India is another country tightrope walking due to its concern about China and Russia strengthening ties.  A lot of geopolitics going on.

Japan is having issues with Russia now over those northerly islands, the Kurils. Except, honestly, it seems to me Russia holds all the cards in that deck: Japan can do utterly nothing about it except express disdain and do sanctions. It seems Japan relied way more on Russian goods (especially fish) than Russia relied on Japan, so that's an unfortunate situation for them. The northern waters of Japan is where all the best fish are, so it's quite a contentious situation.

 

South Korea it seems by comparison is not really punishing Russia. In fact, they're already planning to put back the visa-free travel and given that super pro-free market president they just elected, I doubt he'll be keen on sanctions.

 

11 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

India is another country tightrope walking due to its concern about China and Russia strengthening ties.  A lot of geopolitics going on.

It's interesting to me that there are still quite a few Western companies who have not pulled out of Russia and some that pulled out but already decided to go back, including many French companies. Some Germany companies as well. To some degree I wonder about "free market economics" here, if the EU prides itself on being a free market (that's actually a requirement for being a member), aren't these companies allowed to do whatever they want? It's also another tightrope between free market economics vs geopolitics.

 

[Dashinka 23,425]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

Japan is having issues with Russia now over those northerly islands, the Kurils. Except, honestly, it seems to me Russia holds all the cards in that deck: Japan can do utterly nothing about it except express disdain and do sanctions. It seems Japan relied way more on Russian goods (especially fish) than Russia relied on Japan, so that's an unfortunate situation for them. The northern waters of Japan is where all the best fish are, so it's quite a contentious situation.

 

South Korea it seems by comparison is not really punishing Russia. In fact, they're already planning to put back the visa-free travel and given that super pro-free market president they just elected, I doubt he'll be keen on sanctions.

 

It's interesting to me that there are still quite a few Western companies who have not pulled out of Russia and some that pulled out but already decided to go back, including many French companies. Some Germany companies as well. To some degree I wonder about "free market economics" here, if the EU prides itself on being a free market (that's actually a requirement for being a member), aren't these companies allowed to do whatever they want? It's also another tightrope between free market economics vs geopolitics.

 

Yeah, as this things drags on, I expect a few cracks to develop.  The Kuril islands dispute between Japan and Russia has been going on at least since the end of WWII. 

[TBoneTX 43,540]

Interesting analysis from an ex-military author.  Comments?

Quote

Analysis: Why so many Russian generals are getting killed on the front lines

JAZZ SHAW Mar 23, 2022 9:46 AM ET

 

[...] that would be the largest number of Russian generals to fall in battle since World War 2 and it's all happened in barely a month.  So what's the reason for the high number of casualties among Russia’s top brass?  [...]

 

https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2022/03/23/analysis-why-so-many-russian-generals-are-getting-killed-on-the-front-lines-n457289  

 

Edited March 25, 2022 by TBoneTX

[Dashinka 23,425]

On 3/25/2022 at 3:24 AM, TBoneTX said:

Interesting analysis from an ex-military author.  Comments?

Maybe Putin should head to the front.  Btw, it appears the number of generals killed is now seven.

 

Russian general Yakov Rezantsev killed in Ukraine
 

In a conversation intercepted by the Ukrainian military, a Russian soldier complained that Rezantsev had claimed the war would be over within hours, just four days after it began. 

 

Ukrainian media reported that the general was killed at the Chornobaivka airbase near Kherson, which Russia is using as a command post and has been attacked by Ukraine's military several times. 

 

Another lieutenant general, Andrei Mordvichev, was reportedly killed by a Ukrainian strike on the same base.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60807538

 

 

 

Edited March 26, 2022 by Dashinka

[Mike E 11,730]

2 hours ago, Dashinka said:

In a conversation intercepted by the Ukrainian military, a Russian soldier complained that Rezantsev had claimed the war would be over within hours, just four days after it began. 

 

So fragged?

[millefleur 5,039]

 

Who in their right mind thought this was a good idea? Select which refugee you want in your home based on their appearance alone? 😵

UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme risks operating as ‘Tinder for sex traffickers’, say charities

Michael Gove’s Homes for Ukraine scheme risks operating as “Tinder for sex traffickers” according to experts. The warning comes as evidence emerges that UK-based criminals are targeting women and children fleeing the war.

 

A letter from 16 refugee and anti-trafficking organisations to communities secretary Gove warns that the scheme in its present form is potentially dangerous for refugees who have fled Ukraine.

 

It says the initiative, which allows would-be hosts to be matched with Ukrainians seeking sanctuary in the UK, effectively mimics the dating app Tinder’s signature “swipe left, swipe right” approach to rejecting or selecting a partner, and has insufficient safeguards.

 

Initial evidence from the letter’s signatories, which include Refugee Action, Refugee Council and the Helen Bamber Foundation, said traffickers had already made apparent attempts to target Ukrainian women and children, as had slum landlords.

 

Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/26/uk-homes-for-ukraine-scheme-risks-operating-as-tinder-for-sex-traffickers-say-charities

 

Edited March 26, 2022 by millefleur

[TBoneTX 43,540]

7 hours ago, millefleur said:

Who in their right mind thought this was a good idea? Select which refugee you want in your home based on their appearance alone?

How gross, at most charitable.

[Dashinka 23,425]

On 3/26/2022 at 1:09 PM, millefleur said:

 

Who in their right mind thought this was a good idea? Select which refugee you want in your home based on their appearance alone? 😵

UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme risks operating as ‘Tinder for sex traffickers’, say charities

Michael Gove’s Homes for Ukraine scheme risks operating as “Tinder for sex traffickers” according to experts. The warning comes as evidence emerges that UK-based criminals are targeting women and children fleeing the war.

 

A letter from 16 refugee and anti-trafficking organisations to communities secretary Gove warns that the scheme in its present form is potentially dangerous for refugees who have fled Ukraine.

 

It says the initiative, which allows would-be hosts to be matched with Ukrainians seeking sanctuary in the UK, effectively mimics the dating app Tinder’s signature “swipe left, swipe right” approach to rejecting or selecting a partner, and has insufficient safeguards.

 

Initial evidence from the letter’s signatories, which include Refugee Action, Refugee Council and the Helen Bamber Foundation, said traffickers had already made apparent attempts to target Ukrainian women and children, as had slum landlords.

 

Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/26/uk-homes-for-ukraine-scheme-risks-operating-as-tinder-for-sex-traffickers-say-charities

 

Always people there to take advantage of a crisis.

[Dashinka 23,425]

On 3/26/2022 at 1:09 PM, millefleur said:

 

Who in their right mind thought this was a good idea? Select which refugee you want in your home based on their appearance alone? 😵

UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme risks operating as ‘Tinder for sex traffickers’, say charities

Michael Gove’s Homes for Ukraine scheme risks operating as “Tinder for sex traffickers” according to experts. The warning comes as evidence emerges that UK-based criminals are targeting women and children fleeing the war.

 

A letter from 16 refugee and anti-trafficking organisations to communities secretary Gove warns that the scheme in its present form is potentially dangerous for refugees who have fled Ukraine.

 

It says the initiative, which allows would-be hosts to be matched with Ukrainians seeking sanctuary in the UK, effectively mimics the dating app Tinder’s signature “swipe left, swipe right” approach to rejecting or selecting a partner, and has insufficient safeguards.

 

Initial evidence from the letter’s signatories, which include Refugee Action, Refugee Council and the Helen Bamber Foundation, said traffickers had already made apparent attempts to target Ukrainian women and children, as had slum landlords.

 

Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/26/uk-homes-for-ukraine-scheme-risks-operating-as-tinder-for-sex-traffickers-say-charities

 

Apparently it is not just those in the UK.

 

How the sex trade preys on Ukraine's refugees
 

 

"The women and children come here from a terrible war. They don't speak Polish or English. They don't know what's going on and they believe what anyone tells them.

 

"Anyone can turn up at this station. The first day I volunteered, we saw three men from Italy. They were looking for beautiful women to sell into the sex trade. 
 

"I called the police and it turned out I was right. It wasn't paranoia. It's horrible."

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60891801

[millefleur 5,039]

6 hours ago, Dashinka said:

"I called the police and it turned out I was right. It wasn't paranoia. It's horrible."

I'm really glad she had the sense to call the police. I'm glad to see they're handing out leaflets and other info warning people about this. Never underestimate the ever present scumbag looking to take advantage of people in crisis.

[millefleur 5,039]

Kudos to this guy.

Russian ‘Bank Card’ Protest Baffles Police

A Russian man protested the war in Ukraine on Monday by holding up a bank card from the Mir payments system in central Moscow.

In Russian, the word "mir" means "peace."

 

Police officers appeared confused by how to handle the protester, according to a video published by Telegram channel Ostorozhno Novosti.

 

Read more here: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/03/29/russian-bank-card-protest-baffles-police-a77122

Edited March 30, 2022 by millefleur

[TBoneTX 43,540]

3 hours ago, millefleur said:

Ostorozhno Novosti

Gesundheit!

[Dashinka 23,425]

6 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Gesundheit!

Будь здоро́ва!

[TBoneTX 43,540]

11 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Gesundheit!

 

4 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Будь здоро́ва!

English-only outside the regional forums!  Reported!!!

[TBoneTX 43,540]

This struck me as very interesting, with some ideas that I haven't seen elsewhere.  Your comments?

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/03/30/cutting-through-the-noise-in-ukraine/