The Ukraine

I'm always skeptical of people suggesting scenarios where someone gives up control of nukes to a third party, as the Bush administration suggested (without a shred of evidence as it turned out) about Saddam Hussein. All the control is lost while all the liability, along with the return address, remains with the giver.

I'm similarly skeptical about any serious involvement of Belarus in the conflict, though I'm sure Putin is leaning on them to at least feint at what amounts to opening a second front. Lukashenko's hold on power impresses me as much more tenuous than Putin's. I like the idea of the possibility of the Ukrainians meeting the Belarussian conscripts at the border, as Edward Abbey once suggested about one of our neighbors "...with a good rifle and a case of ammunition and sending them home..." to solve the real problem themselves.

We only know the limited things we know, and realize that we're just typists sharing thoughts.

Din't russkies arresting 6 bridge bombers, some russian, some ukrainian, some from elsewhere...

An analyst proposed a scenario which I hadn't considered. Putin deploys tactical nuclear weapons and places them in the care of local commanders to use at their discretion.

This allows (encourages?) those units to use them in event they are backed into a corner. A pretty effective way to put everyone on edge without actually authorizing a strike.

"So far Russia has been rather restrained, they have not used many advanced weapons and they have not widely targeted civilian power, water systems, communications etc. They've been pretty focused on military targets."

What channel of information leads you to that conclusion? The Russians by all accounts except their own have engaged in widespread attrocites against civilians throughout the invasion. Mass graves have been widely documented as have - claims at least - of civilian torture. Putin's recent tantrum over his bridge was noted by several military analysts as involving weapons (specifically cruise missiles) that are not only state of the art for the Russian arsenal, but in short supply.

The Russian FSB has reportedly arrested 8 people including Ukrainians in a plot to bomb the bridge with a truck bomb, including a convluted conspiracy theory to smuggle explosives into Russia. Really? Like there aren't enough explosives in Russia and the war zone? At best an admission of a stunning intellgence failure. At worst (for Putin) it is looking like an inside job. The more he blames the miitary for his failures, the more common actions like this one could become. Popcorn please.

Belarus, perhaps feeling a need for attention, claims that Ukraine is plotting to attack them and therefore Belarus needs to prepare for conflict.

I realize that this is propaganda, but it's not even good propaganda. Shouldn't propaganda at least have some measure of plausibility so that people don't just laugh it off?

While the Ukrainian government certainly doesn't have a loving relationship with the Belarussian government, it would make zero sense for Ukraine to bring Belarus in against them. They already have their hands full, and it would do nothing but erode international sympathy and support. In other words, it would be beyond idiotic to give Belarus a reason to enter the conflict. Unless, of course, the suggestion is that the Ukrainian government is insane.

There is the slight possibility that this was a accident. Not. Likely. Another theory tossed around is that it was done by the Russians. Putin came to power in a false flag operation, with innocent people getting blown up. A suicide bomber would be a new element. But with the brutality of the Russian army, there are lots of folks who have lost family members, wives, and children. One thing that I thought was interesting, the truck was coming from the Russian side, and it was checked before coming on the bridge. Looked like a box truck, not a semi. There are a lot of political factions there, all held together by the strong man. If he goes away, it might get pretty messy for awhile.

“ Was this a suicide bomb? A bomb planted in a Russian truck? Suicide bombing would be a departure for the Ukrainians”

The reports I’ve seen suggest this was not the case. Russia has supported the truck bomb scenario, but some folks believe that the explosive device was under the main span. That would indicate very sophisticated sabotage capabilities.

“ So far Russia has been rather restrained, they have not used many advanced weapons and they have not widely targeted civilian power, water systems, communications etc. They've been pretty focused on military targets”

The reports from places like Bucha contradict that assessment.
The modern Russian modus operandi does not include restraint.

I was going to respond to several of the post here but then remembered that to argue with a fool makes you a fool as they have a closed mind.

well putz putin commy pigs hit a large family housing area today...

So far Russia has been rather restrained, they have not used many advanced weapons and they have not widely targeted civilian power, water systems, communications etc. They've been pretty focused on military targets. I think they could turn up the mayhem significantly if they wanted to. Russia, like the USA, is a superpower. They could flatten Ukraine in an afternoon if they totally unleashed.

I don't think our involvement helps, it just prolongs the conflict, causing more innocent people to suffer.

I hope this comes to an end soon.

Russian media are calling it as strike against Ukrainian military targets. Putin doesn't give a rat's ass what anyone outside of Russia thinks- he knows we know he's full of shit. He is solely concerned about maintaining support at home.

It's extraordinary to see the blunders that Putin keeps making. His facade of terrifying control and efficiency is as debunked as the fighting capacity of the Russian military. His panicky desire to resond by targeting civilians after his pet bridge was blown up could not, in my opinion, make him look less pathetic. Poor dear.

One thing that I have not seen reported which is, I think, pretty newsworthy: Was this a suicide bomb? A bomb planted in a Russian truck? Suicide bombing would be a departure for the Ukrainians.

@CandB

"Taking on Russia is a fight we cannot win. There can only be losers... and for what? What is to be gained for the typical American, nothing."

That's not the conclusion I thought you were leading up to. It is Russia, not the US who should be taking a lesson from our experiences in Vietnam and elsewhere. Not to mention their own unpleasantness in Afghanistan which, along with the British and others' experiences should have given us pause in going there.

A few tens of billions in aid to people oppresed by a brutal lunatic dictator is nothing compared to the consequences of doing nothing while a neo -imperialist writes new rules of normal for the world. We hopefully learned this lesson in the 1930s.

I guess I buried the lead in not pointing out more clearly that I find it both comforting and refreshing that many conservatives' first reaction is not worry about what the Democrats might think.

Yes trump was in a desert field near Mesa, AZ this afternoon, very little coverage other than talking about how long people waited. did not even say location, how many showed up, what a bunch of fuckn lazy news workers, the worse in the country...

yep, but most people do not understand how to De code the things he says. But he did say it.

Wow, trumpster said that, that's great...Where did he say it, Mesa, AZ, he is to be here in AZ..

Mark Im just a guy that loves my Country and also love people from all around the World. Ya see where Trump himself said in his rally tonight " Iam your commander and Chief " Yup he did say that.

Mickey

Yes.... It's why Patton and the other generals wanted to fight Russia while we were still in Europe. Which would have been kinda messed up, considering we helped take Germany's feet outta their asses.

You better be careful Mickey, if the commies go nuke and we get involved you may be considered a commy sympathiser and lead away...

Putin aint fucking around, He warned NATO to stay the fuck off the borders that Bordered Russia. At the same time in 2014 when Soros people along with many of our Politicians over threw the Ukraine Government and installed a fucking Actor/comedian as The leader of Ukraine and started shelling and killing citizens, Putin already knew of all the illegal activity being funded by our Government and a big part of that shit was the bio labs. Im sure people do remember when Putin gave the soccer ball to Trump and said the ball is in your court now. BOOM,That ball had 32 terabytes of info on all the shit our Government was doing in Ukraine. And for those who keep believing the MSM saying Putin is backed in a corner damn sure have not been paying attention.

Mickey

During occupation duty at the end of WWII , US soldiers were warned that the Russians were more dangerous than the Germans.

After working together in WWII against Germany, I believe we've always funded nations fighting against Russia.

I'm trying figure out your post Andrew. What's are you saying?

Slightly off topic, but really not.

Turn on your brains and try to remember something. I know it will be difficult, but try. Do you remember in the last year of the Trump administration when the news said that Russia was paying mercenaries to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan? The news said it, so of course it must be true. lol And then it turned to Trump, "What ya gonna do about that, Orange Man? Are you just gonna let that happen? Will ya huh? Huh/ Huh? Will ya?" Anyone else remember that or am I alone? SO, think about NOW, while Russia is in a war, and we are openly funding their opponent with money and weapons. It isn't a vague accusation. We celebrate it and say it our selves. What you think Putin might do about that?