I've been watching the events happening in Syria and thinking of how it could impact Russia. The bottom line is: Putin is sad, but not as sad as Assad. 😁
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 9,317MI6 Agent
PS is it just a coincidence that @Silhouette Man picked a quote from a (fictitious) man who wants to invade Russia, considering the raison d'etre for this thread?
I think we can assume Putin's former ally Assad is near the top of the Naughty List this year. Torture, political prisoners in cells hidden underground, extravagant luxury while many of his people starved and even factories that were mass producing meth. When the regime in North Korea falls I believe even worse will be found. These are Putin's closest allies.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 9,317MI6 Agent
Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Rosjtsjyna went undercover into Russian-occupied Ukraine to investigate the detention and torture of civilians there. she disappeared for more than one and a half years. Recently her dead body was sent back, but missing her brain, larynx, and eyes, There were burn marks on her feet. There were also stab wounds, a broken rib and signs of strangulation. The Russian occupation of about 19% of Ukraine is brutal and free speech is gone!
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 30,889Chief of Staff
That’s absolutely horrific…I wonder how that will play out in the USA…will it even get a mention there…? I’d like to say I’m surprised by the Russian treatment of Ukrainians - but, sadly, I’m not.
I read a few interesting pieces about truth social yesterday…it’s amazing just what some people believe…🤯
One of Vladimir Putin's closest advisers just said the "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine is "an internal process" because the Soviet Union was never officially dissolved (according to him). In other words he (and probably Putin too) belives the USSR still excists and the former member states must be brought back into the fold regardless if they want to or not. The USSR of course included the three Baltic countries that are now NATO members.
I (single)think so. It like the neo-nazis who manage to belive the totalitarian regime of the past was somehow good.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 9,317MI6 Agent
National self-determination is the antithesis of empire. Once you let the genie out of the bottle it's very hard to get it back in again. That's what Putin is finding now on the battlefronts in Ukraine.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
This is a new decoration in the Moscow Metro. Stalin was responsible for the deaths of about 20 million Soviet citizens, but during Putins rule 120 monuments to Stalin has been erected in Russia.
As many of you know, Ukraine drones just hit air bases spread all over Russia and allegedly destroyed 40 strategic bombers. That's 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet! Congratulations to Ukraine!
Sources disagree on the date, some say today and others in a week, but this month Russia will have lost one million soldiers in their "special military operation". That is killed and seriously wounded. In spite of this, Russia occupies less than 20% of Ukrainian territory. NATO is re-arming and has gained two new member states as a direct consequence of the full-scale invasion, leading to Russia's border with NATO has doubled. Much of Russia's oil fortune has gone and many experts expect a major setback for the Russian economy by the end of this year. Putin is a disaster for Russia.
10-20 Russian drones ended up in Polish airspace. NATO does not believe this was an accident. Others disagree: In any case the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine has made Europe much less stable.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 9,317MI6 Agent
edited September 2025
Things are certainly escalating in this senseless war. Russia has of course reverted to type and claimed that the drone incursion into Polish airspace was accidental. However, it is clear for all to see in the free world that it was an intentional act no doubt designed to test the resolve of Poland and NATO and the United States more widely. Putin is now so reckless he is willing to risk it all by turning a localised war between Russia and Ukraine into a much wider conflagration with all the potential dangers that would entail. Of course like all bullies, whether in the schoolyard or on the international stage, he'll keeping pushing to see how far he can go before the affected party decides to do something about it.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
The problem however is this bully has access to serious nuclear hardware. The old Cold War adage that the major powers wouldn't attack one another, or one another's allies, for fear of nuclear reprisals has been blown out by Putin's attack on Ukraine - not exactly an ally of the west, but certainly not an ally of the east - he is like Hitler before him calling everyone's bluff until it becomes too late and war may be inevitabke. I see similar behaviour in Israel. Unfortunately, the US fucked up so badly in Iraq and Afghanistan they are running scared of confrontation. Trump, for all his "I can do a deal" gusto has no clue about how to solve international differences - he is swimming in the the same bear pit all politicians are - sadly it is Putin who holds the cards until NATO makes a play - but that is unlikely without US involvement. That involvement is highly unlikely because even Trump is scared of nukes.
Comments
I've been watching the events happening in Syria and thinking of how it could impact Russia. The bottom line is: Putin is sad, but not as sad as Assad. 😁
Assad is weak tea now.
I suggest Assad should avoid windows above the ground floor and private flights too. People who disapoint Putin are frequently accident prone.
It's Assad situation for him. "This is the price of failure, Mr Assad!"
Thanks (or perhaps I should say Danke 😁) to @Number24 and @Silhouette Man for their help with a recent spammer, now departed.
Barbel's arm is long and his vengeance is total. He'll remember that.
Surely this can't be @Barbel ? - a man's arm can only be so long and his vengeance only so total...
Does he have a secret underground Scottish lair with a billion dollar computer system ordering the eradication of all anti-AJB postings...
Classic quote BTW.
I'm flattered by the comparison, gentlemen. That's one of my ten desert island movies (after I've picked ten Bonds, of course) - and books, as well.
Alas I can't afford a computer at that price!
PS is it just a coincidence that @Silhouette Man picked a quote from a (fictitious) man who wants to invade Russia, considering the raison d'etre for this thread?
I think we can assume Putin's former ally Assad is near the top of the Naughty List this year. Torture, political prisoners in cells hidden underground, extravagant luxury while many of his people starved and even factories that were mass producing meth. When the regime in North Korea falls I believe even worse will be found. These are Putin's closest allies.
It must've come from my subconscious mind. 🙂
🤣
Actually the GIF was a reference to the departed spammer.
Yes, I got that. I was just referring to Barbel as well there with that quote from General Midwinter in Billion Dollar Brain.
Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Rosjtsjyna went undercover into Russian-occupied Ukraine to investigate the detention and torture of civilians there. she disappeared for more than one and a half years. Recently her dead body was sent back, but missing her brain, larynx, and eyes, There were burn marks on her feet. There were also stab wounds, a broken rib and signs of strangulation. The Russian occupation of about 19% of Ukraine is brutal and free speech is gone!
That’s absolutely horrific…I wonder how that will play out in the USA…will it even get a mention there…? I’d like to say I’m surprised by the Russian treatment of Ukrainians - but, sadly, I’m not.
I read a few interesting pieces about truth social yesterday…it’s amazing just what some people believe…🤯
Anyway, this is NOT a political thread…
One of Vladimir Putin's closest advisers just said the "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine is "an internal process" because the Soviet Union was never officially dissolved (according to him). In other words he (and probably Putin too) belives the USSR still excists and the former member states must be brought back into the fold regardless if they want to or not. The USSR of course included the three Baltic countries that are now NATO members.
That is scary. Is that what they doublethink?
I (single)think so. It like the neo-nazis who manage to belive the totalitarian regime of the past was somehow good.
National self-determination is the antithesis of empire. Once you let the genie out of the bottle it's very hard to get it back in again. That's what Putin is finding now on the battlefronts in Ukraine.
Look up a sketch by Mitchell and Webb called something like "Are We The Bad Guys?"; you might find interesting in this context.
This is a new decoration in the Moscow Metro. Stalin was responsible for the deaths of about 20 million Soviet citizens, but during Putins rule 120 monuments to Stalin has been erected in Russia.
As many of you know, Ukraine drones just hit air bases spread all over Russia and allegedly destroyed 40 strategic bombers. That's 34% of Russia's strategic bomber fleet! Congratulations to Ukraine!
Putin watching it unfold, one likes to think...
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Sources disagree on the date, some say today and others in a week, but this month Russia will have lost one million soldiers in their "special military operation". That is killed and seriously wounded. In spite of this, Russia occupies less than 20% of Ukrainian territory. NATO is re-arming and has gained two new member states as a direct consequence of the full-scale invasion, leading to Russia's border with NATO has doubled. Much of Russia's oil fortune has gone and many experts expect a major setback for the Russian economy by the end of this year. Putin is a disaster for Russia.
10-20 Russian drones ended up in Polish airspace. NATO does not believe this was an accident. Others disagree: In any case the Russian invasion and war in Ukraine has made Europe much less stable.
Things are certainly escalating in this senseless war. Russia has of course reverted to type and claimed that the drone incursion into Polish airspace was accidental. However, it is clear for all to see in the free world that it was an intentional act no doubt designed to test the resolve of Poland and NATO and the United States more widely. Putin is now so reckless he is willing to risk it all by turning a localised war between Russia and Ukraine into a much wider conflagration with all the potential dangers that would entail. Of course like all bullies, whether in the schoolyard or on the international stage, he'll keeping pushing to see how far he can go before the affected party decides to do something about it.
The problem however is this bully has access to serious nuclear hardware. The old Cold War adage that the major powers wouldn't attack one another, or one another's allies, for fear of nuclear reprisals has been blown out by Putin's attack on Ukraine - not exactly an ally of the west, but certainly not an ally of the east - he is like Hitler before him calling everyone's bluff until it becomes too late and war may be inevitabke. I see similar behaviour in Israel. Unfortunately, the US fucked up so badly in Iraq and Afghanistan they are running scared of confrontation. Trump, for all his "I can do a deal" gusto has no clue about how to solve international differences - he is swimming in the the same bear pit all politicians are - sadly it is Putin who holds the cards until NATO makes a play - but that is unlikely without US involvement. That involvement is highly unlikely because even Trump is scared of nukes.
He's got that part right.