Time to kick muddah-f*cking Russia out once & for all?

[Guilga]

52 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

C'mon FIVB -- announce you're going to move this year's Men's Volleyball World Championships to North America or Italy or Japan.

Okay that we aren´t in the best time to host anything because of COVID, but it´s kinda weird that they didn´t even tought in having some World Champioship action here in Brazil yet. We have actually good crowds to Volleyball here, not like footie but still good. If Russia got stripped of their rights, but without this pandemic and incompetent president, i think we could host well. Would serve the game better than rotate between the same countries all the time.

[baron-pierreIV]

27 minutes ago, Guilga said:

Okay that we aren´t in the best time to host anything because of COVID, but it´s kinda weird that they didn´t even tought in having some World Champioship action here in Brazil yet. We have actually good crowds to Volleyball here, not like footie but still good. If Russia got stripped of their rights, but without this pandemic and incompetent president, i think we could host well. Would serve the game better than rotate between the same countries all the time.

Becuz there are only 2 countries there -- Brazil and Argentina-- whose fans will come,  The reason they place these big events in Europe is because there are MANY countries/teams whose fans DON't have to travel far -- hence, Europe is always considered first.  That is why the IOC is also headquartered in Suisse/Europe.  And your Brazilian fans are FAR TOO PARTISAN.  So that's another reason why.  

[Scotguy II]

Russia is banned from the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest

Sochi will not host F1 this year

[Rob2012]

1 hour ago, Scotguy II said:

Sochi will not host F1 this year

Looks like they're about to lose their only driver as well (who's only really there because Daddy is an oligarch)

https://the-race.com/formula-1/haas-admits-mazepins-f1-future-needs-to-be-resolved/

 

[Guilga]

24 minutes ago, Rob. said:

Looks like they're about to lose their only driver as well (who's only really there because Daddy is an oligarch)

https://the-race.com/formula-1/haas-admits-mazepins-f1-future-needs-to-be-resolved/

 

And nothing of value was lost...

[FYI]

So Zelenskyy is pretty adamant that, "the West should do 'more', besides just sanctions". Though, without direct conflict with Russia, what else can be done. Sure, sporting organizations are now distancing themselves from Russia, etc. But I don't think that's what Zelenskyy had in mind.

[Sir Rols]

Well, there is a lot of pressure building to bite the bullet and extend the economic sanctions to SWIFT. There is work to start getting alternative gas supply chains going. The west is going to have to accept a bit of financial pain too in the short term, but I think long term there is a determination to isolate Russia. Provided that determination doesn’t dissipate, I think long term Russia’s gonna suffer for Putin’s hubris. And he’s ensured he’s poisoned any feelings of “brotherhood” with the Ukrainians - I doubt it’s ever going to be pacified and even as a satellite stature will continue as a thorn in his side.

But, of course, none of this helps short term. Boots on the ground really isn’t an option facing off against a nuclear-armed ruthless master of brinkmanship.  

[baron-pierreIV]

14 minutes ago, FYI said:

So Zelenskyy is pretty adamant that, "the West should do 'more', besides just sanctions". Though, without direct conflict with Russia, what else can be done. Sure, sporting organizations are now distancing themselves from Russia, etc. But I don't think that's what Zelenskyy had in mind.

That's really all he can do.  I mean this guy wasn't a politician -- and he's up against a former KGB operative.  So Zelensky is still very naive in ways of statecraft.  His best option was to negotiate the turn-over of parts of the Donbass region a few years ago.  If those were surrendered to Russia, they could've easily joined NATO and Putin would've been more constrained to attack a NATO member nation.  

[FYI]

7 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

His best option was to negotiate the turn-over of parts of the Donbass region a few years ago. If those were surrendered to Russia, they could've easily joined NATO and Putin would've been more constrained to attack a NATO member nation.  

That's interesting. I did not know this. And if that was the case then, maybe we wouldn't be witnessing these terrible actions now. I'm sure the images on TV are not doing justice to the total chaos going on in Ukraine, either. Totally depressing & angst.

[StefanMUC]

So Zelenskyi should have done what Chamberlain & Co did in Munich? Appease the aggressor and all will be fine?

FTR: my paternal family is from Sudetenland, and they had to leave their home eventually because their „protector“ was a megalomaniac monster.

[Sir Rols]

11 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

That's really all he can do.  I mean this guy wasn't a politician -- and he's up against a former KGB operative.  So Zelensky is still very naive in ways of statecraft.  His best option was to negotiate the turn-over of parts of the Donbass region a few years ago.  If those were surrendered to Russia, they could've easily joined NATO and Putin would've been more constrained to attack a NATO member nation.  

I don’t think surrendering the east of his country after it had already snatched Crimea was ever an option though. Nor was any chance of Putin allowing Ukraine to join NATO. 

I just hope Zelensky can make it out of Kiev now to maintain up a probable Government-in-exile. And just as the west was not prepared enough to defend Czechoslovakia in 1938 but least set the red line against future German aggressions, at least the Baltics are a clear no-go for Putin now.

[FYI]

1 minute ago, StefanMUC said:

So Zelenskyi should have done what Chamberlain & Co did in Munich? Appease the aggressor and all will be fine?

I guess you have a point, too. Since Hitler still went in & invaded Poland after the Munich agreement anyway. Putin still probably would've felt entitled.

[baron-pierreIV]

That eastern part of Ukraine has always been heavily Russian -- hovering around what? 50%+ and right by Russian land proper.  So those will end up with Muddah Russia by hook AND by Crook. Remember, that's where the partisans shot that innocent Malaysain Airlines jet in 2014.  After all, tt's ONLY real estate.  It's NOT like Ukraine will be squeezed for virgin territory. 

 

Edited February 25, 2022 by baron-pierreIV

[Rob2012]

3 minutes ago, StefanMUC said:

FTR: my paternal family is from Sudetenland, and they had to leave their home eventually because their „protector“ was a megalomaniac monster.

Definitely didn't read that as Sunderland the first time I read it.

[StefanMUC]

5 minutes ago, FYI said:

That's interesting. I did not know this. And if that was the case then, maybe we wouldn't be witnessing these terrible actions now. 

You didn‘t know because it was never in discussion. Neither Zelenskyi nor his predecessor considered giving Moscow any chunk of Ukrainian territory.

[StefanMUC]

3 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

That eastern part of Ukraine has always been heavily Russian -- hovering around what? 50%+ and right by Russian land proper.  So those will end up with Muddah Russia by hook AND by Crook.  

 

Even Russian-speaking Ukrainians have been deterred by Putin‘s actions. And he‘s not making Russia attractive as a country to be part of right now.

[baron-pierreIV]

7 minutes ago, StefanMUC said:

Even Russian-speaking Ukrainians have been deterred by Putin‘s actions. And he‘s not making Russia attractive as a country to be part of right now.

No, he's not.  But it's that demented, misguided mind that's calling all the shots and shells raining down on Ukraine.  There is NO opposition within Russia that can really pose a threat to him.  So, we're really all at Red Square One.  

[FYI]

While not the big fish, but Belarus also needs to answer for their role in all of this.

[baron-pierreIV]

Just now, FYI said:

While not the big fish, but Belarus also needs to answer for their role in all of this.

Well, Belarus, NortKor AND China.  Those are his other buddies.  For months, apparently the Biden admin lobbied to get China to tamp down Putin - but Wash DC and Beijing have their own issues too.  Of course, this emboldens China to now take Taiwan.  

[FYI]

8 minutes ago, baron-pierreIV said:

Well, Belarus, NortKor AND China.  Those are his other buddies.  For months, apparently the Biden admin lobbied to get China to tamp down Putin - but Wash DC and Beijing have their own issues too.  Of course, this emboldens China to now take Taiwan.  

Sure would've been interesting to now, to say the least, what exactly Putin & Xi were talking about the first couple of days of a "non-political" event like Beijing 2022 anyway.

[Sir Rols]

5 minutes ago, FYI said:

Sure would've been interesting to now, to say the least, what exactly Putin & Xi were talking about the first couple of days of a "non-political" event like Beijing 2022 anyway.

I think know exactly what they talked about:

Russia and China proclaim 'no limits' partnership to stand up to US

[Australian Kiwi]

2 hours ago, Rob. said:

Looks like they're about to lose their only driver as well (who's only really there because Daddy is an oligarch)

https://the-race.com/formula-1/haas-admits-mazepins-f1-future-needs-to-be-resolved/

 

He's also a known sex pest. 

[FYI]

17 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

I think know exactly what they talked about:

Russia and China proclaim 'no limits' partnership to stand up to US

Oh, of course. But remember, the Olympics are *not* suppose to be political. At least that's what China & the IOC kept telling us anyway (so I was being more tongue-&-cheek). So when you have two despots (excuse me, leaders) of two very prominent countries, & one of them being the host of Beijing 2022, surely they must've been talking about something else, no? Like how Russia (excuse me "roc") was going to kick China's butt at the medal table. Or how Putin prefers Thai food instead, etc, etc. But surely not politics. Not at the Olympics, for heaven's sake. 

[arwebb]

On 2/24/2022 at 8:59 PM, Rob. said:

100%

They need to be frozen out and isolated. Apartheid South Africa is the precedent here.

Nailed it.

[Faster]

@StefanMUCI have German lines that originate in and around Breslau. So yea, can feel the lose of a place because of that idiot.

It is scary how closely mirrored Putin's nonsense is with Hitler's. I am surprised he isn't spotting off about the Soviet Union getting stabbed in the back by Jews while he was defending it in East Germany being a spy.

I think he misread the inaction on Crimea. A free and fair referendum in Crimea in like 2008 would have probably returned a favourable result to join Russia. Crimea was only apart of Ukraine for about 60 years at that point, and the majority of the ethnic populations of Crimea were displaced by Stalin. I think that is why most world capitals kinda shrugged at it.

Now. Russia and Belarus will merge. And that is going to create a lot of pressure on Poland, Lithuania and Sweden because of the nonsense that is Kaliningrad. That was a major Churchill/FDR mistake there. This is only the beginning unless someone within Russia stops him, or the Ukrainians are able to take the body count into the 10's of thousands.