Ukraine

[exile]

very interesting.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/arti ... crisy.html

I wonder how much of that piece is based on a wonderful hindsight.

I had the pleasure of working on a student exchange in a research institute in Zagreb, Croatia (then Yugoslavia). The institute arranged for the exchange students to have a night at the opera. Difficult to follow in a very foreign language but the background was a small Croatian army pitted against the invading Turks. On the final chorus the audience all stood and applauded with several waving Croatian flags.

With hindsight that level of nationalism could be seen to be a prelude the break up of Yugoslavia but in no way did that occur to me at the time.

[niemeyjt]

Often not realised, because we are taught that the Ukraine is the bread basket of Europe, Russia produces three times the amount of hard wheat and exports - better said exported - more.

So a double whammy - with the same outcome but worse - Arab Spring 2022.

[Bayleaf]

Interested to see the headlines that my step-parents will be trying to digest with their Sunday coffee: Big words from UK PM .....just get on with it then, if you think you can!

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[exile]

Often not realised, because we are taught that the Ukraine is the bread basket of Europe, Russia produces three times the amount of hard wheat and exports - better said exported - more.

So a double whammy - with the same outcome but worse - Arab Spring 2022.

Before we become imbued in too much doom and gloom catastrophe, it is worth pointing out that the EU produces twice as much Durum wheat as Russia - so more than Russia and the Ukraine together - and France is the fifth biggest wheat producer in the world.

[Blaze]

Another interesting article on the BBC website from Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of Defence Staff.
He explains why people should rush off to fight in Ukraine.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60637185

He talks about the Russian troops :

In his interview with the BBC's Sunday Morning show, the defence chief painted a picture of Russian forces suffering from heavy losses and low morale, with kit failings and a massive military convoy stalled outside the capital, Kyiv.
The Kremlin has lost more troops in a week than the UK did in 20 years in Afghanistan, he said, and some "lead elements of Russian forces" have been decimated.
He described stories of soldiers whose morale had been so knocked they had abandoned the convoy destined for Kyiv to camp in the forest.

It's very likely that the UK has good intelligence sources and doesn't have to rely on what Ukraine puts out .....

[niemeyjt]

Before we become imbued in too much doom and gloom catastrophe, it is worth pointing out that the EU produces twice as much Durum wheat as Russia - so more than Russia and the Ukraine together - and France is the fifth biggest wheat producer in the world.

Indeed - but the EU and France is not why I am concerned. If wheat doubles and bread goes up 10% then many/most Europeans can afford to pay the extra - albeit with a few moans and groans.

Looking back to a previous time food prices were hiked, and its impact on the third world - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyl ... rab-spring

[rsm]

[quote=Blaze post_id=21438 time=1646570572 user_id=5

It's very likely that the UK has good intelligence sources and doesn't have to rely on what Ukraine puts out .....
[/quote]


Is this the same intelligence that said there was WMD in iraq?

Seems to me its better to take some things with a pinch of salt

[Spardo]

What heartens me, in some respects, is the fact that this adventure of Putin's has dramatically demonstrated just what piss poor armed forces Russia really has. I would have expected them to have difficulty in holding Ukraine under occupation after victory but not to have failed so miserably in their initial onslaught.

What does not hearten me however, is that this very feebleness is encouraging them to stand back and let the long range missiles do the talking, and the resulting high civilian casualties.

I am approaching the end of Montefiore's 300 year history of the Romanov tsars and the military confusion and meddling by the royal family and various politicians and generals in 1916, while not a direct comparison with Putin and his generals, does strike a desperate note. Bad enough then, but this time, nuclear weapons lurk in the background as a last suicidal throw of the dice.

BTW, did you know that there is evidence that a British agent put the final bullet directly into the forehead of the arch meddler, Rasputin, after the misrable failure of a load of poisoned cakes and 2 shots from Russian military princes?

And also, news to me, Putin's grandfather was chef to Rasputin but also Lenin and Stalin later. What a chance he had to change the course of history.

[Hotrodder]

[quote=Blaze post_id=21438 time=1646570572 user_id=5

It's very likely that the UK has good intelligence sources and doesn't have to rely on what Ukraine puts out .....

Is this the same intelligence that said there was WMD in iraq?
[/quote]

Nope. That "intelligence" was from the Americans.

[ExMontpelliérain]

Interested to see the headlines that my step-parents will be trying to digest with their Sunday coffee: Big words from UK PM .....just get on with it then, if you think you can!

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Johnson’s 6 point plan largely involves actions to be taken by other countries & organisations. A typical BJ ploy; see where everyone is heading then attempt to push your way to the front & shout “Follow me!”