Russia Invades Ukraine XIX

[Tidewater]

Last night we watched an interesting psychological review of what made Putin the person (monster) he is as an adult.

It is here for anyone interested. We follow this UK based Psychiatrist and find his commentary on Trump and global affairs interesting.

Putin is a product of his environment.
His upbringing in Brezhnev's USSR made him suspicious and deeply skeptical.
As Hari Seldon might say, the only kind of guy who could have risen to the top in 1990s Russia was someone who was ruthless, bloodthirsty, and conniving. To paraphrase Del Gue from Jeremiah Johnson, "he may speak [English] well and read the Bible, but he is still [Russian].
A Mother Teresa type was not going to become the president in 1990s Russia.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I said several years ago that Putin was an outstanding tactician, but he was no strategist. To my gratification, one of his former aides, a defector, echoed my sentiment, almost word for word...

 

[Tidewater]

This has probably already been discussed, but I somehow missed this:
Military chiefs gather in UK to discuss Ukraine peacekeeping force
This would not be a NATO op. It would be a "coalition of the willing" op that included NATO member states. The Brits and the French are exactly the kinds of troops you need on the ground: capable, professional, and disciplined.
I served in Bosnia in the UNPROFOR days.The Egyptians in Bosnia were not the most capable. In fact, they spent the winter huddled around burn barrels trying to keep warm. They did not stop ceasefire violations. They were not even aware of ceasefire violations in their sector.

What is needed in Ukraine are capable troops, with a robust ROE so that, whenever someone steps out of line, the peacekeepers smack the crap out of them instantaneously. Otherwise, why bother going? If you do not immediately punish violators, the situation wioll sprial out of control and the war start back, only this time with non-ERussian, non-Ukrainian peacekeeprs in the way.
Within BH Command when I was there in 1994, the British sent an LO to the Spanish Battalion (SPANBAT). The combatants (Serbs, Croats) used to take pot shots at the blue helmets all the time. The UN lost dozens of soldiers killed this way. The Brit LO rode around in a Warrior (Brit APC like a Bradley, but less capable). The combatants who shot at the Brit LO would get a burst of 25mm chain gun in return. Pretty soon, all the combatants in Gornji Vakuf learned not to shoot at the Brit LO. A key lesson for any peacekeepers who might go to Ukraine.

 

[Tidewater]

I would also add that if the EU stopped buying Russian gas and enacted secondary sanction on those who purchase Russian oil, thie was would be over in short order. Every ruble Russians uses to buy weapons used against Ukraine was given them by the EU.
Stopping the purchases and enacting the secondary sanction would be expensive, however. would be expensive.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I would also add that if the EU stopped buying Russian gas and enacted secondary sanction on those who purchase Russian oil, thie was would be over in short order. Every ruble Russians uses to buy weapons used against Ukraine was given them by the EU.
Stopping the purchases and enacting the secondary sanction would be expensive, however. would be expensive.

The EU has literally spent more on Russian gas than they’ve sent to Ukraine. It’s the definition of insanity, but we’re told they’re more noble then us.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Other than having to do with war, this is way OT, but I happened to be reading an obscure Poplar Mechanics article, to discover that my wife's cousin, John Rison Jones, Jr., as an Army PFC was first on the scene to photograph the remains and emaciated corpses of the slave laborers at Peenemünde. Those pix are in the Library of Congress. Wonder how he felt later, living in the same town with SS Major Wernher von Braun?

 

[Tidewater]

Other than having to do with war, this is way OT, but I happened to be reading an obscure Poplar Mechanics article, to discover that my wife's cousin, John Rison Jones, Jr., as an Army PFC was first on the scene to photograph the remains and emaciated corpses of the slave laborers at Peenemünde. Those pix are in the Library of Congress. Wonder how he felt later, living in the same town with SS Major Wernher von Braun?

That is way off topic, but a really good question.

 

[Tidewater]

The EU has literally spent more on Russian gas than they’ve sent to Ukraine. It’s the definition of insanity, but we’re told they’re more noble then us.

If the world were to treat Russia and her gas/oil like lepers, the war would not last long.
I work with Europeans so I have to be diplomatic.
Of course, bowing to the green cult has put EU member states in a really bad position in regards to energy, which only makes real solutions more difficult.

 

[Bazza]

If the world were to treat Russia and her gas/oil like lepers, the war would not last long.
I work with Europeans so I have to be diplomatic.
Of course, bowing to the green cult has put EU member states in a really bad position in regards to energy, which only makes real solutions more difficult.

Probably the third time I've posted this over the years.

It's from 2018.

And this one:

 

[some_al_fan]

I would also add that if the EU stopped buying Russian gas and enacted secondary sanction on those who purchase Russian oil, thie was would be over in short order. Every ruble Russians uses to buy weapons used against Ukraine was given them by the EU.
Stopping the purchases and enacting the secondary sanction would be expensive, however. would be expensive.

Definitely agree with that.
But let me remind you what our dear leader thinks about it:

https://thehill.com/homenews/546654...s-very-angry-at-ukraine-over-pipeline-attack/

Trump told Orbán he’s ‘very angry’ at Ukraine over pipeline attack

Slovak President thanks Trump for criticizing attack on Druzhba Pipeline

Slovak President thanks Trump for criticizing attack on Druzhba Pipeline

www.1lurer.am

 

[Tidewater]

Definitely agree with that.
But let me remind you what our dear leader thinks about it:

https://thehill.com/homenews/546654...s-very-angry-at-ukraine-over-pipeline-attack/

Trump told Orbán he’s ‘very angry’ at Ukraine over pipeline attack

Slovak President thanks Trump for criticizing attack on Druzhba Pipeline

Slovak President thanks Trump for criticizing attack on Druzhba Pipeline

www.1lurer.am

They definitely do not like buying from Putin funding the Russia war machine, but they have no alternative.
Three and a half years on, you'd think they would have found some. The religious fanaticism of the European Green parties pushed forward the closure of the nuclear power plants which would have been part of the solution.
And so, with one hand the Europeans spend to help Ukraine protect itself, and with the other they fund the Russian war machine making Ukrainian defense necessary.

 

[some_al_fan]

They definitely do not like buying from Putin?funding the Russia war machine, but they have no alternative.
Three and a half years on, you'd think they would have found some. The religious fanaticism of the European Green parties pushed forward the closure of the nuclear power plants which would have been part of the solution.
And so, with one hand the Europeans spend to help Ukraine protect itself, and with the other they fund the Russian war machine making Ukrainian defense necessary.

We are talking about Hungary here. Orban definitely likes buying from Putin, while the Green Party probably exists in Hungary, but it is definitely far from power.

BTW, here is the list of countries that buy russian oil & gas:

June 2025 — Monthly analysis of Russian fossil fuel exports and sanctions – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air

energyandcleanair.org

 

[crimsonaudio]

EU imports of Russian fossil fuels in third year of invasion surpass financial aid sent to Ukraine – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air

energyandcleanair.org

 

[Bamaro]

If the world were to treat Russia and her gas/oil like lepers, the war would not last long.
I work with Europeans so I have to be diplomatic.
Of course, bowing to the green cult has put EU member states in a really bad position in regards to energy, which only makes real solutions more difficult.

Our insatiable demand for energy allies governments with otherwise political piriahs. Fission until fusion.

 

[Tidewater]

We are talking about Hungary here. Orban definitely likes buying from Putin, while the Green Party probably exists in Hungary, but it is definitely far from power.

BTW, here is the list of countries that buy russian oil & gas:
View attachment 52408

June 2025 — Monthly analysis of Russian fossil fuel exports and sanctions – Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air

energyandcleanair.org

Actually, Hungary announced plans to add a reactor to the Pec nuclear plant. Of course, the current reactors were managed by Rosatom.
The Indians have been reselling Russian oil, which is part of the reason Trump announced secondary sanctions against them.
The real culprit in the EU is pipeline gas. The EU needs more since the Belgians and Germans have closed down their nuclear plants at the behest of the Greens. The Germans are actually burning their own high-sulfur coal to generate electricity, one of the dirtiest sources of energy which they need because they have shut down zero emission nuclear plants.

 

[some_al_fan]

Hungary has been the most disappointing country so far, considering what Soviets did to it in 1956

 

[some_al_fan]

That should help with oil sales

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1960647910468591778

 

[crimsonaudio]

Our insatiable demand for energy alleys governments with otherwise political piriahs. Fission until fusion.

The desire to 'go green' while ignoring the greenest energy source we have available - by far - is the height of insanity. Nuclear is THE answer.

 

[Tidewater]

The desire to 'go green' while ignoring the greenest energy source we have available - by far - is the height of insanity. Nuclear is THE answer.

At least in the short run.
The German ruling coalition included the Greens and that was their demand. Thoughtless, short-sighted, but that was what they demanded.

 

[crimsonaudio]

At least in the short run.
The German ruling coalition included the Greens and that was their demand. Thoughtless, short-sighted, but that was what they demanded.

For the forseeable future. It's literally the answer right now, and nothing on the near horizon comes close.

All the nuclear waste from power generation literally won't fill up one Olympic sized pool. The net yield is like NOTHING known to mankind.