Russia invades Ukraine XV

[Go Bama]

Here is a sobering poem (prose) written by a Russian soldier.

Russian Poetry

I guess this is more prose than poetry, but war has a way of bringing out the creativity in those who serve. Some of them are lucid, and some of them know what is happening. After writing this, the author will pick up his gun and continue to fight, and that is what amazes me. He can say all of this, and yet it will never be reflected in his actions.

This comes from “Xmuroe Utro” on Telegram. “I wrote this long ago, but it remains relevant today. In the beginning, when we still believed them, they took away from us power, truth, idealism, a sense of security, hope for justice and a normal future. Later, we stopped believing, but they didn’t care anymore because they managed to get factories, newspapers, ships, mines, TV channels, fair elections, and changes of power. Over the years, while disbelief gave way to well-fed apathy, while we were dozing, they picked up gas, timber, oil, banks, land, water, and the sky. During a short-term disturbance, while we crowded and argued with each other, they managed to steal our protest, along with the hope of the possibility of victory and faith in the viability of our leaders. Then, during the years of hungry apathy, since they had already taken all other benefits, they began to rummage through our pockets in search of saved pennies and bread crumbs. Finding almost nothing there, out of anger, they broke the peace with Ukraine, a strong ruble, and spoiled the cheese. In return, they threw us chains and several clamps so we could spell out the word “ass.” And now they are in no hurry to stop — after all, they can still melt the fat from under our skin, scrape off the meager stubble, put the skin on drums, and feed the meat to the chained dogs. And then, they will take the chains and clamps away because they won’t be necessary any longer and take them to the scrap yard. We will no longer be needed or important to them. Not needed, not important, not dear, not dangerous, not warm, and not hot. We are nothing to them. And only the deathly silence, sunshine, portraits of the leaders, and our skeletons will remain.”

Combelick

 

[crimsonaudio]

Here is a sobering poem (prose) written by a Russian soldier.



Combelick

Easy to forget these russians being mauled in Ukraine are just like you and me, for the most part...

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Here is a sobering poem (prose) written by a Russian soldier.



Combelick

A slightly different spin on the allegory about standing up for others, even if they’re not like you. Fill in any minority or disliked group for the letters.

”They came for the As, and I said nothing because I’m not an A. They came for the Bs. I said nothing because I’m not a B. They came for the dissenters and I said nothing because I didn’t dissent. They came for the intellectuals and I said nothing because I never liked them anyway. Then they came for me, and there was no one left.”

 

[Tidewater]

A slightly different spin on the allegory about standing up for others, even if they’re not like you. Fill in any minority or disliked group for the letters.

”They came for the As, and I said nothing because I’m not an A. They came for the Bs. I said nothing because I’m not a B. They came for the dissenters and I said nothing because I didn’t dissent. They came for the intellectuals and I said nothing because I never liked them anyway. Then they came for me, and there was no one left.”

When the imperial government comes to you and says, "Let's invade and conquer the breakaway region and force them back into the empire against their will," and you respond, "Oh well, patriotic duty; they're evil anyway. Sure, I'm in," you are complicit in the evil.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

Trump was impeached for trying to shake down Ukraine when they first needed our help.
And now he’s trying to kill any more funding for Ukraine.

Maybe his nickname, “Putin’s puppet“ will have a revival. It really suits him.

 

[UAH]

Trump was impeached for trying to shake down Ukraine when they first needed our help.
And now he’s trying to kill any more funding for Ukraine.

Maybe his nickname, “Putin’s puppet“ will have a revival. It really suits him.

Heaven protect us from Trump and his fools. The entire free world fears the coronation of a "putin puppet" in charge of the military power of the US. It is practically impossible to estimate the political and economic upheaval to come if he is allowed in office.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

The Russians have "adjusted" the conditions for recruited convicts. They now get a one-year contract, rather than six months, which will be extended automatically until they get a state decoration, age out, or the war ends. They no longer get a full pardon. They get a conditional release and, if they are convicted of another crime, the prior sentence is added on to the current one...

 

[Padreruf]

The Russians have "adjusted" the conditions for recruited convicts. They now get a one-year contract, rather than six months, which will be extended automatically until they get a state decoration, age out, or the war ends. They no longer get a full pardon. They get a conditional release and, if they are convicted of another crime, the prior sentence is added on to the current one...

This must be Putin's answer to "The Dirty Dozen!"

 

[Tidewater]

The Russians have "adjusted" the conditions for recruited convicts. They now get a one-year contract, rather than six months, which will be extended automatically until they get a state decoration, age out, or the war ends. They no longer get a full pardon. They get a conditional release and, if they are convicted of another crime, the prior sentence is added on to the current one...

Plus, prison wardens use, shall we say, "creative" techniques to get these guys to sign up.
This change is due to convicts going home and having a relapse.
Russia Faces Spike in Crime and Alcoholism as War Nears Two-Year Mark

This war, it turns out, is not such a great policy.

 

[crimsonaudio]

This seems significant.

 

[Tidewater]

This seems significant.

View attachment 40748

Zaluzhny had said publicly that the war was unwinnable.
By conventional military means, I believe Zaluzhny is correct. Maybe if Ukraine could sponsor a general uprising among the Russian population, or get an oligarch to shoot the Boss, but absent those two, Ukraine is looking at a frozen conflict.
Zalensky is loath to call it quits, however, so Zaluzhny must be thrown overboard.
I understand both men's position.

 

[JDCrimson]

It may be true but it is something you dont say publicly...

Zaluzhny had said publicly that the war was unwinnable.
By conventional military means, I believe Zaluzhny is correct. Maybe if Ukraine could sponsor a general uprising among the Russian population, or get an oligarch to shoot the Boss, but absent those two, Ukraine is looking at a frozen conflict.
Zalensky is loath to call it quits, however, so Zaluzhny must be thrown overboard.
I understand both men's position.

 

[Tidewater]

It may be true but it is something you dont say publicly...

I would agree. MacArthur and Truman comes to mind.
At the very least, if you publicly say something like that, you should expect to get sacked.

 

[Tidewater]

The Zaluzhny-Zalensky clash is an interesting case study in pol-mil relations.
If Zaluzhny's professional opinion is that Ukraine will not be able to push the Russians out of occupied territory, then it becomes obvious that the head of state has to come to some accommodation with the Kremlin, as repugnant as that is. The alternative is to have a bunch of Ukrainians die in a hopeless cause, and then, years down the road, come to the same accommodation. I think you have to tell the head of state as much behind closed doors. If the head of state says, "Get back out there and continue to fight," then the military man has three options: resign and keep you mouth shut (and know that Ukrainians will die pointlessly), keep you job and keep fighting knowing success is impossible (and knowing that Ukrainians will die pointlessly), or go public, knowing that going public will result in you being sacked. I believe Zaluzhny chose option 3.

 

[JDCrimson]

I think Zelensky is wanting to holdout until our election is over. I think he is hoping with a Biden win that military aid can be revived. Big if, but if Ukraine received enough of the right weaponry, they could slaughter enough Russians and drive a wedge in their occupation.

 

[Bodhisattva]

Question for those who know much more detail about military aid to Ukraine than I do. How much US (and EU) arms and equipment is Ukraine buying? I've done two stints in Foreign Military Sales - with the Army and Air Force - and we sell near-top-of-the line stuff to our allies. So, I'm curious what the ratio is on how much Ukraine is buying compared to how much they are being given (be it from stockpiles of existing widgets or aid to procure new widgets). If the charity dries up, is Ukraine willing to defend their country by increasing their spending to make up the difference?

 

[CrimsonJazz]

Is anybody else interested in the interview of Putin by Carlson? I'm waiting on a written transcript, but I've seen bits and bobs here and there and I have to say: Putin scares me more than I thought. Yes, he's a murderous dictator, but good lord is he smart. I try to image either Biden or Trump trying to match wits with this guy and my terror increases ten-fold.

 

[Tidewater]

Is anybody else interested in the interview of Putin by Carlson? I'm waiting on a written transcript, but I've seen bits and bobs here and there and I have to say: Putin scares me more than I thought. Yes, he's a murderous dictator, but good lord is he smart. I try to image either Biden or Trump trying to match wits with this guy and my terror increases ten-fold.

I listened to the entire two hours.
When asked why he invaded Ukraine, he started a 30 minute lecture on Russian history going back to 983, and taking a little detour in 1644, and basically argued, "We used to own that place so it is ours." ["Mr. Putin, the Mongols are on line 1."]
Later he said that Russia is a great power and great powers can do what they want and little countries have to accommodate.
Bottom line, nothing he has not said before.
He did say he is willing to negotiate with Zelensky, but Zelensky had issued a decree making it illegal to negotiate with Russia.
One surprising thing was that Putin had negotiated some deal with a Ukrainian politicians, then Boris Johnson came in and ordered the Ukrainians to tear up the deal. Not sure when that was supposed to have happened.

Carlson pushed him (to the point of visibly annoying Putin) about the American journalist in a Russian prison, but in the end, Putin said, "secret services are negotiating behind the scenes and we have to let the process unfold."

 

[crimsonaudio]

Is anybody else interested in the interview of Putin by Carlson?

Somewhat interested but not enough to invest two hours, so I'm thankful for those that are and have the willingness to sum it up.

 

[TexasBama]

I listened to the entire two hours.
When asked why he invaded Ukraine, he started a 30 minute lecture on Russian history going back to 983, and taking a little detour in 1644, and basically argued, "We used to own that place so it is ours." ["Mr. Putin, the Mongols are on line 1."]
Later he said that Russia is a great power and great powers can do what they want and little countries have to accommodate.
Bottom line, nothing he has not said before.
He did say he is willing to negotiate with Zelensky, but Zelensky had issued a decree making it illegal to negotiate with Russia.
One surprising thing was that Putin had negotiated some deal with a Ukrainian politicians, then Boris Johnson came in and ordered the Ukrainians to tear up the deal. Not sure when that was supposed to have happened.

Carlson pushed him (to the point of visibly annoying Putin) about the American journalist in a Russian prison, but in the end, Putin said, "secret services are negotiating behind the scenes and we have to let the process unfold."

So, nothing new? Sounds like the same stuff he and/or his lackeys have peddled since the invasion.
"Наступление России и нового мира"