To be worried about war

[Ciaram55]

The stand off between Russia and the west over Ukraine. I can't see either side backing down. I'm just so worried now. I know that worrying doesn't help but it seems to be a very tense time right now.

Surely at some point Putin will have to be seen to be back down and withdraw with his tail between his legs.

He also has to weigh up the very likely sanctions that Russia will face when his population is already struggling. Yet, he's not a man that like to lose face - he has been getting away with some very dodgy crap for a long time. He must believe that no one will stand up for Ukraine when push comes to shove, especially as countries like Germany rely on Russia for their gas.

It is worrying but there is literally nothing we can do about it so might as well just crack on with our lives.

This (not you but this sort of attitude) really concerns me. The media pushes absolutely nonsense at us and when something that our country is actually involved in and could be nation destabilizing comes along, people put their fingers in their ears and go 'la, la, la' but god forbid your neighbour forgets to put a mask on in public.

This is the sort of issue when it really matters who your government is. We are mired in so much drivel we cannot see what's important.

The Russian troops forming near the Ukraine border are not there for show. There are a lot of them. They want Russia to look good.
Russia is the country who sent troops to Salisbury to deliberately murder a couple of defectors and put at risk many other people as we know. So don't pretend Putin could be a friend of ours.
Bloomberg tv reporting that US families of their diplomats are being evacuated from Ukraine. (A short time ago)

@Enb76, Biden said there will be no serious sanctions. Germany has refused to deliver weapons to Ukraine neither will they allow their airbases or airspace to be used by NATO or British aircraft.

@Enb76

It is worrying but there is literally nothing we can do about it so might as well just crack on with our lives.

This (not you but this sort of attitude) really concerns me. The media pushes absolutely nonsense at us and when something that our country is actually involved in and could be nation destabilizing comes along, people put their fingers in their ears and go 'la, la, la' but god forbid your neighbour forgets to put a mask on in public.

This is the sort of issue when it really matters who your government is. We are mired in so much drivel we cannot see what's important.

So what should we be doing?

I may turn out to be very wrong on this occasion, but Putin does like to do this from time to time to get the world’s attention and as a way of displaying Russian military power. Though Russia spends a fair bit more than the US on their military, the country is barely in a good economic position to fund a war and faces many economic challenges post Covid. I’m desperately hoping this latest sabre-rattling exercise by Russia is just that.

This, plus if Russia does invade and go to war it will have to fund that war and wars are very, very expensive. If the gas supply to Europe is affected that will be millions and millions in lost revenue.

Anyone who grew up in the 70's and 80's has been here before several times so I'm hoping it does blow over

@Politics4Me

I have no words for Biden at the moment but I think he's focussing on China/Taiwan. There are a lot of things that worry me about the current political world stage including the doing fuck all about climate change. Covid has been a fabulous distraction allowing all sorts of things to go under the radar. We are given bread and circuses.

I remember a few years ago when people on here were doing their nut that North Korea was going to launch nuclear strikes and trigger WW3.

I've come round to the view that the people who would rather watch Netflix than the news are the sensible ones.

So what should we be doing?

Be interested in the world around us? Stop being mindless consumers? Hold our own governments to account? Hold our own media to account? They are doing a pretty good job of distracting us with unimportant crap.

Do you live on the Ukraine / Russia border? If you don’t then what are you worried about?

@AnEpisodeOfEastenders

Do you live on the Ukraine / Russia border? If you don’t then what are you worried about?

Because nato will defend Ukraine and Russia will retaliate against nato countries. 🤷🏻‍♀️ If nothing else im worried about Russia cutting off the gas supply to Europe which I guess they’re entitled to do.

There’s also been recent stories of Russian subs attempting to tamper with underwater communication cables to both Norway and the uk.

Daily Mail stories?

@AnEpisodeOfEastenders

Daily Mail stories?

I don’t read the daily Mail so I doubt it. Would have been The Times or possibly the Guardian.

Issues abroad do affect the uk you know. Did you never study origins of WW1 at school?

guardian

Who knows maybe it’s all sabre rattling political anti Russia bollocks and they have no interest in the cables. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I thought Boris was a Russian mole ?

This is all pretty low key compared to the 80s, when the USSR invaded Afghanistan and was on the brink of invading Poland. We all lived by "Protect and Survive" and could get that sticky tape over the school windows in record time.

If there is one thing we know from history, it's that the little people never stop wars happening.

@Enb76

So what should we be doing?

Be interested in the world around us? Stop being mindless consumers? Hold our own governments to account? Hold our own media to account? They are doing a pretty good job of distracting us with unimportant crap.

What times Strictly ?

A good piece on R4 atm

Finally, rather than the excruciating navel gazing of last week or so media frenzy

@Lockedoorsopen

They talk about it regularly on GB news, one of the presenters did a monologue on China the other day and I was a bit

Were you because a presenter gave a monologue on China, or because of the content of the monologue?

I thought Boris was a Russian mole

DGRosetti when you say you thought Boris was a Russian mole, so you mean he gave/gives information to Russia like Michael Foot did in the Soviet days?

@Andante57

I thought Boris was a Russian mole

DGRosetti when you say you thought Boris was a Russian mole, so you mean he gave/gives information to Russia like Michael Foot did in the Soviet days?

More that his actions appear far more beneficial to Russia than the UK at the moment. Seems a logical conclusion.

Not really sure what the point of mentioning Micheal Foot was ? He was never a Prime Minister so presumably the comparison was based on hairstyles ? Or does Boris read the Guardian too ?

More that his actions appear far more beneficial to Russia than the UK at the moment.

What, sending anti-tank weaponry to Ukraine? How does that benefit Russia exactly?

My son lives in Poland, I am very concerned. He isnt!

[quote Enb76]@Politics4Me

I have no words for Biden at the moment but I think he's focussing on China/Taiwan. There are a lot of things that worry me about the current political world stage including the doing fuck all about climate change. Covid has been a fabulous distraction allowing all sorts of things to go under the radar. We are given bread and circuses.[/quote]
100%

To set the record straight
Atlee Govt gave away the jet engine details to Soviets, Shipped some complete RR engines to Russia. Which they copied and put in MiG fighters for Korean War.
Denis Healy destroyed our TSR2 prototypes. Would not allow it to go ahead because it was so much better than anything the Soviets had. All drawings burned all jigs cut up.
Vindictive old commie.