BruceVC

https://news.yahoo.com/russias-victory-day-may-9-190200441.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall Tomorrow is a big day for Russia, May 9 and Victory Day Their is a view that Putin will officially declare " war " on Ukraine due to the numerous problems with the overall Russian military strategy So predictions? Will Putin announce changes to Putins War and troop deployment For me it doesnt really matter what he announces, either way the invasion will continue one way or another until Russia retreats or they are defeated militarily

I was joking, thats why I used the

Interesting but not surprising that Ukraine wasnt prepared because their was a well meaning, albeit pointless, attempt by the West to avoid a confrontation with Putin and they influenced Ukraine in certain ways to also not be confrontational. But as we now know Putin a warmonger and a liar and that mistake the West wont make again Im must say Im very disappointed with Spains lack of help towards Ukraine but its not a complete surprise

At least Codex is still going strong, lots of good RPG news and discussions on RPG their

Are you sure you dont hate W3 because its Polish? You mustnt be like that Lexx ....Poland is part of the EU Play W3 again with Mods for a better overall experience, Mods can fix those issues you mentioned

Absolutely, I agree except its not better than W3 ...but apart from that yes🐲

Thats interesting you not completely ideologically behind the Dems anymore If I had to explain my own political views based on the US definition of their politics I agree with things that both the left and right generally stand for at the moment. For example in summary The Democrats : I support LGBT rights, pro-choice and Obamacare but it must be optional for the states to sign-up. It cant be forced The Republicans : I support border and immigration control, I dont support things like defunding the police, I dont support "CRT " and other similar revisionist or selective history that I consider is " anti-white " and I dont support most socialist policies. But most important I dont support any attempt to make the US more isolationist or to end its important role in the funding of institutions like NATO and its historical and important friendship with the EU. What are your political views nowadays and how have they changed?

@Gorth if you have an interest please post that article for Gromnir to read, he blocks my posts so he wouldnt have seen it

So you suggesting until the US addresses inequality and poverty then the rising crime cant be meaningfully dealt with? Please dont take this the wrong way but if you make a career move dont become a politician or mayor in the US

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2022/04/san-francisco-los-angeles-da-recalls/629701/ Sadly not an expected outcome from how some of the Democratic controlled states have handled the outcomes of BLM and how they have pushed through " reforms " that have just increased crime rates in many places in the US To quote from the article " “It’s almost as if the summer of reckoning in 2020 has never happened,” says Lara Bazelon, a University of San Francisco law professor who serves on a commission Boudin established to review possibly wrongful earlier convictions by his office. “People are happy to be progressive and happy to be anti-racist as long as their bike doesn’t get stolen, or they don’t watch a viral video of a theft at Walgreens. Once that happens, or they feel vulnerable in some way, they throw out the high-minded ideals that made them vote for a reformer.” This type of comment is exactly the problem from this type of liberal perspective, they not interested in understanding the actual problem on the ground and are more about defunding the police and fixing " structural racism " irrespective if crime gets worse No one has ever suggested their shouldn't be accountability or consequence for any policeman that break the law or do what happened to George Floyd. But many people in states like California dont feel safe and I am not surprised if you consider the far left views of district attorneys that are supposed to address crime first and foremost @Gfted1 and @Guard Dog This was a concern we have discussed, now citizens have to deal with the outcomes and you will find most people just wont accept it. I expect to see more of these types of recalls in Democratic states where crime is on the increase ?

I can see from both yours and Gothfuscious posts how nuanced and complicated the question of " support for the EU " is What do you personally think about the EU, would you prefer it to dissolve ?

Okay, time will tell. I stand by the view that the EU is not going collapse and end up as separate countries and it less likely after the invasion of Ukraine But nothing is certain, the greatest risk to the EU is from right-wing and " anti-EU " parties like Le Penn However then its the will of the majority of people and if countries want to leave the EU then thats Democracy and I will accept it But you raise a good question, do people like the EU and want it to continue ? I wonder what our EU forum friends think about that @Elerond, @Azdeus @Pidesco @xzar_monty @Mamoulian War @bugarup@Chilloutman@213374U@Lexx@pmp10and others I may have forgotten What do you guys think, do you believe in the EU or would you prefer it to dissolve ?

https://news.yahoo.com/second-russian-warship-struck-ukraine-203251876.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall I have just seen this story again on Al-Jazeera this time, do we have any confirmation?

Yes it does but then the next stage is for Malc to into more detail by saying something like ..."these tasks include xxxx "

I dont make any assumptions anymore what people think about Putins War or their view on Putins role in making Russia a positive or negative member of the international community. Especially after reading 2133 post that one of the military objectives in the early stages of the invasion was not to occupy Kiev. Its clear we have very different views on the reality of the invasion so I would rather just ask Your concern about the sustainability of the EU raises some interesting points but I wouldnt be too concerned about those anymore because the invasion of Ukraine has united the EU in ways none of us could have predicted I guess it takes a threat to overall security and quality of life to change things ?

I would word it differently, rather say " "Provide support for internal clients to resolve critical tasks necessary to ensure projects are delivered on time, in scope and to meet business objectives "

Yes I know Democracy and Capitalism is unrelated but sustainable Capitalism requires governance and accountability which is part of any Constitutional Democracy I am also aware Russia is not a Communist country but it use to be and Putin comes from that era and so does his dislike and animosity towards the West But as I mentioned Putin resents what Democracy represents, he is an autocrat and you cant recreate the old Soviet borders if countries are part of the EU Just so Im clear, do you believe that Putin supports the EU and what it ideologically represents ?

Thats an interesting read and it confirms what another US veteran said on CNN about the reality of foreign fighters going to Ukraine. Dont expect to be well resourced and understand this is not a " normal " war that many foreign fighters are use to I can understand how he mentions " After a few weeks in Ukrainian territory, some of the most experienced Western soldiers ended up being recruited by the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate, and would now participate in special operations behind enemy lines, according to one of them " Thats the perfect role of foreign fighters in Ukraine I imagine ? But I recognize and salute the fact he still went to Ukraine to fight against the onslaught of Putins War Malc I will always respect someone who is prepared to die in the defense of the freedom of another country especially when they come from a nice, safe first world country like Canada. You have to admire that sort of belief and commitment to Democracy?

Putin definitely has an issue with the influence and strength of the West but its more about the principles of what Democracy and Capitalism represents. He considers it anathema because he blames Western ideology for what happened to Russia after the fall of the USSR and the era of Yeltsin and the Oligarchs. Putin as you know was also hardcore KPG so ideologically the West always use to be his enemy The EU represents a model of one of the best examples of Western ideology due to its economic advantages but its more than that. Its a union of different countries and some of these countries use to be Soviet states so its a constant reminder to anyone of the failure of Communism and Soviet ideology. Put yourself in the shoes of Putin who remembers the era of the USSR, how do you think he feels when you basically have every single East European country that couldnt wait to join the EU and many of them immediately joined NATO Then look at the countries aligned to Russia in the region like Belarus and Kazakhstan and ask yourself if you were an independent observer who would you think offers a better political and economic choice to align with? So of course Putin wants the EU to collapse because its a constant reminder of the failure of what he use to believe during the Cold War and nowadays its a reminder of a political and economic union that he cannot offer because he is an autocratic and Russia is not a Democracy An EU that dissolves is exactly what would suit him and Russia would still be benefitting economically because EU countries would still buy energy from Russia which he believes is enough to sustain the Russian economy So Mamie is correct, their has been a constant and concerted effort from Russia to weaken and undermine the EU for the reasons I mentioned. And the worst development for Putin would be more and more countries, like Ukraine, wanting to join the EU because as Democracy gets closer and closer to the borders of Russia it leads to more questioning and criticism about his autocratic system of government and Russian citizens wanting a political change and a better overall quality of life which only Democracy offers

This is very clever and makes a good point

I havent seen anything yet on international news channels thats its true

Wow, your daughter has an interest and inclination in plumbing? Thats a good story to hear, she clearly has her fathers genes around DIY ...maybe she can takeover your DIY tasks in the future

https://euroweeklynews.com/2022/05/06/russian-navy-warship-admiral-makarov-reportedly-sunk-by-ukrainian-missiles/ Another Russian warship may have been hit by Neptune missiles and is damaged\sinking

You should plan a surprise weekend to Vegas? Nothing demonstrates living like Vegas 🥳 I have mentioned this before but I have been fortunate enough to go their 3 times back in the days when American global software companies incentivized their partners by trips to Vegas. Due to cost cutting its not as common I loved Vegas, it was everything I thought it would be but more I wouldnt want to live their but to visit for 5-7 days is worth it

Great reads, especially https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/05/05/a-heart-to-heart-with-russias-elites-a77587 Interesting quote from the link The government's economic section has a special position today. Technocrats are in high demand because they are supposedly saving the economy from the endless stream of new sanctions. In actual fact, their task is hopeless. About 70% of goods manufactured in Russia have imported components, and it is impossible to replace them. There are endless meetings in the government, says a well-known financier and former high-ranking official. The director of a factory that makes Russian aircraft comes in. He’s got a problem: his engines are imported. He promises that he will build his own — if they give him money and lots of it. Then he can make it in two years — if he can make it. A financier tells me, "I haven’t met anyone [in the economic section of the federal government] who supports it [the war in Ukraine]. They all know it’s a catastrophe. But they are all trying to figure out how to comply.” "Where can I go?" says another top-ranking bureaucrat, also horrified by what is happening, and one of the few who is not yet under sanctions. "They won’t let me leave."