I've seen a couple of folks on here lauding Putin. The man is just a (very small) step up from a gangster and his record on upholding democracy is appalling. I can't believe that anyone with a grasp on the facts would suggest Russia as a potential partner the way things are.That will be lost on @Pasty
Had any dealings with local authorities here lately? Lots of people in positions of power are appointees not elected. Yet all have a say on your planning application etc. One lady appointee planning officer cost us £50,000 by forcing us to pay a way over inflated price to their preferred contractor to put in 50 m of totally unnecessary footpath.I've seen a couple of folks on here lauding Putin. The man is just a (very small) step up from a gangster and his record on upholding democracy is appalling. I can't believe that anyone with a grasp on the facts would suggest Russia as a potential partner the way things are.
I'm not saying for a minute that the UK is perfect. But we are not yet a mafia state.Had any dealings with local authorities here lately? Lots of people in positions of power are appointees not elected. Yet all have a say on your planning application etc. One lady appointee planning officer cost us £50,000 by forcing us to pay a way over inflated price to their preferred contractor to put in 50 m of totally unnecessary footpath.
Want a connection to Northern PowerGrid? That'll be eleventy billion pounds and don't even think of questioning it?
Want to sell your grain? You will have to pay membership of RT and a host of other parasitic hangers on such as NRoSo, NSTS etc, everyone of them cartels or monopolies who have the job stitched up. UK supposed democracy is the iron fist in the velvet glove.
Oh? So the phone call from the RT Inspector and requirement to pay an annual fee of £245 is different to a Mafia protection racket in what way? Where is the alternative? What is the competition? The fact the RT inspector could be the son of the owner of a farming company that competes directly with my business in offering rents on FBT's is in what way different to a Mafia style organisation? He has absolute power to put me out of business by stopping me selling a ton of grain if he so desires. Where is the neutrality, the accountability? It stinks in my view. Rotten to the core. I have to pander to these people and pay them to ensure the survival of my business, even though there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the way I do things. Rotten to the core in my view.I'm not saying for a minute that the UK is perfect. But we are not yet a mafia state.
Well, for a start the RT man is unlikely to torch your steading or shoot you.Oh? So the phone call from the RT Inspector and requirement to pay an annual fee of £245 is different to a Mafia protection racket in what way? Where is the alternative? What is the competition? The fact the RT inspector happens to be the son of the owner of a farming company that competes directly with my business in offering rents on FBT's is in what way different to a Mafia style organisation? He has absolute power to put me out of business by stopping me selling a ton of grain if he so desires. Where is the neutrality, the accountability? It stinks in my view. Rotten to the core. I have to pander to these people and pay them to ensure the survival of my business, even though there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the way I do things. Rotten to the core in my view.
But stopping me selling any grain is as good as.Well, for a start the RT man is unlikely to torch your steading or shoot you.
PishBut stopping me selling any grain is as good as.
Same difference to me though isn't it. Can't sell grain, business finished, same as steading torched or being shot.Pish
Red Storm Rising. A great book by Tom Clancy.Todays The Times
Britain and Nato vow to stand by Ukraine as Russian troops mass at border
Larisa Brown, Defence Editor
Monday November 15 2021, 3.50pm, The Times
Ukraine
Russian forces carried out drills in Crimea in April
RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE VIA AP
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Britain remains “unwavering” in its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity amid a “concerning” build-up of Russian troops on its border, Boris Johnson’s spokesman has said.
Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of Nato, said the western alliance was standing by Ukraine as he described a “large and unusual” concentration of Russian forces on the country’s borders.
He called on Russia to be transparent about its military activities to reduce tensions in the region and prevent an escalation.
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Asked about the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders, Johnson’s spokesman said: “We are seeing a concerning situation at that border. We remain in unwavering support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and will continue to support them in the face of Russian hostility.”
Speaking after a meeting with Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, Stoltenberg said: “Nato remains vigilant. We are monitoring this situation very closely.
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“Any further provocation or aggressive actions by Russia would be of serious concern. We call on Russia to be transparent about its military activities.” He added that it was “important to prevent escalation and reduce tensions”.
The United States has been voicing increasing concern to allies over the recent Russian troop movements at the border with Ukraine.
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said last week it would be a “serious mistake for Russia to engage in a repeat of what it did in 2014”, when it seized Crimea from Kiev.
Germany’s foreign ministry today urged Moscow to exercise “restraint”.
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In spring Russia caused major alarm in Nato when it appeared to be looking to intervene in Ukraine with a huge build-up of troops at the border.
Ukrainian diplomats said last month they were worried that Russia could exploit the gas crisis to try to seize more territory.
Kuleba said the latest movements were a continuation of the pressure his country had faced.
“In Ukraine’s view, what we currently see along the border is not a purely military build-up, because Russia already brought a military armada to our borders in spring and has never really withdrawn it since,” he said.
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“What we see now is a deteriorating situation where Russia is demonstrating that it can quickly activate the already amassed troops and equipment and that every option, including the military one, is on the table for Russian leadership.”
Kuleba said that Kiev was looking to closely co-ordinate with its western allies to “take any measures which can help to deter Russia and to prevent the worst case scenarios”.
Ukraine remains locked in a festering conflict with Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country that started seven years ago.
A Russian analyst at Janes, the defence-intelligence company, said there had been “unusual” Russian troop movement in recent days, adding: “It looks like there’s a lot of footage showing more units further back in Russia being activated and loaded up on to trains. Obviously we don’t know where they are going until they start moving.
“It is worrying if they are heading west. Only time will tell.” Equipment belonging to the 1st Guards Tank Army has been spotted being unloaded in the city of Voronezh in southwestern Russia.
Units belonging to this army are usually stationed in and around Moscow so this is far outside of their normal area of operations. The equipment includes tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled artillery.
On Friday video examined by Janes showed the 34th Motorised Brigade (Mountain) loading armoured personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery on to trains near the unit’s base near the Caucasus mountains.
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Analysis of the carriage numbers indicated the trains were heading for the town of Kerch in Crimea, which is again outside their normal area of operations.
Subsequent video taken in the Krasnodar region suggested the unit may have brought air defence equipment with it. There were also sightings of tanks outside railway yards in Ekaterinburg, in Siberia.
“While it’s not clear where they are heading just yet the movement is out of sync with Russia’s normal training cycle”, the analyst said.
Ukraine
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Whatever. I'll go watch Love Island. I'm surprised you can get a cap big enough to fit your head.That will be lost on @Pasty
Yes,I expect " Lets go Brandon" to expediate matters !!!!So, with Boris and the leaders of the West declaring yesterday a threat to impose sanctions on Russia if he invades Ukraine again, will Putin use gas to counter the measures?
Gas has fallen, and would be vulnerable again to an upward price shock.
Only an idiot would start an invasion in mid winter in Ukraine end of Jan perhaps, the chinese would eat Russia alive far too many of them, even Putin isnt that bonkers, if he did and started to get his arse handed to him it would be interesting to see if the west would rescue him to stop chinaPutin won't care much about sanctions. He has the upper hand as Russia heats most of Europe. I recon invasion in the new year. Biden will likely of held the line regarding Ukraine and Nato membership, which will further enrage Putin. A winter offensive suits the commys and could allow for a second front in the spring with China and Taiwan. Put your faith in maniac dictators at your own peril me thinks.
He already hasHague always was a war hawk. He couldn’t wait to get into Libya and drop some bombs.
If we take the war to the Ukraine, Putin will take a dirty gorilla war to the Uk.