O/T:- Ukraine [Incorporating 'Congrats to Russia' thread]

[drillerpie]

And still the United Nations and its Security Council can only wring their hands in fear of upsetting China or escalating into a nuclear war.

Tomorrow will see the fake democratic choice of parts of Ukraine voting to become Russian. This means that Putin can declare any future attack a cause for a tactical nuclear response.

As you say Putin and his anachronistic chronies are gangsters doing what Russia has always done in my lifetime, invade neighboring countries.

1948 Czechoslovakia
1951 Yugoslavia
1958 Hungary
1978 Afghanistan

plus countless others, taking action in the knowledge that the West would not wish to intervene.

Churchill was not far wrong in thinking:


USSR/Soviet Union/Russia has bred a criminal thug and a criminal empire. Fortunately the criminals have no honour and that is showing in the pathetic army and equipment they have built up.

Well the Security Council can't realistically do anything seeing as Russia and China are permanent members with a veto.

China is hedging its bets that by respecting sanctions but giving support and 'permission' to Russia to try and overthrow the post WW2 world order.

They can't lose either way. If Russia wins that strengthens their no limits partnership either Russia. If Russia loses they'll take advantage of its weaknesses to get cheap raw materials and investment opportunities in Russia's devastated economy.

The only way China loses is if it drags on in a stalemate for years, causing an economic downturn in the west which in turn means we import fewer Chinese goods. That's probably the reason why we're seeing Russian conscription shortly after the Russia/China summit in Uzbekistan. The Chinese have probably given Russia an ultimatum and a timeline to get it done or risk losing their support.

[LaxtonLad]

Well the Security Council can't realistically do anything seeing as Russia and China are permanent members with a veto.

China is hedging its bets that by respecting sanctions but giving support and 'permission' to Russia to try and overthrow the post WW2 world order.

They can't lose either way. If Russia wins that strengthens their no limits partnership either Russia. If Russia loses they'll take advantage of its weaknesses to get cheap raw materials and investment opportunities in Russia's devastated economy.

The only way China loses is if it drags on in a stalemate for years, causing an economic downturn in the west which in turn means we import fewer Chinese goods. That's probably the reason why we're seeing Russian conscription shortly after the Russia/China summit in Uzbekistan. The Chinese have probably given Russia an ultimatum and a timeline to get it done or risk losing their support.

China might be rather busy right now sorting out this mess with Taiwan now that the good 'ole USA has started rattling it's sabre in it's imagined role as the world's police. Taiwan, though, just might turn out to be the sacrificial pawn if it means China doesn't side with Putin. It wouldn't be the first time an Asian country has bested the supposedly 'Greatest Country in the World', diplomatically and tactically.

[Old_pie]

Well the Security Council can't realistically do anything seeing as Russia and China are permanent members with a veto.

Exactly and thus the system allows a member to act with impunity from the rest of the Security Council. I don't know the answer but that setup is as dated as the Soviet Union and needs some tweaking at least.