sburke

dang and they share the same telephone country code. They might want to ask for their own... Kazakhstan rejects Russia’s attempts to annex Ukrainian territory and calls for respecting sovereignty (msn.com)

What people? I haven't seen any significant signs of resistance. 2 nut cases going off doesn't qualify. Even the anti-mobilization protestors haven't shown any real support for Ukraine.

for those proposing fomenting a Russian armed resistance, forget that idea. This takes a lot of organizational commitment and a mass movement of support that you can hide in. Clearly the response to the "partial mobilization" shows there is nothing even close to a mass antiwar movement. In fact, there doesn't seem to be much of an antiwar movement at all, just a "leave me alone" movement. The likelihood of this accomplishing anything of significance hovers right around zero. Russians are gonna have to clean up their own house and the only way that will happen is if the West maintains a united stance that we don't do business with them till they meet certain terms, war crimes trials and reparations being only the first step. As a military threat Russia is done but as a potential source of continued turmoil - that is pretty much a given. As to the Russians fleeing, personally I'd close the borders. Tell them to go back and change their government and take responsibility for the mess they created. Those that harass Ukrainian refugees should be immediately deported back.

it is Tik Tok now old man.

No this is the training camp for new conscripts.

I have no idea, there really is a lot of pointless conjecture. For all we know NATO may be reaching out directly to China to let them know Putin has to be reined in. Suppose Xi gets on the phone and tells Putin, hey you use a nuke and our border is closed to Russia and Russian goods period, and we won't lift a finger to a NATO response. All I know is we can't accept backing down as backing down means he knows he can do it again. What kind of response NATO decides on is out of my realm of knowledge and likely anyone here as to NATO's full capabilities.

Because if we don't, we guarantee they will do so again. In fact, we incentivize them to do so again. There is no good logic NOT to do something.

I'd make these folks lives miserable as soon as they try and come home. Oh didn't you hear, we are doing random full body cavity checks for anyone who goes to Russia or Russian occupied Ukraine. Just follow that officer through the door on the left.

Really? We are back to the nuclear panic? Russia using nukes guarantees only one thing. Russia becomes a pariah state and we go way beyond sanctions. It may alter the timeline of Russian defeat but if anyone thinks Russia is somehow gonna hobble along after I’d think again.

one of the great things about digital music over vinyl is those annoying times when vinyl gets a scratch and starts skipping and repeating itself.

Best move I ever made.. I'll be toasting you shortly Huba as soon as I get this bottle open. Congrats

Listen carefully to everything the instructor... oh wait those guys are already at the front. Yeah, okay use the internet for training. Watch lots of Call of Duty videos, that will surely save you.

wait, does that mean you are getting married today or in about 15 hours she's gonna read that post and introduce you to a Russian window?

Ukrainian collaborators who sided with Russian occupation were given top jobs and fancy titles. Now they're being hunted down. (msn.com)

holy crap - that winery is where my wife and I had our wedding ceremony The Mountain Winery

personally I thought the lack of McDonald's fries was gonna be the ignition point. My problem is I keep expecting to see a reaction based on my own perspective and bias. Police cars getting hit with bottles and rocks, student strikes on campus... This is like a protest over having additives in your yogurt at the all-organic store.

ouch! “Russian diplomats flee almost as aptly as Russian soldiers,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said when he spoke after Lavrov’s departure.

yeah but not a good one.

my eyes! My eyes! Not even a warning @akd?

This one I am gonna have to say no way on. Armed insurrection against their own government eliminates their right to expect the same freedoms enjoyed by other Ukrainian citizens. They have crossed the line to sedition and criminal acts. How the Ukrainian gov't deals with this is their decision but I don't see an argument that these folks can just lay down their arms and immediately have all the same rights as the people who paid such an awful price for this war.

So you won't be applying for that passport? there is a $25 cancellation fee... payable in beer.

Defiant Russia Shows Up Late to UN, Walks Out Early (msn.com)

well, if you want to start getting into the weeds, how far does this right go? I want to secede from the US. Not my state, not my county.. just me. The Free state of sburke. If you'd like to apply for a passport, just send me the $50 fee plus some handling charges etc. You'll be met at the entrance to my drive by border control. We'll need at least several weeks to process your visa (mostly so we can tidy up). Seriously though a state has a right to establish some level of territorial integrity. If those folks want to live under a Russian gov't they are free to do so. The border is just over there. That isn't an option in prison. Prior to 2014 there was no discussion about secession as far as I know. This is entirely instigated by Russia and I believe Steve has previously posted on some of the key players and machinations to seize power there after Maidan. There was no vote, there was simply an armed seizure of power. Remember those little green men? While I do agree that Ukraine needs to decide what it feels is worth fighting for and what isn't, I don't think there is any legitimacy to a separation vote other than to legitimize Russian aggression.

Voices: Planned walkouts from Russia’s speech and the elephant in the room: Inside the UN General Assembly (msn.com)