Renton

Might add, Russia has huge resources of fossil fuels, which in 2 years he now can't sell to Europe.

You're underthinking it imo. Ukraine has none of these resources. It has a lot of agriculture. Do you think that is worth it? He's empire building, trying to bring back the USSR. Trying to deny Ukraine's right to autonomy. Its that simple.

1Anybody watching House of Dragon? Lots of tits, arses and gore in the opening episode, promising start. I was trying to work out the Targaryen family tree but as this is set 180 years before dragon tits and Jon guess there is no real connection? So just treating it as a separate programme.

NATO is a defence mechanism and was no threat to anyone. Putin's shown it was needed. Russia and Putin had a choice. They could have developed close ties with the west and become a functioning democracy. In time they would have been exceptionally rich and powerful in that framework with their resources and population. Instead they have become an authoritarian fascist state intent on empire building and allying themselves with China. Fuck them. Having said that, the West should have been much more welcoming when the soviet union fell. Bush repeated the mistakes of WW1 and punished Russia, leaving it to its own devices whilst it transitioned and opening the door to the oligarchs. Things could have been very different early on, but there was always an inevitability once Putin took charge.

Why did we start training their soldiers and supplying arms after Russia INVADED and annexed the Crimea, and de facto did this on the Eastern border? I mean, haven't you answered your own question. As for Putin's other incursions, of course the west is going to react differently to a nation being invaded when that nation borders central Europe, NATO countries, and the EU. What did you want the west to do about Russia's involvement in Syria and Georgia? It was condemned at the time, but I can't see how we could intervene without worsening things. There is one aggressor here, Putin, simple as that. Again I couldn't recommend that Netflix documentary highly enough. If you watch it, you'll see its an independent assessment of the EUs and Russias roles in the war. Also I'd recommend Arthur Snell's Doomsday podcast where he gets lots of experts on. It's very measured. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doomsday-watch-with-arthur-snell/id1593634121

This is mainly horse shit. I highly recommend watching Winter on Fire on Netflix which explains the origin of the war and is extremely moving. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4908644/ The war arose because Ukraine's democratic right to join the EU was blocked by its authoritarian leadership. Nowt to do with the US, who at the time were fairly ambivalent to the EU, and hostile to it a bit later under Trump. Nowt to do with NATO. I'd make an educated guess your mate is a Brexiter. Regardless, justifying Putins actions like this, and that's what it is, is canny appalling. Ukraine's fault, victim blaming.

Aye, a bigger piece of a smaller pie. Also obviously less money for everything else.

Tactical nuke time?

And don't forget the Bong!

Does seem apt. If we were so wonderful, why did all the colonies want independence? As for taught history, I find the number of people who are completely ignorant about Ireland absolutely staggering. And therefore don't understand the Brexit issues. Remember Karen Bradley who just had no clue on the sectarian nature of NI? But I can't remember being taught anything about it either, you have to proactively look this stuff up yourself.

Aye. I think it demonstrated the power of the press in a frightening way. Also think people are forgetting how bad it was, it was fucking mental.

It was somewhat shocking, but the reaction was not normal for most countries. There was hysteria, very reminiscent of Eva Peron in Argentina. Is there anybody in countries like France, Germany the US (excepting Trump, US probably not a good example anyway as they are also nuts) who would trigger such a reaction? IMO there's something weird about the psyche of this country. Obsessed with royalty, old wars, empire. I try to understand the people wailing cos the queen died, but I really struggle. Diana was the same.

There's nothing on there to stop me running in my planned outfit, thank God.

Nee fucking red arrows? Fuck this.

It is a bizarre argument. It's clear to me now we don't live in a free democracy now. We are neither free or democratic. And it's getting to the stage I can't say this in public.

Oh fuck, somebody better delete this entire thread now!

Aye, what would happen if King Charles offed someone?

What can I say, as unfashionable as it is, I liked his music as a kid and was sad when he died. Especially as it was from AIDS so his life was cut short. Politics didn't come into it (Queen not boycotting South Africa is even more egregious I think). Was also upset as a young kid when Lennon died, I still get upset thinking about that tragic waste.

Didn't know that.

Yeah, Bobby Robson, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie for me. Felt sad, even she'd a tear for Bowie (probably the onset of a midlife crisis tbh), then just got on with it. It is very odd, but it is ingrained. Diana was just as bad.

Is he still based in Playa del Ingles? @Monkeys Fist, I wholly recommend the first 30 seconds of this.

Thr Sun I think, mayb NotW. The context here he was cheating on Di, the people's princess. They were on her side and had a hate campaign against Charles. Of course phone tapping is disgusting, and was revealed for what it was in the Millie Dowler case. The press really are scum, yet they have a huge impact on our country.

Constitutionally you're a subject. See, this is another thing, people argue that she is just a figure head. Fair enough. Then why the fuck are we going on like this? Did anyone act like this even when their own grandparent died. I find it bizarre.

Of course both him and Camilla were married to other people at the time. Nice moral behaviour.