Threats to prevent Russian athletes from competing.

[Trausti]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

 

[Patooka]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it.

[removed] People who thought Trump did nothing wrong for the years he enabled Putin forfeit the right to opine on this. Who helped create these current events is vitally important as it shows where the obstruction and appeasement comes from that prevents fixing it.

No diplomacy.

[removed] There has never been a more collaborative effort in history than there currently is against Putin. Russia is currently under more sanctions than North Korea. Also, the US isn't considered a laughing stock anymore and NATO has more relevance than it has been for a long time. Simply put, you don't have a clue what the word diplomacy means.

Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives.

[removed] Everything that is happening is a response to Putin's fascistic fantasies. Are you really so naive as to believe he would have stopped with just occupying Ukraine?

And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

[removed] If you were even remotely concern about global sustenance, you'd be worried about the levels of Western meat consumption. Instead, all you've done is post memes about AOCs green new deal.

 

[TomC]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

I think a big part of this is that Putin got his wish, back when he was supporting Trump. A relatively weak USA, divided against itself.
Putin was brilliant in that regard.
Tom

 

[Trausti]

People who thought Trump did nothing wrong for the years he enabled Putin forfeit the right to opine on this. Who helped create these current events is vitally important as it shows where the obstruction and appeasement comes from that prevents fixing it.

Are you really incapable of discussing a topic without mentioning Trump?

 

[Trausti]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

I think a big part of this is that Putin got his wish, back when he was supporting Trump. A relatively weak USA, divided against itself.
Putin was brilliant in that regard.
Tom

Uh, you really think the US is strong now? World leaders literally ignore Biden's phone calls. But the most apparent sign of weakness is the complete absence of diplomacy from the US. Our big stick is gone. People around here claim to care about Ukrainians. If they really did, they'd want to end the war not use Ukrainian bodies as fodder in a proxy war with Russia.

 

[Harry Bosch]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

I think a big part of this is that Putin got his wish, back when he was supporting Trump. A relatively weak USA, divided against itself.
Putin was brilliant in that regard.
Tom

Uh, you really think the US is strong now? World leaders literally ignore Biden's phone calls. But the most apparent sign of weakness is the complete absence of diplomacy from the US. Our big stick is gone. People around here claim to care about Ukrainians. If they really did, they'd want to end the war not use Ukrainian bodies as fodder in a proxy war with Russia.

Europe and the US are very united right now. The most that I've seen. And what is there to discuss with Russia? Russia wants to conquer all of Ukraine and kill it's people, destroy its sovereignty. We disagree. What possible diplomacy is possible regarding this situation?

 

[bilby]

World leaders literally ignore Biden's phone calls.

Really? Which world leaders?

 

[TomC]

Uh, you really think the US is strong now?

Oh no.
The divisiveness started even before Trump. But he ramped it up hugely. And he's continuing to do it.

Also completely bungling covid response. But that's a separate Trump mess.
Tom

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

Diplomacy only works if both sides want it to.

Russia isn't willing to accept a peace that doesn't munch on Ukraine. Ukraine knows any such "peace" isn't peace, just a pause until the next munching and obviously will not accept. They're bloodying Russia badly enough that it looks like they can enforce their will, also--perhaps even reclaim what Russia stole in 2014.

 

[TSwizzle]

People around here claim to care about Ukrainians. If they really did, they'd want to end the war not use Ukrainian bodies as fodder in a proxy war with Russia.

It has a similarity to the USSR invasion of Afghanistan.

 

[Trausti]

World leaders literally ignore Biden's phone calls.

Really? Which world leaders?

Saudi Arabia and UAE leaders ‘decline calls with Biden’ amid fears of oil price spike

The Gulf nations have capacity to pump more oil to ease supply fears but relations with the US have chilled during Biden administration

www.theguardian.com

Biden's call to Macron goes unanswered on election night

Newly re-elected French President Emmanuel Macron did not take a phone call from President Biden on Sunday night, leaving Biden to converse with Macron's staff and wait until the next day.

news.yahoo.com

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/03/23/russia-us-military-leaders-communication/

When Trump called, people answered.

 

[Trausti]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

Diplomacy only works if both sides want it to.

Russia isn't willing to accept a peace that doesn't munch on Ukraine. Ukraine knows any such "peace" isn't peace, just a pause until the next munching and obviously will not accept. They're bloodying Russia badly enough that it looks like they can enforce their will, also--perhaps even reclaim what Russia stole in 2014.

It doesn't make sense to continue the bloodshed for one man. We need to give him a golden bridge; a path where he can save face. But we're not even trying.

 

[bilby]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

Diplomacy only works if both sides want it to.

Russia isn't willing to accept a peace that doesn't munch on Ukraine. Ukraine knows any such "peace" isn't peace, just a pause until the next munching and obviously will not accept. They're bloodying Russia badly enough that it looks like they can enforce their will, also--perhaps even reclaim what Russia stole in 2014.

It doesn't make sense to continue the bloodshed for one man. We need to give him a golden bridge; a path where he can save face. But we're not even trying.

We need someone to give him a bullet in the brain.

If one man is responsible for all this, and removing him would make it stop, then it's the moral duty of anyone who gets close enough to him to shoot the bastard in the face, not to help him save face.

 

[Trausti]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

Diplomacy only works if both sides want it to.

Russia isn't willing to accept a peace that doesn't munch on Ukraine. Ukraine knows any such "peace" isn't peace, just a pause until the next munching and obviously will not accept. They're bloodying Russia badly enough that it looks like they can enforce their will, also--perhaps even reclaim what Russia stole in 2014.

It doesn't make sense to continue the bloodshed for one man. We need to give him a golden bridge; a path where he can save face. But we're not even trying.

We need someone to give him a bullet in the brain.

If one man is responsible for all this, and removing him would make it stop, then it's the moral duty of anyone who gets close enough to him to shoot the bastard in the face, not to help him save face.

Ah, so we've got the tried and true neocon doctrine of regime change.

 

[blastula]

Putin and his defenders are the neocond in this situation.

 

[bilby]

Whoever started it there’s an absence of American leadership to try to end it. No diplomacy. Instead, we’re getting a proxy war against Russia which could be unending and cost thousands of more lives. And then there’s the issue of Ukrainian being the breadbasket to the world.

Diplomacy only works if both sides want it to.

Russia isn't willing to accept a peace that doesn't munch on Ukraine. Ukraine knows any such "peace" isn't peace, just a pause until the next munching and obviously will not accept. They're bloodying Russia badly enough that it looks like they can enforce their will, also--perhaps even reclaim what Russia stole in 2014.

It doesn't make sense to continue the bloodshed for one man. We need to give him a golden bridge; a path where he can save face. But we're not even trying.

We need someone to give him a bullet in the brain.

If one man is responsible for all this, and removing him would make it stop, then it's the moral duty of anyone who gets close enough to him to shoot the bastard in the face, not to help him save face.

Ah, so we've got the tried and true neocon doctrine of regime change.

One man is not a 'regime'.

 

[Harry Bosch]

The world track championships are being held in Eugene this week. Ukranian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh is projected to win. Interesting story on her:

Ukraine on her mind as high jumper goes for gold at worlds

She had quite a journey to leave a country being attacked to attend the meet. Her main competitor is Russian athlete Maria Lasitskene who is not allowed to compete due to the war. Maria is not happy that she is unable to attend:

Russian champion bashes Bach, shows sympathy for Ukrainians

Olympic champion high jumper Maria Lasitskene, likely to be banned from defending her three straight world titles next month, lashed out at the leaders of the IOC and World Athletics, and expressed sympathy for her Ukrainian competitors in a heartfelt open letter distributed Thursday.

apnews.com

Maria made an interesting point that not allowing the Russians to compete is the opposite of the true purpose of international competition of uniting the world in peaceful competition. I actually agree with her. I'd ban the piece of shit Ivan Kuliak who proudly wore the Z during a competition. Any person who celebrates the killing of civilians is a piece of shit. But I'm not sure that I'd not invite Maria to competition. Will be difficult choice of what to do in the 24 Olympics. Although maybe if the war is continuing even in 2024, that the world doesn't deserve an Olympics.

 

[TomC]

Lasitskene’s open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach criticizes his recommendation to ban Russian athletes as a way of protecting them from possible backlash at worldwide events. She argued that keeping Russians out of sports did not stop the war, “but on the contrary, it gave birth to a new one, around and inside the sports, which is impossible to contain.”

I totally understand why Olympic level athletes hate being made pawns in geopolitical crap.

But where's the open letter to the folks who created this particular issue? Where's the message to Putin & Co? Maybe it's out there, but only in Russian. I dunno.

And I'm well aware that my own country, USA, has done similarly horrible things in the very recent past.

Complaining that, as a Russian, she is being treated differently from a Ukrainian, to an English speaking audience, is kinda self centered and useless. Complain to the world about Putin before griping about the IOC.
Tom

 

[Harry Bosch]

Lasitskene’s open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach criticizes his recommendation to ban Russian athletes as a way of protecting them from possible backlash at worldwide events. She argued that keeping Russians out of sports did not stop the war, “but on the contrary, it gave birth to a new one, around and inside the sports, which is impossible to contain.”

I totally understand why Olympic level athletes hate being made pawns in geopolitical crap.

But where's the open letter to the folks who created this particular issue? Where's the message to Putin & Co? Maybe it's out there, but only in Russian. I dunno.

And I'm well aware that my own country, USA, has done similarly horrible things in the very recent past.

Complaining that, as a Russian, she is being treated differently from a Ukrainian, to an English speaking audience, is kinda self centered and useless. Complain to the world about Putin before griping about the IOC.
Tom

I don't disagree with you. However, I do think that if Lasitsyene were to complain about Putin that she'd be thrown in jail.

 

[TomC]

I don't disagree with you. However, I do think that if Lasitsyene were to complain about Putin that she'd be thrown in jail.

OK.
I sorta understand that.

I don't think it's entirely true. She's got a global following. She can get away with a lot more than some Moscovite just trying to feed their kids. She could become a resident of France or China or somewhere in a way that most Russians can't.

Don't get me wrong. She's between a rock and a hard place. But she's choosing that in a way that most people in the planet cannot. And she's griping about it.
Tom