Russia - General Discussion.

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John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Agree on all points.

What a circus though. I was catching myself falling out of the chair while they were all clapping. You would think someone would clue in, especially Rota himself as he read “fought against the Russians” and “Canadian hero”. Not sure if it could be any more dumb, lol.

Maybe a good thing it happened though. Like Feanor, for example, said he assumed it was done purposefully. Not sure if it is said, humiliating, or both. Maybe this will clear the air up a bit. Though many corners of the world only read selective reporting, so… And the Russians are probably having a run with it, I would assume.
History was likely not his strong point, especially Eastern Europe history and he isn’t alone. Probably even worse for people younger than Rota. Long term pollies have good handlers who know stuff.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Agree on all points.

What a circus though. I was catching myself falling out of the chair while they were all clapping. You would think someone would clue in, especially Rota himself as he read “fought against the Russians” and “Canadian hero”. Not sure if it could be any more dumb, lol.

Maybe a good thing it happened though. Like Feanor, for example, said he assumed it was done purposefully. Not sure if it is said, humiliating, or both. Maybe this will clear the air up a bit. Though many corners of the world only read selective reporting, so… And the Russians are probably having a run with it, I would assume.
Oh yes, the Russian media and social media line is: look at those two-faced western pseudo-democracies applauding a Waffen-SS veteran. Absolute field day, realistically out of all proportion, but what do you expect?
 

Arji

Active Member
History was likely not his strong point, especially Eastern Europe history and he isn’t alone. Probably even worse for people younger than Rota. Long term pollies have good handlers who know stuff.
He doesn't have to be historian, but I would think there's an understanding of Axis = bad guys, Allies = good guys. Russia is in the Allies in WW2, therefore... etc. It's basic stuff.

I'm sure it wasn't his idea to pick this person specifically. He and his staff probably come up with the idea of "Let's invite a Ukrainean veteran for when Zelensky visit.", then leave the details to his underlings. How did NONE of his underlings catch this or raised any concerns? Then again, maybe they did and it's simply ignored. The more you think about this monumental error, the funnier it gets.

Obviously, I don't think it's anything malicious. I just think it's a screw-up.
 
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Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
He doesn't have to be historian, but I would think there's an understanding of Axis = bad guys, Allies = good guys. Russia is in the Allies in WW2, therefore... etc. It's basic stuff.

I'm sure it wasn't his idea to pick this person specifically. He and his staff probably come up with the idea of "Let's invite a Ukrainean veteran for when Zelensky visit.", then leave the details to his underlings. How did NONE of his underlings catch this or raised any concerns? Then again, maybe they did and it's simply ignored. The more you think about this monumental error, the funnier it gets.

Obviously, I don't think it's anything malicious. I just think it's a fuck-up.
Yes i think it is indeed a "lets show the world that this is a we the good guys against Evil Russia" moment and then they rush it to organize such act.

Btw...no F-words please...
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group

Now Poland wants Canada to exterdite this 98 years Ukrainian hero. C Drama that aim to please U drama, now being answered by P Drama. Real recipe for Soap Opera. On the other side of isle the R Drama will have good laugh on this.



This is been taken by more than one media. Soap opera contagion.
 
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KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
History was likely not his strong point, especially Eastern Europe history and he isn’t alone. Probably even worse for people younger than Rota. Long term pollies have good handlers who know stuff.
While I agree with this point and others saying it was an unintentional “blunder” and so on, I just can’t believe it actually happened. I don’t think I can express my feelings in any coherent way.

There was at least one politician on the floor who must have all kinds of lights going on in her mind when the Speaker was talking. I take it as a given that she didn’t participate and was not asked about what was to come. You well know the lady behind Justin:



For those who do not, she is our Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland. She is a very smart lady. I am not going to go on the trip here writing an essay, but just copy and paste the following from Wikipedia:

Born in Peace River, Alberta, Freeland completed a bachelor's degree at Harvard University, studying Russian history and literature before earning a master's degree in Slavonic studies from the University of Oxford.

I just don’t see how she wouldn’t have been catching on as the Speaker spoke. Like I said, all kinds of lights must have been turning on in that mind and I just don’t see how they wouldn’t. However, look at that big happy smile as she is giving a standing ovation to the old man. I have been thinking about it for a good part of the day. Humiliating to no end. There is no excuse.

The best I can come up with is two stood up and clapped, then another, and another. Eventually, like a bunch of sheep, they all did (only took seconds, of course, if that). Mob mentality what they call it. I don’t know how else to explain it.

Side note, I wonder if Zelensky’s ancestors have turned in their graves when he was cheering on.


Oh yes, the Russian media and social media line is: look at those two-faced western pseudo-democracies applauding a Waffen-SS veteran. Absolute field day, realistically out of all proportion, but what do you expect?
Nothing less, to be honest. Kommersant seemed decent though (but usually is). I only read the headlines in other outlets. At least this one was well deserved, imo.

My Russian friend I mentioned a couple of times earlier usually sends me a “quirky” text when something happens in Canada that he considers to be bizarre, funny, etc. I was expecting him to send me one for a while now and even prepared a worthy (in my opinion) reply (for Feanor because he would probably understand, the reply would be a Lavrov’s “Дебилы, блять” meme). He never did send me a text. I then realized that he probably thought it would be a low blow. Pretty depressing, actually.

Anyway… I guess I should provide sources. Freeland’s Wikipedia page: Chrystia Freeland - Wikipedia
And the photo was borrowed from a Politico article on the subject: Nazi-linked veteran received ovation during Zelenskyy’s Canada visit
 

KipPotapych

Well-Known Member

Now Poland wants Canada to exterdite this 98 years Ukrainian hero. C Drama that aim to please U drama, now being answered by P Drama. Real recipe for Soap Opera. On the other side of isle the R Drama will have good laugh on this.



This is been taken by more than one media. Soap opera contagion.
Poles are in the election mode.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
He doesn't have to be historian, but I would think there's an understanding of Axis = bad guys, Allies = good guys. Russia is in the Allies in WW2, therefore... etc. It's basic stuff.

I'm sure it wasn't his idea to pick this person specifically. He and his staff probably come up with the idea of "Let's invite a Ukrainean veteran for when Zelensky visit.", then leave the details to his underlings. How did NONE of his underlings catch this or raised any concerns? Then again, maybe they did and it's simply ignored. The more you think about this monumental error, the funnier it gets.

Obviously, I don't think it's anything malicious. I just think it's a screw-up.
NONE of his underlings….that’s why I mentioned “good handlers”. Rota’s underlings were not good.
 

Vivendi

Well-Known Member
Interesting write-up about how Russian authorities produced books and movies to lay the foundation for future wars in Ukraine, Georgia, and possibly even the West. Well worth a read.

The Russian empire lost quite a lot when the USSR dissolved; as Putin himself said, it was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century, and furthermore:

“As for the Russian people, it became a genuine tragedy. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens and countrymen found themselves beyond the fringes of Russian territory.
Putin: Soviet collapse a 'genuine tragedy' (nbcnews.com)

Yes, suddenly finding themselves outside of the Russian empire must have been quite a shock for tens of millions of Russians.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
Interesting write-up about how Russian authorities produced books and movies to lay the foundation for future wars in Ukraine, Georgia, and possibly even the West. Well worth a read.

The Russian empire lost quite a lot when the USSR dissolved; as Putin himself said, it was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century, and furthermore:

“As for the Russian people, it became a genuine tragedy. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens and countrymen found themselves beyond the fringes of Russian territory.
Putin: Soviet collapse a 'genuine tragedy' (nbcnews.com)

Yes, suddenly finding themselves outside of the Russian empire must have been quite a shock for tens of millions of Russians.
Maybe I'm just stupid, but how do I read the thread? Twitter lets me open the post but I can't seem to read the thread. It just takes me to a log in screen.
 

KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
Maybe I'm just stupid, but how do I read the thread? Twitter lets me open the post but I can't seem to read the thread. It just takes me to a log in screen.
You’d have to log in. Try this:

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
You’d have to log in. Try this:

Yeah, I'm not creating an account. Thanks, this works.

On point, the FSB does not control the book market. Plenty of pro and anti Stalin books have come out under Putin in Russia. The pro-Stalin wave is a reaction to the anti-Stalin wave of the '90s and early '00s that often reached the point of absurdity. But to be clear even then there were still stalinists and pro-Stalin publications, they were just in the minority (you have to admit there is something very appealing about taking the entire mess of oligarchs and corrupt officials and shipping them off to Vorkuta or Magadan). The fact that the '14-'15 war in Ukraine spawned it's own generation of semi-fantastical nationalistic trash isn't surprising. But to be clear this sort of trash-writing to piggy-back off of some sort of popular trend is very common. The theme of "popadantsy" or people from the future ending up in the past is also very common and you can find them in nearly every variation including people going back to the past to win the civil war for the Whites and defeat the evil communists, etc. One might as well accuse the US of trying to restart the Nazi movement because Cameron Pierce wrote "The Ass Goblins of Auschwitz" (I do not encourage anyone to go looking for this). "Popadantsy" literature is typical popular trash that actually predates Putin and is generally only rivaled in pulp fiction by "Stalker" universe fiction (with its lesser cousin the Metro universe). To think that this is a clever propaganda plan is patently ridiculous. And in reality nobody takes this nonsense seriously. If there's one thing modern day Russia is terrible at, it's propaganda.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I'm not creating an account. Thanks, this works.

On point, the FSB does not control the book market. Plenty of pro and anti Stalin books have come out under Putin in Russia. The pro-Stalin wave is a reaction to the anti-Stalin wave of the '90s and early '00s that often reached the point of absurdity. But to be clear even then there were still stalinists and pro-Stalin publications, they were just in the minority (you have to admit there is something very appealing about taking the entire mess of oligarchs and corrupt officials and shipping them off to Vorkuta or Magadan). The fact that the '14-'15 war in Ukraine spawned it's own generation of semi-fantastical nationalistic trash isn't surprising. But to be clear this sort of trash-writing to piggy-back off of some sort of popular trend is very common. The theme of "popadantsy" or people from the future ending up in the past is also very common and you can find them in nearly every variation including people going back to the past to win the civil war for the Whites and defeat the evil communists, etc. One might as well accuse the US of trying to restart the Nazi movement because Cameron Pierce wrote "The Ass Goblins of Auschwitz" (I do not encourage anyone to go looking for this). "Popadantsy" literature is typical popular trash that actually predates Putin and is generally only rivaled in pulp fiction by "Stalker" universe fiction (with its lesser cousin the Metro universe). To think that this is a clever propaganda plan is patently ridiculous. And in reality nobody takes this nonsense seriously. If there's one thing modern day Russia is terrible at, it's propaganda.
It seems that Elon Musk has changed a lot of things at Twitter, in some cases you have to b member to be able to just read the posts.

Hypernationalistic and fanboyish books/films/stories can be found everywhere.
I shouldn't take Tom Clancy books/games, Hollywood films and anime like Gate, SAO and Guilty Crown seriously as works to prepare the people mentally for furure wars.
 

KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
It seems that Elon Musk has changed a lot of things at Twitter, in some cases you have to b member to be able to just read the posts.
I have had an account forever but never logged in before a couple or so months ago. Used to be that they limited you on the number of replies to threads you could see, I believe, without logging in, but I don’t care much about those. Then Musk changed it to what it is now (without logging in it looks like crap and you can only see some posts and only partially, and sometimes none at and have to log in). Luckily, my login and password carried over with the last couple new phones because I had no idea what it is. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have an account either.
 

Ananda

The Bunker Group
shouldn't take Tom Clancy books/games, Hollywood films and anime like Gate, SAO and Guilty Crown seriously as works to prepare the people mentally for furure wars.
If we base on what's popular as base on preparing for anything, we can be sure US preparing their population for long Zombie land.
 

Delta204

Active Member
I know Feanor provided a strong rebuttal to the Twitter / X thread on Russian propaganda. However, I think the topic of "empire" is perhaps worth continued discussion. I'll paint in broad strokes here but if it's not propaganda then I would suggest, just like the Russian speaker in the video below suggests (going from the translation from the actual video, not some of the hyperbole from the original Twitter poster), that Russians have embraced the idea of empire as a justification for, and the continued support of, this war.

 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
I know Feanor provided a strong rebuttal to the Twitter / X thread on Russian propaganda. However, I think the topic of "empire" is perhaps worth continued discussion. I'll paint in broad strokes here but if it's not propaganda then I would suggest, just like the Russian speaker in the video below suggests (going from the translation from the actual video, not some of the hyperbole from the original Twitter poster), that Russians have embraced the idea of empire as a justification for, and the continued support of, this war.

Yeah, sorry perhaps my rebuttal was overvague. I don't mean to dispute that modern day Russia engages in classical imperialism including on the ideological front. This is absolutely the case. Those books just weren't in any way related. It's silly to try and tease convoluted arguments out of cherrypicked pulp fiction when Dugin is a major figure and Ivan Ilyin gets quoted by government officials (ideologue of the White movement and a proto-fascist). The best place to find evidence of Russian imperialist ideology is in the statements of officials rather then random talk shows or trash-level publishing. This is why I so vehemently disagree with attempts to equate modern day Russia to the Soviet Union. Modern day Russian leaders play on Soviet nostalgia, but they are absolutely not pushing actual Soviet, communist, state socialist, or Marxist-Leninist ideology. They're borrowing from the achievements of that time period to gain some support, despite obviously coming not from the ranks of those that built the Soviet Union but those that picked it apart for personal profit.
 

Redshift

Active Member
Yeah, sorry perhaps my rebuttal was overvague. I don't mean to dispute that modern day Russia engages in classical imperialism including on the ideological front. This is absolutely the case. Those books just weren't in any way related. It's silly to try and tease convoluted arguments out of cherrypicked pulp fiction when Dugin is a major figure and Ivan Ilyin gets quoted by government officials (ideologue of the White movement and a proto-fascist). The best place to find evidence of Russian imperialist ideology is in the statements of officials rather then random talk shows or trash-level publishing. This is why I so vehemently disagree with attempts to equate modern day Russia to the Soviet Union. Modern day Russian leaders play on Soviet nostalgia, but they are absolutely not pushing actual Soviet, communist, state socialist, or Marxist-Leninist ideology. They're borrowing from the achievements of that time period to gain some support, despite obviously coming not from the ranks of those that built the Soviet Union but those that picked it apart for personal profit.
That seems to me to be a spot on description of what is going on.
 

Feanor

Super Moderator
Staff member
A quick look at Russian reconstruction efforts in Mariupol'. I'm going to move that entire conversation here, since it's not directly related to the war effort. Most recently the bridge to Azovstal' was rebuilt.


A major effort has been put into rebuilding the roads and bridges across the south, to secure the land route to Crimea. In Novoazovsk two brigdes were rebuilt. The surface road was also repaved for practically the entire length, and cell towers were put up for comms.


In Mariupol' itself educational and medical facilities are being rebuilt. This forms a pretty stark contrast with the state of Severodonetsk-Lisichansk area.


Finally repairs are ongoing in the Mariupol' port. It's unlikely to resume its role as a major port anytime soon. Traffic through the Kerch strait is constricted, and Donestk area heavy industry is not in great shape either way. However it will still have some local significance. Having jobs return to the region is essential to having population return. We don't have good estimates, but at the end of the fighting pretty much all the population had fled. Some were evacuated in an organized manner to Donetsk afterwards.

 
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