All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[Mister Mets]

I'm sure many of you have heard the story of Snake Island, but it is just an impressive show of bravery and a reminder of why we cannot go back to the status quo of Putin remaining in power when all this is over.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...a-island-death

Ukrainian soldiers who died defending an island in the Black Sea from an air and sea bombardment reportedly told an officer on board a Russian navy warship to “go fuck yourself” when asked to surrender.

There were 13 border guards stationed on Snake Island, a roughly 16-hectare (40-acre) rocky island owned by Ukraine that sits about 186 miles (300km) west of Crimea, when Russian troops bombed the island on Thursday.

All 13 soldiers died after refusing to surrender, Ukrainian officials announced.

In his address after the first day of the invasion of his country, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced he would posthumously award all of the soldiers the Hero of Ukraine award.

“All border guards died heroically but did not give up,” Zelenskiy said.

Audio has emerged that is purported to have captured an exchange between Ukrainian border guards on Snake Island and an approaching Russian navy vessel, in which a Russian officer told the Ukrainian forces on the island to “lay down your weapons”.

“This is a military warship. This is a Russian military warship. I suggest you lay down your weapons and surrender to avoid bloodshed and needless casualties. Otherwise, you will be bombed,” the Russian office was recorded as saying on a naval radio channel.

After a short period of silence in the recording, a Ukrainian officer reportedly responded: “Russian warship, go fuck yourself.”

The audio has been published by multiple media outlets including the Ukrainian online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda, and was shared on social media by Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior ministry.

The Russian navy is reported to have bombarded the island with deck guns before sending soldiers on board to take control, according to Maritime Executive citing local media reports.

[JB]

Just got an alert that the US and their Allies have agreed to limit Russia from the SWIFT banking system.

I just saw that as well.

Joint Statement on Further Restrictive Economic Measures
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-...omic-measures/

First, we commit to ensuring that selected Russian banks are removed from the SWIFT messaging system. This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally.

Very smart to start with selected banks and not go full throttle just yet. If they removed all banks at once then Russia wouldn't be able to accept payments for gas and supply to Europe would shut off quickly.
This is like diffusing a very complicated bomb.

[Tami]

U.S. senator says Republicans only deserve to govern if they adopt his agenda

Senator Rick Scott of Florida, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told an audience of conservatives in Orlando, Florida, that his 11-point "Rescue America" plan is needed to preserve the country against what he described as an onslaught of "woke" policies from the left.

The plan, which Scott launched earlier this week, includes proposals that would impose income taxes on Americans who currently pay none and require all federal legislation to sunset after five years.

"If the Republicans return to Washington's business as usual, if we have no bigger plan than to be a speed bump on the road to America's collapse, we actually don't deserve to govern," Scott told the Conservative Political Action Conference.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

I'm sure many of you have heard the story of Snake Island, but it is just an impressive show of bravery and a reminder of why we cannot go back to the status quo of Putin remaining in power when all this is over.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...a-island-death

Now THAT is courage, and a sign of the trouble Russia will have with Ukraine.

[CTTT]

Ukraine Ambassador to the Us has confirmed that Russia has destroyed a damn putting thousands at risk for major flooding.

Sorry to be nit-picky but the word would be "dam" not "damn". damn would be the expletive

[Malvolio]

U.S. senator says Republicans only deserve to govern if they adopt his agenda

Sounds like Rick Scott wants to be the Newt Gingrich of the 21st century. Let's not let him have that. This "Rescue America" plan sounds like the "Contract With America" on steroids.

[babyblob]

Sorry to be nit-picky but the word would be "dam" not "damn". damn would be the expletive

I fixed it. I dont know why I put the n on there. Thank goodness when my eyes fail we have nit picky people on the internet

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Sounds like Rick Scott wants to be the Newt Gingrich of the 21st century. Let's not let him have that. This "Rescue America" plan sounds like the "Contract With America" on steroids.

Scott’s agenda is abhorrent as hell, full stop.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Rick Scott , time to punish the poor because we got NOTHING.

[Kirby101]

If the U.S. starts seizing Russian property here, will the confiscate Trump?

[The Cool Thatguy]

If the U.S. starts seizing Russian property here, will the confiscate Trump?

Would you wanna touch him? You don't know where he's been!

[Robotman]

Today, the Biden administration authorized the release of $350,000,000 in aid to help Ukraine repel the Russians.



The Russian people weren't clamoring for this invasion. Unless an ulterior motive presents itself, this is a Putin vanity project.
I recall that military service is mandatory for young Russians so it's also likely the case that a significant number of the troops invading don't necessarily feel this operation is justified. Between the economic pressure put on the Oligarchs and a gradual lessening of public support plus the increasing monetary expense, the pressure is on Putin to get this done quickly. Time is on the side of the Ukrainians if they can hold out long enough and keep the Russians from overthrowing their government.

If Ukraine can keep up the fight and insurgency, Putin may be in trouble. As reporters have said recently, the "shock and awe" is the easy part for the invading army. What comes next for Russia could be bad.

It's great seeing major protests in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities. Russians are traditionally very nationalistic and they're fed tons of propaganda from the govt funded news but hopefully the people aren't buying Putin's bullshit on this one. A long drawn out war could finally rid us of this tyrant. Unfortunately, countless innocent Ukrainians will die in the process.

62 percent of voters say Putin wouldn't have invaded Ukraine if Trump were president: poll

That poll is very misleading. I would have voted yes. Putin would never have invaded if Trump was still in office and it has absolutely nothing to do with his "strength". This is a power display for the west designed to show our weakness. Putin would not have to do this if his orange puppet was still in power.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Would you wanna touch him? You don't know where he's been!

Exactly! Especially with all the rumors about those notorious “golden showers”. You need a hazmat suit to touch him!

[Tami]

Exactly! Especially with all the rumors about those notorious “golden showers”. You need a hazmat suit to touch him!

Just ask Melania.

[Tendrin]

Russian agent who infiltrated the National Rifle Association says Ukraine should not hand out weapons to its citizens in case a child gets hurt.

Maria Butina condemned the embattled country’s leadership for dishing out more than 18,000 guns to civilian volunteers in an effort to drive back Russian invaders.

But that is apparently not acceptable for the convicted spy, who told Russian state media TV show Vremya Pokazhet on Saturday that “people don’t know how to handle them and a child might be killed at home”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged any nationals living abroad to return and defend the country, as well as welcoming foreign volunteers and promised “we will give you weapons”.

In a major shift on Saturday Germany said it would now send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine, reversing its arms export policy.

....lol.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...?ocid=msedgntp