Putin

[pete376403]

good read. source of the image I posted before
https://www.quora.com/Has-Russias-in...-a-Paper-Tiger

Replying to my own post (bad form, I know, but...) A comment on the above link includes this:

"A very good response, however there was no socialism in National Socialism, it was just a word, for propaganda effect, same thing with international socialism. Communism is an economic theory and it lives very comfortably with Capitalism, because in reality communism is not economic but political.

Stalin was a nationalist, Trotsky and internationalist. Stalin had Trotsky, his main competitor, murdered in Mexico.

Even then communism was not socialist, and certainly Karl Marx wasn’t. Marx was a free trader, and a gold bug. The USSR was on a 100% gold standard with a ruble defined as .91 grams fine gold, thus a shortage of rubles, meant a shortage of consumer goods, hidden behind the necessity for large defense spending's because of a “cold war”

The USSR was a libartarian paradise, 100% gold standard, and Art 12 of the 1936 Soviet Constitution, in essence says “if you don’t work you don’t eat” and nothing could be more libertarian. The father of the Koch family which has spent millions destroying democracy and creating an authoritarian government, are only carrying on the apparent goal of their father Fred Koch, who made his fortune building oil wells and refineries in the 1930’s for Stalin."

Would our resident libertarian care to comment?

[husaberg]

Replying to my own post (bad form, I know, but...) A comment on the above link includes this:

"A very good response, however there was no socialism in National Socialism, it was just a word, for propaganda effect, same thing with international socialism. Communism is an economic theory and it lives very comfortably with Capitalism, because in reality communism is not economic but political.

Stalin was a nationalist, Trotsky and internationalist. Stalin had Trotsky, his main competitor, murdered in Mexico.

Even then communism was not socialist, and certainly Karl Marx wasn’t. Marx was a free trader, and a gold bug. The USSR was on a 100% gold standard with a ruble defined as .91 grams fine gold, thus a shortage of rubles, meant a shortage of consumer goods, hidden behind the necessity for large defense spending's because of a “cold war”

The USSR was a libartarian paradise, 100% gold standard, and Art 12 of the 1936 Soviet Constitution, in essence says “if you don’t work you don’t eat” and nothing could be more libertarian. The father of the Koch family which has spent millions destroying democracy and creating an authoritarian government, are only carrying on the apparent goal of their father Fred Koch, who made his fortune building oil wells and refineries in the 1930’s for Stalin."

Would our resident libertarian care to comment?

Let the multi quote avalanche begin

[TheDemonLord]

Replying to my own post (bad form, I know, but...) A comment on the above link includes this:

"A very good response, however there was no socialism in National Socialism, it was just a word, for propaganda effect, same thing with international socialism. Communism is an economic theory and it lives very comfortably with Capitalism, because in reality communism is not economic but political.

Stalin was a nationalist, Trotsky and internationalist. Stalin had Trotsky, his main competitor, murdered in Mexico.

Even then communism was not socialist, and certainly Karl Marx wasn’t. Marx was a free trader, and a gold bug. The USSR was on a 100% gold standard with a ruble defined as .91 grams fine gold, thus a shortage of rubles, meant a shortage of consumer goods, hidden behind the necessity for large defense spending's because of a “cold war”

The USSR was a libartarian paradise, 100% gold standard, and Art 12 of the 1936 Soviet Constitution, in essence says “if you don’t work you don’t eat” and nothing could be more libertarian. The father of the Koch family which has spent millions destroying democracy and creating an authoritarian government, are only carrying on the apparent goal of their father Fred Koch, who made his fortune building oil wells and refineries in the 1930’s for Stalin."

Would our resident libertarian care to comment?

I think whoever wrote that is either:

1: Woefully misguided.
2: Willfully deceptive.

In essence it's a derivative of the 'that wasn't real communism' argument.

This line is particularly telling:

"Communism is an economic theory and it lives very comfortably with Capitalism, because in reality communism is not economic but political."

Is Communism an Economic Theory or is it Political? The Author seems to be quite confused.

[Berries]

Would our resident libertarian care to comment?

Does that mean born in July?

[Pursang]

All very well to look back and then pick and choose what we want for our political, economic, social, militarist & philosophical justifications, from All of History.

Putin is quite the expert at this!

But looking at just today, (as the Ukrainians must), Russia's current 'Kleptocratic Fascism' is undoubtably a political, economic, social and military shit pile.
Not just philosophically, but in Appalling & Horrific practice.

To be Resisted at all cost. Then Isolated and Quarantined until the sufferers pass on, learn to live on their own, with their problems or hopefully, heal sufficiently to be allowed to mingle again with the rest of the World. (Conditions Will Apply, generally Capitalistic ones)

[pritch]

Perhaps not for the tl:dr crew but a good read.

https://theconversation.com/in-2014-...ing-off-177881

[Pursang]

Yes, a good read.
So Ukraine was pretty well up to NATO standard in 2020. But not allowed to join.

After this is over, Zelensky is considering setting up his own Mutual Protection group.
Lots of Wussy Euro countries would fail to meet the standard (balls) to be included in that one!

For History buffs: An excellent documentary on the WW2 weapons being used in Ukraine. (Including Maxim machine guns dating back to 1910)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDd8NFftuXI

Don't complain if Russia breaks through your gates... otherwise Putin might take a fence!

Or your washing machine, CRT monitors, phones, Ipads, electric scooters, booze, ladies sanitary pads.....whatever you've got! And, of course, Your Life!


Ravaging, raping & pillaging is a very longstanding military practice. Persians (then & now), Mongol hordes, Huns, Vikings, Crusaders, Pirates, Russians, ISIS, Russians.
Pay your troops a sustenance, let them keep what they can take home.
Of course it was always reliant on Winning the battles first. Russians soldiers have updated and modified the concept!

[Pursang]

OMFG! Russian state news agency published a piece calling for full blown genocide and destruction of Ukraine as a state

Any Psychological analysis would call this text book 'Projection' (the process of denying your own serious faults and attributing them to others)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_projection

Russia is a seriously messed up place! This is a pretty wild read!

Here is an English Translation: https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/com...eb2x&context=3

[pritch]

OMFG! Russian state news agency published a piece calling for full blown genocide and destruction of Ukraine as a state

In case anybody has doubts about Reddit as a source, I have seen other sources quoting this same item.

[Pursang]

Yes, there is even a link to the original document in the Russian state news agency archive.

Having read the piece (of crap), which can be considered to be approved and endorsed at all levels. i.e. State Policy, I'm now a bit concerned that the rapid pull-back of troops to 'Russian claimed' areas might be a prelude to the release of WMD's (chemical or otherwise) to fulfill the promise of the doc. and the glory of Tsar Putin & Mother Russia.


There are no War Crimes!.....It's Not a War, just a Special Operation.

[Pursang]

Thank goodness, Oz is finally doing something practical for Ukraine. (First 4 of 20)


The Ambulances look pretty Tough! It will be interesting to see what the Ukrainians can do with the Combat ones.
They have already done a lot of Orc chasing and destruction with regular passenger 4WD's.

These are Landmine resistant which should be useful pushing into Donbas.

[pete376403]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZUMJ_T1YBI

Wasnt aware of the huge gas fields in the east of Ukraine. That and the water to Crimea is a much better reason for russian invasion than "liberation from nazi fascists"

[caseye]

The Harold reports that the bulk of Russians living in NZ are suitably ashamed and embarressed and doing what they can to let their Ukranian neighbous know, they don't agree with Putin. While a small minority belive Phu-tin is their hero and will make Russia great again, all that he does is OK.
You know, deliberatly targeting civilians and having non Russian troops torturing and executing civilians so he can deny it was Russians doing the terrorising.
How about we get together and buy them a return ticket to the Ukraine,I'm not interested in having them here, saying things like this without having first seen for themselves what is actually happening.
How could you live outside of Russia for any length of time and still stubbornly stick to the party line, when your own eyes and ears Scream the truth all around you! These people ( and I use the term loosly) are the ones who should be granted a free ticket back to their mother land (humm sounds familiar) so they can go and make sure innocent people are not being hurt during their reverred leaders so called operation!
Get them out of THIS, our Country, let them practice the three monkey theory back home!

[Pursang]

And now, for something completely different!

https://v16-webapp.tiktok.com/37e592...%3D%3D&vl=&vr=

English Translation:

Putin came with the war to Ukraine, but he shit himself, so it did not work

Now the whole world, and in Europe, everyone knows Putin kHUYLO (is a dick Head)

[R650R]

The Harold reports that the bulk of Russians living in NZ are suitably ashamed and embarressed and doing what they can to let their Ukranian neighbous know, they don't agree with Putin. While a small minority belive Phu-tin is their hero and will make Russia great again, all that he does is OK.
You know, deliberatly targeting civilians and having non Russian troops torturing and executing civilians so he can deny it was Russians doing the terrorising.
How about we get together and buy them a return ticket to the Ukraine,I'm not interested in having them here, saying things like this without having first seen for themselves what is actually happening.
How could you live outside of Russia for any length of time and still stubbornly stick to the party line, when your own eyes and ears Scream the truth all around you! These people ( and I use the term loosly) are the ones who should be granted a free ticket back to their mother land (humm sounds familiar) so they can go and make sure innocent people are not being hurt during their reverred leaders so called operation!
Get them out of THIS, our Country, let them practice the three monkey theory back home!

Ever stopped to think that having lived under a real communist regime they are still terrified of speaking out about anything?
That they came here to escape that but are smart enough to realise that Putin will have people here via Russian mafia or other networks that could enable an “accident” to occur.
Much like how in a cafe in certain parts of Wellington it could be unheslthy to be making bad comments about Jacinda or the greens or in a Wairoa/Gisborne pub talking about the mob.....

I recommend people read The Gulag Achipelago the author receiving the only ever Nobel peace prize for a work of literature. Alexander Solyhenyetsin survived WW2, cancer and the gulags.
It’s such horrific reading that two years later I haven’t finished reading it yet, it’s very heavy reading but everyone should know what’s possible when a leader/political party machine has absolute power and criticism (hate speech) is not allowed.