The Brink of War?

[latintopxxx]

...r we now into Jap porn...

[Dodger]

For the first time in Belarusian Army history, the first all gay infantry platoon was assembled to begin practice drills along the Ukraine border. When the platoon leader barked out the command to "take your positions" - members of the illustrious Rainbow Platoon instinctively dropped their trousers to prepare for their drilling:

[StevieWonders]

Completely ignorant posters on this topic such as Amazing Dodgems and Matt would benefit by reading a recent article in The Atlantic about how the preconceptions of Western diplomacy are actually misconceptions. However as they believe all wisdom resides within their somewhat slight intellect they won’t bother reading it

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/ar...kraine/622075/

[cdnmatt]

And that article sounds like it was written by some ignorant right wing nut job who's world view is so narrow they think you just need to lob a few nukes around, turn a few cities into parking lots, and voila, international crisis solved.

Instead of offering empty language about rules and values, she could have started the press conference like this:

Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen of the press. I am delighted to join you after meeting my Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. This time, we have not bothered to discuss treaties he won’t respect and promises he won’t keep. We have told him, instead, that an invasion of Ukraine will carry very, very high costs—higher than he has ever imagined. We are now planning to cut off Russian gas exports completely—Europe will find its energy supplies somewhere else. We are now preparing to assist the Ukrainian resistance, for a decade if need be. We are quadrupling our support for the Russian opposition, and for Russian media too. We want to make sure that Russians will start hearing the truth about this invasion, and as loudly as possible. And if you want to do regime change in Ukraine, we’ll get to work on regime change in Russia.

That's just being an arrogant asshole. Everyone knows the Western world has a big joint, no need to brag about it during press conferences that are aired internationally.

You don't gain international allies and support by being an arrogant loud mouth in front of the world.

[StevieWonders]

And that article sounds like it was written by some ignorant right wing nut job who's world view is so narrow they think you just need to lob a few nukes around, turn a few cities into parking lots, and voila, international crisis solved.

I don't believe our resident RWNJ is currently writing for a left-wing American journal, but who knows

[Moses]

Completely ignorant posters on this topic such as Amazing Dodgems and Matt would benefit by reading a recent article in The Atlantic about how the preconceptions of Western diplomacy are actually misconceptions. However as they believe all wisdom resides within their somewhat slight intellect they won’t bother reading it

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/ar...kraine/622075/

Brilliant example of "Western" logic:

France should ban political parties that accept Russian money

and

We are quadrupling our support for the Russian opposition, and for Russian media too.

in the same article.

When complain about Crimea remember Cyprus, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Iraq, Libya, Syria.
When complain about Russian influence to elections remember

we’ll get to work on regime change in Russia

Russia now has enough power to pay by the same coins. And if somebody will be stupid enough and will continue pressure, Russia may make union with China and "quadruple" own "answer".

[StevieWonders]

Brilliant example of "Western" logic:


and


in the same article.

When complain about Crimea remember Cyprus, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Iraq.
When complain about Russian influence to elections remember


Russia now has enough power to pay by the same coins. And if somebody will be stupid enough and will continue pressure, Russia may make union with China and "quadruple" own "answer".

How does Lavrov afford his London properties out of his Russian salary?

[Moses]

How does Lavrov afford his London properties out of his Russian salary?

What do you know about his salary?

Every state person here must publish tax declaration. Lavrov's income is about US$ 200 000 per year after taxation, his spouse also must to publish her income: it is about US$ 40 000 after taxation. His daughter's income is not published, but Ekaterina Lavrova is adult successful businesswoman who is living in London with her husband and kids. That propaganda calls "Lavrov's property in London" by fact isn't "Lavrov's": all Lavrov's properties are declared and published. Ekaterina with husband own this property.



Her husband Alexander Vinokurov is co-owner of one of biggest retail networks in Russia and also major shareholder of few other big companies here. I don't think he need Lavrov's money for to buy property in London.

[StevieWonders]

What do you know about his salary?

Every state person here must publish tax declaration. Lavrov's income is about US$ 200 000 per year after taxation, his spouse also must to publish her income: it is about US$ 40 000 after taxation. His daughter's income is not published, but Ekaterina Lavrova is adult successful businesswoman who is living in London with her husband and kids. That propaganda calls "Lavrov's property in London" by fact isn't "Lavrov's": all Lavrov's properties are declared and published. Ekaterina with husband own this property.



Her husband Alexander Vinokurov is co-owner of one of biggest retail networks in Russia and also major shareholder of few other big companies here. I don't think he need Lavrov's money for to buy property in London.

That’s a relief; I’ll sleep easier tonight

[Moses]

That’s a relief; I’ll sleep easier tonight

By the way: when you are talking about "Russian salary" you should take in account taxation in Russia and prices.

Small business pays here 3% of income until taxes are below US$15000 and then 4% (or 5% and 6%, depends on business type). Hired personal pays 13% of income. Education is free, medicine is free. Property is cheap, land is expensive only around of big cities in European part of Russia, anyone Russian is able to get land for free in Russian East (first five years it will be free rent, if land will be properly used then he will be owner after 5 years, state provides electric line for free and pays for drilling water supply).

I have no car. I can afford it, but have no reason to have - taxi here is unbelievable cheap: ride from one end of Moscow to another end takes about 30 minutes and cost only US$ 7-8 (up to $15-18 and 60 minutes at prime time). Property taxation 0.1% of price per year. To rent apts from city costs $80 (1 bedroom) - $100 (2 bedrooms) monthly including utilities. Unlimited 500 Mbit internet + 200 TV channels $12 monthly via optic fiber to each home (in cities), mobile phone contracts with unlimited 4G internet usage and calls $15.