The Brink of War?

[cdnmatt]

Where did little Putin go? Thought he'd be here telling us we're all wrong about how miserably Russia is conducting itself and the draft.

[Dodger]

Where did little Putin go? Thought he'd be here telling us we're all wrong about how miserably Russia is conducting itself and the draft.

Finland?

[Moses]

how miserably Russia is conducting itself and the draft.

145 mln : 22.5 mln... end is unavoidable...

[cdnmatt]

It's more like 20.5 million males of military age, that is between the ages of 18 - 44.

Those census numbers are from before the war, so we can drop that down to probably around 16 million by now, as a whole lot of people have died, been wounded, or have gotten out of dodge. Then considering there's reports of people ending up on the front lines 72 hours after reporting for the draft, I think it's safe to say it's probably not the most well trained fighting force on the planet.

If you still want to believe Russia has the upper hand, have fun with that. It's looking rather bleak for Russia though.

[NitNoi]

I have a German friend who has all kinds of conspiracy delusions and claims that the "evil empire" (USA) sabotaged those gas pipeline. He may have a point this time.

How does it benefit Russia to destroy a bargaining chip?

[cdnmatt]

I have a German friend who has all kinds of conspiracy delusions and claims that the "evil empire" (USA) sabotaged those gas pipeline. He may have a point this time.

How does it benefit Russia to destroy a bargaining chip?

Does it really matter? No matter what, that gas pipeline was getting cut in the near future. That was inevitable.

I'm just curious as to what happens now. If the EU decides it was an act of sabotage from Russia, and NATO decides to consider that an act of war and a threat to the national security of the EU, shit could get very real very quickly.

[Moses]

Does it really matter? No matter what, that gas pipeline was getting cut in the near future. That was inevitable.

It does. Right now Russia still acting with "soft hands": Russia still pumping gas via Ukrainian pipeline and pays to Ukraine for gas transportation. Ukraine has gas from it as well even when they in documents recording it as a gas what is bought from EU. We are talking about $1.2 bln for transportation. Winter is coming. Nord Stream pipeline has been sabotaged for to force Russia to keep that pumping and payments.

But result may be opposite: Russia will cut gas pumping via Ukraine and Ukraine will find itself without gas and money. EU and USA may easy to subsidize these money, but nobody cam to substitute gas. This winter on Ukraine will be very cold then.

[cdnmatt]

Again, better just hope EU and NATO don't decide that it was an act of sabotage from Russia and constitutes an act of war.

[Moses]

Again, better just hope EU and NATO don't decide that it was an act of sabotage from Russia and constitutes an act of war.

Place of sabotage is located in Danish zone. Who can act in Danish zone without any problem? Only Danish or other EU-located forces or best allies - US.

[cdnmatt]

I don't know who did it, and you don't either. I wouldn't put it past either, Russia or the US to pull this type of stunt.

Who knows... as it turns out, I'm not director of the CIA, so not really privy to that type of information.

What I do know is Russia started this war.