• Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    41
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    He still thinks the west is scared of Russia, when the war in Ukraine has shown the post soviet bogyman to be as scary as modern day Steven Seagal (an unfit, obese senior citizen who still thinks they are a 30 year old bad ass he portrayed in movies but was always bullshit.)

    All they have left is the nuke threat and that can never be acted upon.

      • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        26
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        I don’t think the west called Russia’s bluff. Ukraine did.

        The bluff was working right up to the 24th of Feb 2022.

        Many western analysts expected Russia to win in short order.

        Russia expected Ukraine to fold (as did the USA with the offer to flee they gave to Zelenskyy) but instead they called and Russia had to show their cards. which turned out to be a busted flush.

        Now it seems everyone knew Russia was a paper tiger for years…

        • wildncrazyguy@kbin.social
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          1 year ago

          I conjecture that the people who were in a position to know that Russia was a paper tiger were also the folks who benefited from Russia being the West’s bogeyman.

          Notice how quickly the media has repositioned China as the foil. Now, I’m not saying it’s undue, but it seems we’ll always be at war with Eastasia.

      • Rinox
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        13
        ·
        1 year ago

        The west didn’t even call. Russia just fumbled and revealed all their cards on their own, showing everyone it was all just a bluff. Now they’re playing the “you didn’t actually see all of the cards” game, which would work if we didn’t already see them all…

      • InvertedParallax@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        We never called, he called because he misread his 6 as a 9 and didn’t realize he had a busted straight.

      • what_is_a_name@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        17
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        I repeat this every time someone posts being worried about Putin using nukes.

        Putin has a 30 years old lover and handful of small kids with her. All his oligarch supporters have families.

        Any use of any nukes results in all of us dying and the few that survive living like rats.

        The one and only line that will not be crossed is these oligarchs and their kids living out their lives in bunkers like rats.

        It does not even matter that Putins new family is hiding in Switzerland. They would still have to live the rest of their lives like rats.

      • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        11
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        It is not the ones in power that actually launch the nukes. It is normal military personnel.

        Several times since WW2 the USSR/Rus military have had orders to launch nukes and the people on the ground have refused to do so.

        Once during the cuban missle crisis. (USSR)

        Another during post soviet times.

        This vid lists the incidents I am talking about.

        So I am actually not worried about nukes at all.

        First off: Putin and those in power know the use of nukes means they (and their cushy oligarch lives) are gone.

        Second: I doubt their orders, if ever given, will be carried out.

        TLDR: Due the the certainty of massive retaliation nukes will never be used.

        • dubba@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          9
          ·
          edit-2
          1 year ago

          Nukes have nearly been launched many times. In the Cuban missile crisis event you reference, only ONE OF THREE refused to launch. I do not understand how any of this is supposed to be confidence inspiring in any way.

          Collaborative disarmament is the only solution.