sycasey said:

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Can't believe the Ukrainians insist on continuing to fight this war, why wouldn't they want the Russians to just take over?

A harrowing new video from Bakhmut, filmed in the summer of 2026. The Ukrainian city was captured by the Russians three years ago and has lain in ruins ever since.

In this once-vibrant city of 72,000 inhabitants, there are no longer any shops, schools, kindergartens, cafés,… pic.twitter.com/clFfLu5jkq

— Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) September 3, 2026

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I'm glad that you agree that Bakhmut is much worse off because Ukraine took the advice of the US, Britain, and NATO and decided to fight an unwinnable war instead of negotiating an agreement that would have left the country far better off than they are now or will be at this war's inevitable conclusion.

Cal88 said:

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How many more years of this??

Here is one of many routine Ukrainian conscription kidnappings that I asked President Trump about. Trump was sympathetic and acknowledged the pointless loss of life on both sides of the war.

Must watch with sound on. Additional videos in the replies: https://t.co/IKgHah5z5L

— Liam Cosgrove (@cosgrove_iv) September 2, 2026

🇺🇦‼️🚨 UKRAINIAN GUY WENT DOWN FOR A CIGARETTE … AND HE IS GONE

One moment you chill in front of your house and minutes later you’re tied up on the way to the military training center.

Unless you have $10,000 to pay your way out or you’ll be at the front in a couple of weeks… pic.twitter.com/AD6c6hJPJh

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) September 3, 2026

My guess is 1 to 2 years, at this rate, to the last Ukrainian.

---

Yes, but as always…

If only Vlad hadn't invaded, none of what's happened since this war was initiated 3 days ago would have come to pass.

I'm jumping back out of this useless time suck basement. Y'all enjoy spinning your wheels.

Go Bears!

Alexander Mercouris discusses how NATO's euphoria will soon be replaced by panic and escalation. Ukraine losing businesses, tax revenues, face upcoming inflation.

sycasey said:

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To the last Russian!

With Russian military losses estimated at some 40,000 a month, there are signs the Kremlin is preparing for the possibility of a much broader call-up, perhaps after parliamentary elections later this month.@SimonOstrovsky reports. pic.twitter.com/RVtZEbNT3F

— PBS News (@NewsHour) September 3, 2026

---

My two favorite Simon Ostrovsky tweets of all time

There’s a little something for everyone in the infamous Steele dossier https://t.co/5Q99HjqMZw

— Simon Ostrovsky (@SimonOstrovsky) July 25, 2018

Four years later @AlanCullison sheds light on the sourcing of that infamous Steele dossier that sent so many of us journalists on a wild months-long goose chase. This here is a reporter who pulls on thread till the emperor has no clothes. https://t.co/uMu7bA72us

— Simon Ostrovsky (@SimonOstrovsky) October 30, 2020

sycasey said:

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To the last Russian!

With Russian military losses estimated at some 40,000 a month, there are signs the Kremlin is preparing for the possibility of a much broader call-up, perhaps after parliamentary elections later this month.@SimonOstrovsky reports. pic.twitter.com/RVtZEbNT3F

— PBS News (@NewsHour) September 3, 2026

---

40,000 would be a very high estimate of Russian annual KIAs. The level of gaslighting by a source like PBS is staggering, downright Orwellian.

Ukraine has been losing about 30,000 soldiers per month, that has been their official monthly recruiting target this year, and even with this they are having trouble holding ground.

Ukraine cannot mobilize fewer than 30,000 people per month; this is the minimum number needed to maintain current operations, according to the head of Zelensky's office.

Meanwhile, Zelensky said a month ago that Ukraine had allegedly lost only 50,000 people over four years. pic.twitter.com/k6svI4cp7k

— Olga Bazova (@OlgaBazova) August 28, 2026

That's why you don't see these kind of forced conscription scenes in Russia, and you see them more and more in Ukraine.

The butcher of Kiev tells us 30,000 new "recruits" must be found EVERY MONTH. The Western MSM tells us only 50,000 Ukranian soldiers have been killed since 2022. What a terrible lie. A million+ are now dead. The corrupt West knows, but continues to lie.pic.twitter.com/nHsJcNm1HB

— Paul Weston (@PWestoff) August 29, 2026

More "recruitment" by Ukraine for the meat grinder.

They need 30,000 new people a month to keep their army at full strength.

That means they are losing 30,000 soldiers a month in the war.

That's a lot of people dying, for Europe's desire to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian. https://t.co/WJT9eTsCnq

— DarkPolitricks (@darkpolitricks) September 4, 2026

sycasey said:

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To the last Russian!

With Russian military losses estimated at some 40,000 a month, there are signs the Kremlin is preparing for the possibility of a much broader call-up, perhaps after parliamentary elections later this month.@SimonOstrovsky reports. pic.twitter.com/RVtZEbNT3F

— PBS News (@NewsHour) September 3, 2026

---

Drones are killing 40,000 a month? Given how many Russia knocks down with its multi-layered defense system, they're firing an impossible number of drones. Does Ukraine have Middle Earth ogre manufacturing?

Or even 20,000 KIA and 10,00 desertion per month.

movielover said:

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Or even 20,000 KIA and 10,00 desertion per month.

---

Yes, 30k Ukrainian losses per month include KIAs, injured/maimed and deserters.

The body exchange numbers provide a tangible insight into the real imbalance in the attrition rates:



That rate is probably around 10-15 to 1 in favor of the Russians. The body exchange rate is more pronounced because the Ukrainian authorities make a lot less effort to retrieve their fallen.

Are they a reputable source?

Updated KIA number for Ukraine has to be well over 1.5 million.

sycasey said:

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Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

bearister said:

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How many Russian soldiers died in the war with Ukraine https://en.zona.media/article/2026/08/28/casualties_eng-trl

---

Mediazona was doing a very accurate and professional job of monitoring Russian KIAs, until late last year when they had come under political pressure. Their previous total was around 140k KIAs, was subsequently boosted to 240k.

Ukrainians want an end of the war through a negotiated settlement with Russia.

After more than seven years in office, Zelensky appears to have lost his nation’s political support. https://t.co/vXbR8ysjxD

— Foreign Policy (@ForeignPolicy) September 3, 2026

Cal88 said:

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sycasey said:

---

Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

---

A lot of these same arguments apply to Israel too, you just don't accept them there because you're reflexively anti-America and Israel is a US ally. When America's adversary (Russia) does colonialism and war you are quick to forgive.

Not me, I remain consistent: fighting a war and trying to ethnically cleanse a population is bad, whether it's America's friend or America's enemy that does it.

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

---

A lot of these same arguments apply to Israel too, you just don't accept them there because you're reflexively anti-America and Israel is a US ally. When America's adversary (Russia) does colonialism and war you are quick to forgive.

Not me, I remain consistent: fighting a war and trying to ethnically cleanse a population is bad, whether it's America's friend or America's enemy that does it.

---

Every anti-war critic gets smeared as anti-American, par for the course, that was true with Vietnam, Iraq and nearly every other post WW2 US military campaign.

My arguments are rooted in history and geopolitics, and supported by a large number of geopolitical experts like Sachs and Mearsheimer as well as antiwar activists.

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

---

A lot of these same arguments apply to Israel too, you just don't accept them there because you're reflexively anti-America and Israel is a US ally. When America's adversary (Russia) does colonialism and war you are quick to forgive.

Not me, I remain consistent: fighting a war and trying to ethnically cleanse a population is bad, whether it's America's friend or America's enemy that does it.

---

Every anti-war critic gets smeared as anti-American, par for the course, that was true with Vietnam, Iraq and nearly every other post WW2 US military campaign.

---

You're not anti-war if you make excuses for Russia's war in Ukraine.

---

You believe the Ukraine war is, deep down, because the Russians are inherently evil and Putin is a Hitler-like figure, so that any diplomatic settlement is futile. Ergo if you think otherwise, you are anti-American.

I think it's kind of naive and provincial to have that line of thought, and to believe as you did above that Ukrainians want to fight this war to the last man.

Quote:

---

Whoever got elected in Zelensky's place would likely continue fighting the war.

---

Zelemsky was elected on a platform of peace and reconcillation with the Donbas rebels and Russia. He run as a Russophone from central Ukraine who was going to fight corruption and bring peace to Ukraine. Instead he actively sabotaged the Minsk Agreements, turned down the Istanbul Agreement and kept escalating a war when he was pilfering tens of millions.

Polls clearly showed that most Ukrainians want a negotiated settlement with Russia and an end of the war.

sycasey said:

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Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

---

A lot of these same arguments apply to Israel too, you just don't accept them there because you're reflexively anti-America and Israel is a US ally. When America's adversary (Russia) does colonialism and war you are quick to forgive.

Not me, I remain consistent: fighting a war and trying to ethnically cleanse a population is bad, whether it's America's friend or America's enemy that does it.

---

Every anti-war critic gets smeared as anti-American, par for the course, that was true with Vietnam, Iraq and nearly every other post WW2 US military campaign.

---

You're not anti-war if you make excuses for Russia's war in Ukraine.

---

You're not anti-war if you can't be intellectually honest about how NATO and the US did everything they could to provoke this war.

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

---

A lot of these same arguments apply to Israel too, you just don't accept them there because you're reflexively anti-America and Israel is a US ally. When America's adversary (Russia) does colonialism and war you are quick to forgive.

Not me, I remain consistent: fighting a war and trying to ethnically cleanse a population is bad, whether it's America's friend or America's enemy that does it.

---

Every anti-war critic gets smeared as anti-American, par for the course, that was true with Vietnam, Iraq and nearly every other post WW2 US military campaign.

My arguments are rooted in history and geopolitics, and supported by a large number of geopolitical experts like Sachs and Mearsheimer as well as antiwar activists.

---

It is interesting that you consider yourself an anti-war critic but you supported Russian starting the war by invading Ukraine.

calpoly said:

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Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

---

A lot of these same arguments apply to Israel too, you just don't accept them there because you're reflexively anti-America and Israel is a US ally. When America's adversary (Russia) does colonialism and war you are quick to forgive.

Not me, I remain consistent: fighting a war and trying to ethnically cleanse a population is bad, whether it's America's friend or America's enemy that does it.

---

Every anti-war critic gets smeared as anti-American, par for the course, that was true with Vietnam, Iraq and nearly every other post WW2 US military campaign.

My arguments are rooted in history and geopolitics, and supported by a large number of geopolitical experts like Sachs and Mearsheimer as well as antiwar activists.

---

It is interesting that you consider yourself an anti-war critic but you supported Russian starting the war by invading Ukraine.

---

That's one of the stupidest lies I have ever read on this forum

Chat room Ritter claims Russia is stockpiling drones in case they go to war w NATO; if I were Putin, I'd have North Korea factories running two shifts, and send them return containers w potatoes, food rations, etc.

The newer Geran or kamikaze drones w jet engines can fly 200 to 400 MPH, w payloads of 125 to 200 pounds.

🇷🇺🇺🇦🚨‼️ RUSSIA STRIKES DECISION-MAKING CENTER

Russia struck the SBU in the center of Kyiv with a geranium drone aimed at SBU head Poklad’s office in the building.

This is especially interesting after SBU and GRU special services clashed in recent days in Kiev. The SBU accused… pic.twitter.com/XGUkuL2gQ5

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) September 4, 2026

This here may support Cal88's contention of anti-Russian bias in the European Union. The EU are the elites, the betters?

🇺🇦🇵🇹🚨‼️ “HANG THE MUSCOVITES”

A Ukrainian patriots’ march in Portugal calling for the death of Russians.

Replace Russians with any other race or nationality in this chant and police would arrest them for hate speech… but this is apparently allowed. pic.twitter.com/ylgbOXvyeP

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) September 4, 2026

sycasey said:

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Aunburdened said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Aunburdened said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

---

A lot of these same arguments apply to Israel too, you just don't accept them there because you're reflexively anti-America and Israel is a US ally. When America's adversary (Russia) does colonialism and war you are quick to forgive.

Not me, I remain consistent: fighting a war and trying to ethnically cleanse a population is bad, whether it's America's friend or America's enemy that does it.

---

Every anti-war critic gets smeared as anti-American, par for the course, that was true with Vietnam, Iraq and nearly every other post WW2 US military campaign.

---

You're not anti-war if you make excuses for Russia's war in Ukraine.

---

You're not anti-war if you can't be intellectually honest about how NATO and the US did everything they could to provoke this war.

---

Why does this logic only apply to NATO and Russia but not to Gaza and Israel? If anything, Hamas did far more to provoke Israel by actually attacking on their soil. Yet you never try to use that to excuse Israel's actions in this war (nor should you). Only Russia gets this charity. Curious.

---

Palestine didn't have a bunch of third-party countries goading them to sacrifice their blood and property to fight a war against a country that had them completely outmatched in terms of population and arsenal. There's no "proxy war" happening in Gaza's benefit.

---

Sure they did. Iran, for example.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_support_for_Hamas

---

I'm sorry, you must have me confused with someone who reads the CIA's favorite disinformation site when it comes to war and foreign policy.

Aunburdened said:

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sycasey said:

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Aunburdened said:

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sycasey said:

---

Aunburdened said:

---

sycasey said:

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Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

sycasey said:

---

Hey, this guy sounds a lot like that Ben-Gvir fellow from Israel. Just substitute Palestinians for Ukrainians and it's basically the same sentiment.

Putin’s adviser calls on Russians to colonize Ukraine

“This is just depopulation, and only Russia can save this country. By the way, we already did this once, when these lands were annexed to Russia by Potemkin and Catherine — we resettled our population in Ukraine,” Anton… pic.twitter.com/oaBDs5Fyvw

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 4, 2026

But the Very Smart People here will keep insisting that Russia only cared about NATO expansion and this is not a war intended to absorb Ukraine back into Russia.

---

NATO's expansion was about absorbing Ukraine into the EU sphere and turning it into an enemy of Russia, knowing full well that (1) the large Russian minority in Ukraine would be collateral damage and (2) it would preempt Russia to intervene militarily. Many highly respected US policy insiders and analysts have made this rational assessment in the past 2-3 decades.

At one point Russia wanted to join NATO and was rebuffed by both Clinton and Dubya, who openly mocked that idea (see also Biden's putdown about Russia joining up with China and Iran as a result of their openings being rebuffed and of NATO's continued expansion eastwards).

As well, for a historical context, northern and eastern Ukraine had been part of Russia for centuries, while southern Ukraine was colonized and settled by Russia 3 centuries ago, in the late 1700s, after they defeated the previous colonial power that occupied and settled the region, the Ottomans. The area of southern and western Ukraine had been the borderland between the Ottoman, Austian-Hungarian and Russian empires (and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth before that).

---

A lot of these same arguments apply to Israel too, you just don't accept them there because you're reflexively anti-America and Israel is a US ally. When America's adversary (Russia) does colonialism and war you are quick to forgive.

Not me, I remain consistent: fighting a war and trying to ethnically cleanse a population is bad, whether it's America's friend or America's enemy that does it.

---

Every anti-war critic gets smeared as anti-American, par for the course, that was true with Vietnam, Iraq and nearly every other post WW2 US military campaign.

---

You're not anti-war if you make excuses for Russia's war in Ukraine.

---

You're not anti-war if you can't be intellectually honest about how NATO and the US did everything they could to provoke this war.

---

Why does this logic only apply to NATO and Russia but not to Gaza and Israel? If anything, Hamas did far more to provoke Israel by actually attacking on their soil. Yet you never try to use that to excuse Israel's actions in this war (nor should you). Only Russia gets this charity. Curious.

---

Palestine didn't have a bunch of third-party countries goading them to sacrifice their blood and property to fight a war against a country that had them completely outmatched in terms of population and arsenal. There's no "proxy war" happening in Gaza's benefit.

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Sure they did. Iran, for example.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_support_for_Hamas

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I'm sorry, you must have me confused with someone who reads the CIA's favorite disinformation site when it comes to war and foreign policy.

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So you don't think Iran was backing Hamas? That's your position?

Or do you not want to think about it so you're going to complain about the source again?