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[Phmcw]

Ok then. THE MIGHTY BELGIAN ARMY WILL CONQUER ALL! WE MAY HAVE ONE OR TWO FUNCTIONNING TANKS!

But seriously, budget wise, Europe outspend Russia several time over, have better tech to back it up, a bigger population and that's not speaking of the US that alone outspend Russia over 7 times. As modern war is largely a war of production, I don't see by which miracle Russia could win anything.

Browse this article, and compare the numbers. Keep in mind that it's the smaller part of NATO, American army is bigger and more modern.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_European_Union

[Morrigi]

We can't exactly invade them though, because General Winter. And nukes.

[smjjames]

@Hungarian stuff: Get over Trianon.

@nuke stuff: Would they be able to sneak a tactical nuke into Donbass? I don't mean the massive ICBMs which are placed in silos, I mean the smaller stuff. Obviously Russia would have gotten good at moving nukes around covertly during the cold war.

Also, is that the advisor to the ukranian minister of defense?

And I think you could change the title back from 'dick show edition'......

[LordSlowpoke]

@Hungarian stuff: Get over Trianon.

✖

[nanomage]

regarding tac nuke stuff - sure as hell we can. Tactical nukes can be fired from vehicles no larger than the infamous Buk. However I think that all that mutual threatening and bullshit by UA and DNR officials is now immaterial. Putin has already accomplished what he probably intended to in this war - he created a terroristic enclave on the territiry of Ukraine, like South Ossetia in Georgia or Gasa in Israel (obviously not Putin created that). DNR/LNR are gonna live (in awful poverty) on humanitarian aid and do nothing but hate and kill "Ukrainian faschists". Now Putin can both influence Ukrainian politics through intimidation, bribes, UA officials elected in DNR/LNR as well as with threats of another war in case Ukraine makes any move toward NATO/EU. So yeah I think he's not gonna restart the war. Ukrainian govt would probably like to because the current state of affairs effectively prevents them from incorporating their country into Western world, which I think was the popular demand behind them, but without Western military aid they're sure to lose so I think the truce will last.

[Guardian G.I.]

I still think we should start letting our soldiers spend their vacation days in Königsberg Kaliningrad. Maybe they'll get lost and accidentally visit Leningrad St. Petersburg...

Beware of retaliatory vacations!

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Also, don't forget to get back until winter, or else you'll meet the fate of your vacationing grandparents! 

EDIT: it reminds me of a Russian joke:

"In the early 19th century, the most popular foreign language in Russia was French. Eventually, France invaded Russia, and thousands of Cossacks visited Paris.
In the early 20th century, the most popular foreign language in the Soviet Union was German. Eventually, Germany invaded, and the Red Army went to Berlin.
In the early 21th century, the most popular foreign language in Russia is English..."

[Ukrainian Ranger]

Meanwhile Russian ruble happily goes down. Good  for Putin and his oligarch's friends, bad for population but hey, they have "faith in the government(c)" instead.

[nanomage]

Meanwhile Russian ruble happily goes down. Good  for Putin and his oligarch's friends, bad for population but hey, they have "faith in the government(c)" instead.

It would be great if we had some social science here to investigate this fenomenon. That's interesting because faith in the government Putin sure seems real and ardent but yesterday I witnessed longish queues to foreign exchange kiosks, and in the morning I've heard rumors that they're getting even longer by the hour. Surely those people aren't byuing roubles. Looks like it's a curious case of doublethink again.

[notquitethere]

So what do people think of the cross party pledge to save the UK? I think it's very light on substance and most people wouldn't trust Clegg et al with fulfilling a pledge any time soon.

[Sheb]

Well, doesn't need to be doublethink. Of course, Putin is good and His glorious nipples are the only thing protecting Russia from the West, but even He cannot prevent the West from hurting the rubles.

[martinuzz]

For a moment, I thought of making a picture of my dick and posting it here.

[Helgoland]

Also, don't forget to get back until winter, or else you'll meet the fate of your vacationing grandparents! 

Well, that's why I proposed vacationing in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg: They're right behind the border, so supplying the tourists won't become a logistic nightmare.
Vacationing in Moscow would certainly be a more enterprising and challenging holiday, but I don't think anybody would advocate that. St. Petersburg is mmore beautiful, anyway

[BlindKitty]

Speaking of banning 'homosexual propaganda', members of one of the largest opposition parties here in Poland have recently been trying to criminalize sexual education.

Well, if it ain't strawman, I don't really know what is.

First of all, the proposition for the bill was put up to debate by people (250 000 people signed the petition, or something around that), so there's that.
Second thing is, the proposition would effectively ban only sexual education that is so ridiculously over-the-top that I honestly can not believe to this day that it somebody can propose it with straight face - like teaching pre-schoolers about boons of masturbation and stuff.
And most importantly, it was about stopping the sexualization of young people, with the actual wording being:
"The same penalty* applies to whoever promotes or commend sexual activities by children below the age 15** or supply them with items helping with conducting such activities".
*The penalty from the previous paragraph, about promoting pedophilia, which is up to two years in prison.
**Legal age for sexual activities in Poland; interestingly, while you can screw around being 16, you can not take your own naked photos.

So yeah, if I am to choose between kindergarten 'fun corners' where children are endorsed to touch each other's private parts, and this legislation, I am all in for legislation.

As for the biggest opposition party, there will be probably next to no move in polls, but it seems that next year they will indeed stop being the biggest opposition, and will become the ruling party instead. Again, I might add, as Law and Justice already ruled in 2005-2007.

[Aptus]

Well, if it ain't strawman, I don't really know what is.

So yeah, if I am to choose between kindergarten 'fun corners' where children are endorsed to touch each other's private parts, and this legislation, I am all in for legislation.

Speaking of pots and kettles.

[Sheb]

So what, two years of jail for giving sex ed to 14 years old? You know you're supposed to get sex ed before being sexually active, right?