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[Lord Shonus]

our own version of Bid Laden

They're wealthy foreign nobles that have a vested interest in destabilizing your region?

OK, it is not AS stupid as empowering Bin Laden...

The point I was making is that nobody "empowered" Bin Laden. He was a third side in the Soviet-Afghan War, funded almost entirely by his portion of the family fortune and supplied by arms dealers. The popular myth that US aid created him as a power to be reckoned with is just that - a myth. He never received any.

The post-Soviet civil war was caused primarily by Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin, a group which also didn't get significant US aid during the Soviet-Afghan war. They got most of their support from Pakistan directly, not Pakistan as an intermediary. The post-war Taliban didn't directly arise from this group, but had similar ideology and cannibalized their internal and foreign support base.

The groups that did get US aid formed the Northern Alliance against the Taliban and remain US allies, even if they are now effectively insurgent groups once more.

[Strongpoint]

"Liberals" from Navalny's camp are like:

"Ukrainians, how can you demand that we fight against Putin's regime? We have no weapons and no combat experience"

*Ukrainians train and arm some guys and help them get across the border*

"What are you doing!? You are playing straight into Putin's propaganda! Stop!"

[jipehog]

From my understanding this a small raiding party with no support. Do you believe they will fight or Russia need a lot to surround them?

Edit: I am not sure what their game plan but if they prolong this raid they risk having special forces drop special forces on them.

Yes, because America really whooped those Viet Cong, and Afghanistan is everyone's bitch...

apples and oranges

those look like our own version of Bid Laden, someone who will be a problem for Ukraine and the world in the future.

Speaking of according to Meduza: Russia's FSB Sent Ex-Islamic State Fighters to Infiltrate Ukraine, Turkey, U.S.

[Strongpoint]

Your bets - Will Belgorod rebels capture the base with tactical nukes (artillery shells) on it? Belgorod People's Republic may join the nuclear club.

[EuchreJack]

Your bets - Will Belgorod rebels capture the base with tactical nukes (artillery shells) on it? Belgorod People's Republic may join the nuclear club.

Probably not?

They seem smart enough to avoid hard targets like military bases with tactical nukes.

...then again, if the base's commander switches sides, it's a whole new ballgame.

I think most Americans misunderstood the significance of George Washington. He wasn't some saintly political dynamo.
He was the highest ranking member of the British Military that "turned rebel".
I think most Americans also misunderstand the significance of George Washington dying two years after his Presidency ended peacefully, and that most people are ill for a time before they die...

[jipehog]

So what is the latest on our raiding party?

Edit: btw this is the sort of sabotage I like to read about. I get the propaganda value here of Russians finally feeling the war comes to them, but undercover small teams can make a hell of more damage smoking.

[Strongpoint]

So what is the latest on our raiding party?

A lot of fog of war and disinformation from both sides, both the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom Legion claim that they are still there. Russians, of course,  claim that EVERYONE was killed.  Russians also presented photos of some captured American-made MRAPs but considering that those are in rather good condition and with no corpses attached, those are suspicious.

[heydude6]

I think most Americans also misunderstand the significance of George Washington dying two years after his Presidency ended peacefully, and that most people are ill for a time before they die...

Are you saying Washington got assasinated or are you saying he was hiding a lethal illness during his final term?

[EuchreJack]

I think most Americans also misunderstand the significance of George Washington dying two years after his Presidency ended peacefully, and that most people are ill for a time before they die...

Are you saying Washington got assasinated or are you saying he was hiding a lethal illness during his final term?

My suspicious is that he was hiding an illness during at least part of his final term. And back then, that could be lethal.

Assassination wouldn't fit the timeline: He was OUT for about 2 years prior to dying.

[Lord Shonus]

It is well documented that George Washington spent most of his life as a very sick man.

[Maximum Spin]

It is well documented that George Washington spent most of his life as a very sick man.

Yes, there's a famous anecdote regarding his health pertaining to the Newburgh Address in 1783, when he addressed near-mutinous officers of the Continental Army. Supposedly, the sight of his weakness and aging, which he attributed to the effort he'd spent in service of the Revolution, moved them to accept his urging to wait patiently for the Congress to get around to paying them, preventing a likely military coup.

[Strongpoint]

In a recent interview, Prigozhin claimed that Wagner lost 20K KIA in the battle for Bakhmut: 10K of core fighters and 10K of convicts. Also, he claimed 50K KIA on the Ukrainian side to make it sound like an epic victory.

[King Zultan]

Your bets - Will Belgorod rebels capture the base with tactical nukes (artillery shells) on it? Belgorod People's Republic may join the nuclear club.

And then they get there and realize that all the nukes that were supposed to be in there are actually cardboard cut outs.

[martinuzz]

Russia announced another round of expropriation of property in Crimea. Real estate from 'enemies of Russia', like the wife of Zelensky, will be sold and the proceeds used to fund the Russian military efforts.

But who would be so dumb to purchase property that was expropriated in Crimea?
Everyone with only half a brain cell knows that when Ukraine liberates Crimea, that they will not only lose their illegally acquired property, but they will probably also be hanged, shot and decapitated in no particular order.

[Starver]

It'll be like "War bonds", I suppose. Betting on the investment going good due to the war special military operation not going completely about-face.

The market will be within Russia, probably, where the hope/belief in their legitimacy will be the greatest. Or someone forced to 'do a Musk' and put previously promised moneys where their mouth is ("You do believe in our government, don't you? And you with still a spare billion or two in the banks that we haven't yet 'pursuaded' you to donate. And what would be better than some prime real-estate in a traditionally quite nice area...")


At a long-shot, maybe someone like the Chinese State could be pursuaded to lay claim, if it's handy for (future) use. But that's a dangerous game given how China is effectively "lend-leasing" its way into so many third-world territories, grabbing its B&R system back. Would they consider the opportunity of going straight to (nominal) ownership, with contingency if it turns out to be a reclaimed lemon?