Ukraine war mega thread

[pickel]

And Scott Ritter has never been tried, never mind convicted, of paedophilia.

Unlawful felony contact with a minor was the main charge.

Here's a transcript of the crime:

“Age?” delmarm4fun asked.


“15.”


“Aha,” came the response. “New York or Pa.?”


A graphic flirtation ensued. At one point, delmarm4fun asked “Emily” again if she was 18.


“No, I’m 15,” Venneman replied.


“Aha,” delmarm4fun said again. “My bad.”


“What’s wrong?” Venneman asked.


“Didn’t realize you were 15. . . .”


“So why u don’t like me,” Venneman typed, mimicking an adolescent’s mangled syntax.




“I do, very much. LOL. Just don’t want any trouble.”


After about an hour of this, according to logs later presented in court, the man Venneman was talking to masturbated in front of a webcam and announced he was off to take a shower.

nytimes.com

Do you think that's acceptable behavior, sabang?

[sabang]

No, I do not. But the fact stands, there is no evidence or testimony that he was ever a pedo. It's no difference to the fact that every political leader you are told to dislike, is thus a 'Dictator.' These terms are used emotively, not factually.

[pickel]

Dictators jail or murder their opponents, and anyone else who speaks out against them. Putin is a dictator. And you're being very pedantic with what defines a pedophile.

[bsnub]

And Scott Ritter has never been tried, never mind convicted, of paedophilia.

You are a liar, he served time in prison. He is a felon.

Ritter was the subject of two law enforcement sting operations in 2001.^[36] He was charged in June 2001 with trying to set up a meeting with an undercover police officer posing as a 16-year-old girl.^[37][38] He was charged with a misdemeanor crime of "attempted endangerment of the welfare of a child". The charge was dismissed and the record was sealed after he completed six months of pre-trial probation.^[38][8] After this information was made public in early 2003, Ritter said that the timing of the leak was politically motivated in order to silence his opposition to the Bush administration's push toward war with Iraq.^[37][38][39]
Ritter was arrested again in November 2009^[40] over communications with a police decoy he met on an Internet chat site. Police said that he exposed himself, via a web camera, after the officer repeatedly identified himself as a 15-year-old girl.^[5] Ritter said in his own testimony during the trial that he believed the other party was an adult acting out her fantasy.^[7] The chat room had an "age 18 and above" policy, which Ritter stated to the undercover officer.^[5]
The next month, Ritter waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was released on $25,000 unsecured bail. Charges included "unlawful contact with a minor, criminal use of a communications facility, corruption of minors, indecent exposure, possessing instruments of crime, criminal attempt and criminal solicitation".^[2] Ritter rejected a plea bargain and was found guilty of all but the criminal attempt count in a courtroom in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, on April 14, 2011.^[5][41]
In October 2011, he received a sentence of 1½ to 5½ years in prison.^[3] He was sent to Laurel Highlands state prison in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, in March 2012 and paroled in September 2014.^[4][7][8]

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

[sabang]

Neither of which was pedophilia, dumbo. Anyway, most of us have not seen his junk on the internet, are not interested, and value his analysis instead.

[bsnub]

Anyway, most of us have not seen his junk on the internet, are not interested, and value his analysis instead.

Bottom feeding lowlifes who do not care about the truth.

[sabang]

..... Kyiv recognized the loss of Soledar only two weeks after the fact. It has stopped mentioning the town altogether in its reports. The largest salt mines in Ukraine are located in and around the town. With the loss of the town, even products such as salt are now beginning to be imported to Ukraine, mainly from Poland.

Aleksey Arestovich, an adviser to the office of the Ukrainian president, said in January that many Ukrainian soldiers could not withstand the Russian onslaught against Soledar and fled. According to him, during the entire defense of the city there were “a substantial number” of refuseniks who declared they “cannot fight any longer in this terrible war”. Arestovich said, “We have people who refused to dig trenches, and when they were led into ready-made trenches, they just stood still. Many said the enemy (Russian soldiers) were too close and it was better to move several miles back from the front lines.”

This and other revelations by Arestovich caused a flurry of criticism from Ukrainian nationalists. At the end of January, a missile hit a residential building in Dnieper (Dnipro) city and killed 46 civilians. Arestovich admitted that a Russian missile was hit by a Ukrainian air defense missile and fell on a residential building, causing the injuries. After this confession, the Ukrainian parliament began collecting signatures calling for Arestovich to resign. Within several days, he announced he was resigning, but not before his revelations had once again exposed the falsehoods routinely contained in the official statements of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

For its part, Russia said the missile shot down over Dnieper was aimed at military installations and repeated that it does not target civilians in Ukraine.

The battle for Soledar also showed the eroding motivation of military personnel in Ukraine. Many of those being forcibly mobilized are showing no desire to fight. In mid-January, the Ukrainian media published a video in which Sgt. Igor Bondarenko, deputy platoon commander of the 60th brigade, berates his subordinate Ukrainian soldiers who had taken refuge in a residential building and were unwilling to fight. The video was filmed for the purpose of reporting to a higher command, which demands that military recruits be driven into battle by all necessary means.

The German magazine Der Spiegel, referring to German intelligence information, reported at the end of January that in and around Bakhmut alone, Ukraine was seeing hundreds of its soldiers killed every day. The Ukrainian Telegram channel ‘XUA-photo of the war’ has broadcast terrible film footage demonstrating the extent of deaths among the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area. It comments, “Of course, the full scale of this tragedy needs to be documented in the future. On the front lines of Bakhmut-Soledar, the Ukrainian military command has displayed complete failure. There are huge numbers of deaths among the manpower of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

In order to try and hold Soledar and Bakhmut, Kyiv transferred military units from other directions. As a result, at the end of January, Russian troops went on the offensive in the Zaporozhye direction, crushing the first line of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and capturing many prisoners of war.

The Russian army, as before, uses the tactics of long-range artillery followed by assault groups entering the destroyed positions. If significant pockets of resistance still remain, retreats followed by more artillery strikes take place. As Russian military correspondent German Kulikovsky writes on Telegram, “We do not take high losses in our offensives, or even in our defensive postures. This explains, by the way, the slow pace of our offensives. Surely, old-school generals are sad that it is not possible to send 10,000 soldiers out in dashing attacks and then, having lost some 30% or whatever, report success to the top-command. For today’s good divisional commanders, everything is completely different. They take care of people, actively using military deceptions, as needed.”

This is actually what is taking place today at front-line positions. Russian forces advance in relatively small assault groups on clearly selected targets – Soledar, Bakhmut, Maryinka, Avdeevka, Kremennaya. At the same time, missile strikes against the energy infrastructure of Ukraine are taking place, increasing the cost and the complications for the U.S. and European allies of Ukraine engaged in combat.

At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces have reserves concentrated in all sectors of the front, ready to stop a large offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine if such can be organized at all. If this scenario holds, then the Armed Forces of Ukraine will continue to be squeezed out of the Donetsk republic while a shift to Zaporozhye region takes place. The main idea here is to achieve psychological exhaustion of Ukrainian forces and its Western allies and implant an understanding that a prolonged war will only cause greater costs to Ukraine and produce a peace on much worse terms than Ukraine might otherwise be able to negotiate.

Most of the Zaporozhye region is already under Russian control, but the city of Zaporozhye (population 750,000, fifth largest in Ukraine) as well as a large stretch of the east bank of the Dnieper River remain under Ukrainian control.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin told a meeting of NATO-country war ministers at the U.S. Air Force base in Ramstein, Germany at the end of January that a crucial moment in the fighting in Ukraine had arrived and Russia was gathering strength.

Almost the same thing was said by NATO Secretary General Stoltenburg at the meeting of global elites several days earlier in Davos, Switzerland. “This is a pivotal moment in the war and there is need for a significant increase in support for Ukraine. If we want a negotiated peaceful solution tomorrow, we need to provide more weapons today,” he said.

Russian military experts are once again noticing that Western media and politicians are constantly talking about “crucial moments” and “imminent turning points” in Ukraine. Russians note with some surprise that not only Ukraine’s opponents but also their supporters in the West are constantly talking about ‘turning points’ being reached. Ukrainian politicians are also using this language, though in their case, they hope that all their previous words about impending victories over Russia are quietly forgotten. Past ‘turning points’ were talked about in March, April, May, September and December of 2022…

Russian analysts conclude that the dependence of Western politicians on the media relaying of messaging and on classical, capitalist economic belief is turning them into something resembling stock market players or actors in a Hollywood blockbuster film, obsessed with big and conclusive endings. For these analysts, the preoccupation with ‘tipping points’ suggests that a prolonged conflict and the long-term costs of supplying and maintaining weapons to Ukraine from NATO countries will not last long. They see the West actively pressuring Kyiv to send more military recruits to the slaughter in order to achieve a ‘tipping point’ as quickly as possible. In contrast, Russian tactics involved orderly entries or exits from selected territories designed to wear down the Ukrainian army and economy while maintaining main forces in reserve in case of a major conflict with NATO in the future.

Against the backdrop of its serious losses, military conscription has intensified throughout Ukraine. Sometimes, it resembles the straightforward kidnapping of men of military age. Military commissars are increasingly trying to hand out summonses in the most unlikely and inappropriate places (albeit fully permitted legally), such as entrances to shops, in parking lots or at gas stations. Sometimes they resort to roadblocks.

In Odessa, there have been cases of people being directly conscripted (kidnapped) from the street. A subscriber of the ‘Typical Odessa’ channel on Telegram reported, “This morning, my friend, near the railway station, was put into a car and taken to the military registration and enlistment office, without even being presented a written summons. He passed a medical examination at half past six in the evening and was then told he is being sent to Nikolaev. Apparently, this is a new tactic. Authorities realize that no one is reacting to military summonses, and so they have begun to take people and deliver them right to the frontline.”

Other subscribers from Odessa comment that men are brought to the military enlistment offices by ambulances and ‘Nova Poshta’ (delivery service) vehicles. Military commissars often go about their work in civilian clothes. Not everyone surrenders without a fight. “Near Kulikovo field (a neighborhood in central Odessa) in the courtyard of a nine-story building, two unknown people put up serious physical resistance to two “messengers of death” (as military conscription officers are called), as a result of which the young civilian men prevailed and the losing ‘military’ side lost their package of documents and money,” writes ‘Typical Odessa’.


FULL- https://newcoldwar.org/update-on-the...f-the-country/

[bsnub]

Update on the Situation in Ukraine (it ain't good)

Complete fantasy full of unsubstantiated BS, none of which can be verified via independent sources. Definitely not via Twitter. Typical trash generated off Russian MOD propaganda.

[sabang]

.... At Epiphany, the mass issuance of subpoenas to men did not stop either. Local telegram channels write that on January 19, military ambushes were near churches, as well as near schools where fathers brought their children to classes.In some cases, summonses were not issued, but people were immediately taken from the street.

“This morning, my friend, near the railway station, was put into a car and taken to the military registration and enlistment office, without even writing out a summons and without trying to do so. Until half past six in the evening he passed a medical examination. They said that they would be sent to Nikolaev. Time was given until tomorrow until, 11:00.

Apparently, they have a new tactic, they realized that no one comes on the subpoenas, so they themselves began to deliver to the place of hard labor, ”a subscriber of the Typical Odessa channel reports.

Other users from Odesa comment that men are brought to the military enlistment offices by ambulances and “Nova Poshta”, and now the military commissars themselves often go in civilian clothes.

Not always, however, Odessans surrender without a fight.

“Near the Kulikovo field in the courtyard of a nine-story building, two unknown people put up serious physical resistance to two “messengers of death”, as a result of which youth won, and the losing “military” side lost a package of their documents and money,” writes Typical Odessa.

https://ukraina.ru/20230120/1042802505.html

[bsnub]

VICTORY at VUHLEDAR /1532 UTC 9 FEB/ UKR forces broke up a Russian company-sized armor & mech. infantry attack on Vuhledar. More than 31 RU vehicles were damaged, destroyed or abandoned in a failed attack across the T-05-09 HWY. RU KIAs estimated at 400 plus scores wounded.

[panama hat]

And Scott Ritter has never been tried, never mind convicted

You are a liar, he served time in prison. He is a felon.

yea, he did . . .

[misskit]

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 10, 2023


Russian forces launched another massive series of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine on February 10. Ukrainian military sources reported that Russian forces launched over 100 missiles against critical and civil infrastructure throughout Ukraine including S-300 surface-to-air missiles in ground attack mode and air and sea-based Kh-101/Kh-55 and Kalibr-28 cruise missiles. The Ukrainian General Staff noted that Russian forces also launched seven Shahed-type drones and that Ukrainian air defense intercepted 61 of the cruise missiles. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat noted that Russian forces struck Kharkiv Oblast with S-300 missiles from the direction of Belgorod Oblast and Tokmak, Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian milbloggers widely lauded the wave of strikes and claimed they hit energy infrastructure in Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Pavlohrad, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhia, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, and Kharkiv oblasts. Russian claims of the scale and effectiveness of the strikes are overblown in comparison to official Ukrainian statements, and Russian forces continue to expend already limited stocks of precision munitions on such strikes.

Institute for the Study of War

[bsnub]

Great interview with Malcolm Nance on Bill Mahar...

[Hugh Cow]

The flawed premise of all these pro russian commentators is that one country has the right to decide the future direction of another. If mexico decided to break off diplomatic relations with the USA in favour of Russia it has a perfect right to do so. It has the right to join the BRICS alliance if it so chooses. The USA would not have the right to invade Mexico to preserve its influence and I would be equally vocal in my opposition to the USA for doing so as I am with Russia.
The problem with pro russian supporters is when there was no evidence that Ukraine itself was a threat to Russian sovereignity they often use fallacious arguments to justify their stance and ignore the simlple fact that Russia invaded Ukraine.

[Iceman123]

^
Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Grenada etc may refute your argument Hugh

[Hugh Cow]

^
Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Grenada etc may refute your argument Hugh

Most of those I didnt agree with either but again that is only obfuscation regarding my comment and in no way justifies Russias invasion and the war in Ukraine.

[Backspin]

That's a gun I dont want to face

[pickel]

Pretty sure this is the same one as in your vid.

[panama hat]

Pretty sure this is the same one as in your vid.

A far better vid than Backspit's.

[Norton]

Most of those I didnt agree with either but again that is only obfuscation regarding my comment and in no way justifies Russias invasion and the war in Ukraine.

We get a lot of whataboutism from several Hugh but nary a one that equally condemns, in this case, Russia. Nor do they note that in many cases the US did not invade but were asked by the governments to come to their aid. Russia certainly was not asked by the Ukraine to liberate the Ukraine or any part of it.

[sabang]

Ha, it was actually asked by the DPR and LPR governments several times. Turned down several times too.

[Norton]

Ha, it was actually asked by the DPR and LPR governments several times. Turned down several times too.

I knew the post would bring your response Sab but come on, think about it. DPR and LPR governments are not the government of the Ukraine.

[sabang]

Not the recognised government of course, but look at it from another PoV- the Maidan revolution was illegal and therefore so was the post revolutionary government- Ukraine became a different polity.
The DPR, LPR and Crimea refused to recongnise it, and seceded- or attempted to. It all kinda starts from there, although plenty of water under the bridge since.

[Norton]

The DPR, LPR and Crimea refused to recongnise it, and seceded

Had that in the US of A back in the day. Made for a rather big mess of things.

I heard from friends in a province of Australia because of the growing number of China lovers that soon the provincial government will request China come liberate them.

[sabang]

We have a restive Province called WA, not unlike your Texas- but even bigger! When iron ore and general commodity prices skyrocket, there are always a few (Australia's richest person, Gina Rinehart included) making noises about seceding from the Commonwealth. Then prices come back down to earth, and it all goes quiet again. Anyway-