WAR

[Robertbarlage]

Since our leaders in North America are weak as f a k when is Russia going to strike? To me I would say it's a foresure thing?! Unfortunately.

[GDR]

Since our leaders in North America are weak as f a k when is Russia going to strike? To me I would say it's a foresure thing?! Unfortunately.

I'm not so sure they will, but NATO has said that they will not respond with defence if Russia invades but could supply weapons as Ukraine is not a member only a partner to Nato That leaves sanctions which I'm not sure is that much of a deterrent for Russia. They should just split the part off that wants to be Russian anyhow and get it over with.

[mcfarms]

I'm not so sure they will, but NATO has said that they will not respond with defence if Russia invades but could supply weapons as Ukraine is not a member only a partner to Nato That leaves sanctions which I'm not sure is that much of a deterrent for Russia. They should just split the part off that wants to be Russian anyhow and get it over with.

What part is that Neville? Just the part to the British Channel again?

[beaverdam]

Sanctions, that would be interesting,,, hasn't Russia been selling wheat into Europe, and what about those gas pipelines. What if Putin closed the valve say 10%, maybe 25%, what if he closed them 50% or more???
Sleepy Joe might try putting on sanctions, but will the Euro's follow?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Sanctions, that would be interesting,,, hasn't Russia been selling wheat into Europe, and what about those gas pipelines. What if Putin closed the valve say 10%, maybe 25%, what if he closed them 50% or more???
Sleepy Joe might try putting on sanctions, but will the Euro's follow?

Nothing to worry about, Europe has been busy building windmills and solar panels. And as we have seen with the huge increases in energy costs, rationing and shortagest his fall and winter, it has been a spectacular success.

[GDR]

What part is that Neville? Just the part to the British Channel again?

Not quite that far!

[WiltonRanch]

Just think how much fertilizer is exported from Russia and China. Too many pissing matches and you think fertilizer is high now. Sleepy Joe is going to do nothing because the rest of Europe is in a precarious position of being on an umbilical cord of natural gas from Russia. Besides, soon as you get involved with Russia China will invade Taiwan. I get a feeling there are conflicts simmering all over the world and what it takes is for the Americans to get too involved in one issue and the top blows off.

I think the troop buildup at the Ukrainian border is maybe just a political stunt to bolster support at home and intimidate the Ukraine. Who knows. If the west calls his bluff does he save face and start something? Or does the west patronize him and play the game till he buggers off? Guaranteed if western allies move in on the Ukrainian side that justifies his aggression if he does so. Best to sit back but have the b52’s fueled up and running in case.

Maybe this is Russia’s or Putin’s last big hurrah to make a move in the chess match where the pieces are getting too old and brittle to move anymore squares. Demographics aren’t on their side, and inward migration isn’t enough to quell this. In their mind the west is a threat to their sovereignty, and they need to restablish the Soviet buffer states for security before they get too old to.

I’m all over the place here but demographics I believe play more into the actions of the emerging and mature superpowers. Japan has grown old to the point more adult diapers are sold than baby diapers. However, they became rich before they got old like Korea and Taiwan. Highly mechanized production ensures they do more with less. China isn’t quite as rich and population is getting old with birth rate under maintenance. Another fact synonymous with these Asian nations. They never encouraged immigration. End of century there will be sizeable decline in population. India is growing and will overtake China in population. They’re not really rich but they’re young so they have time. Central Asia and Eastern Europe are already experiencing population decline. What exasperates it there is life expectancy is lower and hasn’t improved. Western Europe birth rate is flat and people or getting old but inward migration has kept up populations. I haven’t touched Africa but that’s for another time.

Anyway all this verbal soup I poured out is to ask the questions. Who do you think does what? How soon? Long term will these moves make a difference? Long term who rises and becomes the superpowers of Eurasia?

[TOM4CWB]

Putin ain't afraid to make some noise !

Just saw the EU open...

Pound Sterling down... British workers told to work from home...BOE to likely pause rate hike till Feb,

French power rates to record highs... threats that gov will cap electricity rates...

Looks like Putin has EU trappped... Russia has the Nat Gas and oil supply to keep Eu warm & going through winter... France and Germany are continuing shutting down all their N power plants...

Biden does not scare Putin...US said wouldn't protect [troops] Ukraine... other than sanctions.. which EU are unlikely to give more than superficial support... to keep Russian energy flowing...

Putin is holding all the 'good cards' in this Poker game...[pun intended]

Cheers

[bobofthenorth]

France and Germany are continuing shutting down all their N power plants...

I agree with most of what you wrote there Tom but this is flat out wrong. France & Germany are diverging 180 degrees on their nuke policy. France is continuing to grow nuclear capacity while Germany is shutting theirs down. I don't often agree with French policy but they're spot on this time.

Putin has got Europe right where he wants them. He's been playing chess while the EU played checkers.

[chuckChuck]

If Trump was still president would he have raised any opposition to Russia's military aggression or just continued his bromance with Putin?

For some strange reason some republicans on Agrisilly seem to admire Putin's aggression and authoritarian leadership.

Is it because Trump was Putin's best "ally" in the US?