How The Ukraine War Is Going To End: Anne Applebaum

[@joopdesmit]

The reason Mrs Applebaum stresses the importance of social media, is because it IS so important. In my old days, you needed to be aware whether something your read or saw was true or not. Now we need to be aware WHY we see this content. That is a whole new level. Which humanity is not used to yet.

[@rikkafe6050]

I wonder how big an impact social media would have if people were genuinely happy with their life?

[@berhanxo]

the thing is a year ago I would have agreed that fake content is a huge problem but the Gaza war just showed me how deeply entrenched our media is in propaganda and in touting government lines and social media was my only source of truth, at least if you have good media literacy. I think older people struggle more with fake news

[@jesusislukeskywalker4294]

​@@berhanxowe have mossad and kgb funded social influencers in Australia. everyone know who they are but they go unchecked.

[@tommyshanks4198]

​@@berhanxoan interesting take. Although there is the counterargument that older generations would have a much better grounding in world history, and so would spot the incongruities typical of fake news easier.

[@RodriguezFazanatas]

I've got the impression humanity learns fast.

[@RUSGPol-pk7ps]

Wasn't it her husband the minister of foreign affairs of Poland that twitted his thanks to USA for blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines?

[@thegibbonslad]

Absolutely, frau Applebaum and Herr Sikorski ,view themselves as modern day zbrigniew Brzezinski types! Sowing as much as much, Russia is the enemy as possible!

[@jsblekitna]

The same, who purchased an 800-meter manor house with a 14-hectare (34 acres) estate from the Polish state in 1989 for... 1,200 (one thousand two hundred) dollars.

[@zoltanludvan5133]

Exactly

[@henrybutchy3242]

Those miniscule matters fail in scale to the important matters discussed in this panel. Oh horror, Shohei Otani once struck out 4 times in one game! Throw the bum out?

[@jsblekitna]

@@henrybutchy3242 This equation is absurd. We are talking about a member of the government. The current one and several previous ones. Suspicious financial operations in a law-abiding country would lead to an investigation and possible dismissal. This man has been receiving money from such a stronghold of democracy as the United Arab Emirates for many years. $100,000 every year. For "advice". An analysis of Sikorski's voting record when he was a member of the European Parliament showed that he took a position favourable to the Emirates and their most loyal ally, Saudi Arabia. "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion."

[@Kingdom-Republic]

I'm so delighted to know with confidence that the US political system isn't run by wealthy individuals or super powerful Industries and their money has no negative effects in the US or abroad. What a relief !

[@Lee-os5jq]

Are you that naive of not knowing that U S Corporations is the Person which was made by U S Government by Neo-Capitalism. Our economy is rented economy; they love you for your bliss of ingorance.

[@MrBugrish]

Yeah, and you can take that to the bank. Not.

[@lexvangelder2525]

Faking the democratic system is the ultimate hypocricy of autocrats.

[@TheVeritas2100]

hilariously Zelenkij is the President of the country which is much more CORRUPT ( by a magnitude of 10 ! ) than Orban's Hungary ... and while Applebaum is 'dumping' on Hungary's Orban as the 'evil doer' and she is totally blind to UKRaine's corruption ( mainly because since Zelenkij is the 'creature' of NATO/USA ... so anything is allowed ! 😞 )

[@luisaapostol2414]

@@lexvangelder2525 The same can be said about the Western democracies: sheer illusions!

[@draculasneeze6681]

yeh, no voting, marshall, law, no position parties, continuing in government after your allotted term has ended without further elections being granted - that's Zelensky for you

[@Gryzor88]

@@draculasneeze6681Yeah, let’s just ignore the elephant in the room about his country getting invaded by an evil empire with an autocrat at the helm. Of course there’s gonna be martial law when Ukraine is at - you know - *war*. I sure hope you don’t expect a potato for this thick attempt at propaganda, Ivan.

[@Adnancorner]

@@Gryzor88 US had election during ww2. So cry me a river.

[@tdksentertainment1993]

Would love to see a debate between this Woman and Professor Mersheimer. It would be very interesting as i believe they would have different views.

[@noth606]

Great idea! I'd watch that, giant bowl of popcorn next to me ;-)

[@rbitrossome]

Obviously since Mersheimer is an apologist for dictators

[@Ltasty]

@@rbitrossome being a dictator is only bad when you're not a western ally

[@robertdavidson8028]

@@rbitrossome No he's not - you can't even spell his name right, and he's "Distinguished Service Professor" (which I'd hazard is the US equivalent of Emeritus Professor) at Chicago University, in Political Science and International Relations, and is the developer of the doctrine of 'offensive realism' ; and for you to categorize him so lazily as an apologist for dictators just shows your utter ignorance. His view of these subjects is more complex and nuanced than it sounds like you're capable of understanding, so I'm far from sure it's worth recommending you to listen to what he has to say. The phrase "Pearls before Swine" springs to mind, though I'm sure you look nothing like a pig ('Not so sure about the popcorn freak tho').

[@tubetotto]

Her husband, Radek Sikorski crossed his sabre with Mershaimer in a debate a year or two ago, and crushed him. ,

[@lahvancz]

Born in America, spent a long time in UK, married to Polish politician... How many red flags regarding objetivity of this lady we need? 🤔

[@troybaisden8768]

That's the very essence of how you become objective.

[@sophitsa79]

No human being is completely objective. In analysing anything in this world we always need to be aware of our own personal perspective. This is by having multiple perspectives on the same issue is invaluable

[@lahvancz]

@@sophitsa79 That is true. Nevertheles, you have said multiple perspectives - this lady brings more of the same: Putin bad, we good, we fight. That is what we are already getting from legacy media.

[@sophitsa79]

@@lahvancz maybe she comes from a different perspective (i.e. set of expectations, values and biases) and still came to the same conclusion? I don't know if that is true, but it would be interesting if it were true. I feel your frustration - it's difficult to keep searching and feeling like you're not any closer to the truth of things.

[@svetlana7904]

@@lahvanczexactly, how well said...

[@WLatu-kz7se]

Solid US and UK education, then decades of experience analyzing international politics, plus direct relationships with Poland (a country whose history showed how to get rid of Soviet imperialism) - a perfect mix for an expert on the subject of this discussion.

[@heaththeemissary3824]

Frank Zappa's quote, "Politics is the entertainment division of the Military Industrial Complex." applies. Some days I feel like a citizen of the Italian states in 1400, watching the Great Houses play chess with my life.

[@imixmuan9081]

Politics is war by other means is another way of putting that, meaning War is politics by other means. Von Clausewitz. So basically nothing changes, despite our supposed "modernity".

[@4OHz]

@@heaththeemissary3824 we lose the original edited out version - The Congressional-Military-Industrial Complex

[@Rotebuehl1]

Nice and witty pun, but erroneous! It's the other way around! Without politics and policies the military makes no sense at all!

[@Rotebuehl1]

​@@imixmuan9081 "Modernity" applies to fashion(s), not to governments!

[@heaththeemissary3824]

@@4OHz I cannot find a source for any reference by Eisenhower to the US Congress. He wasn't warning about "the government" but rather a very privileged branch of the government, the military, and how corruption and an otherwise unheard of waste of taxpayer dollars can occur.

[@jsblekitna]

Yes, corruption and oligarchs in Russia are a terrible thing. But if I remember correctly, Mrs. Applebaum's husband - minister Radek Sikorsky purchased an 800-meter manor house with a 14-hectare (34 acres) estate from the Polish state in 1989 for... 1,200 (one thousand two hundred) dollars. That's a really good price. Congratulations!

[@andrewwieczorek6933]

You can buy a house in condition as the "manor" was just for $1.00 in Italy.

[@harryw29]

You are completely deluded if you think a legitimate purchase of a house is equivalent to the $billions stolen by oligarchs 😂

[@jsblekitna]

@@harryw29 Yes, one of us is completely deluded.I don't think that stealing billions is a greater crime than stealing millions.

[@jsblekitna]

@@andrewwieczorek6933 Oh really? That's interesting. You can buy 34 acres (with park, lodge and mill) for $1200? Could you please send me a few of these ads? It would be fantastic to buy something like that. And in Italy, too!

[@DrittAdrAtta]

​@@jsblekitnaYou can do it better and easier. Just become the chairman of a bank at the age of 30 and buy land from the Church for a fraction of the market price.

[@nlewin5072]

That was way too short. I could've listened to her for hours. Disappointed that both Rory and Alistair coulodn't bring themselves to condemn Johnson/Ledbedev more harshly and acknowledge just how corrupt the British political sysstem is. We have a Russian Oligarch in the House of Lords, FFS! Where is Starmer's 'reform' of the Lords?

[@TheFeed-pp9mf]

Keep your enemies closer...

[@Ilovedoggie313]

One would have thought that what Anne Applebaum is arguing, would be plain and simple knowledge to most ordinary folk in Western countries. However, I find it mindboggling how many people fail to realize that Putin is bad for the West 🙄.

[@robertkonrad8827]

And why is it, amigo, that Putin is bad for the West! What is it that Putin did that makes him "bad"? Well, nothing. In fact Russia by selling energy cheaply to Western Europe for decades was subsidizing the economic growth of the European Union. In fact, Russia under Putin has long wanted to be friendly with the West and even called Russia's mortal enemies (like the US) "partners." Let me ask again: what is it that Russia has done to the West that you consider bad? The war in Ukraine is a civil war, but most people in the West have no idea that ethnically there is no difference between Russians and Ukrainians. You have a lot to learn. It was the US and the EU that have long been threatening Russia by extending NATO military bases right up to the Russian border. Think about it.

[@albertmaziarz6739]

russia destroying russia economy population

[@larrycoldwater1964]

These elites are really really frightened that things are changing.

[@jonathangammond3019]

Dont waste time asking historians to predict the future! Ask them to help you understand the present through their knowledge of the past.

[@erhardbaehni1832]

To stop this needless ruSSia war against Ukraine payments for ruSSian oil and gas needs to be placed into an escrow account with the attachment payments is due when the ruSSian military has departed Ukrainian soil

[@RodWilliams-m7r]

Correct

[@smokingzen]

Read or listen to Bill Browder.

[@RodWilliams-m7r]

@@smokingzen Yes

[@draculasneeze6681]

...and if you don't like the history, you can rewrite it, and substitute your own.

[@SanchClean]

Anne A. - - (and hosts) thanks for your illumination. Curious, many coinciding here, late 80's trip, Poland. Now, I an American Babyboomer, 40+ days older than the Donald, volunteer, teach and live in Central Ukraine. I am fascinated.

[@fekete-kiss-sandor]

What they are doing, what the other party is not doing? One is “evil corruption”, the other is the “good and noble corruption”. Ridiculous.

[@LatajaceStadoKotow]

Anne probably wouldn't be the best guest to untangle how western far right became so pro-Russian, as it is not only a story of political influence, but also of culture war, and even though she mentioned Orban being good at addressing people's anxieties and was very poignant about fear of modernity, she doesn't seem to get into anti-establishment populist mind so easily. Perhaps good for her, but I think it would be great if somebody would tell Rory and Alistair to their faces in what ways, aside for global financial crisis, former political elites, them included, basically rolled out the red carpet for pro Russian populists of the future.

[@motherlesschild102]

The shocking wealth inequality in the USA and Britain, the essential writing off of the less wealthy majority of the population, these are not due to some foreign influence (even if foreign oligarchs benefit from this-and in the case of housing costs-make the problem worse). "Democracy" has become a rather slippery term-and a relative one. Of course, while there are many examples of republics-good and bad- there are few examples of central government democracies-because, really, such a government has historically never existed. The only way Athens was "democratic" was by restricting the franchise to native born men who had served in the military- slaves, foreigners, women and those who never served in the military were not eligible. Is this kind of "rigged democracy" really the best form of government? The USA can be considered a "corrupted plutocratic republic" with (also!) some genuinely democratic features-as well as a military/industrial complex and a global empire (hey, that didn't stop the republican Romans!). Britain, if anything, is even further from a democracy-it is definitely not a republic at all, but rather this "constitutional Monarchy".

[@Adnancorner]

western far right does not want money to go for ideologies. Those who want to support they send THEIR money. If we say we are "democratic", or you are nothing but work through diktats

[@stephenlight647]

Correct.

[@michaelotieno6524]

@@motherlesschild102 The biggest problem facing the West is a lack of consequence and accountability. Look at the migrant crisis in Europe with people blaming the migrants and refugees and not the policy and the people who started needless wars. If the war by Russia ends today, after 15 years (2039) there is no way in hell she would seat down for an interview by Putin's spokesman Peskov but she doesn't seem to mind doing the same for the architects for the 2003 Iraq war. Over the last 20 years hyper capitalism has stagnated wages, reduced corporate taxes and increased corporate power, schools, hospitals and infrastructure are collapsing while the economy somehow grows.

[@motherlesschild102]

@@michaelotieno6524 I agree with you. And the USA is the #1 Imperialist power on Earth. But why would I be against American Imperialism, inequality, lack of accountability etc. and completely ignore (or be in favor of) when Putin's government does similar things?

[@jorgemario1586]

So Russians corrupt England oligarchy, one of the most corrupt oligarchies in the world? 😂😂😂😂

[@robertdavidson8028]

The corrupt ones would, and do, feel right at home here most of the time.

[@willysnowman]

​@@robertdavidson8028Russian soldiers make great fertilizer!

[@StephenSeabird]

Who else can they blame? Russia's always been convenient for blame.

[@albertmaziarz6739]

russia mount everest of corruption .

[@albertmaziarz6739]

@@StephenSeabird trillions dollars in swiss banks offshore accounts , 20 millions villas apartments in western europe 5 millions dollars skiing chalets , 200 millions yahts monaco saint tropez , billions stolen from ministry of defence, by military elite contractors , laundering money in new york los angeles real state , russia elite children educated living in western europe , not front line , on front line are poorest of the poor , putin gift to russian mothers, to russia expending nato.

[@mnfowler1]

I am glad I watched to the end because the hosts raise a point I was thinking: Why does Anne Applebaum only lay out scenarios in which Russia loses its war with Ukraine? She does not entertain the possibility that Russia might win. I think that that is so likely that any global planning for the future must take it into consideration.

[@RENIELTUBE]

What people don't seem to understand is russia can NOT be allowed to win, so they won't. We will make sure..

[@annettemarshall4895]

I am terribly afraid that the new inhabitant of the White House is going to pressure Ukraine to surrender the Crimea (at the very least)....

[@albertmaziarz6739]

russia is winning destroying self

[@sneakyfish8191]

If we nationally admit to ourselves that we are functioning as the money laundering capital of the world, that we are essentially creating the conditions which allow these people to do what they do, what then? Our idea of ourselves will be shattered and we shall be forced to develop a new one. I'm not opposed to this. In principle anything which can be destroyed by truth should be. A national myth which doesn't survive contact with direct sunlight should be discarded immediately.

[@jacquelineleitch7050]

Understatement considering the rise of groups like the Taliban and the success of AIPAC/USA in the Israel war on the ME.

[@imcbocian]

with all due respect to your contribution to oligarch money laundering, but you will never beat Switzerland, Monaco, Cyprus or many others in this context 😀

[@stephenhill545]

I would hope, that we don't suffer from overly idealising ourselves, and are therefore able to respond to criticism constructively.

[@louisavonweiler6594]

just promise me to keep the Farrage and Boris Johnsons types out of the new identity building. Please

[@normajfharrison]

not will be - but is being - shattered. People rise against the pain caused people...

[@de9264]

Thanks Anne for your great works!❤

[@emiliaolgamarion]

I love you Anne Appelbpum. Wife of Radosław Sikorski. The Poland Minister of Foreign Affairs. You made him better man. Better Public Servant. Better Minister. Better Politician. Better Polish national. And member of international society who care for Peace for the World. Thank you. Emilia Olga Marion of Columbia, SC

[@kamyuen1478]

There's so much to disagree with here from Applebaum, not least the presumption of superiority of the "democratic" system in the West. I think Alistair and Rory rightly pick up on the flaws in her arguments and conclusions at the end of the programme. 1. She never answers the observant question from Rory as to why Russia and China are getting support from the Global South. She effectively evades the question, going on about social media. 2. She says the Ukraine war can only end if Putin accepts failure of the invasion. Well that aged badly in pretty short order. By all reasonable assessments Ukraine is losing. She has no understanding of what is going to win the war. Logistics, Man power, Economy etc. Look up Jeffrey Sachs and John Merscheimer for a far more sober diagnosis of the situation. 3. She says that other countries are propping up the Russian war. No. It's because it's not their war, or because it's not in their interest to let Russia lose. I wonder if NATO and G7 foreign policy has anything to do with that, duh! I think Alistair and Rory's assessment of her arguments are if anything, lenient. She is very much politicised and unfortunately suffers from a very Western and US centric view of the world. The failure of the West in multiple wars in the Middle East, North Africa and instigation of coups etc don't seem to make any impact on her evaluations whatsoever.

[@johnrotten4871]

Russia is failing - Soldiers, Weapons and Economy

[@reginaldpoofta5]

@@johnrotten4871 Yes, most people in Russia are starving to death, while there are 200 million homeless in Russia, also Russia has lost 40 billion men in Ukraine, did you know that?

[@infostudy101]

Regarding 2) a war only ends with a political solution or endgame. Russia will never conquer the entire country. In all likelihood Ukraine will eventually join NATO. The war is a strain on Russia on multiple levels. Yes, Russia makes slow progress and wins tactical battles but is far from any grand strategic victory. It also increases the chances of a revolution within Russia like we saw the start of with Prigozhin.

[@torgrimhanssen5100]

@@johnrotten4871 Unless you nuke every square inch of the earth, there is no chance, just think about it... how long ago was the 1990's? What is the Russian way of survival? What is the Russian Guarantee of survival? (yes, go to far and just perhaps the "Dr Strangelove" scenario becomes reality). Russia is practically able to keep going without an economy fueled entirely be Vodka, weapons and disgruntled soldiers. Unlike the west that falls apart the moment air support is out of the picture.

[@michaelotieno6524]

@@infostudy101 Why would Putin want to conquer the entire of Ukraine yet that was never his original goal. I don't know if Ukraine will join NATO if a real political solution is to be found. The Russian strategy to win the war should have been obvious from June/July 2022 it turned into a war of attrition, the objective is to defeat the enemy on the battlefield leading to a collapse then take the territory. The Ukrainian front lines are showing signs of this besides the kidnapping of people off the streets to send them to fight in the front.

[@FILOZOFUS87]

There are two different but connected problems: - degradation (corruption) of democracy in certain countries - the degradation of international institutions like UN, international courts Seing that tne international institutions don' t work well, people are ready to support strong leaders. .. So, the erosion of democracy started by the end of the cold war. .. As the US considered themselves winners - they started to destroy the international institutions (at least, by ignoring them).

[@Khoukharev]

Well, I disagree with a lot of what she is saying, but I have to acknowledge she seems consistent in her views, which is rare now.

[@888vladimir]

Anne Applebaum is a journalist and propagandists - she is not a historian - an idealist and too generalising and "racist" - proposing discriminate people based on their passport - putting labels on 140mln people as "corrupt" and not offering any solutions. Rory, Alastair - if you need some balanced views you need to do deeper views.

[@FrankBarco]

I don't see her as a propagandist, she is calling it like it is, and where are you getting the racist bent. She seems very knowledgeable to me and have no problem with her views.

[@davidwatkins8016]

How silly. She didn’t say the Russian people are corrupt. She said their government is corrupt, and she’s right.

[@franzkafka293]

@@davidwatkins8016 Since Russia is a democracy and almost 90% support President Putin your CIA BS has failed utterly. Divide and Rule is the oldest trick in the talmudo-satanist political handbook.

[@ggggg4371]

The West has been benefiting for decades from their corruption and embezzled money siphoned from Russia into their banks and real estate. But now with all the sanctions most of the country’s wealth stays inside and it actually fuels its military industrial complex and the rest of the economy.

[@jollyberry1276]

Racists are the majority of those 140 mln who support murder and wipe out of the neighbouring nation. Don’t whinge about unfair treatment. You laid your bed you sleep in it.

[@electricink3908]

I always like to listen to her.

[@muzikhed]

Very informative. Freedom for the neutral Press.

[@zdzislawmeglicki2262]

The demise of the Soviet Union merely replaced the old ideological conflict between East and West with an even older one, the conflict between nations and their national interests. So, we're back to the 19th century politics of land grabs but fought with 21st century economies and weapons. In this we must understand that the failure of Communism liberated Russia from its absurdities and restrictions allowing for more rational and better balanced growth. In effect, Russia today, allied closely with China, the largest manufacturing power in the world, is a more formidable opponent than the Soviet Union ever was. And this is substantially Putin's accomplishment.

[@albertmaziarz6739]

17 millions russian without indoor toilet water, 25 percent russian man die before age 55, on potato cabbage vodka daiet , average mortality age 66 , economy on life support, infrastructure colapsing junk from 90s, hundred feet in the air , geyser of sewege shit in moscow , over 700.00 killed injured on front line putin wantes war criminal enterprice , gift to russian mothers , to russia expending nato , anemy of russia are russian .

[@adamkallin5160]

The fact that she is still so sure the Russians will give up… Gives a hint of why the world is so fucked up if this kind of exceptionalism is how these people think.

[@richardvivian3665]

Russia gave up in Afghanistan. They can’t continue with the current losses indefinitely. At some point they will give up.

[@kzlfaku]

@@richardvivian3665 First, Russians didn't give up in Afghanistan, the Soviets did (that includes Ukrainians). Second, the losses are just as high, maybe even higher now, on the Ukrainian side. It's not as simple as you say.

[@JoeBytown]

You're claiming to know what she thinks? I heard her say under what conditions that Russia would stop it's invasion of Ukraine. She did not say that those conditions were inevitable.

[@albertmaziarz6739]

russia cant afford putin war usa can forever supporting nato.

[@peterhardie4151]

Amazing that Campbell can sit there and talk about foreign policy. He should qualify his opinions with the fact that he got everything wrong for the last 25 years.

[@juliangilbert5465]

The rise of Londongrad was under Johnson as mayor, who was a good friend of her husband, so she probably didn't want to get into too many details about how exactly Russian money got so easily into the city.

[@tropicaltrev1617]

That’s not true at all, it was many years before.

[@StephenSeabird]

@@tropicaltrev1617 'Before' what? You mean, he didn't realise?

[@karenhastings8561]

Her husband, establishment to its core.

[@harryw29]

Her husband is Polish not Russian!

[@byke-j7l]

any mention of the peace agreement between Zelensky and Putin that Boris Johnson warned Zelensky not to sign?

[@saamishahrokh]

👍🏽 👍🏽 👍🏽 👍🏽

[@JanKowalyk-gg2ir]

Great conversation. Thank-U.

[@eliseleonard3477]

What a brilliant, grown-up, realistic yet decent woman Applebaum is. It’s so hopeful to see people say , “It’s complicated” and even better when they then go on to try to explain the issue. So tired of simple declarations about complicated issues.

[@kkkkkristo]

And because you are tired you fall into a simple one.

[@alexbort3082]

You can not quit the existential war. And it's an existential war for Russia.

[@TheLivingTissue]

I knew what she would say the moment she said she lived in Poland and was married to a Polish politician

[@PatriciaPalmer-o3e]

💥 I appreciate her mature, informed observations.

[@rp6762]

Funny how at he end they're complaining about her not answering the questions they failed to ask or pursue any further. I find it somewhat peculiar.

[@Comradez]

Yeah, kind of a strange format where they gossip about their guest they just had on rather than just press her with the follow-up questions that they would have liked to ask directly.

[@84xyzabc]

She is entire definition of what political correct is.

[@qeitkas594]

For Rory to better understand Abramovich so let me explain to him how this worked: you surround yourself with gangsters with guns, kill a few people her and there and claim some oil and gas company as yours. Any objections? No? Ok good we understood each other then and a few years later you find yourself as a chairman in London as owner of Chelsea. Capito Rory?

[@PosterPeteTheBish]

And it took Putin to sort out the oligarchs

[@albertmaziarz6739]

@@PosterPeteTheBish to become richest man in the world , on 139.000 dollars salary per year . according to elon musk.

[@gerardolara4856]

This Lady says she defends human rights however she does not criticize Gaza.

[@liambyrne591]

And Armenia

[@anthonyferris8912]

So you weren't listening, when she said foreign policy inevitably involves hypocrisy because you have to do deals with people you don't like.

[@Base612]

Dealing with people you don’t like and facilitating a genocide are different things. Applebaum is a straight up neocon. Their ilk should be shunned, not lauded.

[@MeeesterBond17]

She's an eastern European historian, not a Middle Eastern expert. I, for one, think it's refreshing to have people stay in their area of expertise and not make fools of themselves talking about subjects they're ignorant about (glares at Jordan Peterson)

[@JonathanRossRogers]

Indeed, she should have criticized Hamas. ;)

[@skippy9659]

She is a brilliant mind, and we are fortunate to have her mind/views about the future of the world

[@robertstennett7566]

Anne Applebaum is totally delusional.

[@alexluthiger731]

One of that women who give spiritual birth to men. 🍷❤️‍🔥🌌🐳

[@PinPointEye00]

Some good analysis and many very keen observations were made by Anne Applebaum. More coverage should be given to her

[@robertstennett7566]

Anne Applebaum is totally delusional.

[@hanna8418]

@@PinPointEye00 More lies?

[@ЕвстафийЕвлампиевич]

I want to remind everyone that this woman is at work.

[@humblescribe8522]

Like yourself presumably, comrade.

[@albertmaziarz6739]

like you spreading russian manure

[@raymondcassiussananda6852]

Anne Applebaum = Thanks = Take Care Raymond Cassius Sananda - Denmark🍒✨🌺🥀

[@suninmoon4601]

"When the mafia is the State do you still talk about it as the mafia?" 🎯

[@albertmaziarz6739]

putin russia elite criminal enterprice.

[@ivozbogar6510]

It is no coincidence that Henry Kissinger declared that "to understand Putin one should read Dostoyevsky and not Mein Kampf". Because today Putin is trying to realize Dostoyevsky's dream, as Slavists know, and not Hitler, as Europeans believe. Solzhenitsyn warned of the problems arising from the possible separation of Ukraine from Russia. Already in 1990 in the book How to restore our Russia? In 1994, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he triumphantly returned to his homeland, but he criticized the capitalist and pro-Western drunkenness of the Yeltsin era. He saw the beginning of the era of Putin more kindly, with whom he met several times and in 2008 he defined him as a "true patriot" and wrote him a great dedication on the centenary of the country's birth. But a lady who is married to a Pole and defends brutal Western capitalism will never understand that.

[@DrittAdrAtta]

"Brutal Western capitalism" that is really delicious. Contrary to the gentle Russian capitalism🤣 - just for the ruling mafia to profit.

[@amakrid]

Who cares about Solzhenitsyn right now? Nobody reads his books, the younger generations don't even know that he existed. After the fall of Communism he was totally useless to the West. Boris Pasternak was at least lucky: His book "Doctor Zhivago" was filmed and took a distinguished place in the history of cinema.

[@svetlana7904]

She has not heard of Dostoevski 😅

[@Charles-yq8vv]

Boy the Russian trolls are really out in force for this one. Just babbling nonsense for their sheckels, embarrassing.

[@Jack908r]

LMAO. Putin is literally following the nazi playbook word for word.

[@watermelon7998]

Alastair, I can see that you are fascinated by Orban: he has not talked to any journalist not "on his side" for about 13 years.

[@ValSyv]

One of the Best discussions on Ukraine and russia, I have ever herd. Congratulations ! Long Live the West! SLAVA UKRAINE! From Italy ❤❤

[@paulkangas515]

Thank you for this interview. Anne Applebaum offers an incredibly brilliant well supported perspective on geopolitics. I'm looking forward to reading her latest book.

[@monaliza3334]

Lol😂😂😂Please...

[@paulkangas515]

@@monaliza3334 Ok, Russian bot.

[@inzhener2007]

She is right

[@thankyouforyourcompliance7386]

7:36 I don't think that the Germans had Angst to get confrontation with Russia. They simply needed cheap feedstock for their energy and Carbon-hungry industry. E.g. the German chemical industry needed cheap carbon feedstock.

[@annettemarshall4895]

both East and West Germany had and still have a deep sense of trauma from the Russian overthrow of Hitler.

[@nickgeorgie1957]

“The only way for the war in Ukraine to end is that the Russians leave the country and go home; the same way the French left Vietnam, the Brits left Northern Ireland etc.”. What about the way NATO left Afghanistan? She is the most biased and extreme hater of everything Russian ever existed.

[@kawsuc6564]

She's dangerously ignorant about the fact that in the Eastern regions of Ukraine, there is predominantly a Russian speaking population whom the Russian forces are protecting against the Ukrainian neo-nazis. There wasn't a single region in Vietnam with a population that was French or English. The comparison here is a show of absolute illiteracy.

[@mmsk999]

@@kawsuc6564 who are these Ukrainian neo-nazis that you speak of?

[@Charles-yq8vv]

​@@kawsuc6564hahaha verbatim Kremlin propaganda! Look at you, Ivan. Your Furher would be proud.

[@CyberneticOrganism01]

​@kawsuc6564 and why would you presume the Russian-speaking population would prefer living under Putin authoritarian rule rather than a democracy? and that was exactly what I heard in an interview: the guy said, "No way."

[@robertdavidson8028]

@@Charles-yq8vv You are truly ignorant, in the pure sense of that word.. Please - watch some independent journalists and commentators who actually know what they're talking about, because you haven't yet, obviously. Msm reporters only report what their bosses want them to know and tell them and their audiences. There are ways this is done. Please don't be so naive - there are plenty of people on this site, trying to communicate with those of you who don't watch a wide enough range of information, particularly about this subject, though not exclusively.

[@jimmymcgee4101]

She is right social media has changed alot. Before, we saw mainstream news and accepted it, today people can move around more and seek international views and other alternative viewpoints and there narratives.

[@sunshine4sue2]

🗽🇺🇸 🇬🇧 Stand proud, strong and ✝️Keep the faith 💙💛🌻🕊️🇺🇸🇺🇦🕊️ 🫂with much Love from Indiana, USA🙏

[@MPR-qf1ur]

Talk about one-sided views and cherry-picking of facts. These "historians" write the story any way they want.

[@ZoroasterIII]

Russia invaded a sovereign state you paid babble mouth

[@ronsweeney5898]

A wonderful deep thinking lady.

[@djukala]

Why no mention of Israel, I guess that's am example of the hypocrisy she speaks about.

[@anonymousonlineuser6543]

She is not slavic enough to care deeply about every jew, unlike you.

[@ThisGuyAd.]

Timothy Snyder next please 🙏

[@patrickdemarcevol]

Extremely interesting woman with great knowledge. She reminds me of Helene Carrere d'Encausse in France.

[@GrooveTasticThang]

Thank you for finally addressing our ‘enabler’s’ in the city and their chums in parliament who oil the wheels of international dirty money and tax avoidance- indeed it makes our preaching on democracy and the importance of institutions look hypocritical- trickle down economics from an engorged elite will never pay the nations bills when extreme wealth is allowed to trickle out off shore-

[@mchozen2958]

The power of money... plus power corrupts

[@Dave183]

THE USA has a donocracy... where political donors have a fair bit of leverage.

[@normajfharrison]

yes - a deNOcracy - make of that what you will

[@robertrudnik8121]

Her husband was working in EU parliment as polish member and at this time was taking money from arab countries for lobbing in their intrest - it was made official he made tax declartion about it.

[@gisligissurarson4288]

Somebody needs to write a book titled "How stupidity destroys empires".

[@jillfeatherman5523]

It’s Anne Applebaum…the lady who never met a war she didn’t love.

[@tanisabenulic2861]

Wow, I didn't know that

[@alexluthiger731]

She goes to the war-front to be eye-witness of the crime. This lady is a modern time angel. 🍷🦍

[@petardetar5191]

Pure knowledge of Anne Applebaum about Russian people, way of thinking, living and culture. American living in UK and Poland which are all very hostile against Russia, she is not a good person for a Interview about this topics... and of course no wonders why she get it all wrong :)

[@jernlaween12]

7:36 its a german problem not to want ww3? Am I in the twilight zone, why is every western leader and thinker so keen for ww3 there is not one person that says de-escalating is the right thing to do.

[@symmetryox7184]

Theres a big jump from making sure ukraine wins and ww3 Germans have been weakened through russian influence and cultural naivity

[@stephenhill545]

We did that in the 1930s. It resulted in the overthrow of the Spanish government by Franco, the end of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

[@StephenSeabird]

You need to try other websites. This interview is very one-sided.

[@rl7586]

It’s no problem not to want WW3 Greetings from Australia 🇦🇺

[@tom_123]

De-escalating in the face of an aggressor hands them a victory. Having established rules with stated repercussions for others breaking them and, crucially, following through on them, is the basis of geopolitical order. It’s amazing to me that people will see an autocratic expansionist state like Russia invading their neighbours and then criticise those who object for not de-escalating.

[@andreib2489]

Interestingly, the idea that the internal politics of other countries perhaps is not a business of the UK or US does not cross their minds.

[@michaelotieno6524]

At all it is all taken as normal.

[@mikkis668]

Well, I think it's quite clear that she's wrong about how the war in Ukraine will end... we'll see soon enough... but her finish statement was strong and inspiring, I give her that.

[@syl-brianskamara1850]

Why do the Brits so hate Russia? Any historical reason? Pls let's know.

[@xuevgermanist]

Oh boy, where do I begin...

[@Worldgonemad99]

They invade all their neighbours? They support strong man autocrats and they don't respect human rights?

[@AnaMinMi]

ENVY - is the simplest explanation. And fear - real fear again

[@Worldgonemad99]

@@syl-brianskamara1850 They invade their neighbours', have a superiority complex, like strong men autocrats?

[@Worldgonemad99]

@@AnaMinMi envy? 10 million Russians have outside toilets. I don't think so !

[@walterzagieboylo6802]

I'd love to hear what she thinks about the increasing politicization of the media in the US and Europe. Is this also dangerous, even though they say that they are for democracy. Also, the weaponization of the legal branch in America - is it dangerous?

[@stephenlight647]

The media has always been political. It was just political advocacy for the credentialed class. The challenge to that old world is what upsets Applebaum.

[@michaelotieno6524]

@@stephenlight647 I get why they feel threatened by social media but the world has always survived as similar effect on the elite was felt with the introduction of the printing press, the radio and TV.

[@carolyn7691]

Anne says that things started to change in politics toward the negative in 2012-2014 with the advent of social media. Is that the time the vitriol for Obama started and did it start on social media? That was also the time that Pelosi was battling for the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare".)

[@alexm7310]

...the soft bigotry of low expectations. Excellent

[@Paulus8765]

38:00 "The only way the war ends …" Anne Applebaum's prediction (with Russia's withdrawal) is not moral but political, Rory.

[@tiburongordo]

She’s telling us the way she WANTS it to end

[@Paulus8765]

@@tiburongordo "The war will end when Russia stops fighting," she wrote on X two days ago. "Any plan to negotiate or 'trade land for peace' that doesn't explain how and why they will stop fighting is just more magical thinking."

[@peterwhyte-venables7463]

PS Knowing his past (I myself crossed Borneo overland, as he did Afghanistan)I wouldn't hesitate to elect Rory as a Prime Minister. No question.

[@marcuskelly5768]

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, looks like a duck and does duck things... It is Not something else.

[@joebloggs8292]

War criminals!

[@stevenjennings5779]

so, this is the argument - „Stuff happens“ then Russia gives up and NATO wins.

[@mi12386]

She understands russia well 👍 Im a russian btw living in the west for 16 years now

[@kirrausanov]

Radek, your taste for women leaves a lot to be desired... to put it mildly. Привіт Baм з окупованої бандерівською сволотою Одещини.

[@ВикторияВикторова-е2ю]

Ты уже не русский.

[@kkkkkristo]

So your view endorses your choice. She hates Russia. You too?

[@libancamey1589]

Before going to bed, my wife complained to me: "This Russia is such a bad country, if Ukraine wants to join NATO, that is their business and freedom, Russia has no right to intervene. This is just an excuse for Russia to attack Ukraine." I said nothing, got out of bed and went to the kitchen, before returning to bed with knife in hand. I said to my wife: "Let's go to sleep" When she saw the knife, my wife suddenly sat up and looked at me with wide eyes. "What are you doing? Sleeping with a knife?!" she exclaimed. I replied, "Don't worry, let's go to sleep. Besides, sleeping with a knife is none of your business and that's my freedom." My wife said to me: "You're crazy! How can I sleep when you're lying next to me with a knife? What if you accidentally cut me?" I answered: "Well, you don't even trust your own husband, how can you expect Russia to trust Ukraine?" Sleeping with a knife is like Ukraine joining NATO. its impossible to defeat Russia by a military forces.

[@tom_rob]

If you were the Czar of all Russia where & how would your mind look? Would you be a taker or a giver? Would you kill all non-yes advisors? Would you look West with fear & doubt & an Austere mindset? Would you see Western neighbors who reluctantly buy weapons of defense not attack? Would you look East & see 12 time zones of possibility with an Abundant mindset?

[@TheEternalTraveller]

Ukraine and Russia are not married, and to the extent that they were, under the USSR, it was a shotgun wedding. So maybe think of Ukraine as a battered ex-wife seeking protection, by joining NATO

[@RENIELTUBE]

@@TheEternalTraveller Very much like OP's wife, I would imagine

[@spartanthe300ththermopylae4]

​@@TheEternalTravellerforget "not ever having been married"; the so-called "Ukraine" had never even existed until the commies formed it during the revolution, by carving off a big chunk of Russia. How can one "marry" something that is his own property?

[@dixidvl]

What a pathetic bullshit! The truth is that russians still see Ukraine as a wife who left his abusive husband.

[@jaycrandell147]

Thank you.

[@Philip-bk2dm]

Troll farm alert: Approaching bridge. Use caution looking down.

[@operationzenith6030]

You trigger easily?

[@MihaiAlexandru-x7n]

Absolutly NON sense what she is talking about , am astonished that such Historien LIES , Not One true story about , what She delivered . And l have so many exemples to show exactly thé contrat .

[@Scarletpimpanel73]

I love how being banned from Russia is being treated as a sort of badge of honour here. Anne: "I was banned from Russia". Rory: "h, I've been banned from Russia too!".

[@ab1948macb]

What about Aipac in America?

[@georgeholmer8563]

These guys don't have political visions, they are interested in power and money.

[@AnaMinMi]

I have heard the same! MONEY, MONEY, MONEY - ENVY- OLIGARCHS ( all gone long time ago) Rotting West in agony

[@henrywhh]

Great interview!

[@radmilaoputa249]

Nothing sales better nowadays than talking against Putin and Russia

[@ixco4732]

If you want a promotion it's a must

[@PosterPeteTheBish]

Nothing to do with NATO on his border then ...

[@andreitiberiovicgazdovici]

of course not, those are the fairy tales that the Russian "narrative" uses to justify the actions that they would have carried out anyway, except that now there are few states left that are not protected by NATO...

[@andreitiberiovicgazdovici]

and even if it were otherwise, the nations of the former U.S.S.R. and the Warsaw Pact did very well to join NATO. Do you want us to do a quick review of those who didn't?Armenia: politically destabilized by "external influences"... Azerbaijan: not a democracy. Georgia, partially but stably occupied since 2008. Rep. of Moldova, partially but stably occupied since the early 1990s. Belarus: Satellite state of Russia. And finally there is Ukraine...

[@andreitiberiovicgazdovici]

edit: my first comment has been removed, however it concerned the fact that no, the phantom "NATO expansion" has absolutely nothing to do with today's situation. And in any case the NATO memberships have all been legitimate... a nation, which has had imperialist/colonialist mentalities for more than 350 years, is amazed in the 21st century that the small nations that are close to it as soon as they can seek protection elsewhere... . incredible, right? something no one could think of...🤔😆

[@amakrid]

Of course it had to do with NATO on his border. Open the map of the Black Sea and see her turning into a NATO lake with Ukraine entering the Alliance.

[@reginaldpoofta5]

@@andreitiberiovicgazdovici Do you have a brain damage or something? Is Turkey a democracy?? Romania? Poland? Those are surely democratic countries lmao....🤣🤣🤣

[@mikeklein4949]

I think the contest is never-ending.

[@andrewbaldwin4454]

This interview with Mrs. Radek “We Gave the Americans a Blowjob” Sikorski had its moments. For example, it was interesting to know that Viktor Orbán was perhaps the only prominent continental European leader to attend the great Roger Scruton’s funeral. But overall it was a lot of ravings from an American neo-con warmonger, whose calm self-assurance disarms the listener even when she is saying the silliest things. In 2018, Applebaum was peddling the notion, based on nominal GDP estimates, that the Russian GDP was about the same as that of the Benelux countries. Even at that time, the estimation of Russian GDP was comically low, due to Applebaum’s ignorance of appropriate estimates or malicious use of inappropriate ones. Today, the World Bank estimates of GDP on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis show that Russia has the fourth largest economy in the world, having recently overtaken Japan and Germany. Its GDP is about 2.8 times that of the Benelux countries. The SNA93 national accounting manual published in 1993 made GDP on a PPP basis THE standard for ranking economies of different countries. However, she and her fellow American neo-cons like H.R. McMaster and Stephen Kotkin still seem to keep to the nominal GDP faith. H.R. McMaster thinks that Russian GDP is less than Texan GDP. Kotkin said in 2018 that the Russian economy was about a fifteenth the size of the American economy when it was more like a fifth the size. If Applebaum and her ilk actually believe these fantasies, it makes it slightly more plausible that they continue to live on Hopium that the US can win its proxy war with Ukraine. If they don’t, one can still see why they would like to indulge in them, to pursue a losing war for whatever reasons impel them to pursue it. It is strange indeed that the interviewers would not ask Mrs. Radek Sikorski about this “Thank you, America” tweet after unindicted war criminal Joe Biden blew up the Nordstream 1 and 2 pipelines. This was an act of war directed against at least three NATO allies, Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, all of whom were supplied with Russian natural gas via the Nordstream 1 pipeline.

[@saamishahrokh]

Excellent veiw. Thank you

[@jasonneugebauer5310]

I do agree that GDP is a poor analog for a nation's success and power. GDP is great for including government grift into the calculation of a nation's production and success. With all nation's governments picking who is successful and who is not it and reappropreating capital, is hard to say where real success will come from or if real success is even achievable. I think government spending will crush the possibility of real success as government hoovers up all available resources, making for a decent GDP while crushing the real economy.

[@andrewbaldwin4454]

@@jasonneugebauer5310 Sorry, Jason, I do basically accept that GDP is a good measure of a country's economic importance. I was just disputing how it should be measured for ranking countries by their economic power. GDP on a PPP basis is a MUCH better indicator than nominal GDP. The success of a country is a lot broader subject, and depends on your values. And GDP per capita, as a first approximation, would certainly be a better indicator for a country's success than GDP. I don't worship GDP as the one measure to rule them all, and yes, you are right, grift does sneak into the measure more than decent people would want it to. It's always something we want to guard against.

[@jasonneugebauer5310]

@@andrewbaldwin4454 I do agree that GDPon a PPP basis is a much better indicator than nominal GDP when measuring standard of living which is a key indicator of wealth and power.

[@jimmymcgee4101]

Ty very vigorous and insiteful

[@CUPAVI1]

You gotta love when people in the West talk about autocracies - like British and U.S. system are much better, both run by UniParties

[@50Nobody50]

this comment makes sense about fifteen years ago. only a fool would suggest either the maga states or the brexit UK are run by uniparties. you are describing a time when large portions of the population couldn't be talked into believing the grass they were looking at is orange and purple. wait, looks green to me......yeah, but what about immigrants? oh shit, its orange and purple.

[@user-sp5fr7nv1e]

Now we have ABU LONDON SAUDI- there is no clear fair trade n politics here again- London just like money and we didn’t learn from East Europe- we just laundry money non stop!!!! Even worse! London says Human Rights but is invaded by Autocratic Arab Money- UK produces just London - that is laundryman.

[@matscarlsson2522]

Thank you for creating this very good upload.

[@glenndesouza5457]

As an American why should I care about Poland or Ukraine

[@captratty2167]

Because you could be next?

[@cyrussumner]

UKn is fighting RU for us in the US for a few B $ .What a deal or would wont to fight RU over there 1

[@paulabendanon4171]

Because it affects you also ! ! The people in the us have no idea how foreign policy has a grip on their lives. The politicians keep them in a bubble. Sad.

[@user-oi4tj4pp8q]

You are not an American

[@Oceanvanguard58]

I can think of a lot of reasons, but how about recalling that if it hadn’t been for Spanish gold, Dutch loans and French troops and ships 250 years ago, your country wouldn’t exist.

[@GraemeRobinson]

I really don't like the way this woman portrays diplomacy as intrinsically hypocritical. It definitely should not be. America has typically behaved in this way, that is 'keeping in mind that you are dealing with dictators', an attitude which poisons diplomacy and makes all bad outcomes the fault of the other party. Its part of their superiority complex. She concedes that the regimes of Erdogan and Chavez were democratic but justifies their destruction and undermining by asserting they are actively working to become undemocratic - this is nonsense and unprovable - just another American act of outrageous hypocracy. It is illuminating that she concedes all American foreign policy is intrinsically hypocritical - no-one should trust them because of this.

[@GraemeRobinson]

BTW I gave up at 27 minutes, having learned nothing about the way the war is going to end in the Ukraine and losing hope that I was ever going to.

[@sukosuko1]

yeah, the media reports on elections in Russia and Iran, while at the same time calling them undemocratic dictators..

[@richardhouser508]

Interesting conversation! Human nature and how to best govern! No one has a monopoly on good ideas!

[@roberthudson3386]

The reason Putin launched the war in Ukraine is because it appeared that Ukraine would become a NATO member aligned with the West, and the Russians felt this would be a step too far in NATO's expansion. This isn't an ideological war and Putin, as far as I can tell, is not a Nazi. Whatever you think of him. The comparison is a lot more similar to World War I than World War II. In World War II we were fighting a totalitarian regime bent on mass genocide and world domination. In World War I Germany was admittedly the aggressor, but pretty much everyone now believes, given the colossal loss of life in that conflict, that an earlier negotiated peace would have been a good thing.

[@anonymousonlineuser6543]

It is a revanshism of Putin that led to this war. He is a very thin-skinned man with provincial mentality. Putin is sore about losing cold war , in which he feels he was one of the actors on a losing side. Cold War is personal for him. He is trying to show the West that he still has sphere of influence, something he demanded for decades and had never gotten. NATO expansion has nothing to do with any of this. RU propaganda has been using NATO expansion argument to obtain legitimacy to their Imperial actions. Look at Finland and Sweden, he already lost NATO argument long ago and yet you still fall for it.

[@goodlife6277]

Ukraine never had any chance of victory, deal with it

[@MrMaynardWR]

Not true. Vietnam and Afghanistan demonstrate that a weaker military can win by wearing the other side down when they are fighting in their homeland

[@roljavi]

@@MrMaynardWR You are completely clueless and you are comparing apples and oranges and completely two opposite things. The main reason why Vietnam and Afghanistan won is because there was nothing to win. In Vietnam soldiers there were fighting for meaningless hills in jungle. In Ukraine you have flat ground with agricultural fields and villages and towns. So, you have urban areas which serve as the only shield and where you can fight. So, you move from one urban area to the other and you are WINNING SOMETHING. In Vietnam with jungle and Afghanistan with mountains there was NOTHING TO WIN. On top of that, USA/NATO doctrine and military strategy is based on having air supremacy and to bomb the enemy into oblivion and then ground troops to waltz in and to apply genocidal economic sanctions and to genocide entire population. So, in order to win you literally need to genocide entire nation so that you can say: "Well, we won". Otherwise you are not winning anything. Air supremacy in Vietnam and Afghanistan meant NOTHING and the American army and NATO doesn't know how to fight when air supremacy is meaningless. That's exactly WHY USA/NATO can't help Ukraine and can't train anyone and can't use weapons properly nor have any winning strategy, because USA/NATO doctrine and strategy is based on bombing the enemy into oblivion and having small casualties, while winning the war in Ukraine is the opposite thing: winning with massive casualties, because the land is FLAT. IT'S FLAT. You don't have hills, mountains, nothing. EVERYTHING IS FLAT and the only battles you can have happen in urban areas where you have big casualties. it's the same reason why you have entire drone warfare because the land is flat, there's nothing to jam the signal unless it's electronic warfare and jamming. You DON'T have hills nor forests nor mountains to jam the signal. Drones fly for kilometers without any problems. That's exactly why idiots who think that NATO would just smash Russia don't have a clue what they are talking about. NATO soldiers would be dying just like Ukrainians and Russians and when you add on top of that how much the West became mentally weak, there's NO WAY that the public would be fine with thousands of body bags coming from the front every single day. NO WAY. If you look at Dutch soldiers who are NATO soldiers and professional soldiers, they went to sue their government for sending them into war back in 1990s when they were were sent to Bosnia. What people don't know is that Dutch soldiers who were stationed in Srebrenica in Bosnia went to exchange 5000 Muslims for their 15 soldiers. THAT'S A HISTORICAL FACT. They went to let 5000 Muslim men to be killed and to save their own asses and to exchange 5000 Muslim men for their 15 soldiers and then went to sue their government for sending them into war. And MORONS out there think that those kind of people could fight Russia?! ON TOP OF THAT you have Americans who have PTSD from fighting shepherds in sandals sporting AK47's and those people to fight Russians?! Those spineless cowards to fight the REAL ARMY and watching every day entire battalion getting blown up into pieces? Some morons out there think and believe in fairytales how USA beat the almighty Iraq in 7 days and how everyone is Iraq. Iraq? The same Iraq which DIDN'T even turn off the lights when Baghdad was being bombed, doing the most basic elementary thing, like shutting down lights during bombing but everything shining like a Christmas tree, THAT IRAQ? Some morons will say: "Well, you have laser guided missiles and night vision...". Buddy, shut down the lights. The elementary thing. Delusion of some people in the West is unbelievable. It's fine to have braindead population. The problem is when you have people in charge who are completely braindead.

[@michaelotieno6524]

@@MrMaynardWR Ukraine are only the weaker side without Western help, it has received around 300 billion USD. The 2022 Russian military budget was 45 billion and i doubt its total spending for the war has reached 300 billion.