• Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    He still thinks the west is scared of Russia, when the war in Ukraine has shown the post soviet bogyman to be as scary as modern day Steven Seagal (an unfit, obese senior citizen who still thinks they are a 30 year old bad ass he portrayed in movies but was always bullshit.)

    All they have left is the nuke threat and that can never be acted upon.

      • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        I don’t think the west called Russia’s bluff. Ukraine did.

        The bluff was working right up to the 24th of Feb 2022.

        Many western analysts expected Russia to win in short order.

        Russia expected Ukraine to fold (as did the USA with the offer to flee they gave to Zelenskyy) but instead they called and Russia had to show their cards. which turned out to be a busted flush.

        Now it seems everyone knew Russia was a paper tiger for years…

        • wildncrazyguy@kbin.social
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          11 months ago

          I conjecture that the people who were in a position to know that Russia was a paper tiger were also the folks who benefited from Russia being the West’s bogeyman.

          Notice how quickly the media has repositioned China as the foil. Now, I’m not saying it’s undue, but it seems we’ll always be at war with Eastasia.

    • m_r_butts@kbin.social
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      11 months ago

      All they have left is the nuke threat and that can never be acted upon.

      I hope it isn’t acted upon. But I’m no longer able to expect sanity from people, especially ones in power.

      • Pons_Aelius@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        It is not the ones in power that actually launch the nukes. It is normal military personnel.

        Several times since WW2 the USSR/Rus military have had orders to launch nukes and the people on the ground have refused to do so.

        Once during the cuban missle crisis. (USSR)

        Another during post soviet times.

        This vid lists the incidents I am talking about.

        So I am actually not worried about nukes at all.

        First off: Putin and those in power know the use of nukes means they (and their cushy oligarch lives) are gone.

        Second: I doubt their orders, if ever given, will be carried out.

        TLDR: Due the the certainty of massive retaliation nukes will never be used.