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Just like the US, Russia has invested in expensive, high-tech missiles. But Iran has developed inexpensive, less sophisticated drones which are far more cost effective and thus far, Ukraine doesn't have an air defense mechanism that can defeat them. An S-300 missile, whether it hits the drone or not, is very expensive compared to the cost of the drone; and that's excluding the damage inflicted by the drone. Russia is steadily destroying the electric grid with the Iranian drones at low cost and at the same time preserving their high tech arsenal of missiles.Iran sent troops to Ukraine to help Russia use Iranian-made drones
Russia is really hard up for decent military equipment and operators.
They're relying on Iran to bail them out. Now apparently, some of Iran's new long range missiles are nothing to sneeze at, and their drones must be pretty good, but c'mon. Has Russia really declined to the level where they're militarily inferior to Iran--man for man, unit for unit, etc.??? This is pathetic.
This would be like if we were at war and our drones and other equipment was performing very poorly, so we begged Mexico or Argentina for some of their superior equipment and operators.
Isn’t this Ukrainian official making Putin’s case for the war?
BRICS nations led by Russia China have a reserve currency to replace the dollar with. It is backed by a basket of precious metals and uses Bitcoin for international settlements. It’s coming!The micro conflict is Russia vs Ukraine which has to do with cultural clashes between an anti-Russian western Ukraine population whose government was put in place by the US vs a pro-Russian eastern Ukraine population that has been brutalized for eight years. The eastward expansion of NATO figures into this because it is seen as a threat to Russia.
The macro conflict is the US empire vs the emerging multi-polar world led by Russia and China. Ukraine is simply the focal point, but this conflict is economic as well and is global. Maintaining dollar hegemony is key for the US. Establishing a new payment system independent of the dollar is the objective for Russia, China, and increasingly the rest of the world outside of primarily the US, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
It is clear Saudi Arabia is steadily moving away from the US. This implies the eventual end of the petro dollar which is a pillar of dollar strength. Once the Saudis, and other middle east oil countries begin accepting payment outside of the dollar, the currency will weaken. This is the REAL REASON the US is all in against Russia and all in as far as supporting Ukraine. It has absolutely zero to do with sovereignty, democracy, or any of the other BS coming from MSM and the Biden administration. Zero.
These Russian speakers have lived in Ukraine their whole lives. Before that the Ukrainian SSR. They are citizens of the country. But since 2014 the Ukrainian government has been attacking them. Maybe it is understandable on some level, but it led to them killing 1000s of Russian speakers.
Also, keep this in mind. Ukraine outlawed Russian speaking in 2015 or so. When this government official mentions fully extinguishing, he is talking about more killing or less than that pretty severe harrassment. Will that make Russian speaking Ukrainians more or less loyal to the government? If Ukraine retakes Donbas and Crimea what does that mean for all those Russian speakers? What they are talking about doing will be a very heinous crime.
It also gives Russia cover for saying they are protecting these people. If you are truly against the Russian invasion then you can't continue to give them a narrative to use for justification for war.
Ha!@Chop Thanks for the history lesson via photo. Could you keep it up?
I get it, but don't gripe when the other side fights back. Force on force, fire with fire. The strongest side will win.
Speaking of the 'BRIC' economic grouping...
Brazil just elected a yahoo leftist who will likely be sympathetic to China and Russia.
Brazilian voters (or at least the ones whose votes were counted/double-counted, etc.) sent Bolsinaro packing--he was sympathetic to us.
That about summarizes Brazil, in one image...
Russia is retreating to where they have more local support.I heard that Russia withdrew from Kherson. Haven't heard why yet, but that could be a step towards peace. Also US officials are starting to advocate for Ukraine and Russia to start negotiating.
Foreign policy leverageWhat did Putin do because of Merkel's decisions? I don't get the connection.
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