Analysing Putin and Russia...

[RockRealFlock]

I have been thinking a lot about what I clearly see as Russian aggression... and I would like to hear what people on this forum have to say about this subject...

Is Putin right about some of the things he says? Is NATO also being aggressive? I personally don't think so. I believe that Russia is the bully, and that it should be analyzed very carefully...

People reading is a skill that can be very useful, and a skill that I think that every prepper could benefit from... I am always trying to develop this skill, and am looking forward to having this discussion with you... Let's begin the journey...

 

[RockRealFlock]

To begin with. Putin is a thinker, and observer... He clearly analyses people, situations, state politics and so forth... He is always on the lookout for weaknesses, and he is quick to use those weaknesses against those that he considers to be his opponents... He knows that he is good at this, and he is proud of it... Like a good chess player, he moves all the way into his opponents defenses, if he thinks that it can be done... His mind is always scheming... but he isn't playing chess... He is playing with the lives of people... This indicates a lack of interest in the sufferings of these people, and therefore we may be dealing with a psychopath... If we look at the way the Russian army is waging war in Syria, it's clear that the sufferings of the civilian population isn't high on the list of his priorities... I don't know what that means in terms of analyzing his personality... and it could probably be argued that fighting effectively against an enemy for example ISIS civilian casualties can't be avoided... but I think that it's fair to say that this is the kind of warfare we can expect from Putins Russia if we were at war with them... and then some... Every once in a while he starts a war, and because past behavior is the best prediction of future behavior, he is probably not done yet...

 

[RockRealFlock]

Putin always blames those he bullies, for being the real bully, and that's the mark of a real bully... He claims that he is only reacting to an injustice being done against him or the Russian people. It reminds me of Adolf Hitler's excuse for attacking Poland in 1939... Adolf Hitler claimed that Poland started it all by shooting at German soldiers, and that Germany acted in self-defense.

So whenever Putin claims that he, or Russia is acting in self-defense, based on his past behavior, there is a very high probability that he started it himself. We can therefore conclude that we are dealing with a liar. He may not be lying to us all of the time, but based on what we know about him, and his past behavior, we can conclude that he cannot be trusted.

We already know that he isn't a complete idiot. So when he is lying, he understands that we know that he is lying, and therefore we can conclude that he doesn't care if we understands it or not. He is what I call a "slow strangler", but can suddenly go for the kill very fast... He smiles and can be quite charming, but at the same time he's mind is contemplating how he can use our weaknesses against us...

Putin is 64 years old, and he probably knows that the clock is ticking... Tick, tock, tick, tock... In 16 years he'll be 80 years old, if he lives that long... So his life is coming to an end... So why not write a little history? I haven't found any evidence for this, but he may just be looking for a bit of "fun"... and Mr. Putin! Just think about this... If you attack Poland, or Finland... You will also be attacking innocent children... are the men and woman of your country so deprived of genuine feelings towards the young and innocent?

I don't think so, or at least I don't hope so... and if you attack Europe, are you then not condemning you're own people to pain, misery and even death? Now you may think that I am trying to get through to you personally, Mr. Putin, but you have proved that you are beyond this kind of thinking... but the people of Russia is hopefully not... I think it's fair to say that his top priorities are not the welfare of people in general. Mr. Putin is beyond that...

 

[RockRealFlock]

This is just an attempt to understand Russia and Putin, and I am well aware that some of it might be wrong... Feel free to disagree with me... I hope that you will join the discussion... If it ever develops into a discussion... Ha. ha...

 

[Maverick]

I'm not even going to try and begin to understand Putin though I'm sure it has to do with power and status.

Putin is playing chest while the US and Europe are playing checkers, Putin is very calculating and he is playing the West like pawns on a chess board. Putin is strategically provoking the West forcing the West to make it's move's and like fools we are. The sanctions are hurting his country and he knows it, he backed himself in a corner over the Ukraine and his ego won't allow himself appear weak thus he has been playing the nationalist card, with the peoples backing he feels the empowerment to take the West to task. Putin today has almost folk hero status in his country and it does help that he also marketed himself such as riding shirtless on a horse, riding a bear, martial arts demonstrations, fishing adventure etc.. all at the same time rebuilding his Military, he has given his country a glimmering since of pride national pride.

Putin is a predator and as a predator he sees weakness in the US and he also knows he is playing with an amateur (obama) Putin is testing the West and has been for sometime, he already seen the response from the US if you want to call it one, he has shown china the West and the US resolve or lack thereof, This light response from the West has embolden china with russia's encouragement in making moves we view as hostile though china now knows we won't do much other than lip service, china and russia have entered into several agreements not only militarily but also economically, Putin forced the West and US into a chess board move that put china in russia's corner. Look the timing of events, that's not a conspiracy but a brilliant chess move!

Ask yourself, why does Putin want Trump and china doesn't? Is that Putin knows Trump's policies will push china further in russia's corner? All I can say is look at the timing of events starting from the time that russia and the West relations begin to sour. Another question though, why would china team up with russia risking it's number two economic status? During the cold war china never liked, never trusted and practically viewed russia as an adversary, what changed what did russia promise china? Though it does look as if russia is making china a surrogate so I think if you figure Putin's true intention with china you may very well figured putin himself out abit complexed! We see a demoralized Europe, We see a cracked Europe a Europe that already lost a major State and perhaps more to follow, we see a US that is hell bent on appeasement, we are seeing a world where the US influence is severely degraded, we are seeing a world where our technological advantage is becoming limited and compromised. Putin sees this as well and he is lining up his chest pieces for the game.

Of course I can be seeing things that aren't really there and totally off my rocker

 

[RockRealFlock]

I have to go to work now, but I will respond to you post later, Maverick... Thank you for posting this! In the meantime here's a great American song for you. Hope you like it!

 

[Undertaker]

Much like Reagan and Thatcher, Trump and Putin built a mutual admiration society before the election ever started.....I think Putin sees in Trump a much better ally than Obama....

 

[RockRealFlock]

I'm not even going to try and begin to understand Putin though I'm sure it has to do with power and status.

Putin is playing chest while the US and Europe are playing checkers, Putin is very calculating and he is playing the West like pawns on a chess board. Putin is strategically provoking the West forcing the West to make it's move's and like fools we are. Right now the sanctions are hurting his country and he knows it, he backed himself in a corner over the Ukraine and his ego won't allow himself appear weak thus he has been playing the nationalist card, with the peoples backing he feels the empowerment to take the West to task. Putin today has almost folk hero status in his country and it does help that he also marketed himself such as riding shirtless on a horse, riding a bear, martial arts demonstrations, fishing adventure etc.. all at the same time of rebuilding his Military, he has given his country a glimmering since of pride national pride.

Putin is a predator and as a predator he sees weakness in the US and he also knows he is playing with an amateur (obama) Putin is testing the West and has been for sometime, he already seen the response from the US if you want to call it one, he has shown china the West and the US resolve or lack thereof, This light response from the West has embolden china with russia's encouragement in making moves we view as hostile though china now knows we won't do much other than lip service, china and russia have entered into several agreements not only militarily but also economically, Putin forced the West and US into a chess board move that put china in russia's corner. Look the timing of events, that's not a conspiracy but a brilliant chess move!

Ask yourself, why does Putin want Trump and china doesn't? Is that Putin knows Trump's policies will push china further in russia's corner? All I can say is look at the timing of events starting from the time that russia and the West relations begin to sour. Another question though, why would china team up with russia risking it's number two economy status? During the cold war china never liked, never trusted and practically viewed russia as an adversary, what changed what did russia promise china? Though it does look as if russia is making china a surrogate so I think if you figure Putin's true intention with china you may very well figured putin himself out abit complexed! We see a demoralized Europe, We see a cracked Europe a Europe that already lost a major State and perhaps more to follow, we see a US that is hell bent on appeasement, we are seeing a world where the US influence is severely degraded, we are seeing a world where our technological advantage is becoming limited and compromised. Putin sees this as well and he is lining up his chest pieces for the game.

Of course I can be seeing things that aren't really there and totally off my rocker

Absolutely, Putin is a Predator, and Obama couldn't match him... Maybe Donald Trump can... but it's not easy to deal with Mr. Putin... I believe that the only thing that he respects is someone that can match his strategic intelligence, and I just haven't seen that person yet... and by the way I think that you've done a brilliant job analyzing this... Europe falling apart... I believe that the war is coming... Maybe very soon... Thank you for posting this, Maverick...

 

[RockRealFlock]

This is very confusing... To me that is... I'll have to think this over a few days... maybe more... There is so many unknowns...

 

[user 6493]

I have been thinking a lot about what I clearly see as Russian aggression... and I would like to hear what people on this forum have to say about this subject...

Is Putin right about some of the things he says? Is NATO also being aggressive? I personally don't think so. I believe that Russia is the bully, and that it should be analyzed very carefully...

People reading is a skill that can be very useful, and a skill that I think that every prepper could benefit from... I am always trying to develop this skill, and am looking forward to having this discussion with you... Let's begin the journey...

oh hell,,,if ever there was a bully,,,,,,,,,,,,it's the USA,,,yeah you have to deal with the Russians and they do a lot of pushing people around,,,,BUT THE USA has their finger in almost everything going on in this old world,,,the ******** in Washington think the USA is the BIG BROTHER TO THE WORLD,,,,,,,AND IF SOMEONE DOESN'T THINK SO THEY SEND IN THE TROOPS AND KICK THEM AROUND SOME

 

[Maverick]

oh hell,,,if ever there was a bully,,,,,,,,,,,,it's the USA,,,yeah you have to deal with the Russians and they do a lot of pushing people around,,,,BUT THE USA has their finger in almost everything going on in this old world,,,the ******** in Washington think the USA is the BIG BROTHER TO THE WORLD,,,,,,,AND IF SOMEONE DOESN'T THINK SO THEY SEND IN THE TROOPS AND KICK THEM AROUND SOME

I wouldn't go that far, the US didn't act alone and the amount the US paid not only for our own defense but also NATO's member states, we were dependent upon for the security of the West . We never left Europe at the end of WWII not because we didn't want too it was because of the reconstruction that later turned into threats coming from the soviet union. At the end of WWII the soviet union sliced up Europe so we stayed, France and Germany were in shambles and the UK was taxed enough just taking care of it's own Country and couldn't come to the aid of no one if the soviets moved in on Western Germany and or France, we were asked to stay. As far as sticking our noises in places we shouldn't have, in many cases that is true though in the majority of cases it was countering soviet influence so in retrospect I think you are being a little hard on the US

 

[Undertaker]

The cost of freedom is high no matter weather you live in the US or else where.

 

[user 6493]

I wouldn't go that far, the US didn't act alone and the amount the US paid not only for our own defense but also NATO's member states, we were dependent upon for the security of the West . We never left Europe at the end of WWII not because we didn't want too it was because of the reconstruction that later turned into threats coming from the soviet union. At the end of WWII the soviet union sliced up Europe so we stayed, France and Germany were in shambles and the UK was taxed enough just taking care of it's own Country and couldn't come to the aid of no one if the soviets moved in on Western Germany and or France, we were asked to stay. As far as sticking our noises in places we shouldn't have, in many cases that is true though in the majority of cases it was countering soviet influence so in retrospect I think you are being a little hard on the US

really,,,,,,,lets see,,,,Afghanistan,Iran,Iraq,Kuwait,Vietnam,Korea,to name a few places that the USA imposed it's will on others,,,,,,,,,,,how many American lives wasted how much of our national debt cans be credited to the wars the USA has had a hand in,,,,,,,,,,I guess where I am going with this is,,,,,,,,,,,,,if the ******** who started these WARS/CONFLICTS had to put on the gloves and do their own fighting the world would be a much safer quieter place to live in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I am not anti military but if we are going to send men off to die let it not be over something like oil

 

[Maverick]

really,,,,,,,lets see,,,,Afghanistan,Iran,Iraq,Kuwait,Vietnam,Korea,to name a few places that the USA imposed it's will on others,,,,,,,,,,,how many American lives wasted how much of our national debt cans be credited to the wars the USA has had a hand in,,,,,,,,,,I guess where I am going with this is,,,,,,,,,,,,,if the ******** who started these WARS/CONFLICTS had to put on the gloves and do their own fighting the world would be a much safer quieter place to live in,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I am not anti military but if we are going to send men off to die let it not be over something like oil

Korea (UN Action) and Vietnam, we were asked for help after the French's failure to contain Communist influence thus were totally a different mix, that was about communism during what was known as the red scare than that of Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan though I don't believe we engaged Iran head on in any military conflicts during the Cold War though you are correct it was in regards to oil, the world was/is dependent on oil and as long as world powers need the oil there will be conflicts and that is a fact, the oil is what keeps the machine alive, our economy depends on oil. The problem however is that politicians don't make the case as why we must defend the flow of oil instead we con-cock all this BS other than oil as why we must engage the Middle East Militarily, The first Gulf war I whole heartily supported though after 9/11 I was very skeptical of the conflicts that followed.

As long as the world needs oil people will die and that is a fact. Unfortunately utopia never existed and never will. Today the one thing to keep in mind, without oil the world won't eat!

 

[user 6493]

Korea (UN Action) and Vietnam, we were asked for help after the French's failure to contain Communist influence thus were totally a different mix, that was about communism during what was known as the red scare than that of Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan though I don't believe we engaged Iran head on in any military conflicts during the Cold War though you are correct it was in regards to oil, the world was/is dependent on oil and as long as world powers need the oil there will be conflicts and that is a fact, the oil is what keeps the machine alive, our economy depends on oil. The problem however is that politicians don't make the case as why we must defend the flow of oil instead we con-cock all this BS other than oil as why we must engage the Middle East Militarily, The first Gulf war I whole heartily supported though after 9/11 I was very skeptical of the conflicts that followed.

As long as the world needs oil people will die and that is a fact. Unfortunately utopia never existed and never will. Today the one thing to keep in mind, without oil the world won't eat!

well the world at one time did not depend on oil and it really was not that long ago,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THIS IS ALL HENRY FORDS FAULT,,,,DAMN THOSE CARS.....

 

[Mountain trapper]

.........Today the one thing to keep in mind, without oil the world won't eat!

I've always been a big supporter of the oil industry. It's been very good to me and my family, but it may be time to rethink my position and shut down all oil production. Fewer mouth's to feed around the world would solve a lot of problems.....

 

[RockRealFlock]

The slogan: "No blood for oil," Never understood that... I'm not saying that America shouldn't care about the American soldiers, and just go ahead and sacrifice them... but America can't ignore the fact that oil is a very important factor... If the Russians would suddenly go for the oil fields of the middle east... and gain full control of the oil fields, America would be in a very bad position... and so would Europe... The world should make a very sincere effort to find alternative ways concerning energy... Of course I know that a lot is being done, but the world could, and should do more... Wouldn't it just be nice to cut off the flow of money to the damn Saudi Arabian regime...

 

[jontte]

something related maybe from my neck of woods; they planned to ease requirments on shelters building codes here,now suddenly a total 180 turn,they have to be built to high standards as before,have certain stuff present and so on,my army is conducting trainings like heck,so it seems they prep up everything.

and the boogy man is in the east!!

 

[DrHenley]

Tell me again...How much oil did we get from the Iraqis in that so-called "War for Oil"????

Now that we know we are sitting on more oil than the Saudis, the whole idea of "War for Oil" seems downright laughable.

 

[Maverick]

Tell me again...How much oil did we get from the Iraqis in that so-called "War for Oil"????

Now that we know we are sitting on more oil than the Saudis, the whole idea of "War for Oil" seems downright laughable.

Our intent was to stabilize the Region regarding Iraq not for the oil Iraq has, if it wasn't for the flow of oil we nor the world wouldn't really care about the Middle East. Both the US and Europe have made the point for decades that the free flow of oil from the Middle East is vital to our own security. We didn't and don't want a repeat of 1973 and 1979 oil embargo and the oil crises from the Iranian coup.

 

[Maverick]

As a follow up to my post above.

"the whole idea of "War for Oil" seems downright laughable" Though it may seem that way now given recent discoveries here in the US though it still doesn't change the fact the middle east is still strategic, Since the Brits discovery in 1908 iran or persia at the time then later the 1938 discovery in dammam 7 saudi arabia by california arabian standard oil company the entire middle east geopolitical importance began to shift that later turned strategic after WWII and whats going to keep the middle eastern oil importance is the fact that fracking is still very expensive and that our allies still rely on middle eastern oil. Until something dramatic changes in the middle east or here at home we will keep a form of military involvement in the region.

 

[lonewolf]

it has always been said that when "the collapse" comes the final act will probably be the military(that's ANY military) will be fighting for control of any oil they can get, that's the last thing you will hear about before all communication is lost and everything goes quiet, YOU ARE THEN ALL ON YOUR OWN.

 

[jontte]

one interesting article I read about that megalomaniac in the east,where he said that he and russia has a "permission" from the kremlin to occupy the coastal areas of my country if they se the need for it,wonder if he intends to ask ours too??
that was from a reserve forum I am on.

 

[DrHenley]

Jontte, do the Finns still have the Sisu to fight another Talvisota?

 

[jontte]

against them ; YES
come hell or high water,we have no option but fight,there's water behind our backs

seems like my military is "prepping" as they have announced that more training manouvers will be conducted,they will increase co-op with the voluntary defence org to train more men/women,haven't seen that happen in years.
next january is the info meeting for me too,where I hand in my application letter and most likely sign up for two years as a combat medic to my local reserve unit, that's what they want.

 

[Gazrok]

It's not too difficult to see Putin's motivation. His nation's resources are chiefly energy. At most turns, we thwart his efforts to get it to his customers, because they are also our customers.

The current hotspots, the Ukraine and Syria, all center around the efforts of a natural gas pipeline. Just another Cold War and proxy wars.

I don't believe Putin's goals are imperialism. However, he's also not above using historical claims to justify his actions or interests in a particular region either.

Hillary's marching orders would have been the same as Obama's, coming from the same masters. Stop him. Trump at least, has stated in the past a willingness to deal with Putin...which really, isn't a bad idea. (especially if we want to avoid the risk of war). Simply put, war is expensive. A business approach may be to realize that both parties can get what they want, and without bloodshed of those caught in the crossfire. No doubt, if such a deal was struck, the two powers could wipe out threats like ISIS in a second. (because they'd no longer be politically necessary).

 

[ANACONDA]

IS militants seize Russian base in Palmyra, find abandoned loads of weapons and bank cards. VIDEO
During a successful offensive on Palmyra, Daesh fighters captured a Russian army base with tons of weapons hastily abandoned by retreating troops.

"Russian base in Palmyra. No one blew it up or bombed so that the enemy got nothing. They [Russian military] just took off, leaving everything for the new owners," he sarcastically notes.

ISIS militants captured Russian armored vehicles and other military equipment in the battle for Palmyra in Syria.
As reported by Censor.NET, the spoils of war obtained by the ISIS militants include the advanced Russian lightly-armored BMP-97 Vystrel infantry fighting vehicle.

 

[Undertaker]

I really do not know what to say about this.

 

[Gazrok]

Sounds like a bad, bad intel situation. For a russian army group to get overrun so quickly. More and more, I think we're really not getting the whole story on the strength of ISIS forces in the region. Can't believe they didn't just call in an airstrike to take out the equipment at least (preferably while ISIS was loading up)....

Unless the plan was to covertly arm them, of course....

 

[ANACONDA]

Sounds like a bad, bad intel situation. For a russian army group to get overrun so quickly. More and more, I think we're really not getting the whole story on the strength of ISIS forces in the region. Can't believe they didn't just call in an airstrike to take out the equipment at least (preferably while ISIS was loading up)....

Unless the plan was to covertly arm them, of course....

Considering that according to the appearance and packaging of all the weapons from the long-term storage warehouses, then think about deliberately concealed weapons and is the essence of this abandonment of the base. Especially this myst suggests the fact that many of the testimony of samples of weapons long ago decommissioned Russian army.