BS: Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Russia: alarm

Subject: BS: Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Russia: alarm
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 01:10 PM

There seems to be an alarming and very dangerous situation building in that region. Belarus troops are breaking down the razor wire barrier at the Polish border and hassling (willing) refugees to pass through. Those refugees have been actively encouraged to enter Belarus then bussed to the Polish border, a retaliation for EU sanctions. Belarus is closely aligned with Russia, and there's little doubt that Putin is egging Lukashenko on. Russian troops are massing on the Ukraine border, which looks like a threat to invade. Ukraine, unlike Crimea a few years ago, is not aligned with Russia and wants to join the EU. That is the very opposite of what Putin wants, and what Putin wants Putin will very likely get. There's plenty of scope for serious escalation...

Subject: RE: BS: Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Russia: alarm
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 02:57 PM

As long as it doesn't disrupt the Eurovision Song Contest...

Subject: RE: BS: Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Russia: alarm
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 03:44 PM

Good point. Not nul point...

Subject: RE: BS: Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Russia: alarm
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Nov 21 - 06:29 PM

But seriously...

Poland, whilst a member of the EU, has an uneasy relationship with Brussels and has aligned itself at times with the right-wing Hungarian administration. It's a massive country that has been shatupon quite a lot since WW2. I feel that Poland has yet to find its feet as a fully-fledged western nation (I'm not necessarily saying that that's a good thing to aspire to...). I had loads of Polish mates in Bury, Bolton, Oldham and Rochdale and spent many a jolly evening in their Polish clubs, all during the Cold War when Poland was behind the Iron Curtain. In fact, for two years I was engaged to a beautiful Polish girl (you had a narrow escape there, luv!). But Poland doesn't deserve this. Being on the border of a hostile bloc must be bloody tough, and the west hasn't always been nice to Poland, what with pointing its spears at Russia from within Poland's bounds.

What a bloody moral issue...

Subject: RE: BS: Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Russia: alarm
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Nov 21 - 03:59 AM

My understanding of (say) WW1 was preceded by sabre rattling of various sorts. And the current shenanigans worry me.

I have seen an explanation of the Syrian civil strife by way of climate change. Basically a drought in Russia, poor harvest, no sale of wheat etc outside their borders. Poor harvests here and there including Syria. Despotic regime. People with nothing to lose. Civil unrest. And after 10 years................

Now add to that migrants overwhelming societies. More despotic regimes feeling sidelined. And two of them politically aligned. Who they gonna call?

Putin hasn't finished with the UK & US yet. Maybe the French were too savvy for him, but Marine le Pen hasn't gone away just yet.

If you dig deep enough any global situation can look scary, but it is looking scarier than ten, say, 20 years ago IMNSHO. Ultimately it will be climate that is the driver. And we ain't in control of him!