[RedSparrows]

Interesting, but when someone talks about a 'genetic inheritance of autocracy' I have to do a double take. Ditto the emphasis on Mongol influence now but underplaying the intenral radicalism since.

The points about self mystification etc are important, though, and it makes sense more if you focus this on the state's story telling about itself.

[Bones McCoy]

Interesting, but when someone talks about a 'genetic inheritance of autocracy' I have to do a double take. Ditto the emphasis on Mongol influence now but underplaying the intenral radicalism since.

The points about self mystification etc are important, though, and it makes sense more if you focus this on the state's story telling about itself.

I'd never heard of 'genetic inheritance of autocracy' before.
My experience of well lubricated gammons sat about discussing their ideal world argues strongly for it.

[RedSparrows]

It's Lysenkoism, ironically.

[Nigredo]

[RedSparrows]

Some of this is beyond parody. I can't believe that's true. Russian women, unless psychotic, aren't unlike other women anywhere else.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

It seems that the flagship of the Black Sea fleet, the missile cruiser Moskva has, according to Tass, spontaneously combusted and her magazines have exploded. All crew have been evacuated, according to Moscow, and the explosions were definitely not due to the impact of Ukrainian missiles. Oh no, not at all.

According to some reports it has been scuttled to put the fires out...

[Cyclist]

Some of this is beyond parody. I can't believe that's true. Russian women, unless psychotic, aren't unlike other women anywhere else.

There are precedents. I refer the learned gentleman to the WW2 exhortation of the author Ilya Ehrenburg:

[Boiler]

On the Russian flagship;

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ru ... 022-04-14/

[RedSparrows]

Some of this is beyond parody. I can't believe that's true. Russian women, unless psychotic, aren't unlike other women anywhere else.

There are precedents. I refer the learned gentleman to the WW2 exhortation of the author Ilya Ehrenburg:

Of course.

But there's a difference between a public exhortation and a private call between husband and wife.

It's quite possibly true, but I'd suggest there'd be many more women who'd never say that. It's batshit, and even a worldview that sees Ukraine as fascist doesn't necessarily mean the individual woman wants their own partner to rape as a matter of course. That's an extra step. It's possible, of course, but sounds insane. Cos it is.

[Andy McDandy]

It's only been in recent years that the "rape joke" has become considered unacceptable by a widespread cross section of British society. Not every woman is a feminist or a believer in sisterhood, MeToo or similar concepts. Imagine what Jayda Fransen maybe wishes to happen to Malala Yousefzai, or to Diane Abbott. Look at the opprobrium heaped on the likes of Maxine Carr or Karen Matthews, or even Kate McCann, often by other women. Justified or not, I have to put this one under "awful but believable, and understandable if not condonable".

[RedSparrows]

Yes, sure, but even then the raping 'should' be done by another man, one would imagine. After all the ideological bullshit and othering of the enemy, there's still the point where the wife looks at the husband and says 'yeah but others do it more than you', even as she knows that's bullshit. So it's the explicit acceptance of it, and then the encouragement. There's no hiding behind pretending others do the bad things.

I realise I sound like I'm clutching pearls, I'm just astonished at the process that apparently went on in said woman's mind.

[Boiler]

Untermensch.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

I'm just astonished at the process that apparently went on in said woman's mind.

I'm not. Russian society's capacity for cruelty is infinite, it seems.

[Boiler]

I wish my father was still here to tell, although I suspect he'd have rather not talk about it.

He'd have been 100 next month.

[Nigredo]

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front ... v-says-no/

Back in 2014, Gorbachev confirmed that NATO expansions eastwards was a hoax meant to stoke fear amongst the Russian populace.

So Jezza and pals can get tae fuck with their nonsense that NATO aggression caused this war.

[Nigredo]

High tech Russian tank decoy

[Bones McCoy]

If it draws one anti-tank missile, It served its purpose.

[Cyclist]

During the last days of 1943 and the first half of 1944 East Anglia was covered with stuff like that. It kept Hitler's mob believing that the blow would fall in the Pas de Calais. And had the added effect of diverting Luftwaffe efforts against this build-up of materiel instead of going for genuine targets. It's a tried and tested ruse that usually works.

[Nigredo]

https://theconversation.com/ukraine-the ... ert-180988

Good analysis of the war to come. I hope we can keep arming Ukraine for it.

[Oboogie]

During the last days of 1943 and the first half of 1944 East Anglia was covered with stuff like that. It kept Hitler's mob believing that the blow would fall in the Pas de Calais. And had the added effect of diverting Luftwaffe efforts against this build-up of materiel instead of going for genuine targets. It's a tried and tested ruse that usually works.

Decoys are an old ruse, here's some “Quaker guns” from the US Civil War.