Russia invades Ukraine

oldbloke · Guru

Russia invades Ukraine

Craig1 · Guru

Pretty awful testament to war, whoops invasion.

DMaxer · Guru

Au contraries Mike. I lived in the UK for five years the first time and have had four more visits for twelve months each time. Lived in the USA for three years too. You are the first person in that time to tell me the Brits did it all by themselves. I am always eager to learn. Any chance of revealing which historical authorities you are relying on to support your view?

dorian · Guru

If it wasn't for the Americans and Russians, Europe would be German. The Germans had already started to occupy Britain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_the_Channel_Islands

"The military occupation of the Channel Islands by Nazi Germany lasted for most of the Second World War, from 30 June 1940 until liberation on 9 May 1945."

And of course the liberation of Britain's Asian colonies was left up to the Americans and Australians.

Wanda · Guru

As they say "never let a story get in the way of the truth"
Ian

Brodie Allen · Guru

DMaxer wrote:
I don't think anyone will ever find a solution to the issues in eastern Europe. Even before the time of the Russian Revolution led to the forming of the Soviet Union, through to the annexing of countries in World War Two, through the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s to the independence struggles of former member countries, it just goes on. They all have their own agendas and I don't think that anyone of them has the guy in the white hat in control. Total head kickers and tyrants such as Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Chernenko all came from the Ukraine and I don't recall any of those blokes being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
I think as to how far the Russians advance after the Ukraine is a matter for NATO and that we should just stay right out of it. I think we should impose sanctions in line with other countries and offer humanitarian assistance but stay right out of the fisticuffs. We have a long history of being dragged in to fight other countries battles whilst they offer little resistance. A total trade and financial sanction imposed by the free world on not only the Russian state but also its free enterprise businesses and its oligarchs may well be the answer to Mr Putin.

X2

peter67 · Guru

dorian wrote:
If it wasn't for the Americans and Russians, Europe would be German. The Germans had already started to occupy Britain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_occupation_of_the_Channel_Islands
"The military occupation of the Channel Islands by Nazi Germany lasted for most of the Second World War, from 30 June 1940 until liberation on 9 May 1945."
And of course the liberation of Britain's Asian colonies was left up to the Americans and Australians.

Correct.

Corndoggy · Senior Member

Brodie Allen wrote:
DMaxer wrote:
I don't think anyone will ever find a solution to the issues in eastern Europe. Even before the time of the Russian Revolution led to the forming of the Soviet Union, through to the annexing of countries in World War Two, through the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s to the independence struggles of former member countries, it just goes on. They all have their own agendas and I don't think that anyone of them has the guy in the white hat in control. Total head kickers and tyrants such as Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Chernenko all came from the Ukraine and I don't recall any of those blokes being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
I think as to how far the Russians advance after the Ukraine is a matter for NATO and that we should just stay right out of it. I think we should impose sanctions in line with other countries and offer humanitarian assistance but stay right out of the fisticuffs. We have a long history of being dragged in to fight other countries battles whilst they offer little resistance. A total trade and financial sanction imposed by the free world on not only the Russian state but also its free enterprise businesses and its oligarchs may well be the answer to Mr Putin.
X2

So we are on our own when the Chinese forces land here?

DMaxer · Guru

I think that initially most countries in the world are on their own when anther country decides to invade them. The protection and assistance comes from other countries with whom you may have defence treaties such as ANZUS or NATO. Another protection comes from what assets or military installations your countries has that induces a third country or other countries to come to your aid. Just because you have assisted a country in their war does not mean they in turn will come to your aid in your time of trouble. Look back to how we assisted Britain in WW1 yet they were prepared to keep our troops overseas instead of allowing them to return to repel the Japanese.

We all remember learning about the Brisbane line. We were supposed to allow the Japanese to get that far and then we would be saved later. The Americans were the ones that assisted us.

If we ever get invaded, no one is going to assist us because we are great friends and have helped others. We will get assistance because we are strategically placed and have assets that our rescuers want to maintain and do not want to see falling in to an invading countries grasp.

-- Edited by DMaxer on Tuesday 8th of March 2022 08:39:06 AM

-- Edited by DMaxer on Tuesday 8th of March 2022 08:44:29 AM

Whenarewethere · Guru

DMaxer wrote:
I think that initially most countries in the world are on their own when anther country decides to invade them.

Agree.

Australia's best defence, all we are capable of is farting, burping & pissing on them if they interrupt football.

Fire & floods will fix the remainder of the problem!

erad · Guru

We owe a huge debt to the Americans in WW2. The Brits were too busy trying to stop the Germans (with help from Canada, Aust and NZ). The sacrifices made by the Yanks at that time must have been heavy indeed. The battle of the Coral Sea marks the point where the Japanese were turned back (thankfully). A lot of Americans lost their lives defending Australia - we owe them a debt which cannot be repaid in full.

BUT... the heroism and stamina shown by the Aussies on Papua New Guinea is beyond compare. They were mostly a bunch of poorly trained, poorly equipped, second rate soldiers who (lucky for us) missed out on being sent to Europe to fight the Germans and were sent up to PNG as a stopgap measure to SLOW the Japanese Advance. They were expendable, and thus were not very well equipped, especially to fight against highly trained and motivated Japanese forces. They slowed them all right! They STOPPED them and drove them back! We owe a huge debt to those brave young men. Their heroism is not recognised as being extraordinary, I guess because others fighting in Europe at the time must have worked under extreme circumstances as well, but few of them would have had to face the conditions that those "Chocolate Soldiers" had to. Without their efforts, Northern Australia would have fallen for sure, and even the Brisbane line would not have been enough to keep Australia in good hands.

I have worked in SE Asia in many places where Australians fought and many died. Australian War Cemeteries are well maintained wherever I saw them. Probably the worst conditions for our men was in Thailand - the Burma Railway. I was working there, in air conditioned landrovers, in air conditioned offices, and never ceased to be awed by the hardships those men had to face. The railway went right through the worksite. I had the privilege to meet a few former POWs in Thailand (they were individually making their own pilgrimages back there). Surprisingly, none of those I met had a grudge against the Japanese - according to them, they were just doing their job. I could never let my mind go that relaxed. My deepest respect goes to all those who served during WW2, but especially those who actually defended AUSTRALIA, not the British Empire. Most of them are gone now, but their legacy lives on with me - as it should with everyone who lives in this great land. LEST WE FORGET!

And now it is starting all over again in Europe...

oldbloke · Guru

Here, here

yobarr · Guru

HEAR, HEAR.

Cheers

oldbloke · Guru

yobarr wrote:
HEAR, HEAR.
Cheers

I think you meant Hear, hear. :)

While I'm here I thought I would post a pic of the youngest of my 7 grandchild. His mame is Mason. We went fishing a few days ago and this is the result. Threw 6 back. He turned 6 on Sunday and shares his birthday with his grandma, my wife. We celebrated the day by having lunch at the golf club and about 2 hours on the driving range. What a great time we had, something that we can enjoy thanks to our service men and women who travelled overseas during wwlI to defend our freedom.

I guess I'm also lucky in that I have a family and don't feel like I need to isolate myself from society, living on my own in the back of beyond. Nor do I feel so insecure that I need to waste much of my time nit picking spelling errors or fault with members, tugs, vans and fridges. After all forums are intended to be informal & not a school room.

Oh, just a bit of friendly advice for members. Beware of trolls on forums, they are among us.

Sorry to go off topic I just felt a sudden need.

Back to topic. Have a nice day.

Resized_20220302_122326(1).jpeg

Cheers :)

86GTS · Guru

They couldn't get in the front door but they made it thru the back door & now we prefer buying Toyota's, Nissan's & Mazdas. smile

Craig1 · Guru

MG brand is coming thick and fast thru front door here in Albury Wodonga

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

Getting back on topic, it appears that Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, things that Russia can't sustain the war against Ukraine. That's good news:

Former MI6 chief says Russian invasion of Ukraine is not sustainable

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-08/former-mi6-chief-says-russian-invasion-ukraine-not-sustainable/100889862

DMaxer · Guru

I wonder if Mr and Mrs Dearlove gave a lot of thought in naming him or if they just had a strange sense of humour.

peter67 · Guru

Very good DMaxer, almost Austin Powers like.

dorian · Guru

Buzz Lightbulb wrote:
Getting back on topic, it appears that Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, things that Russia can't sustain the war against Ukraine. That's good news:

Former MI6 chief says Russian invasion of Ukraine is not sustainable
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-08/former-mi6-chief-says-russian-invasion-ukraine-not-sustainable/100889862

Dick also told Blair that Iraq had WMDs.