Russia, US, Ukraine, and the Future

[Vanoi]

I thought Hirohitos retention was a sort of preconditional to the unconditional surrender? It's been a while since I read up on this.

Certainly wars end in many ways, and some bubble on forgotten in the background.

There were not any pre-conditions set for Japan's unconditional surrender. The issue of Hirohito and the Japanese royal family came after the surrender and the US occupation of Japan. He retained his status as Emperor and immunity of war crimes with the passing of the American written Constitution in 1947.

[Peresvet]

What Russia Got Wrong

Can Moscow Learn From Its Failures in Ukraine

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukrai...-dara-massicot

Interesting article and analysis from FA about russian-ukrainian war and modern situation on front.

Russia has learned to correct for past mistakes in other areas, as well. In late spring, Russian forces finally succeeded in jamming Ukrainian communications without jamming their own. During September, the Kremlin declared a partial mobilization to compensate for personnel shortages, pulling 300,000 draftees into the armed forces. The process was chaotic, and these new soldiers have not received good training. But now, these new forces are inside eastern Ukraine, where they have shored up defensive positions and helped depleted units with basic but important tasks. The government is also incrementally putting the Russian economy on a wartime footing, helping the state get ready for a long conflict.

[StarDreamer]

I thought Hirohito's retention was a sort of preconditional to the unconditional surrender? It's been a while since I read up on this.

Certainly wars end in many ways, and some bubble on forgotten in the background, so in this case the compromise may be among the victors?

Conditions to and unconditional surrender seems to a be a odd way of saying things, since unconditional seems to sort of say that there isn't any conditions. That would then be called a conditional surrender.

[Cyclops]

There were not any pre-conditions set for Japan's unconditional surrender. The issue of Hirohito and the Japanese royal family came after the surrender and the US occupation of Japan. He retained his status as Emperor and immunity of war crimes with the passing of the American written Constitution in 1947.

Thx, good to know. My knowledge is largely pre internet reading and discussion. I know it the fate of the throne was widely discussed, and while officially the surrender was unconditional my previous impression was there had been some give and take. Good to be updated.

Horrible to exonerate war criminals but for the US to rule Japan the throne was practically indispensible.

A peace deal here is less nuanced: unlike the Japanese Putin is unreliable.

I think more physical barriers to warmaking are needed, like eliminating the Russian air arm altogether. We can't force Putins removal yet.

[Laser101]

Thx, good to know. My knowledge is largely pre internet reading and discussion. I know it the fate of the throne was widely discussed, and while officially the surrender was unconditional my previous impression was there had been some give and take. Good to be updated.

Horrible to exonerate war criminals but for the US to rule Japan the throne was practically indispensible.

A peace deal here is less nuanced: unlike the Japanese Putin is unreliable.

I think more physical barriers to warmaking are needed, like eliminating the Russian air arm altogether. We can't force Putins removal yet.

It was pretty clear that the Imperial institution was going to be retained, since the only people in Japan likely to support a republic were the communists, and of course the US was not interested in putting a communist government in power in Japan. The question was whether or not Hirohito should abdicate, an idea which had some supporters (including in the imperial family itself) but Macarthur was against it.

[Coughdrop addict]

https://www.newsweek.com/russian-sta...-nazis-1779412

A Russian state TV host has compared Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine with the World War II battle of Stalingrad, falsely claiming that all of Europe was fighting with Adolf Hitler against Soviet Russia during what Moscow calls the Great Patriotic War.

Such self-serving delusions are one of the reasons that Russia will never be more than a third-rate kleptocracy. Instead of looking towards the future or trying to improve the present, it clings to the past like a man in his fifties who does nothing but relive his high school football days.

[Lord Thesaurian]

Last June, the Navy divers, operating under the cover of a widely publicized mid-summer NATO exercise known as BALTOPS 22, planted the remotely triggered explosives that, three months later, destroyed three of the four Nord Stream pipelines, according to a source with direct knowledge of the operational planning.

https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/...he-nord-stream

If true, this means the United States has directly engaged in terrorism against Russia and Germany. I can’t fathom why the Biden White House thought this was a good or advantageous idea, but they have categorically denied it, of course. It would be the greatest possible gift to the Russians and a near complete vindication of their propaganda about the Gendarme of Europe defending the continent from a rapacious foreign overlord. What it won’t do is prevent or even reduce the flow of gas to Europe from Russia, both because the pipelines were already shut down/sanctioned, and because gas flows have actually increased lately. Undoubtedly the biggest potential foreign policy blunder since lying about WMDs in Iraq. To add insult to injury, the Germans are prepared to repair Nord Stream within a year if politics were ever to permit it. Lose-lose situation for the US.

[conon394]

If true, this means the United States has directly engaged in terrorism against Russia and Germany. I can’t fathom why the Biden White House thought this was a good or advantageous idea, but they have categorically denied it, of course. It would be the greatest possible gift to the Russians and a near complete vindication of their propaganda about the Gendarme of Europe defending the continent from a rapacious foreign overlord. What it won’t do is prevent or even reduce the flow of gas to Europe from Russia, both because the pipelines were already shut down/sanctioned, and because gas flows have actually increased lately. Undoubtedly the biggest potential foreign policy blunder since lying about WMDs in Iraq. To add insult to injury, the Germans are prepared to repair Nord Stream within a year if politics were ever to permit it. Lose-lose situation for the US.

You do realize Hersh is a well past his use by date. I don't mean to diminish his prime work in any way but he has into his now what 80s denied Bin Laden planed 9/11 and defended Assad in Syria. This is based on supposedly one source but asserts an amazing level of detail and one that had apparently almost no operational compartmentalization. The holes in it are pretty glaring and Hersh's call back to Nam seems an old mans vanity.

[Lord Thesaurian]

You do realize Hersh is a well past his use by date. I don't mean to diminish his prime work in any way but he has into his now what 80s denied Bin Laden planed 9/11 and defended Assad in Syria. This is based on supposedly one source but asserts an amazing level of detail and one that had apparently almost no operational compartmentalization. The holes in it are pretty glaring and Hersh's call back to Nam seems an old mans vanity.

That’s possible. By the same token, Hersh’s advanced age means he has only his legacy to lose if he did cook up a completely false story/trusted a bad source.

[Kyriakos]

Not seeing the issue, Germany had brought all of its allies to fight Russia too, so other nations fighting Russia in that war include Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Italy, Bulgaria, Finland etc. You act as if the claim what that Britain was allied to Germany against Russia in ww2

[Kavhan Isbul]

Not seeing the issue, Germany had brought all of its allies to fight Russia too, so other nations fighting Russia in that war include Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Italy, Bulgaria, Finland etc. You act as if the claim what that Britain was allied to Germany against Russia in ww2

Bulgaria never declared war on the Soviet Union, and never sent any troops to the Eastern Front. Germany and 4 of its Axis allies did not constitute "all of Europe".

[antaeus]

Bulgaria never declared war on the Soviet Union, and never sent any troops to the Eastern Front. Germany and 4 of its Axis allies did not constitute "all of Europe".

There were even Americans and Brits in Hitler's armies. So Russian propaganda can claim that WW2 was an approximation of NATO.

[conon394]

That’s possible. By the same token, Hersh’s advanced age means he has only his legacy to lose if he did cook up a completely false story/trusted a bad source.

Did you read the story. The plot is remarkably not very secret. Seems to have one source that has knowledge of all it aspects and conversations and decision makers statements and reads more a like a Netflix production that a leak. I think the old guy got played.

[Lord Thesaurian]

Did you read the story. The plot is remarkably not very secret. Seems to have one source that has knowledge of all it aspects and conversations and decision makers statements and reads more a like a Netflix production that a leak. I think the old guy got played.

Maybe the Ruskis got one over on us. Well played. Would almost remind me of the old days.

[Peresvet]

The consequences of the unsuccessful attack of russian troops in the Ugledar direction
A lot of equipment was lost in a crowded form (some of the tanks were damaged with the tracks removed, burned-out infantry fighting vehicles, losses in personnel, etc.). In fact, the tank company has lost its combat capability.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin/77670

[Peresvet]

Bulgaria never declared war on the Soviet Union, and never sent any troops to the Eastern Front. Germany and 4 of its Axis allies did not constitute "all of Europe".

Bulgarian anti-tank brigade of the SS troops (1st Bulgarian) (German: SS Panzer-Zerstörer Brigade (bulgarische Nr. 1), Bulgar. Bulgarian SS anti-tank brigade (1st Bulgarian)), known as the Anti-tank Legion (Bulgarian. Armored Legia) - a military unit of the SS troops, consisting of Bulgarian volunteer collaborators and fought against units of the Red Army. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91...A%D0%B0%D1%8F)

[antaeus]

Bulgarian anti-tank brigade of the SS troops (1st Bulgarian) (German: SS Panzer-Zerstörer Brigade (bulgarische Nr. 1), Bulgar. Bulgarian SS anti-tank brigade (1st Bulgarian)), known as the Anti-tank Legion (Bulgarian. Armored Legia) - a military unit of the SS troops, consisting of Bulgarian volunteer collaborators and fought against units of the Red Army. https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91...A%D0%B0%D1%8F)

Which is irrelevant to present day, as nobody who was in that brigade, or made decisions for it is in government in Bulgaria. Might as well blame the Darius for marching onto the steppe and attacking the Scythians for all the relevance these propaganda gripes hold.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Volunteers from Bulgaria isn't the same as the Bulgarian army.

[conon394]

So Russia is draining the Kakhovka Reservoir.

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/10/11557...-nuclear-plant

I suppose they had no choice NATO made them do it.

Of course I sure Ludicus will assure me this is the action of a country ready negotiate and you just needs Ukrainian neutrality (abject puppet state status) and the Crimea and things will A OK.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Russia draining a body of water without care for the consequences? I feel like I've seen this one before.

Probably an attempt to create a land route to invade north, extending the frontline. Disgusting.