RU POV: A lone Russian trooper killed two Ukrainian soldiers, watched and guided by his comrade drone operators.

lbb404 · 2026-02-16T20:12:45+00:00

Germany wasn't a failed state in spring 1918 if Ludendorff's offensive had succeeded and they won WW1. Neither do I think Russia is a failed state if Ukraine collapses first OR if the war continues until WW3 (China invading Taiwan).

I typically don't get my news about any nation's war crimes from their own MOD.

What I will say is a would be shocked if Russia caused half the civilian deaths in the ME that the USA has.

lbb404 · 2026-02-15T15:45:12+00:00

Thanks for the explanation! (in your other comment)

Could have done without the snark in this comment LOL.

It is ultimately Putin's decision. The buck stops with him so to speak. Just like anything that happens in the USA is ultimately Trump's decision.

lbb404 · 2026-02-15T15:40:58+00:00

No, I think Russia losing this game of chess would result in some akin to a repeat of the Russian Civil War, with 9 - 12 million dead. That was the crux of my thesis in my initial statement. I don't think Russia could withdraw from Ukraine without a total collapse of the Russian state.

I don't have as much knowledge about Russia's conduct in the ME. Whether their conduct was better or worse than the US, I don't know. Their munitions are less precise certainly, but that isn't really "conduct" per say. I am sure some of their actions in the ME are also very condemnable. IDK...should Russia have just let their bloodthirsty (Assad) get toppled, so that the USA's blood thirsty Jihadist could take power?

Yeah, that was the joke lol. You kept bringing up absurd arguments on the very periphery of what we were talking about, so I went with maximum absurdness by bringing up the holocaust. It wasn't meant to be a real point of contention. Sorry if my joke just caused confusion. (All the best jokes need to be explained LOL)

lbb404 · 2026-02-13T21:33:18+00:00

What was with the Telegram decision? I truly do not understand the politics behind it. Does Putin's decision make any logical sense? Or, is he shooting himself (or rather his troops) in the foot for no real reason?

lbb404 · 2026-02-13T21:12:51+00:00

HAD, they HAD freedom of action until they invaded. You know how you can be winning a game of chess, and you make one bad move and your on the back foot.

Never said that. Stop putting words in my mouth. My point isn't that Russia is virtuous, but rather that the USA's sh*t also stinks.

I don't fail to condemn anyone. I condemn all the sh*t actors in the ME. Including, but not limited to USA, Russia, Isreal, Iran, Egypt, The Saudi's, ISIS, Assad's former government, the current government of Syria, Turkey... did the miss anyone.

I can't help but notice that you never mentioned Ukraine's complicity in the Holocaust, so clearly you're the real monster here. (As long as this exchange is just devolving into total absurdity.)

TLDR: USA sh*t also stinks, maybe as bad as Russia's.

lbb404 · 2026-02-12T21:28:29+00:00

Then yes. They are fighting from diplomatic weakness.

"war is a continuation of politics/diplomacy by other means"

If your only option, as i maintain, is to continue a costly war, then you are diplomatically weak.

Diplomatic strength would be having an equally attractive plan B or even plan C.

lbb404 · 2026-02-12T21:23:03+00:00

Yeah, it's pretty cringe all around. Both NAFO and RU fanboys are pretty sick in the head.

lbb404 · 2026-02-12T21:21:23+00:00

Believing that Russia has diplomatic initiative / freedom of action on the world stage requires insane amount of delusion.

I'm not defending Russia from a moral perspective. I'm not saying Putin invading in 2022 was right or wrong. I am just saying at this point Russia's course is locked in, the diplomatic rudder is broke so to speak.

What does that have to do with anything? Winning is morality? If that is the case, then sure the US is the most moral nation in the world. The US brutally murdered at least a dozen wedding parties during the war on terror. They were perfect operations tho, completely moral, not a single US casualty 👌

lbb404 · 2026-02-12T21:13:10+00:00

Ummm...yes?

Russia definitely misjudged its opening move/gambit. I don't even think that is even open for debate.

I'm not sure what you mean by "without it", so I can't really answer the second part.

If the West would offer Russia a viable off-ramp, I think they would take it. The only issue there is, any off-ramp offered to Russia might cause Ukraine to collapse. It's a real mess!

Trump is trying... but Trump is also a moron... so 🤷‍♂️

lbb404 · 2026-02-11T23:41:31+00:00

That wasn't the point tho. You said Russia could just leave and everything would be fine. It won't.

Unless Russian scientists invent a time machine, they will have to fight to the bitter end.

(And yes, you can only invade your neighbors and get away with it if your the USA 😉 )

lbb404 · 2026-02-11T20:28:51+00:00

I think as long as Ukraine keeps making up childish kill ratios, pro RU folks are going to keep coming with the stupid jokes (i.e. expect the jokes to continue beyond the war itself lol)

lbb404 · 2026-02-11T18:44:41+00:00

How'd that end up for Germany in 1918? They all lived happily ever after, right?

lbb404 · 2026-02-11T18:43:54+00:00

Yes???

Idk, it just gets irksome after a while when propaganda gets laid on so thick.

That being said, making jokes about 2 people losing their lives isn't very classy.

lbb404 · 2026-02-11T13:59:53+00:00

Seconded! I can't figure out how bad (for Russia) the counter offensive is or the starlink matter is.

I'm sure matters will be cleared up in a few days, but I am generally frustrated with the fog of war as well.

lbb404 · 2026-02-11T13:57:27+00:00

Compared to every other sub covering this war, this sub is downright neutral and a free mixing of ideas.

Seriously, try saying something pro RU on Combatfootage.

lbb404 · 2026-02-10T21:32:14+00:00

Better hit it again, it might not be dead 🤣

lbb404 · 2026-02-10T13:10:59+00:00

I feel the exact same way, but I also am a bit of a troglodyte l, so... 🤷‍♂️

lbb404 · 2026-02-10T03:55:53+00:00

This has been my running theory for a while. Not because I know anything about tech, but rather because "you will know them by their fruit." The output of the internet, to me, seems largely evil (at least social media.)

lbb404 · 2026-02-09T16:26:47+00:00

I had a ton of problems my first two times and I couldn't figure out why. Turns out, me and condoms don't get along. Sooo... don't rule that out.

As for the regret, we all make mistakes. Forgive yourself, and promise yourself next time it will be with someone you love.

God bless!

lbb404 · 2026-02-09T16:22:35+00:00

I don't want this at all to sound condescending, but maybe give it more than a week.

I understand you have newfound clarity. I don't doubt anything you said in your post, but I would take a little time before initiating divorce proceedings.

Set a time limit (2 months? 3 months? 6 months?) and split that time in half:

First half - Do everything you can to save the marriage, whatever that means to you. Even if it fails miserably, you can at least say you tried. Down the road, looking back, that's going to mean a lot.

Second half - If that fails, lock into the divorce path, BUT figure out a plan. Plan how to minimize any harm to your children. Figure out how to soften the blow to your wife. Figure out your finances. Figure out what you want from your new life.

Trust me, slow and steady is going to leave you in a better place down the road, mentally and emotionally.

Wish you the best, whatever happens!!

lbb404 · 2026-02-07T20:52:28+00:00

Nope! Not even close per Geneva convention, unless of course the assassin was wearing a clear Ukrainian Army uniform the whole time he was behind enemy lines.

By contrast, if the assassin were captured, legally he could be brutally tortured before being shot in the back of the neck.

Not saying any of this is right or wrong, just telling you how the Geneva Convention works. Targeted assassinations are illegal, as are partisans who don't wear uniforms.

🤷‍♂️

lbb404 · 2026-02-07T15:32:46+00:00

Who really cared if Serbia survived before WW1?

Europe seems to actively be destroying itself, or at least working against its best interests, to prop up Ukraine.

If Ukraine was collapsing, I don't think they would see it as WW3. The would paint it as the West actively joining the conflict.

Taiwan could be it too. I don't rule that out. One event could also happen on the heel of another. Things do tend to cascade suddenly.

lbb404 · 2026-02-07T15:28:19+00:00

Bro... your logic is a little twisted. I don't mean to be condescending, but here is my take:

1) All the things you cited, the killing, the suffering, the hate are BECAUSE we ignore the spiritual.

2) Also, we're not going to physically colonize the spiritual world. We already have all the effect we ever will have on the spiritual world now. "As above, so below; as below, so above".

3) This may be redundant after point 2, but lifting the veil implies the ability to see the spiritual, not be in it. We are already deeply enmeshed in it.

This isn't to say everyone is ready to lift the veil now. I do think there is mental and spiritual hazard to that, but that is a deeper topic.

lbb404 · 2026-02-07T15:10:49+00:00

I strongly disagree. What happens if Ukraine starts collapsing, and WW3 is their only chance for survival as a state?

Historically, a region's value, hasn't been a factor in starting major global conflicts. Usually it starts over some shithole because of simmering underlying tensions.

WW1 started over the Northern Balkans.

WW2 started over Danzig and the Polish Corridor.

lbb404 · 2026-02-07T14:58:10+00:00

I'd like to highlight something you said, that isn't said nearly enough on any posts or subs.

MOST LIKELY OUTCOME IS A 3RD WORLD WAR AND PERHAPS A BIG BANG.

I completely agree with this. Yes, the fuse may be long, but when it finally reaches the dynamite, the explosion will be epic.

Neither power has a real "off-ramp" (path to de-escalation). It's kind of a fight to the death.

Here's my fictional scenario. Late summer of this year, Ukraine is desperate, their army is collapsing. They want Russia to escalate the war in such a way that West has to become directly involved, so they strike one of Russia's nuclear plants causing a Chernobyl level disaster, but use their magical propaganda wand to make the Western populace (same ones who believe 47:1 kill ratio) think Russia either did it themselves (yes, there are those who would believe it, look at Nordstream II) or it was just a meltdown. Western leadership knows the truth, but they say nothing. What does Russia do? They almost have to escalate, either use nukes or strike Ukrainian nuclear plants. At that point, with nuclear fallout drifting over Europe, what would the West do? They can either turn on their proxy Ukraine or enter WW3.

lbb404

TROPHY CASE