The claim also came at a really strange time. Assad with Russian air support was actually winning the war and rebels were clearly losing by that point. There was no incentive for Assad to use chemical weapons and trip over the literal only wire that could see him lose the war.

This post was edited by ofthevoid on Dec 10 2024 12:41pm

At this point, believing anything that the regime has said over the time they were in power is madness

Russia broke through defense east of Selydove, they're now within 12 km of the Dnipro border. They're moving west and north-west, trying to cut off the last two remaining roads linking Pokrovsk to Dnipro. The north road is still useable, whereas the south road (alongside the main rail line) is getting bombarded with drones.

Meanwhile, Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka are the last two Ukrainian logistical hubs in South Donetsk. Kurakhove is ~50% taken and surrounded by Russians on three sides. Velyka Novosilka will take longer, but it looks impossible in the long run for the Ukrainians to hold.

Russia vows response after Ukraine used US-made ATACMS to strike airfield
Russia said on Wednesday that Ukraine had struck a military airfield on the Azov Sea with six U.S.-made ATACMS ballistic missiles
Russia's defence ministry said two of the missiles fired by Ukraine were shot down by a Pantsir missile defence system and the rest were destroyed by electronic warfare
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/industrial-facility-damaged-missile-attack-russias-taganrog-officials-say-2024-12-11/

Zelensky is clearly not afraid of Oreshnik. It is interesting how he crip walks all over Putins red lines.

Of course Zelensky tries to project defiance and fearlessness. It's the biggest bargaining chip he has left: the idea that Ukraine is willing to fight till the bitter end and will make it maximally costly for the Russians to forcibly subdue them.

If Putin believes he can just effortlessly steamroll a crumbling foe over the coming months, he has zero incentive to negotiate. If he believes that it would take another 2+ years of intense fighting, another 2+ years of wartime footing, an overheating economy and recruitment issues, he might be more inclined to seek a negotiated peace in which he perhaps gets his core demands, but concedes on issues which are secondary to him.

I think what you describe is winning Rusaians the war. Zelensky puppet regime is being outed as every day passes as clueless xenophobic propagandists. They are losing popular support by alienating their backers and abusing their population. Russians are getting exactly what they wanted - all 3 declared goals are being achieved.

To add insult to the injury, Ukranians are choosing to move back to the Russian territory as life in the West is unbearable for many.

West of Ukraine is openly xenophobic to Easterners and they prefer to return to eg Mariupol than live under Zelensky regime.

Here is Ukranian propaganda outlet complaining that 150000 Ukranians voluntarily chose to return to Russia: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/11/24/7486131/

A **"useful idiot"** is a term used to describe a person who unknowingly supports a cause, organization, or ideology, often acting in a way that benefits a group or movement they don't fully understand. The term implies that the person is being manipulated or exploited by those with a hidden agenda, typically for political or ideological purposes.

### Key Aspects of the Term:
1. **Lack of Awareness**: The individual is often unaware that their actions or advocacy are being used to further someone else's goals.
2. **Exploitation**: They are seen as being used by more informed or strategic actors who have their own motives.
3. **Origins**: The term is often attributed to the early 20th century, allegedly used to describe Western sympathizers who unwittingly promoted Soviet propaganda during the Cold War, though its exact origin is debated.
4. **Modern Usage**: It's used in various contexts today to criticize individuals who support controversial or harmful causes without recognizing the full implications.

### Example:
A person who unknowingly spreads misinformation or propaganda, believing they are promoting a just cause, could be labeled a "useful idiot" by those who recognize they are being manipulated.


How many "useful idiots" are in here?

This post was edited by Ironfister on Dec 13 2024 09:08am

The terms idiot and retard fundamentally share similar meanings, though different cultures and groups treat them very differently in everyday language. Some may use one term casually while taking great offense to the other—it’s a matter of perspective and context, much like the broader issues at hand.

Your use of useful idiot is interesting because it applies not just to one side of this debate but to the topic in its entirety. From a certain viewpoint, all parties involved could be seen as playing into the hands of others.

It’s no surprise that Eastern Europeans strive to distance themselves from a Russia that offers them little in terms of economic or political stability.
It’s no surprise that Russia views U.S. actions as encroachment, considering the expansion of NATO and Western influence near its borders.
And it’s no surprise that the U.S., as a global superpower, continues to exploit Russia’s relative weakness to advance its own interests.

Ultimately, how we frame these dynamics depends on our vantage point. What one group sees as strength or necessity, another may see as provocation or overreach. De-escalation, for some, is a logical path to peace; for others, it’s a dangerous compromise. Both perspectives deserve careful thought, especially in matters of such profound consequence.

If Russia had not repeatedly, for decades, warned about this issue, If Russia had not repeatedly sought a compromise and if Russia's attempts at deescalation were not repeatedly marginalized by the United States, then your position would be on firmer ground.

This post was edited by ferdia on Dec 13 2024 09:35am

There isn't many left, because the pro Ukraine useful idiots have all largely departed.

to poland.