News / European News and Poland Thread 3 [1013]

Indeed. Reality is still ugly for many LBGT and migrants in Germany.


Give it time. Most Germans only got around to embracing them in the last 20 years or so.

News / European News and Poland Thread 3 [1013]

@Bratwurst Boy

They still face many challenges and difficulties. Even our current government has yet to implement the self-ID law. Not to mention the prejudices they still face.

News / European News and Poland Thread 3 [1013]

@Bratwurst Boy


The AfD is also a big part of the problem. They are against gay marriage, self-ID for trans and so on. They are for LGBT and jews when they can use them as a pretext to bash muslims while working to roll back progress and make life more difficult for them.

We may have come far compared to where we were 30 years ago, but there is still quite a way to go.

@Crnogorac3


Indeed.

@amiga500


It is so easy to rile up bigots. Maybe it is the knowledge that they are fighting a loosing battle.

News / European News and Poland Thread 3 [1013]

@Bratwurst Boy


Sure. Even Poland is slowly moving in the right direction, with the new government considering to legalize same-sex civil unions. Which is of course still not full acceptance, but still a move in the right direction.


The government granting out equal rights to people is not them giving out gifts, but doing their jobs.

It is not the fault of LGBT that the German government is unable to agree on anything else... .

@amiga500


Your posts certainly make it easier to understand how they thought and did what they did. So much vitriole and hatred for positions that demand simple human decency... .

News / European News and Poland Thread 3 [1013]


Progress is rarely a straight road. Sometimes there are set-backs. Still, Trump has not won yet. Maybe he'll give the Democrats another victory.

@Crnogorac3


Just one of the many, many issues Russia is miles behind civilized countries.

Current Trends of HIV Infection in the Russian Federation

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10674383/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20European%20Center,end%20of%202021%20%5B6%5D.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@jon357


Both good news, but the former especially. Not only for Ukraine but the rest of Europe.

As a result of this war, Russian naval and air power has been significantly reduced. If Russia were to invade NATO territory, its Northern fleet would be forced to operate in a NATO lake, while its' severely weakened Black Sea would be no match for the NATO fleet capabilities. That leaves Russia's still formidable number of soldiers and tanks, but who knows what else the Ukrainians can achieve.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@jon357


A problem Putin could have easily solved by now if he'd actually cared about his people. Or any other problem connected to Russia's third-world infrastructure (although calling it third world may do a disservice to actual third world countries).

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@jon357

Well said. In addition, we also don't accept huge structural differences between wealthy and poor regions of our countries. There are differences to be sure, but there is usual some sort of wealth transfer going on from richer to poorer regions to lessen the biggest problems. Not only because it usually better for the economy to avoid truly down-run regions, but also because we do not believe that living in e.g. Wales instead of London or Napoli instead of Milan or Chemnitz instead of Munich should mean that you should not have access to basic amenities.

Meanwhile in Russia the people in Moscow can enjoy a nice metro because they are exploiting the ressource-rich regions without leaving much if anything behind as compensation. Sending those poor people to die in Ukraine is just the logical conclusion behind this state of mind.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

Right now it would be certainly futile to negotiate with Putin.

But if Ukraine manages to keep up the fight and achieve a permanent stand-still on the frontline for 1-2 years, then the time for negotiations will inevitably come.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

Sure, but if the war drags on long enough and causes enough damage to Russia than he may find himself open to this possibility. Neither side can wage this war indefinitely, and if there is no hope for a definite victory, then a negotiated solution becomes possible.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]


We shall see. There are some very promising prospects e.g. regarding the production of 155mm artillery grenades and armored vehicles. If Ukraine manages to somewhat get through the next 6 months, their prospect of succesfully defending against Russia long-term will massively improve.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

Still better than what Russia will look like when this war is over.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@Bobko


And once they run out of that ammunition (which happens usually instantly) they use lies and misinformation.


A former entertainer became a second Churchill who leads Ukraine to one of its' most difficult times.

While Russia is led by a KGB agent right into the abyss.

Case in point, the policies of Putin have helped to cause the recent terror attack. But instead of trying to adress the problem, he instead (as usual) lies and somehow blames Ukraine for this. He does not even have the decency to visit the victims.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

Is it true that the Polish defence minister has announced Polish participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative?

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@Ironside


Having working anti-air defence systems is absolutely crucial in the case of war. And considering the expense of such systems, it is certainly smarter to order those together with other countries.

@pawian


Yeah, 8 lost years, to the detriment of Poland, Germany and Europe.

On a positive note, the Russian just suffered heavy losses during a big tank assault West of Adviika

The Russian Army Just Launched The Biggest Tank Assault Of The War

forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/03/31/the-russian-army-just-launched-the-biggest-tank-assault-of-the-war/?sh=1ff283bc6e67

Looks like those drones are really coming in handy.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@Novichok


A dead Russian soldier won't kill any Ukrainians. A destroyed Russian can not be used to invade other European countries, where I might be forced to fight them.


The same decree also made Kherson part of Russia. Good luck trying to enter it with a Russian passport.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@PolAmKrakow


Russia is currently spending more than 150bn on its' war against Ukraine per year. Demanding a breakthrough after the suspension of aid led to the fall of Adviika, a deterroriation of Ukrainian defence against those odds is completely unreasonable.

American aid (if it is indeed approved) is greatly appreciated but Ukraine will need more of it and more time in order to achieve a victory.


We are, both in- and outside of Ukraine but this takes time. We'll need the USA contribute for at least one more year. Given that American aid is incredibly cost-effective and is spent entirely in the US, that is hardly an unreasonable request.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@PolAmKrakow


Adviika was a heavily fortified city that caused the Russian a near endless amount of grief. The amount of losses the Russians sufferes in its' capture are likely the main reason why they could not further capitalize on the shortage of ammunition for the Ukrainians.


And the Europeans, if not in the same quantity yet.


Nonsense. The Russians still have the edge in terms of quantity. We are e.g. talking about what, 20-40 F 16? Those will aid in the defence of Ukrainian air space, but will hardly suffice in establishing air superiority in Russian-held territory.


Nobody expects the USA to fight in Ukraine. All that it is asked to is to spend a tiny percentage of its' military budget on hardware it has produced and in many cases is not using (meaning the money stays in the USA) and send it to Ukraine where it greatly aids American strategic interests. Not to mention that this has become a great advertisement for American weapons, (is there better advertisement for a Bradley then the video of one shooting the cr*p out of a Russian T-90, or for a Patriot system shooting down one Russian missile and plane after another?). We can already see the benefits for the American arms industry in the many new orders for F-36, Himars, Patriots, Abrams and so on. This aid to Ukraine is not charity. It is an investment that is already paying off for the USA.

The EU is doing all the costly stuff, namely humanitarian, financial and economical aid. Which is of course also in its' interest, but won't return results that are as visible (since Ukraine likely wont be able and or asked to repay those).

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

1. The USSR left the GDR in return for money and humanitarian aid. There was an agreement that there would be no NATO bases in the GDR, which is the case until today. There were no further agreements on NATO.

2. Russia did at no point even remotely fullfill the criterias for joining NATO.

3. Russia signed off on any NATO enlargement and had more than once confirmed the right of any European country to join NATO.

4. Russia was ready to sign a peace agreement that would have made no difference to an Ukrainian capitulation. Even without Butcha and other atrocities, there was no way Ukraine could have accepted demands like the almost complete reduction of its' army.


You like Russia because you are a depraved person who does not care for facts or laws.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@mafketis


Especially when it is working...

Ukrainian Strikes on Russian oil refineries: What's the impact?

euronews.com/business/2024/04/03/ukrainian-strikes-on-russian-oil-refineries-whats-the-impact

So far, Ukraine has temporarily put 16% of Russia's motor fuel production out of commission. Some hit oil refineries to varying results, the Volgograd plant, for example, has been severely damaged, and it might take approximately until the start of summer to repair according to Kommersant. Others were not seriously damaged, like the Ilsky oil refinery, which was repaired in less than a month.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]


Good joke. Wherever the USSR used its' influence, it was usually for evil. It kept a Colonial Empire until its ' demise. Two of the current worst totalitarian regimes -the Kim dynasty and the Communists in China - directly owe their power to the USSR.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

Are there any news on the Czech Initiative to buy ammunition on the world market? Are there enough pledges to finance the purchase of the necessary amount?

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

Not gonna happen. Remember, this war is all about NATO from the Russian side and not about commiting genocide and subjugating the entirety of Ukraine *sarcasm.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]


That is going to happen anyway, particulary from the EU. Provided of course, some countries won't block it.... .

@mafketis


I know, hence the *sarcasm.

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@Bratwurst Boy


They don't need one, in many cases a qualified minority is enough to veto such cases. Sometimes even one country is enough to obstruct further aid, as we have seen with Hungary.

Mayhaps I am too pessimistic, but I do wonder how long the solidarity with Ukraine would last after the war is over. Quite a lot of countries (if not all of them) that are currently receiving structural aid from the EU would suddenly be expected to not only refuse further payments, but make payments themselves.ike they say, "Beim Geld hört die Freundschaft auf" (Friendship stops with money).

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]

@amiga500


The fact that he has broken every treaty signed by him and his predecessors regarding Ukraine. Few leaders have done something similar in modern times, and when they did, they usually ended up being treated the same. There is zero reason to believe that any new one would be anything more than a temporary relief which he would use to rebuild his shattered army and attack later.

It makes sense from the Ukrainian side to continue the resistance. Their land is in a bad shape anyway, but Russia isn't yet. Every day of warfare increases the damage to Russia, and since Russia can not hope for Western economic assistance like Ukraine does, it further decreases their potential for another war down the line.

News / Will Poland as a NATO member be drawn into the Israel/Iran war ? [106]

@Bratwurst Boy


A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one!

News / Poland`s aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 10 [2076]


Before the war, Russia had three things going for it. A fearsome military reputation, ressources and a thriving arms industry.

The first one is good, it can sell its' ressources only at a huge discount and it is losing customers at an alarming rate.

News / Will Poland as a NATO member be drawn into the Israel/Iran war ? [106]


The intention may not be the problem. Just no capabilities. We need everything we have to build a credible deterrence against Russia (which may not even enough).

Law / The right to own guns: would you support such legislation in Poland? [2745]

Gun nuts like to fantasize about how they'd use their guns to heroically defend their families against intruders. Leaving aside how statistically unlikely such invasions are and how difficult it would be for trained professionals to act appropiately, let alone amateurs (which most of them). The ugly reality is that not only are they more likely to use those weapons to kill themselves or harm family members, but those family members may also (intentionally or accidentally) misuse those guns. Particulary children:

California toddler kills 1-year-old sister with handgun found in home, police say

Gun-related deaths have become a mayor cause of death for children and young adults

cbsnews.com/news/san-diego-toddler-shoots-kills-1-year-old-sister-with-unsecured-handgun/

everytownresearch.org/report/notanaccident/

I am sure that is one thing from the USA no one in Poland is interested in adopting.... .

So if you love your family and want to keep them safe, you should throw your gun away immediately. If you need them for work/hunting, keep them in a secure, locked box.