Has flash backs to February 2022

Sigh. I hate this timeline.

Damn Zionists.

I wouldn’t use the word ‘troll’, maybe ‘mask off’.

Edit: u/shittydwarf had “Threatens”, definitely a better word.

Agreed on the acceleration, sorry if I didn’t state it that way.

FSB helped set some fires thinking it would distract and divide, probably never imagined it become the firestorm of chaos it grew into. More tinder of racism than anyone expected, the winds of late stage capitalism feeding the fires for its own benefit like you put it. The disdain for education and media literacy coming to roost as there was no metaphorical firestop.

Putin, former KGB, is known to follow some of the global strategies called for by “The Foundations of Geopolitics”. One of the main strategies called out by the book is using disinformation to divide democratic countries internally, weakening and distracting from Russian power projection and consolidation of 'lost territory’s/sphere of influence.

Guy who knows espionage takes advantage of the worst American to divide USA internally and push away NATO. Not machiavellian genius, probably a lot more successful than anyone suspected because of said underlying issues.

From my PoV, Putin/FSB stirred the pot beginning in 2010 or so, setting up troll farms and disinformation propganda groups targeting US, UK, and other democracies. They put out all kinds of disinformation to divide and incite anger, latching on to what sticked (like anti-vax, ‘deep state’, brexit, economic woes, racism, etc). These were much more effective in the US and UK than say Ukraine or Baltic states, due to proximity and historical animosity.

Tldr, effective espionage that happened to find a weak spot, helped by narcissistic insiders. Not genius, just luck and taking advantage of existing cracks.

I had to read the ‘explained’ 😭

Very true, the same washing by media has enabled him so much, along with his collaborators

Ffs. . . Putin is giggling in glee at the payoff from his agent in the White House, and all the time/effort spent on troll farms and blackmail.

I don’t know if the actual value of the gold is enough to really move the needle on a modern government war budget. Enough to make a small group insanely rich, definitely.

Damn, I was not aware of that one.

Cough

History repeats

I think the newest Fantastic 4, with Pedro Pascal

It absolutely does, cogs in the meat grinder.

That said, It brings everyone down to that level.

With guns, the mightiest general can still be killed by a lucky private. In most fantasy worlds, that would be near impossible for a basic untrained person to be a threat to a skilled warrior or mage.

And you are right, in the US there are an insane amount of gun deaths from murder, suicides, and accidents. Too many of us treat them like toys or emotional support Glocks, use them to be their masculinity.

Well, if it’s a shaped explosion round, aka HEAT, then it ‘forges’ a jet of molten copper upon detonation, that is what ‘cuts’ though armor plate. Pedantic, yes. Technically not forged by human hands, also yes.

I think it’s the ‘equalizer’ aspect. A knight would have to train for years to be proficient in swordplay, horse riding, and usage of a lance. Longbowman had to train from childhood. A wizard has to study magic for years.

A peasant could pick up a gun and theoretically kill any of them.

Americans in general are also more familiar with guns than swords or bows, so the “effectiveness” is more intuitive for our minds.

Saddest part is his grand strategy is literally open source, i.e. “Foundations of Geopolitics”, written by a Russian ultra nationalist, taught in Russian military academy’s. Main points are weakening NATO and US by supporting internal strife and divisions, allowing Russia to take back its “land” and sphere of influence.

Top many willing useful idiots for them to use. . .

Ready to fuck around. Not ready to find out.

Threatening and posturing to destabilize Europe and NATO, while going heavily on grey zone warfare and divisive misinformation campaigns. At the top, should not want any kinetic warfare against NATO, but rhetoric, ‘yes’ men, and arrogance may make some think they can and should.