• dragonfly4933@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    8 months ago

    You are right, you can’t use only information Ukraine or Russia provides. But it probably is the case that Ukraine was stomping Russia for pennies on the dollar earlier in the war. However, Russia is not a static force. They learn and change their tactics, and Russia spends more resources now than they did earlier.

    It would be a grave mistake to stop aid to Ukraine while they are still willing and able to fight.

    • davel [he/him]@lemmy.ml
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      8 months ago

      It would be a grave mistake to stop aid to Ukraine while they are still willing and able to fight.

      While who is still willing to fight? The conscripted who are forced to fight or the neonazis who volunteered to fight?

    • Zuzak [fae/faer, she/her]@hexbear.net
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      8 months ago

      pennies on the dollar

      Psychopathic framing. “Look how efficiently we’re killing people!”

      Also great example of conflating states with people. Maybe Ukraine still wants to fight, but Ukrainians are being conscripted against their will. In the same way, wearing Russia down may serve the interests of the US government, but it certainly doesn’t benefit the American people in any way. The best thing for the Ukrainian people would be to stop the killing at any cost, even if it meant territorial concessions. They could’ve saved countless lives if they’d done this from the start, and eventually that’s what’s going to happen anyway, but unfortunately countless people have died and countless more will before the ruling class decides to stop forcing the poor into the meat grinder.

      How the fuck is my life supposed to be better because of dead Russian soldiers?

      • stringere@leminal.space
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        8 months ago

        Hey that’s a nice home you have. We’re moving in. You can fight me for it but it will be long and bloody. Probably best you just move out and concede it to me.

    • 420stalin69 [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      8 months ago

      But it probably is the case that Ukraine was stomping Russia for pennies on the dollar earlier in the war.

      When the aid was flowing the narrative was that this was a “good investment” which is why they sold you with this “pennies on the dollar” angle.

      Put down the slava pipe and have a look at what the cost basis is for western military gear vs Russian stuff. It’s rarely better than 5:1 even for basic stuff like shells and advanced stuff runs at around 10:1. The idea that it was “pennies on the dollar” is crazy shit.

      It’s all narrative. It doesn’t have a relationship to facts on the ground. It’s a sales pitch.

      • spidermanchild
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        8 months ago

        “Pennies on the dollar” refers more to the fact that we have mostly sent old equipment that’s already paid for and would otherwise never see the light of day, while also avoiding the use of any US/NATO manpower to massively undermine an adversary. It’s a great deal, i.e. pennies on the dollar.

        I guess it’s edifer to just call everything a “narrative” though than try and understand current events.

        • Fidel_Cashflow@lemmy.ml
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          8 months ago

          It’s a great deal if you’re a monster who doesn’t pay any mind to the broken Ukrainian bodies littering the trenches for the past few years. More conscripts for the meat grinder, it’s cost-effective! Fucking ghouls, I swear.

          • spidermanchild
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            8 months ago

            And who’s to blame here? Have you considered blaming the invading force, or does it have to be the west for your sensibilities? Everything would be great if we all just rolled over when invaders arrive at the gates!

    • PosadistInevitablity [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      8 months ago

      The West has spent many times Russias military budget and hundreds of thousands of soldiers only to lose the war.

      Russia will likely gain several states worth of land.

      Unsure how this is a “good deal”, even in the most psychopathic framing possible. I’d think that would mean Russia is getting the good deal in that case? They have spent far less and gained actual winnings.

      • Halosheep@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        “The west has spent many times Russia’s military budget” Source?