Great Speech Joe......

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-64713099

[ToraToraTora]

...and to think not that long ago, people on here were voting for Agent Cob who wanted to take us out of NATO.

[Maydup]

It was a great speech and well delivered. No noticeable evidence of autocue or notes either.

[ichkeria]

Very good.
On its own terms too and not just by contrast with the bizarre ramble earlier in Moscow. Earlier we heard the Monty Python theme (!) but this really was something completely different.
It was noticeable that he fairly hopped on stage with a lively backing track!
All this after 20 hours of train journeys yesterday. I’ll be happy to perform like that when I’m 80.

[ToraToraTora]

17:34, that's what the glass paddles are.

[Maydup]

Glass paddles?

[ToraToraTora]

the rectangular glass things on sticks either side.

[ichkeria]

Yes you could tell there was an autocue as occasionally he timed it slightly out.
It would have been bloody amazing otherwise!

[Maydup]

He did so much better than usual with the autocue, it looked slick and he sounded passionate which is unusual for him!

[ichkeria]

Indeed. Great politicians rise to the moment when needed.
I think Biden showed that.

[Bazile]

I thought you all were very critical of JB , saying he's past it

[ToraToraTora]

baz, we can still give credit where it's due.

[ichkeria]

There was a massive air strike on Mariupol overnight. Mariupol is way outside any previous range of Ukraine’s firepower and it’s very possible that Ukraine is now using the ground-launched small diameter bombs (GLSDB) which were supposed to be arriving a while back.
These things sprout wings when fired and can hover awkwardly near a target before descending and hitting it like a deadly hole-punch. They’d leave all Russia’s logistics in the occupied land corridor to Crimea vulnerable to Ukrainian attack.
Additionally it’s also likely the US Bradley fighting vehicles are operating in theatre

[Paul22118]

I have two concerns about the war in Ukraine. First that China enters the arena in some type of role. Second that Joe Biden will be unseated at the next election or not stand. That would mean a possible change of emphasis. My personal opinion is that within a year there will be a war between Russia and her Allies and the West and their Allies.

[Old_Geezer]

I suspect no one thought Biden had it in him. But one doubts many Russian citizens will hear it.

War east v west within a year ? Can't be ruled out but in my opinion it's rather unlikely. Russia is not likely to have much cannon fodder left by then. Possible Russian allies are not as technically advanced as NATO weaponary. China builds knock-offs, N. Korea relies on parading their ICBMs. Unsure who else might be daft enough to consider getting involved but whoever their contribution would be minimal and costly for them. And this to support a nation who clearly is just trying to recreate their empire by conquering their neighbours ? I think most national leaders would think twice as they've little or nothing to gain, even if they had zero regard for their own people.

[ichkeria]

Spot on OG.

China is knock-off central. Do they really want their second rate material exposed?
A key consideration anyway is what would the weapons be used for? The Russians have to date demonstrated their more or less complete inability to find and destroy Ukrainian military targets. That’s not going to change.
And at the current rate of attrition, who’ll be left to fire it?