Support NeoGAF

[Mr.Mike]

Can we rename the Czech Republic to Bohemia? Czech is kinda hard to say in English. And they'd have a sweet anthem pre-made.

Yugoslavia -> Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Slovenia, Macedonia. Damn, would've been one of the best basketball and soccer teams in the world.

I sometimes like to consider a scenario where the EU competed as one nation in the Olympics/world cup.

Russia firing the ICBM was obviously a show of force and a middle finger to the EU, U.S. and West in general. Sure it was planned months ago but they could've called it off. Putin and the Russian government will exert there control wherever and as much as possible. All powers that be will do that when the chance is given. Geopolitics is always fascinating but Ukraine will not be the same country geographically as it is now. Hopefully it stops in Crimea but I personally think on more region in the east will be added.

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out, but one thing is for sure, the Western Allied Governments (U.S., E.U., Canada, Australia) cannot and will not intervene. Russia will exert its power as much as it can.

My concern is that Putin starts to believe he has the upper hand and starts to act too brazenly. At some point something would have to be done. He might look strong after just waltzing into a place and taking it, but really he is not in a powerful position right now.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Can we rename the Czech Republic to Bohemia? Czech is kinda hard to saw in English. And they'd have a sweet anthem pre-made.

I would instantly renounce my citizenship to move to any country that had a national anthem by Queen.

 

[bonesmccoy]

My concern is that Putin starts to believe he has the upper hand and starts to act too brazenly. At some point something would have to be done. He might look strong after just waltzing into a place and taking it, but really he is not in a powerful position right now.

I don't think so, else we'd have seen Russia invade much more than just Crimea.

In fact, I don't think Russia's intervention (unless things go badly wrong) goes beyond that occupation; it's probably much more beneficial for Russia to keep "East-leaning" regions within Ukraine - from a FP point of view - than to absorb them into Russia.

 

[kess]

Bingo. Idiot western crusaders were the real death of the Byzantine Empire. The successor state founded by the Palailogoi was really a reconquista by the "Nicaean Empire", not an organic continuation of the Eastern Roman state and its basileis.

The Ottomans at least made the place nice again.

The Frankish destruction and Venetian theft of Constantinople is well documented, but what less people know is that when Napoleon dissolved the Venetian Republic, gold from St. Mark Treasury was used as payment for Napoleon's army... which of course, went on to invade Russia.

It's kind of perverted that the French managed to destroy Byzantine heritage twice, 600 years apart and over 1,000 miles away.

 

[Sviatoslav]

It definitely seems strange.

I also see that there are other sources citing a Micheal Swan as the person that broke this news. Is Lebed's a repost or is Swan just his activist name?

Lol, "lebed' means swan in Russian.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I'd actually like it if we would refer to places as the locals call them. Nihon, Deutschland, ect.

In that case we would really have to rename the US to "Murrica".

 

[lupinko]

I'm pretty sure "Japan" is derived from the Chinese word for their country, not from the Japanese one too. Nipon and all that. There's actually a map from the time of Captain Cook's voyages with Japan labelled "Niphon" and Korea labelled "Corea". Also, India as "Hindhustan".

Really? Japan comes from riben? I could understand if it was like Shanghai Noon's John Wayne from zhongren.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Really? Japan comes from riben? I could understand if it was like Shanghai Noon's John Wayne from zhongren.

No idea. We have a Chinese exchange student who was saying something that sounded like "Jer-pun" when asked what the Chinese for Japan was so I just connected the dots. I'm sure the answer exists online somewhere.

 

[Neo C.]

No idea. We have a Chinese exchange student who was saying something that sounded like "Jer-pun" when asked what the Chinese for Japan was so I just connected the dots. I'm sure the answer exists online somewhere.

Japan probably comes from Cantonese, 日本 is pronounced "jad-bun" in Cantonese.

 

[Volimar]

I'll just leave this right here via Talking Point Memo @TPM:

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Tuesday sought to link the Russian invasion of Ukraine to ... Benghazi.

It started with Benghazi. When you kill Americans and nobody pays a price, you invite this type of aggression. #Ukraine

— Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) March 4, 2014

He made a similar reference earlier in the day to the 2012 attack on a U.S. consulate that left four Americans dead.

Putin basically came to the conclusion after Benghazi, Syria, Egypt - everything Obama has been engaged in - he's a weak indecisive leader.

— Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) March 4, 2014

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/lindsey-graham-ukraine-benghazi

 

[demolitio]

I'll just leave this right here via Talking Point Memo @TPM:

To be fair, the responses are pretty similar with about the same reaction time.

Gotta love how so many people have to make this conflict about them and their country though.

 

[mercenar1e]

I'll just leave this right here via Talking Point Memo @TPM:

the republican politicians are completely insane lol

 

[PeskyToaster]

I think WWIII was already fought and decided between these two gazes. That or true love was found

 

[sohois]

No idea. We have a Chinese exchange student who was saying something that sounded like "Jer-pun" when asked what the Chinese for Japan was so I just connected the dots. I'm sure the answer exists online somewhere.

Japan probably comes from Cantonese, 日本 is pronounced "jad-bun" in Cantonese.

Some mandarin speakers say the 'R' sound more like a soft J which would explain why it sounded that way and I was told that this was where the word Japan came from when I started learning.

Though the cantonese interpretation might also be the source

 

[lastplayed]

I think WWIII was already fought and decided between these two gazes. That or true love was found

Reminds me of the non aggression pact.

"You aren't invading right?"
"Yeah sure.. whatevs."

 

[Volimar]

CNN Breaking News ‏@cnnbrk 60s

Russia drafting law to allow confiscation of assets of European or U.S. companies if sanctions are imposed, state media says.

Dat brinkmanship. Gotta keep on escalating.

 

[demolitio]

Dat brinkmanship. Gotta keep on escalating.

I really think Putin just discovered Game of Thrones and is now trying to make some moves.

 

[Nikodemos]

Dat brinkmanship. Gotta keep on escalating.

The West should reply by drafting legislation/regulations allowing confiscation of Russian oligarch assets. Let's see how Alexei Miller likes it when his net wealth suddenly halves.

 

[avaya]

We need dictatorial bullies? Why are people praising that? That's how you want your country and economy to be run? Based on fear and threatening expropriation?

Really? This is what you took out of it?

Western politicians are pathetic and beholden to business above even their own constituents. Business needs to be aggressively dealt with in the West, especially in MURICA where lobbyists totally run the show.

Even if they had half the balls of Putin we'd be better off.

 

[antonz]

People wanted evidence RT was a joke. Here is RT USA blaming the west for "stoking tensions claiming an invasion" among other hilarious bullshit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF7lHdDw7Sk&feature=youtu.be

 

[ISOM]

Really? This is what you took out of it?

Western politicians are pathetic and beholden to business above even their own constituents. Business needs to be aggressively dealt with in the West, especially in MURICA where lobbyists totally run the show.

Even if they had half the balls of Putin we'd be better off.

You realize that putin is not "dealing" with business for the betterment of russian people. He is doing it for the betterment of himself. Putin controlling business oligarchs is just another means to continue his irongrip on power. That's all it is and ever was. Good lord people are actually licking putin's ball something serious even with the ukrainian invasion smh.

 

[maquiladora]

Reuters: Russian news agency Interfax reports Russian forces seize two Ukrainian missile defence units in Crimea

No sign of Putin pulling back his forces from seizing Ukrainian military sites in Crimea this morning.

 

[TCRS]

People wanted evidence RT was a joke. Here is RT USA blaming the west for "stoking tensions claiming an invasion" among other hilarious bullshit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF7lHdDw7Sk&feature=youtu.be

lolol this is hilarious.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Really? This is what you took out of it?

Western politicians are pathetic and beholden to business above even their own constituents. Business needs to be aggressively dealt with in the West, especially in MURICA where lobbyists totally run the show.

Even if they had half the balls of Putin we'd be better off.

Putin is one of the oligarchs bleeding Russia dry, Russia with its vast resources and unassailable size should be paradise on earth, instead it's a squalid shithole and it's people seemingly at their happiest when they're terrorising their neighbours.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

People wanted evidence RT was a joke. Here is RT USA blaming the west for "stoking tensions claiming an invasion" among other hilarious bullshit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF7lHdDw7Sk&feature=youtu.be

So I need to know this now: Why is RT in english? How many non russian speakers actually watch and believe RT? Am I completely misjudging this?

 

[Dead Man]

So I need to know this now: Why is RT in english? How many non russian speakers actually watch and believe RT? Am I completely misjudging this?

A few posters in this thread have seemed to think they are unfairly judged.

 

[antonz]

So I need to know this now: Why is RT in english? How many non russian speakers actually watch and believe RT? Am I completely misjudging this?

They have huge appeal to the fringe elements of the left and right. Conspiracy nuts and general self hating Americans are prime examples of their audience. They proclaim themselves as the truth in media that the west doesn't want you to know.

To give you an idea of viewership its the 2nd most watched foreign news channel behind the BBC. Sad really.

 

[Funky Papa]

So I need to know this now: Why is RT in english? How many non russian speakers actually watch and believe RT? Am I completely misjudging this?

It's a propaganda front. In order to spread the message, you need to go global. They also have a Spanish branch catering the strong anti-American, anti-NATO feelings in the Hispanic world. It's wildly successful.

 

[leroidys]

So I need to know this now: Why is RT in english? How many non russian speakers actually watch and believe RT? Am I completely misjudging this?

Just look at how often people try to repost it here. It gets around.

 

[maquiladora]

FM Lavrov is now also saying what Putin said yesterday : No Russian forces ever left their base in Crimea. Only local militias that they have no control over. Fucking hilarious....

The Russian government is legit wanting the world to believe that these are locals that picked up uniforms in a supermarket....

This is North Korean government level insanity. Except its coming from a G8, permanent member of the security council. Christ....

 

[Fantastapotamus]

They have huge appeal to the fringe elements of the left and right. Conspiracy nuts and general self hating Americans are prime examples of their audience. They proclaim themselves as the truth in media that the west doesn't want you to know.

To give you an idea of viewership its the 2nd most watched foreign news channel behind the BBC. Sad really.

That's actually kinda scary

 

[PhoenixWrong]

and it's people seemingly at their happiest when they're terrorising their neighbours.

Such an ignorant and silly thing to say, oh my.

And yeah, this thread is an amazing collection of some good russophobic stuff. Will read again, A+++++++

 

[Fantastapotamus]

Such an ignorant and silly thing to say, oh my.

And yeah, this thread is an amazing collection of some good russophobic stuff. Will read again, A+++++++

Poor russia. Can't invade a nation without getting some hate on the internet.

 

[Osiris]

Somebody needs to tell this Russian soldier that he's not a Russian soldier, he seems to be off-message XD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Z8ymyhx8A

Shaun Walker ‏@shaunwalker7 14h

Russian soldiers forced to keep up "volunteer" charade. This chatty chap cracked; here to defend against "terror"

The denials are hilarious.

 

[antonz]

I expect Russia will start to pull back its troops. Journalists are now reporting a big build up of regular dressed "militia" showing up. Most fit the description youd expect. Lots of older men who long for the days of the USSR when everything was "better"

They need a conflict between the "militia" and Ukrainian Military it is their last hope at an effective strategy

 

[brian577]

I expect Russia will start to pull back its troops. Journalists are now reporting a big build up of regular dressed "militia" showing up. Most fit the description youd expect. Lots of older men who long for the days of the USSR when everything was "better"

They need a conflict between the "militia" and Ukrainian Military it is their last hope at an effective strategy

What? Are you saying going to pull back troops and stage a confrontation? I'm confused.

 

[FreedomFighter]

Lots of people have in this thread have bought into some stupid propaganda.

Really. The OP is quoting CNN and shit. US MSM is going bat shit insane with disinfo.

 

[antonz]

What? Are you saying going to pull back troops and stage a confrontation? I'm confused.

Russia already claims Ukrainians are attacking the helpless Crimeans. I mean Putin went as far as saying its so bad the police are afraid to leave their houses.

Russia can pull back its troop away from strategic places and leave people like this

who are aching for a fight and would give Russia the proof it needs for their claims

 

[brian577]

Russia already claims Ukrainians are attacking the helpless Crimeans. I mean Putin went as far as saying its so bad the police are afraid to leave their houses.

Russia can pull back its troop away from strategic places and leave people like this

who are aching for a fight and would give Russia the proof it needs for their claims

OK, that makes more sense.

 

[FreedomFighter]

A few posters in this thread have seemed to think they are unfairly judged.

I'm one of them.

Say what you all will about RT, but they're the only place where many marginalized and blacklisted folks get air time in non-independent media. Has some great shows like Breaking the Set and Crosstalk that I enjoy too. Opinions and insight that are unfairly shut out of the mainstream media in the US. Like when Donahue spoke out about the Iraq war. NBC shut his ass down.

This Ukraine coverage has been egregiously insane on both sides, RT and US MSM.

 

[FreedomFighter]

They have huge appeal to the fringe elements of the left and right. Conspiracy nuts and general self hating Americans are prime examples of their audience. They proclaim themselves as the truth in media that the west doesn't want you to know.

I think that's a gross oversimplification but you're entitled to that opinion. What alternatives would you recommend?

 

[Nikodemos]

Putin is one of the oligarchs bleeding Russia dry, Russia with its vast resources and unassailable size should be paradise on earth, instead it's a squalid shithole and it's people seemingly at their happiest when they're terrorising their neighbours.

Unfortunately, it's been that way since nearly forever.

 

[Partial Gamification]

Lol, "lebed' means swan in Russian.

Oh yeah, Lebedinoye ozero. Slavic roots I don't know. Translate isn't functioning for Ukrainian or Russian.

Only one guy on facebook says Yanukovych has passed then.

 

[Fantastapotamus]

Interesting opinion piece about how Russia maybe actually doesn't want Crimea to become completely independent.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/opinion/what-putin-really-wants.html

In short: Crimea provides about a million pro russian votes during Ukrain elections. Interesting read. Haven't actually thought of that.

 

[Kadayi]

I think WWIII was already fought and decided between these two gazes. That or true love was found

Hand on knee for sure.

TBH I think the US should back off and let Merkel handle everything. She has a good working relationship with Putin, plus he speaks German so they can converse face to face without the need for translators. This is really a European issue at the end of the day and despite the US governments belief that they need to stick their nose into everyone's business they're doing more harm than good with a lot of the rhetoric.

 

[ksan]

I think that's a gross oversimplification but you're entitled to that opinion. What alternatives would you recommend?

While it's a simplification, their broadest audience don't seem to be significantly more impressive. Rather it seems to be people who aren't generally well-informed and didn't start reading about the revolution in the earlier stages.
Time and time again I see the criticism of the western media not bringing up the far-right elements of the protests, which simply isn't the truth. Unless these people for some reason have selective memory, decided to not read the actual articles, or simply started reading about the events last week, anyone would have known that.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Such an ignorant and silly thing to say, oh my.

NATO's rapid rate of expansion proves me right. These weak nations aren't signing up because they love malevolent entities like the united states and Britain you know.

And yeah, this thread is an amazing collection of some good russophobic stuff.

Russia's running end to end Anti ukrainian Nazi propaganda on tv, This coming from the nation that has one of the highest concentrations of nazi's on the planet, and has it's own hitler youth wannabe. Do you not realise how ridiculous this looks? a vast, continuous nation that stretches from the baltics to the pacific is greedily eyeing a sliver of territory in the black sea to save face from a bad miscalculation, that it an almost primitive, stalinist mindset.

 

[spekkeh]

People wanted evidence RT was a joke. Here is RT USA blaming the west for "stoking tensions claiming an invasion" among other hilarious bullshit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF7lHdDw7Sk&feature=youtu.be

 

[Partial Gamification]

Hand on knee for sure.

TBH I think the US should back off and let Merkel handle everything. She has a good working relationship with Putin, plus he speaks German so they can converse face to face without the need for translators. This is really a European issue at the end of the day and despite the US governments belief that they need to stick their nose into everyone's business they're doing more harm than good with a lot of the rhetoric.

I think Merkel has point but Sec of State Kerry, Sen Graham, Sen McCain, and Pres Obama are expected by members of the global community and also their constituents to speak out [edit: not that I agree with any or all of them or think this is reason enough for them to do so, but its pressure on them as politicians]. What it can antagonize are the thugs and people posing as local thugs looking to vandalize, harass, and destabilize.

Have any of the European leaders asked the US to back away from this issue?

 

[Majine]

Putin as a person scares the crap out of me. He looks like he's always keeping secrets from you.