An expanding NATO uses its diversity as strength

NATO more powerful and unified than ever while Russia is more broken than ever.

NATO more powerful and unified than ever while Russia is more broken than ever.

Riiiiight, so that must be why leaders of NATO countries are extremely unpopular and will likely be voted out, while Putin is extremely popular and just won an election in a landslide.

Calling it a landslide in a rigged election is a joke. Only 76 million Russians voted for Putin.

Riiiiight, so that must be why leaders of NATO countries are extremely unpopular and will likely be voted out, while Putin is extremely popular and just won an election in a landslide.

Well, Putin says he won in a landslide. He gets to make up any results he wants - dictator's privilege.

We all know that if an opponent were allowed to live, and the elections were fair, the Russians would have kicked Putin to the curb.

Wick's pencilToday 08:36 am JST

NATO more powerful and unified than ever while Russia is more broken than ever.

Riiiiight, so that must be why leaders of NATO countries are extremely unpopular and will likely be voted out, while Putin is extremely popular and just won an election in a landslide.

Basically "two more weeks" the argument. I'll take my chances.

The same leftist students and activists who passionately protested against NATO's actions confronting the Soviet Union in the '80s are now journalists and government leader enthusiastically advocating for NATO to go to war against Russia.

Strange times....

Calling it a landslide in a rigged election is a joke. Only 76 million Russians voted for Putin.

Russia's population is 143 million.

With a 77% turnout (% eligible voters), 87% voted for Putin. No evidence of rigging.

Russia's population is 143 million.

With a 77% turnout (% eligible voters), 87% voted for Putin. No evidence of rigging.

Shhh, don't share facts with the warmongers that hate Russia because it.... [checks notes].... stands for national sovereignty rather than a new world order.

They can't believe that, GASP, Russians actually love that Putin puts Russia first!!! Which is what any leader of a nation concerned about its own citizens should do!!!

Putin's election was rigged because he was the only candidate who could win regardless of the voting outcome. But he needed the votes to look good in the eyes of the Russians.

Out of a population of 143 million, there are 114 million registered voters. Putin received 76 million votes or 66% of the registered voters.

Putin's election was rigged because he was the only candidate who could win regardless of the voting outcome.

How so? There were other candidates, who each received 3-4% of the votes. And these candidates were much more popular than Navalny, who the West calls the "major opposition".

Putin's landslide victory was consistent with the polls.

I doubt most of the NATO country leaders will win their next elections...

Out of a population of 143 million, there are 114 million registered voters. Putin received 76 million votes or 66% of the registered voters.

Yes, but the turnout was 77%. And out of those who voted, he got 87%. Try comparing that to elections won by leaders of NATO countries.

zones2surfToday 01:33 pm JST

The same leftist students and activists who passionately protested against NATO's actions confronting the Soviet Union in the '80s are now journalists and government leader enthusiastically advocating for NATO to go to war against Russia.

Strange times....

It's called growing up and becoming an adult.

Raw BeerToday 02:55 pm JST

Putin's election was rigged because he was the only candidate who could win regardless of the voting outcome.

How so? There were other candidates, who each received 3-4% of the votes. And these candidates were much more popular than Navalny, who the West calls the "major opposition".

The other "candidates" couldn't explain why there were running. Not gave a lame excuse why they were running, but literally too scared to say why they were running.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68543919

NATO is doing a great job of keeping its members safe, of working and training together to keep it that way. I really wish my country could join NATO. I would feel a lot safer and happier if they were.

NATO is more needed and relevant today than ever before. Membership should be opened up world wide as long as prospective members can qualify. The worlds biggest alliance that nobody wants to mess with, for obvious reasons. They dont want to lose.

NATO becoming largely irrelevant, why? Due to historic global weapons tech. and WMD proliferation Russia pursued as result of US NATO Ukraine Proxy War. NATO eastward expansion unconstrained Russian proliferation.

Iran, NK, Belarus and China all have seen their military capabilities massively enhanced past 2years. NK alone, thousands of times more killing power vs. pre Feb2022.

Plus, untold weapons transfers to proxy militant and terrorist groups. Houthis supposedly now have hypersonic missiles for example if reporting is accurate.

NATO can't intimidate WMD countries, thus irrelevant, especially since their growing so coordinated and massively increasing their weapons production, especially NK, Belarus and Iran. New dangerous Axis, all thanks to Biden escalating Ukraine into a global conflict.

Of course Poo tin won fairly and is loved by all. Provided you ignore the documented and even filmed vote stuffing both during the day and after the polls closed for the night, why else were they extended over more than one day but to give mort time to stuff the boxes after hours.

Even with that the frightened little dictator for life still had to kill or disallow any potential real opposition figures from standing.

Given how many doubles he has he could have had them all stand, then you could vote for,

Putin.

Putin

Putin

or for a radical alternative,

Putin!

NATO has proven itself wholly unable to produce sufficient weapons, especially artillery, many still spend less than 2% of GDP, pure paper tiger, as Europe's aging rapidly like Japan, hard to recruit for military etc.

Meanwhile the China, Russia, Iran, NK, Belarus axis just the opposite, hardcore fighting focus.

No NATO country in Europe has been attacked since its formation in 1949. The US was attacked on 9/11 by terrorists but not by a country. That is a great success.

No NATO country in Europe has been attacked since its formation in 1949.

The UK was attacked by Argentina but Article 5 states that only only an attack on a member states territory above the Tropic of Cancer will trigger a NATO response.

NATO becoming largely irrelevant, why?

Russia invades Ukraine shows NATO is very relevant.

Russian aggression forces Finland and Sweden to find safety as new NATO members.

Enemies of peace and freedom wish NATO was irrelevant, they pray NATO will go away so they can sow ware and destruction on the People of Europe once again. But Russia ensure NATO is strong, and growing, and is more influential today than ever before.

NATO can't intimidate WMD countries,

That depends on your take on intimidate. NATO is so strong, no nation in the world would want to fight them, including Russia and China. Both fear NATO. And so they should, if they ever attack a NATO nation it will be the end of whoever leads their nation into war against that alliance which includes the worlds strongest military nation.

NATO irrelevant? Not even close to being true. Another fake narrative from a hater of the West and freedom.

sow ware and destruction

sow war and destruction

Austria, Ireland and Switzerland are not NATO members and seem to be quite safe from attack.

That is a great success.

The UK was attacked by Argentina but Article 5 states that only only an attack on a member states territory above the Tropic of Cancer will trigger a NATO response.

The Falkland Islands are not in Europe.

Mr Kipling

Austria, Ireland and Switzerland are not NATO members and seem to be quite safe from attack.

> That is a great success.

They are neutral countries and were neutral during WW2.

Mr Kipling

Austria, Ireland and Switzerland are not NATO members and seem to be quite safe from attack.

That is a great success.

If the Allie country had been neutral during WW2 today Europe would be ruled by the Nazis.

HopeSpringsEternalToday 08:55 pm JST

NATO becoming largely irrelevant

Are you talking about the "largely irrelevant" NATO that has 32 member countries (and others waiting in the wings) and 3.5 million personnel, covers an area of 25 million km², has the world's most advanced weaponry and training, and whose countries constitute around 55 percent of global military spending?

That one? Or some pro-authoritarian fantasist version that doesn't exist?

Europe's aging rapidly like Japan, hard to recruit for military etc.

Meanwhile the China, Russia, Iran, NK, Belarus axis just the opposite, hardcore fighting focus.

China has one of the world's lowest birth rates (lower than Japan's), Russia is suffering huge battlefield losses and a huge brain drain, and Iran/NK/Belarus are basket cases. And other than Russia, none of these countries has recent, large-scale combat experience.

Your definition of "hardcore fighting focus" clearly differs from mine.

Yes, but the turnout was 77%. And out of those who voted, he got 87%. Try comparing that to elections won by leaders of NATO countries.

you do realize no one with even a little intelligence believes that?

Oh, are you suggesting that blindly believing the mainstream narrative that Putin is a brutal dictator is a sign of intelligence? Ok...

Putin's support has consistently been polling over 80% for quite a while, including in Western backed polls.

Or perhaps you're suggesting that leaders of NATO countries will win their next elections...LOL

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine both Austria and Switzerland are discussing joining NATO.

Meanwhile the China, Russia, Iran, NK, Belarus axis just the opposite, hardcore fighting focus.

Isabelle is absolutely right. Not only that… if you think that should scare NATO members into stopping and slowing down, you’re completely mistaken. Whether you are right or not, the fact they are focused on fighting the west just shows that NATO nations are right to be increasing defenses as much as possible.

Austria, Ireland and Switzerland are not NATO members and seem to be quite safe from attack

Mainly due to their distance from Russian borders, otherwise they would be in Russian cross hairs.

The US has the most advanced military in the world.

Putin's support has consistently been polling over 80% for quite a while, including in Western backed polls.

come on... for someone who doesn't believe "mainstream narratives", you don't doubt this one little bit?

US government-funded polling via the Levada Center showed that Putin had an approval rating of 86%, which is very close to the 87.3% election outcome.

Interestingly, last year, the same polling agency gave Putin's "fiercest opponent" a single-digit approval ratings.

Just because Western elites don't like the outcome...

The US has the most advanced military in the world.

Most expensive? Certainly!

But most advanced? Not so sure...

NATO becoming largely irrelevant

And yet Putin has declared that his fear of them is why he invaded Ukraine.

Putin's support has consistently been polling over 80% for quite a while, including in Western backed polls.

Only an idiot would think they have any clue what the Russian people think. The Russian people are not allowed to be asked what they think, and numbers like that above are whatever the Kremlin has decided the number should be, and has told the media they must report.

How gullible. It's hard to understand how these people can manage to navigate through life without being taken advantage of by... everyone.

At least 22 million fake votes were cast for Putin in the presidential election.

https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/03/19/at-least-22-million-fake-votes-cast-for-putin-in-presidential-election-en-news?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=Novayagazeta_EU%2Fmagazine%2FNovaya+Gazeta+Europe+%28English+newsfeed%29

Wallace...

They are neutral countries and were neutral during WW2.

Austria was neutral?

There are many non NATO countries that have avoided being attacked and have not attacked other countries.

Being a US Vassal, sorry, NATO member, encourages conflict.

Mr KiplingMar. 19 09:17 pm JST

Austria, Ireland and Switzerland are not NATO members and seem to be quite safe from attack.

Yeah, every country just needs to relocate itself far from adversaries or ensconced in another military alliance. Why don't they think of that?

HopeSpringsEternalMar. 19 08:55 pm JST

NATO becoming largely irrelevant, why? Due to historic global weapons tech. and WMD proliferation Russia pursued as result of US NATO Ukraine Proxy War. NATO eastward expansion unconstrained Russian proliferation.

Still Putin's War and no sources why an alliance of the wealthiest and biggest spending militaries in the world is irrelevant.

Iran, NK, Belarus and China all have seen their military capabilities massively enhanced past 2years. NK alone, thousands of times more killing power vs. pre Feb2022.

Yes, we all know NK is a stunning military power. They just need to, uh, work on their rations in peace time I guess.

Plus, untold weapons transfers to proxy militant and terrorist groups. Houthis supposedly now have hypersonic missiles for example if reporting is accurate.

And those will make fine targets for US airpower.

NATO can't intimidate WMD countries,

You mean nuclear countries? Yes, China and Russia cannot intimidate NATO.

thus irrelevant, especially since their growing so coordinated and massively increasing their weapons production, especially NK, Belarus and Iran. New dangerous Axis, all thanks to Biden escalating Ukraine into a global conflict.

Yeah that damn escalatory training by Biden. Glad you are associating the dictatorship cabal with their forbearers, though.

NATO has proven itself wholly unable to produce sufficient weapons, especially artillery, many still spend less than 2% of GDP, pure paper tiger, as Europe's aging rapidly like Japan, hard to recruit for military etc.

2% is not a magic target that will dramatically increase capability. What matters, as always, is what goes on in the US.

Meanwhile the China, Russia, Iran, NK, Belarus axis just the opposite, hardcore fighting focus.

Artillery shell production will not save you from B-2s.

Raw BeerMar. 19 10:30 pm JST

The US has the most advanced military in the world.

Most expensive? Certainly!

But most advanced? Not so sure...

Our gear never failed to operate on the battlefield and the best stuff is in the air. Russia, on the other hand, face-planted for all to see and has shown their hand many times.

anyone that blindly believes anything does not have the ability of critical thinking.

It's amazing how many extremist right wingers say the same thing as you, yet blindly believe that open ended questions asked on podcasts equate to proof of something worth being angry about.

Many of these people are smart enough to know that you shouldn't blindly believe everything you've told, yet lack the self awareness to see they do exactly that.

The EU/Europe needs a military force to protect it from a foreign attack or invasion. The USSR was the previous danger but Russia once again takes that place with Putin threatening to use nuclear weapons.

not everyone sees the world in black and white

Yes I know, I am a man who preaches nuance. But of course, I wasn't speaking of myself, I was speaking of people who DO see the world in black and white:

It's amazing how many extremist right wingers say the same thing as you