4 ms·

There is an important difference. The Bolivian plane was warned sufficiently in advance and had enough fuel to flight back to Russia at that point. The Ryanair

There is an important difference. The Bolivian plane was warned sufficiently in advance and had enough fuel to flight back to Russia at that point. The Ryanair flight was forced to land with a military jet leaving the pilots no choice but to comply. But I agree that what Western Europe did to Bolivian flight backfires now badly.

pydry 5y ago
It's not like Morales told why he was being barred entry to four different countries' air spaces. In both cases the pilot was lied to to capture a dissident and in neither case were the passengers in danger. Lukashenko's propaganda will get a boost from this. Indeed, it's possibly what emboldened him to try it, safe in the knowledge that Europe and the US could only condemn it hypocritically. The West loses moral authority when it pulls this shit - not only in their own countries but in dictatorships rhey are trying to sway.
- mopsi 5y ago
  Morales-Shmorales. No-one cares about the games governments play with their private jets. This was an unprecedented attack on public scheduled intra-European passenger service that every regular person may end up using. This is a whole different category and that's why the whataboutism isn't working this time and the standard "losing moral authority" talking points sound particularly shallow and unconvicing.
  - pydry 5y ago
    Perhaps not to you. I think they'll make effective use of whataboutism on Belarussian state TV and newspapers. The similarities make it almost too easy for them.
    - mopsi 5y ago
      I wouldn't call that particularly effective. Everyone but the most braindead vatniks know that's bullshit. Lies, lies and further lies just like in the USSR. No amount of propaganda can mask how shitty the life is. There's no reason whatsoever why Belarus couldn't be enjoying the same quality of life as their direct neighbours in the west, they were at the same starting point in 1991 after all. Limited travel is still possible and people know very well what life is like just across the border. Do the same job, get paid several times as much, and without getting molested by government thugs.
      - pydry 5y ago
        >Everyone but the most braindead vatniks know that's bullshit. Lies, lies and further lies just like in the USSR. https://www.rt.com/usa/524710-psaki-belarus-bolivia-plane/ https://www.rt.com/usa/524710-psaki-belarus-bolivia-plane/ RT is already mocking the very same press secretary who justified doing this to get Snowden in 2013 for getting outraged now as she unconvincing deflects a question about it. CNN won't show that on your TV but I'll bet Belarussians will get to see it. This is not going to play out unfavorably for Lukashenko, especially if the US/Europe hits them with sanctions that bite. >There's no reason whatsoever why Belarus couldn't be enjoying the same quality of life as their direct neighbours in the west Realistically Ukraine is a closer model for how they'd end up if they rejected Russia and aligned more closely with the West. They are under no illusions that a quick change of allegiance will turn them into Luxembourg.

pydry 5y ago

It's not like Morales told why he was being barred entry to four different countries' air spaces. In both cases the pilot was lied to to capture a dissident and in neither case were the passengers in danger. Lukashenko's propaganda will get a boost from this. Indeed, it's possibly what emboldened him to try it, safe in the knowledge that Europe and the US could only condemn it hypocritically. The West loses moral authority when it pulls this shit - not only in their own countries but in dictatorships rhey are trying to sway.

mopsi 5y ago
Morales-Shmorales. No-one cares about the games governments play with their private jets. This was an unprecedented attack on public scheduled intra-European passenger service that every regular person may end up using. This is a whole different category and that's why the whataboutism isn't working this time and the standard "losing moral authority" talking points sound particularly shallow and unconvicing.
- pydry 5y ago
  Perhaps not to you. I think they'll make effective use of whataboutism on Belarussian state TV and newspapers. The similarities make it almost too easy for them.
  - mopsi 5y ago
    I wouldn't call that particularly effective. Everyone but the most braindead vatniks know that's bullshit. Lies, lies and further lies just like in the USSR. No amount of propaganda can mask how shitty the life is. There's no reason whatsoever why Belarus couldn't be enjoying the same quality of life as their direct neighbours in the west, they were at the same starting point in 1991 after all. Limited travel is still possible and people know very well what life is like just across the border. Do the same job, get paid several times as much, and without getting molested by government thugs.
    - pydry 5y ago
      >Everyone but the most braindead vatniks know that's bullshit. Lies, lies and further lies just like in the USSR. https://www.rt.com/usa/524710-psaki-belarus-bolivia-plane/ https://www.rt.com/usa/524710-psaki-belarus-bolivia-plane/ RT is already mocking the very same press secretary who justified doing this to get Snowden in 2013 for getting outraged now as she unconvincing deflects a question about it. CNN won't show that on your TV but I'll bet Belarussians will get to see it. This is not going to play out unfavorably for Lukashenko, especially if the US/Europe hits them with sanctions that bite. >There's no reason whatsoever why Belarus couldn't be enjoying the same quality of life as their direct neighbours in the west Realistically Ukraine is a closer model for how they'd end up if they rejected Russia and aligned more closely with the West. They are under no illusions that a quick change of allegiance will turn them into Luxembourg.