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What is going on in the comments here? Are there really people on HN that think Russia spent all that time, money, and effort to amass their troops on the borde

What is going on in the comments here? Are there really people on HN that think Russia spent all that time, money, and effort to amass their troops on the border just as a ruse, and the intelligence services are just making it all up?

clarge1120 5y ago
What’s going on with this comment? Do you trust the government? Why?
Grimburger 5y ago
> Russia spent all that time, money, and effort To enrich some oligarchs associated with the Kremlin and play geopolitics about energy? Yeah it wouldn't be surprising in the slightest.
- Invictus0 5y ago
  I don't even know what to say. Do you understand the cost and logistical challenges of such a troop movement? Is it lost on you that Russia already invaded Ukraine once in the last 10 years? The false flag attack has historical basis and is so obviously plausible that I'm convinced half of the commenters here are either astroturfing or are just trying to score cheap "don't trust the govt, man!" points. This is a serious issue, millions of lives hang in the balance here, and all the commenters here want to play armchair general. I'm in disbelief.
  - Grimburger 5y ago
    > Do you understand the cost and logistical challenges of such a troop movement? It's a fraction of Russian forces already close by, then there's another 2 million reserves just waiting around at home. Supply/movement costs are barely a rounding error and it's bizarre to hear otherwise as though they care about taxpayer waste? Spending the most on nothing is basically a political sport there. Then there's this: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/world/europe/putin-sanctions-proofing.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/world/europe/putin-sancti... Putin is in an excellent position to weather any western sanctions from stirring the pot, and we all know it. Germany, the de facto leader of the EU just threw away it's nuclear powerplants becoming ever more reliant on Russia for its vital energy needs for the next few decades. They know how strong a position they have and are going to cause trouble over the Ukraine NATO thing without fear, that's pretty much the extent of it. It's the usual 5 eyes nonsense where our media hypes it up for months and then nothing. You should try talking to some South Koreans or Taiwanese about this phenomenon, it will be their turn again next year. It's far too late in winter to be invading anyone.
_dain_ 5y ago
>Are there really people on HN that think Russia spent all that time, money, and effort to amass their troops on the border just as a ruse, Not as a ruse, but as a show of force to bolster his negotiation position. Putin would have to be insane to actually invade. It would be the end of his regime. US intelligence agencies have a history of making things up, yes. As for "what is going on in the comments", I have to ask the same question. The credulity, paranoia, and lack of perspective is somewhat astonishing to me. There are people who literally think that eastern Ukraine is absolutely vital to American interests.
323 5y ago
HN and tech people are extremely anti-American military. Just remember all the comments on articles regarding Microsoft/Google/Amazon working with the Pentagon. HN would probably vote for the dismantling of US Army if polled.
- xiphias2 5y ago
  As an ex Googler this has nothing to do with America, much more with anti-war. If Google helps the Chinese or the Sirian military, you get the same reaction. When I was working there, I was friends with people from 15 different countries, but for others it can be much more. Whenever we're writing code that helps a military, we may be writing it to kill the family of a colleague, which is clearly immoral.
  - 323 5y ago
    Well, Ukraine doesn't have much of a military. So from your point of view that makes Ukraine a very moral country. We'll soon see what that means for the Ukrainian people.
    - xiphias2 5y ago
      Of course Ukraine has a military.
      - 323 5y ago
        Which is full of immoral people according to you. They should just resign, go home and live a moral non-violent life.
        xiphias2 5y ago
        It’s too late, I resigned already years ago.
sedan_baklazhan 5y ago
We are talking about Russian territory here. On another hand, some NATO countries are actively massing their troops inside of some country which never invited them... It's completely different, of course!
10xrubberduck 5y ago
What's wrong with that sentiment? 1. US/nato didnt send military so close to Russian border at this scale before If a country that I had a cold war with amassed military near my border I'd be rightfully paranoid (I am not from us or russia btw) 2. Deescalation needs at least one side not amassing military there else its a never ending spiral into war.. and due to #1 us/nato should take that step, not act like russia, rather be better 3. Like others said, the same sources that lied about Iraq, Afghanistan etc.. yeah, it's come to it that many comments that said that are (or looks like) from us citizens

clarge1120 5y ago

What’s going on with this comment? Do you trust the government? Why?

Grimburger 5y ago

> Russia spent all that time, money, and effort To enrich some oligarchs associated with the Kremlin and play geopolitics about energy? Yeah it wouldn't be surprising in the slightest.

Invictus0 5y ago
I don't even know what to say. Do you understand the cost and logistical challenges of such a troop movement? Is it lost on you that Russia already invaded Ukraine once in the last 10 years? The false flag attack has historical basis and is so obviously plausible that I'm convinced half of the commenters here are either astroturfing or are just trying to score cheap "don't trust the govt, man!" points. This is a serious issue, millions of lives hang in the balance here, and all the commenters here want to play armchair general. I'm in disbelief.
- Grimburger 5y ago
  > Do you understand the cost and logistical challenges of such a troop movement? It's a fraction of Russian forces already close by, then there's another 2 million reserves just waiting around at home. Supply/movement costs are barely a rounding error and it's bizarre to hear otherwise as though they care about taxpayer waste? Spending the most on nothing is basically a political sport there. Then there's this: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/world/europe/putin-sanctions-proofing.html https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/03/world/europe/putin-sancti... Putin is in an excellent position to weather any western sanctions from stirring the pot, and we all know it. Germany, the de facto leader of the EU just threw away it's nuclear powerplants becoming ever more reliant on Russia for its vital energy needs for the next few decades. They know how strong a position they have and are going to cause trouble over the Ukraine NATO thing without fear, that's pretty much the extent of it. It's the usual 5 eyes nonsense where our media hypes it up for months and then nothing. You should try talking to some South Koreans or Taiwanese about this phenomenon, it will be their turn again next year. It's far too late in winter to be invading anyone.

_dain_ 5y ago

>Are there really people on HN that think Russia spent all that time, money, and effort to amass their troops on the border just as a ruse, Not as a ruse, but as a show of force to bolster his negotiation position. Putin would have to be insane to actually invade. It would be the end of his regime. US intelligence agencies have a history of making things up, yes. As for "what is going on in the comments", I have to ask the same question. The credulity, paranoia, and lack of perspective is somewhat astonishing to me. There are people who literally think that eastern Ukraine is absolutely vital to American interests.

323 5y ago

HN and tech people are extremely anti-American military. Just remember all the comments on articles regarding Microsoft/Google/Amazon working with the Pentagon. HN would probably vote for the dismantling of US Army if polled.

xiphias2 5y ago
As an ex Googler this has nothing to do with America, much more with anti-war. If Google helps the Chinese or the Sirian military, you get the same reaction. When I was working there, I was friends with people from 15 different countries, but for others it can be much more. Whenever we're writing code that helps a military, we may be writing it to kill the family of a colleague, which is clearly immoral.
- 323 5y ago
  Well, Ukraine doesn't have much of a military. So from your point of view that makes Ukraine a very moral country. We'll soon see what that means for the Ukrainian people.
  - xiphias2 5y ago
    Of course Ukraine has a military.
    - 323 5y ago
      Which is full of immoral people according to you. They should just resign, go home and live a moral non-violent life.
      - xiphias2 5y ago
        It’s too late, I resigned already years ago.

sedan_baklazhan 5y ago

We are talking about Russian territory here. On another hand, some NATO countries are actively massing their troops inside of some country which never invited them... It's completely different, of course!

10xrubberduck 5y ago

What's wrong with that sentiment? 1. US/nato didnt send military so close to Russian border at this scale before If a country that I had a cold war with amassed military near my border I'd be rightfully paranoid (I am not from us or russia btw) 2. Deescalation needs at least one side not amassing military there else its a never ending spiral into war.. and due to #1 us/nato should take that step, not act like russia, rather be better 3. Like others said, the same sources that lied about Iraq, Afghanistan etc.. yeah, it's come to it that many comments that said that are (or looks like) from us citizens