While the situation in Ukraine is uncertain, the whole Eastern Europe has lit up like on a signal. Both the West and the Russians are either trying to keep or extend their influence over the region or parts of it, and they are not even hiding anymore.
The first battleground may have been my country, Romania. I say "may" to "first". It is almost a certainty it was a "battleground" between the West and the Russians. For the time being, the West "won", but not without bending our Constitution to the point of (almost?) breaking it.
But we have presidential elections in May (second try), the ones that generated all the "war" in the first place.
So does Poland. Also in May.
Luckily, Germany pulled out of their elections quite undamaged, but it took an impressive 80%+ voting presence to secure the results they had. We haven't had such a vote presence even at our first elections post-communism, so it is unlikely to have it this time either.
Let's see... What else do we have? Look here:
That's what's in Belgrade these days... Those are people with phones down there... Hundreds of thousands of people on the streets (some say 1 million), at a total population of Serbia of 6.7 million! I won't delve into what they want, what was their trigger, who is behind, and such things, although things are rather clear for an unbiased watcher.
There are speculations the authorities fired with a sonic weapon into the mob to disperse them, as they kept a moment of silence (for the deaths in Novi Sad, probably, after the train station's roof collapsed). The videos show people running in panic from the middle of the road to the sidewalks, while before they were very calm, and they didn't seem to know why they were doing it (panicking and running). That seems to be the effect of such a weapon - it induces panic and people start running without knowing why. They just feel a pressure in the chest and head. At least that's what a military officer explained. And these weapons are prohibited to be used against civilians.
Moving on... I believe Bulgaria hasn't been able to form a government for two years. Or so I heard.
Hungary experiences protests these days too. I think they are against Orban, but I'm not sure. I just saw them in a window on a screen and heard a brief comment about that.
I think earlier this year (maybe now too), Slovakia had some significant protests too.
A tragedy happened in North Macedonia these days, with a nightclub blowing up and at least 59 dead, and 150 wounded, from what I read. Something similar happened in Bucharest about 10 years ago... Obviously, the emotions are very high in such a context.
Bosnia & Herzegovina seems to have to deal over there with a separatist movement which wants Republika Srpska (one of two entities of the country) to break away and unite with Serbia. That's something Russia supports.
Only a few calmer places now in Eastern Europe. Be careful, if you are in one of them... You might be the targeted next...
As someone who have lived through the events in my country when communism fell and after (although I was very young, but have tried to understand them better as I grew up), I don't like how things look nowadays in Eastern Europe.
There is a relatively old quote compared to modern times (pre-WW1, updated to at most until right after WW1), which I thought was an exaggeration when I heard it, but I looked it up, and, it is true, it exists:
Who rules Eastern Europe [...] commands the world.
I doubt things are as simple as that these days (if they can be called simple), but I'm sure some may still think in this paradigm, at least partially.
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I think the whole world is kinda fucked up now, all these tensions remind me a lot of ww1 just that now there can't be a ww again... There is too much playing with fire, proxy wars and such... Big players are not hitting each other just harassing using small nations, see Romania, Syria, Yemen , now Serbia
You think? That's how both ww1 and ww2 started... ww1 from a pretext in Serbia (actually, what is now, Bosnia and Hertzegovina), ww2 after a bad peace after www1, and after bad compromises leading to ww2, and then the invasion of Poland.
Yea, actual times remind me a lot of pre ww1, ww2 had a total different story and birth... I say there can't be an other not because humanity finally realized war sucks, but because in case of a new ww no one will allow to be defeated... There are nukes now, the first throwing one will trigger the reply of other nations, that will basically end human life
Let's say nukes don't get used and we go for a normal warfare, the losing state as last desperate move will use them anyway before collapse, so again nuclear holocaust
It's the same reason why Russia can't lose the war with Ukraine, doesn't matter what politicians blabbing about defeating Russia, because it will never happen, the Russian doctrine states that when integrity of state is in danger, nukes will be used, if an enemy army ever even gets in depth and trigger that danger then nukes will be used
That's a good argument. Although, I imagine no one would go so far as to "defeat" a nuclear power. Only to weaken it. You can't put a nuclear power with its back on the wall, because really bad things can happen.
Russia can't be defeated in war, that's true... They can't win a war against the Occident either (and they also had help from China [not military], Iran, North Korea, etc.). How about in peace? Which side would win in peace time? Not Russia. Maybe China, but not Russia, despite its resources.
In peace time probably China on the long term, I think the west is at its twilight expecially Europe
Serbia protest has little to do with global geopolitical issues.
Population is simply fed up with local corruption regardless of the political affiliation.
This sentiment is at the moment rather unique.
OK... So what are they trying to accomplish?
Good question for which I also had difficulty to find answer.
Many different ideas about it I came across, but those were nothing new and at least to me it was obvious that those reasons alone could not bring such mass of people together.
In my opinion this was protest of the famous "silent majority" that got fed up.
Perhaps it is percussor of things to come in many other places?
It is very likely that many people who went to the protests got fed up. We all are, more or less. But I believe some use or try to use these kind of protests to their advantage, with (or without, more likely) the knowledge of most of the participants. It happens all the time, unfortunately.
It is possible. That's one reason why I used that title for the post.
I think a lot of the world is messed up. It doesn't help when there are multiple parties throwing more fuel on top of everything. I don't think war is good for anything involved outside of the military industrial complex.
It is certainly not good for the people. Some think corruption is bad (and it is!!). That's because they haven't seen war up close. Not that I have, but I am a realist when it comes to these things.
Sending !LUV and positive energy your way.
That is #TooFuckeh to think anyone commands the world. I live next door to the most militarily powerful nation in history and their leader is on a mission to take Canadians out of the global picture.
One thing that social media is good at is spreading stupidity and hate. A good person is focused on spreading love, knowledge and creative solutions. So the challenged is figuring out how to overcome fear and call out the leaders, ie influencers; that lie, cheat, steal and filled with the desire to conquer people.
The Orange Jesus next door has destroyed trust between USA and Canada. Good luck earning that trust again. Now Trump does not care but what about the American people? Why is it taking so long for the good people to do what they must to get their current leader out of office?
The other day, Trump's commerce secretary was on CNN laughing at Canadian placing a tariff on sporting goods and bourbon. Saying we don't understand the seriousness of the matter. Well, the guy made a fortune from lying, stealing and cheating the people that worked for him and gave him power. So his logic is that USA is #1 and cannot be defeated so bend the knee or get raped and pillaged. Well he is wrong. While USA policies create major disruptions in the world because they use a hammer or chain saw to bully and get their way, ie be #1 at all cost, we Crazy Canucks will use sound strategies to weaken the predatory elephant. We supply discounted energy to USA so they can make a profit selling their oil to other nations. and the stupid arse says we cheat and steal from them. Such a childish and stupid response that is very telling of a badly managed household next door.
WW3 has been going on for awhile. It's a world economic war. More pain coming so we must be smart with our pain management strategies.
May Positive pepEntropy be with you.
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I found that quote a little too military-ilish and quite unpractical. In fact, even in the linked article, they say it has never happened, the closest to this has ever been (to control the whole Eastern Europe, not the whole world), was by the Russian Empire after the Ottoman Empire fell, but even then they didn't control all of it.
Why Orange Jesus? 😄
I don't think that will happen... which, if it continues the same way, might change the world in 4 years. That seems to be his mission, anyway!
Yeah, I hate it when he (Trump) keeps his own discourse, uses the same numbers, even when they have been disputed. Now, whoever has the most coverage, and it's louder seems to think they are right, even when numbers say something else.
That is true. Although, at the rapid pace of the arm race that began, we shouldn't discount this turning into a classical war.
He is an icon mocking a God. Sad that some so-called Christians support this blasphemy.
Well, I don't know about a classical war theory as a possibility. What I do know is that when your economy is dependent on continued growth of debt, sooner or later their is an eventual collapse. Trump and his Project 2025 cronies are executing a plan that is entirely about USA being #1 at all cost. That is madness and backward colonial thinking.
Trump says he doesn't need Canada for anything. Well, every time there is a natural disaster in USA guess what Canada does. We send people and equipment to help save Americans.
I have a friend, was a work college, that took a buyout package from our provincial power corporation. He started with one Powerline truck and would go to USA to help restore power during natural disaster events. In a few years, he had 70+ trucks and sold the business for over $60 million dollars. Disaster recovery is a growing business and if you don't invest in your own infrastructure then a disaster is much more destructive. Well, the USA power grid is not well because they are all about short term quick profit. You know, capitalism at all cost.
I hope that Americans understand that when they declare war on a neighbour that everything is on the table. What will they do when we start to pull the plug on the electrical grid?
I hear ya, as long as you don't hate Trump. Need to better educate and help his supporters cope with fear so they can choose a more caring person as a leader. Not a problem that is unique to USA. I do give Trump credit for strengthening Canadian unity.
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