Lenin's Doom

[David Robertson]

Does that arise mostly from the history, or it is shaped more by modern social and economic forces?

Yes

[John McKenna]

I find myself totally in agreement with the spirit of David's reply to Chris' question.
Has something strange happened since Roger's 10kth post!
Am I becoming normal?

[Peter D Williams]

Hello Friends

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an urgent drill to test the combat readiness of the armed forces across western Russia.

"In accordance with an order from the president of the Russian Federation, forces of the Western Military District were put on alert at 1400 (10am UK time) today," Interfax quoted Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying.

Goose omelet tonight

[David Robertson]

Goose omelet tonight

Is this something involving Carol?

[John McKenna]

Peter, that news of yours is both unclear and unsettling...
Please state plainly if that is an omlette made with goose eggs or an omlette with a goose on top (one of Henry VIII's favourite fast snacks).

Re: that other matter -
Next thing you'll be saying is the Russians are about to goose step into Kiev.

Edit: David should report to the papers that goosing is rife at Chez Guillaume.

[Peter D Williams]

Peter, that news of yours is both unclear and unsettling...
Please state plainly if that is an omlette made with goose eggs or an omlette with a goose on top (one of Henry VIII's favourite fast snacks).

Re: that other matter -
Next thing you'll be saying is the Russians are about to goose step into Kiev.

Edit: David should report to the papers that goosing is rife at Chez Guillaume.

Reuters News is reporting that Russia will take action to secure the fleet in Ukraine.

It will be an omlette made with goose egg with cheese yummy

[Paul McKeown]

Russia now appears to be pulling the trick in the Crimea that it has already pulled in Georgia and elsewhere, that of arming civilian groups "defending their legitimate interests". In all likelihood this will be followed by a plebiscite demanding secession, followed by calls for fraternal support from the Rodina and a "reluctant" intervention. There is nothing militarily that could be done to stop it, of course.

[Phil Neatherway]

According to Wkipedia, Crimea is 58% ethnically Russian. In which case, a plebiscite would seem to be a reasonable thing to do.

[David Robertson]

Russian military beats hasty retreat

[Brian Valentine]

Is that "our" Simon Williams ?

[David Sedgwick]

Is that "our" Simon Williams ?

I rather doubt it, as he's currently playing in a tournament in Amsterdam.

http://batavia1920.nl/chess/

[Matt Mackenzie]

As no friend of Putin or Russian imperialism more generally, I still think their claim to Crimea is quite a strong one.

This is one of those things that might just have been sorted two decades ago, had the USSR not collapsed with such astonishing rapidity.

[John McKenna]

An interesting read -

http://www.cityam.com/article/139352643 ... ry-ukraine

[David Robertson]

An interesting read -

http://www.cityam.com/article/139352643 ... ry-ukraine

Proof of the disbenefits of uncritical Googling

[John McKenna]

That may well apply to how some discover such articles, David.
Not to me though - I regularly pick up a hard copy at the station.

I read it and the Telegraph in the same spirit as our intelligence analysts used to read the Soviet papers - Pravda, Izvestia, etc. (I have trouble with the Times, struggle with the Grauniad and am indifferent to the Indy.)

I google little as possible.

And, I rarely assume anything - unlike a great many people these days.

Please remember I only said it was an 'interesting read'- nothing more, or less.

Don't get me wrong. I do always welcome your pithy comments and longer purple patches on any and all topics.