-
-
Latest Posts
-
63
News Forum - Foreigner faces prison for Parrotfishing in Thailand
I think there is always the potential for trouble where alcohol is involved. Anyway we are getting way off topic! -
2,557
Ukraine/Russian Conflict - General Discussion
Thus, a March 28 Washington Post article noted, “Increasingly, Ukrainians are confronting an uncomfortable truth: The military’s understandable impulse to defend against Russian attacks could be putting civilians in the crosshairs.” But the devil is in the details and the context—and, aside from the fact that the Amnesty statement is shockingly fuzzy on both, it was released in a way that practically guaranteed it would become a propaganda weapon for the Kremlin. (The press center at Amnesty International’s main office, which I emailed twice for comment for this article, did not reply by Wednesday night.) To start with: While the Amnesty document released on August 4 has been widely described as a “report,” it really isn’t one; rather, it’s an “extended press release.” Where details are given, it turns out that some of the statement’s especially inflammatory claims—and ones especially usable by the Russian propaganda mill—are apparently based on considerably less inflammatory facts. For instance, the statement repeatedly mentions military bases being set up in “schools and hospitals.” Given that it also talks about Ukrainian soldiers “operating weapons systems” and firing at Russian troops in areas where civilians are present, this evokes shocking images of Ukrainians shooting or launching rockets from hospital rooftops or windows, inviting enemy fire in response. But the actual allegations, insofar as any specific allegations appear the statement, are far less dramatic. First, the hospitals: Amnesty International researchers witnessed Ukrainian forces using hospitals as de facto military bases in five locations. In two towns, dozens of soldiers were resting, milling about, and eating meals in hospitals. In another town, soldiers were firing from near the hospital. So the firing was actually from near (how near?) the hospital, not from the hospital itself. As for “bases,” the meaning of the word may be in dispute. Does a hospital become a “de facto military base” if soldiers sometimes eat, rest, or “mill about” on hospital grounds? What if they are on hospital grounds to bring in wounded comrades, or to guard the hospital during urban warfare? Did the “Amnesty International researchers [who] witnessed” these scenes observe them long enough to get sufficient context? https://www.thebulwark.com/whats-behind-amnesty-internationals-victim-blaming-in-ukraine/ It's a good report and doesn't pull punches from either direction. At the very least, the western portion is considered Ukrainian waters. -
28
News Forum - Cryptocurrency crash: what is happening?
Crypto's were 'invented' as a currency not under control by any central bank. Like independent money. To allow people to spend their money without any 'control' by any government. Correct me if I'm wrong because I am no crypto expert. But I almost never hear about people buying or selling things for bitcoins. Yes you can buy a Tesla. Or pay some criminal who hijacked your computer system. But buying a beer and pay with bitcoin? Maybe it is possible but I never heard of anyone doing it. It's all about investing. In something as volatile as air. By quite a few greedy people with the brains of a goat. Recipe for disaster. Or Ponzi schemes. Disclaimer: I do not own any bitcoin. I might buy some once they drop below 2.000 US$. -
-
2,557
Ukraine/Russian Conflict - General Discussion
Probably. It is also Amnesty International’s observation. Remember the recent report they released and later had to “express regret” for telling the truth? I think the Kerch Strait bridge is over Ukrainian waters? Same same…
-
-
-
New Topics
-
-
-
-
Tell a friend
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.