The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

However what just about all wars have demonstrated is that even if you can defeat a military force you can't hold a country against a population who doesn't want you there.

And no one in the modern world wants to resort to the solution of the ancient world, which was to raze opponents to the ground and sow their fields with salt. The reaction from the rest of the world would be too great, no matter how effective or how necessary scorched earth tactics would be.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

[McAvoy]

However what just about all wars have demonstrated is that even if you can defeat a military force you can't hold a country against a population who doesn't want you there.

And no one in the modern world wants to resort to the solution of the ancient world, which was to raze opponents to the ground and sow their fields with salt. The reaction from the rest of the world would be too great, no matter how effective or how necessary scorched earth tactics would be.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

Well he is right.

Whether it's right or not morally...

But scorched earth tactics historically have been very effective.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

A salted patch of unpopulated land isn't much use to anyone. We certainly didn't stop because we collectively got nicer.

[McAvoy]

A salted patch of unpopulated land isn't much use to anyone. We certainly didn't stop because we collectively got nicer.

That is one way of thinking scorched Earth. I should have known better that there are many ways of thinking of it.

I was just thinking of destroying infrastructure and food of the enemywhile you pass through it.

[CharlesPhipps]

Scorched Earth tactics notably only work if you win or have a overwhelming advantage.

The Nazis and Japanese Empire both used them under the belief they would intimidate their foes into submission only to find out that it successfully united the Soviet Union and China's entire populations against them. Because once you make it clear surrender is not an option, really, what does anyone have to lose?

It's kind of funny too because this is not a new idea either (that scorched Earth tactics are stupid) as the Tacitus addresses this mentality:

Calgacus said it best, "Robbers of the world, having by their universal plunder exhausted the land, they rifle the deep. If the enemy be rich, they are rapacious; if he be poor, they lust for dominion; neither the east nor the west has been able to satisfy them. Alone among men they covet with equal eagerness poverty and riches. To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a solitude and call it peace."

[phantom000]

Scorched Earth tactics notably only work if you win or have a overwhelming advantage.

The Nazis and Japanese Empire both used them under the belief they would intimidate their foes into submission only to find out that it successfully united the Soviet Union and China's entire populations against them. Because once you make it clear surrender is not an option, really, what does anyone have to lose?

It's kind of funny too because this is not a new idea either (that scorched Earth tactics are stupid) as the Tacitus addresses this mentality:

Calgacus said it best, "Robbers of the world, having by their universal plunder exhausted the land, they rifle the deep. If the enemy be rich, they are rapacious; if he be poor, they lust for dominion; neither the east nor the west has been able to satisfy them. Alone among men they covet with equal eagerness poverty and riches. To robbery, slaughter, plunder, they give the lying name of empire; they make a solitude and call it peace."

That is why it works best in a defensive capacity, destroy all infrastructure and logistics you make it that much harder for the enemy to move through your territory and even if they still managed, somehow, to defeat you what have they won? The Dutch have been known to do this when facing a major invasion, it's not fool proof, but it does work sometimes.

[CharlesPhipps]

That is why it works best in a defensive capacity, destroy all infrastructure and logistics you make it that much harder for the enemy to move through your territory and even if they still managed, somehow, to defeat you what have they won? The Dutch have been known to do this when facing a major invasion, it's not fool proof, but it does work sometimes.

Yes, though the consequences AFTER the invasion are never great. A poisoned well is a poisoned well.

[phantom000]

That is why it works best in a defensive capacity, destroy all infrastructure and logistics you make it that much harder for the enemy to move through your territory and even if they still managed, somehow, to defeat you what have they won? The Dutch have been known to do this when facing a major invasion, it's not fool proof, but it does work sometimes.

Yes, though the consequences AFTER the invasion are never great. A poisoned well is a poisoned well.

The choice of evils; a poisoned well all to yourself or a perfectly clean well you must share with your new overlords? What is scary is both the Russians and Ukrainians have something a lot nastier than poison. Even if Ukraine completely collapses, as unlikely as that seems, I doubt Zelenksy will go that far, but what some angry insurgence who think it would be better to glow in the dark then live under Putin?

[phantom000]

Sean Penn is threatening to melt is Oscars if they don't invite Zelensky to speak at the event.

https://nypost.com/2022/03/26/sean-penn ... ant-speak/

Personally, I can understand why they should extend an invitation on principle, but I think he might be a little too busy to attend.

[CharlesPhipps]

Sean Penn is threatening to melt is Oscars if they don't invite Zelensky to speak at the event.

https://nypost.com/2022/03/26/sean-penn ... ant-speak/

Personally, I can understand why they should extend an invitation on principle, but I think he might be a little too busy to attend.

Sean Penn isn't getting any movie roles anymore so he increasingly decides to act like a movie character himself, what with almost getting Kate de Castillo killed trying to interview/lure into a trap El Chapo.