It's one rule for Russia, the complete opposite for Saudi

[mistermack]

Russia gets involved in the Ukraine business, the screams of outrage were instant, deafening, and never stopped.
Even though they were just providing support for what the local people wanted.

Saudi and a bunch of others have embarked on a campaign of clear aggression against the sovereign state of Yemen. Why? Because people of another branch of Islam look like taking over.
It's Sunnis, bombing the shit out of Shiites. Because they are Shiites.
And the world gives them a polite round of applause.

Why? Cos the Saudis have lots of Oil, and are keeping us going. Yemenis have got fuck-all.

That's how two-faced our morals really are.
And that's how shit our press are. They are right on-message, when required. Not a word of criticism.

[Svartalf]

Well, it happens that Saudi is not trying to cut itself a share of hte Yemen cake , at least not that the layman can tell at this time, and are supporting the legitimate gummint, whereas the russkies have already annexed a significant part of Ukrainian territory following an illegal referendum that stank of good old soviet techniques, and are, not so discreetly, backing rebels that would amount to little without the help, and they already have used similar techniques in Moldavia...

[cronus]

Whilst morality is nice in the movies it is oil that maintains my somewhat dubious standard of living. And death in the desert is common. Not my concern who is killing who, or why. Keeping the oil flowing is my paramount concern and thankfully it is the politics of reality still running the show upstairs from me also. Nothing wrong with death in the desert, it is what they yearn for Sunni or Shi'at at the end of the day. 72 virgins and everything....who could ask for more if they even wanted?

[Ian]

For one thing, Saudi Arabia is not simply "attacking Yemen". For another thing Russia has a shit-ton on oil and natural gas also.

[pErvinalia]

There is very little morality in world political affairs. That's nationalism and capitalism for you..

[rainbow]

Double standards in politics??

Whatever will they think of next?

[mistermack]

the russkies have already annexed a significant part of Ukrainian territory following an illegal referendum that stank of good old soviet techniques.

Yep. Exactly the same way it became Ukrainian territory in the first place, by Kruschev signing it over as a birthday present to himself. Nobody asked the people of that territory at the time.

This time, the PEOPLE of Crimea decided to be part of Russia. And the referendum was well and truly overwhelming, and didn't need any kind of fixing. Even the hugely biased western media didn't question the 96% result in favour of joining Russia. It was clearly the will of nearly everyone they spoke to.

[mistermack]

For one thing, Saudi Arabia is not simply "attacking Yemen". For another thing Russia has a shit-ton on oil and natural gas also.

They are attacking Yemeni people on Yemeni soil. Russia didn't attack Ukrainians on Ukrainian soil.

And the Saudis have all the power in the Oil game. Russia has none.
The Saudis can pump as little or as much as they like. The Russians can't afford to stop pumping. If they did, it would be catastrophic for the country. There's no comparison.

[Svartalf]

the russkies have already annexed a significant part of Ukrainian territory following an illegal referendum that stank of good old soviet techniques.

Yep. Exactly the same way it became Ukrainian territory in the first place, by Kruschev signing it over as a birthday present to himself. Nobody asked the people of that territory at the time.

This time, the PEOPLE of Crimea decided to be part of Russia. And the referendum was well and truly overwhelming, and didn't need any kind of fixing. Even the hugely biased western media didn't question the 96% result in favour of joining Russia. It was clearly the will of nearly everyone they spoke to.

Still, that method of annexation was not legitimate, if the people of Crimea felt Russian, it was up to them and the Ukrainian gummint to come to terms about it, as it is, the Russians did an Anschluss, and rigged the game regardless of the real wishes of the Crimean people...not a good thing.

Last news, the Tatar TV, the last independent mass media in Crimea, will cease broadcasting today, as they never managed to get authorisation to continue from the "liberators".

[Svartalf]

For one thing, Saudi Arabia is not simply "attacking Yemen". For another thing Russia has a shit-ton on oil and natural gas also.

They are attacking Yemeni people on Yemeni soil. Russia didn't attack Ukrainians on Ukrainian soil.

And the Saudis have all the power in the Oil game. Russia has none.
The Saudis can pump as little or as much as they like. The Russians can't afford to stop pumping. If they did, it would be catastrophic for the country. There's no comparison.

But they don't intend to appropriate Yemeni territory for themselves. and they are fighting on the side of the legitimate government against insurgents that do not represent the majority of hte population.

[mistermack]

But they don't intend to appropriate Yemeni territory for themselves. and they are fighting on the side of the legitimate government against insurgents that do not represent the majority of hte population.

That's debateable. If you decide who should govern Yemen, then you are effectively governing Yemen yourself through a puppet.

And the ''insurgents'' in Crimea do represent nearly 100% of the population.

I don't particularly give a fig for Yemen, or Yemenis. Or Sunnis or Shiites. I'm just pointing to the double standards of western governments and western media.

Still, that method of annexation was not legitimate, if the people of Crimea felt Russian, it was up to them and the Ukrainian gummint to come to terms about it,

Except that the Ukrainian gummint was no more, it was take over by force by non-elected fighters who didn't represent Crimea. In the face of that, it was perfectly legit for them to make their own decision.

[Ian]

For one thing, Saudi Arabia is not simply "attacking Yemen". For another thing Russia has a shit-ton on oil and natural gas also.

They are attacking Yemeni people on Yemeni soil. Russia didn't attack Ukrainians on Ukrainian soil.

Oh really??? Go explain that in Ukraine.

And the Saudis have all the power in the Oil game. Russia has none.
The Saudis can pump as little or as much as they like. The Russians can't afford to stop pumping. If they did, it would be catastrophic for the country.

Sorta true, but you're the only one thinking world reaction must be all about oil. Nonsense. These are very different conflicts with very different aims for the nations involved. Unlike Ukraine's wishes regarding Russia, what's left of Yemen's government is just fine with Saudi (not to mention many other) operations against the Houthis. And Saudi Arabia is not looking to appropriate any territory into its own.

There's no comparison.

Right... so why are you making one and complaining about a double standard?

[pErvinalia]

For one thing, Saudi Arabia is not simply "attacking Yemen". For another thing Russia has a shit-ton on oil and natural gas also.

They are attacking Yemeni people on Yemeni soil. Russia didn't attack Ukrainians on Ukrainian soil.

Um, yeah they did. Where have you been??

And the Saudis have all the power in the Oil game. Russia has none.
The Saudis can pump as little or as much as they like. The Russians can't afford to stop pumping. If they did, it would be catastrophic for the country. There's no comparison.

Russia supplies a lot of Europe. If they stop pumping, especially during the winter, then Europe suffers.

[mistermack]

Um, yeah they did. Where have you been??

I've been here. And I know they didn't. If Russia attacked Ukraine, they would be in Kiev in a few hours.
They have aided the rebels, and Russians have fought there. That's not Russia attacking Ukraine.

English people have fought for IS. That doesn't mean England is attacking Iraq.

Personally, I think Putin was too reserved. He should have used the red army to split Ukraine in two, as soon as the legal government was toppled.
Or a week later. Russia gave Ukraine independence. If they don't look after it, they can lose it again.
Fuck em.

[pErvinalia]

It's common knowledge, well according to the west, that Russian troops were involved. The fact that they didn't take Kiev isn't an argument for anything, other than bad reasoning skills.