Recent posts

#91

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by crazy canuck - November 19, 2025, 04:20:22 PM

That being said, I would actually be surprised if Putin decides to move against NATO/the Baltics.  I think he will provoke and prod (ala the sabotage in Poland) as much as he can get away with short of open conflict.

I am far more worried about whomever takes over the Russian state when Putin dies. 

I wonder if Russia is testing to see if the alliance will hold despite having an unreliable US.  So far so good.

#92

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by crazy canuck - November 19, 2025, 04:19:06 PM

Sweden amazes me and really emasculates Canada. It's a country with the population of Ontario that does so much more than we do. Tanks, Planes, Submarines, actual technology companies.

True, and I think that now that our relationship with the US has fundamentally changed, we will become more like the Swedes.  Only people like Jacob will produce games that don't require emergency patches on release.

#93

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by crazy canuck - November 19, 2025, 04:16:37 PM

Yeah, and I think he is being polite in characterizing that way.  The American decided they no longer wanted to their good times to continue and forced it's one time political and economic allies to seek other arrangements.

I am amazed, and happily surprised, to see how quickly the re-alignment is going. 

[Russian spy ship pointed lasers at RAF pilots tracking it, says UK]

#94

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Tonitrus - November 19, 2025, 03:54:07 PM

Also, ya'll should just go ahead and stop/board/seize this fucker:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx24028k7edo

Russian spy ship pointed lasers at RAF pilots tracking it, says UK
2 hours ago

Brian Wheeler,Political reporter and Paul Seddon,Political reporter

A Russian spy ship has used lasers for the first time to disrupt RAF pilots tracking its activity near UK waters, the defence secretary has said.

John Healey told reporters the "deeply dangerous" move from the Yantar was being taken "extremely seriously" by the government.

He added that the vessel was north of Scotland and had entered UK waters for the second time this year during the last few weeks.

#95

Gaming HQ / Re: Victoria 3

Last post by The Minsky Moment - November 19, 2025, 03:52:13 PM

The labor unions will eventually ramp up.

Another big issue is that the game treats the USA like a European nation so it is very easy to pass professional army or eventually mass conscription which would not be remotely possible in the 19th century. The US should pretty much never have colonial offices either; the colonies it did acquire were taken from Spain or just conquered native territory (Hawaii).  Colonizing Africa should not be in cards absent some massive political upheaval.

#96

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Tonitrus - November 19, 2025, 03:46:50 PM

That being said, I would actually be surprised if Putin decides to move against NATO/the Baltics.  I think he will provoke and prod (ala the sabotage in Poland) as much as he can get away with short of open conflict.

I am far more worried about whomever takes over the Russian state when Putin dies. 

#97

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Tonitrus - November 19, 2025, 03:35:26 PM

Yeah it would be a big shift here because national service has basically always been temporary (conscription, like standing armies, are obviously historically associated with continental tyranny and Popery ) - so we last had it from 1939 and started gradually getting rid of it in the late 50s and it was gone by the early 60s.

But I think there's reason enough - both Russia's behaviour in Europe, challenges recruiting into the forces, social divisions etc - that make me think it might be something we need to do. Hopefully, again, temporarily.

What would be the point for the UK? Wouldn't we be nuking Russia if they land on the island? Similarly, if a mass conscripted army is needed on the continent, nukes will be flying by then.

It MAY be necessary for a country like Germany (defo for Baltic States for example) but I can't shake the feeling you guys are so gung ho about it because you are too old to be called up.

I think there are arguments for a robust BEF to support defense against limited incursions/conflict in the Baltics/Scandanavia, etc.

I guess that means I am not sure I agree with the "nukes will be flying", or at least not immediately and massively.  I don't rule out (and even might expect...moreso if Russia thinks the US won't act) in a case like that Russia would use 1-3 "demonstrative" nuclear weapons in an attempt to cow the rest of EU into submission.

I kind of expect a potential Russia/NATO (EU?) war would run more along the lines of Twilight 2000...a fair bit of conventional with limited nuclear use.  If Russia, say, deployed a smaller nuclear weapon as a blocker to the Suwalki gap while rolling into the Baltics, I doubt the UK/French response would be to nuke Moscow and St Petersburg.

Though if Putin inhales too much of Solovyov's Anglo-Saxon hate rhetoric and puts a nuke on London as their "demonstration"...then yeah, ya'll should.

#98

Off the Record / Re: [Canada] Canadian Politics...

Last post by Bauer - November 19, 2025, 03:20:06 PM

From a geopolitical standpoint I think a Canada Sweden partnership would be huge.  Small and medium sized countries can do so much more together without taking bad deals from the giants.

Not quite a movement of non-aligned countries, but a "hey we still believe in Western Democratic values and we'll do well to work together" type thing.

In an interview Carney described the new order being built as a series of smaller cooperation circles rather than a big free trade circle.  The old big circle led to more prosperity for all, but the reality is it's being / has been replaced.

#99

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Baron von Schtinkenbutt - November 19, 2025, 02:59:47 PM

What would be the point for the UK? Wouldn't we be nuking Russia if they land on the island? Similarly, if a mass conscripted army is needed on the continent, nukes will be flying by then.

It MAY be necessary for a country like Germany (defo for Baltic States for example) but I can't shake the feeling you guys are so gung ho about it because you are too old to be called up.

"The British army should be a projectile to be fired by the British navy."

Though these days, the Royal Navy could use some help...

#100

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by Tamas - November 19, 2025, 02:39:52 PM

Yeah it would be a big shift here because national service has basically always been temporary (conscription, like standing armies, are obviously historically associated with continental tyranny and Popery ) - so we last had it from 1939 and started gradually getting rid of it in the late 50s and it was gone by the early 60s.

But I think there's reason enough - both Russia's behaviour in Europe, challenges recruiting into the forces, social divisions etc - that make me think it might be something we need to do. Hopefully, again, temporarily.

What would be the point for the UK? Wouldn't we be nuking Russia if they land on the island? Similarly, if a mass conscripted army is needed on the continent, nukes will be flying by then.

It MAY be necessary for a country like Germany (defo for Baltic States for example) but I can't shake the feeling you guys are so gung ho about it because you are too old to be called up.