General News

[The Fox Covert]

12 hours ago, fox_favourite said:

So he's now pausing intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Are we sure he isn't a Russian bot at this point? If he's doing this because someone stood up to him and its a temper tantrum, then he's even more pathetic person than originally feared. But it doesn't surprise me in the slightest. 

 

To him, it's not real and seems to treat everything as a tv reality show or a game. 

 

It gets worse and worse. Trump has now removed temporary legal residence status from the 240,000 Ukrainian refugees in the USA. This puts them at immediate risk of being deported from the country, even if they have fled from regions illegally occupied by Russia.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Trump is essentially bullying Ukraine into handing over it's mineral reserves.

 

For a country that considers itself "Christian" it needs to have a good hard look at the parable of the Good Samaritan. They're practically the opposite.

[Dunge]

21 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Trump is essentially bullying Ukraine into handing over it's mineral reserves.

 

For a country that considers itself "Christian" it needs to have a good hard look at the parable of the Good Samaritan. They're practically the opposite.

I remember reading the other year someone saying that there’s a reason that Jesus’ preeminent speech - the sermon on the mount - is not on the walls in US classrooms.

 

The meek shall inherit the Earth? This is America, mate.

[Lionator]

36 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Trump is essentially bullying Ukraine into handing over it's mineral reserves.

 

For a country that considers itself "Christian" it needs to have a good hard look at the parable of the Good Samaritan. They're practically the opposite.

Russia is a Christian country but Putin hardly follows the oath of Jesus does he? 
 

Trump wants Ukraine and Europe to come up with a credible pathway to peace, Zelenskyy just keeps shouting “give me weapons to get peace” and Europeans just keep shouting “coalition of the willing”. Neither are credible, and Trump will just keep negating until they actually come up with something workable. 

[Dunge]

12 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Russia is a Christian country but Putin hardly follows the oath of Jesus does he? 
 

Trump wants Ukraine and Europe to come up with a credible pathway to peace, Zelenskyy just keeps shouting “give me weapons to get peace” and Europeans just keep shouting “coalition of the willing”. Neither are credible, and Trump will just keep negating until they actually come up with something workable. 

Actually I think both are credible in their way, but one’s expensive and not guaranteed to work, while the other is a political concern that stops America from freeing itself of a conflict.

 

Actually I find it ironic that Russia today is talking about how irrelevant Europe is whilst also complaining that European troops in Ukraine as part of a peace deal is unacceptable. I mean, which is it? Is Europe an irrelevance or an existential threat to Russian sovereignty? It can’t be both.

[Guest Bilo]

24 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Russia is a Christian country but Putin hardly follows the oath of Jesus does he? 
 

Trump wants Ukraine and Europe to come up with a credible pathway to peace, Zelenskyy just keeps shouting “give me weapons to get peace” and Europeans just keep shouting “coalition of the willing”. Neither are credible, and Trump will just keep negating until they actually come up with something workable. 

Russia is essentially a fascist state.

[Mike Oxlong]

15 minutes ago, Bilo said:

Russia is essentially a fascist state.

Could have added the present version of the USA 

[kenny]

Rumours are that Trump will advise any country that doesn't hit 5% GDP on defence won't be defended under article 5.

 

If this happens, then NATO is done and there will need to be a new treaty for everyone else except USA.

[st albans fox]

4 minutes ago, kenny said:

Rumours are that Trump will advise any country that doesn't hit 5% GDP on defence won't be defended under article 5.

 

If this happens, then NATO is done and there will need to be a new treaty for everyone else except USA.

If that’s true then he will settle for 3%. Maybe 3.5 at a push. Still a stretch for a lot of countries although with an expanded euro arms sector there is room for plenty of smoke and mirrors on deals. 

[leicsmac]

20 minutes ago, kenny said:

Rumours are that Trump will advise any country that doesn't hit 5% GDP on defence won't be defended under article 5.

 

If this happens, then NATO is done and there will need to be a new treaty for everyone else except USA.

 

13 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

If that’s true then he will settle for 3%. Maybe 3.5 at a push. Still a stretch for a lot of countries although with an expanded euro arms sector there is room for plenty of smoke and mirrors on deals. 

There should be no negotiation with someone so keen to use blackmail and so blatantly view people's lives and health as something expendable to be bought and sold.

 

If he and his sycophants really want "America First", then they can have it. But in every possible matter, it will then be "America Only". Though they're the biggest global player, the isolation will hurt them more than the rest of the world.

 

Edit: of course, if that happens the Russians won't turn him away and who knows what the Chinese might do, but hey.

Edited 6 March 2025 by leicsmac

[Lionator]

46 minutes ago, Bilo said:

Russia is essentially a fascist state.

I wouldn’t call it fascist but I’d definitely call it nihilist. It’s proper bleak over there and a lot of people believe in nothing. 

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, Lionator said:

I wouldn’t call it fascist but I’d definitely call it nihilist. It’s proper bleak over there and a lot of people believe in nothing. 

One of the core tenets of fascism is a Nietzschesque form of nihilism - if you can't be the best and dominate all others, then it's all for nothing and you are nothing too.

[Guest Bilo]

5 minutes ago, Lionator said:

I wouldn’t call it fascist but I’d definitely call it nihilist. It’s proper bleak over there and a lot of people believe in nothing. 

Copying this from a Facebook post I made earlier this week.

 

Applying the revised “14 Common Features of Fascism” to Putin’s Russia, we see that many of these characteristics manifest in the country’s political landscape:

 

1. The Cult of Tradition

Putin regularly invokes Russia’s past—whether the Orthodox Church, the Romanov dynasty, or the Soviet Union—as a guide for the present. He presents Russia as a unique civilisation with eternal values, often in contrast to the “decadent” West.

 

2. The Rejection of Modernism

Western liberal democracy is framed as a corrupting force, undermining traditional Russian society. Concepts such as LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and multiculturalism are dismissed as Western impositions that threaten national identity.

 

3. The Cult of Action for Action’s Sake

Military interventions, such as the annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine, are portrayed as necessary and heroic. Strategic patience or diplomacy is often cast as weakness, reinforcing the idea that immediate, forceful action is preferable.

 

4. Disagreement Is Treason

Political opposition is not just discouraged but criminalised. Figures like Alexei Navalny have been imprisoned or eliminated, while independent media outlets have been shut down. Criticism of the government is equated with betrayal of the state.

 

5. Fear of Difference

Putin’s Russia promotes nationalism by positioning itself against external and internal “threats.” LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, and Western influences are portrayed as dangers to the Russian way of life. Anti-Ukrainian sentiment has been used to justify military aggression.

 

6. Appeal to Social Frustration

Many Russians, particularly older generations, feel humiliated by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Putin channels this frustration into a narrative of restoring Russia’s rightful place as a great power, offering a sense of purpose and unity.

 

7. The Obsession with a Plot

State-controlled media pushes conspiracy theories about Western plots to destroy Russia, depicting NATO, the EU, and internal dissidents as part of a coordinated effort to undermine the country. Foreign-funded NGOs are labelled “foreign agents.”

 

8. The Enemy Is Both Strong and Weak

The West is simultaneously depicted as an all-powerful manipulator orchestrating global events and as a declining, morally bankrupt civilisation that Russia will inevitably outlast. Similarly, Ukraine is framed as both a puppet of NATO and a nation incapable of self-governance.

 

9. Pacifism as Collusion

Advocates for peace are treated as enemies of the state. Any criticism of the war in Ukraine is met with legal repercussions, and those who call for dialogue with the West are accused of disloyalty.

 

10. Contempt for the Weak

Strength is glorified, whether in the form of military power, Putin’s personal image as a strongman, or the suppression of dissent. Groups perceived as weak—such as the LGBTQ+ community, political dissidents, or intellectuals—are marginalised or attacked.

 

11. Everyone Is Raised to Be a Hero

Russian propaganda glorifies military service, celebrating fallen soldiers as martyrs for the homeland. The “Immortal Regiment” marches reinforce the idea that Russians must be prepared to sacrifice themselves for the nation’s greatness.

 

12. Machismo and Weaponry

Putin’s personal brand relies heavily on displays of masculinity—shirtless hunting trips, judo matches, and military posturing. This aligns with a broader cultural emphasis on traditional gender roles and the glorification of armed force.

 

13. Selective Populism

While elections still occur, they are tightly controlled. Putin presents himself as the only legitimate voice of “the real Russian people,” dismissing opposition figures and protesters as foreign-backed agitators.

 

 

14. Ur-Fascism Speaks Newspeak

Russian political language has been stripped of nuance, relying on simple slogans such as “denazification” to justify aggression. Independent journalists and scholars who challenge these narratives face censorship or persecution.

 

 

 

While Putin’s Russia may not fit every single aspect of classical fascism, these tendencies strongly suggest a regime with clear authoritarian, nationalist, and militaristic features—many of which align with Umberto Eco's Ur-Fascism. 

[Lionator]

6 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

One of the core tenets of fascism is a Nietzschesque form of nihilism - if you can't be the best and dominate all others, then it's all for nothing and you are nothing too.

But by nihilism I mean the sense of nothingness about everything. People are obviously scared to speak out but they’ve never been given opportunity to believe anything. If we think Russia is fascist then surely the USSR was too?

[Guest Bilo]

6 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

One of the core tenets of fascism is a Nietzschesque form of nihilism - if you can't be the best and dominate all others, then it's all for nothing and you are nothing too.

I'd go further and argue that fascism, or at least chauvinist nationalism, is a part of the Russian national character. 

 

Even Soviet Communism was aggressively expansionist, highly disdainful of minorities and practiced a doctrine of Russian or Slavic supremacism. Its policies between the invasion of Poland and Operation Barbarossa weren't just appeasement of the Nazis, but outright collaboration in an effort to further recapture and consolidate the territory that Tsarist Russia held in the Baltics and Poland. Add in the Holodomor and antisemitism that underpinned the Doctor's Plot, and it was every bit as racist too.

[Guest Bilo]

6 minutes ago, Lionator said:

But by nihilism I mean the sense of nothingness about everything. People are obviously scared to speak out but they’ve never been given opportunity to believe anything. If we think Russia is fascist then surely the USSR was too?

Its domestic and economic policies were fundamentally leftist, albeit strictly authoritarian, but its policies towards its neighbours and aggressive expansionism were little different to those of Nazi Germany, or indeed the Empire that preceded the USSR from Ivan the Terrible.

 

Putin has continued those policies, but combined them with domestic and economic policies that are anything but leftist. 

 

In my view, the main reason why people are reluctant to describe Russia as fascist (including the tankie left as opposed to the normal left) is because of its Soviet past and role in defeating Nazi Germany, but let's not forget that they probably would never have challenged Hitler if he had never struck first. Their arrangements in Eastern Europe and Poland were of the utmost mutual convenience after all.

[RowlattsFox]

Will probably get lost in all the Trump stuff but that poor girl in Kendal whole incident doesnt make any sense. 

[Lionator]

28 minutes ago, Bilo said:

Its domestic and economic policies were fundamentally leftist, albeit strictly authoritarian, but its policies towards its neighbours and aggressive expansionism were little different to those of Nazi Germany, or indeed the Empire that preceded the USSR from Ivan the Terrible.

 

Putin has continued those policies, but combined them with domestic and economic policies that are anything but leftist. 

 

In my view, the main reason why people are reluctant to describe Russia as fascist (including the tankie left as opposed to the normal left) is because of its Soviet past and role in defeating Nazi Germany, but let's not forget that they probably would never have challenged Hitler if he had never struck first. Their arrangements in Eastern Europe and Poland were of the utmost mutual convenience after all.

Fair enough and elements of the Russian leadership is definitely fascist, I wouldn’t argue against that and if it wasn’t for the oligarchs who act as a brake force, I dread to think where we’d be at from a security situation. 

[leicsmac]

1 minute ago, Lionator said:

But by nihilism I mean the sense of nothingness about everything. People are obviously scared to speak out but they’ve never been given opportunity to believe anything. If we think Russia is fascist then surely the USSR was too?

The only similarity in governance between Putins Russia and the USSR is the semblance of absolute power concentrated near the top. Pretty much everything else about their guiding philosophy is different. Think Tsar Nicholas, not Stalin.

[leicsmac]

39 minutes ago, Bilo said:

I'd go further and argue that fascism, or at least chauvinist nationalism, is a part of the Russian national character. 

 

Even Soviet Communism was aggressively expansionist, highly disdainful of minorities and practiced a doctrine of Russian or Slavic supremacism. Its policies between the invasion of Poland and Operation Barbarossa weren't just appeasement of the Nazis, but outright collaboration in an effort to further recapture and consolidate the territory that Tsarist Russia held in the Baltics and Poland. Add in the Holodomor and antisemitism that underpinned the Doctor's Plot, and it was every bit as racist too.

I wouldn't go as far as generalising that much regarding inherent qualities, but you make a good case.

[Lionator]

8 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

The only similarity in governance between Putins Russia and the USSR is the semblance of absolute power concentrated near the top. Pretty much everything else about their guiding philosophy is different. Think Tsar Nicholas, not Stalin.

This would be a cracking conversation over a pint by the way 

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, Lionator said:

Russia is a Christian country but Putin hardly follows the oath of Jesus does he? 
 

Trump wants Ukraine and Europe to come up with a credible pathway to peace, Zelenskyy just keeps shouting “give me weapons to get peace” and Europeans just keep shouting “coalition of the willing”. Neither are credible, and Trump will just keep negating until they actually come up with something workable. 

America make a greater show of it.

 

In God We Trust is on the American arms and Trump opened his first cabinet meeting with prayer.

 

Certainly the Russian Orthodox Church have a lot of leverage in Russian politics.

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, Dunge said:

I remember reading the other year someone saying that there’s a reason that Jesus’ preeminent speech - the sermon on the mount - is not on the walls in US classrooms.

 

The meek shall inherit the Earth? This is America, mate.

"Oh, that's nice, cos they never get anything!"

[Spiritwalker]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

One of the core tenets of fascism is a Nietzschesque form of nihilism - if you can't be the best and dominate all others, then it's all for nothing and you are nothing too.

I’m definitely remembering some of these words for the next time I play scrabble.

[Guest Bilo]

47 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I wouldn't go as far as generalising that much regarding inherent qualities, but you make a good case.

The national character of many nations leads them to or away from certain ideologies in my view.

 

The British, as a people, are too distrusting of authority and value individual liberty too much to ever really embrace authoritarianism. It's why Communism and fascism never really gained a serious foothold here.

 

That's not to say that the conditions that existed here, disgruntled working-class, wealth inequality and significant levels of racism, couldn't have led to Communism or fascism elsewhere, but just not here. We're a bit too libertarian and difficult to cajole for an authoritarian government. We like to break the rules, find loopholes and exploit technicalities.