Massacre in Moscow

False flag operation - KGB behind it. They have done this before. Very sad.

"At least 18 people have been killed and 43 wounded in a shooting incident at the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russian media outlet Baza reported."

Fuck Russia, and anything that happens there.

False flag/crisis actors.

Karma..

[quote]False flag operation - KGB behind it. They have done this before. Very Vlad.

FIFY

CIA was warning about this on March 8th.

r4 I don't think so.

Why couldn't Putin have been one of the victims?

Well, we know who Putin is going to blame it on.

I wonder if Putin will claim it was Ukraine that was behind it.

HA HA!

A move by the KGB.

The Crocus City Hall is where Trump held the Miss Universe Pageant, developed by Aras Agalarov, a frequent liaison between Trump and Putin.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if all these scumbags were involved in the planning of a false flag attack.

Incidentally - just today, the Russian government added the international "LGBT Movement" to their list of terrorists and extremists.

Where's Taylor Swift?

[quote] False flag operation - KGB behind it. They have done this before.

Agreed.

What better way to get the people behind your bogus war.

It's very "Hunger Games" and something President Coin from District 13 would do.

[quote]False flag operation - KGB behind it. They have done this before.

Specifically, Putin has done it before.

It's a busy news day!

The concert hall is ablaze. Those poor people.

Will Pootie try to use this as an excuse to drop a dirty nuke on Kiev?

Lady Lindzebelle’s revenge for not being picked for the Miss Universe contest.

TASS: At least 40 people dead, at least 100 injured.

Pooty will blame it on Joe Biden, or Navalny's widow.

Oh, those Russians.

I think Putin will blame it on the next country he wants to invade. He’s already in Ukraine.

Didn't they bomb their own civilian targets in "1984" also?

(read it years ago)

Yes. R26

R7 is right -- earlier this month the US State Department put out warnings about a planned attack on "a crowded venue" in Moscow -- and Putin dismissed those warnings as US disinformation just a few days ago.

R28, the warning referred to “extremists” planning an attack. The State Department must know more than what it has already said.

I wonder if Putin has to live almost completely underground, moving constantly? With people who taste his food to prevent poisoning?

OP, this has nothing to do with Ukraine or the Ukraine war. These were extremists. No, R1, they were extremists. On March 7th the American embassy warned about an imminent extremist attack in Moscow. They warned everyone to stay away from Russia, especially concerts and big crowds. Putin said it was jusy western fear mongering. Look who was right yet again, it wasn't Russia or Putin. RIP to everyone who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy.

What exactly is a Russian "extremist", r31?

Russia has their own problems. Not everything has to do with Ukraine. These were most likely Russian terrorists.

Chechnyians

It's happened before...

R32 I have no idea. I was reading VG, the biggest (aka most readers) newspaper here in Norway. It just said they were extremists. Didn't say if they were right wing or muslim or anything else. It just said USA knew about the imminent attack and warned Russia, yet Putin called it Western fear mongering. They stressed that there is no link between the attack and Ukraine.

False flag operation. Russians are nothing more than pawns to Putin. They keep him in power, he treats them worse than a piece of shit.

R7 Exactly. USA knew about the attack. But sadly Putin care more about propaganda and brain washing than protecting the Russian oeople. He was warned about the attack but brushed it aside and called it western fear mongering.

R10 Why would he? There is supposedly no link between this attack and Ukraine.

As most simple housewife of Nebraska prefecture I am of most certainty that attackers of glorious Russian concert hall were Muslim Ukrainian homosexuals most bent on terrorizing simple Russian peoples. Anybody who says otherwise will be shot.

R20 No. Everyone knows it wasn't Ukraine. He would be foolish to try something when everyone knows Ukraine was innocent in this.

[quote]Why would he?

It's...Putin.

R28 Exactly.

[quote] Everyone knows it wasn't Ukraine. He would be foolish to try something when everyone knows Ukraine was innocent in this.

R42 But he wouldn't get away with it. Everyone knows it wasn't Ukraine behind the attacks.

Between Kate and Moscow it's too much for this old White woman!@

[quote]But he wouldn't get away with it.

LOL

[quote]But he wouldn't get away with it. Everyone knows it wasn't Ukraine behind the attacks.

All he cares is that Russians believe it (and they will) to shore up support for his war.

R34 I think so too. Terrorist attacks in Russia are often carried out ny Chechnyans.

R44 That's odd, becaise the news I was reading (aka not Russian propaganda, actual objective news) said this had nothing to do with Ukraine, that supposedly there is no link between this attack and Ukraine.

Couldn’t it be Wagner Group mercenaries out for revenge for happened to their leader last year in that obviously deliberate plane crash?

OK, that’s MY speculation.

Looks like islamic separatists. What surprise. I am so grateful we have secure borders in the US!

First thing Russian security forces did upon arrival was to beat up reporters.

Also, didn't seem to be in too much of a hurry to get there.

Moscow has surveillance cameras absolutely everywhere, people get jailed for holding blank sheets of paper or wearing rainbow-colored earrings...but nobody saw this coming and did nothing to prevent it?

Just reported by msnbc, there are over 100 dead, and more to be counted.

R52, most mass shootings in the US are caused by native born citizens, few of whom are Muslim

But you knew that

It was trans people!!!!

Russian TV reporter at the scene.

She seems happy.

So many simultaneous suicides - the concert hall must have had a lot of windows to fall out of.

That was then, this is now, R56. But you'll learn that.

NYT says

[quote] American officials are worried that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia could seek to falsely blame Ukraine for Friday's attack, putting pressure on Western governments to identify those they believe may be responsible. Mr. Putin frequently twists events, even tragic ones, to fit his public narrative. And he has been quick to accuse Ukraine of acts of terrorism to justify his invasion of the country.

[quote] The U.S. warning on March 7 that “extremists” could target concerts or other large gatherings in Moscow was related to the attack on Friday, according to people briefed on the matter. The warning was not related to possible Ukrainian sabotage, American officials said, who added that the State Department would not have used the word extremists to warn about actions ordered from Kyiv.

ISIS.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack but aside from the 40 dead bodies, they have not provided evidence to support the claim.

Martyrdom during ramadan gets you 144 virgins in islamic paradise.

I blame Aunt Jordan.

If it's true, ISIS probably saw that security is a joke in Russia after the Wagner group rolled right through and with what's going on in Belgorod. Easy target. Putin shrugged off the intel from the US a few weeks ago because he knows better, of course.

I hope those who voted for him again sleep well tonight!

What is ISIS’s beef with the Russians?

Andrea Thomas still at it.

[quote]Between Kate and Moscow it's too much for this old White woman!@

I know! We desperately need to bring back Friday Afternoon Drinky-Poos!

Why do people keep referring to the KGB, which hasn’t existed in decades?

Might as well blame OGPU, or the Okhrana! It’s the FSB you mean.

The most obvious answer is this is a false flag to shore up Russian determination to fight in Ukraine and for more ethnic Russians to be drafted. They’ve been scraping the barrel conscripting in the East, but Russia sometimes takes 1,000 casualties PER DAY in Ukraine, and they’re going to have to tap the ethnic Russian population soon.

The Biden admin may have caught wind of it and issued the warning — the warning didn’t prove it wasn’t a false flag.

I’m not sure why ISIS would do this or how they’d be able to organize it. Do they have a reason to? Of course. The Russians absolutely fought Isis in Syria. With great brutality and no consideration for civilian casualties.

Chechens? I don’t think so. They’ve thrown in their lot with Putin.

So while it’s certainly possible it’s ISIS or Chechens, I just don’t get that. The Russian kleptocracy could not care less about its populace so I’d not be shocked to discover it was a false flag.

ISIS have beef with everyone, R68.

Trump held his Miss Universe Pageant at that venue in 1993.

Everything Trump touches turns to shit.

Does anyone know why ISIS would want to attack Russia?

You people watch too many movies.

The U.S. is confirming it was ISIS.

Was Madonna touring in Russia?

Did they get the weapons from airport two names?

How did ISIS organize such a massive attack so far in the north?

And why?

I hope this doesn't effect Tucker Carlson's dream of a Russian nirvana filled with beautiful grocery stores stocked with cheap goodies

Kamil Galeev, a top commenter on Russian aggression, provides some historical context:

I remember in high schools in Florida in the 19&0’s had to read a book called Americanism vs Communism. If they didn’t read it, they couldn’t graduate. I doubt this is still a requirement to graduate.

*1980’s

[quote] The U.S. warning on March 7 that “extremists” could target concerts or other large gatherings in Moscow was related to the attack on Friday, according to people briefed on the matter.

Unless there were some more specific information not included in this story, such a two week old warning would be too vague to be any use to the Russian security types.

Too bad it wasn’t at a Polina Gagarina concert.

Treacherous bitch who performed at Eurovision and has been one of Putin’s biggest supporters.

He has a wig on

Islamic State. The Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Islamic religion is the epitome of Evil.

It calls for Jihad. It calls for the Caliphate. It calls for the destruction of all other religion.

It needs to be called out and destroyed. I don't care that some Muslims think they're religion is peace. It's not. It's premise is more war. It's ugly and must be stopped.

^ *their

[quote]Does anyone know why ISIS would want to attack Russia?

From Reuters: Russian President Vladimir Putin changed the course of the Syrian civil war by intervening in 2015, supporting President Bashar al-Assad against the opposition and Islamic State. "ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years, frequently criticizing Putin in its propaganda," said Colin Clarke, with the Soufan Center. There is also a Caucasus branch of ISIS.

It's not just Syria, Russia-backed mercenaries are also fighting Islamist radicals in Mali. Sub-Saharan Africa is pretty much the last stronghold of ISIS these days.

The US warned them this was coming, but they dismissed it as "western attempt to destabilize Russia".

Putin wants chaos. He's probably secretly loving this.

[quote] It's not just Syria, Russia-backed mercenaries are also fighting Islamist radicals in Mali. Sub-Saharan Africa is pretty much the last stronghold of ISIS these days.

The US has been doing the same. Just this week Biden got kicked out of yet another country

R89 / R90 - Remember Afghanistan? They never forget.

The religion of peace strikes again

Loads of laughs, that Niger...

Death toll is currently at least 60. Putin still hasn't commented, even though it's been several hours.

It's been such a long time since DL has hosted a "who hates Muslims the most?" circle jerk.

I'm expecting the Russian trolls will be on that shit for the next 3 months.

[quote]The Islamic religion is the epitome of Evil.

It’s not Islam that just murdered 30,000 civilians and is now starving a million more. Now is it?

[quote]It’s not Islam that just murdered 30,000 civilians

Extraordinary. And not a single militant has been touched r98

The video posted above - did that gunman walk up to the group of people cowering in that cubby hole and just massacre them?! I guess I shouldn’t be shocked but here we are. Awful.

ISIS could not be behind the attack because donald told us he had destroyed ISIS years ago.

Nope, not ISIS. Must be Fake ISIS.

/s

[quote] It’s not Islam that just murdered 30,000 civilians and is now starving a million more. Now is it?

Yes it is actually. It's just American media doesn't bother to report about the assorted Muslim vs Muslim wars now underway in places like Yemen, Nigeria, and Syria.

Death toll now 115.

Is Condi Rice working for Putin?

Eleven people arrested after deadly attack at concert hall in Russia

@r104, I guess Putin can't believe that a country he's trying to systematically destroy just might offer some humanitarian advice to help him save his people. He doesn't care about Russians, why should we?

I didn't realize people are arrested over there. I thought they get tossed from a window

R106

It’s standard US policy to warn any country if NSA gets wind of a terriorism attack being planned on that country..

They probably aren't the actual culprits R107.

[quote]It’s not Islam that just murdered 30,000 civilians and is now starving a million more. Now is it?

Well yes it is Muslims spreading bullshit lies and propaganda. It is Hamas who are fucking over the Gazans and also saying the death toll is 30,000. Millions are not starving—you truly are an idiot—and it is Hamas that are controlling the incoming aid.

I don't believe this was Isis. Why would all of them not commit suicide rather than being arrested by the Putin gov't.? This was Putin.

I wonder why ISIS would attack Russia? I I guess it really doesn't like anybody.

I thought Russia was on the side of Islamic terrorists

Amateurs..

Russia is a shithole. I have no sympathy for Muscovites when Russia has gleefully conducted terrorist acts in Ukraine and even shot down a Dutch airplane full of hundreds of people. It’s about time karma paid them a visit.

Wow r115, that’s pretty cruel. Do you blame the Palestinians for what Hamas has done?

R113, everyone, depending on the circumstances, might be a friend or might be an enemy. Russia right now is working with Iran because it needs weapons, but it has a long history of conflict with Muslim countries.

Being arrested in Russia has no correlation with actual involvement in a crime.

Why are the false flag freaks first on every thread? I pray they get caught up in a shooting and have to live the rest of their lives horribly mutilated.

Putin's Russia is such a confounding morass of performance, lies, and secret plots that it's no wonder no one anywhere thinks this is what anyone else anywhere thinks it is. I bet Putin isn't even sure.

[QUOTE] I wonder why ISIS would attack Russia?

Russia practically decimated several Syrian cities in 2015, you numbskull. Non stop bombing.

[QUOTE] Well yes it is Muslims spreading bullshit lies and propaganda. It is Hamas who are fucking over the Gazans and also saying the death toll is 30,000. Millions are not starving—you truly are an idiot—and it is Hamas that are controlling the incoming aid.

And jet fuel doesn't burn through steel towers, am I right? F and F the false flag pedophiles.

R120, I’m not OP, but they asked a genuine question. Some people aren’t familiar with all of the geopolitical issues that could have caused this. No need to be snide.

Rocket attack on Helsinki! Gluttonous goth Gemma you in danger girl.

R122, you’re too classy for Datalounge.

R124, I’ve had my share of bitchiness, mostly to MAGA trolls. I try and call out people when they’ve been unnecessarily mean. The OP genuinely didn’t know something. It’s better to ask than assume you know shit, so it bugged me that the reply was snide and mean.

[QUOTE] I’m not OP, but they asked a genuine question. Some people aren’t familiar with all of the geopolitical issues that could have caused this. No need to be snide.

You hopeless spaz. Beautiful ancient cities like Damascus and Aleppo were destroyed .

And now you’re trolling r126. And I knew about the destruction in Syria occurred with Russian help, but other people don’t. I say this in all seriousness—perhaps you’re drinking too much coffee, because you’re being unnecessarily bitchy.

To everyone saying "Putin will never blame Ukraine": fuck you.

"Putin suggests Ukraine was linked to deadly attack on Moscow-area concert"

He needs to shore up support for his illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Putin finally speaks about the attack, and says the most predictable thing ever:

[quote] Putin links Ukraine to Moscow massacre

[quote] Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Saturday suggested that terrorists who killed at least 133 people in Friday night’s attack at a Moscow concert hall were helped by someone based in Ukraine.

[quote] Ukrainian officials have denied any involvement in the massacre, one of the deadliest attacks on Russian soil in recent years.

[quote] Putin said 11 people have been detained in the killings, including the four gunmen. “They tried to hide and moved toward Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the border,” Putin said in a speech on Russian television Saturday.

[quote] In his speech, Putin did not blame any specific terrorist group for the massacre.

The US knows who was behind this. I hope the government releases the info.

... and the MAGATs will believe Putin when their god says so.

I don't understand how that little Russian troll has not been killed yet?

Muslin terrorists love their soft targets.

R133 I prefer a nice silk myself. Muslin is so common.

Obama let Russia get away with a whole lot of shit. I guess he really did believed Mitt Romney was an alarmist.

Hail Satin!

Hell Poo-ton

We’re all broken up about it.

Lindzebelle blames the terrorist attack on Biden’s U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Her hypocrisy is predictable. She wasn’t criticizing Trump & Pompeo when they made the deal with the Taliban for the U.S. to exit Afghanistan.

133 fewer homophobes! I don't see the big whoop

R140 Way to generalize. They were innocent civilians attending a music event. It doesn't matter what nationality they were.

It was a rock concert so a lot of them were young.

R141 aren't something like 90% of Russians anti-gay? Perhaps their God is punishing them for their homophobia?

The videos on-line are very disturbing, sad, disgraceful happening.

But not related to the Ukraine war

I really don’t care what two brainwashed shitheads do to each other. Let them blow Russia off the map and be done with it. Then we’ll drop a bomb on them.

Whether it was ISIS or not, I bet Putin scooped up the first brown people he could find, arrested them and called them ISIS. We'll never know.

I bet 80-90% of what Putin says in regards to this incident is disinformation.

A pissed-off ISIS released a selfie taken by the attackers.

Let them blow Russia off the map and be done with it. Then we’ll drop a bomb on them.

// signed //

The Project for the New American Century

Russia bombed the hell out of Syria during their months long aerial bombing campaign in 2015, killing thousands. And they had done several more bombings since then. I'm sure this is a primary ISIS grievance for the attack.

Definitely, R150. I'm surprised they waited eight years to get revenge. Beautiful historic ancient cities like Aleppo and Damascus were decimated.

Good point R150. The death toll in Syria is estimated to be around 600 thousand to date though. Russia also attacked independent Chechnya and were at war for a decade (2000 - 2009) before claiming the country as under Russian rule and occupying it with Russian military forces. 80% of the population of Chechnya is Muslim. There is also the Taliban which Russia supports financially and with weapons and military equipment and training etc. Apparently the Taliban are the sworn enemies of ISIS and they have been fighting against each other for years. There are lots of reasons why Russia would attract the attention of various Islamic extremist groups.

Russia has its fingers in a lot of pies all over the globe. Putin does a lot of terrible things and therefore Russia has a lot of enemies. It's hardly surprising when Russia is delivered retribution like this in the only way that Russians will take note of. I'm sorry it happened but they brought this on themselves and Putin doesn't care what happens to everyday Russian citizens. They are noting more than cannon fodder to him.

I would be unsurprised if Putin knew this attack was eminent and just let it happen. It's an absolute goldmine to Putin for the amount of propaganda, misinformation, national angst and controlling fear he can create out of it and spin to further wars and military action and an even tighter grip on power.

R115 - it wasn't a Dutch plane it was Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur just to be factual. But yes the Russians shot it down and nobody has ever been held responsible.

The bottom line is that Russia can say anything and do anything and they are never held responsible. That being the case - that's logically why this ISIS attack happened. A small terrorist attack is the most retribution these groups can hope for. This one has made Russia sit up and take notice.

Is anyone else tired of trying to figure out who hates who in the middle east?

Does anyone believe that after 1000s of years of conflict there could ever be peace in the middle east?

Thought so, I'm going to bed 💤😴

I have a feeling that this is just the beginning of a new era of IS terrorism in Russia!

Shit

SIS' news agency Amaq released sickening a 90-second selfie video of the attack that is too graphic for MailOnline to share. The clip, described by the terror group as 'exclusive scenes... of the bloody attack on Christians yesterday in the city of Krasnogorsk in Moscow', begins with one terrorist holding a knife running into the main hall of Crocus City Hall. The man filming the video twice says: 'Bring the machine gun. Kill them and have no mercy on them.'

[quote] I have a feeling that this is just the beginning of a new era of IS terrorism in Russia!

Perhaps, or the beginning of Russia striking back.

In the 1980s there was a series of kidnappings by Lebanese Muslim gangsters targeting westerners, including the CIA Chief of Station. The US, UK, and France meekly paid tens of millions of dollars in ransom, but then the gangsters kidnapped several Russian diplomats.

The Jerusalem Post said the Soviet secret police secured the release of three kidnaped Soviet diplomats in Beirut by castrating a relative of a radical Lebanese Shia Muslim leader, sending him the severed organs and then shooting the relative in the head.

No more Russians were kidnapped.

It will be interesting to see where this new story leads.

R157 IS in Syria has seen and done worse. They're not scared of Russians.

[quote]Is anyone else tired of trying to figure out who hates who in the middle east?

It's alot like DL, when you put it that way.

That's what they get for labeling gays and lesbians a terrorist organization.

They fucked around and found out from a REAL terrorist organization.

Cunts.

The arrested killers claim they were just mercenaries

Videos shared online show three different men, who Moscow claims were responsible for the attack at the Crocus City Hall on Friday, allegedly being detained by a group of soldiers.

One of the suspects is seen shaking on his knees, with his hands bound behind his back, apparently confessing to carrying out the massacre, which left more than 140 people dead.

A video shows one of the suspects apparently confessing as he is kneeling with his hands bound behind his back.

He is quizzed: 'Exactly what was offered?', to which he replies: 'To do these things for money'.

The interrogation continues: 'Which things? What exactly?'. He replies: 'These things, to kill.'

A soldier then asks: 'To kill who?'. He responds: 'They sent the location [on the Telegram messenger].'

The man goes on to say that he was told to walk into the venue and kill anyone, no matter who they were.

He said he had flown from Turkey on March 4 and had received instructions from unknown people via Telegram to carry out the attack in exchange for a one million roubles [£8,600].

He claimed he had followed a presumably Muslim 'preacher' on Telegram. He gave his name as Fariduni Shamsidin.

He said: 'I listened to lessons, studied on Telegram. The preacher's assistant suggested killing people, and promised me a million rubles.'

Another detained suspect said he had been promised 500,000 roubles [£4,300] for carrying out the act, and had received 250,000 roubles [£2,150] in an advance payment.

He added that more money was for 'expenses'. 'They delivered the weapons themselves,' he said.

The group en route to Ukraine were reportedly apprehended by Chechen fighters loyal to close Putin ally and warlord Ramzan Kadyrov.

Kadyrov said: 'Chechen fighters arrived at the given coordinates to the place where they were searching for terrorists around 3am and immediately began combing the area together with the FSB [special forces] and soldiers of the Leningrad Military District.

'They successfully completed their task of capturing the killers alive, despite the risks.'

Russian state TV editor Margarita Simonyan said earlier today the death toll had climbed to 143, but did not give the source of her information.

Some 28 bodies were found in one of the Crocus City Hall toilets, it was reported.

Fourteen bodies were found on an evacuation staircase.According to sources, people were lying in families, reported Baza media.

Some died in an embrace as many mothers were found hugging their children.

From The Atlantic, a guide for the puzzled about what is going on with Russia and Middle East terrorist groups:

I won’t hold my breath waiting for Putler to come out and say they were wrong, it was indeed ISIS and not Ukraine or the West. They don’t have the resources to fight ISIS now and it doesn’t fit their narrative.

He has barely said anything at all, in fact. This is the “strong leader” that they wanted? Pathetic.

[quote] He has barely said anything at all, in fact. This is the “strong leader” that they wanted? Pathetic.

Not necessarily a bad thing.

Chief of Naval Operations Fleet Admiral Ernest King's reply when asked for a public relations strategy for the U.S. Navy in World War II. As quoted in Dictionary of Military and Naval Quotations (1966) by Robert Heinl, p. 258

𝑫𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒏.

[quote]I didn't realize people are arrested over there. I thought they get tossed from a window

Patience, R107.

How is Russian state TV handling the potential embarrassment that the US warned Russia of an attack on a concert venue a week before it happened? (From the Washington Post:)

[quote] Margarita Simonyan, the head of state broadcaster RT, was already claiming on Saturday that the Americans’ warning ahead of the attack indicated they were participants in preparing it.

I would not put it past Putin and his thugs to have nabbed some unlucky sobs and forced confessions out of them. Ate we sure those guys captured are the perpetrators?

[quote] Extraordinary. And not a single militant has been touched [R98]

So if a criminal lives in your apartment building, it’s perfectly fine for the police to bomb every building on your block and then machine gun all of the survivors fleeing from the rubble?

And when you complain, all the police have to say is, are you saying a criminal doesn’t live on your street?

R166 exactly. It's the same logic that my parents had where whatever kid noticed the problem or broken thing they were clearly the ones that had done it because how else would they know about it unless they themselves are the ones who committed the act.

[quote]Obama let Russia get away with a whole lot of shit. I guess he really did believed Mitt Romney was an alarmist.

[Quote]In 2001, Bush met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy,” Bush said. “I was able to get a sense of his soul.” (Bush later regretted saying this.)

So the Republican love affair with Putin goes way back too.

A Russian TV station is broadcasting a deep fake AI video of an Ukrainian security official claiming responsibility for the deadly Moscow attack. It's a lie, but why would that stop Russian TV when they need it to be true for future troop mobilization purposes.

^^ This was posted on Twitter, but we're waiting for other news outlets to confirm and comment on this happening in Russia state media.

I have to wonder if the average Russian person believes their media.

Putin

Stalin

Lenin

Notice the name similarities? Short names ending in “in.” I believe Putin is the only one who uses his birth name, though. The others are made up

Putin’s grandfather was personal chef to both Lenin and Stalin.

Putin had two older brothers. One died in infancy (childhood disease?) while the other died of diptheria and starvation in the Siege of Leningrad in 1942. One of Putin’s grandmothers was killed by German occupiers, two maternal uncles disappeared on the eastern front and his father was severely injured in the war during his time in the Navy.

This explains Putin’s utter obsession with WW2, aka “The Great Patriotic War.” Putin built a cathedral complex dedicated to the Russian military (specifically the Red Army) outside of Moscow. The front steps are made of melted German tanks. A crashed Nazi plane graces the grounds of the complex. I’ll put in a link that shows photos of the cathedral (scroll down to see exterior, including miniature tanks for kids to drive)

Glomming into WW2 is a huge thing in Russia. They believe they won the war single handedly, I first became aware of Russian infiltration n social media years ago when historic videos on YouTube started being overwhelmed by comments declaring that UK only survived because Hitler opened a second front. “The Blitz? Don’t make me laugh! Hitler diverted his military to the eastern front and Hitler abandoned UK because it wasn’t worth it! US did nothing in the war. They only entered when war was basically over.”

So here is an article about Putin’s cathedral with awesome photos of this scary place….aw crap! I can’t link to that website anymore. It was such a good repository of photos.

Instead do the article, here’s a quick video

[quote] I have to wonder if the average Russian person believes their media

No more than Americans believe theirs. But that doesn’t mean Russians aren’t patriotic - they are and they will follow Putin, whom they admire. He is a strongman and that’s what Russia is used to. The czars had fully autocratic powers - it was, in fact, those powers that brought down the Russian empire thanks to a lack of treatment for a bleeding disorder which had basically driven an empress mad.

Russians don’t consider themselves part of the west. The west is the enemy. We fought on the same side in WW2, gave Russia its weapons and food, but it was a marriage of convenience to Russia. Russia has hated US, UK, France, Germany, et al because western powers sent troops and money to fund the White Army in Russian Civil War.

This stoked a hatred and mistrust of the west since 1920. Russia had been fighting a secret war of espionage in Central Asia and India pre-WW1 with Britain, but it wasn’t a deep hatred. After all, the czar was related to the queen of England. All the royals seemed to be having a good time amongst themselves at their hunting lodges and castles, and gathering for granny’s jubilee.

But when the Soviets took over Russia, that was an irreparable break.

Lenin was from Simbirsk which was far from Moscow or Leningrad. It had once been the border of the Russian empire with the East.

Stalin was from Georgia.

Neither had regard for the west. The west wanted a constitutional republic in Russia, not a communist country led by an autocratic leader. Most western countries had long tried to persuade the stupid czar into having a representative government, but the czar refused to relinquish power even when a Duma was put in place.

Russia fought the west saying “We’re fighting for the right to choose our own government, which will be led by one man and we’re fine with that.”

Of course, capitalism was on the line. A dictatorship of the proletariat would result in a wealth shift in Europe which wouldn’t be welcomed at all. But 2 world wars blew up the old order anyway.

What Russia realllly hates is the US. The US stayed out of WW1 and WW2 until the last moment. Russia was deeply involved in both wars and lost a tremendous number of young men. The US lost very few in comparison, and suffered no loss of territory, no war in their homeland and very little economic effects. As a result of both wars, the US came out on top.

US fought minimally, but won economically.

Russia, OTOH, was devastated after both wars while America waved its flag and declared itself the savior of western civilization.

Russians citizens will not overthrow Putin and side with the US/Ukraine. Russia has declared the west is decadent for over 100 years.

Russians see themselves as warriors, not button pushers.

The west wasn’t really trusted before 1917 anyway, thanks to not being orthodox and not bordering/dealing with Asia. Russians have been fighting Asians since 1200s when Mongols conquered Russia. Russians turned the tables by invading and ruling Asians, so Russians are pretty sure they’re hot shit.

Putin’s family history is like the family history of most Russians. He is one of them. He is strongly orthodox (smart move on his part to align himself with Patriarch Kyril), and emphasizes Russia’s role in WW2, believing Russia delivered the world from Nazism, therefore Russia has a right to invade any bordering country by declaring Nazism exists. (It’s like the US using “democracy” to invade other countries).

Americans support their leaders’ incursions into faraway lands like Iraq and Afghanistan. Russians support their leader’s incursions into bordering countries,

^ If they are so supportive why did so many Russians go running for Finland when war with Ukraine broke out? Maybe, like a lot of countries, war is for the poors 🤨

Some horrific footage of the torture of shooters released on X. Complete lies that these men were "paid mercenaries". No financial incentive would cover what these captured terrorists have so far experienced, and what they are about to experience.

The French government has raised the terrorist threat to the highest level, so there will be militia with machine guns walking around France.

France is leveraging the threat of radical Islam in order to put boots on the ground because they know there's going to be pushback for the French involvement in the war in Ukraine and what better way to impose martial law in France?

[quote]Margarita Simonyan, the head of state broadcaster RT, was already claiming on Saturday that the Americans’ warning ahead of the attack indicated they were participants in preparing it.

Does she think Trump is still President? Even five-year-olds don't notify other five-year-olds that they're about to attack their cubby-house.

I can't imagine that France would impose martial law before the Olympics. I think they are just trying to be proactive and minimize the risk of any attempted terror attacks during the games.

[quote] OP, this has nothing to do with Ukraine or the Ukraine war. These were extremists

R31 But he did.

^ "Vladimir Putin begins Operation Blame Ukraine"

But, no one believes him, well, maybe the wack-a-doodles

“It vas America, dur dur dur”

I don't think those guys who were tortured are the culprits. Too convenient and Putin and his goons are not trustworthy. I think they are fall guys.

Bullseye!

[quote]Margarita Simonyan, the head of state broadcaster RT, was already claiming on Saturday that the Americans’ warning ahead of the attack indicated they were participants in preparing it.

[quote]Does she think Trump is still President? Even five-year-olds don't notify other five-year-olds that they're about to attack their cubby-house.

Neither truth nor logic matters in this context r180. This is Russia. Events are merely pegs on which to hang rhetoric and public pronouncements.

Look at Putin's response the day after the attack, mobilizing another 300,000 Russian reservists. For all we know, Putin himself had the concert attacked, to justify expanding the war effort in Ukraine. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time Putin arranged domestic civilian attacks on Russian soil to justify military moves outside Russia. (See: apartment bombings; Chechnya.)

When Putin lies he blinks uncontrollably...

Any updates on that Canadian fundie family? Daddy been drafted yet?

Will this finally prevent Opera.

The web browser, r191?

^ I thought he meant the talk show host, Opera Winfrey 🤔

[quote] For all we know, Putin himself had the concert attacked, to justify expanding the war effort in Ukraine.

By gad Holmes you've done it again.

PARIS, March 25 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the gunmen who killed 137 people in a concert hall outside Moscow were part of an Islamic State branch that was behind foiled attempts to attack France over the past few months.

This explains why the French government on Sunday increased the country's security alert to its highest level, Macron and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said. More soldiers will be put on standby and ready to patrol sensitive sites, including schools.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday's Moscow attack.

R176, the Russians "hate" the west, but they're all clamoring to stay here, especially their women who'll marry any westerner to escape that hellhole. I remember the dissolution of the USSR and when they all started settling here. They may hate 'western values' but they've had little trouble taking advantage of programs like Section 8, welfare, food stamps, etc.

There's one very busy troll who seems to be playing both sides. Look at its commenting history.

I hate them both

Dunno if these people are responsible or not.

We do know that that they are accused.

They were beaten, strangled and had wires attached to their genitals to get a confession.

Ship maga to russher to be sorted out!

Interesting.

Perhaps this is what happens when Moscow pokes the American bear. ;)

[quote] Perhaps this is what happens when Moscow pokes the American bear. ;)

The American bear slaughters a bunch of innocent civilians who are doing nothing more harmful than attending a concert?

;)

R201, I guess we'll see. :)

R201, poor Russia. I guess they're paying for spreading their tentacles all over Muslim Central Asia.

This is their cross to bear.

Russians flock to America for anchor babies.

I wonder why ? I mean, they're country is so great.

We should boot every last one out. Go back to shithole Russia.

Stop trying to turn the US into your shithole oligarchy.

Yes we already have all the oligarchs we need