Comments by "Tim Trewyn" (@timtrewyn453) on "1420 by Daniil Orain" channel.

  1. They threaten your family if you show bad manners in public. Best thing is to get out. Think underground railroad.
    1
  2. Superb comment!
    1
  3. I suspect he has been traumatized by the security service or someone he is close to has been. For their sake he has rehearsed his lines of compliance.
    1
  4. They have determined that there is a sector of any population that is demobilized by such rhetoric. This of course is not their only tool. They have refined information warfare. Christopher Hitchens described Russia as a "psychopathic dictatorship". Vince Lombardi's quote is useful to describe this leadership, "Winning isn't everything. Winning is the only thing." Little boutique ethnic nations on the border are so tempting to that mind set.
    1
  5. I don't think she'll get in trouble. They need her. Demographics. A few good moms.
    1
  6. At that point, Germany was pretty much on its own. Not so Ukraine.
    1
  7. The woman who said parents need to filter things for their children is right. Many Russian institutions are set up to detect and document dissent. Your parents tell you to just give the "official correct answers" to keep your family among those considered acute conformists. The same family has to have a plan to keep its children safe when the time comes, and the time is coming for many of them.
    1
  8. Some people will do anything to avoid another interview at the police station.
    1
  9. Speaking for yourselves, from your own perspective, dear Russians. Will they, can they, get outside of their box? Might it occur to you that during peace time you have the choice to sell your resources in the world market and use the money to buy the world class products and services you may yourselves not have? Might it occur to you that 1.4 billion Chinese might be among those customers? The perspective betrays a sort "we will have our cake and eat it, too" attitude. The West does not steal oil from Saudi Arabia, the West pays for oil. Where does the assumption that the West wants to steal from Russia come from? Live in a glass house?
    1
  10. Well said. Most situations involve multiple causes. However, as a US citizen, I have little hesitancy to criticize my government in a reasonable manner. You can ask my Congressman.
    1
  11.  @natureblank1401  It's about money and the power of money. Russia relies heavily on resource exports. Western oil and gas companies had been exploring Ukraine for resources that could be obtained by their advanced extraction techniques. This includes old fields in the Donbas. These companies often obtain productive new wells in well-developed locations like Texas using their new drilling techniques. Ukraine was on track to compete with Russia in supplying the European market for oil and gas. Ukraine was going to become more powerful and independent in the process. Russia wants that power for itself. It's about the power the region can provide. If Russia was about a flourishing population, it would have at least twice the population it does now. Instead, it treats people like currency, something to be spent for elite ends. This is not an exclusively Russian problem. It is a human problem that other societies have been able to regulate better than Russia does, and so they flourish. Russian leadership is stuck in "strong-weak" and victory paradigms. Russian propaganda may say it's about the people. Russia's actions make quite clear it is not. This is not to excuse the profit seeking of the West and Ukraine in the Donbas, but I propose those companies, greedy as they may be, are more benign than Russia obviously is.
    1
  12. Unconditional surrender allowed the Allies to totally alter the German and Japanese regimes. That's not going to happen in Russia. But yes, may Russia be ejected from Ukraine.
    1
  13. I fear the old sociopaths in the security services find the young sociopaths and bring them into the organization. They test them for ruthlessness. If they pass, they get the benefits, and the game goes on. The only thing to do for the neurotypical is get out of the country.
    1
  14. This is what happens in a nation with the world's finest riot police.
    1
  15. This is excellent, and thank you. I hope the US and European communities are doing what they can and then some to support Lithuania at this time and in the years ahead. All that new human energy can be a good thing for the country.
    1
  16.  @donalexey  My understanding is that Crimeans, like other island peoples, develop a loyalty to their island culture and would prefer autonomy from the adjacent mainland powers. In many cases, such as Taiwan, they can only obtain a measure of this autonomy by aligning with a larger power. In Japan's case, the island nation is actually powerful enough to secure its sovereignty. Crimea is not well situated for this kind of autonomy. It does not have a large population and the adjacent powers can too easily build bridges to it and control it. The powers move in and manufacture the consent of the islanders. This same geographic vulnerability preceded Catherine's acquisition of Crimea in the 18th Century. The Ottomans and Tatars had a long run of control of the island. Looking at a map it is easy to see that Russia will always be in a strong position to control Crimea. That does not mean Crimeans, in their heart of hearts, prefer the steady stream of enforcers from Moscow. Provincial identities are common. Here in Florida, a sense of community arises out of common responses to the geography and to such events as hurricanes which bring out community spirit in recovery. The rest of the United States may have their differences with who Floridians elect to office, but Washington does not send enforcers to dismiss locally elected officials (our Governor Desantis has dismissed certain elected district attorneys, shame on him and I am free to say that) and hand pick new state legislators and then intimidate residents into expressing favorable opinions. Crimeans' charge that they were "neglected by Kyiv" is rather odd in the light of the foregoing explanation of island culture. They should be happy to be neglected by a federal power because that only increases their autonomy and freedom! I would think part of Crimea's appeal to tourists would be to get away from the negative aspects of Moscow or St. Pete for awhile. In Florida, we have the informal "Conch Republic" in the Florida Keys. It's not so much defiant as it is a celebration of getting away from the usual authorities for a break. As long as positive federal services provided align with taxes paid, the relationship between the federal and the provincial can be sustained. But that is more of an American perspective. Russian administration is funded more by resource sales than by taxes. Crimeans probably do not feel overtaxed. Russia is in Crimea for what now appear to be archaic naval reasons and to deny Ukraine resources it might have used in competition with Russia in the European market, i.e. offshore oil and gas. And Russian tourists should perhaps ask if they would prefer Crimean or Russian jurisdiction when they are on vacation. (Why would Russians tour in Turkiye so much? Is there a plan to annex Turkiye so Russian tourists will be more comfortable there?) The grievance that is likely to develop in Crimea is the same as that underlying the comments of these Russian residents, that is, they have no say when it comes to their sons and husbands and neighbors being conscripted into the Russian imperial project. They want the right of quiet enjoyment. They are not getting it with Russia's war on Ukraine.
    1
  17.  @donalexey  I would think Crimea on its own could use its success as a tourist destination to finance infrastructure improvements. Disney did not need federal subsidies to build Disney World in Florida. I suppose Russians are more accustomed to the government taking the initiative. It might be good for Crimeans to study Disney methods and then adapt them in some Crimean way. Disney World was always intended to have an international flavor to it. People must like it because EPCOT has been in business for decades. When I have been there I have seen people from many countries. But if Crimea wants to get back strong into the tourism business, then I would think it needs to come up with a more secure source of fresh water than the Dnipro River and the Nova Kakhovka dam. If that cannot be done, then a better relationship with Ukraine is necessary. I would tend to think getting water from the river is the less expensive way to go. Thank you for your insight and kindness. And I want you to know my Ukrainian friends from Odessa speak Russian, but they do not wish to live under Russian jurisdiction. They just want to quietly raise their children. I don't hear hate of Russia from them. They just want to be free.
    1
  18. Not for free anyway. He'll be looking for favors.
    1
  19. Yes. They understand they are under constant surveillance. A video is a chance to assure the authorities that they are compliant. A small price to pay for not being conscripted. So many young men still not in uniform.
    1
  20. What started to crack the slave States in the US in the 19th Century was the underground railroad. The more young Russians who either get out of the country or fall into despair, the more the Russian economy spirals down toward North Korean characteristics. Note that North Korea does not seem able to annex the South.
    1
  21.  @johnlenin830  So any country is any other country's business. That's how country's behave.
    1
  22.  @johnlenin830  To my knowledge, the West did not pressure neutral Finland to join NATO. Indeed, NATO assumes a huge risk in accepting Finland into the Treaty. Finland observed Russian behavior and sought NATO membership. I am forever dismayed that Russian apologists always turn this upside down. It would seem more adult to simply assert that Russia is an empire and annexation of adjacent land is a part of what Russia does. Instead what we see is a display of faith that either large swaths of humanity can actually be duped, or, more likely, they can be talked down into submission with clever words and the threat of being ejected out a window. Pardon the rest of the world if it chafes at that kind of Russian disrespect.
    1
  23.  @johnlenin830  Russia's actions are better explained by the rise of its financial power and its desire for more.
    1
  24. After watching news about wildfires in California, Russia has commenced a series of controlled burns to prevent property losses. In a stunning act of Slavic brotherhood, the Ukrainians are paying for the project. More on RT this evening.
    1
  25. That walk might work. But the Siloviki will not relinquish power.
    1
  26. The Siloviki have to mind everything that contributes to their own well-being. Traumatizing healthy, talented young people is not good for the Russian economy. Chasing healthy, talented young people out of the country is not good for the Russian economy. North Korea was created in Stalin's image. That country is an object lesson for Putin and the Siloviki. They are starting to taste the humble pie. They see that they have maneuvered these young into a sense of powerlessness. They are realizing they need to be content with that or the economy gets worse faster. The value of the ruble is a fair metric of what is happening. But these testimonies are another. Something is up.
    1
  27. Unfortunately for the Russians, the Russian government is exceptionally efficient and experienced in running a police state. Their problem is this time, compared to earlier, its existence is harder to hide from the rest of the world, and they will remain under sanctions.
    1
  28.  @hardhouse333  Fortunately for the Russians, sometimes Ukraine takes prisoners instead of killing. The problem is getting away from the Russian aiming at one's back.
    1
  29. These young are so valuable to the state that it is enough for the state that they express powerlessness. Otherwise the state needs them to be productive or there goes the economy.
    1
  30. That's what government terror does to a population. Language is reorganized to avoid trouble.
    1
  31. The last guy either did time in the Gulag or someone he knows well did. He'll say anything to not go there. I read The Gulag Archipelago by Solzhenitsyn while in the USAF late 70s. I felt better about what I was doing.
    1
  32. Also geography is a factor. Read Catherine the Great's biography. She had high plans but there always was some kind of intrigue going on. This has evolved into today's Siloviki.
    1
  33. I think the core of Russian power, the Siloviki, is starting to understand that the very economy they draw their wealth from and its future relies in large measure on these talented young people. These young people already know others who have been sent to jail or traumatized in some fashion. That does not help the Russian economy. The Siloviki can watch this video and see that they have these young people pretty well pacified and atomized. It's counterproductive to motivate more of them to look for a way out of the country or to just slip into despair. So I think the word to the cops with respect to these talented young is "They are not a threat to us. They feel helpless under our power. Let them talk. We'll find out who they are. We can get them later if we have to. As long as they are productive and compliant, leave them alone for now." The Russian method of mobilization contains a large helping of social engineering.
    1
  34. Yeah. Something is up! These are the kind of talented, white youth the Siloviki has to admit they need in civilian jobs or the economy that pays the Siloviki just keeps getting worse. Putting them in jail or otherwise traumatizing them ends up being unproductive. This set of interviews and 1420s continuing existence may be a sign that Putin and the Siloviki are coming to realize that they cannot just send the young to the front or to jail. They've already spread grief and terror in minority ethnic communities by doing just that. Putin is not going to get thrown out by the people. He will print money to pay the Siloviki. They will keep him in power until he goes senile or dies. But the Siloviki are in a real pickle when it comes to this kind of Russian resident. Danill has learned to ask well-crafted questions.
    1
  35. You have to stay in a group and get out of that country. Otherwise four cops show up when you are alone and you are traumatized into compliance. Of course, the problem for the state after that treatment is that you are less productive.
    1
  36. Touche.
    1
  37. Russians might want to consider how China has diminished its future by taking a hostile posture toward much of the rest of the world. Russia is now seen as a country that trades in order to build up its military in order to expand its empire. It also seems to believe that its former trading partners will have no place else to go for potatoes. The war in Ukraine has seriously damaged the reputation of Russia, while its leadership and many of its people seem to believe that that should not matter. Or that is what they need to display on a video that they probably rightly surmise will be reviewed and their performance evaluated by those that can do them harm. And that necessity to perform in such a manner further reduces the reputation of Russia and its ability to suddenly put on any kind of new look to bring about a better future.
    1
  38. The tools of oppression are so strong in Russia that I doubt the people can change it. It is close to conditions in the American South before Emancipation. The only thing to do was get on the Underground Railroad and get out.
    1
  39. Yeah. He was pretty cool. I'd like to see him have better opportunities.
    1
  40. Putin needs these for the economy. It's best not to traumatize them any more than they are. Unproductive.
    1
  41. Wow! This one really set them off.
    1
  42.  @mattyboy456  What this video illustrates is that not all Russians are Siloviki. The Siloviki, for the most part, stay safe at home. Other people may die, but the Siloviki are going home at the end of their workday. They send ethnic minorities to do the fighting. We see this. We see the Siloviki claim innocence, infallibility, and infinite capability. Who is out of touch with reality here?
    1
  43. One thing's for sure, Bud has won their taste in beer. A fine job of taking the heat off of themselves and their drinking buddies.
    1
  44. This is somewhat correct in the cases in which European countries have spent less on defense and relied upon American taxpayers and troops. Europe is standing up for itself more now. That is hard on them, but also good.
    1
  45. Trump mentioned waterfront property in North Korea as having potential. With the right Russian financing, it could happen. Yeah, Trump wants a favor or two from both sides.
    1
  46. Perhaps they understand their value to the State, and that gives them a greater freedom to speak. The State needs competent people in the workplace more than ever.
    1
  47. Isn't' nice to know that 145 million Russians are going to save the 8 billion people on this planet? Oy!
    1
  48. This is some of the most fascinating video I have ever seen. Excellent work. I don't doubt that robber barons all over the world covet Russian resources, like those who covet things in Ukraine.
    1
  49. U.S. Defense Department's Inspector General Robert Storch says overseeing aid to Ukraine is a top priority job for himself and his team working worldwide. The Inspector General has several representative offices in Germany, staffers in Poland, as well as investigators and program observers at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. Together with partners from the State Department and USAID inspections, this brings the number of engaged government employees up to 400, said Storch.
    1
  50. They will owe him a favor, an "Art of the Deal" scale favor.
    1