Thread by @JBelcourt73

So a bit about me, normally I wake up, do some quick doom scrolling, walk the dogs, make tea for the wife and then play some video games as I ruminate on what I will right today. A bit of a departure today. It seems my doom scrolling is stuck in ground hog day mode. All I have

seen upon waking for several days now is how unfair it is that Russians face a visa ban. The Russian government, rank and file Russians, talking heads etc. all moving in lock step: "its not fair, its collective punishment yada yada yada". Hooey, it is a pure garbage argument

because it is unfair, it is collective punishment and its deliberate. Russia is engaged in the worst form of collective punishment. Destroying an entire people. Genocide is at its root collective punishment imposed on entire peoples. Ditto smashing cities, kidnapping millions

including over half a million children etc. There are still bodies rotting in the streets in Mariupol and it will be years before the last Ukrainian buried by a Russian shell smashing their home is recovered and decades perhaps centuries till the last Ukrainian killed by a

Russian mine has their life cut short by Putin's evil. Yet the conversation has moved from these evils to become one about "poor mistreated Russia". What is driving this? Obviously as I have discussed before, the talking heads are either compromised or lack moral clarity and

ordinary (pure white slavic) Russians who did so little to stop Putin definitely don't want his albatross around their necks when it's time for vacation. For the Russian government however it's a more strategic problem. So, while the media types and "ordinary" Russians arguments

are disgusting, the ones coming from Kleptograd are calculated. One of two ways Putin holds on to power is using the West to absorb people who might become dissidents. The number of Russians willing to stay in Russia and fight the good fight vs simply picking up and moving is

small. Putin would rather lose talent that keep dissent. By exporting brains and ambition he helps secure his power. The other way he uses access to the west to help his regime is the rewards that come with western access. If you do have drive and ambition and have not fled the

kleptocratic regime that means you have bought into it. All the money and wealth that permits the shopping trips and holidays in Europe is at its foundation ill gotten. Mid-level white collar all the way up to oligarch its all mafia money. By denying access to the West Putin now

two problems. First, he must be even more repressive because he cannot simply let dissidents flea. Although he is not squeamish about repression its another problem on his plate that is already piled high with steaming loads of crap sandwiches. The other and more painful problem

now he can't reward lackeys with material wealth. A regime that cannot co-opt those with drive and talent will see them become dissatisfied and turn into dissidents and add to problem number 1. Its a slow cooker problem, but it's the same slow cooker problem that brought down the

USSR. Then there is the third issue. I don't count it as a problem for Russia but it will definitely sting. Slavic Russians see themselves as a step above (maybe many steps) non-Slavic Russians who are normally confined to whatever regions they hail from. Guess who is just as

stuck now? The visas ban is treating them the way they treat their own minorities. The rub in that is delicious, the discriminators crying because of discrimination. So, in short no, no Russians should get a visa. Sit and stew guys and gals and do something about your homeland

that has become such a malignant force in human history. Believe me, whatever Europe might lose from Russia via visa bans she will make up for in closer ties to Ukraine. We have gotten very good looks at people like @Teoyaomiquu @krides @katalina_ada @rynkrynk @MrKovalenko and

culture and people they represent. Anyone not want them as a visitor or neighbor? I didn't think so. Russia's invasion has spotlighted an amazing country that few of us had ever paid attention too. A people by the way who invited this invasion exactly because they did what we ask

Russians to do: reform their own society. It was that reform that moved Putin's ambitions from using the cancer of corruption to keep control to high explosives to re-assert it. We owe it to Ukraine to oppose the #GenocideOfUkrainians and I would love to see my elected leaders

@JohnBoozman @SenTomCotton and @RepFrenchHill along with @AdamKinzinger and @POTUS declare #russiaisaterrorisstate because #RussiaInvadedUkraine The world must resist Kleptograd's efforts to shift the narrative away from the evils being done to Ukraine and her people and keep the

focus on the evil doers. Thats my role as a member of #NAFO would you join us? #NAFOexpansion is non-negotiable. Plus, it helps support the @georgian_legion in her fight to liberate Ukraine. Another way you can help in that fight is by donating to @MriyaAid or another vetted

Ukrainian approved charity. Want to know which ones? Ask a Ukrainian. Ukrainian voices matter which is the other goal of Russia in this whole visa kerfuffle. Keep Ukrainian voices silenced however and whenever possible. From deadly force inside Ukraine to drowning them out in

Western media spaces. Thats one reason I recommend the @MriyaReport as it covers both the ongoing war in Ukraine and in how it promotes Ukrainian voices. Speaking of the war in Ukraine... No wonder Russia would rather talk about vias. The strike on Saki appears to be worse than I

thought. Shortly before a pro-genocider tried to invade the space only to get rhetorically throat punched by @gujingc the totally awesome @ChuckPfarrer had answered a question I asked about aircraft losses. His estimates were 3 squadrons destroyed either through a

combination of fire, fragments/shrapnel and over pressure representing a serious loss to Russia combat aviation. This will make Ukraine's moves to liberate her lands and people easier. This strike comes as the world waits with bated breath for the Liberation of Kherson.

speaking of missile strikes and liberation, the Ukrainians trolled the Russians so hard.... so hard!

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1557621932429819907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1557621932429819907%7Ctwgr%5E1a8e2094842113761fc8b8f0e89fc85f8d8bbcfb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fworld%2Fukraine-threatening-music-video-warns-unpleasantly-hot-summer-break-russia-doesnt-leave-crimea

So, as you go about your day, don't fall for the crocodile tears about vias bans. Keep your eye on what is important, ending the genocide and Ukraine winning on Ukraine's terms. Slava Ukraini!

#UkraineWillWin @mfa_russia <--- still losing but now with visa bans.

@threadreaderapp unroll please