Vladimir Putin has mysteriously vanished for 12 days as Russia ramps up nuclear war threats

Mirror UK ^ | 11/20/2024 | Will Stewart, Chiara Fiorillo

[marcusmaximus]

Vladimir Putin has mysteriously disappeared from public view as his regime issued apocalyptic World War Three nuclear threats over the use of long-range Western missiles by Ukraine against Russian territory.

It is unclear if during the past 12 days of high international tension the Kremlin dictator has been holed up in a hi-tech bunker, unwell, underwent another round of plastic surgery, took a secret holiday or simply chose to remain out of sight. Yet Putin, 72, has not been definitively seen since an appearance at the Valdai Forum in Sochi on November 7 when he congratulated a "courageous" Donald Trump on his election victory and hinted he was ready for talks to end the war in Ukraine, according to the Faridaily Telegram channel, which monitors his movements and appearances.

"Where Putin is in these anxious days, when the war with Ukraine is entering a new round of escalation, and what he is doing, apparently only his security and a small circle of close associates know," said the channel. Putin was noticeably absent from view on Tuesday when the Kremlin announced he had signed off a new version of Russia's nuclear doctrine, a revelation which came soon after his spokesman indicated the amended text was not ready.

[Locomotive Breath]

There it is again. Name calling and running away is the refuge of the coward.

[Locomotive Breath]

Still waiting to hear what “on the front lines” means.

[CodeJockey]

Just wait until those F-16’s get delivered. That will be the nail in the coffin for the Ruskies.

[ANKE69]

[bert]

The F 16’s are already in action and have wrought great destruction. At least two have been KIA, shot down in action.

[PGR88]

Ukraine was supposed to have been defeated in a week or two.

Really? Who claimed that?

[grey_whiskers]

No, attempting to rile people up is the mark of a troll.

[Jan_Sobieski]

I could ask you where are your gonads

I knew I was right. No normal guy talks like this. You’re a they/them lisping limp-wristed sodomite with no kids, so nuclear war is no big thing. You stalk Grindr and probably prey on other people’s children. Every day is Russian roulette for you…so who cares if the world is destroyed? Do you already have Gay Man’s Plague? You could at least fight the good fight in the Donbas before your immune system collapses? BTW…I’ll bet you’ve never heard of the Imjin River, or the German/Czech border

[Locomotive Breath]

Are you actually going to suggest that Putin expected a prolonged war?

[Locomotive Breath]

“No normal guy talks like this.”

Look who’s talking.

[McGruff]

MISSING PRESIDENT ALERT

[Locomotive Breath]

You are “riled up” by someone posting something you don’t like. You’re clearly too fragile for FreeRepublic.

[MplsSteve]

Hopefully, he’s at room temperature with three 9mm slugs in his chest.

[BroJoeK]

BlackbirdSST: "That propaganda has grown from "3-days" to a "week or two". It is being nurtured and growing."

Locomotive Breath: "Errr... propaganda?
Russia invaded February 24, 2022.
3-days, a week or two, a couple of months it doesn’t matter."

There is no doubt that Russians themselves were very optimistic about a quick victory in Ukraine.
Here are some quotes at the time:

1. Andrei Fedorov, a former Russian deputy foreign minister, told Al Jazeera on February 27, 2022, that President Vladimir Putin's initial order was to
   "complete the military operation with a victory by March 2"

   There is your "three day victory".

2. Sergei Shoigu, Russia's Defense Minister, assured President Putin on March 11, 2022, that
   "everything is going to plan" and that the operation was proceeding as expected.

3. Avril Haines, the director of U.S. national intelligence, reported during a hearing on March 8, 2022:

   “Moscow underestimated the strength of Ukraine’s resistance and the degree of internal military challenges we are observing, which include an ill-considered plan, morale issues, and considerable logistical issues,” she said.

4. Australian retired major general Mick Ryan, expert on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, said Russia was confident of a swift victory.
   "They thought they could fight it fast, cheap and easy, and [conquer] Kyiv within days," Mr Ryan told SBS News. -- March 31,2022

5. Russian propagandist, "Iron Lady" Olga Skabeyeva (April 2022):
   "The Ukrainians are crumbling in front of our eyes.
   The Ukrainian army is falling apart."
   "We're forced to conduct the demilitarization not only of Ukraine, but of the entire NATO alliance."

6. Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan (March 2023):
   "We defeated Ukraine in the first two or three days.
   Then a war with NATO started"

There are many similar quotes from the period around February and March of 2022.

[Locomotive Breath]

Still waiting to hear about when you were “on the front lines”. Being with Antifa in Portland or Seattle doesn’t count.

Oooh. Another geography quiz.

My turn. Where’s the Marco Polo Bridge and why is it important?

[Locomotive Breath]

Yup. I was just in the process of looking that up. So thanks.

[PGR88]

Are you actually going to suggest that Putin expected a prolonged war?

Don't deflect. You said many people predicted a short war and immediate victory for Russia. I never saw such claims among any relevant government officials or serious commentators in, Russia, USA, Germany or otherwise.

Putin and Lavrov certainly are not so stupid to have made such public claims. I don't think Joe Biden promised it either for Ukraine.

Who am I missing?

[Jan_Sobieski]

At least you’re not talking about my gonads, homo. It’s not my fault you’re geographically inept. My question to you is…

[BroJoeK]

PGR88 to Locomotive Breath: "You said many people predicted a short war and immediate victory for Russia.
I never saw such claims among any relevant government officials or serious commentators in, Russia, USA, Germany or otherwise."

Then you weren't paying attention.
Check out my post #74 above -- it is a quick and partial listing of quotes from the time period.
I well remember hearing many others then and since making similar claims.

[PGR88]

LOL - a nonsense list. These are opinions and hot takes from people unconnected to the war.

The only “prediction” was your #1 - and who knows what the context of the prediction was?