Russia's Wagner Group sends bloodied sledgehammer to EU

[speak easy]

Source: The Telegraph

Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries have sent a "bloodied" sledgehammer in a violin case to the European Parliament after members started proceedings to label them as terrorists.

Sledgehammers have become an unofficial symbol of the Kremlin-linked group because its fighters have used them to kill during overseas missions.

In a video posted on one of its Telegram channels, a suited lawyer working for Wagner Group carries a violin case into a bare room and places it on a table.

He lifts the lid of the violin case, showing off a highly polished sledgehammer. The head has been engraved with Wagner's logo and the handle has been dabbed with red paint to depict blood.

Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/11/24/putins-chef-wagner-group-sledgehammer-eu-response-called-terrorist/

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[ZonkerHarris]

1. gee, how would terrorists react? Maybe sending a weapon threat? We'll never know

[speak easy]

2. Something about a violin case that rings a bell,

but I can't quite put my finger on it.

[PatrickforB]

3. Old gangster movies. In the days of 'speak easies' back during Prohibition.

According to the Guardian, "The Thompson machine gun - sometimes referred to as a Chicago typewriter - was carried in a case that was remarkably similar in shape to a violin case, hence the confusion. It is a matter of record that gangsters carried thier "heat" in anything that was handy. Capone himself had a shotgun in a golf bag."

?20100205215539

[DavidDvorkin]

4. Maybe it's not wise to encourage the EU to start considering having its own army again.

[oldsoftie]

16. It does. Its called NATO.

[DavidDvorkin]

25. NATO is not the EU

It's dominated by the US.

[oldsoftie]

29. Well, much like the UN,NATO is pretty much toothless without the US

But NATO is all the EU has. And right now, thanks to Putin, its probably as strong as ever.

[XorXor]

31. There is PESCO

I'm not too well informed on it since I've yet to find any trustworthy authoritative analysis of it, but the brief wikipedia-level understanding of it makes it seem like something that is evolving toward that. If you're unaware of what PESCO is, then it's worth the effort to do some quick reading on it

[DavidDvorkin]

32. That sounds like the beginning of it

Thanks. I hadn't known about it before.

This quote from the Wikipedia article is interesting: "The United States has voiced concerns and published 'warnings' about PESCO several times, which many analysts believe to be a sign that the United States fears a loss of influence in Europe, as a militarily self-sufficient EU would make NATO increasingly irrelevant." That's exactly what Putin should worry about: a new military superpower, right next door, that's increasingly hostile to Russia because of his actions.

[XorXor]

34. It is interesting that the Trump administration seemed to have taken issue with it

Which seems counter to what was put out by them about the state of the Europe's militaries. Assuming they can get it right and not get bogged down, then it would likely lead to them increasing their defense spending and contributing more, and in theory freeing up the US military to perhaps focus on what the Trump admin (and Obama admin) saw an increasing threat from China. From what I've read, it seems like this wouldn't get rid of NATO, but rather it would essentially end up being like member of NATO. I get there may be some self-interests by the US to maintain maximum control, but I don't see how that could outweigh the benefits of a Europe that can confidently defend itself.

I just add that to the list of things that make's Trump goals toward a weakened NATO and fractured Europe even more clear. Just glad we have Biden in there now instead of Trump.

[NullTuples]

6. How long before a few Republican groups start using...

...a sledgehammer as a symbol, too?

[speak easy]

8. Ask Tom DeLay :)

[sop]

19. No, a bloody AR-15.

[Turbineguy]

7. Thank you

for making our point.

[BigmanPigman]

9. Didn't the mafia send a dead fish wrapped in newspaper.

These Wagner monsters aren't very creative. I'm sure they don't have a combined IQ in the triple digits either. Thugs with weapons...nothing more than that. Not clever or smart at all.

[SunSeeker]

10. Those fascist fuckwits just proved the EU's point.

[SheltieLover]

11. Absolutely!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. Send the authoritarian soviet-wannabes a sickle. . . . nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. Favoured by authoritarian thugs and RW assassins in SF

[paleotn]

21. Yep. It's all the same.

[Biophilic]

14. How come thugs are never as cool as they think they are?

[Farmer-Rick]

26. Or as Smart

So, true

[IronLionZion]

15. Sounds like something terrorists would do

making terrorist threats to intimidate civilians for a political agenda.

[oldsoftie]

17. Time to go ahead and call them what they are; terrorists & war criminals.

And send UKR whatever they need

[prodigitalson]

18. See. They aren't terrorists

I bet the EU feals silly now.

[paleotn]

20. Funny, since the Wagner thugs are being ground to dust.

They've been mauled on several occasions. The Kherson offensive being one of the latest. Also, Russia is using their quality VDV airborne troops, or what's left of them after they were mauled around Kyiv in March, to plug gaps in the front. A huge waste, but when you're running out of trained bodies, one does what one has to I guess.

Wagner is Putin's SS. They should be butchered where they stand. Like my old man said about the German SS, surrender just wasn't an option for them much of the time.

[Oneironaut]

22. Russia is basically ISIS with nukes at this point.

Recorded executions on video: Check
Claiming they are in a religious war: check
Sadism against POWs, and, rampant war crimes: check
Raping every woman they see, including children: check
Not even caring about their own soldiers and treating them like fodder: check
Apocalyptic propaganda: check

[Chainfire]

23. In Russia, that is what passes as diplomacy.

[Martin68]

24. Translation: Yup, we're terrorists and proud of it.

[ancianita]

27. The EU should declare the Wagner Group a terrorist organization.

[LudwigPastorius]

28. A Russian Nazi is still a Nazi.

Despite the Soviet Union opposing Hitler in WWII, these ultra-nationalist, white supremacists goons love them some Nazis.

https://time.com/6180611/white-power-mercenaries-fighting-the-lost-cause/

[Martin68]

30. Fucking barbarians. Isn't it time to stand up to these blood-thirsty terrorists?

[pbmus]

33. Answer ...

Link to tweet

[Mysterian]

35. Well done, Mr. Reinsalu

The Russian barbarians feel untouchable because of Russia's nuclear arsenal. Justice will prevail. After the Russian people come out of their stupor and end the murderous reign of insane dictator Putin, justice will prevail. Justice will find you, murderers.

[ck4829]

36. Things a terrorist group would do

Last edited Tue Dec 6, 2022, 10:06 AM - Edit history (1)

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[orangecrush]

37. Too bad

Russia's still getting it's ass kicked...

[truthisfreedom]

38. Waste of a perfectly good violin case.

Musical instruments symbolize creativity and harmony. Sledge hammers represent destruction.