Is it impossible to win against a superpower?

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chris1989
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07 Aug 2026, 6:57 am

I seem to feel for Ukraine to defeat Russia is impossible in same as would be if for example, Mexico was to try to defeat the United States or if Taiwan was to try defeat China. Its seem to think it's like a wolverine trying to take on a bear, not matter how many times one strikes another the other will keep coming back striking the other.



funeralxempire
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07 Aug 2026, 7:15 am

Russia is closer to losing control of Crimea than Ukraine is to losing.


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N0TTATW1ZTY
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07 Aug 2026, 8:00 am

Superpowers and Empires throughout history usually collapse on themselves. The Roman Empire is probably the most famous example. Back in the day they were thought to be an unstoppable force too but a combination of mistakes on their part led to the sacking of their capital and the collapse of their society.



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07 Aug 2026, 8:10 am

If the US and EU put more muscle behind it's support of Ukraine the war with Russia would be easily won.


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13 Aug 2026, 4:54 pm

The mujahideen ground Russia down in Afghanistan in the 1980's. They knew their own mountains, it was a PIA to traverse, and they played the sniper / ambush game to great effect.


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funeralxempire
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13 Aug 2026, 9:31 pm

Something to remember about force projection—the greater the distance, the less effectively force can be projected.

The fact that a superpower significantly overmatches their foe in every regard doesn't mean victory is guaranteed, especially if the superpower is either unwilling to occupy territory or fails to successfully occupy territory.

For examples, look at the Soviets and the Yanks in Afghanistan, or the Yanks in Vietnam. You could even count the Russians in Ukraine as an example, considering that their defeat is largely just a matter of time at this point.


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If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.


enz
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13 Aug 2026, 11:27 pm

Ukraine has the tech from super powers and the will to win



Texasmoneyman300
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15 Aug 2026, 6:14 am

North Vietnam did it so its not impossible and its happened multiple times in history.The Colonies won against England which was effectively a superpower back then.



MaxE
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15 Aug 2026, 7:46 am

Prevailing opinion has it that Iran has in fact won its war against the US so would that answer your question?


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Barchan
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16 Aug 2026, 5:21 pm

I don't know, if the Vietcong, the Taliban, and Iran can all make a laughingstock of the US, at what point do we consider that the US might not even be the superpower it advertises itself as? What actually makes a country a "superpower"?



Tim_Tex
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16 Aug 2026, 7:17 pm

Barchan wrote:
I don't know, if the Vietcong, the Taliban, and Iran can all make a laughingstock of the US, at what point do we consider that the US might not even be the superpower it advertises itself as? What actually makes a country a "superpower"?


The term "superpower" is a relic from the Cold War era, referring to the US and Soviet Union.

Some may still use it in reference to post-Soviet Russia, or China, but it mostly went out of use after the Soviet Union collapsed.

The present-day equivalent is not between two nations, but between two alliances of nations: OECD (US, Canada, western Europe) and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa).


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N0TTATW1ZTY
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19 Aug 2026, 11:31 pm

Relax everyone. I'm sure Emperor Nero Trump will get us all nuked soon which is what the rest of the world seems to really want at this point. :skull:

Edit: By all I mean us universally despised 'Yanks' of course. :jester:



funeralxempire
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20 Aug 2026, 6:29 am

N0TTATW1ZTY wrote:
Relax everyone. I'm sure Emperor Nero Trump will get us all nuked soon which is what the rest of the world seems to really want at this point. :skull:

Edit: By all I mean us universally despised 'Yanks' of course. :jester:


I don't think anyone reasonable wants a nuclear war.

Even if they're in favour of a more multipolar world where the US is no longer hegemon.


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If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.


Tim_Tex
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Yesterday, 5:58 pm

funeralxempire wrote:
N0TTATW1ZTY wrote:
Relax everyone. I'm sure Emperor Nero Trump will get us all nuked soon which is what the rest of the world seems to really want at this point. :skull:

Edit: By all I mean us universally despised 'Yanks' of course. :jester:


I don't think anyone reasonable wants a nuclear war.

Even if they're in favour of a more multipolar world where the US is no longer hegemon.


I also think a nuclear war is highly unlikely, but if there was, I had always considered the India-Pakistan-Kashmir conflict to be the one in which nukes were used.


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Tim_Tex
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Yesterday, 6:00 pm

funeralxempire wrote:
Russia is closer to losing control of Crimea than Ukraine is to losing.


Was Russia's end game just to occupy the Donbass and Crimea. Or was it to occupy all of Ukraine in hopes of recreating the Russian Empire?


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funeralxempire
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Yesterday, 6:14 pm

Tim_Tex wrote:
funeralxempire wrote:
Russia is closer to losing control of Crimea than Ukraine is to losing.


Was Russia's end game just to occupy the Donbass and Crimea. Or was it to occupy all of Ukraine in hopes of recreating the Russian Empire?


I believe initially Russia's goal was to occupy all of Ukraine, but that they've shifted to wanting to just occupy Donbass and Crimea.

If Russia had the means they'd likely still want to conquer the entire country.


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There's no such thing as a free market.
If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. —Malcolm X
Just a reminder: under international law, an occupying power has no right of self-defense, and those who are occupied have the right and duty to liberate themselves by any means possible.