>

Cheap gas...full stop.
"On the first day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the South African government demanded an immediate Russian withdrawal. It warned that the Russian military action would cause “human suffering and destruction” and huge damage to the global economy. But since then, South Africa has refused to repeat this criticism, instead choosing to abstain in UN votes, while calling for dialogue and negotiations.
On Monday, when asked whether she had repeated any of her original criticism to the Russian foreign minister, Ms. Pandor said she would seem “quite simplistic and infantile” if she did so – “given the massive transfer of arms” to Ukraine from its allies.
She said her talks with Mr. Lavrov were “wonderful” and she described South Africa as a friend of Russia with a strengthening relationship. Mr. Lavrov, for his part, had only praise for South Africa and its stand on global issues."
What a world. >

Russia might have pee pee pics of Ms. Pandor. >

In South Africa you don't need to have dirt on our politicians. That dirty laudry is on full public display 24/7. The reason for the backpeddaling is corruption and incompetence. And a hold on to power, that's the most important to our politicians. >

Holding on to power while the country runs out of it. The blackouts I hear are unreal at this point. >

What power? You mean the generator/inverter-solar setup that only the better-off people can afford? All the robots are dead, streetlights haven't worked in decades... >

The robots? >

It's what South Africans call traffic lights. >

You mean Chappie wasn't a documentary? >

I can't re-watch that film knowing what pieces of shit Ninja and Yolandi are. >


what pieces of shit Ninja and Yolandi are.

Oh? >

We have so many issues in South Africa and this is how the government prioritise their time. I really hope we can vote out these corrupt criminals next year. >

Good relations with Russia usually indicate a corrupt government. >

Case in point, Belarus. >

Or Syria. >

Iran. >

Venezuela. >

Cuba. >

China? >

North Korea >

Nicaragua >

Hey good for them, tying your country to Russia has never ever back fired on anyone ever in the whole history of the world ever never. >

Even India is slowly backing away from buying arms and fighters from Russia. >

Might be because Russian arms proved to be vastly inferior to their western counterparts in actual combat so we'll see a lot of countries trying to stay away from such second-tier merchandise from now on. >

This is something that is becoming increasingly obvious with the passage of time, especially if you're at all interested in small arms.
The modern AK-12 is arguably a crappier gun than the AK-74 it replaced, in large part because the furniture is crappy plastic pieces that can't hold a zero. On top of that, the Russians apparently can't even make enough of them, and have been burning through their AK-74 (1974) and even AKM (1959) stockpiles
Put it another way - look at special forces units around the world, and look at the guns they use. Even in countries where the primary infantry weapon is an AK, the special forces units are usually using M4-type rifles.
If you're looking to buy the best rifle for your dollar today, you could do A LOT better than even the most modernized AK rifle. >

Isnt that somewhat intentional though?  Maybe I'm wrong but I thought the popularity of the ak was its design allowed it to be made dirt cheap and it was easy to change the stamping in factories that make something else over to produce aks when needed (or nationalized).  Or are you saying the m4 types are cheaper now? >

So, I'm saying both.
In 1959, the Kalashnikov was great, because it had only a handful of complex parts that required significant tooling - primarily the main trunnion. It wasn't terribly difficult for a poor country to repurpose some of their limited manufacturing capabilities to build an AK.
In the same decade, the AR-15 was built out of complex milled aluminum and polymer materials - materials and tools that were significantly more expensive than needed to build the AK. Only super rich countries with advanced manufacturing could build them en masse.
But that was 70 years ago - nowadays, just about every country on the planet has access to abundant aluminum supplies, plastics, and CNC machinery. So the cost of entry for something like the AR-15 has dropped so much that it's much more attainable and desirable, even if it's a bit more expensive than something like an AK-12.
In fact, last I looked, an AK-103 and an M4 rifle both cost about $700 apiece, new off the line. The -103 is a .30 caliber weapon with a bit more recoil, has no optic rail capabilities built in, and weighs a kilogram more than the M4. The only upsides are that it's easier to clean, and ammunition is plentiful.
So, both - the AK used to be cheaper, which made it more desirable. But modern manufacturing makes the AR-15 similarly easy to build, which brought costs down. >

The real question is how cost effective are Russian sights compared to American ones.
Probably jack shit >


Probably jack shit

Yea, their optics aren't worth much compared to western ones. 
All of their common optics (at least the ones with enough production to have gone on the civilian market) have awful battery life. Pretty much all of their battery-powered optics are under 1,000 hours battery life - an Aimpoint PRO (Swedish-manufactured optic used in the west - sold at similar price point in the civilian market) has 50,000 hours battery life. 
At the end of the day, a bad optic is better than no optic, but I don't think the Russians even have enough optics to field them as standard-issue, do they? >

They dont even have socks standard issue, and some of the rifles they're handing out can't even mount optics. Bad time to be a Russian soldier. >

I’d argue that even with comparable arms, your statement would still stand. >

I hate my government.
I really really really do.
These people are completely and utterly useless >

Yeah our government is horrible and I believe that this will yield cheaper gas prices which of course will make the clueless people of this country want to back the ANC even more I don't think there's hope honestly." Majority rule doesn't work in a mental institution" With that being true about these people and them being easily manipulateble I don't think the ANC is leaving anytime soon. >

Even if the ANC were to be voted out, do you honestly reckon they would accept it? They came to power via violent revolution, it's not far fetched that they will seek to retain said power via a similar method. So even if the ANC finally loses in 2024 they may not even recognise it and then what?  
And especially when they are cozying up to the Russian government of all governments. >

As someone born in South Africa this is just sad and depressing to see. But also just straight up confusing. 
Russia is getting its ass handed to itself and becoming increasingly more economically and politically isolated. To the point where even China is smart enough not to fully get into bed with Russia because they can see it’s a sinking ship. 
Sigh, what’s next then? SANDF vehicles built for speed and manoeuvrability over the African Savannah just haphazardly gifted to Russia to be sent to the snowy and muddy deadlock of Ukraine where they’ll most likely be annihilated?