Politics

[Ray B]

There is only one answer that solves both environmental, security of supply and cost effectiveness questions. Nuclear.

the actual answer is when people figure out what a hoax all of this carbon nonsense is. When that happens it is possible that the Earth can return to a sane and sensible utilization of the various carbon sources.

 

[WAB]

the actual answer is when people figure out what a hoax all of this carbon nonsense is. When that happens it is possible that the Earth can return to a sane and sensible utilization of the various carbon sources.

I’m actually hearing people express concerns over CO2 emissions. Perhaps they are unfamiliar with the role of CO2 in photosynthesis? Without CO2 there is no oxygen production, without oxygen there is no life.

 

[Red Leg]

I’m actually hearing people express concerns over CO2 emissions. Perhaps they are unfamiliar with the role of CO2 in photosynthesis? Without CO2 there is no oxygen production, without oxygen there is no life.

Yes, CO2 seems to be the bugaboo now - along with cattle feces and flatulence.

The Dutch, in particular, seem to have taken leave of their senses. Have to love anyone who seriously ponders "climate transition."

Dutch Farmer Protests Show How Messy the Climate Transition Will Be

Tackling climate change means rapid, wholesale transformation of the global food system.

time.com

 

[John Wasmuth]

So the drug smuggler Griner is swapped for the arms dealer in Russia….. seems like a fair deal for us.

 

[Randy F]

I’ve finally found the right holiday gifts for some of the in-laws and those certain uncles that tend to dominate the dinner conversations.

 

[RTG]

View attachment 504336

Where can I buy this?

 

[RTG]

So the drug smuggler Griner is swapped for the arms dealer in Russia….. seems like a fair deal for us.

The result will be dead innocent people around the world. Small price to pay for a photo op with a black lesbian.

 

[RTG]

I’ve finally found the right holiday gifts for some of the in-laws and those certain uncles that tend to dominate the dinner conversations.

View attachment 504544

 

[Major Bonkers]

From 'City A.M.', a free newspaper given to commuters in London. For the avoidance of any doubt, my own belief is that Boris Johnson had it right: Russia must lose, and must be seen to lose.

Putin’s war with Ukraine is unwinnable but as a leader, he cannot afford to lose​

BY: DANIEL SLEAT

Daniel Sleat is Director of Research at the Tony Blair Institute.

Vladimir Putin has tied himself to the war in Ukraine.

Ten months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine one simple fact has become abundantly clear: set against its original goal to completely conquer Ukraine, Moscow cannot win the war but neither can Putin afford to lose it.

Ukraine has fought heroically to repulse the original Russian invasion and to push back Putin’s forces. But, for all the positive words, the inescapable fact remains that Ukraine is not currently equipped to retake all its territory. Completely repulsing Russia would be the optimum outcome of the war, but the current capability of the Ukrainian military and pace of advance make this currently unlikely.

The international community, in the absence of further support on the battlefield, should keep open other possibilities for how it can end. It is the Ukrainian people, above all, who continue to suffer most from the ongoing hostilities, with widespread blackouts arising from continued Russian missile attacks.

Since the initial invasion Russia has had an estimated 100,000 troops killed or injured and has had to take the deeply unpopular decision to mobilise more reservists at home. Facing well-equipped and highly motivated Ukrainian forces, Russia retains control of territory not significantly larger than when they first invaded. Set against their original objective of bringing Ukraine into its orbit, Russia has no realistic prospect of victory.

But Putin has tied himself inexorably to the conflict. If Russia is defeated it is hard to foresee how Putin can continue as leader, with growing opposition on both his pro and anti war flanks. So he can neither win, nor can he afford to lose. With significant territorial gains off the cards, Russia will likely continue to escalate hostilities through other means such as missile strikes to cripple Ukraine’s infrastructure.

Ukraine faces a long, difficult winter. Zelensky will face significant pressure in the coming months to keep the country functioning in the face of incessant Russian missile strikes, equip Ukraine’s military for the next significant phase of the ground campaign in the spring and begin the long process rebuilding the country. This is no easy feat. Globally, the continued conflict continues to have grave impacts. Growth forecasts have been cut, while prices, particularly food and energy, are rising.

For Ukraine’s international allies, the starting point must be agreeing on a unified strategy for sustained military and humanitarian support. If we truly believe Ukraine can win the war, we should equip them to do so. We should do all we can to help Ukraine building on the “just-in-time, just enough” approach Admiral Rob Bauer, Chairman of NATO’s military committee, used to characterise the defence industry’s approach to the war. Greater Pan-European and American coordination is needed to address serious issues of stockpiling and equipment supply, which would help shift Ukraine onto a stronger footing come spring.

If, on the other hand, it becomes clear that the next phases of the war are likely to be protracted and costly, a negotiated end to the war should stay on the table, and form part of our preparations. Such a course must start and be led by Ukraine but it will require international support.

While Russia remains trapped in a war it cannot win but cannot afford to lose, Ukraine faces an uphill battle. This winter needs to be a period when we take a hard-headed look at how the war is progressing and what our strategy as an ally should be. Effectively supporting Ukraine in the next phase of the conflict means ensuring our assistance matches their need, not just militarily but economically, and, critically, ensuring Kyiv is in the strongest position possible if it does decide negotiations are needed.

Jacob Delorme, Kitty Mant and Ruby Osman contributed to this article.

 

[Tbitty]

So the drug smuggler Griner is swapped for the arms dealer in Russia….. seems like a fair deal for us.

If this was me, or any other ordinary everyday person (no fame or grand fortunes, no race card or sexual orientation to capitalize on - just a basic white American) there would be no story, no media coverage, and not a chance in hell that a prisoner swap or pardon would be arranged. You would sooner see Bob sell all his rifles and go buy a .243 Winchester.

But because of a name and a chance for publicity, she not only gets a pass for breaking the laws of a foreign nation, but also is championed in her plight AND we release another criminal back to Russia, likely with very dangerous implications.

Makes my blood boil

 

[John Wasmuth]

If this was me, or any other ordinary everyday person (no fame or grand fortunes, no race card or sexual orientation to capitalize on - just a basic white American) there would be no story, no media coverage, and not a chance in hell that a prisoner swap or pardon would be arranged. You would sooner see Bob sell all his rifles and go buy a .243 Winchester.

But because of a name and a chance for publicity, she not only gets a pass for breaking the laws of a foreign nation, but also is championed in her plight AND we release another criminal back to Russia, likely with very dangerous implications.

Makes my blood boil

If Arms dealer guy was a danger prior to this he’s ten fold that now. All this does is embolden the Russian thugs further.

 

[jeanes]

And we better have really good candidates.

AMEN, Brother.

 

[CoElkHunter]

If this was me, or any other ordinary everyday person (no fame or grand fortunes, no race card or sexual orientation to capitalize on - just a basic white American) there would be no story, no media coverage, and not a chance in hell that a prisoner swap or pardon would be arranged. You would sooner see Bob sell all his rifles and go buy a .243 Winchester.

But because of a name and a chance for publicity, she not only gets a pass for breaking the laws of a foreign nation, but also is championed in her plight AND we release another criminal back to Russia, likely with very dangerous implications.

Makes my blood boil

Just another example of Brandon selling out our values and rule of law for political purposes. HE has no shame in doing so AGAIN and will continue until he's removed from office by the voters or impeached. With the Demonrats now still the majority in the Senate, the latter won't happen, so we'll have two more years of his BS unless he resigns because of his deteriorating mental state.

 

[Red Leg]

From 'City A.M.', a free newspaper given to commuters in London. For the avoidance of any doubt, my own belief is that Boris Johnson had it right: Russia must lose, and must be seen to lose.

Putin’s war with Ukraine is unwinnable but as a leader, he cannot afford to lose​

BY: DANIEL SLEAT

Daniel Sleat is Director of Research at the Tony Blair Institute.

Vladimir Putin has tied himself to the war in Ukraine.

Ten months into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine one simple fact has become abundantly clear: set against its original goal to completely conquer Ukraine, Moscow cannot win the war but neither can Putin afford to lose it.

Ukraine has fought heroically to repulse the original Russian invasion and to push back Putin’s forces. But, for all the positive words, the inescapable fact remains that Ukraine is not currently equipped to retake all its territory. Completely repulsing Russia would be the optimum outcome of the war, but the current capability of the Ukrainian military and pace of advance make this currently unlikely.

The international community, in the absence of further support on the battlefield, should keep open other possibilities for how it can end. It is the Ukrainian people, above all, who continue to suffer most from the ongoing hostilities, with widespread blackouts arising from continued Russian missile attacks.

Since the initial invasion Russia has had an estimated 100,000 troops killed or injured and has had to take the deeply unpopular decision to mobilise more reservists at home. Facing well-equipped and highly motivated Ukrainian forces, Russia retains control of territory not significantly larger than when they first invaded. Set against their original objective of bringing Ukraine into its orbit, Russia has no realistic prospect of victory.

But Putin has tied himself inexorably to the conflict. If Russia is defeated it is hard to foresee how Putin can continue as leader, with growing opposition on both his pro and anti war flanks. So he can neither win, nor can he afford to lose. With significant territorial gains off the cards, Russia will likely continue to escalate hostilities through other means such as missile strikes to cripple Ukraine’s infrastructure.

Ukraine faces a long, difficult winter. Zelensky will face significant pressure in the coming months to keep the country functioning in the face of incessant Russian missile strikes, equip Ukraine’s military for the next significant phase of the ground campaign in the spring and begin the long process rebuilding the country. This is no easy feat. Globally, the continued conflict continues to have grave impacts. Growth forecasts have been cut, while prices, particularly food and energy, are rising.

For Ukraine’s international allies, the starting point must be agreeing on a unified strategy for sustained military and humanitarian support. If we truly believe Ukraine can win the war, we should equip them to do so. We should do all we can to help Ukraine building on the “just-in-time, just enough” approach Admiral Rob Bauer, Chairman of NATO’s military committee, used to characterise the defence industry’s approach to the war. Greater Pan-European and American coordination is needed to address serious issues of stockpiling and equipment supply, which would help shift Ukraine onto a stronger footing come spring.

If, on the other hand, it becomes clear that the next phases of the war are likely to be protracted and costly, a negotiated end to the war should stay on the table, and form part of our preparations. Such a course must start and be led by Ukraine but it will require international support.

While Russia remains trapped in a war it cannot win but cannot afford to lose, Ukraine faces an uphill battle. This winter needs to be a period when we take a hard-headed look at how the war is progressing and what our strategy as an ally should be. Effectively supporting Ukraine in the next phase of the conflict means ensuring our assistance matches their need, not just militarily but economically, and, critically, ensuring Kyiv is in the strongest position possible if it does decide negotiations are needed.

Jacob Delorme, Kitty Mant and Ruby Osman contributed to this article.

i wholeheartedly agree with you. It seems to me that the author, and I would include most of the intellectual West, has not fully thought through Ukraine and its immediate neighbors commitment to this fight. Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Baltic are clearly all in. Captured Russian armor and Polish T72’s alone have readdressed much of the correlation of forces gap that existed at the start of the war.

Rather than a Winter stalemate, I would be stunned if the Ukrainian Army didn’t carry out a winter counteroffensive exploiting the frozen ground and the poor state of the Russian infantry.

Just wish Germany would supply the Leopard 2 and we would give them the DPICM (cluster munition) rockets for the HIMRS.

 

[rigbymauser]

Ukraine can not win the war.

Good and strong analysis

 

[PARA45]

Where can I buy this?

Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Luberal-Original-Sensitive-Assholes-Political-Republicans/dp/B07G3BBB94

 

[Doug3006]

Returning Victor Blount is exceedingly dangerous. Having been extensively interrogated, he now certainly knows about our intelligence sources and processes. He‘ll go back ready to share what he knows. All for a drug-addled, 3rd-tier sports star who thinks the US is fundamentally racist. Oh….and we leave the imprisoned Marine vet behind!

 

[Ray B]

Returning Victor Blount is exceedingly dangerous. Having been extensively interrogated, he now certainly knows about our intelligence sources and processes. He‘ll go back ready to share what he knows. All for a drug-addled, 3rd-tier sports star who thinks the US is fundamentally racist. Oh….and we leave the imprisoned Marine vet behind!

Yet another reason to vote out anything with a D next to their name.

 

[LivingTheDream]

we leave the imprisoned Marine vet behind!

This is what is crazy to me, how do you leave him behind. I feel like Biden has no shame.

 

[Red Leg]

Ukraine can not win the war.

Good and strong analysis

No, it isn't good strong analysis or remotely accurate.

Scott Ritter, along with being a convicted pedophile, has been a periodic paid voice of Russian TV for more than a decade. Before that, he made a name for himself when not trying to doodle 15 and 16 year old girls, by criticizing US Middle East Policy. Embittered and with no real credibility beyond the kook fringes in this country, he has become a regular critic of US and NATO policy on Russian TV. Echoing his fellow outcast, Douglas McGregor, one of his favorite topics for his Russian fans is the inevitability of Russian victory. The right wing America First isolationist movement has given him a breath of life again in this country.

In listening to these Russian apologists, it is important to remember the only thing that Russian TV allows on air is what benefits Putin and his regime. Its message, like his talking points in this podcast, is pure propaganda. He is a member in good standing of the "Hate America First" club.

This isn't hard to figure out. Russia has achieved none of its pre-war objectives. Because it no longer has the conventional military capacity to do so, the truth is that Russia has already lost this war. The question is how it gets out of it.

"Not even Ukrainians believe it is possible to recapture Kerson ....." That alone certainly aged like leftover seafood.

Also note he uses "special military operation" rather than war - doesn't want to get in trouble with his minders.