Politics

[steve white]

The leaders who are de-dollarizing their economies are all hiding their own money in US bank accounts in DOLLARS. The only reason to choose Yuan or Rupees or Rials is that your economy is so decrepit that you can’t get access to the US dollars needed to sustain and grow. So you turn to the Chinese who’ll be happy to provide the Yuan needed, at usury rates, so long as you provide them access to needed minerals and allow them to dump excess stuff like cement and labor they have too much of.

It's bad enough that these "leaders" plunder their own people and then hide "their" money in dollars--but their corruption so weakens their countries financial standing that they have to turn to the international lenders who will plunder them even more. None of their citizens got to take a vote on becoming so indebted to China that they lost a seaport, or X amount of mineral plundering as collateral. Of course, I wouldn't want the US to give some of these characters credit. It would almost be doing those countries a favor to get rid of their leaders for them. Or maybe international laws prohibiting such oligarchs from banking it away somewhere without justification. After all, we take away assets from drug dealers who cannot prove ligitimate ways to have afforded their luxuries...

 

[CoElkHunter]

It's bad enough that these "leaders" plunder their own people and then hide "their" money in dollars--but their corruption so weakens their countries financial standing that they have to turn to the international lenders who will plunder them even more. None of their citizens got to take a vote on becoming so indebted to China that they lost a seaport, or X amount of mineral plundering as collateral. Of course, I wouldn't want the US to give some of these characters credit. It would almost be doing those countries a favor to get rid of their leaders for them. Or maybe international laws prohibiting such oligarchs from banking it away somewhere without justification. After all, we take away assets from drug dealers who cannot prove ligitimate ways to have afforded their luxuries...

Yes, in many cases these "loans" from whomever, are only to allow the current dictators to continue their business as usual at the expense of their citizens who have NO say in the matter. It only prolongs the civil wars that are needed to depose these dictatorships and restore the wealth and power to the citizens.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

 

[spike.t]

So Russia and China will know exactly where to go plunder next....make it so much easier for them.....

Russia proposes to create BRICS geological platform for data sharing : Ministry

BRICS, an economic bloc that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, was formed on June 16, 2009. South Africa joined BRICS in December 2010.

www.firstpost.com

 

[John Wasmuth]

Seems General (Ret.) Jack Keen is voicing concerns about the lack of control and accountability in regards to the arms, ammunition and money dished out to Ukraine……. Interesting.

 

[Red Leg]

Seems General (Ret.) Jack Keen is voicing concerns about the lack of control and accountability in regards to the arms, ammunition and money dished out to Ukraine……. Interesting.

I have not seen that. This was yesterday, and I think it accurately reflects his opinion on the importance of the investment in Ukraine.

Gen. Jack Keane: US 'investment' in Ukraine denied Putin his ambitions, kept America's future secure

Senior strategic analyst Gen. Jack Keane addressed concerns over the U.S. spending $66 billion to fund Ukraine's war against Russia in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[John Wasmuth]

I have not seen that. This was yesterday, and I think it accurately reflects his opinion on the importance of the investment in Ukraine.

Gen. Jack Keane: US 'investment' in Ukraine denied Putin his ambitions, kept America's future secure

Senior strategic analyst Gen. Jack Keane addressed concerns over the U.S. spending $66 billion to fund Ukraine's war against Russia in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

www.foxbusiness.com

Saw him this morning on Fox News. I’ll see if I can find the clip. I tend to agree with Gen. Keane on a lot of things.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Can’t find a clip and don’t know why it keeps changing to “Keen” via auto correct? At any rate, he was speaking of a lack of accountability to one of the talking heads earlier this morning. The talking head was speaking of certain factions misappropriating funds, arms, and munitions in Ukraine. I thought it was interesting.

 

[Red Leg]

Can’t find a clip and don’t know why it keeps changing to “Keen” via auto correct? At any rate, he was speaking of a lack of accountability to one of the talking heads earlier this morning. The talking head was speaking of certain factions misappropriating funds, arms, and munitions in Ukraine. I thought it was interesting.

Did not see that - will look for it. This was also from this morning, and it echoes my criticism of the current administration. He is a man with observations worth hearing.

Retired General Tells Fox News Biden Officials ‘Don’t Want Putin to Lose’ Because They’re Afraid of a ‘Provocative Reaction’

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Jack Keane claimed the Biden administration does not want Russia to lose its war on Ukraine, lest President Vladimir Putin lash out.

www.mediaite.com

I know it will have no meaning to those who believe everything in government is corrupt, but to date there have been several levels of DOD and AID audits of materiel and money provided to Ukraine. On the DOD side, those have been and continue to be conducted at DOD level, the various materiel commands, and EUCOM. They are doing that both as a matter of course, I constantly audited and was audited with respect to US Army military sales when I was the Commanding General of US Army Military Assistance Command, and because of the critical attention this support is receiving among the political class.

All of these audit efforts have been testified to before congress pretty extensively, and if there was a any there there, you can bet Freedom Caucus Republicans in the House would have been fighting each other to get in front of a camera.

That said, battlefields are very messy places. I have no doubt that any number of weapons have walked and will continue to do so from both sides. It is hardly a new thing. Shortly after the Gulf War, I was forced to take disciplinary action on a lieutenant and two NCOs who hid several AK's (fully auto) and grenades in the fuel tank of a launcher. We discovered them when performing maintenance on the vehicles upon return from the desert. It happens. And of course, any of this pales in comparison to what we left the Taliban.

That said, we need to maintain an eagle eye on anything provided during this conflict. I would be most concerned about AID and other State Department initiatives than DOD. Most DOD support is materiel in kind rather than funding.

 

[wesheltonj]

Trump is the R nominee.

 

[John Wasmuth]

45 indicted.

 

[Newboomer]

Trump is the R nominee.

Well, that can be good or bad, if true.

 

[Scott CWO]

Trump indicted for a non-disclosure agreement GIVING just $130,000 to a porn star with personal money compared to Biden family TAKING millions from Chinese, Moscow mayor’s wife and Ukrainian oil & gas company while Biden was VP. Unfkn believable!!

 

[Wheels]

Trump is the R nominee.

100%

Trump has done a lot of stupid things and it really hasn't hurt him with his base. Unless Trump does something really stupid, he has the nomination. DeSantis would be better off making peace with Trump and running as VP, setting himself up for 2024 but that won't happen.

 

[wesheltonj]

100%

Trump has done a lot of stupid things and it really hasn't hurt him with his base. Unless Trump does something really stupid, he has the nomination. DeSantis would be better off making peace with Trump and running as VP, setting himself up for 2024 but that won't happen.

That can’t happen unless Trump moves from Florida. But it would be a great ticket.

 

[Vintageguy]

With the country and world turning to $&?! This is what they want to focus on!!!? What amazes me is you can google “Stormy Daniel’s has to pay Trump” or “Stormy Daniel’s denies having sex with Trump” and get those results yet they start this circus over something that doesn’t deserve to leave stripes on the bowl.
We’re all screwed. A nest of nincompoops, all of them.

 

[BLJC30]

Are the current tensions affecting anyones plans of going to SA this year and spending a ton of USD?

 

[Vintageguy]

Are the current tensions affecting anyones plans of going to SA this year and spending a ton of USD?

I just saw a day or two ago that Putin is planning to go to South Africa for BRICS two days before my wife and I are supposed to get there. Not happy with that going on at the same time we’re going there and I would have probably chosen different dates but I’m not letting any of it put me off going. I am concerned about our future trips as the new Cold War between the west and BRICS nations grows. The world in a few short years has gone backwards so far.

 

[Wheels]

That can’t happen unless Trump moves from Florida. But it would be a great ticket.

With the advent of the internet and the amount of information available, the need for a ticket from two different regions of the country may not be mandatory like it once was.

A DeSantis on the ticket is way superior to a Noem or Haley that don't bring you a state you don't already have. When it comes down to it there are about six states in play. The VP candidate might come from one of those, like Lake or MTG. DeSantis is already the candidate of the RHINO's/Bush coalition. He can help unite the MAGA's and the old line Republican ticket more than most.

If you're talking about the 12th Amendment, Trump would make DeSantis pull a Dick Cheney and move to a Wyoming on the run up to the election, IMO. No way would Trump move.

 

[BLJC30]

I just saw a day or two ago that Putin is planning to go to South Africa for BRICS two days before my wife and I are supposed to get there. Not happy with that going on at the same time we’re going there and I would have probably chosen different dates but I’m not letting any of it put me off going. I am concerned about our future trips as the new Cold War between the west and BRICS nations grows. The world in a few short years has gone backwards so far.

That’s what has me concerned. My first trip is June 5th and I’m taking the whole family.