Politics

[Hunt anything]

Holy Crap, definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end of that!

 

[wesheltonj]

(1) If I remember my WW2 history, Hitler was upset over what Germany had to give away at Versailles and Germany had a lot of resentment over the lost lands and its treatment from France and the UK. Frankly, European border have been in flux since of the beginning of recorded history and continue to be in flux as seen the current Russia/Ukraine war.

(2) My first trip to Russia in 1992, while in St. Petersburg, I saw lots of demonstrations in the streets of folks wanting to return back the job security of the USSR and not the "free market." Unemployment was high, and to get anything done, one had to resort the "black market" and USD. It was next to impossible to get anyone to do anything. After standing in lines, only to be told no, all I had to do was say "F*** this place" and a black marketeers would appear and my problem would go away for green American Dollars.

The problem with Russia when was all the resources ended up in the hand of a chosen few. And that's still Russia's problem. I am not so sure that Putin wants to put back the USSR. What I am fairly sure of is he does not want to lose his personal wealth. Until this war starts costing Putin his wealth and not the wealth of the Oligarchs it will continue. However, any "peace" will come at Ukraine willingness to concede land to Russia.

 

[Red Leg]

This is the most intelligent and articulate man in this race. This clip has gone viral.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1690884152856326145

 

[Hunt anything]

He is pretty impressive, but I did hear him say he would not serve in a administration if asked by a president if he does not win the nomination. I would hope he rethinks that to build his already good business resume for a possible run again in the future.

 

[mdwest]

This is the most intelligent and articulate man in this race. This clip has gone viral.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1690884152856326145

I dont know nearly enough about him yet.. but based on what I've seen so far, I think I could get behind him and vote for him as POTUS...

I certainly like him better than other options currently on the table at the moment..

 

[Doubleplay]

I also ran a an 800 billion in sales business unit for a major corporation for more than a decade. Along with being a combat arms officer, I have served in a major embassy abroad, for the Defense Intelligence Agency, and am a product of places like a small land grant university, and post graduate fellowships at The Walsh school of Foreign Service - Georgetown University, and the Tuck School of Business - Dartmouth. I ran the US Army's Liaison effort with Congress for two years dealing daily with everyone from committee staffs to people like Trent Lott and Hillary Clinton. So I choose not to be lectured to as a "military man" who should mind his place.

Much of the anti-Ukraine drumbeat comes from those unwilling to debate the merits of the issue - many have no understanding of history or any particular interest in foreign policy. It is why the neo-isolationist movement appeals to them.

Many dissenters argue that helping Ukraine detracts from our ability to contain China. As I have noted above many times and as China demonstrated so clearly before the invasion, China's goals are inextricably linked with Russia again becoming a major and destabilizing threat on the West's eastern flank. Therefore, hamstringing Russian ambitions seriously undermines Chinese strategic goals while simplifying our own strategic options.

As you seem to note, the other argument for appeasement revolves around cost. Somehow we are supposed to believe our investment in Ukraine's right to exist and thwarting Russian ambitions is a zero sum game with respect to things like the wall. That is simply not true. Cast away our security investment in Europe, and do you honestly believe for one moment that this administration will spend one dime more on border security or cease spending recklessly on questionable green energy initiatives or buying dependency votes through things like debt forgiveness? And yes, in world with an annual budget of 6.3 trillion dollars, a two-year military investment of 50 billion is a rounding number.

Finally, there are those who oppose our efforts in Europe because Biden and this administration support them or because they believe that is what Trump wants them to do. I'll simply say that I have zero loyalty to any candidate - they are campaigning for the right to work for me - and my personal loyalty to my party and political beliefs are not so pure that I will oppose doing the right thing even when it is being attempted by the wrong people.

Totally agreed and very well said. This thread has turned into an echo chamber.
Also thanks for your service and I'm proud to say that I have son who's a Marine Lt.Col 0202 and currently serving overseas in one of our Embassies and on a similar path.

There are people who are opposing everything Biden administration does just because Biden is the president and even questioning how can someone voted for him.
But one can also question why someone voted for Trump who got indicted in Georgia which is run by a Republican Governor and still under investigation for other very serious crimes including national security issues.
No matter who the president is our country have policies and long term objectives against our main adversaries like China and Russia and they'll be implemented!

I also have zero loyalty to both and I'm very saddened by the fact that our so called greatest country in the World can't come up with any better candidates than these two old senile man.

 

[Dewald]

Thank You for bringing in accurate numbers on what Germany was allowed after WW1. Yes, England and France did declare war but they were several years too late. Hitler overrode the Treaty of Versailles shortly after coming to power, which was around 1932/1933. France and England should have taken decisive action at that time which was early to mid 1930’s. I believe in that time period France had over million man army. Unfortunately, because the Allied Powers did not want to get involved in another war, they allowed Hitler to gain strength and confidence in his ability to do what he wanted to do. In the end we all had to fight a much larger war in the 1940’s.

The parallel is that if Putin is allowed to aggressively take over a sovereign country unopposed, then where will he stop. The more success he has the more support he will receive from the Russian people. To maintain this process Putin will then need to threaten another country. As he gains resources from conquered countries, his ability to grow his military might will increase greatly. This is a pattern of an Emperor/Dictator. This is a pattern that allowed people like Napoleon to conquer Europe. I believe it is Louise XIV of France also followed this same plan in the early part of the 1700’s.

I am not sure why individuals want to go down this emperor road it never ends well for them.

Planning safaris to Africa is far more pleasant in my opinion.

The irony being sadly that said African Safari takes place in a dictator run country most of the time when further north than the Tropic of Capricorn…

 

[Ray B]

The thing that gets my attention regarding the Russia/Ukraine war is that I consider it the magician's left hand. While it gets our attention, we should be paying more attention to what the magician is doing with his right hand in China and Iran.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Yes, yes .
Germany had an army of 100,000 men and 15,000 men in the navy after World War I.
This was also approved by the victorious powers.
The so-called Reichswehr.
Heavy weapons such as artillery above calibre 105 mm (naval guns above 203 mm), armoured vehicles, submarines and capital ships were forbidden, as were any kind of air force.
Hitler then overrode this.
England and France certainly did something: they declared war on us
Which I will never understand:
Stalin coldly invaded Poland weeks later, just like Hitler had done before.
They watched calmly

Unless I'm mistaken, England and France didn't declare war on Germany until Hitler invaded Poland? Russia then invaded Poland from the east shortly after Germany invaded from the west almost simultaneously. I don't believe Germany could have conquered Poland in the short timeframe as they did without Russia's involvement. Hitler even stated that France alone could have defeated the German army in 1938 when Hitler invaded the Sudetenland but did nothing. If the World had sanctioned Putin harshly for invading Georgia, would we be where we are today with Ukraine? Other than death and taxes, the other constant is that History has a way of repeating itself over and over again and we're too stupid to learn from it.

 

[PARA45]

The only reason I'm opposed to what we (our government) are doing with Ukraine, is that we continue to nickel and dime them with weaponry, and do not fully do what we are said to do. If we are going to commit ourselves to supporting them, then let's give them the tools necessary to kick the sh*t out of the Russian Army. I may be wrong on this, and if I am, please someone set me straight.

 

[WAB]

This is the most intelligent and articulate man in this race. This clip has gone viral.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1690884152856326145

That’s the kind of sound bite that can swing an election.

 

[Hunt anything]

That’s the kind of sound bite that can swing an election.

Hopefully enough people will see it

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

That’s the kind of sound bite that can swing an election.

I find it highly desirable to vote for people smarter than me. The problem with that metric is most of the Biden voters can make that statement. Dumb and dumber

 

[Wheels]

A friend said something that jogged my memory and brought us a couple of laughs.


The RICO laws were made to go after organized crime. Their first real use was to bring down the NYC crime families.

When Rudy Giuliani was USA over the Southern District of NY, he used RICO to threaten employees of Drexel Burnham Lambert to turn evidence against Michael Milliken. The AUSA's told Michael Milliken he would use RICO laws to go after his wife who knew nothing about the business unless Milliken would plead out to charges. Milliken relented and accepted a plea deal of probably bogus charges to protect his family and coworkers. This was a complete abuse of the intended purpose of the RICO laws and I believe the first time RICO was ever used for any purpose except organized crime. The initial charges basically put Drexel out of business with all employees loosing their jobs.

Fast forward 30+ years and RICO laws are being used against Giuliani.

I have a feeling Michael Milliken, his family and the former employees of Drexel are enjoying this moment.

 

[NE 7x57]

Biden and NATO's support of Ukraine has been half assed at best. When it became obvious that the Ukrainians were going to fight and fight well they should have been supported with everything they needed to kick the Russian's out of the country as quickly as possible.

There have been theories that this trickling in of support was a deliberate strategy designed to slowly wear the Russians down. Is it that or is it, at least in Biden's case more of the cowardliness he's exhibited his entire life. We will probably never know. What is clear is that expecting the Ukrainian's to use a NATO combined arms strategy while denying them weapons essential for combined arms warfare was/is moronic.

 

[CoElkHunter]

The only reason I'm opposed to what we (our government) are doing with Ukraine, is that we continue to nickel and dime them with weaponry, and do not fully do what we are said to do. If we are going to commit ourselves to supporting them, then let's give them the tools necessary to kick the sh*t out of the Russian Army. I may be wrong on this, and if I am, please someone set me straight.

I don't think you are wrong at all. Once again, we and Europe are playing into Putin's fantasy game. "Don't upset Putin", "We don't want to make Putin angry". De Ja Vu albeit to a much lesser degree of Hitler's aspirations to expand the German Empire. And no, I'm not comparing Putin to Hitler. But in today's world that's now where we're at and we now have Ukraine. Fighter jets should have been provided to Ukraine from DAY ONE through a lend lease program. Same as we did for Great Britain in 1940. Equipment and funds provided will be deducted from worldwide seized Russian and complicit Russian "oligarchs" and "axis" nations' assets and a massive tariff on Russian oil/gas to pay for Ukraine's eventual rebuilding that Russia has destroyed. Oh, wait a minute, Brandon just gave axis Iran $6 BILLION dollars of seized oil revenue for the release of FIVE hostages. We NEVER seem to learn from history and they're much greater threats on the horizon. God help us if Brandon is President when the shit hits the fan!

 

[Red Leg]

Biden and NATO's support of Ukraine has been half assed at best. When it became obvious that the Ukrainians were going to fight and fight well they should have been supported with everything they needed to kick the Russian's out of the country as quickly as possible.

There have been theories that this trickling in of support was a deliberate strategy designed to slowly wear the Russians down. Is it that or is it, at least in Biden's case more of the cowardliness he's exhibited his entire life. We will probably never know. What is clear is that expecting the Ukrainian's to use a NATO combined arms strategy while denying them weapons essential for combined arms warfare was/is moronic.

I don't think Biden has an opinion on this war. I put the blame for the strategy squarely at the feet of Jake Sullivan, Biden's National Security Advisor - the same man who masterminded the Afghanistan withdrawal. He is an election lawyer and election strategist who was never in the military and never held a diplomatic post - perfect preparation for his current critical position.

Secondly, one has to point the finger at the SECDEF. Lloyd Austin is a former 4-Star. Deference to civilian control is baked into his DNA. His reflex action is to salute rather than champion a militarily decisive course of action.

Still, one has to admire the sacrifices and tenacity of the Ukrainian people to reclaim the future of their country using whatever support they have received.

 

[sestoppelman]

I can tell you all one undeniable fact. Neither Putin, NATO or Biden gives a flying **** what anyone on this forum thinks about anything.
When we get all spun up here about an opinion that we might not agree with, who does that affec

Sure doesnt affect anything going on in Ukraine does it?

Somehow we got the wrongheaded impression that our opinions matter on global matters.

Someone mentioned an echo chamber, more like a circular firing squad and a big waste of time.

 

[NE 7x57]

I can tell you all one undeniable fact. Neither Putin, NATO or Biden gives a flying **** what anyone on this forum thinks about anything.
When we get all spun up here about an opinion that we might not agree with, who does that affec

Sure doesnt affect anything going on in Ukraine does it?

Somehow we got the wrongheaded impression that our opinions matter on global matters.

Someone mentioned an echo chamber, more like a circular firing squad and a big waste of time.

Very true.
But scrolling on by is always an option too.

 

[Doug3006]

I can tell you all one undeniable fact. Neither Putin, NATO or Biden gives a flying **** what anyone on this forum thinks about anything.
When we get all spun up here about an opinion that we might not agree with, who does that affec

Sure doesnt affect anything going on in Ukraine does it?

Somehow we got the wrongheaded impression that our opinions matter on global matters.

Someone mentioned an echo chamber, more like a circular firing squad and a big waste of time.

Seems to me that you’ve been right down there in the mud with the rest of us. Arguing about the best course to take.