Politics

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Any thoughts?...

I don't know the numbers to agree or disagree. But I do agree that China is the number one adversary to the non-communist world and the "war" to be won is an economic one. It starts with EU and USA shrinking the funding of exports from China.

But I'm not sure that will be enough. The USA and EU has mostly pulled out of Africa on the grounds of not supporting corrupt leadership there. Understood, but it has not led to a positive result, it has as you know so well left a vacuum that China has been quite pleased to fill. They don't care about corruption leadership or imposing their political system on the continent. I'd argue they're actually happy to have these corrupt leaders in charge who are so eager to be bought.

 

[BJH65]

I’m going to post a couple of links with commentary.

You have an obvious bias towards police officers. Somewhat understandable given your profession. Me, I don’t trust anyone with a badge given my experiences. To me police officers are the high school bullies that became cops when they graduated high school and failed college and recent cases tends to bear that out.

Our criminal justice system is biased in favor of the badge toters and I find this wrong. If anything it should be biased in favor of the defense because the burden of proof rest on the prosecution. The system is corrupted due to a lack of accountability. We need to abolish qualified immunity and hold law enforcement to that supposed “higher standard” they are seldom held to.

BTW: I’m for maximum sentencing of repeat offenders but I also believe all your rights should be restored after you’re “off paper” for a felony conviction.

Can’t locate the second video I saw and posted the same video twice. I’ll continue looking for the second video and post it when I find it.

Clearly it seems you’ve had some negative encounters with law enforcement and based on some of your previous posts, you hold some anti government, anti authority beliefs. It’s been my experience that those who blame authority figures for all of their problems seem to have high conflict personalities, preoccupied with blaming others for all of their problems, uncompromising and negativity dominating their thinking. The world’s against them.

To you all cops are all bad and nothing will change this belief. No amount of evidence is going to convince you otherwise, so be it, but I will correct you on your statement that all cops are uneducated. Upon my retirement in 2017 from a law enforcement agency in California serving a population of over 2 million, with approximately 1700 sworn officers, 44% held a bachelor’s degree or higher.

I worked with many officers from a variety of backgrounds including the following: a former statistician from NASA (his background came in handy providing department statistics to the media), a retired USMC Lt. Col. starting a second career, a retired USAF Lt. Col. also starting a second career, a career deputy district attorney who prosecuted capital murder cases, gave that up because he wanted to be an officer and later retired as a captain, a former USN pilot and Cmdr who maintained his reserve status and flew our aircraft, a medical doctor who became a fully sworn level III reserve officer with full peace officer powers and served with our SWAT team.

Several I worked with obtained their PhD, and numerous officers obtained their Masters and/or JD including passing the bar exam. Quite a few taught criminal justice at various local universities and junior colleges, a few becoming tenured professors after retirement from our agency.

 

[Neophyte]

Clearly it seems you’ve had some negative encounters with law enforcement and based on some of your previous posts, you hold some anti government, anti authority beliefs. It’s been my experience that those who blame authority figures for all of their problems seem to have high conflict personalities, preoccupied with blaming others for all of their problems, uncompromising and negativity dominating their thinking. The world’s against them.

To you all cops are all bad and nothing will change this belief. No amount of evidence is going to convince you otherwise, so be it, but I will correct you on your statement that all cops are uneducated. Upon my retirement in 2017 from a law enforcement agency in California serving a population of over 2 million, with approximately 1700 sworn officers, 44% held a bachelor’s degree or higher.

I worked with many officers from a variety of backgrounds including the following: a former statistician from NASA (his background came in handy providing department statistics to the media), a retired USMC Lt. Col. starting a second career, a retired USAF Lt. Col. also starting a second career, a career deputy district attorney who prosecuted capital murder cases, gave that up because he wanted to be an officer and later retired as a captain, a former USN pilot and Cmdr who maintained his reserve status and flew our aircraft, a medical doctor who became a fully sworn level III reserve officer with full peace officer powers and served with our SWAT team.

Several I worked with obtained their PhD, and numerous officers obtained their Masters and/or JD including passing the bar exam. Quite a few taught criminal justice at various local universities and junior colleges, a few becoming tenured professors after retirement from

I never wrote, “All cops are bad.” Also, I never wrote that “All cops are uneducated.”

I just believe that police should be held to a much higher standard. Your 44% number is not impressive. What about the other 64% that don’t have a Bachelor’s degree? I actually don’t think a Bachelor’s degree is any great achievement. It’s what the High School Diploma was in the 1960’s.

I have actually had very few negative experiences with law enforcement but I attribute that to understanding the Constitution and knowing when, how, and where to fight.

 

[Neophyte]

Clearly it seems you’ve had some negative encounters with law enforcement and based on some of your previous posts, you hold some anti government, anti authority beliefs. It’s been my experience that those who blame authority figures for all of their problems seem to have high conflict personalities, preoccupied with blaming others for all of their problems, uncompromising and negativity dominating their thinking. The world’s against them.

To you all cops are all bad and nothing will change this belief. No amount of evidence is going to convince you otherwise, so be it, but I will correct you on your statement that all cops are uneducated. Upon my retirement in 2017 from a law enforcement agency in California serving a population of over 2 million, with approximately 1700 sworn officers, 44% held a bachelor’s degree or higher.

I worked with many officers from a variety of backgrounds including the following: a former statistician from NASA (his background came in handy providing department statistics to the media), a retired USMC Lt. Col. starting a second career, a retired USAF Lt. Col. also starting a second career, a career deputy district attorney who prosecuted capital murder cases, gave that up because he wanted to be an officer and later retired as a captain, a former USN pilot and Cmdr who maintained his reserve status and flew our aircraft, a medical doctor who became a fully sworn level III reserve officer with full peace officer powers and served with our SWAT team.

Several I worked with obtained their PhD, and numerous officers obtained their Masters and/or JD including passing the bar exam. Quite a few taught criminal justice at various local universities and junior colleges, a few becoming tenured professors after retirement from our agency.

Also, you are making assumptions about me that you know little about.

 

[Dragan N.]

Meanwhile back at the front - The Russian Army was caught flat footed when Ukraine seized part of the Kursk region of Russia last August and September. Putin, of course, vowed it would be taken back immediately. Some 40,000 Russian casualties later in just that region - including the destruction of at least a third of the North Korean troops Putin begged from his fat little North Korean counterpart, the Ukrainian Army has resumed offensive operations in Kursk over night. Currently, US DOD and British MOD estimates put the total Russian casualty rate (KIA, WIA, MIA) north of 1500 personnel a day theater wide.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1hu6gh9/a_ukrainian_convoy_of_armored_vehicles_tanks

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1hu3ta1/ukrainian_armoured_column_on_the_move_in_the

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1hu4e2b/more_images_of_ukrainian_armoured_columns

It is unclear whether these are local attacks to stabilize defensive positions and regain ground lost in the abortive Russian counter attacks this fall, or a more general offensive to gain new ground. The lads over on Telegram are panicking a bit, and Moscow seems more than a little concerned.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/05/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/

The green t-shirt's adventure in Kursk has led to the collapse of Ukraine's eastern front in the Donbas. Donetsk had 6 fortress cities: Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurahove, Velika Novosilka, and Vuhledar. Prior to his (mis)adventure in Kursk all 6 of these cities where under Ukrainian control. Since his PR stunt in Kursk: Kurahove and Vuhledar have completely fallen. Toretsk is on the verge of collapse, Velika Novosilka is under operation encirclement. The Russians control about half of Chasiv Yar and are at the gates of Pokrovsk. West of Pokrovsk Ukraine doesn't have anymore defensive works. The next significant barrier is the Dnieper River. The collapse of Pokrovsk will also allow the Russians to bypass Ukrainian defensive fortifications in the rest of Donetsk and in the Zap region.

The Ukrainians, being the numerically inferior force, should avoid stretching the front line, as this benefits the Russians who have greater #s. This is a key tenant of Brusilov's strategy. That is exactly what they have done with Kursk. I would also add that at the height of these foray in Kursk they controlled about 1000 square kilometers. Now they hold maybe 500 square kms. Sudzha, a small city in Kursk that the Ukrainians control has a gas exchange plant, following Ukraine's closure of Russian gas transiting through its territory this territory has left what little value its had. Apart from a PR stunt what benefit does Kursk offer to the Ukrainians ?

Speaking of casualties those figures are laughable. But one thing that humors me is that the green t-shirt claimed that there where 12,000 North Korean troops in Kursk. He claimed that the Ukranians have eliminated 3000 of them. Yet he still claims there are 12,000 of them. Can't he at elast be consistent and now claim there are 9000 North Koreans in Kursk ?

Regarding this latest attack in Kursk I don't think this assault is the main assault of the Ukrainians. Rather I think this was a proof of concept operation. According to some claims on Telegram the Ukrainians had some sort of EW that was capable of jamming all of the radio controlled Russian FPV drones. Fiber optic drones are still impervious to it. However I think in the coming days Ukraine will launch an attack in the southern Belgorod region of Russia. The southern-most part of the Belgorod Oblast is separated from the Russian mainland by a river. This area, which is adjacent to Ukraine's Kharkiv region, would be a logical point of attack for the Ukrainians...

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

The green t-shirt's adventure in Kursk has led to the collapse of Ukraine's eastern front in the Donbas. Donetsk had 6 fortress cities: Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurahove, Velika Novosilka, and Vuhledar. Prior to his (mis)adventure in Kursk all 6 of these cities where under Ukrainian control. Since his PR stunt in Kursk: Kurahove and Vuhledar have completely fallen. Toretsk is on the verge of collapse, Velika Novosilka is under operation encirclement. The Russians control about half of Chasiv Yar and are at the gates of Pokrovsk. West of Pokrovsk Ukraine doesn't have anymore defensive works. The next significant barrier is the Dnieper River. The collapse of Pokrovsk will also allow the Russians to bypass Ukrainian defensive fortifications in the rest of Donetsk and in the Zap region.

The Ukrainians, being the numerically inferior force, should avoid stretching the front line, as this benefits the Russians who have greater #s. This is a key tenant of Brusilov's strategy. That is exactly what they have done with Kursk. I would also add that at the height of these foray in Kursk they controlled about 1000 square kilometers. Now they hold maybe 500 square kms. Sudzha, a small city in Kursk that the Ukrainians control has a gas exchange plant, following Ukraine's closure of Russian gas transiting through its territory this territory has left what little value its had. Apart from a PR stunt what benefit does Kursk offer to the Ukrainians ?

Speaking of casualties those figures are laughable. But one thing that humors me is that the green t-shirt claimed that there where 12,000 North Korean troops in Kursk. He claimed that the Ukranians have eliminated 3000 of them. Yet he still claims there are 12,000 of them. Can't he at elast be consistent and now claim there are 9000 North Koreans in Kursk ?

Regarding this latest attack in Kursk I don't think this assault is the main assault of the Ukrainians. Rather I think this was a proof of concept operation. According to some claims on Telegram the Ukrainians had some sort of EW that was capable of jamming all of the radio controlled Russian FPV drones. Fiber optic drones are still impervious to it. However I think in the coming days Ukraine will launch an attack in the southern Belgorod region of Russia. The southern-most part of the Belgorod Oblast is separated from the Russian mainland by a river. This area, which is adjacent to Ukraine's Kharkiv region, would be a logical point of attack for the Ukrainians...

Yah, you got 'em right where you want 'em.

 

[WAB]

][emoji6]][emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]" data-quote="Neophyte" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

I’m not soft on crime.

I’m pro Constitution. Most soft on crime jurisdictions are anti Constitution. What I am is Anti Bad Cop.

Violating the Constitution makes one a Bad Cop. My rights are more important than the life of any badge toter.

Your rights are more important than the life of a police officer? Did you really just say that?

 

[WAB]

Yah, you got 'em right where you want 'em.

Yep, just let those Cossacks shoot another quarter million Russian soldiers and they should have them totally out of ammo! The total disregard for life is appalling.

 

[HuntingGold]

Rumors that Trudeau is resigning? I jumped here to see what our Canadian friends are saying. True?

 

[CZDiesel]

Seems quite possible?

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-pm-trudeau-announce-resignation-early-monday-globe-mail-reports-2025-01-06/

 

[DillonG]

Democrat logic hard at work.

 

[CZDiesel]

View attachment 656308


Democrat logic hard at work.

Truth!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Rumors that Trudeau is resigning? I jumped here to see what our Canadian friends are saying. True?

Various news sources reporting except for CNN and MSNBC of course.

 

[V.Veritas]

Rumors that Trudeau is resigning? I jumped here to see what our Canadian friends are saying. True?

Nope! Not willingly.

There is no legal way for the Liberal Party to force him to resign.
Trudeau has the lowest approval rates in Canadian history, hence the Liberal party members fear that they will miss the chance of holding onto their seats coming next election unless they manage to dump him.

But what dictator or would be dictator ever left the honey pot out of the goodness of his heart?

The non-confidence vote that will trigger the election is the only way out. But his buddy from the young global leaders, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh will prop him up at least for more 3-4 month until he gets the seniority he needs to qualify for the lifetime pension from the Canadian Parliament.

No matter what, elections will be held by the end of the year.

We are living interesting times North of the border as well.

 

[Red Leg]

The green t-shirt's adventure in Kursk has led to the collapse of Ukraine's eastern front in the Donbas. Donetsk had 6 fortress cities: Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, Kurahove, Velika Novosilka, and Vuhledar. Prior to his (mis)adventure in Kursk all 6 of these cities where under Ukrainian control. Since his PR stunt in Kursk: Kurahove and Vuhledar have completely fallen. Toretsk is on the verge of collapse, Velika Novosilka is under operation encirclement. The Russians control about half of Chasiv Yar and are at the gates of Pokrovsk. West of Pokrovsk Ukraine doesn't have anymore defensive works. The next significant barrier is the Dnieper River. The collapse of Pokrovsk will also allow the Russians to bypass Ukrainian defensive fortifications in the rest of Donetsk and in the Zap region.

The Ukrainians, being the numerically inferior force, should avoid stretching the front line, as this benefits the Russians who have greater #s. This is a key tenant of Brusilov's strategy. That is exactly what they have done with Kursk. I would also add that at the height of these foray in Kursk they controlled about 1000 square kilometers. Now they hold maybe 500 square kms. Sudzha, a small city in Kursk that the Ukrainians control has a gas exchange plant, following Ukraine's closure of Russian gas transiting through its territory this territory has left what little value its had. Apart from a PR stunt what benefit does Kursk offer to the Ukrainians ?

Speaking of casualties those figures are laughable. But one thing that humors me is that the green t-shirt claimed that there where 12,000 North Korean troops in Kursk. He claimed that the Ukranians have eliminated 3000 of them. Yet he still claims there are 12,000 of them. Can't he at elast be consistent and now claim there are 9000 North Koreans in Kursk ?

Regarding this latest attack in Kursk I don't think this assault is the main assault of the Ukrainians. Rather I think this was a proof of concept operation. According to some claims on Telegram the Ukrainians had some sort of EW that was capable of jamming all of the radio controlled Russian FPV drones. Fiber optic drones are still impervious to it. However I think in the coming days Ukraine will launch an attack in the southern Belgorod region of Russia. The southern-most part of the Belgorod Oblast is separated from the Russian mainland by a river. This area, which is adjacent to Ukraine's Kharkiv region, would be a logical point of attack for the Ukrainians...

Post in thread 'Politics'

Dec 21, 2024

A little perspective on the war in Ukraine and how Russia is purportedly so successful in its latest offensive.

Commentators, even those with some minimal understanding of warfare, tend to focus on trees. Amateur enthusiasts who looked up a quote from Sun Tzu but do not own a copy of the "Art of War" or Clausewitz's "On War" (much less read them) are even less informed.

Individual trees are of interest to tacticians. The forest is of interest to strategists. The current belief among most American populists (and Elon Musk) along with the European right is that Ukraine can not...

• Red Leg

• 

I posted this a little while back. I think every Russian apologist, defenders of a 17th century empire that holds nations, cultures and its own historic peoples in a form of serfdom, should consider. Three plus long years ago, claiming itself to be the second most powerful army in the world, Russia unleashed its battalion battle groups on Ukraine it what would be a brutal operation of conquest lasting a few weeks at the most. Strategically, the front lines have barely moved since Russia fled Kharkiv in headlong defeat. Those are facts.

Here are a few more observations that I also posted about the same time noting Russian strategic achievements.

After all, instead of a potential Ukraine/NATO border, Russia has achieved one over a thousand kilometers long thanks to Finland. The Baltic, once an area of constant concern to the West, is now a NATO lake thanks to that other NATO surprise known as Sweden. Kaliningrad, once a thorn in NATO's side, is now an indefensible Russian strategic liability that might as well revert to being called Konigsberg. On the economic front, the economy is in a slow motion collapse with interest and inflation rates ballooning, while petro-dollars currently hover almost forty dollars a barrel below the February of 2022 price. One might also check that ruble exchange rate. Things are going so well that the little KGB thug in the Kremlin is forced to go on his knees to North Korea and Iran because his powerful strategic partner China has determined it is better to sit this one out. Putin has even managed to get Western Europe to up its defense spending and end its strategic dependence on Russian natural gas. That is indeed an awesome list of accomplishments in just less than thirty-six months.

Those "achievements" will be the true legacy of this war.

I think the little guy in the t-shirt and the brave people he leads have succeeded remarkably well in making a laughing stock of Russian arms. And whatever logic you may attempt to use, every minute Ukrainian forces occupy a millimeter of Russian territory makes the little KGB thug in Moscow look ever weaker.

I suspect we eventually will find that the estimates of Russian battlefield deaths will by even higher than offered by the US and UK. While modernizing their lost army, Russia apparently decided to retain 19th century field medical capability. Most Western estimates are based upon a 3 to 1 WIA to KIA ratio. The US achieves 6-12 to 1 - but we care about such things. Newly emerging analysis suggests the actual casualty rate is closer to 1 to 1. Hence, total casualties may be around the same but the KIA rate much higher.

Thus far Putin has done everything possible from recruiting Africans and a few Arabs to begging for North Koreans to keep from touching the Rus. History tells us that even a cowed subject people will tolerate this sort of brutal treatment only so long. Putin needs a negotiated settlement soon - as does Ukraine. I hope Trump has the strength, vision, and courage to force a reasonably favorable one that keeps Russian ambitions under the muddy rock where they belong. He holds the far stronger hand.

 

[Red Leg]

The Trudeau speculation is getting a lot of play in traditional press. Of course, that may well serve to strengthen the liberal party's hold on the government.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to announce resignation as early as Monday: report

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, facing dwindling popularity in his country, is expected to resign this week, according to the Globe and Mail. He took office in 2015.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Neophyte]

Your rights are more important than the life of a police officer? Did you really just say that?

Yes.
I did and I believe that.

 

[DillonG]

I would be shocked if Trudeau doesn’t blame his resignation on a health crisis. It would be a page out of the family playbook.

 

[WAB]

][emoji6]][emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]" data-quote="Neophyte" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

Yes.
I did and I believe that.

I don’t think we have much common ground for a discussion. I hope you make these statements for shock effect and not out of true belief.

 

[Neophyte]

I don’t think we have much common ground for a discussion. I hope you make these statements for shock effect and not out of true belief.

I believe that the Constitution and the Bill Of Rights are the most important documents in existence and have sworn an oath to defend it more than once.

As far as us having common ground that’s your call.