Politics

[mdwest]

He’s clearly anti Soros, pro Trump, and has been anti Zelenskyy for a while… currently in prison.. he claims for going on the offensive over Soros NGOs…

https://x.com/dubinsky_pro

 

[Aaron N]

 

[MauserM03Blog]

Imagine this. You are president of the USA. Another country invades and holds most of California, Arizona and Texas. Unspeakable atrocities and war crimes are being visited upon your citizens. Another democratic country has been helping you with grants of old-stock weapons. After three years this terrible situation they say, ‘Here’s a deal. Give us control of your valuable minerals and ports, give up the rest of those states and stop resisting your invader,’ just when they’re worn out, by the way. They offer no assurance of further help if you are attacked again, which is highly likely given the aggressor has declared this intention.

Would you agree to that?

I wouldn’t.

 

[Hunt anything]

I would have to think twice about California!

Seriously, that is one thing that is puzzling about our government, it’s quite often “ do as I say not as I do”

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

They can’t win by themselves. Do we support them indefinitely? Forcing a settlement before things conflagrate seems like a pretty good idea. Russia has been degraded. Thought that was one of the goals.. It’ll be interesting to see how things play out after today’s events.

Seems like a lot of the arguments don’t mention anything about our national interests but focus on the injustice of it all. Welcome to the real world. Y’all also act like the US and Ukraine have been bosom pals since time immemorial.

Y’all want us to go back into Afghanistan? How about Sudan? Or DRC? What about Syria? Should we do something about those 1 million Uighurs in concentration camps in China?

 

[steve white]

Given Rubio's interview with Catherine Herridge wherein Rubio seemed convinced that a deal had been ironed out, and other dealings prior to today, I would say that for every word spoken between Zelenski and Trump, there were 5-10 words unspoken merely because there was a surprise walk back by Zelenski. I am not 100% sure that was his intention, but the train got off the track, and....well, we all watched the video. Trump and Vance seemed very put out about the turn of events, but I wonder, if they had restated what had been agreed and given Zelenski a chance to clarify and carefully choose his words, would it have revealed a misunderstanding? Instead, by assumption or whatever else, the negotiations failed.

Zelenski may have been grasping for more guarantees of protection, but came off as negating the deal which had been tacitly agreed to beforehand. Trump and Vance appeared to feel betrayed and lose patience with the whole shebang. Sad. If Zelenski did not agree with the terms, he should have ironed it out before the conference. It is doubtless a bitter pill to swallow, giving up any land at all to Russia, but as suggested, he doesn't hold that great a hand of cards. Like it or not, short of Russian defeat, any deal will have to be win-win between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenski may just want more than he can have.

Will be interesting to see how Europe steps up...or not, in furthering war vs negotiation.

 

[steve white]

Concerning Epstein list: if you were Bill Gates, and you had been to the island 37 times, how much could you afford to pay to have otherwise principled people hush it all up no matter what? How much would Bill Clinton or all the others pitch in? Would you redact something for a massive price? What remains to be seen is if enough money can actually hush it all and keep somebody out of prison, given the current political atmosphere of reform?

 

[MauserM03Blog]

Will be interesting to see how Europe steps up...or not, in furthering war vs negotiation.

Yes, it will be interesting to see how Europe steps up. I assess that they will. They need to. The EU's minister for foreign affairs has just said that a new leader for the free world is needed.

As a long term admirer of the US being the most benevolent super-power the world has ever known, I am watching from afar as it clumsily gives up its position of leadership. What a pity and what a worry. I spent all of my career buying weapon systems for Australia, mostly from the US. I am now confronted with the startling realisation that this might have been a mistake. Can you imagine how this feels? We are the US's most faithful ally and yet I am now thinking we can't trust you.

I cannot get over how the US voted with Russia, North Korea, etc in the UN's most recent resolution on Russia's aggressive invasion of Ukraine. Jaw dropping.

 

[wesheltonj]

Being the leader of the free world does not mean free hand outs for the world.

 

[MauserM03Blog]

Should we do something about those 1 million Uighurs in concentration camps in China?

Nobody expects the US to solve all of the world's problems. Just most will do. And, please avoid pushing friends and those you are helping under a bus.

What did Kissinger say? 'It may be dangerous to be America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal.' Oh dear.

 

[MauserM03Blog]

Being the leader of the free world does not mean free hand outs for the world.

Nations provide free hand outs to get something in return. It could be for reputation or to generate good will with the expectation of reciprocal benefit. It could be far more transactional, such as the granting of leases for military bases. The US has been benevolent towards nations it has chosen to build relations with for the last 100 years, but let's acknowledge that there's no such thing as a free lunch, or free hand outs.

 

[hyipl]

 

[mark-hunter]

Will be interesting to see how Europe steps up...or not, in furthering war vs negotiation.

UK, France, possibly Germany are "stepping up" to military aid. or trying to.
But that is about it. In my view, European warehouses are empty.

For example, Croatia recently sent the last 60 tanks as military aid to Ukraine (upgraded t84, and t8o) we have no more tanks to send. (meaning we dont have tanks anymore at all. Zilch. Nada. Zero. TIll new tank orders are delivered - till then we are disarmed, remaining only used Bradleys from last American delivery)
We signed the deal for new leopards, 25 million each, unknown delivery date.

I suspect many supporting EU countries are in similar state with their inventory. I think any further European military aid will be in the form of some missiles (few), and available ammunition for artillery, in much reduced quantity.

In my opinion, diplomatic solutions and negotiations are the only option. Europe needs to wake up diplomatically.

If somebody is asking how this all has happened, this is one excellent overview and analysis from British think tank.

The Attritional Art of War: Lessons from the Russian War on Ukraine

If the West is serious about the possibility of a great power conflict, it needs to take a hard look at its capacity to wage a protracted war and to pursue a strategy focused on attrition rather than manoeuvre.

rusi.org

 

[Pondoro]

UK, France, possibly Germany are "stepping up" to military aid. or trying to.
But that is about it. In my view, European warehouses are empty.

For example, Croatia recently sent the last 60 tanks as military aid to Ukraine (upgraded t84, and t8o) we have no more tanks to send. (meaning we dont have tanks anymore at all. Zilch. Nada. Zero. TIll new tank orders are delivered - till then we are disarmed, remaining only used Bradleys from last American delivery)
We signed the deal for new leopards, 25 million each, unknown delivery date.

I suspect many supporting EU countries are in similar state with their inventory. I think any further European military aid will be in the form of some missiles (few), and available ammunition for artillery, in much reduced quantity.

In my opinion, diplomatic solutions and negotiations are the only option. Europe needs to wake up diplomatically.

If somebody is asking how this all has happened, this is one excellent overview and analysis from British think tank.

The Attritional Art of War: Lessons from the Russian War on Ukraine

If the West is serious about the possibility of a great power conflict, it needs to take a hard look at its capacity to wage a protracted war and to pursue a strategy focused on attrition rather than manoeuvre.

rusi.org

Diplomacy is a nice thing...but futile when one hardly is able to make Russia to give in on anything..

The russians have shot God knows how many ukrainian cities to rubble and there is not even talk about Russia paying for this.. I say NO to a peace solely on russian terms..as it more or less stands now..

Diplomacy my ass..

 

[Hunter4752001]

Sad to see what has happened to the once moral USA. From Leader of the Free World to Lickspittle of the Axis of Evil.

In addition to aiding Russian interests in the Europe and the Middle East, within hours of Trump's February talks with Xi, China was enboldened to re start harrasment of Australian and Phillipines military assestts. Then followed by the naval task force deployed to reinforce message to Australia & New Zealand. Looks suspiciosly like Trump give Xi the green light in respect of the Western Pacific.