The Morning Rant: Minimalist Edition

Two hundred years ago, the United States told the rest of the world to stay out of our backyard. It seemed reasonable then, and it seems reasonable now. While the Monroe Doctrine said nothing about expansionist policies of our own government, it was an explicit recognition of spheres of influence.

Fast forward 200 years and we have significant encroachment in the Western hemisphere by genuinely bad actors...specifically Iran cementing military and economic relationships with Venezuela. Is it a coincidence that Venezuela is now making expansionist noises with respect to Guyana and its newly discovered oil fields? But Iran has been in the Western Hemisphere for years, mostly as a supporter of terrorism! Remember the AMIA bombing in 1994? That was Iran.

And let us not forget China's massive "Belt And Road Initiative!"

Has the Biden junta invoked the Monroe Doctrine to push Iran (or China) out of South America? No. Apparently our sphere of influence is malleable, and based on the political expediency of supporting Iran and the desire of Kalorama to create a powerful counterbalance to Israel's influence in the Middle East, or simply kowtowing to Biden's masters in Peking.

But shift to Eastern Europe, and we find the same expansionist tendencies that the Monroe Doctrine is designed to prevent, but in American behavior!

Imagine if the Soviet Union had begun to agitate for an expansion of the Warsaw Pact security umbrella to Mexico or Guatemala or El Salvador or Nicaragua!

Oh...wait! That did happen, and American policy, both public and secret, pushed hard against any Soviet influence in those countries. And it got ugly and nasty and brutal. We can disagree about the tactics, but the overall idea -- that communism controlled by the Soviet Union does not belong on our borders -- was a reasonable one.

NATO, perhaps the biggest boondoggle in American diplomatic history, is an organization in need of a purpose, and what better purpose than to recreate the Cold War! Sure...expanding into Ukraine, which BORDERS RUSSIA! seems a bit aggressive and confrontational, but those career diplomats and generals love those Brussels restaurants and call girls, and the graft available in Ukraine dwarfs the kickbacks from defense contractors. It's a Win-Win, except for the American taxpayer.

And if Russia fights? Well, that's good for defense stocks, and besides, who really cares about a bunch of Ukrainian and Russian conscripts.

We were well aware in 2008 that Russia was unhappy about the idea of NATO expansion into the former satellite states of the Soviet Union. The foolish talking point that NATO was the appropriate vehicle for economic and social expansion is moronic. NATO is military, and inappropriate for other diplomatic functions.

NYET MEANS NYET: RUSSIA'S NATO ENLARGEMENT REDLINES

Following a muted first reaction to
Ukraine's intent to seek a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) at the Bucharest summit, Foreign Minister Lavrov and other senior officials have reiterated strong opposition, stressing that Russia would view further eastward expansion as a potential military threat. NATO enlargement, particularly to Ukraine, remains "an emotional and neuralgic" issue for Russia, but strategic policy considerations also
underlie strong opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia. In Ukraine, these include fears that the issue could potentially split the country in two, leading to violence or even, some claim, civil war, which would force
Russia to decide whether to intervene. Additionally, the GOR and experts continue to claim that Ukrainian NATO membership would have a major impact on Russia's defense industry, Russian-Ukrainian family connections, and bilateral relations generally. In Georgia, the GOR fears continued instability and "provocative acts" in the separatist regions.

So why do it? Confronting Putin may be a laudable diplomatic goal, because he is a thug and an autocrat, but risking a world war to contain him is simply unnecessary. Russia is not a global power, and its understandable desire to have influence in Ukraine will not lead to Russian tanks charging through the Fulda gap! But the graft must flow, and Ukraine's position as perhaps the most corrupt country in the West must be defended at all costs! So we now have a nasty border war that is consuming many thousands of Ukrainian and Russian conscripts, as well as a huge amount of our military supplies. And of course let us not forget the direct payments of many billions of dollars directly into the gaping maw of Ukraine' corrupt government. How much of that is coming back to America and NATO functionaries? How much to "The Big Guy?"

Am I pro-Russia? No. Am I pro-Ukraine? No. I am pro-America. I am content to allow Russia some control over its neighborhood, because while they may not be able to project power worldwide, they are a nuclear power with thousands of warheads and the capacity to deliver them. That gives them the privilege to control their borders the way the Monroe Doctrine gives us authority over Central and South America.

Add to that our confrontational stance over the last 15 years, and is it any wonder that Russia invaded Ukraine? That we are expending wealth we do not have on a border dispute between two kleptocracies with very few strategic implications speaks volumes about the real reasons.

[Hat Tip: JackStraw]

Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 1st

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:00 AM (N1tpc)

2 Congrats on the shoutout, commenter!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:01 AM (GBKbO)

3 Bridesmaid again

Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 11:01 AM (fwDg9)

4 A declining empire is getting replaced by an expanding one.

I'm not sure if China has the longevity to actually turn their investments into an empire (the one-child policy was a really damaging blunder), but we're working really hard on killing ourselves no matter China's results.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:01 AM (N1tpc)

5 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 11:02 AM (Zz0t1)

6 I came, I saw, I nooded.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:02 AM (9yWhg)

7 Has the Biden junta invoked the Monroe Doctrine ...

---------

"You mean, like, the Marilyn Monroe Doctrine?"

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:03 AM (jkiTL)

8 Am I pro-Russia? No. Am I pro-Ukraine? No. I am pro-America

Exactly where I stand

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:03 AM (n2vyf)

9 Trump said pussy.
Check mate.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:04 AM (BI8w/)

10 We've been meddling FAR too much in European matters.

NATO was founded to counter the Soviet Union. It's purpose is gone.

But like all the other bureaucracies it demands to live on, creating far more problems rather than solutions.

There is absolutely no reason for the U.S. to continue to support NATO. (Or the UN, but that's another matter.)

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:04 AM (N1tpc)

11 So who are the 7 new States to fulfill Obama's American Prophecy?

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:04 AM (PGK1w)

12 Pro Constitutional America,
not Fascist/Communist/Control-Freak America.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:05 AM (u82oZ)

13 Long ago now and recently read book puts this squarely on the Marxists and their blame America for every problem in the world.
And Barky sealed this deal

Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 11:05 AM (fwDg9)

14 NATO was founded to counter the Soviet Union. It's purpose is gone.
----------------
There are too many soup bowls for NATO to ever disband. Europe is an American Satrapy these days.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (PGK1w)

15

Lots of money to be made!

Posted by: Daddy Warbucks at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (0GvFX)

16 ... but those career diplomats and generals love those Brussels restaurants and call girls ...

----------

... and little boys, but mostly little boys.

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (jkiTL)

17 If they fulled it, why is it still a gap?

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (9yWhg)

18 Check out page 39 of the Epstein flight logs.
Does that say Chuck Schumer?

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (RHGPo)

19 I can't tell you how these ads with the glued on beans to people's neck, legs and hands creeps me out. They all look like big ticks. It's awful. I don't understand why anyone would think we would click on that when we know it has nothing to do with anything.

Posted by: Jaimo at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (DBrN4)

20 Everyone stupid and gay got on board supporting the current thing, because Putin helped Trump win, and Russia invaded Ukraine therefore they were automatically the bad guys, with absolute zero fucking thought into WHY they invaded, and cognitive dissonance that Ukraine that they so love fellating on Twitter has literal Nazi batallions, and that Zelensky is a whore fucker pig shit bag monkey farter piss wagon

Get off my lawn

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - National Divorce NOW at January 02, 2024 11:07 AM (VTu1l)

21 Biden's is getting swirlies and his lunch money stolen be every bully in the world. Weak and sad.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:07 AM (gmo/4)

22 Confronting Putin may be a laudable diplomatic goal, because he is a thug and an autocrat, but risking a world war to contain him is simply unnecessary.

Seriously, Jackstraw, is Putin any worse than the shit running this country?

Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 02, 2024 11:07 AM (pohLc)

23 The West can exploit China's massive "Belt And Road Initiative" as imperial overstretch. China has trouble innovating, due to their control of society.

A smart government would make China the new Big Bad, not America. But we have the most stupid, venal, incompetent government in US history.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:07 AM (u82oZ)

24 and that Zelensky is a whore fucker pig shit bag monkey farter piss wagon
---------------
Its moar succinct to just say he is a CIA Puppet.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:08 AM (PGK1w)

25 NATO was founded to counter the Soviet Union. It's purpose is gone.

—

Its purpose is to buy billions from Boeing and Lockheed. And that still very much is applicable .

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:08 AM (BI8w/)

26 Jaimo

Those ads are for NSA Bob and his goons.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:08 AM (u82oZ)

27 George Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary who led Nato between 1999 and 2003, said Putin made it clear at their first meeting that he wanted Russia to be part of western Europe. “They wanted to be part of that secure, stable prosperous west that Russia was out of at the time,” he said.

The Labour peer recalled an early meeting with Putin, who became Russian president in 2000. “Putin said: ‘When are you going to invite us to join Nato?’ And [Robertson] said: ‘Well, we don’t invite people to join Nato, they apply to join Nato.’ And he said: ‘Well, we’re not standing in line with a lot of countries that don’t matter.’”

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 11:08 AM (RHGPo)

28 Putin has never done anything to me.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:09 AM (BI8w/)

29 A smart government would make China the new Big Bad, not America. But we have the most stupid, venal, incompetent government in US history.
---------------
You forget the guys that sold America down the river to lowest bidder China now have most of their marbles in China. This will never happen.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:09 AM (PGK1w)

30 Seriously, Jackstraw, is Putin any worse than the shit running this country?
Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 02, 2024 11:07 AM (pohLc)
~~~~~

I'm pretty sure you're misunderstanding how JackStraw feels about all of this.

Posted by: IrishEi at January 02, 2024 11:09 AM (at1KY)

31 19 I can't tell you how these ads with the glued on beans to people's neck, legs and hands creeps me out. They all look like big ticks. It's awful. I don't understand why anyone would think we would click on that when we know it has nothing to do with anything.
Posted by: Jaimo at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (DBrN4)

I think it's a psyop. Get Americans used to the idea that we can't have anything nice. Makes it easier to oppress us without resistance.

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (Sf2cq)

32 Sundowner's lunch money came from China

Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (fwDg9)

33 Check your bingo cards folk...

Iran is sending a destroyer to the Red Sea.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (OJv82)

34 19 I can't tell you how these ads with the glued on beans to people's neck, legs and hands creeps me out. They all look like big ticks. It's awful. I don't understand why anyone would think we would click on that when we know it has nothing to do with anything.
Posted by: Jaimo at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (DBrN4)

-------------------

These second (third?) tier internet ad companies are Deep State ops to repel people away from certain websites.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (cMXNt)

35 25 NATO was founded to counter the Soviet Union. It's purpose is gone.

Now instead of fighting their own fights they are constantly hitting the US up meaning hitting us up for the bucks

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (n2vyf)

36 Nobody gave a shit about Putin for the first 10 years he was Russia’s leader. Then he made gay adoptions illegal and all of a sudden he was the worst human on the planet.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (BI8w/)

37 I think it's a psyop. Get Americans used to the idea that we can't have anything nice. Makes it easier to oppress us without resistance.
--------------
People with bean feet can't run.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (PGK1w)

38 Starve the gubmint.
Shut down the EBT cards.
Change the ROE on illegal aliens crossing our border.

Pop some popcorn.

Hunker down.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (ufFY8)

39 With all those military age male illegals here in America, I find Lockmart production facilities quite vulnerable.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (u82oZ)

40 Seriously, Jackstraw, is Putin any worse than the shit running this country?

Considering Pooty Poot loves his country, I'd say that's one positive distinction.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (YRsIm)

41 Confronting Putin... because he is a thug and an autocrat...

Is he? Certainly western media portrays him as one, and western media has never lied to us before.

To be clear, I am not saying that he isn't "a thug and an autocrat" because I don't know, but I am leery of basing my opinion about anything on the pronouncements of western media and American neo-con warmongers.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (z99Zw)

42 Its purpose is to buy billions from Boeing and Lockheed. And that still very much is applicable .
Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:08 AM (BI8w/)

Well, that's its purpose NOW....

And just illustrates Eisenhower's foresight and that we used to have intelligent, capable people running our country. I wonder how long it has been since that was the case. 30 years?

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (N1tpc)

43 I'm pretty sure you're misunderstanding how JackStraw feels about all of this.
Posted by: IrishEi at January 02, 2024 11:09 AM (at1KY)

No, I understand. It just pains me to say what I said. Putin IS a thug, and so is Biden.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (pohLc)

44 And just illustrates Eisenhower's foresight and that we used to have intelligent, capable people running our country. I wonder how long it has been since that was the case. 30 years?
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (N1tpc)

60?

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (N1tpc)

45 Deplorable Ian Galt

What if every Trump supporter opted out of withholding and did not pay taxes.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (u82oZ)

46 I blame Boris Johnson.

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (V13WU)

47 hiya

Posted by: JT at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (T4tVD)

48 What if every Trump supporter opted out of withholding and did not pay taxes.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (u82oZ)

There's not enough prisons

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (n2vyf)

49 Weasel might like this:

Gunnery in Medieval Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rdiTDX57rQ

Rapid fire would heat the barrels, hence the nickname "noodle guns."

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (OJv82)

50 Confronting Putin... because he is a thug

*****************

He's a thug because he's poisoned journalists, and yet I'm having trouble figuring out why killing journalists would make him a thug

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - National Divorce NOW at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (VTu1l)

51 >>I'm pretty sure you're misunderstanding how JackStraw feels about all of this.

I'm pretty sure he is too. Not sure how that's possible since I've been pretty clear since day 1 that this war is a war of choice made not by Putin but by the Biden administration and the like minded in NATO.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (ZLI7S)

52 Europe is an American Satrapy these days.
Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (PGK1w)

Then we need to squeeze them for wealth, rather than the other way around.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (z99Zw)

53 These second (third?) tier internet ad companies are Deep State ops to repel people away from certain websites.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (cMXNt)

That, too. Maybe our intrepid AoS liaison can tell us what the ads are like at DU.

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (Sf2cq)

54 Anna Puma

One torpedo from an Israeli submarine solves the problem.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (u82oZ)

55 Putin is a total thug. I mean he imprisons his political opponents and his family has become very wealthy during is time in politics.

Oh wait no that’s Biden. Sorry.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (BI8w/)

56 “Add to that our confrontational stance over the last 15 years, and is it any wonder that Russia invaded Ukraine? That we are expending wealth we do not have on a border dispute between two kleptocracies with very few strategic implications speaks volumes about the real reasons.“

Blast and badmouth your country. That’s the ticket. Pro-America, huh? Don’t sound like it. (And no, I do not favor any sort of intervention in Ukraine.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (Q9bls)

57 18 Check out page 39 of the Epstein flight logs.
Does that say Chuck Schumer?
Posted by: SMOD at January

I can picture Chuckles looking down his nose through those half moon and sneering at a frightened 15 year old.

Posted by: Northernlurker at January 02, 2024 11:14 AM (zYoUB)

58 Anna Puma

One torpedo from an Israeli submarine solves the problem.

IDF spokesman, "errant Iranian mine."

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:14 AM (OJv82)

59 US never had a problem making alliance with thugs. Or murderous thugs. It's just that Putin is not "our" thug, see ?

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:14 AM (V13WU)

60 52 Europe is an American Satrapy these days.
Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (PGK1w)

Then we need to squeeze them for wealth, rather than the other way around.
------------------
We do that, its just you never profit from the juice.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:15 AM (PGK1w)

61 The US had a trustworthy ally in Iran called the Shah. Them Jimmy Carter tossed him under the bus.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:15 AM (OJv82)

62 Trump told NATO members they had to start paying more. And he was roundly criticized cuz reasons.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (BI8w/)

63 Iran has grand designs for spreading their influence in the Caribbean. Not "just" with countries like Venezuela.

So does China.

The so-called "soft underbelly" of the US is going to be at risk if it's not already. And by "risk" I mean by other than illegals flooding over the border. More like missiles being lobbed over the border.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (Q4IgG)

64 What if every Trump supporter opted out of withholding and did not pay taxes.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (u82oZ)

Well, the deep state is looking for an excuse to directly confiscate our wealth. All they need to do is flip a switch and suddenly all of our electrons at the bank are gone.

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (Sf2cq)

65 61 The US had a trustworthy ally in Iran called the Shah. Them Jimmy Carter tossed him under the bus.
Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:15 AM (OJv82)

Exactly

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (n2vyf)

66 The gubmint would just print more money, like they do now.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (ufFY8)

67 62 Trump told NATO members they had to start paying more. And he was roundly criticized cuz reasons.
Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (BI8w/)

========

Because he wanted more funding of NATO, that meant he was anti-NATO. The only way to prove that he was not pro-Russia was to nuke Moscow in return.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (GBKbO)

68 59 US never had a problem making alliance with thugs. Or murderous thugs. It's just that Putin is not "our" thug, see ?
--------------
FDR did love him some Stalin. But given he had Stalin killing Soviets at cyclic rate it was likely a good investment.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (PGK1w)

69 Anna Puma

The House of Shaw Crown Prince is in America. We could do some damage with that. But don't put the CIA in charge. That would be stupid.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:16 AM (u82oZ)

70 On Monday’s broadcast of “CNN News Central,” CNN Military Analyst and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.), the hero of Pristina airport, stated that the Houthis and Iran react to rhetoric from the Biden administration by saying, “they don’t want it to escalate, well, let’s do it again and make them escalate.” And “as long as the United States is holding back and saying, oh please, don’t do this to us, oh, please, stop, it’s like saying to the bully on the street, oh, please don’t hit me again, he’s going to hit you again.”

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 11:17 AM (RHGPo)

71 What if every Trump supporter opted out of withholding and did not pay taxes.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (u82oZ)

Oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!
- 87k Armed IRS agents

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:17 AM (BI8w/)

72 I blame the GOP.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at January 02, 2024 11:17 AM (eYF7X)

73 THIS IS CNN! Vivek Ramaswamy:

http://tinyurl.com/bddfc99z

(Nitter)

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 02, 2024 11:17 AM (ch/kO)

74 Trump told NATO members they had to start paying more. And he was roundly criticized cuz reasons.

**************

it's even worse than that, they didn't have to pay more, just what they actually fucking OWED and were SUPPOSED to pay according to NATO rules

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - National Divorce NOW at January 02, 2024 11:18 AM (VTu1l)

75 18 Check out page 39 of the Epstein flight logs.
Does that say Chuck Schumer?
Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 11:06 AM (RHGPo)

Where does one go to view these flight logs, please?

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 11:18 AM (Sf2cq)

76 Well, the deep state is looking for an excuse to directly confiscate our wealth. All they need to do is flip a switch and suddenly all of our electrons at the bank are gone.

I'm good. I have an emergency fund of batteries buried in the backyard.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:18 AM (CsUN+)

77 Seriously, Jackstraw, is Putin any worse than the shit running this country?

Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 02, 2024 11:07 AM (pohLc)

Huh?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:19 AM (gSZYf)

78 Emmie

That is a big risk, on both sides. Confiscation would not run the US government for even 1 year. Prager University has a video on that.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:19 AM (u82oZ)

79 65 61 The US had a trustworthy ally in Iran called the Shah. Them Jimmy Carter tossed him under the bus.
Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:15 AM (OJv82)

Exactly
----------------
Jimmy also sold the Panama Canal to allegedly Panamanians for a dollar. Pretty sure Carter's daughter and grandchildren will never know real want.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:19 AM (PGK1w)

80 Where does one go to view these flight logs, please?
Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 11:18 AM (Sf2cq)
-

https://nitter.net/jackposobiec

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 02, 2024 11:19 AM (ch/kO)

81 A total of eight Russian jets have been shot down over Ukraine in the last three weeks, including three Su-34 fighter-bombers on December 22.

The Patriot air defense system has been credited for most of the downings. However, pro-Russian Telegram channels have speculated whether the Lockheed Martin F-16 platform has already joined the battle.

They have even attributed an F-16-launched cruise missile for the demolition of a Russian vessel in the Black Sea this week.

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 11:19 AM (RHGPo)

82 The way things are now, the government can make you a pauper without ever leaving the office.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 02, 2024 11:19 AM (pohLc)

83 19 -- Jaimo -- Now they are doing it with parasites, showing a big clump of some wormy looking material and claiming one slurp of their miracle substance will kill all the parasites living in your body. Gross!!!

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- I stand with Israel and all Jews everywhere at January 02, 2024 11:20 AM (6TzTY)

84 "Confronting Putin may be a laudable diplomatic goal, because he is a thug and an autocrat, but risking a world war to contain him is simply unnecessary."

Any worse than Biden? Seriously. We think of foreign strongmen and thugs as worse than our own, but I'm not sure that's the case. If only the USA were as aggressive with its own foreign enemies as Russia is. We'd have taken over Mexico by now.

Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:20 AM (iFTx/)

85 75 million Trump voters. So say about 50 million households.

87k armed IRS thugs.

They could take us all out in a year or so. And the army would be more than happy to assist I’m sure.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:20 AM (BI8w/)

86 Montec - You have a Yatzee

Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 11:20 AM (fwDg9)

87 Montec

87K armed security cops vs 50 million very pissed off gun owners.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:20 AM (u82oZ)

88 Putin a thug based on what? News reports? CIA reports?
State dept? LGBT sources? Cronkite say he was bad?

Posted by: DOYLE at January 02, 2024 11:20 AM (Z8Yh2)

89 "You mean, like, the Marilyn Monroe Doctrine?"
Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:03 AM (jkiTL)

***

No. The Monroe, Jim J. Bullocks characteron Too Close For Comfort

Posted by: Truck Monkey Report at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (ZV+pB)

90 The Monroe Doctrine was toothless for the first 80 years without the British Navy. We didn't even kick the French out of Mexico in the couple of years after the civil war, and were worried about the ability to defend our own coast in whatever the crisis was with Spain in 1873.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (oMndl)

91 Ah Pristina...

Thank goodness the British Gen. Michael 'Jocko' Jackson and the US Navy Admiral pushed back on Gen. Clark's idea to militarily occupy Pristina and deny Russian paratroopers entry into Yugoslavia.

Instead Gen. Jackson called London who called the White House and suddenly Hungary denied the Russian planes Hungarian air space.

Gen. Jackson got promoted. The US Navy Admiral was put in charge of STRATCOM.

As for Weasely Clark? Clinton relieved him of command.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (OJv82)

92 One of the first acts of the newly minted CIA did was to assist British intelligence in deposing the elected leader of Iran and installing the Shah. The CIA has been toppling governments ever since and ever since it almost always blows back on us.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (ZLI7S)

93 Is he? Certainly western media portrays him as one, and western media has never lied to us before.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (z99Zw)

Sure he is. He has political opponents thrown out of windows or poisoned. And Russia is a kleptocracy with him at the top.

But...I really don't give a shit that Russia isn't a perfect Jeffersonian democracy. It's not my backyard!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (gSZYf)

94 A foreign ruler being a thug and autocrat is not reason enough to commit treasure or blood to oppose him.

If we were to only positively interact with those who rule their countries as freedom loving benevolents, we wouldn't even talk to ourselves.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (GBKbO)

95 {{{Captain Josepha Sabin}}}

I trust the new year is treating you and your stalwart XO well.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:22 AM (u82oZ)

96 The US had a trustworthy ally in Iran called the Shah. Them Jimmy Carter tossed him under the bus.
Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:15 AM (OJv82)

Exactly

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:19 AM (PGK1w)
-

No. The Shah was a fake figurehead, fully controlled by the CIA who botched everything possible that might have kept Iran free and pro-American.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 02, 2024 11:22 AM (ch/kO)

97 You have a Yatzee
Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 11:20 AM (fwDg9)

No comprende.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:22 AM (BI8w/)

98 NATO has always been political.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:23 AM (xcxpd)

99 @20 - Admittedly, I miss a lot that gets put up here. Actually everything that has been put up for a good while up until maybe three weeks ago.
Brought up the AZOV battalion (nazis) in the comments a few days ago. No responses that I saw. Nothing about what they were doing to civilians in the eastern provinces.

Asked about Russia's initial attacks and weapons used. Again no responses. The correct response, from what I've seen would be bio-labs, using missles.

@24 - bingo

Posted by: Teej at January 02, 2024 11:23 AM (3K/9t)

100 That the US never had a cogent plan in South America was the height of stupidity.

Posted by: Ben Had at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (I6hse)

101 Seriously, Jackstraw, is Putin any worse than the shit running this country?

Considering Pooty Poot loves his country, I'd say that's one positive distinction.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (YRsIm)

----------

Best me to it.

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (Ws9oA)

102 48 What if every Trump supporter opted out of withholding and did not pay taxes.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (u82oZ)

There's not enough prisons
Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (n2vyf)

************

The Regime would build them and wouldn't be too particular about the living conditions found in them.

We'd be given the same treatment that Buffalo Shaman guy got, only the roofs would be leaky, the walls would be exceedingly drafty, and if we were seen trying to escape (or not trying to escape), they'd shoot us on sight without fear of accountability.

Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (xxG/v)

103 *Beat me to it.

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (Ws9oA)

104 The Iranian warship in the Red Sea was launched in 1969. (pulls out Bomar calculator)

That was 55 years ago.

Posted by: You could look it up at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (NBVIP)

105 What if every Trump supporter opted out of withholding and did not pay taxes.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (u82oZ)

Unless you work solely for cash, and perform all transactions in cash... I'm not sure how you could even do that these days.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (z99Zw)

106 Putin loves Russia like the Tsars loved Russia.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (GBKbO)

107 In defense of NATO, having common doctrine and procedures was a help.

But looking at "new drone warfare" our doctrine needs updating.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (u82oZ)

108 Biden gives zero fucks about Putin or Zelensky. What he cares about is taking 10% off the top from the $100B given to Ukraine.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:25 AM (BI8w/)

109 Had an old Heart music video play on the TV a few minutes ago.

Nancy Wilson >> Ann Wilson

Posted by: anchorbabe fashion cop at January 02, 2024 11:25 AM (ufFY8)

110 NATO & nation building.
---
NATO Twitter: Retweet to join us in celebrating our Ally 🇨🇿 Czechia

January 1st 1993 marked Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State, following the peaceful separation of Czechoslovakia, which also led to the creation of the Slovak Republic
---
EU Solidarity with Ukraine:
EU assistance to Ukraine.
Recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.
---
Someday, the Civil Society concept will have gone too far, but not today or tomorrow.

Posted by: L - being Lady Macbeth for once at January 02, 2024 11:25 AM (GshMh)

111 If "we" hadn't gotten involved in Ukraine there would be a lot more live Ukrainians... Without our weapons it would have been over quickly with a negotiated agreement... Just My opinion

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:25 AM (n2vyf)

112 100 That the US never had a cogent plan in South America was the height of stupidity.
----------------
If Chile threatens Antarctica then shit happens! Everyone knows the Space Aliens have a base in Antarctica.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:25 AM (PGK1w)

113 From the link in the Insty article:
A total of eight Russian jets have been shot down over Ukraine in the last three weeks, including three Su-34 fighter-bombers on December 22.

The Patriot air defense system has been credited for most of the downings. However, pro-Russian Telegram channels have speculated whether the Lockheed Martin F-16 platform has already joined the battle.

I would expect them to beat the snot out of anything manufactured in the Soviet Union, hold their own against the Su-30 (and possibly the Su-34, of which the Russians have lost a considerable number), maybe get edged by the Su-35 (though maybe not; that platform has had a lot of teething problems), and should theoretically be outclassed by the Su-57, which on paper is a thoroughly modern fighter aircraft with stealth capability (assuming the Russians will even let it go up against a near peer aircraft; they’ve seemed to use it very sparingly after the early stages of the war).

https://www.battleswarmblog.com/?p=56791

Ukraine has been a disaster for Russian arms sales. The Su-57 will not be used, because its nominal stealth...isn't.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (CsUN+)

114
The Russians also want keep out the damaged Western world's woke identity/victim politics, faggotry, and perversion, which aggressively seek expansion everywhere.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (1D+/d)

115 A foreign ruler being a thug and autocrat is not reason enough to commit treasure or blood to oppose him.

If we were to only positively interact with those who rule their countries as freedom loving benevolents, we wouldn't even talk to ourselves.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (GBKbO)

Unless we intend to conquer a country and put in place American-style laws, ruled by a governor of our choosing until they are ready for their own similar government (Japan being the SOLE example of this working), we ought not to be meddling.

I have no problem with supporting the good guys and opposing the bad guys. But our ruling class has peculiar ideas about what makes someone good or bad.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (N1tpc)

116 93 Sure he is. He has political opponents thrown out of windows or poisoned. And Russia is a kleptocracy with him at the top.

But...I really don't give a shit that Russia isn't a perfect Jeffersonian democracy. It's not my backyard!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (gSZYf)

Those who admire cruelty may wish they could poison or defenstrate their enemies, too.

Posted by: XTC at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (6Uni8)

117 Nobody gave a shit about Putin for the first 10 years he was Russia’s leader. Then he made gay adoptions illegal and all of a sudden he was the worst human on the planet.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (BI8w/)

This.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (tkR6S)

118 The Iranian warship in the Red Sea was launched in 1969.

==

WOW! it took them 55 year to get there ?!!

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (V13WU)

119 Putin is behaving no worse, and in some respects better, than any other Russian ruler since the Muscovite days. Autocracy is simply what Russian rulers do. And if they don't, like the drunken buffoon Yeltsin, they either get overthrown or they get succeeded by another autocrat.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (9yWhg)

120 Unless you work solely for cash, and perform all transactions in cash... I'm not sure how you could even do that these days.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (z99Zw)

That is one of the weird things about taxes these days. With withholdings, unless you are self employed, how could you evade taxes? The government already has your money. When you do taxes, you are trying to either get some back or check to see if you need to give them even more.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (zZu0s)

121 The Iranian warship in the Red Sea was launched in 1969. (pulls out Bomar calculator)

That was 55 years ago.
Posted by: You could look it up at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (NBVIP)
----
It took THAT long for them to get to the Red Sea?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (7fElN)

122 108 Biden gives zero fucks about Putin or Zelensky. What he cares about is taking 10% off the top from the $100B given to Ukraine.
-------------
See it from Biden's POV. For eight years he was bagging grift and laundering money for Obama and getting shit for it.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (PGK1w)

123 117.

Yes, that.

Posted by: L - being Lady Macbeth for once at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (GshMh)

124 As we saw in Canada, the govt can cut you off from society if you disobey. Don’t pay taxes? Cool.
No more bank accounts, no more credit cards, you’ll never get a mortgage again. And pretty good chance you will be fired since your employer won’t want to deal with the headaches of an employee who is shunned from all banking.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (BI8w/)

125 Those who admire cruelty may wish they could poison or defenstrate their enemies, too.
Posted by: XTC at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (6Uni

I have a list...

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (zZu0s)

126 If Chile threatens Antarctica then shit happens! Everyone knows the Space Aliens have a base in Antarctica.
Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:25 AM (PGK1w)

It's where they keep the stargate.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:28 AM (N1tpc)

127 If Chile threatens Antarctica then shit happens! Everyone knows the Space Aliens have a base in Antarctica.

Big Penguin will make sure the Space Aliens never get a foothold.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:28 AM (CsUN+)

128
WOW! it took them 55 year to get there ?!!

They'll need a new set of oars.

Posted by: Just the punchline at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (NBVIP)

129 125 Those who admire cruelty may wish they could poison or defenstrate their enemies, too.
Posted by: XTC at January 02, 2024 11:26 AM (6Uni

I have a list...
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (zZu0s)

Same

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (xcxpd)

130 Montec #36
Putin coming out against ghey and Trannies started their campaign against him.

Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (fwDg9)

131 Speaking of stupid wars, what happened with Venezuela and Guiana? It was supposed to start WW3 wasn’t it?

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (BI8w/)

132 WOW! it took them 55 year to get there ?!!

They'll need a new set of oars.
Posted by: Just the punchline at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (NBVIP)

..better star charts....

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (V13WU)

133 they'd shoot us on sight without fear of accountability.
Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (xxG/v)

Check out the latest Lackluster video about some skinny ginger that approaches a KY cop after he cuts her off in traffic without signals, lights or siren.

Cop pulls into a McDonald's, to talk to his buddy.
She knocks on his window to tell him he is a bad driver.

Tyranny ensues.

THAT is what our government is.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (ufFY8)

134 Blast and badmouth your country. That’s the ticket. Pro-America, huh? Don’t sound like it. (And no, I do not favor any sort of intervention in Ukraine.)
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (Q9bls)

I would say he is blasting the Junta in Washington, and not America herself.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (tkR6S)

135 Confronting Putin may be a laudable diplomatic goal, because he is a thug and an autocrat

True but so is Joe Biden

Posted by: 18-1 at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (XqcwY)

136 Don't forget the bioweapons labs at their borders.

They didn't even have to cross an ocean to protect themselves like we did.

Posted by: Nikki Haley at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (QJpW8)

137 It looks like Ukraine will receive 73 European built F-16AMs, 42 from Holland alone.

Ukrainian pilots are training right now in Arizona even as the KLU is in Romania training other Ukrainian pilots.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:30 AM (OJv82)

138 The uniparty seems hell bent on making Russia a global power.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 02, 2024 11:30 AM (NYzgN)

139 The Iranian warship in the Red Sea was launched in 1969. (pulls out Bomar calculator)

That was 55 years ago.

Ship hulls have a finite lifetime when immersed in seawater. I don't really know what that is for destroyers, but my wife was in charge of a test ship from WWII that started springing leaks constantly. It was in such bad shape that they couldn't tow it away, and had to dismantle it in place.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:30 AM (CsUN+)

140 If Chile threatens Antarctica then shit happens! Everyone knows the Space Aliens have a base in Antarctica.

Posted by: Pudinhead at January 02, 2024 11:25 AM (PGK1w)

------------

Someone should have made an "Escape From Antarctica" film with Kurt Russell.

/

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:30 AM (Ws9oA)

141 Thank you, Biden's Dog!

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 11:31 AM (Sf2cq)

142 Biden thinks Monroe Doctrine is a new flavor of ice cream.

Posted by: Northernlurker at January 02, 2024 11:31 AM (zYoUB)

143 We spend a trillion dollars a year on the military and can’t even take out some amateurs in the Red Sea.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:31 AM (BI8w/)

144 Sure he is. He has political opponents thrown out of windows or poisoned. And Russia is a kleptocracy with him at the top.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:21 AM (gSZYf)

1. How do you know this to be true?
2. Assuming your comment about Russia being a kleptocracy is correct, his political opponents are almost certainly criminals themselves. They could get killed by any number of other criminals without involving Putin.

Again, let me re-emphasize, I am not defending Putin... I am questioning OUR knowledge of internal Russia (in general) and Putin (in particular).

It's easy to say that the bad man man... who all right thinking people know is a bad man... is bad. That's how we know that Trump is worse than Hitler, after all.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:31 AM (z99Zw)

145 The Iranian warship in the Red Sea was launched in 1969. (pulls out Bomar calculator)

That was 55 years ago.
Posted by: You could look it up at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (NBVIP)
----
It took THAT long for them to get to the Red Sea?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (7fElN)
***

Doesn't have to be new...just good enough to launch a couple of second gen anti ship missiles.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 02, 2024 11:32 AM (W/lyH)

146 The uniparty seems hell bent on making Russia a global power.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 02, 2024 11:30 AM (NYzgN)

-----------

And in partnership with China.

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:32 AM (Ws9oA)

147 133 they'd shoot us on sight without fear of accountability.
Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 11:24 AM (xxG/v)

Check out the latest Lackluster video about some skinny ginger that approaches a KY cop after he cuts her off in traffic without signals, lights or siren.

Cop pulls into a McDonald's, to talk to his buddy.
She knocks on his window to tell him he is a bad driver.

Tyranny ensues.

THAT is what our government is.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM (ufFY

If you're not a cop, you're Little People. And Little People get stepped on...

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:32 AM (xcxpd)

148 Cop pulls into a McDonald's, to talk to his buddy.
She knocks on his window to tell him he is a bad driver.

Tyranny ensues.

THAT is what our government is.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:29 AM

Do you have a link to that?

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 11:32 AM (SzI2j)

149 Putin is bad mmmmkay? And if you do your own research you are a white supremacist conspiracy nut, spreading dangerous misinformation.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:33 AM (BI8w/)

150 Blast and badmouth your country. That’s the ticket. Pro-America, huh? Don’t sound like it.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 02, 2024 11:13 AM (Q9bls)

Oh...I'm not allowed to criticize the actions of our government because that makes me anti-American?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:33 AM (gSZYf)

151 Iran was supposed to get four modern destroyers, but well the Shah was toppled and the US Navy suddenly got itself the Kidd class destroyers.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:33 AM (OJv82)

152 The CIA would never throw someone out a window. /sarc
The media would never report that lie. /sarc

Shit they shot the Prez and blamed it on one of their own. Lone gunman they said, as they torched all the evidence.

Posted by: DOYLE at January 02, 2024 11:33 AM (Z8Yh2)

153 From the link in the Insty article:

A total of eight Russian jets have been shot down over Ukraine in the last three weeks

Somebody really needs to put together a compilation of Stephen Green's weekly articles announcing that Ukraine is about to win.

I remember the one where he said that the Russians would soon be fleeing the line of Dnieper River, because HIMARS was so devastating.

Posted by: Epstein's Sales Pitch! at January 02, 2024 11:33 AM (YAtuc)

154 Gen. Wesley Clarke almost started WW3 in Yugoslavia. The Brit Gen. disobeyed a direct order from Clarke, and by doing so, stopped NATO forces from attacking Russian paratroops which would likely have started a greater conflagration.

As Star Trek taught us to say - shut up, Wesley.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (gmo/4)

155 Actually, it was tsarist decrees regarding Alaska that led to the formulation of the Monroe Doctrine in the first place.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (9yWhg)

156 117 Nobody gave a shit about Putin for the first 10 years he was Russia’s leader. Then he made gay adoptions illegal and all of a sudden he was the worst human on the planet.

Posted by: Montec at January 02, 2024 11:10 AM (BI8w/)
__________

This. Obama and Hillary even stroked his bozack during the "Great Reset" stupidity. But Putin (correctly) concluded that mass adoptions of Russian boys by Western gay perverts was a bad idea. Then he was Satan himself. Total coincidence, though!

Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (iFTx/)

157 It took THAT long for them to get to the Red Sea?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 02, 2024 11:27 AM (7fElN)

-----------

They kept making a right turn at Albuquerque.

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (Ws9oA)

158 America needs a thug and an autocrat.

Yeah, I said it.

Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (/QIWP)

159 Somebody really needs to put together a compilation of Stephen Green's weekly articles announcing that Ukraine is about to win.

I remember the one where he said that the Russians would soon be fleeing the line of Dnieper River, because HIMARS was so devastating.
Posted by: Epstein's Sales Pitch! at January 02, 2024 11:33 AM (YAtuc)

Yeah, he and Scott Ott finally made me quit watching Bill Whittle Trifectas. Steven Green literally has no idea what he's talking about half the time.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:35 AM (xcxpd)

160 AFAIK Biden does not have a polonium budget for press relations.

Posted by: DaveA at January 02, 2024 11:35 AM (FhXTo)

161 Archer

#91

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:35 AM (OJv82)

162 America needs a thug and an autocrat.

Yeah, I said it.

If the left is to be believed, a Trump reelection would satisfy you.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:35 AM (CsUN+)

163 Somebody really needs to put together a compilation of Stephen Green's weekly articles announcing that Ukraine is about to win.

I remember the one where he said that the Russians would soon be fleeing the line of Dnieper River, because HIMARS was so devastating.
Posted by: Epstein's Sales Pitch! at January 02, 2024 11:33 AM (YAtuc)

It is definitely a thing. I wonder how many people ask him in the comments why the Ukrainians have not taken Moscow by now? Ukrainian Triumphalism.

With him, it is like watching a Cowboys fan from the '90s.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:35 AM (zZu0s)

164 https://youtu.be/GqobQGloknk?feature=shared

Lackluster video of bad driver cop.

It takes a weird, dark turn at the end.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:36 AM (ufFY8)

165 158 America needs a thug and an autocrat.

Yeah, I said it.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (/QIWP)

As Sulla showed, it does not work real well in the long run.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:36 AM (zZu0s)

166 The Iranian warship in the Red Sea was launched in 1969. (pulls out Bomar calculator)

That was 55 years ago.

They bought it secondhand from the British.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:36 AM (gmo/4)

167 81 A total of eight Russian jets have been shot down over Ukraine in the last three weeks, including three Su-34 fighter-bombers on December 22.

Ukraine has enough and no more should be appropriated by Congress and/or DOD. Wait until its rebuilding ("The World's largest construction site" as it has already been labeled) to cash in again. The US is already in the line with non-profits - including the Clintons - universities, medical centers, construction companies, etc.

Posted by: L - being Lady Macbeth for once at January 02, 2024 11:37 AM (GshMh)

168 1. How do you know this to be true?
2. Assuming your comment about Russia being a kleptocracy is correct, his political opponents are almost certainly criminals themselves. They could get killed by any number of other criminals without involving Putin.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:31 AM (z99Zw)

I believe it with a fair degree of confidence, based on numerous reports from a wide spectrum of journalists and those who have been involved.

I am not trying to defend or malign Putin. I mostly don't give a shit whether he is a good guy or a bad guy. That's Russia's problem.

My frustration with the situation stems from the catastrophic mistakes made by our government.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:37 AM (gSZYf)

169 Thanks to Nixon, the Shah had good relations with Israel.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:38 AM (9yWhg)

170 Barky did more harm to the people of Iran than Carter
The Green.Movement had the mullah on a back foot and Barky withheld any semblance of support

Posted by: Ben Had at January 02, 2024 11:38 AM (I6hse)

171 Archer

#91

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:35 AM (OJv82)

Oops, sorry I missed that.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:39 AM (gmo/4)

172 Even setting aside the poisonings, a remarkable number of his political enemies or rivals seem to die by anvil. The guy from the Wagner group only being the most recent that I know of.

I'd say in this case smoke=fire.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:39 AM (zZu0s)

173 I think most agree that Putin is not a good guy... I don't think much of Zelenski either... I just don't think we should be funding this war with American taxpayers money

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:39 AM (n2vyf)

174 If the left is to be believed, a Trump reelection would satisfy you.
Posted by: Archimedes

If their caricature of him were true, yes. It sure would.

Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at January 02, 2024 11:39 AM (/QIWP)

175 The Russians did do something amusing yesterday - they destroyed the Roman Shukhevych museum in Lviv in a precision strike.

Shukhevych led the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which slaughtered 100,000 Poles and Jews in 1943 and 1944, and is considered to be a Ukrainian national hero.

Destroying the museum is an attack on "Ukrainian culture", of course.

Posted by: Epstein's Sales Pitch! at January 02, 2024 11:39 AM (YAtuc)

176 Oh gee, the US maybe supplying Ukraine with the AGM-88F HARM missile that has built in GPS/INS.

All the good munitions are being expended to protect somebody else's borders.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:39 AM (OJv82)

177 The Green.Movement had the mullah on a back foot and Barky withheld any semblance of support

Posted by: Ben Had at January 02, 2024 11:38 AM (I6hse)

Exactly. Imagine if Chocolate Jesus had supported them!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (gSZYf)

178 173 I think most agree that Putin is not a good guy... I don't think much of Zelenski either... I just don't think we should be funding this war with American taxpayers money
Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:39 AM (n2vyf)

You could sell me Vietnam again (not the prosecution, but the general idea) better than Ukraine.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (zZu0s)

179 Oh...I'm not allowed to criticize the actions of our government because that makes me anti-American?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:33 AM (gSZYf)

Checks "Is Dissent The Highest Form Of Patriotism" flowchart...

Step 1: Is the "President" a Democrat? If yes, dissent is anti-American. If no, proceed to question 2.

Looks like you're anti-American... officially.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (z99Zw)

180 Rank these corrupt, tyrannical assholes from bad to worse:

Biden
Putin
Zelenskyy
Trudeau

Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (iFTx/)

181 It's all good Archer.

Pointing how spectacular a cluster-fvck Wesley is is never wasted.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:41 AM (OJv82)

182 The adoption issue was a good excuse to condemn Putin but that is not what turned the jabbering class against Russia. As late as 2012 Obama was telling Medvedev to tell Vlad to cool it and he would have more flexibility to make a deal over missile defense after his election. They were still buddy buddy then.

Then in 2014 the deep state decided it was time to take out the duly elected government of Ukraine that was favoring Russia and install a puppet government. That's why Putin took Crimea. He didn't just wake up one day and decide to invade for no reason.

Then Trump won and the while region quieted down particularly after Trump shut down Russia's pipeline. Then Biden was installed and starting hinting at Ukraine being admitted into NATO and that was Putin's go time. The military industrial complex needs war and the neocons are all too happy to oblige as long as big checks follow.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 02, 2024 11:41 AM (ZLI7S)

183 Ship hulls have a finite lifetime when immersed in seawater. I don't really know what that is for destroyers, but my wife was in charge of a test ship from WWII that started springing leaks constantly. It was in such bad shape that they couldn't tow it away, and had to dismantle it in place.
Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:30 AM (CsUN+)
---
I'm guessing a 55-year-old warship will require near-constant maintenance to remain afloat.

Anyone want to bet that the Iranians have kept the old gal in top-notch condition during that time?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 02, 2024 11:41 AM (7fElN)

184 Rank these corrupt, tyrannical assholes from bad to worse:

Biden
Putin
Zelenskyy
Trudeau
Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (iFTx/)

Putin
Zelensky
Trudeau
Biden

Biden and Trudeau are neck and neck.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:42 AM (ufFY8)

185 Biden
Putin
Zelenskyy
Trudeau
Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (iFTx/)

Damn, that's tough. Ok:

Putin
Zelenskyy
Biden~Trudeau

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:42 AM (zZu0s)

186 With all those military age male illegals here in America, I find Lockmart production facilities quite vulnerable.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:11 AM (u82oZ)

Ever talk to a security guy at Lockheed or Boeing? Think of the worst cop to get fired from a police department somewhere and now he works for one of those companies.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 02, 2024 11:42 AM (W/lyH)

187 America needs a thug and an autocrat.

Yeah, I said it.

Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (/QIWP)

--------------

Make Pinochet Great Again!

/For which I was advocating after The Steal ... because The Junta, Deep State, and MDM-MSM (BIRM thrice) told us exactly what they were going to do.

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 11:42 AM (Ws9oA)

188 Say what you will about Putin, at least he never had a 100-comment rule.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:43 AM (9yWhg)

189 My frustration with the situation stems from the catastrophic mistakes made by our government.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:37 AM (gSZYf)

Well, the motto of our government is "Go Big or Go Home and I Don't Remember Where Home Is".

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:43 AM (z99Zw)

190 Happy New Year while it lasts. I'm getting the feeling something really bad is going to happen, probably involving some of those military age lettuce pikers crossing the border. Speaks Spanish with an Arabic accent.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at January 02, 2024 11:43 AM (0EOe9)

191 Looks like you're anti-American... officially.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (z99Zw)

Good point.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:43 AM (gSZYf)

192 188 Say what you will about Putin, at least he never had a 100-comment rule.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:43 AM (9yWhg)

I believe he has a zero comment rule

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:43 AM (n2vyf)

193 Shukhevych led the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which slaughtered 100,000 Poles and Jews in 1943 and 1944, and is considered to be a Ukrainian national hero.

95% of the Ukrainians who fought in World War II nobly fought the Nazis in the Red Army, like Zelensky's grandfather.

Ukraine chooses to honor the 5% who collaborated with the Nazis.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 11:44 AM (YAtuc)

194 184, 185

Horde Mind!

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:44 AM (ufFY8)

195 Release the girl, and I'll bring back the sun!

- Emmett Fitz-Hume, Ace Tomato Company

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:44 AM (gmo/4)

196 Putin
Zelenskyy
Biden~Trudeau

Biden is senile and evil. Castreau is stupid and evil.

Posted by: Northernlurker at January 02, 2024 11:44 AM (zYoUB)

197 lettuce pikers

Yeah, I'm getting really tired of them not sharing their lettuce.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:44 AM (9yWhg)

198 Anyone want to bet that the Iranians have kept the old gal in top-notch condition during that time?

Paint? We don't need no stinkin' paint! Allah is on our side!

Posted by: Iran at January 02, 2024 11:44 AM (CsUN+)

199 Pikers?

They spike the lettuce?

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (OJv82)

200 Somehow, Ukraine was deeply connected to Trump’s first sham impeachment. Remember the svelte Colonel Bearclaw Vindman? He seemed to have more allegiance to Ukraine than the US….

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (MW0on)

201 Barky also worked to get the Muslim Brotherhood on Egypt

Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (fwDg9)

202 180 Rank these corrupt, tyrannical assholes from bad to worse:

Biden
Putin
Zelenskyy
Trudeau
Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (iFTx/)

***********

1) Trudeau
1) Biden
3) Zelenskyy
3) Putin

There's a big gap between the ones and the threes, IMO, and I know Putin is a thug.

Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (xxG/v)

203 "Europe is an American Satrapy these days.
Posted by: Pudinhead
Then we need to squeeze them for wealth, rather than the other way around.
----We do that, its just you never profit from the juice.
Posted by: Pudinhead

ha, right. But we have King Dollar which can be printed to infinity, and used to buy real stuff. /s

Sure, that might impoverish the American masses in due time, but that is a price "they" are willing to pay.

Posted by: illiniwek at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (Cus5s)

204 Biden's "master's" in China must be quite upset that he is being so so disrespectful. American companies are fleeing China, Biden has stopped all sales from all counties of high and medium powered chips to China. He also repeatedly daily the US No svy right up the Taiwan Straits. Under Biden China is no longer our #1 trading partner, it has fallen to #3.
The long term outlook for China is bad

Posted by: Paul at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (HAyhw)

205 197 Heh. Didn't catch it before I hit the go button.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at January 02, 2024 11:46 AM (0EOe9)

206 187 America needs a thug and an autocrat.

Yeah, I said it.

Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (/QIWP)

OK. You talked me into it. I'll do it, but only if I get to wear an outrageous military uniform.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:46 AM (gmo/4)

207 Anna Puma

We gave the Kidd class ships to Taiwan.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (u82oZ)

208 205 197 Heh. Didn't catch it before I hit the go button.
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at January 02, 2024 11:46 AM (0EOe9)

Wish we had the edit button

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (n2vyf)

209 Rank these corrupt, tyrannical assholes from bad to worse:

Biden
Putin
Zelenskyy
Trudeau
Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (iFTx/)

Hey, what about me????

Posted by: Xi Jinping at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (9yWhg)

210 180 Rank these corrupt, tyrannical assholes from bad to worse:

Biden
Putin
Zelenskyy
Trudeau

Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (iFTx/)

Trudeau is a puppet. Chrystia Freeland is the actual power behind his idiotic face.

Posted by: XTC at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (6Uni8)

211 184 Rank these corrupt, tyrannical assholes from bad to worse:

Biden
Putin
Zelenskyy
Trudeau
Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (iFTx/)

Putin
Zelensky
Trudeau
Biden

Biden and Trudeau are neck and neck.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:42 AM (ufFY

________

Thanks my ranking as well. Trudeau is tough to tank because although he's a yuge fucking tyrant and prick, he's such an ineffectual chump leader of mostly irrelevant country there's only so much damage he can do at least on the international stage.

Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (iFTx/)

212 Biden is senile and evil. Castreau is stupid and evil.

On the plus side, Pierre Poilievre is next up, and he will absolutely obliterate Trudeau in the next election. The parliamentary system's quirks are all that is saving Trudeau now. Everyone has had more than enough of him.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (CsUN+)

213 As Sulla showed, it does not work real well in the long run.
Posted by: Aetius451AD

Depends on the individual society. Worked out okay for Cromwell and UK or Franco and Spain.

Over the long run, all regimes die.

Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (8IKKJ)

214 200 Somehow, Ukraine was deeply connected to Trump’s first sham impeachment. Remember the svelte Colonel Bearclaw Vindman? He seemed to have more allegiance to Ukraine than the US….
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (MW0on)

========

The CIA turned Ukraine into a client state by running a color revolution and bought off the political class by allowing them first dibs on the graft.

Mitch cares as much about the people of the Ukraine and their freedoms as he does the people of the Central African Republic, and for some reason he does not insist that we have to spend billions of dollars every few months to support one side or the other in the Central African Republic's civil war.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (GBKbO)

215 America needs a thug and an autocrat.

===

No. It does not.

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (V13WU)

216 but my wife was in charge of a test ship from WWII that started springing leaks constantly. It was in such bad shape that they couldn't tow it away, and had to dismantle it in place.

For decades, the Navy maintained a ghost fleet of WWII merchant ships in San Francisco Bay as a reserve.

They were scrapped after the Persian Gulf war, because the Navy tried to reactivate some of them, and they turned out to be unusable.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (YAtuc)

217 173 I think most agree that Putin is not a good guy... I don't think much of Zelenski either... I just don't think we should be funding this war with American taxpayers money
Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:39 AM (n2vyf)

Especially a war that cannot be won without American blood. Ukraine ain't Afghanistan. The Russkies are serious about winning. They will never stop unless stopped.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (pohLc)

218 Biden is ruining the country but Putin is the bad guy.

Programming is strong in some.

Posted by: DOYLE at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (Z8Yh2)

219 213 As Sulla showed, it does not work real well in the long run.
Posted by: Aetius451AD

Depends on the individual society. Worked out okay for Cromwell and UK or Franco and Spain.

Over the long run, all regimes die.
Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (8IKKJ)

We thought we were special. I don't think we are anymore.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (xcxpd)

220 Salty Dawg

The Republic of China get the IJN destroyer Yukikaze in service until I think 1971.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (OJv82)

221 OK. You talked me into it. I'll do it, but only if I get to wear an outrageous military uniform.

Posted by: Archer

A Napoleon hat.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (9yWhg)

222 215 America needs a thug and an autocrat.

===

No. It does not.
Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (V13WU)

========

America needs to show up to blue enclaves and take back their suffrage.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (GBKbO)

223 >>My frustration with the situation stems from the catastrophic mistakes made by our government.

Are they mistakes? The author of the confidential cable that was released by Assange and linked about is William Burns. He was the Ambassador to Russia in 2009 and now the Director of the CIA, a very odd move for a career diplomat.

Our government has known exactly how Putin would respond to any attempt to bring Georgia and Ukraine into NATO. Not just through words but actions. Soon after the idea of brining Georgia into NATO was broached at the 2008 Summit Putin invaded Georgia. It was known at the time why he did it and we knew he would do the same in Ukraine.

I think mistake is too kind. It was intentional.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (ZLI7S)

224 209 Rank these corrupt, tyrannical assholes from bad to worse:

Biden
Putin
Zelenskyy
Trudeau
Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:40 AM (iFTx/)

Hey, what about me????
Posted by: Xi Jinping at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (9yWhg)
_________

I was trying to keep it to Western-y tyrants. If you open it up to the East, it's floodgate city . . . .

Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (iFTx/)

225
OK. You talked me into it. I'll do it, but only if I get to wear an outrageous military uniform.

The more important attribute is to speak with an OUTRAGEOUS French accent.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:49 AM (CsUN+)

226 I am not looking forward to 2024 politically at all. I really need to detach from it and focus on faith and family. Knowing that God has a plan and it all works out in the end.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 02, 2024 11:49 AM (NYzgN)

227 Elon Musk
@elonmusk
Green Day goes from raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it 🤣🤣

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 11:49 AM (RHGPo)

228 Posted by: Paul at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (HAyhw)

Wow. This is really, really stupid. Trading partners aren't measured just by total trade. Look at the trade imbalance. That is at least as important.

But you seem to have been dropped on your head by your mom's bull a few too many times.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:49 AM (gSZYf)

229 Biden(Obama)/Putin

Zelenskyy/Trudeau

Heh.

Posted by: L - being Lady Macbeth for once at January 02, 2024 11:49 AM (GshMh)

230 227 Elon Musk
@elonmusk
Green Day goes from raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it 🤣🤣
Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 11:49 AM (RHGPo)

LOL... Perfect

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM (n2vyf)

231 208 205 197 Heh. Didn't catch it before I hit the go button.
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at January 02, 2024 11:46 AM (0EOe9)

Wish we had the edit button
Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (n2vyf)

+1

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM (xcxpd)

232 support one side or the other in the Central African Republic's civil war.

In the Terra Invicta game I am playing, The Central African Republic is a basket case economically with perpetual unrest and inequality.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM (ufFY8)

233 Outrageous military uniform covered in gold braid while being guarded by hot women armed with Uzis.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM (OJv82)

234 Are they mistakes?

I think mistake is too kind. It was intentional.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (ZLI7S)

From my perspective as an American citizen? Yes, they were mistakes. They were very bad for America. That they were good for a small number of people is secondary.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:51 AM (gSZYf)

235 There's a big gap between the ones and the threes, IMO, and I know Putin is a thug.
Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 11:45 AM (xxG/v)

Oh, we were doing from bad to worse, so 3/4 is worst. At least I did. So letterman style would be:

1) Biden/Trudeau
3) Dick Piano
4) El Put-Put

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:51 AM (zZu0s)

236 On the plus side, Pierre Poilievre is next up, and he will absolutely obliterate Trudeau in the next election. The parliamentary system's quirks are all that is saving Trudeau now.

The Conservative Party actually has gotten more votes than the Liberal Party in the last two parliamentary elections, despite getting fewer parliamentary seats.

For some reason, Trudeau was not denounced as illegitimate because he got fewer votes, like American Republican Presidents are.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 11:51 AM (YAtuc)

237 Outrageous military uniform covered in gold braid while being guarded by hot women armed with Uzis.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM (OJv82)

Yes. But I still want the Napoleon hat.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:51 AM (gmo/4)

238 In the Terra Invicta game I am playing, The Central African Republic is a basket case economically with perpetual unrest and inequality.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM (ufFY

How is Terra Invicta? I bought during the Steam sale but haven't played yet.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (xcxpd)

239 And don't think the Russian paranoid mindset ( justified or not) is just pointed at the West /USA . In the 60's and 70's they spent a ton of money on military installations on the border with China and in their Mongolian puppet state. There were actual relatively large border battles with the CCP .

Posted by: Titanium White at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (lCVt6)

240 Outrageous military uniform covered in gold braid while being guarded by hot women armed with Uzis.
Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM

Pics or it didn't happen.

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (SzI2j)

241 Opening 2024:

President Biden Shares New Year’s Message, Favorite Holiday Food During Interview With Ryan Seacrest
The president and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden appeared on 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve' on Sunday.

Now smile.

Posted by: L - being Lady Macbeth for once at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (GshMh)

242 Nevermind the bio weapon/what ever else going on in there lab on Russia back yard

Posted by: A dude in MI at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (/6GbT)

243 @elonmusk
Green Day goes from raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it 🤣🤣
Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 11:49 AM (RHGPo)

I'd feel better about it if he'd have said "Green Day is a shit band that hasn't been relevant in 20 years, if it ever was, and should NOT be in the R&R HoF. They suck."

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (Zz0t1)

244 Outrageous military uniform covered in gold braid while being guarded by hot women armed with Uzis.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM (OJv82)

Yes. But I still want the Napoleon hat.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:51 AM (gmo/4)

Life is good.

Posted by: Napoleon XIV at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (AiZBA)

245 Then Trump won and the while region quieted down particularly after Trump shut down Russia's pipeline. Then Biden was installed and starting hinting at Ukraine being admitted into NATO and that was Putin's go time. The military industrial complex needs war and the neocons are all too happy to oblige as long as big checks follow.
Posted by: JackStraw
---------
The obverse is true--Putin needs wars to distract from mismanagement and corruption in Russia as well. No different really than when Kings and Queens went to war before the twentieth century.

Same as Xi in China.

For the most part, empires suck because they rely on coercion and centralization of power to combat internal contradictions that happen due to different 'nations' being contained within them. But those very mechanisms undermine the political economy of the empire over time.

Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 11:53 AM (8IKKJ)

246 238 How is Terra Invicta? I bought during the Steam sale but haven't played yet.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (xcxpd)

========

I started Cyberpunk all over again over Christmas. I'm king of the side hustle at this point, 40 hours in.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:53 AM (GBKbO)

247 Posted by: DOYLE at January 02, 2024 11:48 AM (Z8Yh2)

Where are you getting this nonsense? I don't see much criticism of Putin aside from the obvious.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 11:53 AM (gSZYf)

248 I have a theory..

"paul" is ace or one or the cobs trying to generate more hits by posting stupid stuff...like Mannix' cheesecake , but of political nature

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:53 AM (V13WU)

249 240 Outrageous military uniform covered in gold braid while being guarded by hot women armed with Uzis.
Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:50 AM

Pics or it didn't happen.
Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (SzI2j)

You haven't seen the late Qudaffi's guards?
https://greydynamics.com/ the-revolutionary-nuns-gaddafis-amazonian-guard/

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:54 AM (xcxpd)

250 Thanks sponge, you piece of crap. Now I have American Idiot running in my head.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:54 AM (zZu0s)

251 Mitch cares as much about the people of the Ukraine and their freedoms as he does the people of the Central African Republic, and for some reason he does not insist that we have to spend billions of dollars every few months to support one side or the other in the Central African Republic's civil war.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:47 AM (GBKbO)
______

Another fantastic colonizing job by the French! Then the country was finished off by a series of some of the worst, most brutal warlords in Africa (and that is saying something).

Posted by: Elric Blade at January 02, 2024 11:54 AM (iFTx/)

252 Belgians in the Congo?

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (OJv82)

253 I started Cyberpunk all over again over Christmas. I'm king of the side hustle at this point, 40 hours in.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:53 AM (GBKbO)

I still like the game overall, still hate the nihilist endings- and the expansion did not help there, though the narrative was better and more coherent for that subsection.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (zZu0s)

254 Beirut:

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382959

Boom! Boom! Bye-bye!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (ch/kO)

255 >>From my perspective as an American citizen? Yes, they were mistakes. They were very bad for America. That they were good for a small number of people is secondary.

I see your point and I agree it has been catastrophically bad for American citizens but I do think it is important for people to understand that our so called leaders knew exactly what would happen if they kept pushing NATO eastward and they did it anyway.

The American public has been sold a lie that Putin invaded Ukraine for no reason or worse that it was the first step toward invading Europe when those are patently false. Putin sees his invasion as protection against aggressive NATO expansion. You don't have to like or agree with him but it is important to understand his reasoning.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (ZLI7S)

256 French in Indochina ?

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (V13WU)

257 Oh, we were doing from bad to worse, so 3/4 is worst. At least I did. So letterman style would be:

1) Biden/Trudeau
3) Dick Piano
4) El Put-Put
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:51 AM (zZu0s)

*********

LOL, I should have written my list more carefully.

I have a higher opinion of Putin and Zelenskyy since I didn't have any expectations for those two to be just and relatively uncorrupted.

Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (xxG/v)

258 Pop punk is my favorite music genre. Green Day's Dookie was good but like the Dixie Chicks , the lead singer has to be a douchebag and ruin what should just be entertainment with their mental illness.

Posted by: Titanium White at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (lCVt6)

259 Thanks sponge, you piece of crap. Now I have American Idiot running in my head.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:54 AM (zZu0s)

I didn't start the fire.......

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (Zz0t1)

260 Libya, another hellhole created by Democrats' idea of nation building.

Thanks a fvcking lot Gaylord Merkin Focker the Wurst.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (OJv82)

261 Belgians in the Congo?

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (OJv82)

With a candlestick holder.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (gmo/4)

262 Beirut:

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382959

Boom! Boom! Bye-bye!
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (ch/kO)

middle easterners are terrible drivers!

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (V13WU)

263 I started Cyberpunk all over again over Christmas. I'm king of the side hustle at this point, 40 hours in.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 11:53 AM (GBKbO)

I need to buy that. I used to play Cyberpunk pack in the pen and paper days.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (xcxpd)

264 Anna Puma

The Gaddafi plan. Can they be IDF?
I take a 42 regular.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (u82oZ)

265 French in Indochina ?

French in Haiti.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 11:57 AM (9yWhg)

266 I didn't start the fire.......
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (Zz0t1)

Thanks. Billy Joel is preferable to Green Day hosers.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:57 AM (zZu0s)

267 We thought we were special. I don't think we are anymore.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards
--------
The Framers thought otherwise but like England, there will be some regime governing the territorial area of the US--it just may not be our current governing arrangement.

Part of it is a trading empire (or really any empire) is incompatible with a virtuous republic form of government because it always becomes an issue of peripheral wars to gain or prevent losing trading partners. That tends to corrupt elites because they benefit while the hoi polloi lose overall.

Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 11:57 AM (8IKKJ)

268 The Conservative Party actually has gotten more votes than the Liberal Party in the last two parliamentary elections, despite getting fewer parliamentary seats.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 11:51 AM (YAtuc)

Parliament. The party to the left of Trudeau's party teamed up with him to form a government. I believe he had to suck a lot of cock to get it formed but he doesn't mind that part.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 11:57 AM (z99Zw)

269 Actually the music for Cyberpunk

L is also quite good.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:57 AM (zZu0s)

270 Beirut:

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/382959

Boom! Boom! Bye-bye!

A Hezbollah terrorist channel reported that an apparently unusual explosion occurred in a vehicle that was traveling in the neighborhood of Dahieh in southern Beirut this evening (Tuesday).

Apparently there are usual explosions, as opposed to the unusual explosions. One wonders how they are differentiated.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 11:58 AM (CsUN+)

271
Thanks. Billy Joel is preferable to Green Day hosers.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:57 AM (zZu0s)

Winning!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 11:58 AM (Zz0t1)

272 A Hezbollah terrorist channel reported that an apparently unusual explosion occurred in a vehicle that was traveling in the neighborhood of Dahieh in southern Beirut this evening (Tuesday).

Tesla ?

Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:58 AM (n2vyf)

273 Uh hello, modern America is Cyberpunk with the Zaibatsus and Mega-Corps.

Just no skull guns.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:58 AM (OJv82)

274 The American public has been sold a lie that Putin invaded Ukraine for no reason or worse that it was the first step toward invading Europe when those are patently false.

Representatives of the NATO Deep State have announced that it is certain that Putin will invade NATO if he wins in Ukraine.

Curiously, no NATO country, with the partial exception of Poland, is furiously rearming on an emergency basis in response to this Russian existential threat.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 11:59 AM (YAtuc)

275 >>The obverse is true--Putin needs wars to distract from mismanagement and corruption in Russia as well. No different really than when Kings and Queens went to war before the twentieth century.

Africa is full of Communist relics from Soviet expansion and one of the first things Reagan did in office was send weapons to the Contras to fight Soviet expansion. Hell, we've been blockading Cuba in one or another for 60 years.

We both play this game of international checkers and I've yet to be convinced we ever really gain anything.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 02, 2024 11:59 AM (ZLI7S)

276 Green Day...the sum total of their IQs would still be solidly in the double digits.

Or am I giving them too much credit?

Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 11:59 AM (xxG/v)

277 I'd feel better about it if he'd have said "Green Day is a shit band that hasn't been relevant in 20 years, if it ever was, and should NOT be in the R&R HoF. They suck."
Posted by: Sponge
-------
All of what you post is true but yet fans will be more affected by Musk calling out the band's hypocrisy as he did. Rhetoric is designed to change public perception in your favor versus your dialectic approach to the absolute truth.

Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 11:59 AM (8IKKJ)

278 The Framers thought otherwise but like England, there will be some regime governing the territorial area of the US--it just may not be our current governing arrangement.

Part of it is a trading empire (or really any empire) is incompatible with a virtuous republic form of government because it always becomes an issue of peripheral wars to gain or prevent losing trading partners. That tends to corrupt elites because they benefit while the hoi polloi lose overall.
Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 11:57 AM (8IKKJ)

That love of money, yo...

Well the Framers said that The Republic they were making would only work of the people were virtuous. And...we're not. We stopped teaching or promoting virtue, sadly.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:59 AM (xcxpd)

279 Libya, another hellhole created by Democrats' idea of nation building.

Thanks a fvcking lot Gaylord Merkin Focker the Wurst.
Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (OJv82)

That was the real war for oil. Fuck France and Britain . Especially France.

Posted by: Titanium White at January 02, 2024 11:59 AM (lCVt6)

280 Representatives of the NATO Deep State have announced that it is certain that Putin will invade NATO if he wins in Ukraine.

Curiously, no NATO country, with the partial exception of Poland, is furiously rearming on an emergency basis in response to this Russian existential threat.

Really? I pantsed you on this not 2 days ago. Why do you lie?

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:00 PM (CsUN+)

281 11 in binary

Is double digit...

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 12:00 PM (OJv82)

282 Anna Puma

I want that book from The Diamond Age. Not a soul gun.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 12:00 PM (u82oZ)

283 How is Terra Invicta? I bought during the Steam sale but haven't played yet.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:52 AM (xcxpd)

It's like Civilization on steroids.
You are leader of a faction (Resistance is default) that is essentially a Deep State group.
You control countries indirectly, setting their priorities.

Aliens land in earth, and you have to deal with them.

You do research, build boost capacity, build space stations, then ships. Mine space resources.

One cool touch is the soundtrack when you zoom out into space - it is chatter from the actual Apollo missions.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 12:00 PM (ufFY8)

284 253 I still like the game overall, still hate the nihilist endings- and the expansion did not help there, though the narrative was better and more coherent for that subsection.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (zZu0s)

========

I started it up, ready to keep playing from where I had left off a couple of years ago, but I was met with a message that all of my attributes had been reset because of updates to the game. Having no idea what anything meant anymore, I just shrugged and started all over again.

I've never actually finished it. I think I got disappointed that I had closed off one particular ending and just stopped.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 12:00 PM (GBKbO)

285 CBD - Realize that we gave Ukraine assurances - along with the Brits we - would protect them if they gave up their nukes.

Putin has wanted to invade all sorts of places, NATO notwithstanding or not, by demanding to dictate eastern Europe security policy.

And I do not for one minute believe he has any intention of stopping with Ukraine. If he can get more, I believe he will. That is his track record.

Posted by: Black JEM at January 02, 2024 12:01 PM (GZYu7)

286 The commies have been messing around in South America for a long time.
So by that standard we should be allowed to do our thing around Russia's former borders.
Again, if that is the standard...

Posted by: Erebus- ex-killer whale at January 02, 2024 12:01 PM (AEvvx)

287 263 I need to buy that. I used to play Cyberpunk pack in the pen and paper days.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (xcxpd)

========

I like it.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 12:01 PM (GBKbO)

288 Green Day vs. Nickelback

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:01 PM (9yWhg)

289 Putin really can't survive if the Ukraine War comes to an end.
Much like the Palestinian "leaders" who can only rule during a war, Putin is in the position of being able to be extra-authoritarian during the war.

Once the war ends, the toll in young Russian lives will be way too much for him to survive. The reality will return and the illusion of a new Soviet Union will collapse.

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:02 PM (RHGPo)

290 Representatives of the NATO Deep State have announced that it is certain that Putin will invade NATO if he wins in Ukraine.

Curiously, no NATO country, with the partial exception of Poland, is furiously rearming on an emergency basis in response to this Russian existential threat.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 11:59 AM (YAtuc)

I saw a video the other day where someone posed the question - what would happen if Russia agreed to split Ukraine with Poland (western Ukraine was historically part of Poland) in exchange for Poland leaving NATO.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 12:02 PM (z99Zw)

291 I'm going to have to look into Terra Invicta. The Thanksgiving upgrade by Steam for Civ 6 destroyed it on my machine and I haven't been able to get it to run again.

Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 12:02 PM (xxG/v)

292 Green Day vs. Nickelback

I hope they both lose.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 12:02 PM (OJv82)

293 I've never actually finished it. I think I got disappointed that I had closed off one particular ending and just stopped.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 12:00 PM (GBKbO)

Revolvers= not stealth anymore

Throwing knives= work now after a year and a half

Relationship options are still thin on the ground.

There are only two what I would call 'good' endings.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 12:02 PM (zZu0s)

294 I replayed Civ 5 over the break. Can still suck me in.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 12:03 PM (zZu0s)

295 Really? I pantsed you on this not 2 days ago. Why do you lie?

Sorry, I didn't notice the alleged "pantsing".

Germany is rearming? France? The United Kingdom? Sweden? Canada? Italy? Spain? The United States?

Aside from some additional military buildup in Poland, precisely which NATO state is seriously preparing for an imminent war with Russia?

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 12:03 PM (YAtuc)

296 I saw a video the other day where someone posed the question - what would happen if Russia agreed to split Ukraine with Poland (western Ukraine was historically part of Poland) in exchange for Poland leaving NATO.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

The Poles, Ukes, and Russians all hate each other. Kinda like the Chinese-Japanese-Korean axis of hate.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:03 PM (9yWhg)

297 Tesla ?
Posted by: It's me donna at January 02, 2024 11:58 AM (n2vyf)

That would be a "usual" explosion, I believe.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 02, 2024 12:03 PM (tkR6S)

298 Posted by: Erebus- ex-killer whale at January 02, 2024 12:01 PM (AEvvx)

That's an illogical comparison. Again Mexico would be the appropriate comparison to the Ukraine / Russian conflict.

Posted by: Titanium White at January 02, 2024 12:04 PM (lCVt6)

299 293 Revolvers= not stealth anymore

Throwing knives= work now after a year and a half

Relationship options are still thin on the ground.

There are only two what I would call 'good' endings.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 12:02 PM (zZu0s)

=========

Throwing grenades into a trio of gang members on the street still equals dismembered corpses, so I'm good with it!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 12:04 PM (GBKbO)

300 Majority in new poll say Jan. 6 was attack on democracy that should never be forgotten

... methinks TheHill missed the double meaning of this statement

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:04 PM (RHGPo)

301 IMO up to October at latest it's going to be a bumpy ride, after that it's anyone guess

Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 12:04 PM (fwDg9)

302 Curiously, no NATO country, with the partial exception of Poland, is furiously rearming on an emergency basis in response to this Russian existential threat.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 11:59 AM (YAtuc)

Wut?

Even fucking Sweden is up-arming after Uke invasion. Finland is even talking about joining NATO.
Yes, many, many NATO members are increasing their spending. Not to US levels but increasing all the same.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 12:04 PM (xcxpd)

303 China has been operating a massive signals spy facility on Cuba since at least 2019, probably earlier. I doubt PDT was informed of it.

Now Obama is allowing them to build a military base, with nukes, troops and subs. In fairness, D.C. itself can be considered a Chinese Spy Base.

Psalm 37:

17 For the arms of the wicked will be broken,
but the Lord supports the righteous.

18 The Lord knows the days of people of integrity,
and their inheritance will be forever.
19 They will not be ashamed in the evil time,
and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

20 But the wicked will perish,
and the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of pastures;
they will waste away, in smoke they will waste away.

Amen, Lord Jesus!

Posted by: The Gipper Lives at January 02, 2024 12:04 PM (Ndje9)

304 We both play this game of international checkers and I've yet to be convinced we ever really gain anything.
Posted by: JackStraw
-----------
Once the US achieved Manifest Destiny, due to trade, money, and power, it became destined to play a part in international affairs. Read up on why Thomas Reed ended his career as Speaker of the House over opposing the Spanish American War. It was primarily over the US becoming an empire (trading type but still) rather than a republic.

That being said, empires can be more or less benevolent and benefiting the world overall as the British Empire was or be hotbeds of horrific mismanagement and brutality like the Belgian and to some degree the French Empires were.

Jerry Pournelle (RIP) always termed the US as an incompetent empire where our loudly proclaimed virtue were undercut by elite wheeling and dealing for advantage. He used Britain as an example of a competent Empire.

Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 12:05 PM (8IKKJ)

305 The American public has been sold a lie that Putin invaded Ukraine for no reason or worse that it was the first step toward invading Europe when those are patently false. Putin sees his invasion as protection against aggressive NATO expansion. You don't have to like or agree with him but it is important to understand his reasoning.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 02, 2024 11:55 AM (ZLI7S)
==
Except if that wasn't his reasoning. And I don't think the evidence supports it.

Posted by: Black JEM at January 02, 2024 12:05 PM (GZYu7)

306 And I do not for one minute believe he has any intention of stopping with Ukraine. If he can get more, I believe he will. That is his track record.

Posted by: Black JEM at January 02, 2024 12:01 PM (GZYu7)

His army has been exposed as mediocre...at best. Sure, he might want Poland, but the Polish army is a far different beast than the Ukrainians!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 12:05 PM (gSZYf)

307 Lackluster video of bad driver cop.

It takes a weird, dark turn at the end.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 11:36 AM

Yea fucked up situation. Thanks

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 12:05 PM (SzI2j)

308 Time to go do other stuff.

Ciao

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 02, 2024 12:05 PM (OJv82)

309 Finland is even talking about joining NATO.

I thought they already have.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (9yWhg)

310 Putin really can't survive if the Ukraine War comes to an end.

The hope is that Putin is removed in an orderly fashion, and is allowed to retire, like Khrushchev after the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (YAtuc)

311 Throwing grenades into a trio of gang members on the street still equals dismembered corpses, so I'm good with it!
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, walking with hope in America with Frank Capra at January 02, 2024 12:04 PM (GBKbO)

It's not just that. Cyberware is far improved. Movement is a lot more fluid and fun.

The game was never as bad as the bandwagon made it out to be, but it wasn't perfect and they have fixed most of the glaring issues.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (zZu0s)

312 Finland is even talking about joining NATO.

I thought they already have.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (9yWhg)

that is sooo 2023 ...

Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (V13WU)

313 I started Cyberpunk all over again over Christmas. I'm king of the side hustle at this point, 40 hours in.

*******************

I couldnt get into a game that allows you to actually choose the size of your weener

And also has a side quest where you get to literally crucify someone

Uhhhhh, Ill stick with Pac-Man

Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - National Divorce NOW at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (VTu1l)

314 Really? I pantsed you on this not 2 days ago. Why do you lie?

Sorry, I didn't notice the alleged "pantsing".

Germany is rearming? France? The United Kingdom? Sweden? Canada? Italy? Spain? The United States?

Aside from some additional military buildup in Poland, precisely which NATO state is seriously preparing for an imminent war with Russia?

I gave you a link and a quote on the upsurge in spending levels in the Baltics. There are others, but you don't pay attention anyway so what's the point.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (CsUN+)

315 America needs a thug and an autocrat.

Yeah, I said it.

Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at January 02, 2024 11:34 AM (/QIWP)

OK. You talked me into it. I'll do it, but only if I get to wear an outrageous military uniform.

Posted by: Archer at January 02, 2024 11:46 AM (gmo/4)
***

I think ZOD will want to have a word with you.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM (W/lyH)

316 I blame the Ukraine invasion on the US election stealers. Installing Biden was Putin's go-ahead.

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM (Sf2cq)

317 Aside from some additional military buildup in Poland, precisely which NATO state is seriously preparing for an imminent war with Russia?

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 12:03 PM (YAtuc)
==
Germany actually is creating a more robust defense posture. Eastern Europe is looking for all the arms upgrades they can get, with Poland, having a good recent history of being between two global powers and getting chewed up in the process. Sweden and Finland are joining NATO.

There are no doubts lots of other things going on we don't see.

Posted by: Black JEM at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM (GZYu7)

318 Uhhhhh, Ill stick with Pac-Man
Posted by: The Unvaxed and Unmasked Ranger - National Divorce NOW at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (VTu1l)

Yeah, Sinnerman is one I avoided. I played it once and said, fuck this.

Still, better than Far Cry 5.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM (zZu0s)

319 Except if that wasn't his reasoning. And I don't think the evidence supports it.
Posted by: Black JEM at January 02, 2024 12:05 PM (GZYu7)

According to a Ukrainian news interview with a member of Zelensky's government, they were in talks with Russia early on and Russia's demands were: disband the Nazis, stop killing the ethnic Russians in the east, and don't join NATO. He said that it was his impression that the "don't join NATO" part was the only one they really cared about.

Apparently, Boris Johnson flew in and told them to knock off the talks and here we are.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM (z99Zw)

320 In the latest of a series of high-profile swatting incidents, far-left billionaire George Soros became the victim of a prank 911 call at his estate in Southampton, New York.

Southampton Village Police responded to the call reportedly made just before 9 p.m. last Saturday.

The unidentified caller claimed to have shot his wife and was threatening to commit suicide at the Soros mansion on Old Town Road.

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM (RHGPo)

321 IMO Putin has never had any intention of attacking a NATO member. I know some people think he's evil but he's not insane.

Posted by: Titanium White at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (lCVt6)

322 middle easterners are terrible drivers!
Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 11:56 AM (V13WU)

Heh! Tel Aviv at rush hour => demolition derby.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (pohLc)

323 Putin himself made clear he views former republics line China views Taiwan.
Claims about NATO are just regurgitating the lies he created to justify his invasion. Just stop.

Posted by: Erebus- ex-killer whale at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (AEvvx)

324
Hell, we've been blockading Cuba in one or another for 60 years.

From PJ Media
Time to End the Cuban Embargo

http://tinyurl.com/2p8n5fyv

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (63Dwl)

325 but you don't pay attention anyway so what's the point.
Posted by: Archimedes

Well, to be fair, did you post boob pics? That's how you get us to pay attention.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (9yWhg)

326 The Green Douche singer always sounds like he's got a really bad cold. Same with Kenney Chesney, I can't stand either musically.

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 12:10 PM (SzI2j)

327 325 but you don't pay attention anyway so what's the point.
Posted by: Archimedes

Well, to be fair, did you post boob pics? That's how you get us to pay attention.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (9yWhg)

*perks up*

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 12:10 PM (xcxpd)

328 Most americans are fat, soft and lazy. It's not really their fault, they have it good since they first spurted out of their Baby Daddy that they know nothing different.

But that will change.

Soon.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at January 02, 2024 12:10 PM (Edu7X)

329 In the latest of a series of high-profile swatting incidents, far-left billionaire George Soros became the victim of a prank 911 call at his estate in Southampton, New York.

Southampton Village Police responded to the call reportedly made just before 9 p.m. last Saturday.

The unidentified caller claimed to have shot his wife and was threatening to commit suicide at the Soros mansion on Old Town Road.
Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM

Types, deletes, types. Aww fuck it, too bad the cops..deletes.

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 12:11 PM (SzI2j)

330 I'm going to have to look into Terra Invicta. The Thanksgiving upgrade by Steam for Civ 6 destroyed it on my machine and I haven't been able to get it to run again.
Posted by: Sasquatch, the Original Trans-Wookie at January 02, 2024 12:02 PM (xxG/v)

Yeah. You have a "Council"of six people plus possibly two traitors from other factions. You send your six on missions that last two weeks ( hence, it becomes pseudo-turn based). They get old and die, and you have to recruit new peeps.

On earth, you build armies to fight other countries, or alien armies, or alien 'megafauna' that appear if alien vegetation gets too numerous.

My game is now in the 2080s, I control most of earth, and am trying to reduce China's inequality and turn it into a democracy as I build ships to fuck with the aliens on one of their asteroid bases.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at January 02, 2024 12:11 PM (ufFY8)

331 320 In the latest of a series of high-profile swatting incidents, far-left billionaire George Soros became the victim of a prank 911 call at his estate in Southampton, New York.

Southampton Village Police responded to the call reportedly made just before 9 p.m. last Saturday.

The unidentified caller claimed to have shot his wife and was threatening to commit suicide at the Soros mansion on Old Town Road.
Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM (RHGPo)

———-

Isn’t Soros a wanted man in Hungry? Do we protect criminals from fellow NATO members?

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at January 02, 2024 12:11 PM (ALn4J)

332 A recent preprint co-authored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) U.S. Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network Investigators finds that repeat annual influenza vaccines are associated with an increased risk of influenza infection.

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:11 PM (RHGPo)

333 Well, to be fair, did you post boob pics? That's how you get us to pay attention.

*kicks dirt*

Rookie mistake.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:12 PM (CsUN+)

334 Claims about NATO are just regurgitating the lies he created to justify his invasion. Just stop.

Posted by: Erebus- ex-killer whale at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (AEvvx)

All evidence to the contrary.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 12:12 PM (gSZYf)

335 You know Trump would have defused the Ukrainian war by telling Zelensky and Putin that the only way Ukraine could join NATO is if Russia and Belorussia joined NATO at the same time as Ukraine.

And as President of the United States, he could make that precondition stick!

Posted by: rd at January 02, 2024 12:12 PM (VcdzI)

336 332 A recent preprint co-authored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) U.S. Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Network Investigators finds that repeat annual influenza vaccines are associated with an increased risk of influenza infection.
Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:11 PM (RHGPo)

Interesting. Can you supply a link, please?

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 12:12 PM (Sf2cq)

337 The Green Douche singer always sounds like he's got a really bad cold. Same with Kenney Chesney, I can't stand either musically.
Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 12:10 PM (SzI2j)

At least I've heard of Chesney.
This other idiot is less significant to me that the pile of crap the dog dropped in the neighbor's yard this morning.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 02, 2024 12:12 PM (W/lyH)

338 Types, deletes, types. Aww fuck it, too bad the cops..deletes.

Swatting prominent left-wingers is the only way you can get the FBI to pay attention.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 02, 2024 12:12 PM (YAtuc)

339 The only video game I ever spent much time with was Luxor.

Khufu's Revenge was a bitch.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:12 PM (9yWhg)

340 Finland is even talking about joining NATO.

I thought they already have.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM (9yWhg)

that is sooo 2023 ...
Posted by: runner at January 02, 2024 12:06 PM

So they Finnished?

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 12:13 PM (SzI2j)

341 I've been under the impression that JFK shredded the Monroe Doctrine when he compromised on allowing the Soviet Union to have military (but not missile) bases in Cuba back in 1963.

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at January 02, 2024 12:13 PM (TOe+Q)

342 Riyadh was a daily death race.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at January 02, 2024 12:13 PM (lGMgw)

343

Well, to be fair, did you post boob pics? That's how you get us to pay attention.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (9yWhg)

*perks up*
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 12:10 PM (xcxpd)

http://tinyurl.com/47xzbahw

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 12:13 PM (Zz0t1)

344 You know Trump would have defused the Ukrainian war by telling Zelensky and Putin that the only way Ukraine could join NATO is if Russia and Belorussia joined NATO at the same time as Ukraine.

And as President of the United States, he could make that precondition stick!

And the result would be a total demolition of NATO.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:13 PM (CsUN+)

345 Green Day is another Rage For the Machine

Posted by: Skip at January 02, 2024 12:13 PM (fwDg9)

346 http://tinyurl.com/47xzbahw

How is she doing that? By which I mean stay upright.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:14 PM (CsUN+)

347 Donald Trump flew Epstein's airplane to Denver and shot up the CO supreme court building.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 02, 2024 12:14 PM (NYzgN)

348 294 I replayed Civ 5 over the break. Can still suck me in.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 12:03 PM (zZu0s)

I like Civ 5 a lot. Not a fan of Civ 6. Civ 4 is also good.

I've been on a Shogun 2 kick lately. Damn fine game.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 12:14 PM (xcxpd)

349 http://tinyurl.com/47xzbahw
Posted by: Sponge

Yowza, thanks. Do you know her name?

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:15 PM (9yWhg)

350 Well, to be fair, did you post boob pics? That's how you get us to pay attention.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:09 PM (9yWhg)

*perks up*
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 12:10 PM (xcxpd)

http://tinyurl.com/47xzbahw
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 12:13 PM (Zz0t1)

BUSTY!

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 12:15 PM (xcxpd)

351 Deplorable Ian Galt

What if every Trump supporter opted out of withholding and did not pay taxes.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 11:12 AM (u82oZ)

The first thousand would be rounded up very publicly by the armed IRS and jailed as an example. The rest would fold.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy now with twice the crazy at January 02, 2024 12:15 PM (iODuv)

352 “… Putin has been concise and consistent — demilitarize and de-nazify Ukraine.“

A court in Helsinki ordered the pre-trial detention of Yan Petrovsky, a Russian neo-Nazi mercenary who has fought against Ukrainian troops, as he awaits potential formal charges on war crimes he allegedly committed in Ukraine, the Finnish media outlet Helsingin Sanomat reported on Dec. 18.

Yeah, sure. Putin so much wants to de-nazifly Ukraine that he brought his own.

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:15 PM (RHGPo)

353 I blame the Ukraine invasion on the US election stealers. Installing Biden was Putin's go-ahead.
Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM

Well, remember. Biduh himself basically green lighted Putin's invasion when he said a minor incursion was basically totes cool.

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 12:15 PM (SzI2j)

354 NOOD
NOOD
GLORIOUS NOOD

Biden Instructs His Fellow Party Members in the "Journalism" Corps to Start Reporting on the Economy "the Right Way"

Go forth and claim the first.

Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at January 02, 2024 12:16 PM (qPw5n)

355 282 I want that book from The Diamond Age. Not a soul gun.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 02, 2024 12:00 PM (u82oZ)

Only girls were allowed to read that book.

Posted by: XTC at January 02, 2024 12:16 PM (6Uni8)

356 http://tinyurl.com/47xzbahw

How is she doing that? By which I mean stay upright.
Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:14 PM (CsUN+)

Way too big.

Posted by: anchorbabe fashion cop at January 02, 2024 12:16 PM (ufFY8)

357 The only video game I ever spent much time with was Luxor.

Khufu's Revenge was a bitch.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:12 PM (9yWhg)
***

Is Pong still a thing?

Posted by: Diogenes at January 02, 2024 12:16 PM (W/lyH)

358 New one. Biden.

Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:16 PM (CsUN+)

359

Yowza, thanks. Do you know her name?
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:15 PM (9yWhg)

Search link said Kelly Brook, but am not certain on that.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 12:16 PM (Zz0t1)

360 That love of money, yo...

Well the Framers said that The Republic they were making would only work of the people were virtuous. And...we're not. We stopped teaching or promoting virtue, sadly.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards
---------
Most political philosophers believed (before the latest madness) that the regime aka political institutions have to match the society in which they exist and that there is no universal template for success in governance.

Empires enable outsized fortunes to be made and wealthy people or concentrated powerful interest groups aka corporations etc then use their wealth for political power to bend a government to their own ends.

Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 12:16 PM (8IKKJ)

361 346 http://tinyurl.com/47xzbahw

How is she doing that? By which I mean stay upright.
Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:14 PM (CsUN+)

The comment got me to look. That one is a common one. That image is shopped I think. The original is still buxom, just not that much.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at January 02, 2024 12:17 PM (zZu0s)

362 I blame the Ukraine invasion on the US election stealers. Installing Biden was Putin's go-ahead.

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 12:08 PM (Sf2cq)

-------------

Biden's abandonment of Afghanistan was a YUGE green light.

Posted by: ShainS -- I saw the Crotch Goblins open for Poetic Ammo at January 02, 2024 12:17 PM (3ZWWS)

363 http://tinyurl.com/47xzbahw
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 12:13 PM (Zz0t1)

BUSTY!
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, anti-Marxist, buy ammo and keep your rifle by your side at January 02, 2024 12:15 PM

I'm going to be roasted for this, and probably lose my premium membership and any Horde cred I have with the Rons. But that's way too much bewb. It's kind of gross. I mean at some point they are too big. There. I said it.

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 12:18 PM (SzI2j)

364 Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:15 PM (RHGPo)

So the World Court is a valid group now? The Right is getting more like the Left everyday. I guess it is inevitable.

Posted by: Titanium White at January 02, 2024 12:18 PM (lCVt6)

365 Way too big.
Posted by: anchorbabe fashion cop

Nope.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at January 02, 2024 12:18 PM (9yWhg)

366
You know Trump would have defused the Ukrainian war by telling Zelensky and Putin that the only way Ukraine could join NATO is if Russia and Belorussia joined NATO at the same time as Ukraine.

You're in Nato and you're in NATO and you're in NATO...

Posted by: OprahNATO at January 02, 2024 12:18 PM (63Dwl)

367 NOODlum.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at January 02, 2024 12:18 PM (Zz0t1)

368 340 Finland is even talking about joining NATO.

I thought they already have.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus

Finland already has. Sweden has been held up by Turkish objections to the PKK Turkish Kurds holed up in Sweden that oppose Erdogan and his regime.

Posted by: whig at January 02, 2024 12:19 PM (8IKKJ)

369
How is she doing that? By which I mean stay upright.
Posted by: Archimedes at January 02, 2024 12:14 PM

Imagine what would happen if she was on Guam?

Posted by: Minnfidel at January 02, 2024 12:19 PM (SzI2j)

370 347 Donald Trump flew Epstein's airplane to Denver and shot up the CO supreme court building.
Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 02, 2024 12:14 PM (NYzgN)

There he goes again with his bull-in-a-china-shop schtick. He needs to moderate his impulses and be more presidential.

Posted by: Emmie at January 02, 2024 12:19 PM (Sf2cq)

371 One-Third of American Voters Believe Biden Did Not Win the 2020 Election, Poll

Majority in new poll say Jan. 6 was attack on democracy that should never be forgotten

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:19 PM (RHGPo)

372 Not warcrimes! (clutches pearls)

A court, and the western media has told me so.

Posted by: DOYLE at January 02, 2024 12:20 PM (Z8Yh2)

373 ".. Mexico or Guatemala or El Salvador or Nicaragua!

Oh...wait! That did happen, and American policy, both public and secret, pushed hard against any Soviet influence in those countries."

And now, and for some years, we give them $ and access to U.S. services, access into the country including temporary protected status to most on the list. We give them open borders for drug movement & we give them family unification rights, birthright citizenship, and pass out visas like they're grocery store coupons.

Posted by: L - Being Lady Macbeth for once at January 02, 2024 12:21 PM (GshMh)

374 Virtually every problem can be traced to narcissism and extreme atheists

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:24 PM (RHGPo)

375 Former President Donald Trump told Breitbart News exclusively that assuming he wins the GOP nomination for president again he will work to expand the universe of battleground states and aggressively compete against whoever Democrats nominate in states like New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota, and New Mexico.

Trump said he thinks he can compete in a number of states that Republicans have not won in many years in presidential elections.

Posted by: SMOD at January 02, 2024 12:26 PM (RHGPo)

376 #375
He also promised to show us his taxes

Posted by: Paul at January 02, 2024 12:28 PM (HAyhw)

377 His army has been exposed as mediocre...at best. Sure, he might want Poland, but the Polish army is a far different beast than the Ukrainians!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 02, 2024 12:05 PM (gSZYf)
==
Yes, if Russia got through Ukraine Poland would be on the radar, and Romania, and the Baltics. I think there is one non-nato member, Moldova?, they could go after.

Have they been proven militarily inept, yes, but size makes up for lots of stuff. I am happy to see everyone fighting in Eastern Ukraine, chewing each other up.

To your point, had we left Ukraine on their own, it probably would be over, and Poland and the Baltic's
would be immediately threatened. And that requires American bodies. I'd prefer to avoid that.

Posted by: Black JEM at January 02, 2024 12:28 PM (GZYu7)

378 #10: There is absolutely no reason for the U.S. to continue to support NATO. (Or the UN, but that's another matter.)
Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 02, 2024 11:04 AM (N1tpc)
=====
I respectfully beg to differ - it is precisely the same matter. Both organizations are corrupt to the core and antithetical to the interests of We The People specifically and freedom in general. A pox on both of their houses.

Posted by: Bonecrusher at January 02, 2024 12:30 PM (JNTt1)

379 Have you learned nothing about how ineffective foreign intervention is ?
After "winning" the ear in Iraq we have seen them go from Irans biggest enemy to their biggest friend. Russia just won the contract to developed their newest oil field. Iraq s oil goes to China.
After 20 years of Afghanistan war and occupation we finally gave up. Never once hearing an apology from the tightwing for pressuring the USA into that unnecessary and unwinnable war.

Posted by: Paul at January 02, 2024 12:36 PM (HAyhw)

380 Ukraine is next to Russia so you don't have to be.

Posted by: Tom Perry at January 02, 2024 01:20 PM (MX0bI)

381 Leaven all that with the knowledge that we are disliked so much in South America that only Brazil and Mexico participated in WW2. And today we are so disliked that there are a half-dozen countries actively helping our adversaries. Read the Monroe Doctrine and you’ll find the idea that America is for all Americans. But very little about what a friend North America will be to the South. And we’ll stick with Europe through NATO until the sun blows up. If I was in Central/South America my national interest would not align with anything the USA wants.

Posted by: JackWayne at January 02, 2024 02:38 PM (Ad+RI)

382 The only government that is more corrupt than Ukraine's is ours.

Posted by: Danimal28 at January 02, 2024 02:48 PM (klw0w)

383
"Russia is not a global power"

We used to think that Russia had the world's Number 2 military.

But now we understand that Russia just has the Number 2 military, in Ukraine.

Posted by: Speller at January 02, 2024 04:59 PM (pSotA)

384 All well and good.
Except . . .
It requires accepting a moral equivalence between the motives of United States with the Monroe Doctrine viz the European Great Powers of the 19th century, and the Soviet Union and their plans for Central America, and now Russia and their plans for Ukraine and other border territories.
Most directly, it requires accepting a moral equivalence between insisting that countries be allowed to be independent and consigning countries to domination.
The Monroe Doctrine and respecting spheres of influence is a poor reason for opposing supporting the corruption of Ukraine and those who provoked the conflict, and for opposing the pathetic excuse for diplomacy with Putin.

Posted by: Sam at January 02, 2024 06:53 PM (ohyxL)

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