French Police Arrest Founder of Messaging App Telegram

Robert F. Kennedy Jr
@RobertKennedyJr
France just arrested Pavel Durov, founder & CEO of the encrypted, uncensored Telegram platform. The need to protect free speech has never been more urgent.

France claims that Telegram isn't "doing enough" to crack down on "illegal speech."

Anyone who runs any kind of website runs the danger that people will post criminal solicitations. You can only do so much to stop it.

And it's not really your responsibility to stop it, anyway -- you're not the police.

The Regime is going after the Regime's enemies. Child porn is routinely posted on FaceBook, but Mark Zuckenberg is a loyal servant of the Regime, so he is excused.

People may be using Telegram to post messages that threaten the Regime, so
France -- probably at the connivance of the US/UK Censorship-Industrial Complex -- connives a fake arrest warrant.

Pavel Durov, the Russian-born founder of messaging app Telegram, was arrested in France as part of an investigation into crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions on the platform, French prosecutors said on Monday.

All of these happen on FaceBook. And Signal. And WhatsApp. And Venmo.

French President Emmanuel Macron, making the first official confirmation of Durov's arrest since he was detained at Le Bourget airport outside Paris on Saturday evening, said there was no political motive in the arrest, despite many false comments online.

Little warning to you little people: We arrested this guy for his speech platform. If we hear any of you peons spreading "false comments" about the Regime arresting him for political purposes, you'll be the next in the dock.

He added that France remains deeply committed to lawful free speech.

Sure, just like the US and UK.

...
In a subsequent statement, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Durov was arrested as part of a probe into an unnamed person launched by the office's cybercrime unit on July 8.
The investigation is over suspected complicity in various crimes including running an online platform that allows illicit transactions, child pornography, drug trafficking and fraud, as well as the refusal to communicate information to authorities, money laundering and providing cryptographic services to criminals, the statement said.

That's the real reason for arrest -- he wouldn't turn over innocent conversations to the Regime when demanded.

So they went looking for illicit communications on Telegraph -- which, again, can be found on every messaging app -- and got him arrested.

If you doubt that -- check this flashback from the Daily Caller.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov told Tucker Carlson in April the U.S. government contacted one of the platform's engineers to help them spy on users in an April interview.
"There was an attempt to hire my engineer behind my back by cyber security officers or agents," Durov told Tucker.
He said the U.S. government was attempting to persuade his engineer to use specific tools in Telegram's code that would grant governments access, enabling them to surveil users.
"You're confident that happened?" Tucker pressed Durov.
"Yes," he stated. "There is no reason for my engineer to make up these stories."
He claimed the FBI questioned him when he visited the U.S. When Tucker asked if he had committed a crime, Durov answered that the FBI was interested in Telegram.
"They knew I -- left Russia," he said. "They knew what we were doing, but they wanted details, and my understanding is that they wanted to establish a relationship in a way to control Telegram better."
The FBI declined to comment, and the U.S. Department of Defense directed the Caller to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). The ODNI has not immediately responded.

Ukranian agent-of-influence Alexander Vindman says the quiet part out loud and delights in the Deep State arresting all the people who disagree with him about politics and carbohydrate intake.

France arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov on Saturday and the Deep State's favorite dancing monkey could not be happier.
Alexander Vindman, the national security "expert" of impeachment fame, now has a warning for anyone who would resist the coming storm of censorship.
Durov was "arrested for violating French law," Vindman wrote on X, but the arrest has "broader implications." It's just the beginning; there's a "growing appetite" for this sort of thing. "Musk should be nervous," he concluded, forebodingly.
Of course, Vindman is just the id of the liberal establishment. He's saying the quiet part out loud.

As Vindman notes in another tweet, France is ostensibly going after Durov for "all manner of criminal activity, including child porn" allegedly on the platform. But it's obviously just a pretext. Durov refused to bow to Vladimir Putin and censor speech on his platform in Russia. He fled to the West thinking it'd be safe. But now the supposedly liberal West is doing what even Putin wouldn't: they arrested him because he won't silence dissenting voices.
So while Vindman himself is a two-bit toady, he's right in the long-run. Durov's Telegram is mostly a threat to the Russia-Ukraine narrative. While Western elites love waging a good foreign proxy war, this won't ultimately hurt their bottom line. Musk's Twitter, on the other hand, has the power to shape the narrative back in the West.
...
Twitter is an existential threat to the regime's power across the West. And you can be they're not finished with Elon Musk just yet.

Update:

@oksana311231
The UAE unilaterally suspended the contract for the purchase of 80 French fighter jets because of Durov's arrest.
In addition, the UAE is considering a complete blockade of trade operations with France, including those related to the military-industrial complex.
Posted by: weft cut-loop

Good. It's time for 100% tariffs on all goods from the EU -- and especially from the UK.

Fuck them. Get out of NATO. Let them fight Russia themselves.

Whoops: I wrote "Telegraph" instead of Telegram a couple of times, including in the headline.

I've heard it both ways.

Pictured: Diabetes 1 and Diabetes 2 https://t.co/8bendwglLy
— Ace of Spades (@AceofSpadesHQ) August 27, 2024

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 05:23 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Now you can be arrested for not censoring other people,according to the EU.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:23 PM (lTGtQ)

2 >>>1 Now you can be arrested for not censoring other people,according to the EU.

it's incredible. It's time for 100% tariffs on european goods and services.

Posted by: ace at August 27, 2024 05:24 PM (KRtlO)

3 Oh, about that...

@oksana311231
·
3h
The UAE unilaterally suspended the contract for the purchase of 80 French fighter jets because of Durov's arrest.
In addition, the UAE is considering a complete blockade of trade operations with France, including those related to the military-industrial complex.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at August 27, 2024 05:25 PM (IG4Id)

4 Hola

Posted by: Thanatopsis at August 27, 2024 05:25 PM (ZUxK6)

5 Our European "allies" are a bigger danger to the average American then Vlad. Or probably Xi.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 27, 2024 05:26 PM (oZhjI)

6 Telegraph? I. thought it was Telegram

Posted by: SAHMmy at August 27, 2024 05:26 PM (c8bGC)

7 Oh, I think I know what Elon's response will be to that.

Posted by: hobbitopoly at August 27, 2024 05:26 PM (k9OZB)

8 Trump should announce that if this disturbing trend isn't renounced that he'll recall American ambassadors to every EU country within his first week of office.

Posted by: Crusader at August 27, 2024 05:27 PM (U4ek1)

9 Willowed sexism:
---
Kumala can't do an interview on her own?

Posted by: Ben Had at August 27, 2024 05:24 PM (qLP0s)
---
That's sexism!

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:27 PM (krQz2)

10 The UAE unilaterally suspended the contract for the purchase of 80 French fighter jets because of Durov's arrest.
In addition, the UAE is considering a complete blockade of trade operations with France, including those related to the military-industrial complex.

Posted by: weft cut-loop

Good deal. France, along with Britain and Germany are not even run by the parties that have majority support. Time to destroy their economies until the people begin bringing pitchforks to their capitals.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:27 PM (lTGtQ)

11 Oh, I think I know what Elon's response will be to that.

Posted by: hobbitopoly at August 27, 2024 05:26 PM (k9OZB)
_______________

ESAD?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:28 PM (YqDXo)

12 >>>Child porn is routinely posted on FaceBook

Link?

Posted by: Win Talz at August 27, 2024 05:28 PM (Y1sOo)

13 Way too many people have drank the Ukraine Kool-Aid… Reynolds and Greene come to mind.

Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:28 PM (PCK5/)

14 Desperate tyrants put people in prison for expressing their opinions.

Posted by: Eromero at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (LHPAg)

15 “Without knowing what you know, the enemy cannot confidently lie to you.”— Angelo Codevilla (Informing Statecraft)

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (EXyHK)

16 Ace, I believe the EU and UK will issue arrest warrants for US citizens and ask the US to serve and enforce the warrant.

At that point, US attorneys will threaten the defendant with the process and make sure there's no possibility of appeal.

Or, they'll ship the defendant to the other country then say, "Oopsie" if it's then ruled what the US did was unconstitutional.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (tT6L1)

17 I meant Wim, not Win.

Posted by: Wim Talz at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (Y1sOo)

18 What does this have to do with cremating dead cats?

Posted by: wth at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (v0R5T)

19 Telegraph was also being used by the Russian military... which is why the EU wanted control over it. You know, just like the Internet itself was built by DARPA for communications in case of Nuclear War.

CEO was saying... Nyet...

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (xaFKb)

20 Maybe it will emerge that his arrest was for ... some felony entirely unrelated to speech? I'd give this at least 72 hours.

Posted by: m at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (64Zez)

21 This is going to be a penultimate demonstration of Nassim Nicholas Taleb's Least Tolerant Group theory.

One country will just make blatant censorious laws and they will claim the right to jail somebody who's content is visible in their country because it's "breaking our laws".

It could well be a race to the bottom.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (krQz2)

22 And that's why we can't have nice things?

The argument is an old one. "Because bad people can abuse ________, we're going to ban it." Cash was "drug dealers use it!" back in the 1960s. Well, yeah no shit. What else would they be using? Why am I being punished? "Large bills" withdrawn from circulation. They aren't unlawful, but the banks don't send them out. When I was a little kid, a $20 bill would buy a lot of groceries.

You'll hear people today - the usual asshats in politics, "we need to get rid of large denomination bills", and that means the $100. That buys a carton of smokes. Really? They should bring back coins that have a nice face value. Say a $500 coin. Lose that fucker down the couch it'll hurt.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 27, 2024 05:31 PM (Nuidk)

23 weft-cut, that's very interesting, thanks. UAE doing the right thing. Yes it's not yet there and requires some things to fall into place, but I think the future for Russian-designed military jet engine production under license, and not just in India, is looking pretty spectacular. There could be many new customers, as the "west" and US continue to morph into grotesque caricatures.

There may be several wheels turning with the Durov thing. What remains astonishing is that he didn't avoid France. With his money, he should have a team that helps him avoid such obvious errors.

Posted by: rhomboid at August 27, 2024 05:31 PM (GcNJ2)

24 If any of you believe what Mike Benz has been saying over the last year or so and I do you should check out his take on this situation.

He is 100% convinced the US intel community is deeply involved in this situation and it goes way behind basic censorship.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 27, 2024 05:31 PM (LkLld)

25 12 >>>Child porn is routinely posted on FaceBook

Link?
Posted by: Win Talz at August 27, 2024 05:28 PM (Y1sOo)

Ask yer buddy.... Joe Biden...

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:31 PM (xaFKb)

26 I don’t get it. Leftists love kiddie porn and sexual exploitation of minors. They brag about it and hold public sex shows with and for minors. So this Telegram guy was arrested in connection with child sex. Why? Did they arrest him because he didn’t do enough to promote underage porn and sex trafficking on his app?

Posted by: Elric Blade at August 27, 2024 05:31 PM (d+6K7)

27 20 Maybe it will emerge that his arrest was for ... some felony entirely unrelated to speech? I'd give this at least 72 hours.
Posted by: m at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (64Zez)

Seems about the right time for fabricating a story…

Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:31 PM (PCK5/)

28 6 Telegraph? I. thought it was Telegram
Posted by: SAHMmy at August 27, 2024 05:26 PM (c8bGC)

"Candygram."

Posted by: m at August 27, 2024 05:32 PM (64Zez)

29 @ 8 And get our tactical nukes out of Europe...and shut down our military bases. And end the 5 Eyes crap.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at August 27, 2024 05:32 PM (73voq)

30 Macron et sa femme travestie vont se faire foutre. Venez me chercher, imbéciles.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (Lp05i)

31

So far, RFK Jr. is looking positively Jeffersonian!!!!!

As opposed to the kinzingers of this nation.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (x0n13)

32 If I were Musk, I would never leave the state of Texas. He will have his plane forced down in some European hellhole and put in a gulag.

Vindman is such a disgusting cuck.

Posted by: Lacra at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (4pwAx)

33 And get our tactical nukes out of Europe...and shut down our military bases. And end the 5 Eyes crap.
Posted by: Big Fat Meanie

You forgot recall our ambassadors.

Posted by: MkY at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (cPGH3)

34 All that blood and treasure expended 80 years ago, and they end up with smiley-face fascism instead of blood-and-soil fascism.

Fuck em. Pull all of our troops, funding, special status, etc.

Posted by: Dworkin Barimen at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (91mQg)

35 24 If any of you believe what Mike Benz has been saying over the last year or so and I do you should check out his take on this situation.

He is 100% convinced the US intel community is deeply involved in this situation and it goes way behind basic censorship.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 27, 2024 05:31 PM (LkLld)

And in other Teck News... US Navy ships are now installing EarthLink dishes... so their crews can have full time internet and communications.

How this ties in with basic Emission Control... or operational security? baffles me.

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (xaFKb)

36 Let them fight Russia themselves.

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 05:23 PM

I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)

37 We are in the last stages of modern tyranny. They have lost the popular support of the people, so they illegally change the rules to stay in power; they have lost the ability to control the narrative with the spread of alternate media, so they will threaten everyone who doesn't censor their customers. Soon, they will just start imprisoning or killing anyone who does not agree, ala Pol Pot.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (lTGtQ)

38 Ou alors, Macron et sa femme travestie peuvent aller se faire baiser.

Posted by: Marcus T at August 27, 2024 05:34 PM (Lp05i)

39 Here's hoping Vindman finally finds a suiting prison cell. There is an increasing appetite for that fat bastard to find his fat ass in Hell.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 27, 2024 05:34 PM (pohLc)

40 Telegraph was also being used by the Russian military... which is why the EU wanted control over it.
_______________

Let's face it, the EU wants control over everything.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:34 PM (YqDXo)

41 Dear Europeans,

You suck. Europe isn't the center of the universe. Your silly metric system is retarded. You are a bunch of arrogant, entitled crybabies and no one likes you. You are useless in war or peace.
What is the point of you, exactly?
Do please fuck right off with your superiority, your arrogance, your ignorance, and your censorship.
Go fuck yourselves with a rotting coconut and don't forget to light it on fire first.

Regards
Mayhem

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at August 27, 2024 05:34 PM (4XwPj)

42 That's the real reason for arrest -- he wouldn't turn over innocent conversations to the Regime when demanded.
++++
Innocent, guilty, it doesn't matter. The core problem is that Telegram wouldn't turn it off.

Monitoring signals - that is, spying on people - requires (or should) due process if the government wants to force the issue (the platform refuses to hand it over without paperwork).

The problem the states have with secure messaging services is that a lot of them don't cooperate without all the legal niceties rigmarole. Some of the platforms - I am not sure about Telegram - *can't* comply with state demands for information, because they don't have it. Some are both anonymous and obfuscated and unlogged, so the information demanded may actually not exist.

Crime is one reason for this. Privacy is another. Subversive political speech and coordination is another, and is probably the real reason that such platforms are universally hated. Having forced dissent off of the public internet, it is moving into private clubs. They likely don't care about child porn or terrorism anything like as much as they care about subversives.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:35 PM (HnUIn)

43 He is 100% convinced the US intel community is deeply involved in this situation and it goes way behind basic censorship.
Posted by: JackStraw

===
Is that even a question now? They're basically dancing in the end zone when asked are they behind it.

Posted by: Lacra at August 27, 2024 05:35 PM (4pwAx)

44 "The need to protect free speech has never been more urgent."
-wormbrain.
Still feel that way if I say 'Global Warming' is bullshit? ...didn't think so. GFY, wormbrain.

Posted by: Hypocrite Hater at August 27, 2024 05:35 PM (+O9wO)

45
May not be related at all but Putin's messages on the platform recently came to light.

Stuff that should make the hair on the back of your neck stand up in horror.

People shouldn't see that though, while France sends soldiers to Ukraine to kick off the opening ceremonies of WWIII.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 27, 2024 05:35 PM (RKVpM)

46
He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Putin has sat in the parts of Ukraine he wants for well over a year mostly leaving Western Ukraine alone.

And, to be honest, its not clear Putin is any worse then most of the other continental despots either the National Socialists in Germany or the weirdo with a mommy fetish in France.

Posted by: 18-1 at August 27, 2024 05:35 PM (oZhjI)

47 20 Maybe it will emerge that his arrest was for ... some felony entirely unrelated to speech? I'd give this at least 72 hours.
Posted by: m at August 27, 2024 05:30 PM (64Zez)

Rape allegations in Sweden?
Child trafficking in Romania?

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (xaFKb)

48 Was going to spend 3 days in the UK this November. Now I'm going to Ireland instead. Fuck them.

Posted by: joseph dickerson at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (JTyPA)

49 Messing with Telegram or nuking it altogether won't change anything on the ground in eastern Ukraine. Probably nothing will. The snail's pace confirms the very limited capabilities of the offense (Russian side), but looks like the sort of situation that could have cascading events at any time. Still a chance facts on the ground could reach a decisive or even terminal point prior to the election.

Posted by: rhomboid at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (GcNJ2)

50 I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)
_________________

Uh ... no.

And what's this "we" business?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (YqDXo)

51 >>>Telegraph? I. thought it was Telegram

I've heard it both ways, Jack!

Posted by: Sean Spencer, psychic, dreamer, Jack-Tagger at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (KRtlO)

52 Durov was "arrested for violating French law," Vindman wrote on X, but the arrest has "broader implications." It's just the beginning; there's a "growing appetite" for this sort of thing. "Musk should be nervous," he concluded, forebodingly.
++++
Why? X and Telegram (or any of the others) are not similar to each other.

Other, of course, than being objects of Party hatred. That is, of course, what he means.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (HnUIn)

53 He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)
------------

I think Tulsi Gabbard made the point Ukraine is much worse than people realize, because of our treaty obligations under article 5. It gets invoked, we're in Europe fighting Russia. (hopefully, someone with better knowledge can fill in or correct me if I'm wrong)

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (tT6L1)

54 The way these guys are going, they will be arresting Trump next. Seems like every one else wants to.

Posted by: Diogenes at August 27, 2024 05:37 PM (W/lyH)

55 Fat, Zelenskyy lackey, and stupid is no way to go through life, Bearclaw.

Posted by: Dean Wormer at August 27, 2024 05:37 PM (hqVaF)

56 Werner is puzzled that no one in the media has yet to mention the contingent of Frau Harris's campaign staff from Miskatonic University. It is not as if they were not prominent during the DNC. One need only look at the campaign platform which, between a pledge to supply every woman with a cat and mandatory free piggy back rides for every undocumented alien which the US citizens must take upon, includes the telling phrase "Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn." along with calls for a volume called the Necrinomicon in every grade school library. When Werner inquired about this, he was told to take it up with the "Mad Arab" Abdul Alhazred, but he was notably absent. My inquiries about the fleshy appendages eminating from the mouths of the 'Lovecraft Project" members led only to a lecture about respecting the dignity of tentacled-Americans.

Werner ks somewhat confused, uncertain why someone named Dagon is slated to become Secretary of the Navy, or the meaning of someone dreaming in his house R'lyeh such that what is not dead can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die. Has this been focused-grouped, I inquired of the Harris minions? Ach.

Posted by: Werner Herzog Has Opinions at August 27, 2024 05:37 PM (tmPIh)

57 I've heard it both ways.
++++
Little Column 'A," little Column 'B.'

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:37 PM (HnUIn)

58 Was going to spend 3 days in the UK this November. Now I'm going to Ireland instead. Fuck them.
Posted by: joseph dickerson

You will not regret that decision - just returned from both of them. Ireland is grand.

The UK? Not so much.

Posted by: Tonypete at August 27, 2024 05:37 PM (WXNFJ)

59 We will have earned God's judgment so many times over before he puts us to bed.

When he stopped us from "doing anything" at Babel, this was the crap he was talking about.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:37 PM (krQz2)

60 Rape allegations in Sweden?
Child trafficking in Romania?

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (xaFKb)
______________

Making a snarky remark about Muslims in Britain?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:37 PM (YqDXo)

61 And, to be honest, its not clear Putin is any worse then most of the other continental despots either the National Socialists in Germany or the weirdo with a mommy fetish in France.
Posted by: 18-1 at August 27, 2024 05:35 PM (oZhjI)

Rusia is in a Robber Baron phase of Capitalism
EU is going full bore on Socialism.

Wow, what a difference 30 years makes.

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:37 PM (xaFKb)

62 Lawful free speech. Hmmm. For some reason that concept troubles me.

Posted by: Northernlurker , wondering where his phone is at August 27, 2024 05:38 PM (FfSAJ)

63 Simplify it. It's sort of like the Bell System canceling your phone service in 1972 because they overheard you talking to aunt Betty that you were going to vote for Ed Muskie.

Now it's global. Stripped of all the "platform". What happens, who has "jurisdiction" when somebody from the UK calls me on my phone, or vice versa.

"King James the I is a big poopy-head" says the Brit. Or whatever passes for subversive speech.

Why is it the PHONE COMPANY that is supposed to take care of this? See where I'm going with this?

Posted by: Common Tater at August 27, 2024 05:38 PM (Nuidk)

64 Was going to spend 3 days in the UK this November. Now I'm going to Ireland instead. Fuck them.

Posted by: joseph dickerson at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM

Not sure even Ireland is safe at this point. England and Scotland are fvcked for sure but it is going to bleed over to Ireland soon. I would love to go to Scotland and do the tourist thing but I am 85% confident that I would get arrested for some speech crime or something.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at August 27, 2024 05:39 PM (QNSds)

65 I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

But it is only a minor war.... I thought I heard that somewhere today.
Probably to the tune of about 800,000 dead on both sides.
And it has been suggested in some quarters that the Ukraine offensive into Kursk was not only planned with a lot of US help, but likely "NATO" mercenaries (detailed soldiers?) were part of the offensive; UK , Polish and US troops (?).
They had to have a lot of overhead surveillance from the US to know where the weak spot was in the Russian lines.

Posted by: A face in the crowd..... at August 27, 2024 05:39 PM (vcOmj)

66 Why? X and Telegram (or any of the others) are not similar to each other.

Other, of course, than being objects of Party hatred. That is, of course, what he means.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (HnUIn)
---
I'll take Things That Have Not Yet Bent the Knee for $1000, Alex.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:39 PM (krQz2)

67 So so 1984….

Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:39 PM (PCK5/)

68 Europe can go to hell. Let them save themselves.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (pohLc)

69 I was thrilled to hear RFK Jr admit publicly on live TV that the US overthrew the legitimate government of Ukraine, installed a new one, and that the new government began killing civilians in the Donbass immediately.

I'm surprised that any network let that get on the air.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (lTGtQ)

70
The scary part of what Durov told Tucker was the part about putting "open source tools" into his system. That's what the US intel agents were trying to get his engineer to do.

That tells us that a lot of these open-soruce crypto routines are utterly compromised/backdoored by the NSA and their Five Eyes buddies.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (w6EFb)

71 Headline Brussels News
26 August 2024
Tens of thousands demonstrate against AfD after stabbings in Solingen
____

I was half-joking saying the German establishment was going to use the stabbings by a muslim 'refugee' as an excuse to crack down on the 'far right' AfD. But I didn't imagine that the German people would be that thoughtless and stupid.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (ZZdCA)

72 >>He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Enter the war? We frigging started the war and have been funding it through our proxy Ukraine for 2 years.

The idea that Putin was ever going to go beyond Ukraine was fucking stupid when it was first used as an excuse to drag us deeper into the war and it remains fucking stupid. Putin wasn't interested in rebuilding the Soviet Union, he was interested in keeping us out of his neighborhood just like we have spent the decades since WWII fighting against communist expansion.

People need to stop listening the corrupt media that is doing nothing than pushing uniparty propaganda.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (LkLld)

73 Fuck them. Get out of NATO. Let them fight Russia themselves.

Is there a scientific term for the observed lag in time between the adoption of rightwing beliefs by Ace that he previously expressed disagreement with when they were stated by commenters?

Posted by: Lolbot2000 at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (NCsQU)

74 He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo
---
Did you inform him that that's kind of Slippery Slope argument?

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (krQz2)

75 I think Tulsi Gabbard made the point Ukraine is much worse than people realize, because of our treaty obligations under article 5
--------

Ukraine isn't part of NATO. Has anybody informed Gabbard this? Further, new countries cannot be incorporated into NATO if they are at war.

Weird, huh?

Posted by: Common Tater at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (Nuidk)

76
I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)

Posted by: Otherwise Intelligent British Lawyer at August 27, 2024 05:41 PM (eDfFs)

77 I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Continental Europe would be better off.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:41 PM (lTGtQ)

78 Simplify it. It's sort of like the Bell System canceling your phone service in 1972 because they overheard you talking to aunt Betty that you were going to vote for Ed Muskie. ...
Posted by: Common Tater at August 27, 2024 05:38 PM (Nuidk)
++++
Not exactly, I don't think. From Ace's commentary:
So they went looking for illicit communications on Telegraph -- which, again, can be found on every messaging app -- and got him arrested.

So in your analogy of the phone company, it's like cops randomly cold-called phone numbers (assume those numbers are anonymous on both ends) and asked whoever answered, "hey, you wanna help me murder a guy?" Upon hearing, "yeah, I could swing that," they then went to the phone company and demanded the customer database and all information about the comms.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:41 PM (HnUIn)

79 as part of an investigation into crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions on the platform

Just don't investigate TOO hard, eh, boys?

Posted by: Brussels at August 27, 2024 05:41 PM (710OU)

80 Trump Jan 30, 2025: "I have ordered Google, a US corporation, one that receives billions of tax-payer dollars, to temporarily stop all activity in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The UK government's abrogation of civil liberties is a very stupid and dangerous thing. The UK government's abuse of its citizens is a step too far in this special relationship. If they will not cease all arrests for free speech or political activity, it will be permanent. Thank you and God Bless."

Posted by: weft cut-loop at August 27, 2024 05:41 PM (IG4Id)

81 I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo
________________

Then, having said that, he went on to characterize Americans as bloodthirsty warmongers, amirite?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:41 PM (YqDXo)

82 The US needs to leave NATO. Europe is just a parasite seeing how much they can suck us dry.

Posted by: Lacra at August 27, 2024 05:42 PM (4pwAx)

83 Short conversation with a cow-orker:
Him: if things keep getting worse, Immona move my family to Europe.
Me: Europe is overrated.
Him: Better than the US.
Me: I lived in Europe for three years. America is way better.
Him: --

At least he knew not to test me. he's a good guy, just, well, marginally leftist IMO

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 05:42 PM (Ad8y9)

84
Ukraine isn't part of NATO. Has anybody informed Gabbard this? Further, new countries cannot be incorporated into NATO if they are at war.

Weird, huh?
Posted by: Common Tater at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (Nuidk)
-------------

I think her point was a NATO country invoking article 5 because of the war in Ukraine.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at August 27, 2024 05:42 PM (tT6L1)

85 Insert joke regarding the cessation of glue addiction in the context of timing and circumstance.

Posted by: Max Power at August 27, 2024 05:42 PM (q177U)

86 Any wonder that McAfee went bugnuts crazy?

Or, was he?

/awiens!

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at August 27, 2024 05:42 PM (kQgoX)

87 Tens of thousands demonstrate against AfD after stabbings in Solingen

Sure, Jan.

Posted by: Common Tater at August 27, 2024 05:43 PM (Nuidk)

88 Macron?

Didn't he used to be President?

Posted by: Gentlemen, whatever at August 27, 2024 05:43 PM (12f/V)

89 Trump indicted again

Posted by: Don Black at August 27, 2024 05:43 PM (/7KEl)

90 1 Now you can be arrested for not censoring other people,according to the EU.

i remember back in the day being told that the eu legislated the curviness of a banana.

Posted by: anachronda at August 27, 2024 05:43 PM (oY6Yp)

91 16 Ace, I believe the EU and UK will issue arrest warrants for US citizens and ask the US to serve and enforce the warrant.

At that point, US attorneys will threaten the defendant with the process and make sure there's no possibility of appeal.

Or, they'll ship the defendant to the other country then say, "Oopsie" if it's then ruled what the US did was unconstitutional.

Posted by: blake
=======
The IC is being stupid going after rich oligarchs. That will force them into a shotgun marriage with Trump and other disreputables to save their own skins.

Our ship of state is riddled with fools, poltroons, and traitors. Such a ship founders and sinks in any emergency.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 05:43 PM (kW+z9)

92 But it is only a minor war.... I thought I heard that somewhere today.
Probably to the tune of about 800,000 dead on both sides.

Posted by: A face in the crowd..... at August 27, 2024 05:39 PM (vcOmj)

Yes. You heard it here...this morning, and I wrote it.

Why is a messy border war in eastern Europe our problem?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (d9fT1)

93 At the rate things are going our “ military” will not be much of a threat before too long… there’s a movement by our betters in that direction.

Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (PCK5/)

94 Short conversation with a cow-orker:
Him: if things keep getting worse, Immona move my family to Europe.
Me: Europe is overrated.
Him: Better than the US.
Me: I lived in Europe for three years. America is way better.
Him: --

At least he knew not to test me. he's a good guy, just, well, marginally leftist IMO

Posted by: Pug Mahon,

Having been to many, many countries on the dime of my employer, I can readily say that they are all markedly inferior. All of them.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (lTGtQ)

95 89 Trump indicted again

this clearly demonstrates the depth of the perfidy of orangemanbad. if he did nothing wrong, he'd have nothing to fear.

Posted by: anachronda at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (oY6Yp)

96 Is there a scientific term for the observed lag in time between the adoption of rightwing beliefs by Ace that he previously expressed disagreement with when they were stated by commenters?
Posted by: Lolbot2000

Is there a list of them?

Posted by: SFGoth at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (KAi1n)

97 Why is it the PHONE COMPANY that is supposed to take care of this? See where I'm going with this?
Posted by: Common Tater

The Phone Company? You mean "TPC"?

Posted by: The President's Analyst at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (vcOmj)

98 Trump indicted a second time in election subversion case brought by special counsel Jack Smith

Posted by: Don Black at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (/7KEl)

99 89 Trump indicted again
Posted by: Don Black at August 27, 2024 05:43 PM (/7KEl)

Day ending in Y….

Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (PCK5/)

100 >>>The idea that Putin was ever going to go beyond Ukraine was fucking stupid when it was first used as an excuse to drag us deeper into the war and it remains fucking stupid. Putin wasn't interested in rebuilding the Soviet Union, he was interested in keeping us out of his neighborhood just like we have spent the decades since WWII fighting against communist expansion.

The domino theory goes on and on and on and on...

The premise is always: If you want to avoid the next war, you have to fight THIS war. And the number of "THIS WARs" we have to fight is always growing.

Weirdly, it never seems to result in the Peace In Our Time we're promised it will.

Posted by: ace at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (KRtlO)

101 I think her point was a NATO country invoking article 5 because of the war in Ukraine.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at August 27, 2024 05:42 PM (tT6L1)
---
I can't help but notice that DC is definitely talking about putting Ukraine into NATO.

So, I think that's why Tulsi mentioned it.

It seems like DC wants to make World War a trilogy.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (krQz2)

102 41 Dear Europeans,
...
What is the point of you, exactly?
Do please fuck right off with your superiority, your arrogance, your ignorance, and your censorship.
Go fuck yourselves with a rotting coconut and don't forget to light it on fire first.

Regards
Mayhem
Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench)

Haha! I love you.

*Not in a gay way.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (OX9vb)

103 Short conversation with a cow-orker:
Him: if things keep getting worse, Immona move my family to Europe.
Me: Europe is overrated.
Him: Better than the US.
Me: I lived in Europe for three years. America is way better.
Him: --

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 05:42 PM (Ad8y9)
__________________

You were right on both counts.

Notice how such people never consider moving to Japan?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (YqDXo)

104 Gor'Blimey! I shall try once more for King and Country.

I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)

Bloody hell, CBD!

Those Russkie fellers have those pointy things on the end of their rifles. Those...those whatdoyoucallits that look like cocktail toothpicks.

Only large! Like very large cocktail toothpicks right on the end of their rifles.

Not cricket if you ask me, old bean!

Posted by: Otherwise Intelligent British Lawyer at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (eDfFs)

105 There's even more to this.
Telegram is one of the leading communication for crypto traders.
And is setting itself up as the Web3 platform.
He's launched his own crypto, The Open Network, TON, that was seeing huge growth as developers adopt it for payments.

On top of the communication is audio and video; games; buying and selling crypto in-app, making payments internationally via the app; secure encrypted data storage.

There's a lot going on in that app.

But it's building back the freedom of the internet we had 20 years ago before all the big tech companies walled it off.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (VAkB9)

106 The IC is being stupid going after rich oligarchs. That will force them into a shotgun marriage with Trump and other disreputables to save their own skins.

Posted by: whig

They already are. If Trump is not elected, Musk will be arrested.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (lTGtQ)

107 Why is a messy border war in eastern Europe our problem?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (d9fT1)

Just guessing -- maybe they can't keep it going without our help?

Posted by: Emmie at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (Sf2cq)

108 At the rate things are going our “ military” will not be much of a threat before too long… there’s a movement by our betters in that direction.

Seeing as how I'm more likely to be attacked by the US military than the Russians or Chinese at this point ? Demolish away current overlords. Break the stick you'll otherwise beat me with.

Posted by: Remember When at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (dVxi/)

109 Well it's the old "is it a platform or a provider" and all that nonsense.

They want it both ways. 3 ways, whatever. And the ability to kick anybody off the internet that they don't like. Or "debank" them. Un-employ them. Un-person them. Demonize them.

Gee, I wonder what the logical extension of something like that would be, given more time. More demagoguery. Hm...

Posted by: Common Tater at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (Nuidk)

110 I wonder if they (France) granted him citizenship, as a trap - to arrest him.

Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (V13WU)

111 Then, having said that, he went on to characterize Americans as bloodthirsty warmongers, amirite?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:41 PM (YqDXo)

He was brighter than that, but he could not shake his insane belief that America must be the savior of everyone at all times. He didn't like it when I suggested that Europe's young men should die first.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (d9fT1)

112 He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Continental Europe would be better off.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:41 PM (lTGtQ)

Eu has 3 times the population, and 8 times the GDP of Russia...

Aint no way they go all the way to the channel.

And that does not even count folks who are part of NATO but not the EU... 981 Million. NATO combined GDP? 46 Trillion... Russia? 1.5 Trillion.

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (xaFKb)

113 He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

This gives me hope. We don't have all of the stupid people.

Posted by: t-bird at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (fDXgc)

114 Trump indicted a second time in election subversion case brought by special counsel Jack Smith

Too bad congress won't use it's oversight powers to remove that illegally appointed asshole.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (dZVON)

115 I would not go to war for OUR government. This government loathes me, why would I shed the blood of myself, my kids, or grandkids for a government that calls me MAGA and deplorable? A government of oligarchs? Fuck that action.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (pohLc)

116 Really ace, it's

Diabeeetuzh and Diaaaabetozh

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (Ydd86)

117 People shouldn't see that though, while France sends soldiers to Ukraine to kick off the opening ceremonies of WWIII.
Posted by: Divide by Zero
_____

Opening ceremonies? I'm available.

Posted by: Guy who created opening ceremony fiasco for Paris olympics at August 27, 2024 05:47 PM (ZZdCA)

118 Having been to many, many countries on the dime of my employer, I can readily say that they are all markedly inferior. All of them.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (lTGtQ)
_________________

This.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:47 PM (YqDXo)

119 I think Elon should sponsor all his employees to get "full auto" licensing.

Posted by: pawn at August 27, 2024 05:47 PM (QB+5g)

120 Let this be a lesson.

You need to ask yourself, Ace, am I doing enough to crack down on irresponsible comments on my own website?

And while I'm here -- Let's see some ID. Yes, all of you.

Posted by: Nikki Haley at August 27, 2024 05:47 PM (XInJa)

121 People shouldn't see that though, while France sends soldiers to Ukraine to kick off the opening ceremonies of WWIII...

Posted by: Divide by Zero
________________

... and then surrendering.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:48 PM (YqDXo)

122 Elon Musk is shaking in his anti-gravity boots.

Posted by: wth at August 27, 2024 05:48 PM (v0R5T)

123 24 If any of you believe what Mike Benz has been saying over the last year or so and I do you should check out his take on this situation.

He is 100% convinced the US intel community is deeply involved in this situation and it goes way behind basic censorship.
Posted by: JackStraw

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

I believe about 80% of what he says. He seems to have one model that he applies to every situation. This model is mostly right, but there are other forces at work which he totally discounts.

Posted by: Gentlemen, whatever at August 27, 2024 05:48 PM (12f/V)

124 had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)

he is mentally inert, so how can he be intelligent ???

Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 05:48 PM (V13WU)

125
Is there a scientific term for the observed lag in time between the adoption of rightwing beliefs by Ace that he previously expressed disagreement with when they were stated by commenters?

Posted by: Lolbot2000 at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM

I remember seeing a warning from Ace to lay off the Ukraine stuff many many months ago. Like power drills with forward and backward switches, he's sometimes a little slow to figure stuff out.

But he's still good.

What 'Bobby' had to say about Ukraine? Dynamite stuff. Dead on. He *gets* it. Every fvcking word.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (RKVpM)

126 The domino theory had some truth because Soviet Russia had an ideology seeking world domination.

Putin is a Russian nationalist that went to war because Ukraine was murdering Russians. Or "took advantage of the fact" it doesn't matter which way you take it.

That doesn't lead to him using it to conquer Western Europe. Remember when he went to war with Georgia? Notice he didn't conquer the whole part? And unlike Germany or France Georgia is not full of gay National Socialists and muslim welfare deadbeats...

Posted by: 18-1 at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (oZhjI)

127 93 At the rate things are going our “ military” will not be much of a threat before too long… there’s a movement by our betters in that direction.
Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:44 PM (PCK5/)

Just look at Recruitment and Retention numbers.

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (xaFKb)

128 The UAE? It's freakin crazy world out there.

Posted by: Dark Force Thirsting For Power at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (vTTFR)

129 Notice how such people never consider moving to Japan?
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (YqDXo)

Japan would be cool. For once I would feel tall. I know I would be gaijin, but I would not feel like my life was in danger. Also, sushi and sashimi.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (Ad8y9)

130 I'd say if Musk didn't have SpaceX they would already have arrested him for something

Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (IyPmt)

131 And while I'm here -- Let's see some ID. Yes, all of you.

Posted by: Nikki Haley at August 27, 2024 05:47 PM (XInJa)
______________

I'll show you my ID.

Wait just a sec - my zipper is stuck.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (YqDXo)

132 This link from yesterday's tech thread is worthy of a visit if you want to know how Telegram isn't an encrypted messaging app.

https://tinyurl.com/44u9t7tf

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (tiaci)

133 No blake there's no NATO angle, as Common Tater explained. Of course all countries can do whatever they please, unilaterally or in concert with others, but within NATO's mechanisms it's very unlikely the Uke thing could be made an alliance operation (there's already a huge alliance assistance and coordination effort, of course).

The idiotic talk about Russian war aims extending beyond what was obviously a political quick-kill strategy are what one would expect for the cretinized public and elites these days. And as I alluded to above, Russian military capability remains a tiny shadow of a fraction of Soviet capability, esp. in ground offensive action. The two sides have been grappling and bleeding over an area the size of a middling US state (something like that) for going on 2 *years*. Very close to Bernard Lewis' classic re Iran/Iraq at the outset in 1980: a resistible force meeting a moveable object.

Posted by: rhomboid at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (GcNJ2)

134 Was going to spend 3 days in the UK this November. Now I'm going to Ireland instead. Fuck them.
Posted by: joseph dickerson

I can't find the reference now, but there's a small town of about 200 citizens in Ireland that just received a shipment of over 200 'foreign nationals' sent their by the Irish government for settlement.

Things are not better in Ireland if that story is true.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at August 27, 2024 05:50 PM (IG4Id)

135 If we made jewelry out of every civil servant across the West that wanted us dead or wished us harm....

I guess we'd be making life sized statues...

Posted by: Stateless at August 27, 2024 05:50 PM (jvJvP)

136 128 The UAE? It's freakin crazy world out there.
Posted by: Dark Force Thirsting For Power at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (vTTFR)

That's what I thought... They're not exactly a bastion of free speech

Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 05:50 PM (IyPmt)

137 Durov came to France knowing he was going to be arrested. He likely is like a spy that defected to France. He probably wanted to avoid the same fate as the Wagner group guy.

Posted by: ahfzs at August 27, 2024 05:50 PM (P11lf)

138 122 Elon Musk is shaking in his anti-gravity boots.
Posted by: wth at August 27, 2024 05:48 PM (v0R5T)

Its why he wants to go to Mars....

No Extradition treaty.

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:50 PM (xaFKb)

139
Tweedlediabetesdee and Tweedlediabetesdum

Posted by: naturalfake at August 27, 2024 05:50 PM (eDfFs)

140 It's such a egregiously stupid argument--OR it invalidates ALL of NATO.

If we don't fight all out in a country that is not part of NATO, and exhaust all of Putin's resources there, then we can't in any possible way stop him while he's marching through several countries clearly in NATO until he gets to the English channel.

Your friend is a fool.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:50 PM (krQz2)

141 This one is likely not about free speech and stuff.

Posted by: ahfzs at August 27, 2024 05:51 PM (P11lf)

142 >>>This gives me hope. We don't have all of the stupid people.
Posted by: t-bird at August 27, 2024 05:46 PM (fDXgc)

I think you have that backwards. ALL the people are stupid.

Posted by: Max Power at August 27, 2024 05:52 PM (q177U)

143 Was going to spend 3 days in the UK this November. Now I'm going to Ireland instead. Fuck them.

==

NOT a good trade - Ireland sucks even more

Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 05:52 PM (V13WU)

144 139 Tweedlediabetesdee and Tweedlediabetesdum

this is about me, isn't it?

Posted by: wilford brimley at August 27, 2024 05:52 PM (oY6Yp)

145 If you think the Irish aren't woke, think again.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 27, 2024 05:52 PM (pohLc)

146
He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Sure, third time's the charm. This time we KEEP all land liberated.

Or, better yet say NO.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 27, 2024 05:52 PM (63Dwl)

147 People may be using Telegram to post messages that threaten the Regime, so France -- probably at the connivance of the US/UK Censorship-Industrial Complex -- connives a fake arrest warrant.
---
[Earlier:]
Macron is left in the middle, increasingly isolated, and considered an international joke for his actions in Ukraine and domestically. That is why he seized the Telegram guy, he is relying on external support from other countries for political survival.
Posted by: whig
---
Heard some talking head yesterday on radio (sorry, don't recall whom) claim that no way this happens without consultation with and approval from the U.S. Department of State.
Posted by: ShainS
--
1000%. The Telegram founder stated that he found out that the US was trying to bribe one of his engineers into building a backdoor into Telegram for Bob From The NSA to utilize. Once he found out, he shut it down.

So, yeah, he's on their Naughty List.
Posted by: Darrell Harris
---
A repeat of the Julian Assange op that killed wikileaks. This time France is the lead partner of the US rather than the UK.
Posted by: whig

Posted by: ShainS -- Kommie-la 2024: The Fundamental Transtarvation of America! at August 27, 2024 05:52 PM (Lg0gq)

148 Japan would be cool. For once I would feel tall. I know I would be gaijin, but I would not feel like my life was in danger. Also, sushi and sashimi.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (Ad8y9)
_______________

The Japanese government invited me to spend a summer at Tsukuba, the Science City. I really enjoyed myself, although I did feel like Godzilla, I must say. My fiance (now wife) joined me at the end of the summer, and even she (at 5'7") was taller than most of the Japanese. When we went to rural Japan little kids used to follow us around, saying "gaijin gaijin."

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:53 PM (YqDXo)

149 Dear Fwance, if you come for me, bring a warrant. Scratch that. Bring Level IV plates. I don't recognize your authority in the US.

Dear US Government, the same goes for you. If you come in Fwance's stead, you are just as illegitimate as them.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at August 27, 2024 05:53 PM (m5o7j)

150 Is there a list of them?
Posted by: SFGoth

--

I'm not gonna post it.
(Get Mikey, he'll post anything)

Posted by: Gentlemen, whatever at August 27, 2024 05:53 PM (12f/V)

151 i remember back in the day being told that the eu legislated the curviness of a banana.
_____

Oh, you meant banana in the literal sense.
*zips up*
Ah feel your pain.
*bites lower lip*

Posted by: Hilary's Husband at August 27, 2024 05:53 PM (ZZdCA)

152 The UAE? It's freakin crazy world out there.
Posted by: Dark Force Thirsting For Power at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (vTTFR)

That's what I thought... They're not exactly a bastion of free speech
Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 05:50 PM (IyPmt)

Russian gave them a discount on a bunch of Migs ??

Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (V13WU)

153 Is there a scientific term for the observed lag in time between the adoption of rightwing beliefs by Ace that he previously expressed disagreement with when they were stated by commenters?

Posted by: Lolbot2000 at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM

Preference cascade half life.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (tiaci)

154 The two sides have been grappling and bleeding over an area the size of a middling US state (something like that) for going on 2 *years*. Very close to Bernard Lewis' classic re Iran/Iraq at the outset in 1980: a resistible force meeting a moveable object.
Posted by: rhomboid at August 27, 2024 05:49 PM (GcNJ2)
-------------

Fair explanation and thanks. Honestly, though, I just don't trust anyone in Western Government anywhere, these days, which is why the article 5 mention made me nervous.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (tT6L1)

155 Gaijin… that means “ honored guest” right????

Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (PCK5/)

156 131 And while I'm here -- Let's see some ID. Yes, all of you.

Posted by: Nikki Haley at August 27, 2024 05:47 PM (XInJa)
______________

I'll show you my ID.

Wait just a sec - my zipper is stuck.

*stink eye* this isn't the book thread.

Posted by: wilford brimley at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (oY6Yp)

157 Fooking Irish are all on the dole.

*spit*

The ghost of Thomas Meagher is angry, I'm bettin'

yeah. I ain't going to Europe any time soon.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (Ad8y9)

158 People may be using Telegram to post messages that threaten the Regime, so France -- probably at the connivance of the US/UK Censorship-Industrial Complex
__________________

There's only one valid reason for censorship: critical military/diplomatic information.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (YqDXo)

159 If you think the Irish aren't woke, think again.
Posted by: Xipe Totec

The average Irish is a socialist wondering what the f' is happening but still vote for the government that is actively trying to erase them.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (IG4Id)

160 Gaijin… that means “ honored guest” right????
Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (PCK5/)
++++
"Foreigner," I think.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (HnUIn)

161 >>The domino theory goes on and on and on and on...

>>The premise is always: If you want to avoid the next war, you have to fight THIS war. And the number of "THIS WARs" we have to fight is always growing.

>>Weirdly, it never seems to result in the Peace In Our Time we're promised it will.

In a perverse way, we are the people tipping over the dominos. When NATO was founded in 1949 there were 12 countries in the organization. We gave our word to the Russia constantly that we would not expand the group and it was only there for defensive purposes.

There are now 32 countries in NATO and if the powers that be had their way that number would grow to include, among others, Ukraine. Putin made it clear that he had enough of NATO expansion and that if we continued it would cross his red line. And we did.

Our bi-partisan foreign policy has been idiotic for years. It is a policy based on expansion not just for safety but for commerce. Trump is the first president in decades that wanted to end it. So they tried to end him. Russia wasn't chosen as the villain corrupting Trump for no reason.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (LkLld)

162 Things seem to be moving quickly now.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at August 27, 2024 05:56 PM (u73oe)

163 Notice how such people never consider moving to Japan?
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (YqDXo)

Oh, I'd move to Japan in a heartbeat if the Us went down the tubes.

Great people, great food, relatively safe, First World amenities. I've never had anything but a good time in Japan.

I also liked Spain quite a bit when we were there this summer. Buuuuuuuut, they too have the Islamic issue. On the upside, they have bullfighting.

Decisions, decisions.

Posted by: naturalfake at August 27, 2024 05:56 PM (eDfFs)

164 145 If you think the Irish aren't woke, think again.
Posted by: Xipe Totec
_____

There's an Irish gal in our circle of friends. Fantastic accent. Leftist parrot.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 05:56 PM (ZZdCA)

165 Eu has 3 times the population, and 8 times the GDP of Russia...

Aint no way they go all the way to the channel.

How much of a military can the EU field? Even if they conscript civilians, do they even have the rifles and ammo to supply them?

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 05:56 PM (Odg76)

166 160 Gaijin… that means “ honored guest” right????
Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (PCK5/)
++++
"Foreigner," I think.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (HnUIn)

Outsider

Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 05:56 PM (IyPmt)

167 Honestly Putin would do a better job running England than Starmer is.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 27, 2024 05:56 PM (gBVkZ)

168 There's only one valid reason for censorship: critical military/diplomatic information.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (YqDXo)

That does not apply anymore, as the government does not have your best interests in mind, but how to put and keep you under control.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 27, 2024 05:57 PM (pohLc)

169 Gaijin… that means “ honored guest” right????

Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (PCK5/)
___________

I could be wrong, but I don't think it's derogatory. I believe it just means "foreigner." The opposite of "Nihonjin."

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:57 PM (YqDXo)

170 Gaijin… that means “ honored guest” right????
Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (PCK5/)
++++
"Foreigner," I think.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (HnUIn)

Maybe it's both, kind of a sarcastic thing. Just speckle-atin'

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 05:57 PM (Ad8y9)

171 At least he knew not to test me. he's a good guy, just, well, marginally leftist IMO
Posted by: Pug Mahon

YOu should show him the stats where Mississippi residents are wealthier than most of Euroland.

Percapita GDP figures for 2023 in dollars.
US per capita GDP 81,632. Euroland per capita GDP 41,129.

"Britain really is poorer than even the poorest of the US States, yes, including even Mississippi."
Goes to Mississippi Policy Foundation https://tinyurl.com/mpxhyytj
And
"Sweden and Denmark for example, if we make similar adjustments, would be placed somewhere
around Alabama and Arkansas." Goes to Forbes https://tinyurl.com/457j8ccz

A bit old but this is from AEI in 2016--not much has changed relatively.
https://tinyurl.com/3d3u9bfu

The wealthiest EU states like Germany, Denmark and Sweden ranked 38th that year compared with states--about the same gdp per capita as Missouri.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 05:57 PM (kW+z9)

172 It’s astounding how so many still think that Russia has the Red Army of 1945 at its disposal. What they’ve got is barely a ghost of that.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 27, 2024 05:58 PM (gBVkZ)

173 "Foreigner," I think.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 05:55 PM (HnUIn)

---
Well, in Japan, you're a Long Long Way From Home.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:58 PM (krQz2)

174
Macron is left in the middle,
___

I never watched that show. Is it any good?

Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 05:58 PM (ZZdCA)

175 Notice how such people never consider moving to Japan?
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (YqDXo)

Oh, I'd move to Japan in a heartbeat if the Us went down the tubes.

Great people, great food, relatively safe, First World amenities. I've never had anything but a good time in Japan.
_______________

I was offered a job at the Science City, and actually thought a little bit about it, but my fiancee was dead set against it.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:59 PM (YqDXo)

176 It’s astounding how so many still think that Russia has the Red Army of 1945 at its disposal. What they’ve got is barely a ghost of that.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 27, 2024 05:58 PM (gBVkZ)
---
One word: disinformation.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:59 PM (krQz2)

177 Ask you doctor if Gaijin is right for you.

Posted by: one hour sober at August 27, 2024 05:59 PM (Y1sOo)

178 Tweedlediabetesdee and Tweedlediabetesdum

Posted by: naturalfake
......

all that's missing are the little propeller caps.

Posted by: wth at August 27, 2024 05:59 PM (v0R5T)

179 172 It’s astounding how so many still think that Russia has the Red Army of 1945 at its disposal. What they’ve got is barely a ghost of that.
Posted by: Tom Servo at August 27, 2024 05:58 PM (gBVkZ)

Reminds me... need to go set up my Russian army in Enlisted...

Posted by: Romeo13 at August 27, 2024 05:59 PM (xaFKb)

180 Gaijin… that means “ honored guest” right????

Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (PCK5/)
___________

I could be wrong, but I don't think it's derogatory. I believe it just means "foreigner." The opposite of "Nihonjin."
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara

According to Google translate, it just means foreigner.

Posted by: rickb223 Gold & Silver Spot Prices at August 27, 2024 06:00 PM (m5o7j)

181 Gaijin… that means “ honored guest” right????
Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (PCK5/)
++++
"Foreigner," I think.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
......

More like "F*ckin Haole".

Posted by: wth at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (v0R5T)

182 YOu should show him the stats where Mississippi residents are wealthier than most of Euroland.

Percapita GDP figures for 2023 in dollars.
US per capita GDP 81,632. Euroland per capita GDP 41,129.

"Britain really is poorer than even the poorest of the US States, yes, including even Mississippi."
________________

Americans don't realize that Brits - and most Europeans, except Germans and the Swiss - are really poor by our standards.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (YqDXo)

183 How much of a military can the EU field? Even if they conscript civilians, do they even have the rifles and ammo to supply them?
Posted by: bonhomme
========
Russia does not have the necessary army nor the logistics to do it either. Poland is becoming a military powerhouse in the region.

What Euroland WEF leaders need to fear is that the populations of those states welcome Vlad (like Cortez was) as a savior, not as a conquerer.

That is more likely than a military invasion. The nations crumple from inside just like the dead Soviet Union did. Eastern Europe will probably survive the firestorm.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (kW+z9)

184 Well, in Japan, you're a Long Long Way From Home.
Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:58 PM (krQz2)

—————-

Feels Like The First Time I've heard that.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (u73oe)

185 Really thought that would get more of a reaction

Posted by: Don Black at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (/7KEl)

186
I was offered a job at the Science City, and actually thought a little bit about it, but my fiancee was dead set against it.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:59 PM (YqDXo)

That would've been very cool.

Dump the fiancee, take the job! 😀 I keed, i keed.

Posted by: naturalfake at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (eDfFs)

187 "Foreigner," I think.

Posted by: Joe Mannix

Abbreviation of 'gaikokujin,' foreigner , so supposedly a bit of a slur. I guess. 'Ferrin'er'? Meh. Lame

Posted by: weft cut-loop at August 27, 2024 06:02 PM (IG4Id)

188 Short conversation with a cow-orker:
Him: if things keep getting worse, Immona move my family to Europe.
Me: Europe is overrated.
Him: Better than the US.
Me: I lived in Europe for three years. America is way better.
Him: --

At least he knew not to test me. he's a good guy, just, well, marginally leftist IMO
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 05:42 PM (Ad8y9)

These dopes don't realize how low the Euroweenie standard-of-living is, compared to the U.S. middle class. A typical American lives way better than a typical European. Other than cool architecture and historical sites, Europe doesn't have much to offer.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at August 27, 2024 06:02 PM (pJWtt)

189

You can be sure Macron has had the pleasure of young boys.

Maybe that's what he's after, in many different ways.

Strange how this all is so tightly coordinated.

Posted by: Dr.Rev. Senator Your Highness E Buzz Miller, Esq PhD MA MS at August 27, 2024 06:02 PM (et1vG)

190 I miss when I thought we were the good guys.

Posted by: Joe, living dangerously at August 27, 2024 06:02 PM (IvD8e)

191 There's an Irish gal in our circle of friends. Fantastic accent. Leftist parrot.
Posted by: Chuck Martel
.......

Redhead?

Posted by: wth at August 27, 2024 06:03 PM (v0R5T)

192 > Notice how such people never consider moving to Japan?

Japan is very very hard to emigrate to. Once you're there, you're going to experience a LOT of discrimination. You're also in for a huge culture shock.

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:03 PM (Odg76)

193 Gaijin… that means “ honored guest” right????
Posted by: tubal at August 27, 2024 05:54 PM (PCK5/)
++++
"Foreigner," I think.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!)
......

More like "F*ckin Haole".
Posted by: wth at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (v0R5T)

I would move to Japan. Fook Hawaii. Angry bastages from what I hear.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 06:03 PM (Ad8y9)

194
RFK Jr didn't mention in his pre-endorsement speech on Ukraine but you know he had to know that is why the left wanted Trump removed from office.

He may be a nut about some stuff but he can connect the dots.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 27, 2024 06:03 PM (RKVpM)

195 That would've been very cool.

Dump the fiancee, take the job! 😀 I keed, i keed.

Posted by: naturalfake at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (eDfFs)
______________

Nah. We've been together for over 35 years. Also, I knew I'd forever have an asterisk next to my name. I knew how that worked from living in Europe at the time.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 06:04 PM (YqDXo)

196 Americans don't realize that Brits - and most Europeans, except Germans and the Swiss - are really poor by our standards.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara
======
Germany is busy impoverishing itself as its industrial output continues to decline and expenses rise for migrant gimmedats.

The easiest way to see it comes from watching Househunters Intl. which my wife used to be addicted to. The substitute that Euroland used to use for private dwelling space was public space. If that public space is now contaminated with violent migrants, criminals, rapists, etc. It means that many of those Euroland nations are actually even poorer in living standards than the stats indicate.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:04 PM (kW+z9)

197 Redhead?
Posted by: wth
___

Yes.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 06:05 PM (ZZdCA)

198 I was half-joking saying the German establishment was going to use the stabbings by a muslim 'refugee' as an excuse to crack down on the 'far right' AfD. But I didn't imagine that the German people would be that thoughtless and stupid.
Posted by: Chuck Martel

Check us out on Wikipedia - we have a propensity for egregiously horrific decisions. Werner employs tremendous understatement here, of course. Norm Macdonald said it well, I think: starting two wars against the entire planet is not something one should include in a resume.

Posted by: Werner Herzog Has Opinions at August 27, 2024 06:05 PM (tmPIh)

199
I could be wrong, but I don't think it's derogatory. ...
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara

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

It really isn't derogatory, but Japanese do look at foreigners as outsiders and there are a lot of ex-pats in Japan that are hypersensitive to the fact that they are outsiders and they pick on every little fucking thing to try to show they are superior to the benighted natives. Poor dumb japs are too backward to know that you don't use any discriminatory term to refer to anyone without asking their fucking pronouns first!!!

Posted by: Gentlemen, whatever at August 27, 2024 06:06 PM (12f/V)

200 I would move to Japan. Fook Hawaii. Angry bastages from what I hear.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 06:03 PM (Ad8y9)
_______________

I lived there, too. Beautiful place, but a bit strange, with four groups that get along uneasily: Japanese, Chinese, Polynesians (mostly part Hawaiian, along with full-blooded Samoans), and of course, haoles.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 06:06 PM (YqDXo)

201 (Sorry about that last one. I tried to hold back.)

Posted by: Gentlemen, whatever at August 27, 2024 06:07 PM (12f/V)

202 Oh, I meant to mention those per capita GDP figures use the PPP (Purchase Price Parity) measure of normal goods and services required for average people to live adjusted for currency differences.

A shortcut is the international Big Mac index but that does have some shortcomings in a few countries.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:07 PM (kW+z9)

203 > Americans don't realize that Brits - and most Europeans, except Germans and the Swiss - are really poor by our standards.

I tell people this. Outside of some parts of London, Manchester, Windsor, and Weybridge, the average Brit is living in a small, poorly appointed apartment with bad natural light, eating a low quality diet, and the most exciting place they go is the pub.

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:07 PM (Odg76)

204 Now, I barley understand Web3.
It sounds crazy but it's like oil in 1890.

Stuff like DePIN, decentralized physical infrastructure networks; rent only what you need completely anonymously; internet, wifi, processing, data storage.

RWA, the tokenization of real world assets. Buy a car, house, other asset anonymously but you're the recorded on-chain owner.
This will be combined with autonomous agents who'll negotiate the terms, record the title, obtain the financing from decentralized financing--sales agents, banks, finance managers all cut out.
It's all crazy. But it's going to kill the government and corporations that run the world's ability to control people.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 27, 2024 06:07 PM (VZnOv)

205 If Putin wanted England, I'm sure he could think of a better way than fighting thru ten countries just to get the Channel and wait for the ferry.

Your friend needs a Snickers.

Posted by: t-bird at August 27, 2024 06:07 PM (Lh/d2)

206 Ace is big in Japan.

In fact, all ewoks are looked up to.

Posted by: X in Japan at August 27, 2024 06:08 PM (XInJa)

207 Ooh. Redhead with an Irish accent. A lot can be forgiven.

Posted by: wth at August 27, 2024 06:08 PM (v0R5T)

208 201 (Sorry about that last one. I tried to hold back.)

trust me. that excuse doesn't work.

Posted by: amber heard at August 27, 2024 06:09 PM (oY6Yp)

209 Posted by: Werner Herzog Has Opinions at August 27, 2024 06:05 PM
_____

Of course! How could I forgot that Germans could be that thoughtless and stupid. Thank you for the understated reminder.

It won't make me like their Jagrschnitzel any less though.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 06:10 PM (ZZdCA)

210 It really isn't derogatory, but Japanese do look at foreigners as outsiders and there are a lot of ex-pats in Japan that are hypersensitive to the fact that they are outsiders and they pick on every little fucking thing to try to show they are superior to the benighted natives.
________________

That's a stupid - and ignorant - thing to do. It's their country, and they have their ways of doing things, many of which are superior to our ways. They're a clever and industrious people, and there's a lot to be learned from them. And vice versa, of course.

Pro tip: if you like their food, they instantly relax. Having grown up in California and Hawaii, I came to love sushi and sashimi, and the Japanese practically adopted me when they realized that.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 06:10 PM (YqDXo)

211
Americans don't realize that Brits - and most Europeans, except Germans and the Swiss - are really poor by our standards.

To look at the GDP of Russia versus Ukraine? Why the hell wouldn't some areas on the border want to jump across?

Maybe the Ukrainians shouldn't have wanted to kill them and start a war they couldn't possibly win. But Biden knew better. Right. Pull the other finger.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at August 27, 2024 06:11 PM (RKVpM)

212 I tell people this. Outside of some parts of London, Manchester, Windsor, and Weybridge, the average Brit is living in a small, poorly appointed apartment with bad natural light, eating a low quality diet, and the most exciting place they go is the pub.
Posted by: bonhomme
========
Too many of Euros used to believe everyone in the US lived in tv land series Dallas or Dynasty etc.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:11 PM (kW+z9)

213 The Vindman brothers are a disease apart from diabetes, they are infesting the corridors of power and actually endangering national security. If/when Trump wins the election these vile creatures must be dislodged from DC.

Posted by: Decaf at August 27, 2024 06:11 PM (pYE8t)

214 The domino theory was valid because International Socialism doesn't work unless it is universal.
And even then, well...
We should have tried stopping it in the US.

Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 27, 2024 06:11 PM (MeG8a)

215 I tell people this. Outside of some parts of London, Manchester, Windsor, and Weybridge, the average Brit is living in a small, poorly appointed apartment with bad natural light, eating a low quality diet, and the most exciting place they go is the pub.
Posted by: bonhomme

----------

There are other forms of wealth - like having a culture and safe streets in the city. I used to envy people who lived in cites filled with cathedrals and stone building built by their ancestors. And having a lineage in a city that stretched back to time immemorial. A sense of place and purpose.

So what did they do? they threw out the one form of wealth that mattered.

Posted by: Gentlemen, whatever at August 27, 2024 06:11 PM (12f/V)

216 What Euroland WEF leaders need to fear is that the populations of those states welcome Vlad (like Cortez was) as a savior, not as a conquerer.

That is more likely than a military invasion. The nations crumple from inside just like the dead Soviet Union did. Eastern Europe will probably survive the firestorm.
Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:01 PM (kW+z9)

That's part of the reason why the Muslims were so successful in their initial conquests of portions of the Byzantine Empire. High taxation and religious persecution of Christians considered heretical by Constantinople led to lots of people in Egypt, Syria, etc throw-in their lot with the Muslims.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at August 27, 2024 06:12 PM (pJWtt)

217 ... It's all crazy. But it's going to kill the government and corporations that run the world's ability to control people.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 27, 2024 06:07 PM (VZnOv)
++++
Possibly, but there are huge hurdles and, ultimately, dependence on vulnerable infrastructure (the internet itself). The last is a double-edged sword because that same infrastructure is needed for normal operations by all governments and most businesses in the world, but it *can* be shut off or, more likely, interfered with. It's hard to pluck out one kind of encrypted datastream from a mass of encrypted datastreams, but I'd bet this is an active area of research. Just instruct the ISPs and peering outfits to suppress information coming from Telegram or whatever. Black hole the subversive traffic. No connection.

But the demand for alternatives - the "Web3" stuff, be it crypto or secure messaging or whatever - is at least in part being driven by the privacyless - even totalitarian - nature of the mainstream platforms and processes.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at August 27, 2024 06:12 PM (HnUIn)

218 I was stationed in Germany in the late '80s. Being a married private I had to acquire housing off-post. One room apartment, baby son got the bedroom, we slept in the living room. There was a small refrigerator in the tiny kitchen, we rented a small freezer from whatever Army entity took care of such things.

It's a thing we did, being in the Army in Europe. Too many folks would think it horrendous.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 06:12 PM (Ad8y9)

219 The Brits have a nerve. They were the ones who sailed the Channel, marched across Europe and then invaded Russian territory (Crimea). "The pot calling the kettle black" ! *Quacta calling the Stifling slimy

Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 06:12 PM (V13WU)

220 207 Ooh. Redhead with an Irish accent. A lot can be forgiven.
Posted by: wth
===========
Life is too short to live with PITA types no matter how charming the accent.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:12 PM (kW+z9)

221 I tell people this. Outside of some parts of London, Manchester, Windsor, and Weybridge, the average Brit is living in a small, poorly appointed apartment with bad natural light, eating a low quality diet, and the most exciting place they go is the pub.

---

I'd kill to have a pub to to

Posted by: Joe, living dangerously at August 27, 2024 06:12 PM (IvD8e)

222 192 bh

re: culture shock

A law student friend of mine, way back when, spent a year as an intern in the Japanese Senate (Diet).

He said he was shocked when prospective landlords told him right up front, "We don't rent to foreigners."

No pretense about it. Just in-your-face discrimination, without apology.

Same with immigration: we don't want any foreigners.

Posted by: mnw at August 27, 2024 06:13 PM (NLIak)

223 That's a stupid - and ignorant - thing to do. It's their country, and they have their ways of doing things, many of which are superior to our ways. They're a clever and industrious people, and there's a lot to be learned from them. And vice versa, of course.
____

Shogun on Hulu turned out pretty decent for a TV series. Cool look into early 17th century of 'the Japans'

Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 06:13 PM (ZZdCA)

224 Elon Musk is next

Posted by: steevy at August 27, 2024 06:14 PM (HJ9BW)

225 > Too many of Euros used to believe everyone in the US lived in tv land series Dallas or Dynasty etc.

Sure, we're not even close to as wealthy as TV makes us look. But the average American lives a lot better than the average Brit.

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:14 PM (Odg76)

226 That's part of the reason why the Muslims were so successful in their initial conquests of portions of the Byzantine Empire. High taxation and religious persecution of Christians considered heretical by Constantinople led to lots of people in Egypt, Syria, etc throw-in their lot with the Muslims.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer
_______

Is this where term 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' comes from?

Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 06:15 PM (ZZdCA)

227 225 > Too many of Euros used to believe everyone in the US lived in tv land series Dallas or Dynasty etc.

My Niece had a Foreign exchange student from a wealthy French Family and we had him over for dinner one night. He was shocked that so many people in the US had their own homes

Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (IyPmt)

228 He said he was shocked when prospective landlords told him right up front, "We don't rent to foreigners."

No pretense about it. Just in-your-face discrimination, without apology.

If you manage to emigrate there and find work, your entire career is going to be stunted because you're a foreigner.

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (Odg76)

229 That's part of the reason why the Muslims were so successful in their initial conquests of portions of the Byzantine Empire. High taxation and religious persecution of Christians considered heretical by Constantinople led to lots of people in Egypt, Syria, etc throw-in their lot with the Muslims.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop
========
One strain of thought is that there was no big Mo but the religion derived itself from Judaism and Christianity from heretics of both faiths.

The Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Empire were basically engaged in mutual self destruction by their endless wars. Same as Athens and Sparta earlier on. Allowed outside others to win and take over the whole shebang.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (kW+z9)

230 > Americans don't realize that Brits - and most Europeans, except Germans and the Swiss - are really poor by our standards.

I tell people this. Outside of some parts of London, Manchester, Windsor, and Weybridge, the average Brit is living in a small, poorly appointed apartment with bad natural light, eating a low quality diet, and the most exciting place they go is the pub.

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:07 PM (Odg76)
________________

I was invited to dinner at a colleague's house in Britain. He had two sofas facing each other in his living room, with their backs against opposite walls. I sat on one sofa, and he on the other. Since we were both over six feet tall, we had to sit with our knees interdigitated, and literally had to correlate our movements to avoid bumping into each other. His living room was that small.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (YqDXo)

231 While Biden was knee-deep in the Ukrainian disaster war the Vindmans, other Ukrainians and various Iranians have taken over the government. So of course the border is wide open and undefended. Tell you what, let's give every enemy who crosses the border a free house because the citizens and taxpayers have not been punished enough.

Posted by: Decaf at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (pYE8t)

232 He added that France remains deeply committed to lawful free speech.

l'État, c'est moi, je suis la loi

Posted by: Kindltot at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (D7oie)

233
If you manage to emigrate there and find work, your entire career is going to be stunted because you're a foreigner.
Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (Odg76)

I actually admire them for that

Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 06:17 PM (IyPmt)

234 My Niece had a Foreign exchange student from a wealthy French Family and we had him over for dinner one night. He was shocked that so many people in the US had their own homes
Posted by: It's me donna
=========
Most of them also do not get how physically large the US is compared to Euroland. That lack of density is what dooms passenger trains as too expensive unlike in Europe.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:18 PM (kW+z9)

235 Vindaloo brothers are fags. Prolly got bunk beds in the same room.

But, allow me a pet peeve.

Take off your fucking sunglasses when taking a picture!!!

I have the same complaint for people I actually like.

REMOVE! YOUR! FOOKING! SHADES!

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Flightless Icky Weirdo at August 27, 2024 06:18 PM (Ad8y9)

236 If Putin wanted England, I'm sure he could think of a better way than fighting thru ten countries just to get the Channel and wait for the ferry.

Your friend needs a Snickers.
Posted by: t-bird at August 27, 2024 06:07 PM (Lh/d2)

No man, NO! They have the Chunnel now, they just have to get to Calais!

Posted by: Kindltot at August 27, 2024 06:19 PM (D7oie)

237 Good. It's time for 100% tariffs on all goods from the EU -- and especially from the UK.
Fuck them. Get out of NATO. Let them fight Russia themselves.

I'm for this ^ 100%. France and UK are in deep trouble. We should not spend a dime to prop up these police states. Let the Visitors have them.

Posted by: Ex GOP at August 27, 2024 06:19 PM (GpUII)

238 > Too many of Euros used to believe everyone in the US lived in tv land series Dallas or Dynasty etc.

Sure, we're not even close to as wealthy as TV makes us look. But the average American lives a lot better than the average Brit.

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:14 PM (Odg76)
________________

It's true. Just as Americans think that all Brits live in manors with circular gravel driveways, where the servants stand to greet the lord of the manor. Think "Blenheim Palace."

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 06:19 PM (YqDXo)

239 He said he was shocked when prospective landlords told him right up front, "We don't rent to foreigners."

No pretense about it. Just in-your-face discrimination, without apology.

Same with immigration: we don't want any foreigners.
Posted by: mnw
--------------

Most of the foreigner hate comes from the Chinese and criminal elements out of Asia. The Chinese are fucking horrible and arrogant. Live in Japan a bit and you too will hate them. Also a lot of the English schools hire very young and useless slags from the West and they make a nuisance.

Now with the "influencers" it is even worse.

Posted by: Gentlemen, whatever at August 27, 2024 06:19 PM (12f/V)

240 Posted by: bonhomme

You're talking about cities ? because the only average Brits I know live in a small town in Cornwall and they live in nice stone houses which date from the 1800s where the lighting is fine, and they don't really go to the pub too often because they're not drinkers.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 27, 2024 06:19 PM (dTTBf)

241 Elon Musk is next

Posted by: steevy at August 27, 2024 06:14 PM (HJ9BW)
---
That's what Bearclaw was suggesting.

Yay, we're back to those days where if people had some power in their sphere they were gleeful in their malignancy.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 06:20 PM (krQz2)

242 My Niece had a Foreign exchange student from a wealthy French Family and we had him over for dinner one night. He was shocked that so many people in the US had their own homes
Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (IyPmt)
------------

Don't worry, the 10 minute city plan will soon give us European city sophistication and poverty.

But mostly poverty.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at August 27, 2024 06:20 PM (tT6L1)

243 No French

Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 27, 2024 06:21 PM (RIvkX)

244 My Niece had a Foreign exchange student from a wealthy French Family and we had him over for dinner one night. He was shocked that so many people in the US had their own homes
Posted by: It's me donna
_______________

Yep. And a surprising number of Euros don't own cars. Not out of "saving the planet," but because they can't afford them.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 06:21 PM (YqDXo)

245 The wealthiest EU states like Germany, Denmark and Sweden ranked 38th that year compared with states--about the same gdp per capita as Missouri.
Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 05:57 PM (kW+z9)

From what I understand, it is the City of London that is the 6th largest economy in the world, the rest of the UK is not well off, and pretty much has taken the place of India in Victorian times.

Posted by: Kindltot at August 27, 2024 06:21 PM (D7oie)

246 Good for the UAE for playing hardball. Durov has dual French/UAE citizenship. I know why he got the UAE citizenship; I have no idea why he got the French citizenship.

I listened to Tucker's interview with him way back when and it was fascinating. Worth a listen if you can spare the time.

Posted by: bluebell at August 27, 2024 06:22 PM (bS+DD)

247 Is it against the law to criticize Merrick Garland or Jack Smith?

Posted by: Northernlurker , wondering where his phone is at August 27, 2024 06:22 PM (FfSAJ)

248 One strain of thought is that there was no big Mo but the religion derived itself from Judaism and Christianity from heretics of both faiths.

The Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Empire were basically engaged in mutual self destruction by their endless wars. Same as Athens and Sparta earlier on. Allowed outside others to win and take over the whole shebang.
Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (kW+z9)

Mo cribbed a bunch of his teachings from Judaism and Christianity, plus mixing in the paganism of the Arabs. Mo thought the Jews and Christians would join; when they didn't, that's when the Koran turns blood-thirsty.

All the "peace and love" stuff gets jettisoned in the later Surah. The thing about Islam is that the later writings in the Koran have precedence over earlier writings.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at August 27, 2024 06:22 PM (pJWtt)

249 Just as Americans think that all Brits live in manors with circular gravel driveways, where the servants stand to greet the lord of the manor. Think "Blenheim Palace."
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara
------
A lot of wealth was put into those palaces and grand homes back when Brittania ruled the Waves. Same in other Euro nations.

Then, there were the large amounts of treasure and blood wasted by periodic large scale blood lettings on the Euro continent for relatively trivial differences.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:22 PM (kW+z9)

250 without cheating, what country has the highest homeownership rate ? *hint - it is not the US

Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 06:23 PM (V13WU)

251 Don't worry, the 10 minute city plan will soon give us European city sophistication and poverty.

But mostly poverty.
_____

I am intrigued by Trump's idea of building a new city on federal land. Make it two cities, one run by conservative principles (the not sure how that translates into city planning) and the other by WEF principles.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 06:23 PM (ZZdCA)

252 >>He said he was shocked when prospective landlords told him right up front, "We don't rent to foreigners."

Another thing you have to realize is that the courts are very different here. Many landlords do not want the risk of someone leaving the country after trashing the place, and why should they?

How fucked up is the USA that if you want to rent something, you really can not pick who? And then they tell you that you can not evict during covid? This is not the constitution -- Japan has honored the constitution we wrote for them and that is the difference.

YOU call it racism or discrimination, I call it their fucking rights.

Posted by: Gentlemen, whatever at August 27, 2024 06:23 PM (12f/V)

253 250 without cheating, what country has the highest homeownership rate ? *hint - it is not the US
Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 06:23 PM (V13WU)

Hungary ?

Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 06:24 PM (IyPmt)

254 ======
One strain of thought is that there was no big Mo but the religion derived itself from Judaism and Christianity from heretics of both faiths.

The Byzantine Empire and the Sassanid Empire were basically engaged in mutual self destruction by their endless wars. Same as Athens and Sparta earlier on. Allowed outside others to win and take over the whole shebang.
Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (kW+z9)

That’s certainly my view, and I think the limited historical record supports it. I believe the actual Mohammed was a local mystic, and as a new Arab dynasty took control in the late 8th century the court scribes put together the book they called the Koran and retconned him into having been the leader of some grand movement, when it really had been a series of local revolts as central power collapsed.

Posted by: Tom Servo at August 27, 2024 06:24 PM (S6gqv)

255 Hungary ?
Posted by: It's me donna at August 27, 2024 06:24 PM (IyPmt)

good guess! - it is in the top 5

Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 06:25 PM (V13WU)

256 If I'm being honest, very little of the stuff I own actually makes me happy, and most of the reason why I need space is because I have so much stuff. I think I'd get used to living in a smaller space with less stuff, and I might even be happier if it was in an area with stronger social cohesion.

Posted by: Joe, living dangerously at August 27, 2024 06:25 PM (IvD8e)

257 Does anybody else remember when you weren't supposed to be gleeful about which of your enemies you might be able to indict?

I sure do.

Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 06:25 PM (krQz2)

258 From what I understand, it is the City of London that is the 6th largest economy in the world, the rest of the UK is not well off, and pretty much has taken the place of India in Victorian times.
Posted by: Kindltot
=========
Something similar in France, I think. Saw something awhile back that indicated French income was primarily tied up in relatively few city residents with a very uneven distribution.

Hollowing out industrial states will do that. Industry, as opposed to financialization and services, produces more easily distributed wealth in society. Services and finances on the other hand tend to be lumpy in distribution.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:26 PM (kW+z9)

259 He said he was shocked when prospective landlords told him right up front, "We don't rent to foreigners."

No pretense about it. Just in-your-face discrimination, without apology.

If you manage to emigrate there and find work, your entire career is going to be stunted because you're a foreigner.

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:16 PM (Odg76)
________________

When I moved back to the US to a job in industry the company kept getting anonymous faxes alleging malfeasance in their Japanese subsidiary. The board wanted to send me over there for a year to sort out what was going on, offering to fly me back once a month. My heart sank; I was to be the gaijin hatchet man from HQ. Popular guy. Fortunately my boss interceded on my behalf, so I didn't have to do it.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 06:27 PM (YqDXo)

260 nood smith

Posted by: runner at August 27, 2024 06:27 PM (V13WU)

261 Too many of Euros used to believe everyone in the US lived in tv land series Dallas or Dynasty etc.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:11 PM (kW+z9)
----------
My husband did a semester in London in the '80s. His host family was an older Irish couple, who had a picture of Starsky and Hutch hanging in their parlor, among other souvenirs from their trip to America. (He was never invited into their parlor until we went to visit them for an afternoon on our honeymoon. The S&H picture was still there.)

They legit asked him if it was true that everyone in Texas flew to barbecues in their private planes. They were big Dallas fans, it turned out.

Posted by: bluebell at August 27, 2024 06:27 PM (bS+DD)

262 That’s certainly my view, and I think the limited historical record supports it. I believe the actual Mohammed was a local mystic, and as a new Arab dynasty took control in the late 8th century the court scribes put together the book they called the Koran and retconned him into having been the leader of some grand movement, when it really had been a series of local revolts as central power collapsed.
Posted by: Tom Servo
=======
You have obviously studied it far more than me.

Posted by: whig at August 27, 2024 06:27 PM (kW+z9)

263 71 Headline Brussels News
26 August 2024
Tens of thousands demonstrate against AfD after stabbings in Solingen
____

I was half-joking saying the German establishment was going to use the stabbings by a muslim 'refugee' as an excuse to crack down on the 'far right' AfD. But I didn't imagine that the German people would be that thoughtless and stupid.
Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 27, 2024 05:40 PM (ZZdCA)

Supposedly the hardcore lefty Olaf Scholz is talking big time deportations. Meh, will believe it when I see it.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 27, 2024 06:27 PM (x0n13)

264 I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)

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

Why?

Posted by: Decaf at August 27, 2024 06:27 PM (pYE8t)

265 I expect at some point soon they'll arrest Robert Kennedy Jr for telling the truth about the Democrat party. That won't be the ostensible reason, of course.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at August 27, 2024 06:27 PM (dTTBf)

266 The only reliable way for an American to enjoy a successful "career" in Japan, would likely be to open a business that SELLS "America" in some form or another.

The KFC franchises there, as a proven case-in-point.

Lease enough land, and sell 'em the Tx Mo Meet Experience.

.... pity, the Japanese gun laws, eh?

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at August 27, 2024 06:28 PM (kQgoX)

267 > You're talking about cities ? because the only average Brits I know live in a small town in Cornwall and they live in nice stone houses which date from the 1800s where the lighting is fine, and they don't really go to the pub too often because they're not drinkers.

I'm talking averages. Yes, outside of the cities I named, the average is not good.

Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 06:30 PM (Odg76)

268 Telegram famously allows Ukrainians to post videos showing what is actually happening in the war. Mostly this is to Ukraine's benefit, and makes Russia look like buffoons.

Musk has said that X will ALWAYS comply with the law, whatever that is. What it won't comply with is informal requests for information and censorship. In Brazil they just shut down, because a rogue judge keeps issuing censorship orders. Musk called the judge an "utter disgrace to justice" and said the company could not agree to the judge's "secret censorship and private information handover demands."

Posted by: El Mariachi at August 27, 2024 06:30 PM (nLFEI)

269 I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)

My mother, who survived Hitler always thought we should've let Stalin roll all the way to the English Channel. Considering Western Europe's attitude towards us post our liberating them, and the former Soviet Bloc's admiration for Reagan for essentially liberating them post 1991, Momma might have had a point.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at August 27, 2024 06:30 PM (x0n13)

270 Let's face it, the EU wants control over everything.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at August 27, 2024 05:34 PM (YqDXo)

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

Let's face it, the EU is not even in control of their own borders, the cities or the countryside, the muslims are. Stick a fork in them, they are done.

Posted by: Decaf at August 27, 2024 06:30 PM (pYE8t)

271 I wouldn't move from the US no matter how bad it gets. My ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence. My root are here more than 200 years. And here I will remain.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at August 27, 2024 06:31 PM (pohLc)

272 I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer.

He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. He was convinced that Putin would stop at the Channel only if we were lucky.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)

Russia doesn't want European land, they have enough of their own. Russia increasingly cares little for trade with Europe. The outbreak of this war was Putin finally abandoning any hope that the EU and US would be trading partners and friends. Russia is turning its eyes South and East - China, building rails south to ship overland to Iran, India, and using Pakistan as a port to ship elsewhere that can't be interdicted by the choke points in the west in the Med and Bosporus.

Militarily what this war has shown is that overwatch by satellites and drones is so powerful that concentrations of columns of troops and supply are vulnerable to being struck by aircraft and missiles. Hence now, even with Ukraine very weak very small groups of Russians infiltrate along treelines besides roads, capture areas around a town and take it fairly easily. But slowly.

Posted by: Oldcat at August 27, 2024 06:32 PM (n7h9X)

273 264 I had a surreal conversation about the Ukraine War with an otherwise intelligent British lawyer. He insisted that America must enter the war to save Europe a third time. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 27, 2024 05:33 PM (d9fT1)

It's one thing when France has fallen, and Germany is bombing England, for us to step in and save the day. It's another when the Brits and France are too lazy and self-absorbed to do the job themselves.

Also, but my count, this would be the FOURTH time you ungrateful limeys.

Posted by: El Mariachi at August 27, 2024 06:34 PM (nLFEI)

274 My Niece had a Foreign exchange student from a wealthy French Family and we had him over for dinner one night. He was shocked that so many people in the US had their own homes
Posted by: It's me donna
_______________

nah, both countries are mid at about 65% home ownership. easy to google

Posted by: ahfzs at August 27, 2024 06:38 PM (P11lf)

275 There was once a time when Americans would be "impressed" into the British Navy during the Napoleonic wars.

This could go very poorly for the Europeans...

Posted by: El Mariachi at August 27, 2024 06:38 PM (nLFEI)

276 Why the fuck would i want to save Europe? Europe didn't even want to save Europe. Europe is gone. Europe is dead.

If anything, the slavs need to band together again to save Europe from Islam.

Again.

But at least wait until the rugfuckers are done displacing the native stock perverts and degenerates, first. That shouldn't take much longer.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at August 27, 2024 06:38 PM (BAEGB)

277 I think Tulsi Gabbard made the point Ukraine is much worse than people realize, because of our treaty obligations under article 5. It gets invoked, we're in Europe fighting Russia. (hopefully, someone with better knowledge can fill in or correct me if I'm wrong)
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at August 27, 2024 05:36 PM (tT6L1)

Title 5 can not be invoked here because Ukraine is not in NATO. The war, now that exists means Ukraine can not be admitted according to the rules.

But the real reason is that all of NATOs power really would not change the war. The best US units would be little better at catching shells and missiles as Ukraine's conscripts. We have no means of supplying any US unit plopped into Ukraine, and our lack of industry means they can't be supported. Russia has gotten its industry going at war status now, while we can't even replenish the ammo for years, even without going to war ourselves.

Posted by: Oldcat at August 27, 2024 06:41 PM (n7h9X)

278 Japan is our best ally since WWII. You can thank MacArthur for that.

Oh and the A Bomb? More civilians died in the Battle of Okinawa than in Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at August 27, 2024 06:43 PM (wBaIH)

279 We had a German exchange student. I asked her what she wanted to do, and she said "You have guns, ja? I would like to shoot the guns please."

Every time I asked her what she wanted to do, it was "shoot the guns, please."

Posted by: El Mariachi at August 27, 2024 06:45 PM (nLFEI)

280 I hope no one conflates N. Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, you know Erie. The former is part of the UK whilst the latter, southern part, is an independent country.

Posted by: Ciampino - Si Ispettore, non ho trovato la sveglia #13 at August 27, 2024 06:47 PM (qfLjt)

281 I tell people this. Outside of some parts of London, Manchester, Windsor, and Weybridge, the average Brit is living in a small, poorly appointed apartment with bad natural light, eating a low quality diet, and the most exciting place they go is the pub.
--
The average slave in America ate better than 1/3 of Europe.

Indentured servitude was better than a life in the constant edge of freezing an starvation.

I don't think we can really understand how bad life in Europe for most Europeans was.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at August 27, 2024 06:48 PM (VZnOv)

282 I can't help but notice that DC is definitely talking about putting Ukraine into NATO.

So, I think that's why Tulsi mentioned it.

It seems like DC wants to make World War a trilogy.
Posted by: Axeman at August 27, 2024 05:45 PM (krQz2)

Yes, I have heard that they want a static front or freeze like Korea to play these games. So they or Ukraine invaded Russia and is playing peekaboo in Kursk with a column being blasted by fuel air bombs and eradicated.

This war started because in 2014 Ukraine begged for peace under condition that they negotiate rules for not persecuting Russian ethnic citizens in the Donbass area. Then France, Germany, and Ukraine did not negotiate and the US rebuilt the Ukraine army and banned the Russian language.

Posted by: Oldcat at August 27, 2024 06:48 PM (n7h9X)

283 How much of a military can the EU field? Even if they conscript civilians, do they even have the rifles and ammo to supply them?
Posted by: bonhomme at August 27, 2024 05:56 PM (Odg76)

Not anymore. Germany only has enough tanks running to train one unit at a time. They sent a bunch of obsolete tanks out there last year, which were promptly smashed so the 'our tanks will over run them" is out the window. German air force is a farce. English army has sent all their artillery off, and this is an artillery war.

The EU can not make any ammo to speak of and has given up on any rapid increase in supplies. The US is expecting to take years to reach what Russia is doing now in producing arms. And its unlikely that we will do it.

Posted by: Oldcat at August 27, 2024 06:56 PM (n7h9X)

284 Mo cribbed a bunch of his teachings from Judaism and Christianity, plus mixing in the paganism of the Arabs. Mo thought the Jews and Christians would join; when they didn't, that's when the Koran turns blood-thirsty.

All the "peace and love" stuff gets jettisoned in the later Surah. The thing about Islam is that the later writings in the Koran have precedence over earlier writings.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at August 27, 2024 06:22 PM (pJWtt)

Something that helped out is that turning Muslim meant no taxes. And being a non muslim of one of the major religions just meant a rather small head tax. The bloated administrations that had existed for hundreds of years were replaced by new, but leaner ones. It took a while for Islam to get its own heavy handed rulers.

And the Byzantines persecuted plenty of Christian sects because Christianity had to be uniform. Therefore resistance to the Muslims was less strident.

Posted by: Oldcat at August 27, 2024 07:09 PM (n7h9X)

285 From what I understand, it is the City of London that is the 6th largest economy in the world, the rest of the UK is not well off, and pretty much has taken the place of India in Victorian times.
Posted by: Kindltot at August 27, 2024 06:21 PM (D7oie)

Much of that is money exchange and insurance and other paperworky things. Not Industry, metal and machine production and things that work in wartime.

And the confiscation and embargos in this war by the West are making anyone the West might decide to punish very wary of using Western banks. It is early days yet but countries are taking steps to reduce the power of the West in these areas and have alternate means to do business with each other.

Posted by: Oldcat at August 27, 2024 07:14 PM (n7h9X)

286 Japan is our best ally since WWII. You can thank MacArthur for that.

Oh and the A Bomb? More civilians died in the Battle of Okinawa than in Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at August 27, 2024 06:43 PM (wBaIH)

Not to mention the firebombings of virtually every city in Japan. The A-bombs weren't increasing the total death count, just that we needed only a single bomb to do it.

Posted by: Oldcat at August 27, 2024 07:20 PM (n7h9X)

287 Wish I knew why Ace blocks me on Twitter.

Posted by: Patrick Henry, the 2nd at August 27, 2024 07:44 PM (dQqhc)

Processing 0.06, elapsed 0.0604 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.017 seconds, 296 records returned.
Page size 182 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.