Europe at War

[JBS]

People, please: consider what a tough week this has been for poor Todd. All the gloating he had set to post, all the memes that say Democrats Tears, all the performative impeachments to look forward to, all the deliciously entertaining crazy let loose, all the god-like certainty he had put into his previous posts. And now it's all been cruelly taken away.

There is still a strong probabilty that the GOP will have the majority in the House, so the performative impeachments and theatrical investigations will be there.
In fact the slimmer the majority the more likely they will be, because MTGreene becomes that much more important.

And* the dangers to US aid to Ukraine will also be there

*to bring this post back to the thread topic

[milk]

There is still a strong probabilty that the GOP will have the majority in the House, so the performative impeachments and theatrical investigations will be there.
In fact the slimmer the majority the more likely they will be, because MTGreene becomes that much more important.

And* the dangers to US aid to Ukraine will also be there

*to bring this post back to the thread topic

After the 1/6 lunacy, Todd went totally silent in the (now defunct) American politics thread. It seemed like he had believed that the mayhem trump had been doing was generally good for American policy, politics, and government, up until that point. Was 1/6 a bridge too far for him? But as people have noticed, I find Todd's arguments worth engaging or something more than that. When you're spending billions/trillions on bombs, or, anything for that matter, it's a good idea to hear all the arguments. And, hey, I've been p.o.'d at people before but looking back I can't help but find some humor in it. It's all basically bar talk that seems more serious because it's written down on the webs.
I doubt Todd is in some deep depression about this election. In fact, I think the election could be rather ominous for liberals in some ways. The silly man has been defeated and a more serious "jerk" is here. I wonder if DeSantis is ready for the big leagues because it really looks like Trump has one foot in his political grave and it looks like it's Biden in 2024. It doesn't take much to have more political skill than trump, right? Liberals have to imagine the possibility of a version of trump that is not incompetent or aloof.

[SimonNZ]

My post was meant to be entirely tongue in cheek...in case that didn't come across.

[Todd]

There are no "improper analogies".

No, there are false analogies.  Comparing the Russo-Ukrainian War to WWII is a perfect example of a false analogy.  Lots of folks use false analogies involving WWII all the time.  It's a thing, and not just your thing. 

There is still a strong probabilty that the GOP will have the majority in the House, so the performative impeachments and theatrical investigations will be there.

Indeed, and delayed election results have already intensified elections themselves as an issue.  So much good stuff to come.

I doubt Todd is in some deep depression about this election.

Why on earth would anyone ever become depressed about the outcome of any election?  I delight in the outcome of every election and look forward to the next one.  The race for 2024 has already started.

[Todd]

From the Graun: Russia-Ukraine war: Kherson mayor warns of 'critical' water shortages after Russian forces destroyed key infrastructure

Scorched earth tactics are ancient and still have a place in the modern world.

More interesting in the snippet-style articles reported by the Graun is mention that Janet Yellen stated at the G20 meeting that she supposed "in the context of some peace agreement, adjustment of sanctions [imposed on Russia] is possible and could be appropriate."  The US Administration is putting out feelers.  Ukrainians may have to die needlessly for only a few more months.  Or maybe longer.

[Que]

The US Administration is putting out feelers.  Ukrainians may have to die needlessly for only a few more months.  Or maybe longer.

I doubt of Putin will ever be ready for real negotiations - seeing is believing. Perhaps a ceasefire in a while - after some more painful losses.

What we however do know is that if Ukrainans wouldn't have fought and died for their country, this war would indeed have ended a long time ago - with Ukraine's dismemberment and subjugation.  Every day Ukrainians make the choice to resist that ill fate, as is their right as an independent nation. Irrespective of whether you respect that choice or not.

[Todd]

What we however do know is that if Ukrainans wouldn't have fought and died for their country

We also know that Ukraine is incapable of putting up a meaningful resistance without economic and military support from the US.  Ukrainians can fight and die just as long as they want.  The US should not pay for it.  Europeans can and should step up if it is that important. 

The significance of Yellen's tepid statement is that she made it at all.  Biden, Blinken, Sullivan, and Austin have all taken a harder line in public.  Of course, Yellen's statement does not mean that the US will ever be ready for real negotiations.

[Que]

We also know that Ukraine is incapable of putting up a meaningful resistance without economic and military support from the US.  Ukrainians can fight and die just as long as they want.  The US should not pay for it.  Europeans can and should step up if it is that important. 

So why not limit your complaints to the way your tax money is being spent, which is clearly your prime concern.

This might interest you: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_foreign_aid_to_Ukraine_during_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War

[Todd]

So why not limit your complaints to the way your tax money is being spent, which is clearly your prime concern.

Because I have additional concerns, which I have posted about before.

I am well aware of the aid given by other countries, such as it is.  Here's a question, which country do you think provides more useful military intelligence to Ukraine, the US or the Netherlands?

[Todd]

I think it an apt comparison and it works for me -and, potentially, for others, too.

You are free to double down on use of false analogies.  WWII is an internets favorite.  And yes, post-WWII reconstruction falls into that category.

[Todd]

Referee! I think I just saw the goal posts being moved!!!

Yeah, you be predictable you, Todd.
It would be funny if it weren't so entirely predictable and therefore utterly tedious.

Good use of exclamation marks. 

You can pretend post-WWII reconstruction would have occurred without WWII if you wish.  You can triple, quadruple, etc down on whatever false analogy you choose.

[Harry]

Again, if everyone would ignore the senseless provocations by Todd, we would not get so irritated or frustrated as we do. But somehow everyone, or most fall into the trap which the troll is setting before us. Todd thinks he is right, always, and the others are wrong, always, so this is a one way street in the direction of the resident troll. Stop reacting and the only poster will be Todd, and he will quickly grow tired of himself.

[Todd]

This post is worth re-reading:

Kyrill and the Pope have the same master, the God of greed, be it for wordly power, or Roebels in the case of Kyrill. Organized religion always leads to corruption of soul and body.

[Madiel]

I doubt of Putin will ever be ready for real negotiations - seeing is believing. Perhaps a ceasefire in a while - after some more painful losses.

What we however do know is that if Ukrainans wouldn't have fought and died for their country, this war would indeed have ended a long time ago - with Ukraine's dismemberment and subjugation.  Every day Ukrainians make the choice to resist that ill fate, as is their right as an independent nation. Irrespective of whether you respect that choice or not.

Apparently, "Live Free or Die" is a notion only certain people are allowed to have.

[Scion7]

The conscriptions ...
I've noticed over the past week or so friends in Irkutsk and Samara and St. Petersburg are becoming very, very reticent in discussing anything about the gov't or the war at all.  I try to tell them that their VPN's protect them, but such is the fear that it doesn't matter.
If there were any doubts at all that Putin has resurrected a Stalinist regime (short of massive internal murders), they should be dismissed.
Two of these families have military-age sons, and are extremely worried they are going to die.  Set aside the Russian propaganda - the people are VERY aware of the massive casualties - dead and badly injured - the Russian military have sustained.
But they are totally unarmed - powerless.   Let's hope some Russian marshall/clique will finally put his own skin to the side, and DO SOMETHING.

[Todd]

I try to tell them that their VPN's protect them

That is not a strong assurance.

[Todd]

From Wired: 'Dark Ships' Emerge From the Shadows of the Nord Stream Mystery

From Offshore Energy: Nord Stream operator finds 'technogenic craters' at damaged pipeline

So, a state or non-state actor in possession of pretty good-sized ships appears to have blown up the pipelines.  Hopefully, the current NATO investigation is completed fairly soon and made public ASAP thereafter.  Maybe Q1.  (It was the Russians; Time magazine already spilled the beans.)

[Scion7]

That is not a strong assurance.

If you encrypt your traffic, you won't be getting hacked w/o a line of computers working in tandem for years.  Very unlikely that the KGB will pick up on a short convo, let alone capture it for decoding. 

[Todd]

Very unlikely that the KGB will pick up on a short convo, let alone capture it for decoding.

The KGB died with the USSR in 1991.

It looks like just a little too much faith is being placed in VPNs. 

[drogulus]

But they are totally unarmed - powerless.   Let's hope some Russian marshall/clique will finally put his own skin to the side, and DO SOMETHING.

     The leading candidates are as bad or worse.

     Concerning negotiations, the US has told the Russians to direct their pleas to Kyiv, and told the Ukes to make public noises about the willingness to negotiate. They should not say they won't deal with Putin. Their actual position isn't a problem.