Politics

[WAB]

I think that is about as incorrect interpretation of this decision as possible.

I would be stunned if the issue wasn't discussed between Biden and Trump during their long meeting on November 13th. Putting a limitation on such weapons when they were initially delivered was McNamarish to begin with. The Ukrainians could freely strike Crimea with them, but not major air bases just over the border from Kharkiv? This represented the typical risk avoidance demonstrated by this administration since the beginning of the conflict. The North Korean deployment provided even Jake Sullivan a provocation and opportunity even he could not ignore.

The appearance of those North Koreans is already a rather obvious indicator of growing Russian battlefield desperation. as is the near extinction of their modernized armor. Additionally, the rubble has an exchange rate of 100 to the US dollar, Russia's central bank just raised interest rates to 21%, and inflation is running at a steady clip of 7.5-8%. If the Ukrainians are successful in disrupting the current Russian offensive effort that is already costing Russia nearly 1500 casualties a day, Kyiv's negotiating position increases meaningfuilly. That will help the new administration in reaching a negotiated settlement that might last more than 48 months. As you may have noticed, the end the war in 24 hours hasn't worked out just yet.

The only "party" that started this war was the one led by Vladimir Putin.

I agree with your point. I would however say that we likely contributed to Putin’s belief that he would be unopposed in an invasion of Ukraine. Between Obama’s hand-wringing response to the invasion of Crimea and Biden’s ‘minor incursion’ comments, he had every reason to believe that we would stand down. In fact, if the invasion had gone the way Putin, and frankly most military experts in the world believed, that almost certainly would have been the case, and today we would be staring down a much larger Russia preparing to invade the Baltics.

Ukraine, and a fellow named Zelensky, threw a major spanner into Putin’s plans. I will never forget ‘what I need is bullets, not a plane ride’. A leader for a time such as this!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

 

[Red Leg]

Putin's original threats involved the use of tactical nukes in Ukraine.

That is true, but I must have missed it. How many of those did he launch on the many occasions he threatened their use?

 

[Red Leg]

I agree with your point. I would however say that we likely contributed to Putin’s belief that he would be unopposed in an invasion of Ukraine. Between Obama’s hand-wringing response to the invasion of Crimea and Biden’s ‘minor incursion’ comments, he had every reason to believe that we would stand down. In fact, if the invasion had gone the way Putin, and frankly most military experts in the world believed, that almost certainly would have been the case, and today we would be staring down a much larger Russia preparing to invade the Baltics.

Ukraine, and a fellow named Zelensky, threw a major spanner into Putin’s plans. I will never forget ‘what I need is bullets, not a plane ride’. A leader for a time such as this!

Absolutely. They will also have a vote in any negotiations.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Rotflmao!!!!! Some of us will believe anything!! That’s as Kavanaugh as you can get… hopefully the witnesses will come forward and testify, I wonder if they’ll do the “valley girl” act like Ford did? Smh

 

[fourfive8]

No. In what way could it be? It is a very late, but serious response to Putin's decision to employ North Korean troops and long range artillery against Ukraine. I posted about it earlier and provided some links. You should read it.

Lame duck with dementia making a parting statement of leaving a bigger mess for his good buddy Trump to clean up. I wouldn’t put it past him/them, the vindictive pieces of shat they are. Noooo, no way political! Ya right. Otherwise, why would he, Biden or whomever is running the show, wait til now? That is the question to ask! Sabotage Trump… working on elections in two and four years. Please explain why that isn’t likely and 100% political.

 

[Wheels]

With Kennedy poised to be in the Trump administration. Does anyone think Trump will release the remaining files on JFK ?

Trump promised to release them during his last term. Then the agencies briefed him that it would cause irrevocable damage to the US. ( or their agency) So he did not release them.

So will he now disregard the word of those same agencies this go around and release the files?

If you take the new administration at their word, there will be a lot of stuff released. Releasing information that is sixty years old only strengthens the new administration, even if it hurts the administrative state, which it seems the new administration is set on doing.

 

[Red Leg]

Lame duck with dementia making a parting statement of leaving a bigger mess for his good buddy Trump to clean up. I wouldn’t put it past him/them, the vindictive pieces of shat they are. Noooo, no way political! Ya right. Otherwise, why would he, Biden or whomever is running the show, wait til now? That is the question to ask! Sabotage Trump… working on elections in two and four years. Please explain why that isn’t likely and 100% political.

I did above.

 

[Brent in Az]

That is true, but I must have missed it. How many of those did he launch on the many occasions he threatened their use?

We all know Putin likes to rattle the nuclear saber. Would he ever do it? I have no idea.
It's hard to tell what that guy would do if his back was against the wall?
I feel Putin uses his unpredictability as psychological weapon

 

[Red Leg]

We all know Putin likes to rattle the nuclear saber. Would he ever do it? I have no idea.
It's hard to tell what that guy would do if his back was against the wall?
I feel Putin uses his unpredictability as psychological weapon

I absolutely agree. It is why we can not let him dictate our national interests through it.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I was with it... until Baldwin walked out, at which point I figuratively did the same.

 

[John Wasmuth]