Politics

[Mopani]

Lech Walesa distributes against Trump.

The former Polish president and leader of the Solidarnosc union, Lech Walesa, expresses in a letter to US President Trump his "horror" about his dispute with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. "We have followed your conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with horror and disgust," says the letter, signed by 39 former Polish political prisoners and published by Walesa on Facebook. "We consider showing your expectations of respect and gratitude for the material support that the United States has given Ukraine in its fight against Russia to be insulting," the letter said. "Gratitude is due to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who shed their blood in the Defence of the values of the free world." In the letter, the atmosphere during the scandal is compared to that of "interrogation by the security service ... and before communist courts". The undersigned call on the United States to comply with the security guarantees they gave Ukraine in 1994. "These guarantees are unconditional. There is no word in it that this aid is to be treated as an economic exchange," it says with regard to the Budapest Memorandum. In it, the USA, Russia and Great Britain have guaranteed the sovereignty of Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan within the existing borders. In return, the three former Soviet republics gave the Soviet nuclear weapons stationed on their territory to Russia.

 

[mdwest]

Russian Army’s Use of Donkeys in Ukraine Underscores a Staggering Equipment Shortage - The Moscow Times

Russian soldiers appear to be using horses and donkeys to transport supplies to and from the front lines in Ukraine as high losses and insufficient production have created acute equipment shortages.

www.themoscowtimes.com

while that is likely true based on the circumstances we're all aware of...

Im going to at least consider the possibility that their use of donkeys is not related to equipment shortages, but instead may be tied to the reality of donkeys being incredible equipment movers in very specific situations..

they are quiet.. they can move across terrain that armored/motorized vehicles often cant when its particularly muddy or snowy or wet (we are in the middle of the Ukrainian winter right now).. and in many ways they simply don't draw attention when you're trying to do something covertly like a BMP would.. just a couple of dudes walking down a muddy road with their donkey may not inspire further inspection from a Ukrainian drone where guys military uniforms in a truck would..

FWIW the US used to (and I would guess still does) send SOF personnel to the Grand Canyon to train with the US Park Service fairly regularly to learn how to pack mules, burros, and donkeys, how to navigate difficult terrain with them, etc.. so that they could move themselves, and fairly significant amounts of equipment across large swaths of territory when needed... they didn't do that because SOF forces lacked vehicles or equipment to move "stuff".. they did it because in certain situations a mule makes more sense than a Hummvee...

Again, Im not discounting that the Russians are having a hard time fielding vehicles..

Im just saying sometimes donkey power is better than horsepower when trying to get certain things moved to certain places by certain people...

 

[skydiver386]

Notice how in today's World, everyone is a Narcissist, or calling other people a Narcissist?

Why didn't my Teachers tell me this when I was in School? I must have been asleep during the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE IS NARCISSISTIC class.

 

[mdwest]

Notice how in today's World, everyone is a Narcissist, or calling other people a Narcissist?

Why didn't my Teachers tell me this when I was in School? I must have been asleep during the ENTIRE HUMAN RACE IS NARCISSISTIC class.

thats just the 2025 word to describe what we called a racist in 2024, a bigot in 2023, and a homophobe in 2022...

If you disagree with the other side.. you're a narcissist..

 

[Piet-Vis]

Ernst is saying it the way it is

 

[MauserM03Blog]

Blah blah blah.. Not a leader of a nation who was there to sign a deal… I agree about Musk but that doesn’t excuse Z…

It’s narrow minded to expect heads of state of other nations to wear an outfit of your choosing. Zelenskyy’s attire reflects the war of national survival his people are fighting.

There was poor communication from all participants in that meeting, but at very different levels. Zelenskyy was clumsy, but Vance was evil. Trump was normal, for him.

 

[MauserM03Blog]

while that is likely true based on the circumstances we're all aware of...

Im going to at least consider the possibility that their use of donkeys is not related to equipment shortages, but instead may be tied to the reality of donkeys being incredible equipment movers in very specific situations..

they are quiet.. they can move across terrain that armored/motorized vehicles often cant when its particularly muddy or snowy or wet (we are in the middle of the Ukrainian winter right now).. and in many ways they simply don't draw attention when you're trying to do something covertly like a BMP would.. just a couple of dudes walking down a muddy road with their donkey may not inspire further inspection from a Ukrainian drone where guys military uniforms in a truck would..

FWIW the US used to (and I would guess still does) send SOF personnel to the Grand Canyon to train with the US Park Service fairly regularly to learn how to pack mules, burros, and donkeys, how to navigate difficult terrain with them, etc.. so that they could move themselves, and fairly significant amounts of equipment across large swaths of territory when needed... they didn't do that because SOF forces lacked vehicles or equipment to move "stuff".. they did it because in certain situations a mule makes more sense than a Hummvee...

Again, Im not discounting that the Russians are having a hard time fielding vehicles..

Im just saying sometimes donkey power is better than horsepower when trying to get certain things moved to certain places by certain people...

Now I’d like to see your explanation of why they’re sending soldiers into battle, after being wounded, on crutches.

 

[mdwest]

Now I’d like to see your explanation of why they’re sending soldiers into battle, after being wounded, on crutches.

you make a post about narrow mindedness...

then follow up with a post clearly demonstrating that you are narrow minded...

Per the Merriam Webster Dictionary: not willing to accept opinions, beliefs, behaviors, etc. that are unusual or different from one's own : not open-minded

how cute!

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

It’s narrow minded to expect heads of state of other nations to wear an outfit of your choosing. Zelenskyy’s attire reflects the war of national survival his people are fighting.

There was poor communication from all participants in that meeting, but at very different levels. Zelenskyy was clumsy, but Vance was evil. Trump was normal, for him.

We’ll have to disagree. Again, if the shoe were on the other foot I imagine people would expect Trump to make himself presentable.

 

[mdwest]

Now I’d like to see your explanation of why they’re sending soldiers into battle, after being wounded, on crutches.

thought I should follow up with the obvious..

your argument is a red herring, and honestly stupid.. I would have thought you better than that based on prior posts.. but perhaps I was wrong..

the two have zero to do with one another... a single ounce of critical thinking and observation would make that clear...

but... with you being narrow minded and all... I suppose I expected more of you than you could deliver..

 

[ActionBob]

My friend, Trump is out there being too transparent. Shut down this news conference a minute or two earlier and we are good. Remember the long news conferences back during COVID? Trump is a narcissist and can’t help himself. It’s just a matter of time in any news conference that he goes off on tangents. I don’t want him hiding like Biden but he needs to trim it back right after the main message is delivered for his own good.

I've got to agree with that! I only wish he had stopped during Covid at Hydroxycloride and not gone into chlorine in the blood.

Although this really changed my personal opinion of Zelinsky for the worse. I guess we all see it a little differently. Gina and I watched the whole thing a couple times.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

General Jack Keane comments on the recent Trump-Zelenskyy's press conference:

General Keane's assessment of Zelenskyy affirms that Zelenskyy is a first class weasel!

 

[John Wasmuth]

General Jack Keane comments on the recent Trump-Zelenskyy's press conference:

General Keane's assessment of Zelenskyy affirms that Zelenskyy is a first class weasel!

According to some Zelenskyy’s the 2nd coming of Christ………..

 

[Red Leg]

while that is likely true based on the circumstances we're all aware of...

Im going to at least consider the possibility that their use of donkeys is not related to equipment shortages, but instead may be tied to the reality of donkeys being incredible equipment movers in very specific situations..

they are quiet.. they can move across terrain that armored/motorized vehicles often cant when its particularly muddy or snowy or wet (we are in the middle of the Ukrainian winter right now).. and in many ways they simply don't draw attention when you're trying to do something covertly like a BMP would.. just a couple of dudes walking down a muddy road with their donkey may not inspire further inspection from a Ukrainian drone where guys military uniforms in a truck would..

FWIW the US used to (and I would guess still does) send SOF personnel to the Grand Canyon to train with the US Park Service fairly regularly to learn how to pack mules, burros, and donkeys, how to navigate difficult terrain with them, etc.. so that they could move themselves, and fairly significant amounts of equipment across large swaths of territory when needed... they didn't do that because SOF forces lacked vehicles or equipment to move "stuff".. they did it because in certain situations a mule makes more sense than a Hummvee...

Again, Im not discounting that the Russians are having a hard time fielding vehicles..

Im just saying sometimes donkey power is better than horsepower when trying to get certain things moved to certain places by certain people...

I will agree that donkeys have proven useful in combat. In the modern age, that has been primarily in otherwise inaccessible mountainous/jungle terrain. The US even designed a pak howitzer to be carried by donkeys which was used extensively in Burma during WWII.

Ukraine is largely flat. It is indeed winter. However in Ukraine that means the steppes are frozen. Winter and the height of summer are the periods when wheeled and tracked transport can most efficiently operate. The Russian winter offensives of 43 and 44 are prime examples.

Over the last year, and particularly last six months, open source video evidence testifies to the severe shortage of vehicles - both combat and logistics plaguing the Russian army. Chinese ATVs and a host of civilian vans have been pressed into service. They have even attempted to use them in "motorized" assaults. The donkeys only appeared about a month ago. That also coincided with culmination of Russian offensive operations. Ukraine has been carrying out local counterattacks for about two weeks now along several areas of the front.

To get a overall sense of Russian losses, I would again suggest perusing Oryx where one can do their own appraisal of the scale of Russian logistics losses. Remember these are only confirmed losses with video or photographic evidence. https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html?m=1

I am 99.9% certain utilization of donkeys for the final few klicks to engaged units is a sign of growing logistics desperation. One more card that Zelensky and the West have in a growing deck should they have the steadfastness not to fold.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1j25jsf/ukrainian_forces_pushed_further_into_the_center

 

[Doubleplay]

You’re deluded lol

We’ll see who’s deluded when people lose %10-15 of their 401K’s and inflation accelerates after today’s tariffs. Common people vote with their pockets this is not looking good.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

We’ll see who’s deluded when people lose %10-15 of their 401K’s and inflation accelerates after today’s tariffs. Common people vote with their pockets this is not looking good.

Short term suffering for long term benefit (hopefully)

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Pretty big deal.

 

[Wheels]

while that is likely true based on the circumstances we're all aware of...

Im going to at least consider the possibility that their use of donkeys is not related to equipment shortages, but instead may be tied to the reality of donkeys being incredible equipment movers in very specific situations..

they are quiet.. they can move across terrain that armored/motorized vehicles often cant when its particularly muddy or snowy or wet (we are in the middle of the Ukrainian winter right now).. and in many ways they simply don't draw attention when you're trying to do something covertly like a BMP would.. just a couple of dudes walking down a muddy road with their donkey may not inspire further inspection from a Ukrainian drone where guys military uniforms in a truck would..

FWIW the US used to (and I would guess still does) send SOF personnel to the Grand Canyon to train with the US Park Service fairly regularly to learn how to pack mules, burros, and donkeys, how to navigate difficult terrain with them, etc.. so that they could move themselves, and fairly significant amounts of equipment across large swaths of territory when needed... they didn't do that because SOF forces lacked vehicles or equipment to move "stuff".. they did it because in certain situations a mule makes more sense than a Hummvee...

Again, Im not discounting that the Russians are having a hard time fielding vehicles..

Im just saying sometimes donkey power is better than horsepower when trying to get certain things moved to certain places by certain people...

I recall Charlie Wilson's War caused a significant mule shortage/mule price hike across America. For the Afghan terrain it was the best means of transportation. Even at $10,000 per mule in 1980's dollars.

 

[mdwest]

We’ll see who’s deluded when people lose %10-15 of their 401K’s and inflation accelerates after today’s tariffs. Common people vote with their pockets this is not looking good.

you do realize the entire point of the tariffs is to force the other side into giving something up, rather than actually leaving a long term tariff in place don't you?

do you seriously believe that Canada and Mexico have the economic means to weather the storm longer or better than the US?

have you done any research or understand the trade deficit between the US and Canada or the US and Mexico? or understand the difference in how each of the three countries economies are underpinned?

Trump has been clear in telling Mexico and Canada what he wants..

Neither Mexico or Canada has complied (although they have admittedly taken some steps in the direction requested)..

Mexico in particular has tried some creative negotiating.. they're offering to match US tariffs against China in exchange for some relief on US tariffs intended for Mexico..

Left leaning economists are crying that the US economy is going to suffer, that your 401K is going to suffer, etc..etc..

While right leaning economists are saying it is highly unlikely that there will be any measurable impact on prices or investment accounts.. they point to Trump 45 and the tariffs imposed the last time around, and while they admit they were only moderately effective, they also very clearly demonstrate the stock market (and therefore investment accounts like 401K's and IRA's) performing at record highs through the entire administration..

But lets assume you're correct.. and the Paul Krugmans and Oliver Blanchards of the world have called this one right and the stock market drops for a year.. maybe even two... (I'll remind you that the market performed the worst it had since the recession of 2008 in 2021 when Biden took office, continued to under perform in 2022, continued to perform poorly for most of 2023, and only started to look reasonably healthy for the second half of 23 and all of 24.. well after COVID was a thing of the past and economists on BOTH the left and right agreed COVID had no longer been a relevant factor in stock market performance).. but again.. lets assume the Mexicans and Canadians hold out for an entire 2 years.. and the cost of maple syrup and fruits and vegetables go up a full 15%...

What exactly do you think will be happening at the same time in Mexico and Canada?

So when the Mexican government and Canadian government has no choice but to capitulate (both have admitted they don't have the ability to offset US consumption of their goods in European or Asian markets.. that they will take an economic beat down over this).. what do you think happens then to the US economy?

If you are adamant that prices are going to go up because of US tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods...

Do you not believe the opposite is true once we not only remove our tariffs on their goods, but they remove the tariffs on the goods that they have had in place for decades as well?

And do you not believe that holding the Mexicans and Canadians accountable for their role/part in the porous border is a right thing to do? That its perfectly ok that Canada for example allows goods from China that we already have tariffs on to enter Canada at a lower rate, and then come across the US border from Canada to purposefully avoid Chinese tariffs? Or that we still have high volumes of fentynal coming across from both the northern and southern border? that while the high level of crossings that have been occurring for 4 years have been slowed down greatly (no thanks to Biden obviously), that the crossings are still too high, and that the cost associated with having to do the work on our side could be greatly reduced if Canada and Mexico did their part to control the problem on their side?

If you're bitching about the POSSIBILITY of inflation tomorrow... where were you in 2022 when inflation was 8%? or 2023 when it was 4.1% (GDP growth was only 2.3% so inflation was still significantly high).. or 2024 when inflation was 2.9% (a very good number based on historical values.. but still outpaced our GDP in 2024 which was only 2.8%)...

Youve been here since 2023... show me a post since your arrival where you complained about the Biden administrations actions that impacted our economy... Ill be happy to eat some crow if you can deliver one..