Politics

[deewayne2003]

To bring some perspective to the Russia Ukraine situation, I think this video brings both perspectives into full view.....

From a former CIA agent that pulls no punches with his thoughts on Trump but is still lucid enough to engage in critical thinking.

 

[WAB]

Certainly not I always value your expertise and appreciate the knowledge you share. I to would like to see canada process our own crude. I would of loved to of seen energy east succeed.

Every Canadian source I can find says Canada is forced to sell at a discount due to lack of infrastructure and refineries. Right now we’re in a captive market.

I can assure you it is not at a discount. However, if I were the supreme dictator of Canada, a large heavy oil conversion refinery would be built in Hardisty, AB, the crude line from Hardisty to Casper, WY would be converted to refined products, and the crude export line from Hardisty to a waterborne terminal in BC would be built. This would dramatically increase Canada’s GDP and shift Canada/US trade heavily in Canada’s favor.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

I can assure you it is not at a discount. However, if I were the supreme dictator of Canada, a large heavy oil conversion refinery would be built in Hardisty, AB, the crude line from Hardisty to Casper, WY would be converted to refined products, and the crude export line from Hardisty to a waterborne terminal in BC would be built. This would dramatically increase Canada’s GDP and shift Canada/US trade heavily in Canada’s favor.

If you’ll run I’ll vote for you

 

[WAB]

I see that Trump has paused all aid to Ukraine, including what is staged in Poland for delivery. I feel like I would be insulting kindergarten bullies to draw a comparison. Apparently Z has to show remorse and appreciation to get the shipments released. Is this really happening???

 

[Brent in Az]

Trump is a genius, and playing Europe like the proverbial cheap Violin.
He knows that that European countries will flock to the defense of Zelinskyy in resistance to orange man bad. It'll be raining cash in the Ukraine.

Well played Mr. President.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I see that Trump has paused all aid to Ukraine, including what is staged in Poland for delivery. I feel like I would be insulting kindergarten bullies to draw a comparison. Apparently Z has to show remorse and appreciation to get the shipments released. Is this really happening???

Just when I think my embarrassment can't deepen...

 

[Brent in Az]

I can't imagine the mental gymnastics required to equate the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent devastation, with an assorted smattering of Mexicans, Hondurans, and Guatemalans et al crossing the border.


In other news:

White House seeks plan for possible Russia sanctions relief, sources say

Tariffs on neighbours and allies. Sanctions relief for Russia.
What a time to be alive.

20 million is hardly a "Smattering".
You might want to ask all the angel Moms how they feel about the "Smattering?

You sound pretty ignorant as to what we deal with. I suggest sticking to the problems and political problems of whatever country you live in

 

[Scott CWO]

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 doubt that is the case here but you are not incorrect in mountainous terrain. My alma mater, Colorado State University has the #1 Equine Sciences program in the USA. After 9/11, one of the instructors from CSU, who also wrangled horses/mules for me, and another Wrangler of mine trained two different groups of 50 SF guys on handling, wrangling and packing mules. Multi-day trips were done and much of the training was done in the dark. They were taught how to care for, catch, saddle and pack the animals. We were told to say we were doing some Boy Scout trips if anyone asked what we were gearing up for. Some of the SF guys did very well with the animals. Others, we were very worried about. They were headed to Afghanistan. I often wondered how things turned out. As people know, there’s a lot of effort just to care for and manage horses or mules in the mountains that takes a lot of babysitting.

 

[Brent in Az]

 

[mdwest]

Ft Benning is named Ft Benning again.

Hegseth took the same path that he took with Ft Bragg, and renamed the post back to Benning, but rather than honoring a confederate general with the name, it is now a reference to a corporal that earned the DSC during WW…

Anyone got bets on when Hood, Lee, and Polk revert back to their original names?

Hegseth says Fort Benning is coming back | Fox News

Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth on Monday ordered the Army to change the name of Fort Moore in Georgia back to Fort Benning.

www.foxnews.com

 

[Red Leg]

Ft Benning is named Ft Benning again.

Hegseth took the same path that he took with Ft Bragg, and renamed the post back to Benning, but rather than honoring a confederate general with the name, it is now a reference to a corporal that earned the DSC during WW…

Anyone got bets on when Hood, Lee, and Polk revert back to their original names?

Hegseth says Fort Benning is coming back | Fox News

Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth on Monday ordered the Army to change the name of Fort Moore in Georgia back to Fort Benning.

www.foxnews.com

As a somewhat unreconstructed and very proud Southerner and someone who actually spent some rather invigorating time at Benning, it was still hard to argue with the choice of LTG Hal Moore. Most of you will remember him as the battalion commander from "We Were Soldiers." Difficult to imagine an American hero more deserving. Nevertheless, Fort Benning established a noble name in the history of the US Army Infantry and Airborne. Glad to see it back however cleverly done.

 

[Red Leg]

One of you enamored with Trump's genius will have to explain this to me. What next? Supply Putin with M1A2's to replace his destroyed armor?

White House directs officials to draft proposal to lift US sanctions on Russia

Sources say work on so-called ‘options paper’ comes as Trump seeks to restore Moscow ties and end Ukraine war

www.theguardian.com

 

[Tanks]

One of you enamored with Trump's genius will have to explain this to me. What next? Supply Putin with M1A2's to replace his destroyed armor?

White House directs officials to draft proposal to lift US sanctions on Russia

Sources say work on so-called ‘options paper’ comes as Trump seeks to restore Moscow ties and end Ukraine war

www.theguardian.com

Putin must have real good psychologists on staff to play Trump like a fiddle.

 

[mark-hunter]

It'll be raining cash in the Ukraine.

Yet to be seen.
First, EU Europe is 27 countries
Now this initiative is called "Coalition of the willing", a term of day politics.
UK - Germany - France -Poland - Italy. (where are the rest of 27?)
Mind, day politics is one, strategy is something to form and develop for next 20-30 or 50 years.

Then, next, Europe is disarmed. Defense budgets neglected for decades.
I suppose, individual member states will first start investing in their own defense capabilities.
Germany is facing recession. No cheap energy. (And Germany is the engine of Euro economy)
other inland countries feel energy prices, too.

How to build up armies in one month? Who will pay? If money is available, where is industrial surge capacity?
As I gave example earlier, Croatia gave up ALL of the last operational tanks to Ukraine. My educated guess, we have to purchase new ones asap. And keep them for us.
(and who in Europe can produce tanks at all? few countries, only. Soon they will be booked with orders)
Will member states send them again to Ukraine? (my guess, good as yours)

I suspect many countries face the similar problem.

Second, EU is not the state.
EU is union of individual sovereign nations, and member states will in time start raising their (possibly different) voice. Today it is Hungary and Slovakia, Romania sends strange signals following annulled presidential elections, soon we will see...

I will try to explain like this:
When there is a discussion in America, about banning the guns and gun control, peoples call for 2nd amendment.
When there is an issue on religion, free speech or press, peoples call for 1st amendment.
Basically, peoples call for basic bill of rights, as it was conceived once when founding fathers founded the united states. Those are the routes.

Europe, is economic union of sovereign states.
European countries signed up for economic prosperity and so the nations joined and united. Those are the routes.
European nations did not sign up for new "Barbarossa". And moving in that direction will cause tectonic political movements in member states.

As there is no actual cash available, some voices call for frozen Russian assets to be used to finance all this.
I guess this is doable.
But think in long term the consequence in the trust to European banking? Who will do business with them in the future, globally? Lest say, a country from South America, Asia, Africa - will they do business with Eu banks, or within the Brics?
In business trust is everything.

So everything is on the table, and nothing looks certain.

 

[MauserM03Blog]

Putin must have real good psychologists on staff to play Trump like a fiddle.

Or half decent photographers.