I’ll say again: let Western Europe defend the Ukraine and push the Russian Bear back…if it matters that much to them. The U.S. is BEYOND broke. Every penny of the taxpayer’s dollars are needed to try and stem the fiscal bleeding and bring federal spending under control. Time is severely of the essence. We’ve funneled ol’ Volodymyr enough of the U.S. taxpayer’s money. Let him sell a few of his houses, private jets, and cough up some of his multi-million dollar salary - courtesy of the USA - if the Ukraine is a little short on dough.
Well since that would propagate a nuclear war I'd prefer not to see it. The Brits have enough nukes to make most of the major Russian cities glow in the dark. Sure Russia would throw more, then France uses its nukes. We get a nuclear winter right across North America and we were all busy over here playing isolationist like it was 1939 again.
Nuclear winter scenarios are predicated on lots or ground bursts throwing gigatons of dirt into the air and blocking the sun. Airbursts don't do that and airbursts are the optimal way to kill cities. Ground bursts are for silos which neither the UK or France has. UK forces are limited to SSBNs of which they try to keep one at sea. France is similar except that they have some land based aircraft and some on their carriers.
You're not that stupid. His entire casus belli was pack of lies. he says that Zelensky is illegit. he is not. he says that Zelensky is a dictator. That is a lie.
The list goes on a long way, but nothing will ever convince you former conservative.
Now it is your turn. So you can lie through your teeth and tell us that everything Putin has said is the gospel.
Maidan is why a traitor, Yanukovych is sitting in Moscow a fugitive from justice. he was responsible for the killing on the Maidan because he was in charge. The head of his Berkut also ran and is now a member of Putin's head bashing operation the Omon. he too is a fugitive from justice.
Yanukovych requested asylum from Putin. When he took it, he abandoned his office and ousted himself. Of the two, Putin and Zelensky, Putin is utterly illegit. he has never gone through an unrigged election. Putin is also the only dictator between the two.
It is as I suspected, Putin can do no wrong. You got a list of lies, and now you have shown yourself as a bald faced liar and tool for Putin.
By the bye, I've seen both of those videos. Mearsheimer has been shown to be an ignorant idiot. Things he thinks are true are not facts. He is in the special class of propagandist for Putin. People like him, Johnson, Ritter, MacGregor, and many others. They have a fawning following among willful ignoramuses like yourself, who refuse to actually investigate the facts and think for yourself. You have shown utterly no capacity for critical thought.
I am so glad Trump and Vance kicked the grifter out of the WH.
Every dollar we sent to Ukraine was either a dollar down the drain or a dollar that ended up in a bank in the Cayman Islands and a dollar that was not spent at home on our crumbling infrastructure.
If the UK wants to send the Light Brigade back to Russia that’s their business. Leave us out of it.
In the meantime, Trump should reject the king’s invitation until Neil Farage is PM.
And Canada, if I'm correct in recognizing Mr. Trudeau fils, in that august council of elders taking over the Ukraine problem from the USA. Eternal thanks to you gentlemen and ladies from a VERY grateful American.
Too bad he isn't a grifter, or dictator, as you twits lie about all the time. Farage dissed Trump's stupidity Friday. Frankly, the UK should simply ban Trump because of what he has now shown himself to be.
I'm not one to take insults to my intelligence lightly. If you don't like hearing the truth, then grow up and learn how the world works. You, instead, have decided to support a criminal.
He's far worse than a criminal. Russia is our enemy. China is a rival, and an unfriendly rival to boot. Russia is our enemy. We have surrendered to the KGB.
You need to grow up and think a bit before you mash reply. The only people that what you claim, are people with fairly low IQs that can't even come up with a good insult.
All you've managed to do is make yourself a laughing stock. Let me know when you start thinking for yourself tool.
In D.C. there is a strong Wilsonian contingent for whom negotiated internationalism is their bread and sacramental wine. This fits quite well with the typical political mindset of almost all the parties back on the Continent. It is understandable that congeniality bias would lead him to believe these creatures who sun themselves on the banks of the Potomac. He walked into the spinning propeller at the Whitehouse because he chose to ignore the yellow paint on the non-skid, roaring sound, and wind blast in his face. If his fanbois told him to ignore those signs AND he didn't trust his own senses - well, he ate the propellor and not the scaly creatures whose smooth words he trusted. Watching the occasional shots of his ambassador, Oksana Markarova, over that entire 45 minute press appearance, you could see she was unable to pull him back and maintain any diplomatic decorum. I do honestly feel sympathy for her.
The fact that he was still wearing his 'on brand' outfit, is telling that he and his handlers are still in 2022 mode. Even Churchill, with his trade mark cigar and bowler hat, knew when it was time to wear a onesie/jumper and when to put-on a coat & tie. The Zelensky is peak brand manager-influence.
I will guarantee that the Russians noticed the war on Serbia. Serbia is a traditional Russian ally and threatened no NATO country putting the lie to the notion that NATO is solely a defensive alliance.
Your ire should be directed at him and his handlers, who are treating his every appearance as a marketing opportunity, I'm merely identifying the realities of the situation.
Wars are perhaps not merely a marketing campaign, but wars do involve marketing. Just look at "The Good War" (WWII); there was a massive marketing campaign by our government pretty much all the other participants.
That is one take that I am hearing a lot of in U.S. corporate media. I take all of their reporting (OAN to MSNBC and between) quinoa-stuffed tripe. Instead I look to the post-conference statements by her colleagues such as Vasyl Myroshnychenko (Ambassador to Australia), Larysa Gerasko (Ireland), Omelchenko Vadym (France), Oleksii Makeiev (Germany), Vasyl Khymynets (Austria), and Olga Dibrova (Finland).
One statement specifically NOT being mentioned by the corporate media in this country is Putin allowing his National Security Advisor, Medvedev releasing a public statement calling President Trump and Vice President Vance a couple of pig farmers who whacked their Ukrainian barrow on the snout. Apparently that doesn't support the narrative of "Putin puppet" for the journalistas or their editors. Surprising since the same media talking heads would have no problem with themselves referring to POTUS and VPOTUS as a couple of pig farmers, and their voters being the flies swirling around their heads. Medvedev's comment, and/or Putin's lack of control over him, should make for an interesting talking point at the next meeting between US and RUS diplomats.
Putin was well trained in the KGB. They have been hiding behind statements like that for many years. The plan Putin is working was written 60 years ago during Khrushchev's misrule.
If you want to know the plan and how Putin works, you can get Anatoliy Golitsyn's "New Lies For Old" off the archive. One download option is pdf. Put it on a tablet and read it.
true, but I'm willing to bet that the advice of Graham and every other GOP there was to sign the deal, where most if not all of the Dems advised him to 'stand up to Trump' and insist on a different deal...
The search for secure borders and lasting peace has been an ephemeral quest for Europeans since the fall of the Roman Empire. Realpolitik demands that the implementation of the geasa deterrence upon any of the European nations have a expiry date of months or years as opposed to decades or generations. Here is a nice time-lapse map (up to 7 years ago) of the continent over the last 2500 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P0QSxlnI
You're funny. You are intentionally, willfully ignorant and call someone else retarded.
You aren't speaking reality. You aren't even speaking theory because you are ignorant of both. Basic logistics is something Russia is utterly incapable of. It's one of the reasons why the Russian military is in the fix it is in.
It's your turn now. You can tell us that Putin is playing 4D Chess, adn how they are overrunning anything in their path, and that Russian Generals are the most competent since Napoleon.
You're an ignoramus and Trump and Vance are asshats.
The time has never been more ripe for the USA to offload NATO (and all the millstones it comes with) onto the Europeans. Who better to manage and reap the benefits of the flowering of 21st century Europe than those who live, work, have children, and will someday be laid to rest there in its hallowed ground?
No more clueless and heavy-handed meddling in European affairs by the money-grubbing philistines from the USA. Just an amicable and timely parting of the ways for the well-wishing friends on both sides of the Pond.
When the rubber hits the road that support will vanish into thin air. Europe have neither the will or money to defend themselves let alone anyone else. Their coalition of the willing is posturing by parasite. If Europe isnt willing to defend itself why should we spend a drop of blood or a single dime on them.
David: I stand corrected. The British troops took London buses. I just found some great photos in a 2015 "Daily Mail" article. There was also a London bus converted to a loft to house carrier pidgeons.
That has already been taken care of. When your friends tell you that you have ben stupid, you'd better listen. Trump is now doubling down on the lies about Zelensky and taking Putin's side.
The only nation that has called upon NATO for assistance was?
On a per capita basis, that is based on the percentage of population the nation that suffered the most number of casualties in our Afghanistan war was?
This is all bullshit. If you go back 800 years Ukraine was the heart of Russia back then. Then things changed. In WWII Ukraine was the most fervent NAZI aligned country and they were the most successful in deporting Jews). Populations migrate. The Crimean Peninsula was transferred to Ukrainian control by Krushev because of geography (and Ukraine was a vassal state of the Soviet Empire so no big deal). The Crimean Peninsula population is more than 50% Russian. The Eastern Ukrainian territory that Russia now occupies is also at least 50% Russian. The problem is that the remainder of Ukraine is agricultural, not industrial. The Eastern Ukrainian cities were all part of the Soviet military-industrial complex. Putin wants that back (even though he obliterated those cities for the present). This is all being missed in the main stream media. That simple. r/Karl
Kyivan Rus was the original Russia. What is now Russia was built on the Grand Duchy of Muscovy. The Mongols destroyed Kyivan Rus, while Muscovy sold its soul to the Mongols. after that, its neighbors were never safe. Muscovy has been imperialistic for a very long time.
Ukraine was not a vassal state. It was utterly controlled and ruled out of Moscow. Finland became a vassal state after WW2, by comparison.
Much of the Russian population of Crimea was the result of the Russian military being stationed there. Putin has been driving out Tatars and Ukrainians to solidify his hold. Crimea is the only Oblast that was majority Russian. Russians were in the minority of the Donbas.
Ukrainians used the Germans to try to break Stalin's hold on their country. Even the Germans came to realize that, jailing Bandera to keep him from his game. The majority of Ukraine fought with the Soviets and took substantial casualties well out of proportion to their population.
I agree with most all of what you stated. However, you have to understand that national borders are fluid, based upon migration and other pressures. I taught at the college level for several years. Lot of research. That is why I agree with your historical perspective surrounding Ukrainian geography. However, not to be overshadowed is the constant migration and shifting patterns that lead to national border adjustments (today is not the same as yesterday). That happens. African continent is good example (although maybe not). There are two MAJOR issues that affect the US. One is the fact that current large Russian territory of national Russia has only a sliver of European attachment (the rest is Slavic/ Mongol/ Eastern Asiatic). That sliver wants to attach themselves to Europe. The other major problem is China - 94% of the Han Chinese live along a sliver of the Pacific coast. That is a real problem for the US. They want to evict the US from the Pacific and they want to retake the northern Pacific territory from Russia. That simple. A lot I condensed and is not necessarily precise, but I wanted to get into this thread. r/Karl
Thought provoking and good. You are correct about the ethnicities of both European Russia as well as China.
The big geopolitical problem is that unstable borders have bad effects over time. The big problem for Ukraine is Putin's imperialistic urges. There is no excuse for that in modern times, unless the plan is to kick up one war after another.
Neocons are accused of wanting perpetual war. Most doing the accusing have no idea what is going on. They spew such things because it is convenient for their stupidity.
I write about a changing border in what? Africa? So you write about the Ukrainian war. Big deal. Putin is not a terible dictator (however, his military policies are very bad attacking the civilian populations that makes him a brutal dictator). If Putin were to limit his attacks to military targets he would be much more of a more neutral offorcive component. But that won't happen until the European and US firepower diminsihes. That simple. r/Karl
"However, not to be overshadowed is the constant migration and shifting patterns that lead to national border adjustments"
That is a prescription for unstable borders. It does not matter where it is.
By targeting civilians, schools and hospitals, Putin does not place himself in a better position militarily. It is a waste of munitions. He is squandering his troops with meat assaults, and the aforementioned targeting of civilians schools and hospitals has simply strengthened resolve of the Ukrainians and showed the world that he is incompetent and an ass.
Some did back in the great WW2. They are happy in Ukraine now, and have no use for your hero Putler. The little Poot still wants to kill them just because they are Ukrainian.
So what. Nations have the right to self determination. Borders should be respected by the international community. Under trump America is weak, a powerless surrender monkey bowing to Putin.
So my diatribe below is just the tip of the iceburg. There is a whole lot of classified dialogue going on that we are not privvy to. Trump is trying to encourage Putin to negotiate. This 'blow up' in the White House is orchestrated by Trump. He will get Putin to the table. Trump does not care about Ukrainian sensitivites. Those can be changed at a moments notice. Right now Trump is a hero in the Russian press (such that it is controlled). Putin is probably weighing a possible meeting with Trump, his new friend. That is what Trump wants. Who cares about the Ukrainian sensitivites. They are at the beck and call of US and European military aid. This is my diplomatic conclusion from years at the bottom of the top diplomatic entourage. r/Karl
I saw the breakdown of the body language and face and hand gestures and it was not orchestrated.
zelslinki went in there thinking trump would be angry and he acted like Kamala did in Trumps debate. He expected anger and a loss of control but what he got was humiliated and kicked out of the USA.
Trump is a hero to the wrong people. The rest of the world has seen it. The free world cringes and now rates the US as unreliable. Putin and Xi love it because of the support it gives their imperialistic lusts.
That unreliability may cost the US billions as India and Australia are now reconsidering purchase of F-35s and Subs. It has already cost in terms of influence. Trump has made his self appointed job of brining peace to Ukraine far more difficult. Friday, Vance and Trump were utterly stupid and made asses of themselves in front of the world. Even Trump's good buddy, Farage told off Trump for being so stupid.
Lord Palmerston received Duncan F. Kenner, Chairman of the Confederate House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee and special representative of President Jefferson Davis in January of 1865. Kenner pitched manumission of all slaves in the Confederacy in exchange for British recognition. History does not record exactly what he though the British would get out of that, but it does tell us the British began confiscating rams and commerce raiders being built in the British shipyards. That's about where the Ukrainian drama is right now. Appomatox is only a few months away.
Funny you should mention Viscount Palmerston. He sent the British fleet to Greece when it was persecuting just one British subject - the Don Pacifico affair. Palmerston's famous line was: "civis Romanus sum." Imagine how Putin felt when he saw ethnic Russians being mistreated in Ukraine following the coup in 2014.
For that matter, any other American President except Biden would have not only freed Gonzalo Lira, but would have demanded the execution of his jailers.
Lira was jailed because he was supporting Putin's efforts in Ukraine. It was a massively stupid act on his part. His death is on his own head. Ukraine tried to save his life. He died in a hospital being treated for his pneumonia.
Lira was an idiot, like you. he was subject tot eh Ukrainian law, adn working to help Russia was a crime there. Too bad for Lira, and you hysterics gives you nothing.
I care about the US. That he got himself in the position he found himself was his problem. It makes that I care or not.
The Russian Fleet did nothing when it came to the considerations of the Brits. The people iof the Uk did not want to support the Confeds because of slavery. They could also get cotton from India and Egypt. It too a bit to switch over, but they did switch.
You can get the straight skinny from a book on Gutenberg,
"Great Britain and the American Civil War"
Russia did not enter into any considerations. The Royal Navy had no fear of the Russian fleet.
Things are going poorly for Putin. Which side will take the slot of Grant is in the air. But if Ukraine stays on their path, it will be Zelensky in that role. Russian logistics, a mess even at the best of times, is a bigger mess. Several Ukrainian attacks have gone in to minimal resistance. It seems the troops had no ammo with which to resist.
At present, much of Putin's rolling stock is deadlined for lack of parts. Ukraine has killed nearly half of Putin's locomotives. Nearly half of Russian oil refining capacity is down, and a large percentage of their oil product storage has been destroyed.
Much more can be pointed out. The overwhelming majority of Putin's problems have not been widely published by the pro-Putin press, or by the left's MSM. It is much like 1989. None knew how close to collapse the USSR was until it happened. Western intel agencies were deeply embarrassed.
If you folks are ready to laugh so hard your stomach muscles will hurt, treat yourself to English archconservative David Starkey pointing out some of the, um, shall we say inconsistencies of the likes of British PM Keir Starmer and Canadian PM (for another few months) Justin Trudeau—both fierce defenders of international rights, councils, and treaties—screaming for military arms for Ukraine so ubermensch Zelenskyy can prosecute his war for blood, soil, and country NONE of which these Euro-poofters care a whit about for their own people. Ow, my laughing muscles are aching!
It's called "We can't even defend Kent, let alone Kyiv!" First 30 minutes are the best. Enjoy!
I could care less about Ukraine, Russia, the EU, let them fight it out as long as US forces don't fight for them, no troops on the ground to save Ukraine or EU troops, no NATO involvement.
Time to cut the EU, Ukraine and NATO loose.
No More Over there, No more D-Day and No More cold war.
Britain, the great power of the day, didn't ignore Napoleon. Ignoring Bismarck ultimately didn't work out so well for Europe.
Or do you mean that the US ignored Napoleon? Well, the US was a minor power who couldn't really protect its own shipping at the time, and as such got involved in all kinds of tricky diplomacy with both sides.
The basic question here is how much of a Defense force can Ukraine sustain on is own? Basically that comes to 2 things, money and manpower.
I am assuming that no one is intending to subsidize Ukraine indefinitely. Not the EU and definitely not the US. If the Ukraine can get itself into a position where they reasonably deter Russia with minimum external help fine, but if it cannot then the 'West' faces a potentially endless bill and we would b better off cutting our losses sooner rather than later.
Ukraine is not critical to the West and never was. It is a classic buffer state between two societies that has not behaved like one.
They will not have to do it indefinitely. In my considered opinion, the war will end this year, adn it will most likely end with a Russian collapse because of Putin's stupidity.
Putin ahs been playing seriously bad games with the banking system, and it is not solving his problems with war industries. they are losing money consistently, and loans that will never be paid will not help them anymore than it has already, which was not at all. Coal mining is about to collapse completely. The railways are not being maintained because of lack of parts available only in the west. Russian logistics, which are a mess in the best of times, is failing as well. Several Ukrainian attacks have gone in to minimal resistance. It seems they had no ammo to resist with.
How Ukraine behaves is their business, not yours and certainly not Putin or Trump's. They are tired of the Russian thumb and they well remember the treatment they got from the Tsars and the communist regime. Putin wants the entirety of Ukraine, and if he gets it, he then has several different places he can go beyond that, the Baltics, Moldova, Poland and Romania. All of them are on the menu. Only the first in line has not come out yet.
Don't be misled by ignorant opinion from uninformed media and foreign leaders. Trump thinks 5 to 10 steps ahead. Trump did not lose his composure by accident. He has deliberately made himself a hero in the Russian press in order to encourage Putin to reveal what he might want in return for a cease fire. You can't denigrate Putin and then expect him to cooperate. I was doing business with Ukranian companies in Kyiv when the war broke out. My wife is 50% Ukrainian by her heritage. Yes, the Ukranian people if you go back hundreds of years (before Muscovy) were living at the heart of Russia. But over time things change. Populations migrate and move. Putin has been busy attempting to make the Donbass population a majority Russian population. A smart more would be for the UN to propose the same policy as they did in Vietnam in 1960 - for one year they permitted any North Vietnamese to move south and any South Vietnamese to move north. That resulted in a whole lot of North Vietnamese Catholics moving into South Vietnam (which was a catastrophe because the displaced Southerners became the Viet Cong). Permit any "Ukranians" to move west and any "Russians" in Ukraine to move east. The economic problem is that the Russian occupied territory is the industrial heatland of an otherwise agricultural country of Ukraine. Another point - national borders are not sacrosanct. They tend to move through cultural and migratory pressures over time. This whole mess between Russia and Ukraine is highly misunderstood. r/Karl
"He has deliberately made himself a hero in the Russian press in order to encourage Putin to reveal what he might want in return for a cease fire. You can't denigrate Putin and then expect him to cooperate."
Then Putin should muzzle Dmitri Medvedev unless he has decided to cast his lot with the Potomac bog denizens. I would expect POTUS to publicly disavow Director Gabbard were she to refer to Putin or any of the RUS diplomatic corps as pig farmers - even if they deserved such a derogatory remark.
I have some old suits that no longer fit. Maybe I can send the to Zelensky. I am so tired of his dirty t shirt not to mention his lack of respect for the president and the king.
The Zelensky lovers are so vicious. They use the tactics of Saul Alinsky by attacking anyone who is opposed to sending Ukraine and more money. The good news is that Trump has paused all aid. Let the EU send their money.
I’ll say again: let Western Europe defend the Ukraine and push the Russian Bear back…if it matters that much to them. The U.S. is BEYOND broke. Every penny of the taxpayer’s dollars are needed to try and stem the fiscal bleeding and bring federal spending under control. Time is severely of the essence. We’ve funneled ol’ Volodymyr enough of the U.S. taxpayer’s money. Let him sell a few of his houses, private jets, and cough up some of his multi-million dollar salary - courtesy of the USA - if the Ukraine is a little short on dough.
Well since that would propagate a nuclear war I'd prefer not to see it. The Brits have enough nukes to make most of the major Russian cities glow in the dark. Sure Russia would throw more, then France uses its nukes. We get a nuclear winter right across North America and we were all busy over here playing isolationist like it was 1939 again.
Nuclear winter scenarios are predicated on lots or ground bursts throwing gigatons of dirt into the air and blocking the sun. Airbursts don't do that and airbursts are the optimal way to kill cities. Ground bursts are for silos which neither the UK or France has. UK forces are limited to SSBNs of which they try to keep one at sea. France is similar except that they have some land based aircraft and some on their carriers.
IIRC, both nukes were used as airbursts over their Japanese targets. There was still a black rain with much material sent into the atmosphere.
The have one sub at sea at all times with 16 Trident D5 missiles. One lucky torpedo and Britain's nuclear deterrent is no more.
The level of nonsense has been determined by those supporting Putin. The number of lies he has told is breathtaking, even for a KGB thug.
You're not that stupid. His entire casus belli was pack of lies. he says that Zelensky is illegit. he is not. he says that Zelensky is a dictator. That is a lie.
The list goes on a long way, but nothing will ever convince you former conservative.
Now it is your turn. So you can lie through your teeth and tell us that everything Putin has said is the gospel.
Maidan is why a traitor, Yanukovych is sitting in Moscow a fugitive from justice. he was responsible for the killing on the Maidan because he was in charge. The head of his Berkut also ran and is now a member of Putin's head bashing operation the Omon. he too is a fugitive from justice.
Yanukovych requested asylum from Putin. When he took it, he abandoned his office and ousted himself. Of the two, Putin and Zelensky, Putin is utterly illegit. he has never gone through an unrigged election. Putin is also the only dictator between the two.
It is as I suspected, Putin can do no wrong. You got a list of lies, and now you have shown yourself as a bald faced liar and tool for Putin.
By the bye, I've seen both of those videos. Mearsheimer has been shown to be an ignorant idiot. Things he thinks are true are not facts. He is in the special class of propagandist for Putin. People like him, Johnson, Ritter, MacGregor, and many others. They have a fawning following among willful ignoramuses like yourself, who refuse to actually investigate the facts and think for yourself. You have shown utterly no capacity for critical thought.
I am so glad Trump and Vance kicked the grifter out of the WH.
Every dollar we sent to Ukraine was either a dollar down the drain or a dollar that ended up in a bank in the Cayman Islands and a dollar that was not spent at home on our crumbling infrastructure.
If the UK wants to send the Light Brigade back to Russia that’s their business. Leave us out of it.
In the meantime, Trump should reject the king’s invitation until Neil Farage is PM.
A-MEN!!!!! Volodymyr can go shake down England, France, Germany, Poland, et al.
And Canada, if I'm correct in recognizing Mr. Trudeau fils, in that august council of elders taking over the Ukraine problem from the USA. Eternal thanks to you gentlemen and ladies from a VERY grateful American.
Sure wouldn’t want to leave out Trudeau. No doubt he’d like to put his money where his I-Stand-With-Ukraine mouth is.
And Crystia Freeland's backstage screaming "NO, you bloody idiot! You're pissing on MY parade!"
Too bad he isn't a grifter, or dictator, as you twits lie about all the time. Farage dissed Trump's stupidity Friday. Frankly, the UK should simply ban Trump because of what he has now shown himself to be.
Can you disagree with people without being disagreeable by calling them names?
I'm not one to take insults to my intelligence lightly. If you don't like hearing the truth, then grow up and learn how the world works. You, instead, have decided to support a criminal.
He's far worse than a criminal. Russia is our enemy. China is a rival, and an unfriendly rival to boot. Russia is our enemy. We have surrendered to the KGB.
No one is insulting your intelligence: they're denying its existence.
You need to grow up and think a bit before you mash reply. The only people that what you claim, are people with fairly low IQs that can't even come up with a good insult.
All you've managed to do is make yourself a laughing stock. Let me know when you start thinking for yourself tool.
No. Farage has been criticized for supporting Trump over the grifter. Just google their names.
I guess Farage was using a stunt double for his video when he said Trump screwed up.
Just google Farage and Trump. It’s that easy.
I saw the video. My statement stands.
Apparently, Z met with a bunch of Ukraine fanboy Senators before his Oval meeting. Likely he heard bad advice from folks with a divergent agenda
In D.C. there is a strong Wilsonian contingent for whom negotiated internationalism is their bread and sacramental wine. This fits quite well with the typical political mindset of almost all the parties back on the Continent. It is understandable that congeniality bias would lead him to believe these creatures who sun themselves on the banks of the Potomac. He walked into the spinning propeller at the Whitehouse because he chose to ignore the yellow paint on the non-skid, roaring sound, and wind blast in his face. If his fanbois told him to ignore those signs AND he didn't trust his own senses - well, he ate the propellor and not the scaly creatures whose smooth words he trusted. Watching the occasional shots of his ambassador, Oksana Markarova, over that entire 45 minute press appearance, you could see she was unable to pull him back and maintain any diplomatic decorum. I do honestly feel sympathy for her.
He was asked to wear a suit. As soon as he stepped out of the car, Trump said something about it. Went downhill from there.
The fact that he was still wearing his 'on brand' outfit, is telling that he and his handlers are still in 2022 mode. Even Churchill, with his trade mark cigar and bowler hat, knew when it was time to wear a onesie/jumper and when to put-on a coat & tie. The Zelensky is peak brand manager-influence.
They are still at war. A war that was started in 2014 and widened in 2022, when Zelensky was President.
The war began when Obama instigate a coup in Ukraine in 2014 although I would argue it began when Clinton leveled Belgrade.
Doofus. There was no coup in Ukraine. That lie has been disposed of time and again, by me, and many others. It had none of the hallmarks of a coup.
I will guarantee that the Russians noticed the war on Serbia. Serbia is a traditional Russian ally and threatened no NATO country putting the lie to the notion that NATO is solely a defensive alliance.
That you're treating a war as if it was merely a marketing campaign is a good sign that no one should be taking your opinion seriously.
Your ire should be directed at him and his handlers, who are treating his every appearance as a marketing opportunity, I'm merely identifying the realities of the situation.
You appear incapable of seeing the realities, which is why you can only focus on "marketing".
Marketing campaign, propaganda, is all the same: convince someone to support you.
Looks like you need the help. Reality supports him. Putin's lies support you.
Wars are perhaps not merely a marketing campaign, but wars do involve marketing. Just look at "The Good War" (WWII); there was a massive marketing campaign by our government pretty much all the other participants.
Yes, and so far Trump has convinced a lot of our allies that they need their own nukes. I'm not sure that's the marketing campaign he intended.
She was reacting to what Vance and Trump were doing. Not Zelensky. The gruesome twosome made fools of themselves.
That is one take that I am hearing a lot of in U.S. corporate media. I take all of their reporting (OAN to MSNBC and between) quinoa-stuffed tripe. Instead I look to the post-conference statements by her colleagues such as Vasyl Myroshnychenko (Ambassador to Australia), Larysa Gerasko (Ireland), Omelchenko Vadym (France), Oleksii Makeiev (Germany), Vasyl Khymynets (Austria), and Olga Dibrova (Finland).
One statement specifically NOT being mentioned by the corporate media in this country is Putin allowing his National Security Advisor, Medvedev releasing a public statement calling President Trump and Vice President Vance a couple of pig farmers who whacked their Ukrainian barrow on the snout. Apparently that doesn't support the narrative of "Putin puppet" for the journalistas or their editors. Surprising since the same media talking heads would have no problem with themselves referring to POTUS and VPOTUS as a couple of pig farmers, and their voters being the flies swirling around their heads. Medvedev's comment, and/or Putin's lack of control over him, should make for an interesting talking point at the next meeting between US and RUS diplomats.
Putin was well trained in the KGB. They have been hiding behind statements like that for many years. The plan Putin is working was written 60 years ago during Khrushchev's misrule.
If you want to know the plan and how Putin works, you can get Anatoliy Golitsyn's "New Lies For Old" off the archive. One download option is pdf. Put it on a tablet and read it.
Corrupt Murphy fluffed Zelensky before he met Trump.
Sure he did. And I suppose, by your lights, the Republicans did as well.
He met with people from both parties.
true, but I'm willing to bet that the advice of Graham and every other GOP there was to sign the deal, where most if not all of the Dems advised him to 'stand up to Trump' and insist on a different deal...
Vance saw to it that the deal would not be signed. He was just being his massively stupid self.
The Dems want the war to continue so they can get kickbacks.
He also met with Republican "fanboys."
Looking forward to this Midrats.
The search for secure borders and lasting peace has been an ephemeral quest for Europeans since the fall of the Roman Empire. Realpolitik demands that the implementation of the geasa deterrence upon any of the European nations have a expiry date of months or years as opposed to decades or generations. Here is a nice time-lapse map (up to 7 years ago) of the continent over the last 2500 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P0QSxlnI
Those on the European plain have no such borders.
Rivers have not been that much of a problem.
You're funny. You are intentionally, willfully ignorant and call someone else retarded.
You aren't speaking reality. You aren't even speaking theory because you are ignorant of both. Basic logistics is something Russia is utterly incapable of. It's one of the reasons why the Russian military is in the fix it is in.
It's your turn now. You can tell us that Putin is playing 4D Chess, adn how they are overrunning anything in their path, and that Russian Generals are the most competent since Napoleon.
You're an ignoramus and Trump and Vance are asshats.
“Only the dead have seen the end of war”
Terrific video. Thanks.
You should repost that every time someone starts nattering about the sanctity of borders.
British PM Starmer just announced an all-European "coalition of the willing" is putting up some significant support behind Ukraine's military in its conflict with Russia. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/02/us/trump-news-zelensky-europe
The time has never been more ripe for the USA to offload NATO (and all the millstones it comes with) onto the Europeans. Who better to manage and reap the benefits of the flowering of 21st century Europe than those who live, work, have children, and will someday be laid to rest there in its hallowed ground?
No more clueless and heavy-handed meddling in European affairs by the money-grubbing philistines from the USA. Just an amicable and timely parting of the ways for the well-wishing friends on both sides of the Pond.
Three cheers from this Anglophile!
When the rubber hits the road that support will vanish into thin air. Europe have neither the will or money to defend themselves let alone anyone else. Their coalition of the willing is posturing by parasite. If Europe isnt willing to defend itself why should we spend a drop of blood or a single dime on them.
David: The Brits will have to take taxis to the front, as they did in WWI.
That was the French.
David: I stand corrected. The British troops took London buses. I just found some great photos in a 2015 "Daily Mail" article. There was also a London bus converted to a loft to house carrier pidgeons.
Britain could not tolerate a major power occupying the ports of Belgium. However getting involved in the Black Sea is insanity. Light Brigade?
Time will tell.
When the rubber hit the road on 9/11 NATO nations sent young men and women to fight shoulder to shoulder with the US. Some of them died in combat.
Farage took Trump to task for making a fool of himself.
Let's give things a while to settle, then we can look back and see who's the fool and who's the foolee.
That has already been taken care of. When your friends tell you that you have ben stupid, you'd better listen. Trump is now doubling down on the lies about Zelensky and taking Putin's side.
You are a nasty piece of work.
LOL!!! That's one of the nicer things I've been called by Putin tools.
No. Farage is being attacked for supporting Trump.
Farage is on video telling the world that Trump screwed up. He has suggested the invitation of Trump be withdrawn.
I don't candy coat it. Trump and Vance showed they are asses. Vance showed he is a vile ass.
" is putting up some significant support behind Ukraine's military"
Correction;
"is promising to put up some significant ....."
Reminds me of an old perfume commercial;
"Promise her anything, but give her Arpege".
The time is actually over-ripe to offload NATO.
The only nation that has called upon NATO for assistance was?
On a per capita basis, that is based on the percentage of population the nation that suffered the most number of casualties in our Afghanistan war was?
I misspoke.
I'm a FORMER Anglophile.
This is all bullshit. If you go back 800 years Ukraine was the heart of Russia back then. Then things changed. In WWII Ukraine was the most fervent NAZI aligned country and they were the most successful in deporting Jews). Populations migrate. The Crimean Peninsula was transferred to Ukrainian control by Krushev because of geography (and Ukraine was a vassal state of the Soviet Empire so no big deal). The Crimean Peninsula population is more than 50% Russian. The Eastern Ukrainian territory that Russia now occupies is also at least 50% Russian. The problem is that the remainder of Ukraine is agricultural, not industrial. The Eastern Ukrainian cities were all part of the Soviet military-industrial complex. Putin wants that back (even though he obliterated those cities for the present). This is all being missed in the main stream media. That simple. r/Karl
Kyivan Rus was the original Russia. What is now Russia was built on the Grand Duchy of Muscovy. The Mongols destroyed Kyivan Rus, while Muscovy sold its soul to the Mongols. after that, its neighbors were never safe. Muscovy has been imperialistic for a very long time.
Ukraine was not a vassal state. It was utterly controlled and ruled out of Moscow. Finland became a vassal state after WW2, by comparison.
Much of the Russian population of Crimea was the result of the Russian military being stationed there. Putin has been driving out Tatars and Ukrainians to solidify his hold. Crimea is the only Oblast that was majority Russian. Russians were in the minority of the Donbas.
Ukrainians used the Germans to try to break Stalin's hold on their country. Even the Germans came to realize that, jailing Bandera to keep him from his game. The majority of Ukraine fought with the Soviets and took substantial casualties well out of proportion to their population.
What Putin wants has not been missed.
I agree with most all of what you stated. However, you have to understand that national borders are fluid, based upon migration and other pressures. I taught at the college level for several years. Lot of research. That is why I agree with your historical perspective surrounding Ukrainian geography. However, not to be overshadowed is the constant migration and shifting patterns that lead to national border adjustments (today is not the same as yesterday). That happens. African continent is good example (although maybe not). There are two MAJOR issues that affect the US. One is the fact that current large Russian territory of national Russia has only a sliver of European attachment (the rest is Slavic/ Mongol/ Eastern Asiatic). That sliver wants to attach themselves to Europe. The other major problem is China - 94% of the Han Chinese live along a sliver of the Pacific coast. That is a real problem for the US. They want to evict the US from the Pacific and they want to retake the northern Pacific territory from Russia. That simple. A lot I condensed and is not necessarily precise, but I wanted to get into this thread. r/Karl
Thought provoking and good. You are correct about the ethnicities of both European Russia as well as China.
The big geopolitical problem is that unstable borders have bad effects over time. The big problem for Ukraine is Putin's imperialistic urges. There is no excuse for that in modern times, unless the plan is to kick up one war after another.
Neocons are accused of wanting perpetual war. Most doing the accusing have no idea what is going on. They spew such things because it is convenient for their stupidity.
I write about a changing border in what? Africa? So you write about the Ukrainian war. Big deal. Putin is not a terible dictator (however, his military policies are very bad attacking the civilian populations that makes him a brutal dictator). If Putin were to limit his attacks to military targets he would be much more of a more neutral offorcive component. But that won't happen until the European and US firepower diminsihes. That simple. r/Karl
"However, not to be overshadowed is the constant migration and shifting patterns that lead to national border adjustments"
That is a prescription for unstable borders. It does not matter where it is.
By targeting civilians, schools and hospitals, Putin does not place himself in a better position militarily. It is a waste of munitions. He is squandering his troops with meat assaults, and the aforementioned targeting of civilians schools and hospitals has simply strengthened resolve of the Ukrainians and showed the world that he is incompetent and an ass.
If Putin is so bad in war then you have nothing to worry about.
The Ukrainians rounded up the Jews and handed them over to the mobile SS killing squads.
Some did back in the great WW2. They are happy in Ukraine now, and have no use for your hero Putler. The little Poot still wants to kill them just because they are Ukrainian.
So what. Nations have the right to self determination. Borders should be respected by the international community. Under trump America is weak, a powerless surrender monkey bowing to Putin.
So my diatribe below is just the tip of the iceburg. There is a whole lot of classified dialogue going on that we are not privvy to. Trump is trying to encourage Putin to negotiate. This 'blow up' in the White House is orchestrated by Trump. He will get Putin to the table. Trump does not care about Ukrainian sensitivites. Those can be changed at a moments notice. Right now Trump is a hero in the Russian press (such that it is controlled). Putin is probably weighing a possible meeting with Trump, his new friend. That is what Trump wants. Who cares about the Ukrainian sensitivites. They are at the beck and call of US and European military aid. This is my diplomatic conclusion from years at the bottom of the top diplomatic entourage. r/Karl
I saw the breakdown of the body language and face and hand gestures and it was not orchestrated.
zelslinki went in there thinking trump would be angry and he acted like Kamala did in Trumps debate. He expected anger and a loss of control but what he got was humiliated and kicked out of the USA.
let EU fight and die for him.
Zelensky’s act has gotten tiresome.
Trump is a hero to the wrong people. The rest of the world has seen it. The free world cringes and now rates the US as unreliable. Putin and Xi love it because of the support it gives their imperialistic lusts.
That unreliability may cost the US billions as India and Australia are now reconsidering purchase of F-35s and Subs. It has already cost in terms of influence. Trump has made his self appointed job of brining peace to Ukraine far more difficult. Friday, Vance and Trump were utterly stupid and made asses of themselves in front of the world. Even Trump's good buddy, Farage told off Trump for being so stupid.
You are wrong. Just google Farage and Trump and you will see that Farage is being attacked for supporting Trump.
Too late, child. He was on Video saying Trump screwed up and he suggested the Royal Invite be withdrawn.
Lord Palmerston received Duncan F. Kenner, Chairman of the Confederate House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee and special representative of President Jefferson Davis in January of 1865. Kenner pitched manumission of all slaves in the Confederacy in exchange for British recognition. History does not record exactly what he though the British would get out of that, but it does tell us the British began confiscating rams and commerce raiders being built in the British shipyards. That's about where the Ukrainian drama is right now. Appomatox is only a few months away.
Oh, Inshallah and Amen!
Funny you should mention Viscount Palmerston. He sent the British fleet to Greece when it was persecuting just one British subject - the Don Pacifico affair. Palmerston's famous line was: "civis Romanus sum." Imagine how Putin felt when he saw ethnic Russians being mistreated in Ukraine following the coup in 2014.
For that matter, any other American President except Biden would have not only freed Gonzalo Lira, but would have demanded the execution of his jailers.
Lira was jailed because he was supporting Putin's efforts in Ukraine. It was a massively stupid act on his part. His death is on his own head. Ukraine tried to save his life. He died in a hospital being treated for his pneumonia.
He was a citizen of the United States of America! A citizen of America! Something obviously don't care about you Ukrainian Nazi.
Lira was an idiot, like you. he was subject tot eh Ukrainian law, adn working to help Russia was a crime there. Too bad for Lira, and you hysterics gives you nothing.
I care about the US. That he got himself in the position he found himself was his problem. It makes that I care or not.
Your fainting couch is in the next room.
Like all dictators Zelensky does not tolerate anyone who disagrees with him.
You Ukronazis place no value on American citizenship. Thanks for making that explicit.
How convenient. A pneumonia.
That's what killed him, child. No matter how much stompy feet you make, you will not change the facts.
There was no coup in 2014, nor were "Russians" being persecuted. That is nothing but Putin spouting his usual lies.
Putin is in charge of the BBC now?
Why would you say that, troll?
It was sarcasm over your previous stupid comment.
Mine was sarcastic. To bad it was also told the truth about you, tool.
This will be the last response to you. You will have to rage alone. That should not be a problem. All you've done is scream at the clouds.
https://youtu.be/WLI0GMMbQaQ?si=dti3-VrXk7zuy0qo
By. Hope you like raving alone.
What drugs are you on?
Cold caplets. Nothing like the narcotics you love.
I think you are taking trips to Kiev on LSD.
Cold caplets aren't that strong. sorry to bust your bubble.
"History does not record exactly what he though the British would get out of that,"
Cotton. The British considered breaking the Union blockade but reconsidered when the Russian Fleet showed up in NYC.
This happened in January 1865. A little after the Russians had left.
The Russian Fleet did nothing when it came to the considerations of the Brits. The people iof the Uk did not want to support the Confeds because of slavery. They could also get cotton from India and Egypt. It too a bit to switch over, but they did switch.
You can get the straight skinny from a book on Gutenberg,
"Great Britain and the American Civil War"
Russia did not enter into any considerations. The Royal Navy had no fear of the Russian fleet.
Things are going poorly for Putin. Which side will take the slot of Grant is in the air. But if Ukraine stays on their path, it will be Zelensky in that role. Russian logistics, a mess even at the best of times, is a bigger mess. Several Ukrainian attacks have gone in to minimal resistance. It seems the troops had no ammo with which to resist.
At present, much of Putin's rolling stock is deadlined for lack of parts. Ukraine has killed nearly half of Putin's locomotives. Nearly half of Russian oil refining capacity is down, and a large percentage of their oil product storage has been destroyed.
Much more can be pointed out. The overwhelming majority of Putin's problems have not been widely published by the pro-Putin press, or by the left's MSM. It is much like 1989. None knew how close to collapse the USSR was until it happened. Western intel agencies were deeply embarrassed.
Can I buy some drugs from you?
Your problem is not amenable to cold caplets. You need heroin or meth, and I don't deal in such things.
You are more the acid dropping type of guy
Sorry. I have nothing stronger that 12 hour cold caplets. You'll have to go elsewhere to get your acid fix.
If Ukraine is doing so well against Russia then they don’t need our help.
If you folks are ready to laugh so hard your stomach muscles will hurt, treat yourself to English archconservative David Starkey pointing out some of the, um, shall we say inconsistencies of the likes of British PM Keir Starmer and Canadian PM (for another few months) Justin Trudeau—both fierce defenders of international rights, councils, and treaties—screaming for military arms for Ukraine so ubermensch Zelenskyy can prosecute his war for blood, soil, and country NONE of which these Euro-poofters care a whit about for their own people. Ow, my laughing muscles are aching!
It's called "We can't even defend Kent, let alone Kyiv!" First 30 minutes are the best. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItCYWJBSJX0
Starmer is an idiot. He seems never to have heard of Anthony Eden and Sue 1956.
Suez 1956
The elites don't know things. And they're almost all either dimwits or midwits.
I could care less about Ukraine, Russia, the EU, let them fight it out as long as US forces don't fight for them, no troops on the ground to save Ukraine or EU troops, no NATO involvement.
Time to cut the EU, Ukraine and NATO loose.
No More Over there, No more D-Day and No More cold war.
Shut down all military in Norway.
Ignoring the rest of the world doesn't make it go away.
Huh? WTF are you talking about?
Britain, the great power of the day, didn't ignore Napoleon. Ignoring Bismarck ultimately didn't work out so well for Europe.
Or do you mean that the US ignored Napoleon? Well, the US was a minor power who couldn't really protect its own shipping at the time, and as such got involved in all kinds of tricky diplomacy with both sides.
That is a serious problem among the Putin bots.
Sadly the problem predates the Putin bots. There's been an unfortunate strain of this "nothing outside of America is real" attitude for a long time.
Alas. And I know the idiots much too well.
What's the all the idiots in the comments?
They are the result of the collapse of a real system of education. They are simply swallowing lies, and not thinking for themselves.
The basic question here is how much of a Defense force can Ukraine sustain on is own? Basically that comes to 2 things, money and manpower.
I am assuming that no one is intending to subsidize Ukraine indefinitely. Not the EU and definitely not the US. If the Ukraine can get itself into a position where they reasonably deter Russia with minimum external help fine, but if it cannot then the 'West' faces a potentially endless bill and we would b better off cutting our losses sooner rather than later.
Ukraine is not critical to the West and never was. It is a classic buffer state between two societies that has not behaved like one.
They will not have to do it indefinitely. In my considered opinion, the war will end this year, adn it will most likely end with a Russian collapse because of Putin's stupidity.
Putin ahs been playing seriously bad games with the banking system, and it is not solving his problems with war industries. they are losing money consistently, and loans that will never be paid will not help them anymore than it has already, which was not at all. Coal mining is about to collapse completely. The railways are not being maintained because of lack of parts available only in the west. Russian logistics, which are a mess in the best of times, is failing as well. Several Ukrainian attacks have gone in to minimal resistance. It seems they had no ammo to resist with.
How Ukraine behaves is their business, not yours and certainly not Putin or Trump's. They are tired of the Russian thumb and they well remember the treatment they got from the Tsars and the communist regime. Putin wants the entirety of Ukraine, and if he gets it, he then has several different places he can go beyond that, the Baltics, Moldova, Poland and Romania. All of them are on the menu. Only the first in line has not come out yet.
Not our problem.
Keep wishing.
Don't be misled by ignorant opinion from uninformed media and foreign leaders. Trump thinks 5 to 10 steps ahead. Trump did not lose his composure by accident. He has deliberately made himself a hero in the Russian press in order to encourage Putin to reveal what he might want in return for a cease fire. You can't denigrate Putin and then expect him to cooperate. I was doing business with Ukranian companies in Kyiv when the war broke out. My wife is 50% Ukrainian by her heritage. Yes, the Ukranian people if you go back hundreds of years (before Muscovy) were living at the heart of Russia. But over time things change. Populations migrate and move. Putin has been busy attempting to make the Donbass population a majority Russian population. A smart more would be for the UN to propose the same policy as they did in Vietnam in 1960 - for one year they permitted any North Vietnamese to move south and any South Vietnamese to move north. That resulted in a whole lot of North Vietnamese Catholics moving into South Vietnam (which was a catastrophe because the displaced Southerners became the Viet Cong). Permit any "Ukranians" to move west and any "Russians" in Ukraine to move east. The economic problem is that the Russian occupied territory is the industrial heatland of an otherwise agricultural country of Ukraine. Another point - national borders are not sacrosanct. They tend to move through cultural and migratory pressures over time. This whole mess between Russia and Ukraine is highly misunderstood. r/Karl
"He has deliberately made himself a hero in the Russian press in order to encourage Putin to reveal what he might want in return for a cease fire. You can't denigrate Putin and then expect him to cooperate."
Then Putin should muzzle Dmitri Medvedev unless he has decided to cast his lot with the Potomac bog denizens. I would expect POTUS to publicly disavow Director Gabbard were she to refer to Putin or any of the RUS diplomatic corps as pig farmers - even if they deserved such a derogatory remark.
I have some old suits that no longer fit. Maybe I can send the to Zelensky. I am so tired of his dirty t shirt not to mention his lack of respect for the president and the king.
The Zelensky lovers are so vicious. They use the tactics of Saul Alinsky by attacking anyone who is opposed to sending Ukraine and more money. The good news is that Trump has paused all aid. Let the EU send their money.
> They use the tactics of Saul Alinsky by attacking anyone who is opposed to sending Ukraine and more money.
Ah, yes. The old Alinsky tactic of *checks notes* calling out your BS.
You were just saying something about ad hominem and white flags.