Politics

[shootist~]

Trump 2.0 same as 1.0? I'm shocked, I tell ya!

 

[steve white]

In a representative government, it would behoove all elected officials to now and again contemplate WHY their constituents elected them and stick to that purpose, undiluted by personal ambition, or hubris...Trump included. He does not get to twist MAGA into the unrecognizable.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Already getting some pushback from allies. I wonder if his supporters think of his comments as more trolling?

Wow! Again and again and again Trump shoots his mouth off and shoots himself in the foot. It's as predictable as the sun coming up in the morning. Hopefully a few Republican leaders with backbones and semblance of dignity will step up and apologize on behalf of America. Forget about Trump trying to make it right. Because he's never wrong. If reality disagrees ... then according to him reality is just wrong. If he insults someone, they deserve it ... even if they didn't. Truth is immaterial.

 

[Mekaniks]

Interesting...
And it may explain Trump's inaction in Iran.

 

[spike.t]

Military guys opinion.....

US Army Poorly Prepared for Arctic Operations: Finnish Troops Forced Them to Surrender During Exercises in Norway - Militarnyi

Despite Trump's statements about his intentions to “protect” Greenland, the US Army has limited capabilities for operations in the Arctic.

militarnyi.com

 

[SaintPanzer]

Karl Von Clausewitz: 'War is the continuation of politics policy by other means.'

FIFY

 

[spike.t]

Russia conning Africans with job offers and then straight into military on arrival at gun point

311K views · 8.8K reactions | Richard ni raia wa Uganda, mwenye umri wa miaka arobaini na minne, ni Baba wa familia. Anasimulia jinsi alivyokuwa mwanajeshi bila ya yeye kutaka na kuingizwa katika vita vinavyoongozwa na Urusi nchini Ukraine na kwa ni

Richard ni raia wa Uganda, mwenye umri wa miaka arobaini na minne, ni Baba wa familia. Anasimulia jinsi alivyokuwa mwanajeshi bila ya yeye kutaka na kuingizwa katika vita vinavyoongozwa na Urusi...

www.facebook.com

 

[Pondoro]

When Trump spews absolute nonsense like this with respect to the sacrifice NATO troops made in Afghanistan it makes me sick to my stomach. This isn't clever trolling - it is ignorant disrespect. Nearly 500 British troops were killed and more than 2000 were wounded supposedly hiding "behind the front lines." British KIA represented almost 5% of their deployed forces while the approximately 2300 US KIA represented 2.3% of US deployed strength. In other words, deployed British forces were roughly 12% more likely to be KIA than their American counterparts. Trump shames everyone who served there with this ugly sort of stupidity.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2014326134003916881

But Joe..you and most of the americans on this forum voted him into office..

 

[Red Leg]

But Joe..you and most of the americans on this forum voted him into office..

True, because I at least was that desperate to avoid the alternative.

 

[WesRic404Jeff]

True, because I at least was that desperate to avoid the alternative.

It's scary when a country like the United States is unable or unwilling to elect anyone other than these half-dead individuals.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Gold will keep climbing IMO. My estimate is 5k/oz by end of March. If nothing radical to surrounding conditions changes, I can see 6k by end of 2026. Probably lots of fluctuation and turmoil in the middle.

If you run numbers on total global money (M2 or M3 or whatever term you call it) and include the known debt as additive you end up with something near $300 trillion. Silly numbers. Monopoly money.
Then look up estimates for known gold mass on the earths crust in oz. Then divide.

The exercise points out that if all fiat was converted to a gold standard, gold would be repriced at something approaching $18k/oz depending on your sources.

I don't see it likely anyone will approach total conversion but the great awakening of people in terms of financial basics is having an effect. The debt ain't helping. Lots of countries are still buying gold for their central bank and if i'm not mistaken, gold has now become THE primary asset on central bank sheets just recently.

Physical is great if you bought with cash. you can also hold it in ira's and avoid capital gains taxes should you choose.
But I've been heavy on miners and leveraged etf's and some options therein since about $1600/oz 3-4 novembers ago.

Brent crude is low, venezuela and iran are at risk, opec has been cutting output. Diesel is the prime cost of miners. Gold is climbing which is their main revenue so costs are down, prices are way up. Pretty easy math.

The EU is, in my opinion, being pressured by Trump and Besset in a financial sense. I think we'll see Japan take the direction from the US to start raising their rates (which will push a lot of people out of the YEN carry trade.) Meanwhile, Trump and Besset are working on twisting arms at the FED and I suspect they're trying to reduce our rate to around 2 or 3% to kickstart middle class home buying again in time for the mid terms.

EU central banks will feel this. It could result in significant capital exits from EU.

Gold is a good thing to be sitting on for awhile.

I agree. I don’t pay attention to dips or corrections. I look at the long term trajectory. Gold and silver is for long term holding not shorting if holding physical metal.

Both bought in ‘06.
Gold was @~$500/oz. Plus premium on buy.
Silver was @~$10/oz. Plus premium.

When my buddies were working to make payments on four wheelers, bass boats and jet skis, I was buying metal at auctions and estate sales.

In 25 years I’ve made one gold sale to set up my youngest in Amherst College so he could concentrate on his studies and research.

The modest little pittance of metals I own will get passed down to the boys. If they can find it…

 

[farmer_john]

Military guys opinion.....

US Army Poorly Prepared for Arctic Operations: Finnish Troops Forced Them to Surrender During Exercises in Norway - Militarnyi

Despite Trump's statements about his intentions to “protect” Greenland, the US Army has limited capabilities for operations in the Arctic.

militarnyi.com

I think in a conflict with a near peer the problems are alot deeper.
Usa and EU dont have the manufacturing capacity to supply ukraine with artillery shells. There only the size of texas and the front lines smaller still. How would we fight ww3.
I we have also spent last 20 ish years fighting guys on camels in a counter insurgency role. Not enemies with the same capabilities snd logistics.
And most americans are soft.

I think in a major scrap were going to be in for a rude awakening.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Farmer, I have also fallen victim to having a negative opinion or prediction of future American warfighters. Watching the type of people in Minneapolis protests or what ever media lens we are bombarded with does not help.

For some reason the degenerate, defective rejects of society seem to boil to the top for the media to make public. Movies, TV shows, social media, and especially legacy media seem to prefer the type of people you are referring to.

Luckily I have been proven wrong repeatedly. I thought the military was going down the drain when I left. Fortunately I was wrong.

Another thing I have learned over the years is; the modern military needs ALL types of people to be successful. We tend to focus on the U.S. Marines, tier one operators, or Army Ranger types. but they wouldn’t be successful without the thousands of people in tech roles, intel, logistics, manning the drones, calling in air support, packing chutes. Etc etc

It’s very difficult or impossible to look at a person and determine if they are really suited for combat roles. Mental toughness is found in 90 pound dorks and 250 pound He-Man woman haters.

I’ve seen the outwardly looking Billy badass fold and the paper pusher looking type never budge.

So I think there are millions of fine young People in our country that will step up for the next dust up.

Our equipment wasn’t best suited for the desert environment. Or road side bombs either. So our people and equipment would adapt and overcome.

 

[spike.t]

Ok.

Farmer, I have also fallen victim to having a negative opinion or prediction of future American warfighters. Watching the type of people in Minneapolis protests or what ever media lens we are bombarded with does not help.

For some reason the degenerate, defective rejects of society seem to boil to the top for the media to make public. Movies, TV shows, social media, and especially legacy media seem to prefer the type of people you are referring to.

Luckily I have been proven wrong repeatedly. I thought the military was going down the drain when I left. Fortunately I was wrong.

Another thing I have learned over the years is; the modern military needs ALL types of people to be successful. We tend to focus on the U.S. Marines, tier one operators, or Army Ranger types. but they wouldn’t be successful without the thousands of people in tech roles, intel, logistics, manning the drones, calling in air support, packing chutes. Etc etc

It’s very difficult or impossible to look at a person and determine if they are really suited for combat roles. Mental toughness is found in 90 pound dorks and 250 pound He-Man woman haters.

I’ve seen the outwardly looking Billy badass fold and the paper pusher looking type never budge.

So I think there are millions of fine young People in our country that will step up for the next dust up.

Our equipment wasn’t best suited for the desert environment. Or road side bombs either. So our people and equipment would adapt and overcome.

OK but I was more wondering on the arctic capabilities and equipment which from this article don't seem to be that good.....obviously the Scandinavians are going to be good in these conditions, and the royal marines specialise in arctic warfare...just wonderd with alaska as somewhere to "play " for usa forces why they seemed unprepared and out of their depth

 

[Tanks]

Another thing I have learned over the years is; the modern military needs ALL types of people to be successful. We tend to focus on the U.S. Marines, tier one operators, or Army Ranger types. but they wouldn’t be successful without the thousands of people in tech roles, intel, logistics, manning the drones, calling in air support, packing chutes. Etc etc

A while back someone posted a YouTube documentary of a Ukrainian drone operator in action. He would be called one of those “soft boys “ with long hair, earrings etc.. Yet he was as much a cold killer as grizzled veterans of past wars.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Spike, It’s foolish to think the Nordic countries would not have an upper hand in Greenland.

“Nordic nations (Finland, Sweden, Norway) are widely considered the best at extreme cold-weather combat, specialized training and, historically, superior winter mobility over opponents like Russia. The U.S. Army's 11th Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions also excel, relying on advanced, specialized gear for Arctic operations. “

The US trains with these countries and we have units that specialize in that theater.

We have had people and equipment in the Arctic and Antarctic for decades. It would not be easy. But with our badass NATO allies at our side. Russia would not last long.

 

[Roosterlund]

Absolutely they did. Everyone there was in it together, sadly not everyone came home together.

Respect for all who gave. United we stand!!!!! When the shit hits the fan we all come together for peace and freedom. Even though our politics differ America and Canada together make the world a better place!!!!!!

 

[Red Leg]

Ok.


OK but I was more wondering on the arctic capabilities and equipment which from this article don't seem to be that good.....obviously the Scandinavians are going to be good in these conditions, and the royal marines specialise in arctic warfare...just wonderd with alaska as somewhere to "play " for usa forces why they seemed unprepared and out of their depth

I suspect that the US Army has more specialized arctic troops than most of NATO combined. In 2022 the 11th Airborne Division was reactivated and is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Fort Wainwright in Alaska. It represents a reorganization of two brigades of the 25th Infantry. Numbering around 12,000 troops it is organized around two infantry brigade combat teams, an aviation brigade (including an attack / recon battalion). The division also sponsors the Army's Arctic Warfare school.

Additionally, the 10th Mountain Division, with two of its brigade combat teams stationed at Fort Drum, NY with an annual snowfall often exceeding 200 inches is also trained for winter warfare conditions. This represents roughly another 12,000 troops focused on fighting in such conditions.

And yes, a company of the 11th Airborne did not cover themselves in glory during Exercise Joint Viking, and I rather suspect they quickly were provided new leadership.

 

[farmer_john]

Farmer, I have also fallen victim to having a negative opinion or prediction of future American warfighters. Watching the type of people in Minneapolis protests or what ever media lens we are bombarded with does not help.

For some reason the degenerate, defective rejects of society seem to boil to the top for the media to make public. Movies, TV shows, social media, and especially legacy media seem to prefer the type of people you are referring to.

Luckily I have been proven wrong repeatedly. I thought the military was going down the drain when I left. Fortunately I was wrong.

Another thing I have learned over the years is; the modern military needs ALL types of people to be successful. We tend to focus on the U.S. Marines, tier one operators, or Army Ranger types. but they wouldn’t be successful without the thousands of people in tech roles, intel, logistics, manning the drones, calling in air support, packing chutes. Etc etc

It’s very difficult or impossible to look at a person and determine if they are really suited for combat roles. Mental toughness is found in 90 pound dorks and 250 pound He-Man woman haters.

I’ve seen the outwardly looking Billy badass fold and the paper pusher looking type never budge.

So I think there are millions of fine young People in our country that will step up for the next dust up.

Our equipment wasn’t best suited for the desert environment. Or road side bombs either. So our people and equipment would adapt and overcome.

Sure not saying all types cant be useful. But we have a large enough section of the population that just due to obesity cant be utalized by the military and thilese assesments are from the dod. That we have a crisis for manpower in event if major issues. And once again our manufacturing is in the toilent. And we have very limited surge capacity. To ramp up.

Ive had to go through those same growing pains first hand and watched the UA and russians go through them.

Were as a force not prepared for high intenisty conflict with a near peer.

Not saying we wont adapt but were going to be in for a hard learning curve. Drones are to today what the machine gun was to 1 ww1

Its going to take about 5-10 more years for solid doctrin to settle out

 

[farmer_john]

A while back someone posted a YouTube documentary of a Ukrainian drone operator in action. He would be called one of those “soft boys “ with long hair, earrings etc.. Yet he was as much a cold killer as grizzled veterans of past wars.

Sure but majority of their drone operators are regular soldiers tho. Their appearance standards are slot laxer than ours tho