Politics

[Rocked and Loaded]

Anyone with insight into what’s happening in Iran?

 

[Red Leg]

Putin and Russian prestige are having a bad new year. First, he is having to walk back claims of success in Ukraine, then the make believe drone assault on his residence, then Venezuela, and now this morning after publicly announcing Russian naval forces were entering the Atlantic to protect one of its shadow fleet tankers, US forces seized it anyway in the North Atlantic. At same time another tanker was being seized in the Caribbean.

Russia's shadow fleet has been a major asset in avoiding sanctions.

Perhaps more serious and harder to calculate are the blows to Russian prestige internationally. Launching a "task force" to protect a tanker, and then being forced to stand by why it was seized anyway is particularly damaging. One would assume a targeting ping or two encouraged caution among our Russian friends.

US military seizes two sanctioned tankers in Atlantic Ocean

U.S. forces seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker in dramatic North Atlantic operation targeting sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments.

www.foxnews.com

 

[spike.t]

Thailand’s tilt toward China tests treaty alliance with US https://share.google/TbiyFMAfGLUMgH6Bi

 

[BonUm16]

 

[RLD]

Putin and Russian prestige are having a bad new year. First, he is having to walk back claims of success in Ukraine, then the make believe drone assault on his residence, then Venezuela, and now this morning after publicly announcing Russian naval forces were entering the Atlantic to protect one of its shadow fleet tankers, US forces seized it anyway in the North Atlantic. At same time another tanker was being seized in the Caribbean.

Russia's shadow fleet has been a major asset in avoiding sanctions.

Perhaps more serious and harder to calculate are the blows to Russian prestige internationally. Launching a "task force" to protect a tanker, and then being forced to stand by why it was seized anyway is particularly damaging. One would assume a targeting ping or two encouraged caution among our Russian friends.

US military seizes two sanctioned tankers in Atlantic Ocean

U.S. forces seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker in dramatic North Atlantic operation targeting sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments.

www.foxnews.com

You have to give it up to Trump and the U.S. on this one. This was a power move designed to emasculate Putin publically and could have positive roll over effects on the Ukraine negotiations.

Perfectly played.

Reading the news rarely makes me smile these days, but this article put me in a fine mood this am.

 

[bowjijohn]

We are about to enter a major scrap

Folk are going to have to pick a side

Those with a military background will not find this an entirely alien workspace

The lefty loony who has enjoyed a life propped up by the above - might struggle a bit

 

[Wheels]

He might be looking at Canada and EU as the best option considering Trump's seeming alliance with Putin.

That describes Trump vis a vis Zelensky.

Regarding “Trumps seeming alliance with Putin”. The US Coast Guard seized two Russian flagged tankers yesterday in international waters. Doesn’t really seem like much of an alliance.

There is probably more to this story than we know.

 

[Wheels]

Putin and Russian prestige are having a bad new year. First, he is having to walk back claims of success in Ukraine, then the make believe drone assault on his residence, then Venezuela, and now this morning after publicly announcing Russian naval forces were entering the Atlantic to protect one of its shadow fleet tankers, US forces seized it anyway in the North Atlantic. At same time another tanker was being seized in the Caribbean.

Russia's shadow fleet has been a major asset in avoiding sanctions.

Perhaps more serious and harder to calculate are the blows to Russian prestige internationally. Launching a "task force" to protect a tanker, and then being forced to stand by why it was seized anyway is particularly damaging. One would assume a targeting ping or two encouraged caution among our Russian friends.

US military seizes two sanctioned tankers in Atlantic Ocean

U.S. forces seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker in dramatic North Atlantic operation targeting sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments.

www.foxnews.com

I always forget to read through all the posts before responding to see if something has already been posted. Unfortunately I am sure I will do it again

 

[bowjijohn]

I always forget to read through all the posts before responding to see if something has already been posted. Unfortunately I am sure I will do it again

Events are moving fast

They do tend to reveal true allegiances don’t they

 

[Wheels]

One of two explanations come to mind.

1. White guilt.

2. Power grab. Take from reprehensible middle class whites and give housing away to minorities/illegals thus further increase her power base.

Since I can’t comprehend white guilt my guess is she is trying to gain power.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008903817341931618

 

[KJE81]

Is this for real or fake?

MAKS 25 (@maks23.bsky.social)

WTF

bsky.app

 

[Tanks]

Regarding “Trumps seeming alliance with Putin”. The US Coast Guard seized two Russian flagged tankers yesterday in international waters. Doesn’t really seem like much of an alliance.

There is probably more to this story than we know.

I was mainly referring to his "alliance" with Putin where Ukraine is concerned.

 

[mdwest]

Regarding “Trumps seeming alliance with Putin”. The US Coast Guard seized two Russian flagged tankers yesterday in international waters. Doesn’t really seem like much of an alliance.

There is probably more to this story than we know.

I dont believe Trump is a friend of Putins... the media loves to portray him that way (russiagate, etc..etc..)... Trump only deals in winners and losers.. I dont think the word "friend" really comes into the equation very often for him..

Theres no doubt he hates Z and has no respect for Z... and he has openly said he has respect for Putin..

but that definitely doesnt make them friends..

what Im seeing here is more "America First"... he doesnt care if youre Russia, Ukraine, Venezuela, or even the UK or Canada.. hes going to put the US first (at least to the tune of what he believes is right/in the best interest, etc)..

 

[Tanks]

what Im seeing here is more "America First"... he doesnt care if youre Russia, Ukraine, Venezuela, or even the UK or Canada.. hes going to put the US first (at least to the tune of what he believes is right/in the best interest, etc)..

Under what circumstances it is in America's interest for Russia to take over parts of Ukraine and install a puppet government favoring Russia. Not to mention multiple statements about Ukraine starting the war.

Putin stokes Trumps ego and Trump hates Z as you stated. It is as basic as that ego is > country.

 

[Brent in Az]

That would be the end of NATO with its 32 member states, because then no one would give a damn about the Americans' statements and assurances anymore.
Rubio can then march into other countries with his boss and annex them.
The House of Habsburg also collapsed due to overextension.
The Russians and Chinese will remain the victors of this world.
It's a good thing I'm already so old .

Once we conquer Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, ......and Greenland, we'll roll into Germany.
Trump will save you from the sand people.

 

[Brent in Az]

Regarding “Trumps seeming alliance with Putin”. The US Coast Guard seized two Russian flagged tankers yesterday in international waters. Doesn’t really seem like much of an alliance.

There is probably more to this story than we know.

Trump's alleged bromance with Putin is just propaganda made up by the anti Trumpers

 

[Foxi]

Berlin/Germany—Left-wing terrorists paralyze power grid.

45,000 households (200,000 people) and businesses in a part of Berlin were without power for four days in sub-zero temperatures due to an arson attack. No water, no elevators, no heating, no trains, frost damage in apartments—everything that goes with it.
Generators could not be provided because all of them (no joke) had been delivered to Ukraine.
Not a word from Chancellor Merz (CDU).
Very few reports in the mainstream media.
Woe betide the right wing if they had cut off power to an asylum seekers' shelter.
The country would have been in uproar.
The mayor of Berlin (CDU),picture, visited people in the emergency shelters, such as a sick 98-year-old lady who was housed in a gym.
It's a pity she's not an illegal refugee, then she could have been put up in a hotel at the state's expense ...

Today, I once again wondered whether I should write an email to Donald Trump asking him to take over our country.
What is happening politically here is becoming increasingly difficult to bear.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Someone in Minnesota F’d around and found out………

 

[roverandbrew]

Once we conquer Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia, ......and Greenland, we'll roll into Germany.
Trump will save you from the sand people.

"We" ?

 

[mdwest]

Under what circumstances it is in America's interest for Russia to take over parts of Ukraine and install a puppet government favoring Russia. Not to mention multiple statements about Ukraine starting the war.

Putin stokes Trumps ego and Trump hates Z as you stated. It is as basic as that ego is > country.

the "what Im seeing here" has zero to do with Ukraine.. it has to do with the seizure of the Russian tankers and Trump not really being anyones "friend" or "ally".. youre attempting to blend two completely separate and different discussions..



that said, there is potential value (as machevellian as it may be) in letting the Russians and Ukrainians continue to duke it out and slaughter one another for the next several years rather than helping either side actually "win"...

lets not kid ourselves.. the Ukrainians were not our friends prior to Russias invasion.. the Ukrainians were among the most capable and most prolific STATE SPONSORED cyber criminals that targeted US infrastructure as a priority.. Conti Group (russian state sponsored, but largely staffed with Ukranians and housed in Ukraine).. Carbanak (stole $1B from US financial institutions), Zeus, Avalanche, and numerous others put everything from our military to our banking to literally our restaurants and hospitals under threat for a couple of decades.. and Ukraine fully knew, understood, paid for and SPONSORED many of their activities..

Wanna guess how often US infrastructure is threatened by Ukranian state sponsored cyber criminals today?

My buddy that runs one of the largest defensive cyber groups on earth (He'll be at the party we're having Saturday during TTHA if anyone wants to meet him) advises the Ukranians are now way down at the bottom of the list... as in pretty much non existent..

And.. letting the Russians continue to spend money and expend assets in Ukraine certainly doesnt hurt the US in any way either.. if the Russians are one of the only 2 "near peer" threats that our military is concerned with, having their air, land, and sea capabilities decimated to the point where China becomes the only real "near peer" threat moving forward is a significant advantage to the US.. Suddenly Greenland isnt really something to worry about..

So.. while I dont necessarily agree with that sort of strategy (sooner or later human life needs to be considered).. there are absolutely circumstances where it is to the US's advantage to let the war continue to rage on for a few more years.. and if that results in Ukraine losing some territory in the process, it doesnt really matter much after the Russian military is destroyed, the Russian economy is set back 20 years, the Russian population of young military aged people is depleted, etc..etc..