Politics

[Rocked and Loaded]

Not political per se but an interesting overview of the current AK rifle used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. In fact this particular rifle was said to be picked up from a Ukrainian battlefield.

 

[skydiver386]

Not political per se but an interesting overview of the current AK rifle used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. In fact this particular rifle was said to be picked up from a Ukrainian battlefield.

Love the Atomic Blast Sound Generator attached to the muzzle. Russian soldiers won't have to wait till they grow old and gray to be deaf.

On second thought, for Russian soldiers in Ukraine, old and gray won't ever be an issue.

 

[rookhawk]

And we only got to see the bodycam video after the massive outrage…

Sikh stabs Brit when he asks "are you a bad man". The Sikh replies he is a bad man, takes out a very large knife, stabs him in the chest cutting a major vein near his shoulder blade. He then proceeds to stab him twice in the leg, once in the groin, and then the face.

The perp then calls his brother and they mutually mock the dying man and fail to render aid. The perp then calls his mommy who comes by, retrieves the knife, and hides it.

The perp's brother then calls the police stating they were racially harassed. No remorse, just accusations that the unarmed Brit racially harassed them.

In the UK you cannot even own a pointed tip chef's knife in your own home. However, if your religion requires a knife, you can wear a knife or sword in public without a permit.

That's the story, the end. When you import the third world, you become the third world.

 

[VertigoBE]

That's the story, the end. When you import the third world, you become the third world.

I agree with everything beforehand, but this last part is standing out even more for me, with my experiences of the last two days in Houston. I did not fully realise to what extent Europe has been in decline, especially compared to the US.

 

[Hunt anything]

I just heard it will take up to 30 days for California to count all of the votes in yesterday’s primary! This should be totally unacceptable in today’s world. I hope I heard wrong.

 

[rookhawk]

I agree with everything beforehand, but this last part is standing out even more for me, with my experiences of the last two days in Houston. I did not fully realise to what extent Europe has been in decline, especially compared to the US.

My last sentence is common thinking, but the left has called everyone that says it racist so frequently that nobody even cares about being called racist. It's not about race, its about culture. Most cultures suck, all third world cultures suck. That doesn't mean we won't allow immigration of the best and brightest from every country on earth, it just means we do not want mass immigration of average people from below average places.

 

[rookhawk]

I agree with everything beforehand, but this last part is standing out even more for me, with my experiences of the last two days in Houston. I did not fully realise to what extent Europe has been in decline, especially compared to the US.

Easiest way to buy real estate or decide where to live.

Never live in a place where you do not see these at every store:

It's the very best evidence of a "high trust society".

 

[Wheels]

I just heard it will take up to 30 days for California to count all of the votes in yesterday’s primary! This should be totally unacceptable in today’s world. I hope I heard wrong.

What are the odds of Hilton not even making the runoff by the time they stop counting.

 

[Newboomer]

I just heard it will take up to 30 days for California to count all of the votes in yesterday’s primary! This should be totally unacceptable in today’s world. I hope I heard wrong.

It's corruptifornicate. They need that long to "count and get the numbers right".

 

[Red Leg]

Meanwhile, back in the USSR - I mean Russia - the Ukrainians continue to find new ways to both humiliate the little dictator in the Kremlin and bring the war to the elites. Today, as attendees, including many international ones from third world economic powerhouses like North Korea and South Africa, began to arrive at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, they were greeted with very visible strikes on the city's oil refinery complex.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/s/c5ckq2Hbb3

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1tvuaxn/the_entire_city_of_saint_petersburg_russia

 

[Hunt anything]

It’s mind boggling that the little Russian dictator can intentionally target Ukrainian cities and civilians and the world doesn’t even raise an eyebrow. Let Israel or the US have a misleading or bomb go off target and strike a civilian target the world raises mortal hell about it.

 

[RLD]

It’s mind boggling that the little Russian dictator can intentionally target Ukrainian cities and civilians and the world doesn’t even raise an eyebrow. Let Israel or the US have a misleading or bomb go off target and strike a civilian target the world raises mortal hell about it.

I think generally the world hates Putins guts. It just seems most politicians don't have the courage to deal with him appropriately.

 

[Hunt anything]

I think generally the world hates Putins guts. It just seems most politicians don't have the courage to deal with him appropriately.

You’re probably on to something here.

 

[mdwest]

I think generally the world hates Putins guts. It just seems most politicians don't have the courage to deal with him appropriately.

While I 100% agree that most of the world hates Putin...

I think that the politicians might be dealing with him exactly how they see fit.. and they think its appropriate..

Theyre letting him ruin his countrys economy.. letting him ruin his countrys military might.. letting him ruin his countries military industrial complex.. decimating his global influence.. making sure that the common european and american see him for the shit bag he actually is, etc..

I see many of the worlds leaders playing him like a fiddle.. While the media continues to try to paint a picture of heads of state bungling the relationsihp..

World leaders postulate themselves, let Putin think he has a friend (or at least not an advasary).. and then support or supply his advasaries either overtly or covertly.. and let him continue to get his ass handed to him over and over again through proxy engagements (not just militarily.. but economically as well)...

theyre playing the long game.. a game that sees Russian experience long term loss that takes decades to recover from..

its the old give them enough rope to hang themselves situation...


for all of the wincing and moaning about how Trump has capitulated to the Russians.. what all exactly has transpired other than some television interviews and some news articles?.. Not a whole lot actually..

SOME sanctions were lifted against Russian oil.. just enough to keep Russia further engaged in Ukraine, which has been a disaster for Russia and ruin their economy, their population, their war machine, etc.. but not enough support to actually turn the tide of the war..

Thats not a whole lot different than Germany continuing to buy Russian oil by the mega tanker load for years after being asked to stop.. and then Germany sending munitions, arms, etc to Ukraine by the truck load..

Pretty much everything else has just been "talk", which is archtypical Trump... He said he'd like to see Russia re-admitted to the G7.. so what?.. that hasnt happened.. and Trump knew it wouldnt happen...

Thats just stringing Putin along..

Trump suspended military support of Ukraine... thats as much about his hatred of Zelensky as it is any love or consideration of Putin.. and.. it also at the same time forced Europe to step up further.. which has been a goal of Trump since 2016 (not just support of Ukraine, but more investment in Europes own defense, more investment in NATO, etc.. etc..).. and again, what has happened? The war continues to rage on.. and the Russian economy and military continue to suffer.. and Ukraine, which is no historical friend of the US largely pays the price for it..

Europes leaders, while not as brash as Trump have been playing similar games.. In 2025 Europe bought $122M in fruits, seeds, and grains from Russia.. it also bought $30M in root vegetables.. and $29M in other agricultural products (continuing to support the Russian economy in their own self interest)

Russian export of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to Europe rose 17% in 2025.. Europe bought $1.1B in raw materials from Russia last year.. EU nations bought 3B+ euros worth of chemicals from Russia last year.. etc..etc..

They all (US and Europe alike) continue to string Russia along.. provide them just enough of an economic engine to continue down their path to ruin... without letting them get enough momentum to succeed at anything..

Ukraine certainly ends up the pawn in the game... but thats a question of morals and ethics.. something that almost no politician has..

Russia remains a nuclear threat.. but other than that, when compared to anything Russia was just 10 years ago, where do they now stand?

They arent a conventional military powerhouse any longer..

Their economy is in tatters.. they arent an economic threat any longer..

Most of their primary weapons systems have proven to be substantially inferior to US and European and Korean systems.. they have pretty much killed their international markets for arms sales..

Etc etc...

 

[John Wasmuth]

I just heard it will take up to 30 days for California to count all of the votes in yesterday’s primary! This should be totally unacceptable in today’s world. I hope I heard wrong.

They need that long to create the ballots they need to make sure of a Democrat win…..

 

[Brent in Az]

I just heard it will take up to 30 days for California to count all of the votes in yesterday’s primary! This should be totally unacceptable in today’s world. I hope I heard wrong.

It gives them time to bring in mysterious box trucks full of ballots in the middle of the night. Just like they do in Maricopa county,Arizona.

 

[Brent in Az]

I think generally the world hates Putins guts. It just seems most politicians don't have the courage to deal with him appropriately.

What is the best way to deal with a highly unpredictable dictator, with over 5000 nuclear warheads at his disposal?
Putin doesn't seem like the type you want to back too tightly into a corner.

Everyone is a foreign policy expert, until they aren't.

 

[Brent in Az]

A handful of RINO's join forces with the Dems

House votes to curb Trump war powers in Iran in rare bipartisan rebuke | Fox News https://share.google/HF2PgZUBOfrdQYAGP

 

[AJ Peacock]

While I 100% agree that most of the world hates Putin...

I think that the politicians might be dealing with him exactly how they see fit.. and they think its appropriate..

Theyre letting him ruin his countrys economy.. letting him ruin his countrys military might.. letting him ruin his countries military industrial complex.. decimating his global influence.. making sure that the common european and american see him for the shit bag he actually is, etc..

I see many of the worlds leaders playing him like a fiddle.. While the media continues to try to paint a picture of heads of state bungling the relationsihp..

World leaders postulate themselves, let Putin think he has a friend (or at least not an advasary).. and then support or supply his advasaries either overtly or covertly.. and let him continue to get his ass handed to him over and over again through proxy engagements (not just militarily.. but economically as well)...

theyre playing the long game.. a game that sees Russian experience long term loss that takes decades to recover from..

its the old give them enough rope to hang themselves situation...


for all of the wincing and moaning about how Trump has capitulated to the Russians.. what all exactly has transpired other than some television interviews and some news articles?.. Not a whole lot actually..

SOME sanctions were lifted against Russian oil.. just enough to keep Russia further engaged in Ukraine, which has been a disaster for Russia and ruin their economy, their population, their war machine, etc.. but not enough support to actually turn the tide of the war..

Thats not a whole lot different than Germany continuing to buy Russian oil by the mega tanker load for years after being asked to stop.. and then Germany sending munitions, arms, etc to Ukraine by the truck load..

Pretty much everything else has just been "talk", which is archtypical Trump... He said he'd like to see Russia re-admitted to the G7.. so what?.. that hasnt happened.. and Trump knew it wouldnt happen...

Thats just stringing Putin along..

Trump suspended military support of Ukraine... thats as much about his hatred of Zelensky as it is any love or consideration of Putin.. and.. it also at the same time forced Europe to step up further.. which has been a goal of Trump since 2016 (not just support of Ukraine, but more investment in Europes own defense, more investment in NATO, etc.. etc..).. and again, what has happened? The war continues to rage on.. and the Russian economy and military continue to suffer.. and Ukraine, which is no historical friend of the US largely pays the price for it..

Europes leaders, while not as brash as Trump have been playing similar games.. In 2025 Europe bought $122M in fruits, seeds, and grains from Russia.. it also bought $30M in root vegetables.. and $29M in other agricultural products (continuing to support the Russian economy in their own self interest)

Russian export of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to Europe rose 17% in 2025.. Europe bought $1.1B in raw materials from Russia last year.. EU nations bought 3B+ euros worth of chemicals from Russia last year.. etc..etc..

They all (US and Europe alike) continue to string Russia along.. provide them just enough of an economic engine to continue down their path to ruin... without letting them get enough momentum to succeed at anything..

Ukraine certainly ends up the pawn in the game... but thats a question of morals and ethics.. something that almost no politician has..

Russia remains a nuclear threat.. but other than that, when compared to anything Russia was just 10 years ago, where do they now stand?

They arent a conventional military powerhouse any longer..

Their economy is in tatters.. they arent an economic threat any longer..

Most of their primary weapons systems have proven to be substantially inferior to US and European and Korean systems.. they have pretty much killed their international markets for arms sales..

Etc etc...

@mdwest, as always you are thoughful and well spoken in your assessments. Curious about Putin and the internal politics, to me it seems that once he's backed into the corner, either the internal pressure force him out or Russia will need to be decapitated and get a restart? Also, will the economic pressure on China cause them to be closer allies than ever?

AJ

 

[Rickmt]

Putin has lots of nukes and that causes every country to hesitate to respond appropriately to his evil ways. When I read his manifesto on Russian destiny I am pretty darn sure he is borderline crazy