"How Long Can The Western Consensus On The Ukraine War Hold?" Topic

oddly mentions his "historic" election margin. No other President has ever made so many incongruous references to his own greatness.

He's saying this because the DEMOCRATS are actively trying to sabotage foreign policy by telling other leaders that 1) Trump has no mandate, he's just a kook and 2) Trump's power is temporary, most Americans don't like him and the Democrats will win the 2026 Midterm elections and reverse everything Trump is doing.

Yes, Grattan, this is actually happening and it is scary. The enforcement power lies with the Executive and it is being gutted for replacements who are personally loyal to Trump.

Not surprisingly, I disagree. Who are these judges filing unconstitutional directives to the Executive? Without fail they are all Democrat Activist judges, many with conflicts of interest (like the one that issue a ruling by fiat to block deportation of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangsters).

Since when have District Court judges had the power to dictate to the Executive who can be hired and fired? To dictate the management of Federal agencies? To dictate the priorities of the Executive? To restrict access of lawful federal agents and employees to federal departments and systems?

This is all about the Democrats fighting back to maintain their power base among a politicized and corrupt Federal bureaucracy. I mean, why is nobody upset that USAID spent $10 USD Million on circumcisions in Madagascar? Or that the EPA was caught, as an EPA employee bragged, shoveling $20 USD BILLION in crony contracts out the door "like gold off the back of the Titanic"!?!

And lets look again at this judge's order to block deportation of violent criminals who are declared as members of an international terrorist group? Trump moved to deport this scum, and Democrat Judges blocked him and Democrat Mayors declared they would also block sweeping these criminals off the streets and out of the US -- and would protect murderers over their own people! So then Trump invoked the Aliens Act to declare a national security issue which is not subject to civil suits, and the Democrats said "we don't care, we will sue anyways and try and block the deportation of killers and rapists"

What the actual FRUCK are the Democrats doing and why is ANYONE SUPPORTING THIS! I'm really confused about this so I would like YOU Grattan and YOU Tort to explain to me why you support shielding these killers and thugs???

SB +1

"He's saying this because the DEMOCRATS are actively trying to sabotage foreign policy by telling other leaders that 1) Trump has no mandate, he's just a kook and 2) Trump's power is temporary, most Americans don't like him and the Democrats will win the 2026 Midterm elections and reverse everything Trump is doing."

Exactly what they did in his first term!!

The media is exactly as they have been prior, as well.

People voted him in to close the border and deport illegals.

He promised tariffs. Why are people surprised.

He promised to cut back the government. Something when bureaucrats are involved has been proven to be totally impossible!!! H#ll the Congress can't even put a budget together!!

Where would we be today without activists liberal judges and liberal groups like the ACLU, since he took office?

Then of course, you add those who are trying to destroy the country behind the scenes… George Soros comes to mind! How many unburned Teslas would there be without him? How many paid protesters out there, having to find an actual job? Lawns will need be cut! Liberals will need babysitters and maids! Strawberries and tomatoes picked!! All jobs these protesters could fill if we can send illegals home and Soros disappears.

How many unburned Teslas would there be without him?

And where is the DEMOCRAT condemnation of a domestic terror campaign against an American company? Oh yeah, I forgot -- violence is just another tool for them, like when they enabled, encouraged and supported mass violent riots in 2020 to help win the 2020 election.

And another thing -- now another Democrat Activist judge, Judge Ana Reyes who is an LGBTQ activist put on the DC bench by Biden, has issued a ruling telling the Military how to run their personnel policies -- who can be promoted and demoted, who can be accepted or rejected by the military and what role they can have.

SB that is my point. This will continue, unless the SC steps in. Same crap as his first term.

I hear what you are saying. But let us be realistic. There is a deep, deep divide between the Far Right and the Far left today. Between liberal and conservative. Trump is a very dividing figure. In the last election he won the popular vote by 1.5%. That means roughly half of the US doesn't like him or down right hate him. Why are you surprised that they are going to fight back, accuse him of things, attack him or oppose what he is doing?

I remember conservatives hating Clinton, Obama and Biden. They attacked them, accused them of horrible things, oppose them every chance they got. Is it really so different?

Yes, liberal media is nor fair to Trump and don't cover things fairly. But really, does FOX, Newsmax or ONI? When was the last time they came out against Trump? criticized him? They are not fair or unbiased either. All the media has taken a side. When Trump said Zelensky was a dictator and Ukraine started the war, did FOX or Newsmax oppose him in that? No. Nor did the liberal media ever oppose Biden. That is the world we live it today.

Wow a liberal judge rules in a liberal way. I am shocked!! But then, conservative judges rule in a conservative way. The only difference is if you are conservative you like how the conservative judge ruled and hate how the liberal judge ruled. But that alone does not mean the ruling was right or wrong. The ruling could be liberal and right. The ruling could be conservative and right.

I think there is TDS on both sides. Liberals hate everything he does and conservatives think everything he does is wonderful. Both sides go to far with their thinking.

Gratten54

Just one example, this from the SC

"Supporters of President Donald Trump began voicing criticism of Barrett on social media after she joined the Court's liberal justices and Chief Justice John Roberts, who was appointed to the Court by President George W. Bush, in a ruling that required the Trump administration to unfreeze $2 USD billion in foreign aid.

Barrett was appointed by Trump in 2020. Earlier this month, Trump told reporters that Barrett is "very smart" woman, and said he did not know about the supporters speaking out against her."

The conservative justices will break ranks. The 3 liberal justices will not break ranks with each other.

Individuals on Fox, do come out against Trump. Watching "The Five" right now, Jessica Tarlov, constantly opposes Trump. Of course she is outnumbered 4 to 1. But her voice is there. There are other anti Trump voices. But yes many more pro Trump. But when I watch the other networks, I rarely can find even 1 voice that even mildly positive on Trump. So at least Fox is somewhat fair, although unbalanced.

Yes there were those on Fox who took Trump to task on that remark, Brian Kilmeade being one.

Fox of all you mention, is the only one that can be considered Main Stream. So of the MSM, they are the "only" pro Republican. The rest are a 80 plus percent anti Trump tirade 24 hours a day.

Gratten54

This is NOT you, but I place it as an example.

We have the people who say they factchecked articles and "what you said is wrong". Well here is how the "fact checkers" work.

Subject: How Snopes Buried the Truth About Ilhan Omar's Father


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Now want to bet a judge stops this. Read it and give me your bets.

Subject: VA to phase out treatment for gender dysphoria – VA News


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There is a deep, deep divide between the Far Right and the Far left today. Between liberal and conservative. Trump is a very dividing figure. In the last election he won the popular vote by 1.5%. That means roughly half of the US doesn't like him or down right hate him.

Noope -- Trump is not a very dividing figure, he's the product of a nation deliberately divided by the LEFT and the Democrats over an almost 20 year period as they have tried to ram through the cultural transformation of the nation against the will of at least half the people.

I mean, let's look at "divisive" Trump. Trump was a moderate New York Democrat before he changed party and became a Republican. He donated to Democrats like Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson. They invited him to their fundraisers, parties and weddings as both a successful businessman and TV celebrity. He was recognized for his work in helping minority owned businesses and the Black community with an NAACP Rosa Parks award. He was also recognized by Jewish groups for his support of the Jewish Community -- and his daughter, son-in-law (and key advisor) and many grandkids are Jewish. He was a frequent guest on TV shows like The View and the Oprah Show, and they always treated him with smiles.

All that changed when he changed party and ran against Hillary Clinton. At first he was treated like the comic relief, oh that cheeky Trump, he's good for ratings! Then he got traction. Then they freaked out when he won the GOP Nomination and started to perform well against Hillary. They knew they couldn't run against actual Trump -- a moderate Democrat turned moderate Republican who was almost *one of them,* so they reinvented Trump from the outside.

Isn't that funny? My primary concern about Trump was that he'd been a registered Democrat and is he just playing the Tea Party types for a fool again? LOL, was I wrong!

Like a switch had been flipped the Democrats and allied media turned on him and used all their resources to paint him as a racist, misogynist, fascist reincarnation of Adolf Hitler! They rewrote history, took quotes and media appearances out of context and highly edited things to make Trump seem like a horrible racist.

And they fabricated the RussiaGate hoax, proven to be a hoax by the Durham Investigation, that FusionGPS and Perkins-Coe were paid by the Clinton campaign to do oppos research on Trump, and in turn they paid "former" MI-5 agent Steele to dig up dirt, who in turn paid RUSSIAN and UKRAINIAN sources to make up stuff he put in his report, without any means of verifying it! Then FusionGPS leaked that to the media, and friendly Clinton-Obama allied JD/FBI/Intel collaborate to launch the RussiaGate process.

In so doing they did incalculable harm to the world -- certainly to Europe, Ukraine and Russia. They made a diplomatic dealings with Russia almost impossible and their constant Russian fearmongering ended up creating the conditions of a Sino-Russian Alliance!

All the stuff Clinton supposedly believed in about "Reset with Russia" and Obama's appeasement in allowing Putin to grab Crimea in exchange for enabling him to get re-elected in 2012 was out the window to facilitate their rise back to power and the destruction of Trump.

But, who's going to change your mind on game hobby board?

The West has a consensus on Ukraine?

News to me…

OVI +1

SBm +1

Constant Russian fear mongering, SB? I guess you did not hide under your school desk during air raid drills as a child.

I don't believe that the Russians can be trusted in any deal. I do not believe anything they say. I think the US looks weak in all of this and is heading in the wrong direction with Russia. They are not our friends unless they get what they want…and then they will take more the next time.

I don't care about the Dems – they are not the sole evil in the universe, and they are a scapegoat for the blamer culture on the right. Talk about fear-mongering…the left and the right use many of the same tactics and then yell at each other. The middle has had enough divisive manipulation. Both sides do it. . Trump just stands out more and history will not be kind.

Tort, we disagree on the Trump analysis, but you knew we would. 😉
I'll evaluate after 4 years.

To make my earlier point more decisively. This is the 4th I linked in the last 2 days. It is now beyond ridiculous. With 2 to 4 challenges every day or so. They started building the border wall again. I'm waiting for a judge to stop that again, like last time. 🙄

Subject: Stephen Miller on X: "District judge orders DOJ to house men in women's prisons. Judges are now appointing themselves as head of the Bureau of Prisons to nullify election results." / X


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@Gratten54

I saw this yesterday evening. Again my point with Fox. Not the first time he has complained about Fox, or some of their people. 🙂

Subject: Trump Rips Jacqui Heinrich: 'She Should Be Working for CNN'


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Well, he has treated Fox employees well over the years. He expects something in return.

35th, I think Tarlov is there to help refresh content so there is something to oppose. Trump in history will be fascinating no matter which way the wind blows on him.

35th OVI ,

Yes, a liberal on FOX will be critical of Trump. I was speaking about the overall coverage of FOX. The same can be said of CNN. They often have conservatives on that support Trump. But, overall, CNN is a liberal news organization. Today, I heard an anchor on MSNBC actually support Trump's removal of the woman doctor from GAZA because of her support for Hamas. But, again, we all know MSNBC is very liberal. You are right, at times conservatives on FOX have questioned things Trump has done. Also, CNN played a big role in bringing down Biden. Should have done it sooner…

Constant Russian fear mongering, SB? I guess you did not hide under your school desk during air raid drills as a child.

Oh yes I did, and I was a Cold Warrior who has a minor fly on the wall at the end. And guess what -- WE WON!

That's right, the USSR collapsed and the Cold War was over. No more existential threat. I even had the chance to travel to Moscow in the Wild 90s and Red Square was empty, the Russian flag flew over the Kremlin and NOBODY was waiting line to see the moldy fungus covered corpse of Lenin. I had the strong urge to yell WE WON!…but thought that would be impolite. Damn, dude, I even knew a guy who was inside Beli Dom – the Parliament Bldg, when Pro-Gorbachev forces stormed it, he flipped them the bird before ducking for cover against tank fire.

Brass Ones the size of cannon balls.

But this is not then. We blew an historic chance to flip Russia to the West during the 1990s, but screwed that up. Then during the Obama presidency, how often did you hear of THE RUSSIAN THREAT!!! even though Putin was invading his neighbors? NOTHING! At worst the Russian were used as the new Hollywood badguys to recon Tom Clancy movies and spy shows to avoid depicting the real threat of Islamist terrorism.

We got "Reset" and "Tell Vlad I'll have more flexibility after the election" and all that. The Establishment Media and the Democrats spent not a single second warning about Russia.

But all of that changed when Trump won, and then the Democrats WHO HAD APPEASED THE USSR DURING THE COLD WAR, even going so far as trying to cut a deal with the USSR to help Teddy Kennedy beat Reagan and who supported damn near every Communist regime on the planet, suddenly became Russia Hawks!

I'm like, where were you for the last decade and a half of the Cold War?!? What happened to Hillary's Reset and Bill's speaking gig payments in Moscow, and the generous Russian donation to the Clinton Foundation after Hillary approved the Uranium One deal as SecState?

Nope, 24x7x365 Russia fear-mongering by the Democrats and the Media, and then the fake RussiaGate carp that HILLARY created, all to try and undermine and impeach Trump. And how many Cold War commie-loving Democrats wrapped themselves up in the flag and waxed poetic about the Russian Threat to Our Democracy and how Trump and anyone who supports him is a Putin Puppet. Where were you in 1984?!? Oh yeah, loving the crap outta the Sandinistas and trying to cut a deal with the USSR to get Teddy Kennedy elected.

I don't believe that the Russians can be trusted in any deal. I do not believe anything they say. I think the US looks weak in all of this and is heading in the wrong direction with Russia. They are not our friends unless they get what they want…and then they will take more the next time.

DUH! Trust But Verify -- remember that? Still applies today. And you know what "the wrong direction with Russia" is -- driving them into China's arms to create the existential threat of a Sino-Russian Axis and continuing a LOST WAR that moves us closer and closer to us all getting to enjoy the opening scene of the Fallout streaming show…

General Dynamics debuts Pandur 6×6 SHORAD variant

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What if Europe had to fight tonight – without the Americans?

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Armand

Donald Trump's Russia Strategy Could End NATO As We Know It

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Armand

"Donald Trump's Russia Strategy Could End NATO As We Know It"

Only if the Europeans believe their own chest-beating bullsh1t3.

1. Their militaries are hollow shells -- they have allowed themselves to become dangerously weak and have no power projected capability. And they know this, which is one reason why they HAVE NOT SENT TROOPS to Ukraine!

2. Their people do not want to see the corpses of their loved ones flowing back home in body bags, and more and more of their people are questioning the destructive slide into nihilistic authoritarianism and dysfunction.

3. Europe is starving itself of energy and is dependent on Putin to keep the lights on -- how far can they go in biting the hand that energizes them?

4. Putin has nukes.

For these reasons and more, this is why the Europeans have been cynically trying to engineer a direct confrontation between the US and Russia, expecting the US to once again do all the heavy lifting and give them what they want without fighting for it themselves.

And this is why this current path is insanely stupid and dangerous. All this puffed up rhetoric means nothing, and Putin knowns it. Like this Macron announcement that European troops *could* be sent to Ukraine as a "reassurance force" in case Russia violates a cease-fire (which they themselves are not and cannot negotiate!)…and then he issues some meaningless "we love Ukraine" type blather and sends a billion dollars or two.

Zelensky must be a total freakin' moron and a fool, or a vile grifter, if he thinks anything the Europeans are doing and saying has any meaning or value. He's one of those because the European puffery seems to have embolden him to be more bellicose and throw out obstacles to a peace deal.

It's like he doesn't understand that the Europeans are using him and don't care about the future of Ukraine, and that Trump is trying to save his a$$ and prevent Ukraine from total collapse and defeat.

SB you are sort of right about Trump here, but the terms are not currently negotiable..Putin will give nothing, knows he can dominate the proceedings. There is no way to fix this without Ukraine's surrender of territory and who knows what other humiliating conditions. Trump and Putin hate Zelensky, I believe. I doubt the Europeans still think the US will assist them.

And a question…I don't know anything about Soros. How do we know how he does so many evil deeds? Is he really hiring people to attack Teslas or funding that in some way? Is there some sort of evidence?

Now wait!! You all been telling us that Trump was Putin's lackey. Did you all lie to us? 🤔

Subject: Rapid Response 47 on X: "🚨 NBC: "Just hours ago, President Trump called me to tell me he is 'pissed off' with Russia's President Putin and threatened to impose secondary tariffs on Russia's oil." t.co/ikpmFH5t1Q / X


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No Trump is not a lacky for Putin or anybody. As opposed to Biden, which as time goes on and more information is released. He was an empty suit who should have never been allowed in the WH. He was a puppet of the left, liberal, socialist, DEI/CRT supporters, Go Green Cultists, transgender movement, etc. Calling him a puppet may be too strong. His mental capabilities were failing as soon as he took office. And his staff, the Dems, the media, etc. covered it up.

And our enemies saw all this and took full advantage of him et al …

Putin's Warpath Goes Through Arctic

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Armand

Tango01 – you have to understand that for a Cold War generation guy like me, there's no threat from Russia I haven't heard before. However, I also know that Russia is NOT the Soviet Union and that despite his grandiose statements Putin-Mussolini has very little capacity to follow through. Witness the on-going war in Ukraine, where Russia cannot decisively defeat that nation -- though ultimately he will grind it down in a war of attrition to eke out a victory, thus the need now for a peace deal to prevent that.

So -- his threat is not scary or even interesting. He will keep poking, prodding and pushing to get everything he can, so he can never be "trusted," only managed.

Like his threats about potential US attacks on Iran's nuclear weapons or to punish them for their continued proxy wars via the Three Hs -- Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas. Putin has nothing in theatre he can use to support Iran, he has no power projection capacity. At most I guess he could provide some Satellite/SIGINT data but then he'd do that any way.

He has and did harm to a civil defenseless population … seems nobody condemn that… we forget Bucha and another bunch of atrocities this nazi did… and continue doing… BUT we have to talk about peace because Ukraine is suffering a war…

Have you any other example of a country vilely invaded whose premise is only to talk about peace?… when faced with such beasts who rape, plunder and destroy everything in their path?

As a human being, one can condemn, support, or reject the issue… as a free and democratic country, one must support the weakest in the many ways already described here, or play dumb and look the other way…

It pains me to think that the President of the most powerful country in the world is so naive or poorly read as to believe anything Putin tells him… or worse, anything he promises him… when he realizes how ridiculous his position is… not only will the war continue, but those who are right will suffer even more…

You may have heard multiple threats from the Russians… but you didn't suffer any consequences because you live in a country that has enough resources to make them pay if they dare… the rest of the world isn't that lucky… and don't tell me Cuprum's speech that the Soviet Union is not the same as today's Russia… seeing their behavior, anyone with two brain cells realizes that there isn't a single difference… maybe now people fall more often from the 22nd floor or suffer poisoning instead of being sent to a Goulash

Armand

Can we just leave out these references to Biden's personal health? The guy has been beaten. He is gone. Not there anymore. Doing nothing now. No longer seen in public life. Powerless. All punched out. Literally left the building.. is there no cure for BDS??! 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

What Europe Should, Could, and Would do in a Great Pacific War

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Armand

Having not read the article, yet. But I remember being with a forward deployed Mech Bn[M113s] of the 2ID, 22 months '84-'85. Albeit it is still a UN mission. On occasion we discussed about the North breaking the truce. And the war going real hot real quick.

Their were no other UN forces in country, save for the ROKs, the US and a Plt of Gurkhas stationed in Seoul. And on very, very rare occasion some UN members' Liaison Officer. I remember one from New Zealand and France. But otherwise … no other UN/NATO troops were that I we knew of.

So first of all how would the Euro Forces get there. At that time I can't think of an Euro/NATO forces anywhere new the ROK. There were the ANZACs, Japan, the PI, and a few other smaller allies in the PTO. Probably not too much different now(?). The Canadians have ports and airfields on their West Coast. They could come into assist. More so back then, then now, it would seem.

But do Euro/NATO force have the air and sea assts to get there currently ? Probably not. How long will it take for them to get there ? Back then the Cold War was in full force. Euros were in better condition militarily than they are now.

Well maybe I should read the article …

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EU urges citizens to stockpile 72 hours' worth of supplies amid war risk

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Armand

EU urges citizens to stockpile 72 hours' worth of supplies amid war risk

LOL! Most people already have that in their refrigerator -- hardly a serious call to action. To be more serious you should have at least 3 weeks of food and water on hand.

I would say at least a month or 2. Also a portable water filtration device (don't cheep out on it). Medical kit. Vegetable seed packets. More than 2 months worth of medicines you take. Ammo for weapons you have, if your state or country allows them. Various knifes. Some books on basic survival skills.

Crossing the anti-Democratic rubicon in Europe

"In his highly quoted speech to the Munich Security Conference, Vice President J.D. Vance singled out a country unfamiliar to many Americans: Romania.

Mr. Vance condemned what he described as Europe's crackdown on free speech and mentioned Romania's election annulment.

In December, "Romania straight up canceled the results of a presidential election based on the flimsy suspicions of an intelligence agency and enormous pressure from its continental neighbors," he said. "The argument was that Russian disinformation had infected the Romanian elections, but I'd ask my European friends to have some perspective. If your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn't very strong to begin with."…"

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Armand

Yes, I've been following this and, yes Le Pen is just the latest.

Subject: French Populist Leader Marine Le Pen Sentenced to Jail, Banned from Politics in Heinous Lawfare Case.


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Russia's Replacing Military Equipment at "Unprecedented Pace" Lt Col Daniel Davis

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No matter what happens in Ukraine. The probability of Russia ever building a big enough and well-trained/lead Military. To invade old WP or even Western Europe nations is not going to happen anytime soon.

Putin sees all the tumoral, etc. going on in the USA currently. He/they watch the news too. The fighting among US politicians, etc. over things that should not even be in question. Just demonstrates the US is in its own little virtual civil.

A result of the USA being having no real leadership at the top. For 4 years. A party infiltrated, influenced and paid by a very small but very wealthy far left woke progressive minority. Putin sees this.

Putin and are other enemies must be laughing about the things that are important to the US Democratic far left.

E.g. Transgenderism/LGBTQ, woke progressivism, DEI, CRT/1619, the high priority on Climate change, the emasculation of the US military, etc., etc. Our enemies really don't have to be concerned about things like this.

Yust to remember…

How Britain Hoped To Avoid War With Germany In The 1930s

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Armand

@Tango,

You may have heard multiple threats from the Russians… but you didn't suffer any consequences because you live in a country that has enough resources to make them pay if they dare…

Oh, I'm sorry the some 500,000 to 600,000 US Casualties suffered during the Cold War (including Korea and Vietnam) to defeat the USSR isn't "consequences" enough for you!

I'm sorry the US only spent $23 USD TRILLION on defense and security and foreign aid to defeat the USSR.

I'm sorry that my family members have fought in WW1 to help Europe, in WW2 to help Europe, then more stayed in garrison to help Europe -- my Dad, my Sister, friends and brothers-in-law patrolling the Inter-German Border, patrolling the 38th Parallel and other less well know places. Where they saw friends die in training accidents and even in "training accidents" where hostile fire was exchanged but never admitted to.

So we have suffered consequences aplenty that have distorted our society and our democracy and left us deeply in debt and fractured since some in our political class really really liked the power our Cold War institutions gave them, and they don't want to give that up.

Oh -- we could have chosen Europe's current path…affluent but weak and shallow, collapsing into Authoritarianism, unable to defend themselves or their culture from hostile cultures and powers…they could easily, with the WILL to do so, fend off Russia and other threats. They have chosen not to.

Legion 4, the problem in Russia was exactly the same. The Russian leadership, including Putin, completely followed the globalist narrative, destroying domestic industry, education and science, allowing non-profit organizations supported by your money to impose and promote the "liberal values" you listed, anti-national "values"… Putin simply turned off this path earlier. Both he and the Russians were demonized in the same way that Trump and the Americans are now demonized.
Now walk in our shoes for a while))) You went against the mainstream. How dare you have your own national interests?

The Democrats are old news to Putin. He's laughing alright – at the chaos and confusion being sown by Trump right now amongst countries who were once strong allies.
And if you think Trumps heart is really with the US military, consider the choice to play golf over receiving and honoring the bodies of the four killed in Lithuania.

the problem in Russia was exactly the same.

Well that seems to be true. And we all just went along for the ride. Believing our leaders had our best interests in mind.

Silurian … I'm not going to go point to point on Trump vs. Biden. I've talked to much about this before. However, if you look at Biden et al's performances. Our enemies[and friends] were smiling as they saw the emperor has no clothes. And many here in the US were just covering it up. More and more that is coming out If anyone did not see that … I can't and won't try to change their mind.

When I served '79-'90 as an Army active-duty Infantry officer in 4 Line Infantry Bns and one CBT SPT Bn.

We very sadly had men die during training in CONUS, Panama, and the ROK. It didn't even make a headline in the news other than the military media.

From what I remember, on the Hand Grenade Rg. in '78 as an ROTC Cadet. On Active-Duty, e.g. drownings, heat stroke, GSW, vehicle and aircraft accidents, etc., etc.

We medevac'd a number of GIs, that would have died if we didn't react correctly. At times as an Officer onsite, I may have taken charge … as it was my job. But WE acted as we were trained. And everybody did their jobs.

So spare me … Any Trump vs. Biden stories … Sadly even training for combat can, will be and is still inherently dangerous. And whoever the POTUS was may have heard little about it …

My comments are not pro or con Trump vs. Biden. They simply are facts as best as I can remember them.

Very emotional story… of course we're not talking about that here… we're presenting a personal stance on the war in Ukraine… maybe you're in a position to do so thanks to the sacrifice of so many brave people who gave everything for freedom… getting back to the main topic… I don't think there's the slightest justification for supporting the Russian Nazis… nor for failing to help those who suffer from them as you so well portrayed in the past… of course seeing your avatar now…

Armand

I don't think there's the slightest justification for supporting the Russian Nazis… nor for failing to help those who suffer from them as you so well portrayed in the past… of course seeing your avatar now…

Who is "supporting Russia?"

I'm supporting REALITY, and REALITY doesn't care about your feelings.

Oh, and my long forgotten web avatar of many, that an obsessive cyberstalker chose to pick, goes back about a dozen years when Obama did the Great Reset, and appeased Putin's invasions of Georgia, Crimea and Donbas, when he backstabbed the Poles on a defense deal to placate "Vlad," when Bill Clinton scooped up millions of $$ in "speaking fees" from Russian oligarchs and Hillary Clinton was SecState and approved the "Uranium One" deal and saw tens of millions of $$ donated by Russia into the Clinton Foundation, and when Mitt Romney brought up the security threat posed by Russia and was mercilessly mocked by Obama and the Democrat Party and by the Late Night hosts and shows like Saturday Night as "the 1980s called, they want their foreign policy back."

And these same people who sucked up to Russia my entire life until the year 2016, who actively went against their own country to back Soviet client states and insurgencies globally and whose 1984 Presidential Candidate (Teddy Kennedy) tried to cut a backdoor deal with the Soviets to help him get elected all of a sudden became Russia Hawks when Trump got elected??

Where were you then, when people like ME and others here warned about Putin and criticized his actions?

Hey guy, maybe we shouldn't let Putin's invasion of Georgia go unpunished? I recall one vocal poster here on TMP tell me to shut up, Georgia deserved to be invaded for the dire crime of sending token troops to support the Iraq War.

Hey guys, looks like Putin is pulling the same trick in Crimea where he gives out Russian passports and then moves to "aid Russian citizens." The reaction? Yawn.

Hey guys, looks like Putin is pulling the same trick in eastern Ukraine where he gives out Russian passports and then moves to "aid Russian citizens." The reaction? Yawn.

Where were you when Biden shook down Ukraine to get his son out of prosecution, and delivered NO MILITARY AID to Ukraine?!? Absent or silent.

Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

Tango … you are talking to Cuprum, yes ? If so, it sounds about right.

SBm +1

The Rise of a New Axis: Great Power Struggle and the Future of Conflict

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Armand

US Navy unveils newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Iowa

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Armand

NATO With Less America

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Norwegian Spy Catchers

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Russian Ship Sabotage

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The Future of NATO

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Armand

I may have said this before. But Putin is dragging his feet when in comes to ending the war in Ukraine. Part of it is he certainly wasted a lot of blood, treasure and times in this adventure. With little to really show for it. Has to save face, etc.

But the civil war going on in Congress and the wealthy woke progressive left is funding the "useful dupes" rioters in the streets and campuses etc. only helps Putin.

Putin's 1985 Moment

"In order for any settlement with Russia to have a chance of lasting, Putin must be forced to reach the conclusion that Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev had in 1985 regarding the Soviet war in Afghanistan. At the time, the Kremlin realized that the geopolitical, economic, and human costs of the war outweighed Moscow's interests in continuing the conflict. While negotiations stretched for several years, 1985 marked the turning point at which Moscow began to consider withdrawing from the war.

Today, Ukraine's partners must remain cognizant of the fact that Moscow has yet to reach a similar "1985 moment." Vladimir Putin does not accept that the war will not end on his terms. He has provided no convincing indication that he is willing to end his invasion absent a capitulation by Kyiv that cedes four of Ukraine's provinces and any prospect of attaining genuine security guarantees. Putin's view that the entire country is a wayward extension of the Russian homeland suggests that even this may not be enough…"

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Armand