"when will China attack?" Topic

Good point. I know the chaos is said to be part of the plan, although I think it has been unnecessarily destructive. Why do it this way if it is a long process? We can find almost nobody, except in the administration, who thinks this has been a good idea.

as per the OP, when we least expect it. Sunday morning, near a holiday?

Tort there are those in the administration who don't like it (Musk). You know , the co-president.😉 He and Navarro got into it. There are those outside who are for them, even blue collar workers.

This is going to take a bit. Right now everyone is reacting with emotions.

What if Russia at the beginning of the German Invasion, with massive defeats, had thrown their arms in the air and surrendered?

Currently people are following the old adage:

"When in trouble and in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout!"

When I retired, I put most of my 401k as conservative as possible. So far, it has worked. My thoughts, when you are close to needing it, go conservative. When you are working, invest in the stocks. But that is only my belief, not those of the "experts". To move funds now, or worse, sell, would not be wise.. IMHO. When I have extra money to spare, right now I buy. Stocks are much cheaper.

Diversifying in bullion has been good too. But again only IMHO.

A victory against China? Heard this last night.

Subject: Trump-Hegseth Win as U.S.-Panama Jointly Affirm Shift from China, Secure Canal Traffic, Address Migration.


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And Panama has closed the infamous Darien Gap? Excellent news!

This sounds good, never even realized China was there in the last administration.

Ports at both ends if I'm not mistaken.

The biggest risk of war is if/when Xi feels so desperate to upend the flow of events that is crippling the CCP and if he's at risk of losing power.

China is much less able to weather a tariff war than the US is -- US imports from China comprises over a third of China's GDP. The US is not as critically reliant on China as China is on the US.

China's strategy, in racing terms, is to draft the US and then pass it and become the global dominant power. And it's all or nothing for the CCP, they have the pedal to the medal, and now the US has just juiced the Nitro…Trump is putting place a new global trade system of low/no tariffs between good partners and a defacto Cold War trade regime on China.

The pressure on the CCP is mounting, there's definitely a power struggle going in right now. Xi just initiated a massive military purge of several senior generals and up to 1800 command officers -- I would think that would both demoralize and cripple the Chinese military from any successful military adventure.

SB, yes we have to hope this does not end up like the Japanese and Roosevelt's cutting off of resources.

China currently reminds me of Japan in the 80's, when they hit their pinnacle. Everyone thought that Japan would dominate the world economically, then ….. boom! 💥

35th it isn't just you. We have two pots of money, and both managers, because we are old (78) and into required minimum withdrawals, use an against the market conservative approach. Bull markets they always keep some assets in cash or hedges, and bear markets they look for long-term bargains. Of course we and they would have done things quite differently were we decades away from retirement.

SB, the corruption and purges have been going on for years there, as I keep saying. No credit for Trump here.

The Chinese military leaders are political appointees, their capabilities were unknown at best, word would leak out of big time theft and some guy would disappear. One man rule above all. Hanging on to power is tough,

But China has tremendous economic leverage and influence. We are ceding our influence to them as we reduce our global footprint.

The first story will not come as a surprise to some of us(there are so many like this now). Could the first 2 stories constitute an act of war, as it looks like multiple countries people contracted covid in Wuhan at the games in 2019? In other words, was it purposely released into the world? The story seems to insinuate the Wuhan was like "a ghost town" at the time.

Subject: 12ft


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Subject: Biden Administration Concealed Congressionally Mandated Report on Earliest Suspected American COVID Cases


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The real reason for the conflict between the US and China. Redistribution of markets:

China is attacking.

Caprum of course right now this mostly about money. Is that a surprise?

But it is ridiculous for the U.S. to be dependent on China for 80% of our pharmaceuticals. For rare earth. To Taiwan for chips.

For things like TV's, who cares. But for those items necessary for lives, military and mandatory needs, depending on an enemy or a country a target of that enemy, is ludicrous.

I don't blame China for this. For things like pharmaceuticals and chips, I blame short sighted CEO's and politicians. More interested in personal and short term wealth and not the welfare of the nation. China just took advantage of their greed.

@tortorella

SB, the corruption and purges have been going on for years there, as I keep saying. No credit for Trump here.

Did I bring Trump into this? Nope, you did. Xi's hold on power has been risky for years, this is not the first time he's done this and as a dictator he only has to miss one coup plot and he'd dead -- so he puts a LOT of energy into Stalinistic internal security and purges.

The Chinese military leaders are political appointees,

Like ALL senior officers everywhere, yes, a General in high position got there via politics. BUT, you missed where he's purged almost two thousand command rank officers -- Captains, Majors and Colonels. That's a pretty harsh blow to a military structure.

But China has tremendous economic leverage and influence. We are ceding our influence to them as we reduce our global footprint.

We just saw how wrong you are. Trump has reset the global trade order in a way that will expand the US footprint. China made a bold counter attack on this and tried to rally support to its side -- "Screw the US, choose China's side! C'mon BRICs, who's with me?!?"

Nobody. Because everybody knows that China is a predatory expansionist power who lies, cheats and steals on all its trade deals. And we see that the US market is a THIRD of China's GDP -- that's more leverage than China has on the US.

To make my point about CEO's selling the U.S. to China. This nugget came out today.

""The greatest trick Mark Zuckerberg ever pulled was wrapping the American flag around himself and calling himself a patriot and saying he didn't offer services in China while he spent the last decade building an $18 USD billion business there," Wynn-Williams said."

"Meta actively helped China in the race to develop artificial intelligence as part of its failed effort to cozy up to Beijing, a former executive-turned-whistleblower said during a bombshell Senate hearing on Wednesday.

Sarah Wynn-Williams, who detailed her experience at Meta in the scathing memoir "Careless People," testified that she witnessed Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and other executives lie to Congress and "repeatedly undermine US national security and betray American values.""

Subject: Meta helped China develop advanced AI to 'outcompete American companies': whistleblower


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Subject: Exclusive | In Secret Meeting, China Acknowledged Role in U.S. Infrastructure Hacks – WSJ


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World War II Bomber Bases Refurbished

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Study a Forgotten War to Glimpse the Pacific Future

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Armand

One rich mans opinion

Subject: Thomas Hern on X: ""Xi can only stay the Supreme Leader if people are employed." "America is the #1 economy on earth with all the cards. We will not have that forever. It's time to squeeze Chinese heads into the wall." Kevin O'Leary calls for 400% tariffs on China. t.co/8bDrttjsBw / X


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So how will Xi respond to the tariffs? He obviously tried to inflame US-European relations, and to stir up the BRICs…that seems to have failed.

1. Economic pressure: He could dump US bonds, hoping to cause financial turmoil and pain cause a recession and pressure Trump to concede.

2. Political Instability in the US: Xi is already flooding US social media with memes and videos (AI video of fat Americans at sewing machines, ha ha) and will leverage their influence to stir public opinion to undercut Trump. The CCP has spent years and billions of dollars to create influence among Democrats, and some Republicans, Universities and Media. He can support his US leftist allies -- the "Hands off" organized street theater feeds right into his plans. Interesting timing that in the middle of a tense US-China stand-off that tens of thousands of Leftists flood the streets to protest Trump…

The CCP's media campaigns certainly feed into the Democrat/Media's anti-Trump attacks, and we see LOTS of wailing and gnashing of teeth by Democrats and the Media about Trump's horrible trade war with China, the sky is falling, look out Hollywood could lose China market access, oh noes!

Trump is destroying America! Trump is destroying the economy! Trump is wiping out your 401K! Trump's going to cause your prices to go up!

3. Build an anti-US economic block: Xi tried to activate the BRICs against the US tariffs, but so far most have cur separate deals, and that India is negotiating with the US is a blow to this. But look to Chinese client states to start agitating -- Belt & Road clients -- in Africa and elsewhere who will no doubt start piling on, using the race card (Trump's tariffs are rrraaccccisssttt!!) and the poverty card (we're so poor, why does Trump hate poor "marginalized" countries like ours!). This will also be accompanied by suits in the WTO, by UN action and direct diplomacy that may see successes with foolish allies like Canada's Liberal Party leadership. They tried this with Spain and other EU nations, CCP diplomats leaned on Spain's leadership to 'stand strong," but this ultimately failed. Seems like the same thing happened in France, where at first Macron came out with a bombastic anti-US statement and then was internally pressured to change his stance.

China, EU must oppose tariff 'bullying', Xi tells Spanish PM

UPDATED Apr 11, 2025, 07:26 PM

BEIJING/MADRID – President Xi Jinping told Spain's prime minister on Friday that China and the European Union must join together in defending globalisation and opposing "unilateral acts of bullying", in a clear swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies.

Xi, in his first public comments on the issue since Trump launched his tariff offensive last week, said there could be "no winners" in any trade war, and he said the EU had a key role to play in ensuring global economic stability.

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I think we'd see a flat-out economic war before a shooting war, and the unknowns are how successful the Pro-China accomodationist Democrats are in the face of such "headwinds" in the US to curtail Trump's ability to follow through, or decouple the world from China's manufacturing dominance.

And remember, the louder Xi is, the more threatening he is, the weaker he actually is inside the CCP.

SB, you left out the old: "Trump and the Republicans are going to take your Medicare and Social Security away!!". That line is working on my in-laws. But they didn't vote for him in any election anyway. They are also in 401K panic. But than they watch "The View" and "MSNBC". 😂

China will threaten Taiwan, which has already started. They could release another genetically altered virus on the world and hope to destroy the economy. They could hack into our infrastructure. But again they already admitted to doing that. All before the desperation of war.

But like I've said since the 80's and the company I worked for at that time, started closing plants here and building new manufacturing plants in China and India. Our business leaders and politicians, are responsible for everything that is related to the Chinese military, except manpower.

They employed the Chinese people, thus freeing the Chinese from doing it.
They built new manufacturing and technology plants, so the Chinese did not have to.
They allowed the spies and technological hacking, so China could garner the new technology quickly.
They allowed Chinese students into the U.S. to do the same.
They allowed the Chinese to purchase land near our bases, again to gain information.
They allowed spy balloons to fly over the U.S., as well as drones.
We found out META was giving China AI information, to keep them at least up with us.
God knows what I am leaving out!

The Chinese used all that free money and technology and built and advanced their military, from being 20 years behind us, to being caught up and sometimes , ahead.

All for slave labor and quick profits. No thought to the future impact to the country!

Sorry, this has been an issue for me for years.
Rant over.

As I said on another thread here. FWIW, many "experts"[Gordon Chang] report China's economy is nowhere near are "robust" as the USA's. By the US and others buying from other nations or producing at home. Will negatively impact the Chicoms. Once again, all they will have is numbers. And as we know from history, they will be willing to sacrifice large amounts of them. E.g. invading Taiwan …

Plus many in that region will side with the US/West over China. For a number of reasons …

35thOVI +1

The SEC is now considering delisting Chinese companies who are not compliance with GAP. MOST Chinese stocks do not comply with GAP, like ALL other companies have to do.

Stocks on the stock market that do not abide by General Accounting Principles face regulatory penalties, increased risk of panicked sell-offs, and potential clawback rules. These laws exist to protect investors, ensure fair markets, and facilitate capital formations.

That would take about $1 USD Trillion in Chinese investments off the table until they play by the rules.

And regarding the CCP's media campaigns -- just look at today's headlines:

NBC: Why Trump's attempt to pressure Beijing with ever-rising tariffs could backfire
Story by Peter Guo

Markets Today: I'm the CEO of a clothing brand that makes 100% of our apparel in America. Trump's tariffs are too chaotic to help me.

Cryptolitan: China to US: We don't need you, never did in the last 70 years
Story by Florence Muchai

And let's add a new CCP pressure point -- prodding it's client states to violence and threats:

Armed North Korean Troops Cross Border—South Korea Fires Back

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Thank God these traitors are no longer in charge!

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Gateway Pundit is never sourced, documented, cross checked, carried elsewhere, etc, Utterly devoid of a single shred of evidence. . I resent Biden being called a traitor. It does not fit him no matter how the far right tries. He had way too many flaws but this was not one of them.

SB, their word of the day is "Chaos". Used singularly or combined with another word. On every MSM.

"when will China attack?"

About three months before we expect them to attack. Uri Geller might be able to tell us the date and time.

OVI, SBm & Stmtn +1

It seems like the Chinese, or I should say Xi himself, don't really care what happens to their people in the Trump trade war, as long as it hurts both countries. Kind of like the Houthis. Fanatics who love a fight and don't mind a thousand cuts.

We've been cheated
Been mistreated
When will China attack

We've been put down
We've been pushed 'round
When will China attack

Could not resist, every time I see the title of this post.

"When will I Be Loved" Linda Ronstadt.

It seems like the Chinese, or I should say Xi himself, don't really care what happens to their people in the Trump trade war, as long as it hurts both countries

I think Xi's rather happy with some hurt to the Chinese people, Tort. Despots always have to watch their backs, and like to turn their people's displeasure towards outsiders and convenient, domestic minorities that they can demonise. Xi has the Uigurs, but what new austerity measures, or removals of suspected opponents, will he introduce "because the US is doing…."? It's also the armature of a cassus bellum, if he feels so inclined to flesh it out- "The Yankees made me do it!".

Dal Gavan +1

Dal Gavan… Isn't it the same for "democratic" countries?)))
There is no better way to distract the population from its own problems than to find a terrible enemy for it…
I think you see for yourself that now you don't have to go far for examples)))

Dal Gavan… Isn't it the same for "democratic" countries?

It can be, Cuprum. However, it isn't a constant as it is with despots/dictators. Yes, I also think democracy is a great theory, but has shortcomings in practice. However, in a democracy a change of government is always available at the next election. Do you have real elections, that may produce a change of the governing party and/or head of state Russia? Do the citizens of the PRC? Be honest with yourself, mate.

Yes, in my opinion, in Russia there is no change of the highest (I emphasize) power as a result of elections. There is not even such a tradition.
Moreover, in Russia the people really ALWAYS vote for those who are currently in power. You can safely believe that Putin's actions are approved by 70% of the population – his real supporters and the apolitical amorphous mass of the rest of the population. I think it is simply because we do not have such a culture. It is simply different. A different mentality, a different attitude to power, to property, to human freedoms and life. The emergence of Western-style democracy here ALWAYS leads to chaos and bloody conflicts.
I believe the reason is the conditions in which Russia was formed. Constant hostile pressure from outside (almost incessant raids of nomads from the "Great Steppe"). They, except for the Mongols, did not come to conquer – they came to rob and capture slaves. For centuries. Without a strong state and the unity of the entire population against this danger, the Russians would have been doomed; Russia had long ceased to exist. Are you familiar with the history of its creation? "Norman theory"? Since the 10th century, Russian tribes could not agree among themselves and choose a single ruler. Tired of turmoil and conflicts, they invited a foreigner to this role – the Varangian Rurik and his brothers, who headed the highest power in Russia. This tradition is still alive…
But who said that this is bad? And why? As long as Putin copes with governing the country – let him rule. The country is developing – and that is enough. But whether the West approves of it or not – what does it matter?
And if he stops coping – then there will be another Russian revolution, or a palace coup)))

Hilarious comment on a news article about Xi playing the victim card, hat tip to Omega Dragon:

"Xi Jinping warning that "there are no winners in a trade war" is like Colonel Sanders warning about the dangers of fried chicken. Bro, *you* built half your empire on economic kung fu—don't act brand new now.
Now Xi's out here doing his "World's Saddest Boy Band" tour across Southeast Asia, trying to sing *"Make Trade Peaceful Again"* while the yuan wheezes in the background and factories shut down faster than a VPN in Beijing. He's basically the guy who started a bar fight, got slapped, and now wants to host a tea party.
"My fellow communists, let us resist the chaos of the West," he says, as Vietnam smiles politely while cashing fat checks from American companies fleeing China faster than citizens at a local lockdown.
Meanwhile, Trump's hiking tariffs like he's got Skyrim mods installed:
**+145% Trade Damage**
**+10 Blunt Tweets**
**+1 Bald Eagle Summon (Passive)**
And don't even get me started on The Daily Beast and IAC Inc. You ever notice how they cover China with the same soft-touch you'd give a nervous chihuahua? It's like reading bedtime stories for the CCP. "Once upon a time, in a faraway land with totally-not-concentration-camps…"
At this point, the only thing Xi's editorial was missing was a tear-streaked selfie and the caption "✨Just trying to be the responsible superpower✨."
**Anyway, cheers to the Great Meme War, where the weapons are tariffs, the battlefield is TikTok, and the only rule is: don't trust anyone who bans Pooh Bear.** 🐻‍❄️🇺🇸💥"

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Reports from top sources in PTO say the Chicom's wargames near Tawain are prep for an invasion.

A wargame can turn into an invasion relatively quickly …

But with the new POTUS/CinC, the Chicom's Xi knows he can't play the same games he did with Biden et al.

Biden is the only POTUS to tell the Chinese that the US will defend Taiwan.

The new POTUS is currently all over the map – literally. I don't get any read on the actual, not the PR, vision of how America First would work as so many conflicts have continued without being resolved. The chaos, and this is not the wrong word, IMO, may have a purpose, but the clock continues to run.

For all the reasons we have discussed, I think Xi will not invade ay time soon, will continue the daily harassment tactics. Now he waits to see what will happen to the US economy. He cares far less about his own, I think.

Like Putin, he plays the smart game, watching to see if the policies and divisions in the US will save him the trouble of confronting the west. Trump backing off the tariffs for now must seem like a win for them. But again, there is no clear vision behind US policies, except what comes by way of explanation from media talking heads. Only Stephen Miller knows where he is taking us, it seems.

But again, there is no clear vision behind US policies, except what comes by way of explanation from media talking heads.

What the h3ll re you talking about? The Admin announces what it's doing and why all the time. The tariffs in general have always been positioned as temporary tool to spur negotiations to meet US goals on reciprocal trade (including zero tariff trade) and security (e.g. Mexican and Canadian cooperation on border security to combat drugs and illegals).

The only exception is China, where I think it's pretty obvious that the Trump admin thinks they can sharply curtail Chinese power and influence countries and companies to choose the US via a tariff war. This tariff war has been a serious blow to the Chinese economy which has shed trillions in worth since April 2, creating instability within the ranks of the CCP leading to mass purges of potential opposition and growing dissatisfaction among the Chinese public. The instability has grown to where the CCP is close to declaring Martial Law to crack heads.

So I think we should squeeze the CCP until it collapses, and ignore all the paid CCP social media trolls and influencers, and reject the politicians and media siding with the CCP and mirroring its talking points in order to try and harm Trump or pressure him into caving against the CCP.

Trump won't be pressured into anything by other politicians or the media.
If he caves it'll be because he underestimated the resolve of the Chinese. And after the humiliations of WWII and before, that resolve is strong.

I don't think Trump will defend Taiwan, and think the Chinese know that too.

Trump won't be pressured into anything by other politicians or the media.

True

If he caves it'll be because he underestimated the resolve of the Chinese. And after the humiliations of WWII and before, that resolve is strong.

You mean the resolve of the CCP leadership not to lose power -- "face" is important, power more important. And more Chinese remember the horrors of the Covid lockdowns and the Cultural Revolution than the "humiliations of WW2" -- which is really the CCP's humiliations, since the KMT did all the real fighting against the Japanese only to get backstabbed by the CCP.

I don't think Trump will defend Taiwan, and think the Chinese know that too.

Why do you say that? What indicators do you have of that?

Biden is the only POTUS to tell the Chinese that the US will defend Taiwan.

Come on … with all the covered-up reports of Biden et al in the WH.

Did he really know what he was saying ?

Who told him to say that ?

Who was he listen to ?

Etc., etc., etc.

Again, it had to become clear to not just many in the US, but to Xi, Putin, etc. Biden was not in charge, and suffered from a number of mental maladies stemming for old age, and bad decision making for decades, etc. The bad guys watch TV too.

He said that, but both knew he was not a real threat. Nor was his risk adverse fear of escalation academic left progressive woke, etc. staff …

Can't believe even now after all the has come out, plus just watching him in the media over the past 4 years. Anyone can try to make an excuse for him and his admin that they were effective, etc. And had we the people in mind …

And it is all on video online if there is any doubt. E.g.
The Easter Bunny incident embarrassment 🙄😖😨 … Putin, XI, Un, Iran, etc. must have a very long blooper roll. Plays it at dinner parties, etc. just for laughs.

Well at the very least, he's done a darn sight more for poor old Ukraine than Trump has done. Was it only yesterday we heard once again how it was Ukraine that started the war?

But aside from all that, after the drama of the last couple of months, friends and enemies alike abroad are not giving Biden a second thought any more.

Well at the very least, he's done a darn sight more for poor old Ukraine than Trump has done.

Really? Who shipped the Javelin ATGMs to Ukraine that stopped the 2022 invasion in it's tank tracks?

TRUMP -- not Biden's boss Obama. Obama sent comfort care, Trump send weapons.

Did Putin make a move on Ukraine in Trump's first move? No. He did not. Why> Because when Putin tested Trump by having a Wagner Battalion attack a US FOB in Syria, Trump ordered weapons-free and we blew the shite out of it. Result -- a couple hundred dead Russians. Battle of Khasham, look it up.

BUT -- when Biden was Vice President, Putin took Crimea and he took the Donbas and Obama-Biden DID NOTHING!

And then we come to 2022…when Putin threatened Ukraine, what did Biden do? Let me remind you, he said that the US WOULD NOT REACT TO A MINOR INCURSION! Get that? You can do a *little* invasion and the Biden Admin won't do anything.

Putin invades -- what did Biden do? He offered Zelensky exile. To his great credit, Zelensky said "I need bullets, not a ride." And before ANYBODY reacted, Ukraine WON. They stopped Putin's invasions for a confluence of reasons -- Putin launched his attack during Raputitsa, so he had no mobility and was confined to attacks down major roads. Putin had no follow up attack wave. The Ukrainians skillfully and doggedly fought the Russians with JAVELIN ambushes, artillery, and grit.

Then Putin wanted OUT OF UKRAINE -- 'cause he failed, he wanted out before it became a regime problem. He entered peace talks with Ukraine to end the war in MARCH 2022.

What did Biden do? HE KILLED THE PEACE DEAL! Ukraine had already won, Putin wanted out, and Biden and the Europeans pressured Zelensky to kill the peace deal.

A tragic, stupid mistake because the Biden Regime and Europeans only care for the Ukrainians as meat puppets to bleed Russian strength and position. They don't care at all for the actual suffering of Ukraine -- if they cared they push hard for a peace deal that sets Ukraine up for long term success like the US did with South Korea

I heard him say it very clearly. He said it on more than one occasion. I saw it on 60 Minutes. Not covered by right wing media is my guess, did not fit the narrative. And his staff kept walking it back. It happened, whatever the circumstances.

You know I don't defend or deny his condition. But I would not get too cocky about the current POTUS. He does not alway make sense and his statements about numbers and other facts are way too loose to be taken seriously. But we will see what happens. I want him to be right because he scares the @#&& out of a slight majority in the country with this trade war stuff. But if he pulls it off I'll be happy to take whatever you want to dish out.

Because when Putin tested Trump by having a Wagner Battalion attack a US FOB in Syria, Trump ordered weapons-free and we blew the shite out of it. Result -- a couple hundred dead Russians. Battle of Khasham, look it up.

I don't think that one counts as standing up to Russia.

Is there any evidence that they knew beforehand that there were Russians in the attacking force? Or that Trump personally ordered anything done? It doesn't look like it to me, but I welcome any correction.

"Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other U.S. military officials have repeatedly said that U.S. military commanders were in contact with their Russian counterparts at the time of the clash. But White's comments are the clearest to date that the U.S. military was told there were no Russians in the attacking force."

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"Q: And I've just got a Syria question for you. There was a Bloomberg report yesterday that -- saying that the administration was considering saying that the strike on Russian mercenaries in Syria was intentional, quote, "evidence of the president's tough stance," perhaps. Can you rule that out? Was that intentional?

MS. WHITE: The strike in Syria -- our strikes were done out of self-defense. We were very clear about that. We saw those -- that group moving towards us. We still don't know, and I won't speculate, about the intentions or the composition of that group.

What it -- what I can tell you is that we used our deconfliction phone line, and we -- we used it before, during and after the strike. And we were assured by the Russians that there were no Russians involved. And so those are all of the details that I have."

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"Q: Hey, General.

Just a -- not to push too much on this, did you -- did you need to get higher approval in order to carry out those strikes or were you the approving authority for those strikes?

And also, you said that -- we were told that maybe as many as a hundred of the enemy fighters were -- were killed. Is that number still accurate or have you changed that number over time?

And then I wanted to ask you something short in Afghanistan.

STAFF: Okay.

GEN. HARRIGIAN: Thanks for that.

So let me go back to the application of self-defense ROE and the understanding that half those troops were in contact, our SDF partners and Coalition advisers there.

When those kinds of activities occur, the ground commander is ultimately the individual that's going to make the decision, because they're taking fire, they're closest to that situation and we empower them to make those decisions, because that's how self-defense ROE is applied. And that's exactly how that played out."

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You cannot have it both ways. If there was a Biden Regime, Crime Family, and all that other stuff, then how was he able to pull off being the mastermind? His henchmen? You know of course that this stuff is guesswork, as are many things about Trump. We have no way to prove a lot of things that have gone down in the last decade.

Thanks for the detailed and considered reply, Cuprum. (Sorry for the delay, but I've been busy losing, quite decisively, an ACW* game). I hadn't considered the cultural dimension, and I'll admit I'm not totally convinced by it. But that's an emotional response on my part, not one based in any form of logic.

However:

But who said that this is bad? And why? As long as Putin copes with governing the country – let him rule.

Is he coping? He's resurrected all the old suspicions and distrust of Soviet Russia, damaged your economy and even pushed two determinedly neutral countries into joining NATO. I know most of the news I get here is biased and slanted towards painting Russia as a villain, mate. However the basic facts can't be denied- a "three day military operation" failed and is still in progress- 1140 days after it was supposed to be over. It also failed to disguise what was an attempt at conquest.

Yes, I know the about the 2014 cassus bellum, about the fighting in the Donbas, Russia's objection to Ukraine's deal with the EU, etc.

Add them all together, mate, and I still feel Putin isn't coping too well at all. He's gained a bit of real estate- but at what cost?

*1st ACW, 1861 to 1865. Not the new one that seems to be brewing.

Dal Gavan, Soviet Russia has been gone for thirty years. There is no ideological confrontation. The reasons for the current conflict are economics and security.
Why does Russia need to conquer Ukraine? Russia has more than enough of its own resources and undeveloped territories. War is an expensive pleasure and there must be good reasons for it.

Damage to the economy? The gain for the economy is much greater than the costs. Russia has begun a rapid revival of almost or already lost industries. Russia currently has a rather acute shortage of engineers and skilled workers, and the state is taking energetic measures to increase the number of these specialists. This is something I have long since stopped hoping for.

I have not found a single mention of a "three-day operation" from Russian officials. Who, where and when said this? Maybe you know?

The entry of Finland and Sweden into the alliance, in my opinion, is a great stupidity on their part. If war breaks out, this exclave will be destroyed first (as well as the Russian Kaliningrad region). I understand that this was a desire to cut off Russia from maritime trade, turning the Baltic Sea into an internal NATO sea. But this did not reduce, but significantly increased the risks for the people of these countries. I am sorry… But their governments turned out to be very irresponsible.

So Putin plays brilliantly. That is my impression.

He destroyed the unipolar and even bipolar world – demonstrating that now many countries can pursue independent policies.

He seriously weakened the pro-Western opposition inside the country without resorting to repression. They fled the country themselves.

He demonstrated to the patriotic opposition in Russia that he is capable of providing a decent standard of living in the country even in the conditions of a long-term proxy war against NATO.

He proved that the Russian army can fight quite decently against a Western army (troops trained according to Western standards and using Western equipment). By the way, on the eve of the war I thought the Russian army was much weaker than it turned out to be. But since the Chechen and even Olympic wars, much has changed.

And much more.