[tomder55]

What ? Are you an appeaser ? </sarc> My position is that we should do whatever is in our national interest. Is intervention in the Ukraine -Russia conflict in our interest ? No


I have argued that US is complicit in the expansion of NATO to the borders of Russia ;and the wars in Georgia ;South Ossetia; Moldova's Transnistria area ;the Russian support of ethnic Russians in the Donbass ;the occupation of Crimea are all due to that US policy .We certainly engineered the coup that led to the Zalenski reign in Ukraine . I go into detail in my various postings on the war.

The Dems did nothing during the emperor's reign when Russia occupied Crimea and sent "little green men" into Ukraine to support pro-Russian rebels during the Ukraine Civil War.

Further they march in the streets demanding a cease fire in Gaza . Where are the Dem peaceniks demanding a ceasefire in Ukraine ? In that case they want WWIII .

[jlisenbe]

As much as I admire the courage of the Ukrainians, I feel they are fighting a war they likely cannot win. Their country is being progressively reduced to rubble and casualties are mounting daily. If all of that is true, then are we really being their friends in helping them to continue a hopeless struggle? They seem to be in the same situation as the Confederacy was after Gettysburg/Vicksburg. The resolution of the war was then a foregone conclusion, and the South only made the final end that much more terrible by continuing to fight on.

[tomder55]

good comparison although Ukraine's offensive into Russia has not yet met it's 'high water mark ' on Cemetary Ridge .

The sad thing was that a practical solution was already agreed on before the Russian invasion at Minsk Belarus in 2015-15 . Europeans did not do their share to implement them. Instead the have led Kiev on with promises of NATO and EU admission.

Ukraine was given an ultimatum .They either had to sign up with Russia in economic partnership or look to the west . But there was no either-or there. Ukraine would've benefitted with economic ties with both.

Professor Stephen Cohen accurately predicted what we are seeing today . This interview happened before Russian friendly Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in a US led coup after he made the choice to hitch Ukraine's economy to Russia.

Where do you want me to begin? I mean, we are watching history being made, but history of the worst kind. That’s what I’m telling my grandchildren: Watch this. What’s happening there, let’s take the big picture, then we can go to the small picture. The big picture is, people are dying in the streets every day. The number 50 is certainly too few. They’re still finding bodies. Ukraine is splitting apart down the middle, because Ukraine is not one country, contrary to what the American media, which speaks about the Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Historically, ethnically, religiously, culturally, politically, economically, it’s two countries. One half wants to stay close to Russia; the other wants to go West. We now have reliable reports that the anti-government forces in the streets—and there are some very nasty people among them—are seizing weapons in western Ukrainian military bases. So we have clearly the possibility of a civil war.
And the longer-term outcome may be—and I want to emphasize this, because nobody in the United States seems to want to pay attention to it—the outcome may be the construction, the emergence of a new Cold War divide between West and East, not this time, as it was for our generation, in faraway Berlin, but right on the borders of Russia, right through the heart of Slavic civilization. And if that happens, if that’s the new Cold War divide, it’s permanent instability and permanent potential for real war for decades to come. That’s what’s at stake.
One last point, also something that nobody in this country wants to talk about: The Western authorities, who bear some responsibility for what’s happened, and who therefore also have blood on their hands, are taking no responsibility. They’re uttering utterly banal statements, which, because of their vacuous nature, are encouraging and rationalizing the people in Ukraine who are throwing Molotov cocktails, now have weapons, are shooting at police. We wouldn’t permit that in any Western capital, no matter how righteous the cause, but it’s being condoned by the European Union and Washington as events unfold.
A New Cold War? Ukraine Violence Escalates, Leaked Tape Suggests U.S. Was Plotting Coup | Democracy Now!

There was again the framework for a solution after the invasion that Boris Johnson undermined .

When Clueless Joe became Prez there was no chance of a negotiated settlement. He frames the conflict as a global one between democracy and autocracy, between respect for international law and national sovereignty and Russian aggression. How often has the US violated the sovereignty of nations in recent history ?

[tomder55]

Putin announced a build up . Starting December 1, Russia’s military will grow by 180,000 active troops, bringing the total to nearly 2.4 million personnel.

[jlisenbe]

And in the meantime, we cannot meet recruitment goals for the Army.

[tomder55]

Zelinsky is coming the American to tout his Ukrainian Victory Plan . I have no idea of the details or how much involvement and US $$$$ is expected .
Zelenskiy Says Ukraine 'Victory Plan' Depends on Quick Decisions by Allies (usnews.com)

I suspect that he has an idea that he thinks they can take enough of Russia's Kursk province to sue for peace and exchange Kurk for territory Russia has taken in Ukraine. That is wishful thinking .

David Ignatius of the Compost has a more sobering assessment.

Talking with a half-dozen of them Friday, I heard the same grim account of what’s at stake in this war. As Alexei put it: “We don’t have a choice. If we stop fighting, we’ll stop existing.”Listening to their stories, you realize that Ukraine is bleeding out. Its will to fight is as strong as ever, but its army is exhausted by a ceaseless drone war that’s unlike anything in the history of combat. The Biden administration’s rubric of support — “as long as it takes” — simply doesn’t match the reality of this conflict. Ukraine doesn’t have enough soldiers to fight an indefinite war of attrition. It needs to escalate to be strong enough to reach a decent settlement.

Opinion | Ukraine can’t win a war of attrition - The Washington Post

The Russians for their part are operating like US Grant did in the Overland Campain in that they care little about the attrition of their troops . Those can be replaced. Ukraine is running out of able bodied troops .

[tomder55]

Zelinsky is making his WWIII tour . To prove this is not political ;he was flown to key swing state Pennsylvania at tax payer expense in an Air Force C-17A to visit a munitions plant in Scranton Pa. There is where weapons we pay for are being made for Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський on X: "During my visit to the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant, where components for artillery and mortar shells are produced, including 155 mm shells for Ukraine, I emphasized the dedication of the workers, which is truly inspiring—they are helping Ukraine stand strong in our fight for https://t.co/rs0vLZRlVU" / X

On his way he managed to trash talk about Trump and Vance.
Zelensky: Trump doesn't know how to end war and Vance is too radical (telegraph.co.uk)

[tomder55]

Trump was impeached for less .

Speaker Mike Johnson has demanded that Zelinsky fire Ukraine's ambassador to the US over the political stunt of visiting a munitions factory in a swing state .

[tomder55]

WWIII is well under way a week from the 1 year anniversary of the Oct 7 massacre. Israel is fighting battled in Gaza ;Lebanon ;Yemen ;and now Iran has fired a full barrage of missiles at Israel for the 2nd time in a year.

Video shows Iranian missile attack on Israel | CNN

Iran Attack: Blasts Across Israel, Including Biggest City Tel Aviv; Over 100 Missiles So Far - YouTube

[tomder55]

While the attack on Israel is making the headlines ;the lesser reported news is that missiles have also been launched at US troops at Baghdad Airport by locals . One struck near the headquarters of the 'Counter Terrorism Service Command'

This comes in the wake of Friday's announcement that the US was going to bug out of Iraq;

U.S.-led coalition mission in Iraq to end by September 2025 | Reuters

[tomder55]

Iraqi militias are warning the US to not attack Iran.

In their statement, the militias made it clear that any involvement by the U.S. in military actions against Iran would lead to a significant escalation in the region. They emphasized that all American bases and interests, particularly in Iraq, would become immediate targets if the U.S. participated in or supported any offensive actions against Iran.

Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias Warn US Against Action on Iran (msn.com)

US troops have repeatedly been attacked by Iran proxies during Clueless Joe/Kam the Sham's reign . For the most part with a couple of exceptions ;these attacks have gone unanswered by the US despite the fact that there have been multiple severe injuries inflicted on our troops.

This toll was from last year and does not include attacks on our troops as late as August of this year This includes troops killed in Jordan.

US Forces Attacked 151 Times in Iraq, Syria During Biden Presidency (voanews.com)

[tomder55]

Yesterday Russia hit a check point on the border of Ukraine and NATO member Romania's border in the Odessa region.

Newsweek on X: "Russia attacks Ukrainian NATO checkpoint https://t.co/zE9QcQLolm" / X

[tomder55]

Breaking Israel attacked a Russian airbase in Syria So far there are very few US compliant press sources . But many foreign sources are reporting

Israel Strikes Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base Amid Rising Regional Tensions | Central News South Africa

Igor Sushko on X: "The Israeli strikes on Russia's Hmeimim Air Base in Syria were reportedly executed shortly after munitions from Iran were delivered to the Russian military base. https://t.co/XvIKvTNwTN" / X

[tomder55]

Meanwhile Houthis still attack ships unimpeded

Houthi Attacks Damage Oil Tanker and Bulk Carrier in the Red Sea | OilPrice.com

[tomder55]

Just some recent developments in the prelude to WWIII

1. South Korea claimed that the NORKs have sent troops to Ukraine as part of their alliance with Russia. Just like the Spanish Civil War ;Ukraine is being used as a testing ground for new weapons and to train troops for the coming greater conflict.

Zelensky is calling for more direct support from Ukraine allies
Zelenskiy says North Koreans fighting with Russians in Ukraine | Reuters

2 China is having a massive "exercise" aimed at Taiwan. They deployed 125 war planes in a show of force.

Taiwan said it detected 34 naval vessels and 125 aircraft in formation around the island on Monday.
Maps published by Chinese state media indicated its forces were positioned around the whole island.

China launches military drills surrounding Taiwan (bbc.com)

The US is deploying troops to Israel to operate an advanced anti-missile system .

U.S. sends THAAD missile defense system to Israel to defend against Iran - The Washington Post

By all standards the US is at war with Iran. Clueless Joe has slapped Iran with fresh sanctions after he allowed them to make $billions in oil revenue by releasing them from Trump era sanctions.

Biden admin revives US-Iran sanctions following Israel missile attack (usatoday.com)

[tomder55]

This Ukraine offensive in Kursk is looking more and more like either the Battle of the Bulge or Pickett's Charge. Ukraine took territory early but are paying a terrible price to hold it.

Battles are so intense that some Ukrainian commanders can’t evacuate the dead. Communication lags and poorly timed tactics have cost lives, and troops have little way to counterattack, seven front-line soldiers and commanders told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity so they could discuss sensitive operations.

Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing more hard-won land in Kursk to Russia - ABC News

Yet Clueless Joe is emptying the treasury and the arsenal on their behalf .....shooting the American wad before Trump's term begins .

US to send $1.25 billion in weapons to Ukraine, pushing to get aid out before Biden leaves office | AP New

This does NOT include the $20 billion "loan" he gave them that is allegedly Russian money

US Treasury Turns Frozen Russian Assets Into $20 Billion Loan For Ukraine | The Daily Caller

[tomder55]

Another theater . Pakistan vs Afghan Taliban . Pakistan bombed Afghanistan sites so Afghanistan troops crossed the border .

I guess this will give the Afghans a chance to deplete all those weapons we left behind. Pakistan is allegedly our allies . You would not know as Clueless Joe continues to fund this terrorist state

U.N. Has Flown $2.9B in Cash to Afghanistan Since Taliban Seized Control — ProPublica

The U.S. has provided over $2.5 billion in assistance to Afghanistan — through the United Nations, other public international organizations and nongovernmental organizations — since it pulled all of its troops from the country in August 2021 after nearly two decades of fighting. More than $1.7 billion of that funding has come from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to support humanitarian activities implemented by other organizations, SIGAR said.

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/mid...-14525894.html
Source - Stars and Stripes

[Wondergirl]

Thank goodness the new US leaders (e.g. Trump has announced, especially bragging to Trudeau) won't be trying to wrest the Panama Canal from Panama. Or Greenland from Denmark for the minerals, and Canada so it'll be the 51st US state!
And keep an eye on your SS, Medicare/Medicaid, etc.

tRump and Musky so much want to add to their bank accounts in any way they can. And become dictators, fuehrers, despots, kings.

[jlisenbe]

tRump and Musky so much want to add to their bank accounts in any way they can. And become dictators, fuehrers, despots, kings.

Good grief. Get a grip.

Still, glad to see you posting. Hope you are doing well.

[tomder55]

The US had until the end of WWII a history of expansion. Should we still be the 13 original states ? We have expanded through war ;compromise and mostly purchase .

Should we not have purchased Alaska from Russia ? We want Greenland from Denmark . Is that different than getting the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917 ? Comparatively they both have similar strategic value.

Panama Canal ? Before the canal that we built was there ;the territory was alternately owned by Colombia France and the US. There was no nation of Panama until 1903 when they seceded from Colombia . Then the US built the canal in 1914 after attempts by other nations failed . We aquired the canal zone through treaty.In exchange, the US paid Panama $10 million and agreed to pay an annual annuity of $250,000, and guaranteed Panama's independence.
That was where things stood before Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away in 1979.

The canal zone is a vital strategic interest to the US. That is why we invaded in 1989 ;costing US blood and treasure , to remove a drug lord who had dictatorial control of the nation .

Panama President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen is a conservative businessman . We don't need to take over the canal zone. He can be negotiated with ;which is what Trump is really doing . The issues is rate fees and the presence of Chinese running the ports at the canal entries.

Canada ? The US has had designs on them since before the Revolution. Personally I would advise Trump against it . Why bring more libtards into the US . We don't need another blue state with radical views who don't pay their own way.