Yeah! Let’s get over there and support the troops!
At the very least we should throw a Ukraine flag onto out our social media profile!
Or… maybe just do nothing and type. Keep it safe.
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Any time you get bored of this, I doubt your contributions will be missed. Or, keep typing.
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???
what, sales to Ukraine after seeing Russian troops manifesting on the border goaded them into it? lol. They were already there 
Some extra arms that late in the game could hardly have been expected to have had a huge impact on the course the Russians had already decided upon.
Is this really what beefing up a country looks like?
Info from the SIPRI database, posted here
The trends in 2021 were hardly out of the norm for the preceding years. Do recall, Crimea 2014, and then consistent seperatist fighting in eastern Ukraine, meaning that the base level of arms sales was higher that it otherwise might have been. Still, pretty low.
Sure there has been. The counterpoint is, however, that Russia shot themselves in the foot in the court of public opinion… Simultaneously claiming its about NATO while their president publishes a manifesto with what were essentially equivalent to Volksdeutsche and Greater Russian (read: imperial) motivations for the invasion.
But the weapons sales to UKR early in Biden’s term had nothing at all to do with any of that. Given the massing of tanks on the border, the decision to send javelins was probably intentional, but it should not have changed what seemed to be a forgone conclusion: the Russian flood breaching the Ukrainian dyke. What made him really end up as a hero was the Ukraine’s ability (via her people) to resist the initial invasion during its most crucial phase.
And yeah, they are a democracy. Probably flawed. Sure. Corrupt as shit, sure. Nonetheless, I sure hope most (in the west) would take a corrupt nation-state democracy over a corrupt authoritarian imperialistic oligarchy. If corruption is the game, both players are great at it - no way is Russia actually significantly less corrupt, but a whole lot less Ukrainian critics end up dead. Hell, even the pro-Russian shills had their mouthpiece up until wartime. And thats wartime, and any country actively being invaded has press censures and such. So hardly any difference to me.
But the fundemental difference is, of course, that Ukraine 1) has actual elections and 2) has been attempting to free themselves from the Russian yoke ever since the dissolution of the USSR. In this task, despite pro-Russian candidates having tonnes fo support from the Russian state, Ukraine has increasingly successful. In spite of threats, state-supported seperatist fighting, and of course having Good Neighbor Putin next door. So yeah, they kinda are the little man, no? Putin even referred to them as little Russia in his little manifesto… So why are we surprised when the little guy gets treated as the little guy?
And if the issue is with Zelenskyy himself being treated as the little guy, whatever. Misattribution from the people to the state. But when you’re the figurehead and mouthpiece of the state, that tends to happen.
I’ve said this a million times. I would love to see the war end. Doesn’t mean that I’m unable to criticize the negotiations and diplomacy of Pres. Trump up to this point. These things are not mutually exclusive. This point does not seem to have taken, yet.
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Point taken 
Trump’s methods here might completely backfire. Ultimately, he’s in it for money, for prestige, for power, not to save Ukrainian lives. He’s the ultimate narcissist. The hugest.
In the end, it won’t matter too much as Ukraine has already been sold out.
The arms dealers would be happy to have the thing continue and we shouldn’t discount their influence.
Ya think ?
Giving away most of the negotiating positions before talks even began withdrawing military and technical support and castigating supposed allies doesn’t tend to get the other side to the bargaining table …
Why would that speed up a resolution?
Ok let’s face it trump is a media guy but he is operating with a fairly low IQ which is not increasing year on year . That’s the optimistic view of what he has been doing this term so far.
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I believe he has, up to this point and subject to change, needlessly thrown away any of the potential gains that could have been reaped for Ukraine in the postwar. And I do maintain this war was forced onto Ukr, so at the least I’d rather like some concessions from the Russians given they haven’t really forced a victory.
Immediately closing out any form of NATO membership, insteading of leaving that on the table as a card in negotiations, is a great example. At the very least I would like UKR to get a defensive agreement from much of the west, formally, and an agreement on Putin’s side not to fucking invade for a third time. And this should theoretically be actionable. It could, ofc, be dealt with informally after the war (hopefully by the Europeans :D), but lets say they agree to no NATO membership, but defense agreement. No NATO for Ukr, perhaps even limits on arms sales, but if you attack again, we will be involved.
Immediately taking NATO membership off the table as an option being offered by the US is just absolutely unnescessary. No way Putin wouldn’t still sit down at a table with Best Friend Trump and hash it out. If there’s one part of his soft on authoritarians “strategy” (hesitant to call it that, as I’m not sure it’s a strategy as much as a proclivity), it is that he tends to not needlessly antagonize them. But needlessly tossing away cards that could be used in negotiations? Let Putin negotiate that, Mr. Art of the Deal.
Instead, some fucking minerals into perpetuity, or something. Ugh. I’d at the least like to see these follow a model similar to that of that Norway used with their oil. Let foreign companies exploit them, for a period of time, and then they will be nationalized. I don’t know what that period of time is, I am not a mining exec, but I imagine that once the minerals are out of the ground the ROI would be acheived quite neatly within, say, 20-40 years? idfk, random number. And as long as the Ukr state makes taxes and such on this, and Ukr workers can make a paycheck off it, it’s not entirely awful, I suppose.
Is what it is. Non-clausewitzean war tends to leave a lot to be desired. Little gains, lots of losses, and lots of reconstruction. With a state as cash-strapped as Ukr, it’s no surprise that business would inevitably take advantage of that. There is still some hope, insofar as the EU and other world powers have made up for their lesser military aid with increased dedication to the post-war reconstruction and humanitarian aid. The other part of the issue is that there certainly is a requirement for post-war reconstruction and management of lands, which in today’s market and economy, will probably be handled by slimy firms such as Blackrock etc. Using financial leverage does have it’s precedence: Germany’s post-war marshal plan agreement was based on similar terms.
Don’t like it a bit, but what can one expect under modern capitalism 
At his age, statistically, the opposite is most likely the case. Imagine how quickly he’ll decline if he retires!
Some people, not me, argue that he is, in fact, not that stupid. He deliberately makes people think he has low IQ, while at the same time playing 6-dimensional chess. Well, all joking aside, there is a chance that his opponents underestimate him because of how dumb, uneducated, and disinterested he comes across. Not that it ever happened before (CoughHillaryCough). At the same time, perhaps people overestimate Putin’s intelligence too. After all, he totally miscalculated how that special military operation would play out.
The thinking that Trump is doing all these things to “achieve peace” or the “end the war” is why people don’t understand his methods and think he is “stupid.”
These guys don’t think like the masses do. He doesn’t care who “wins.” He’s there to get the best deal, either via Putin or EU/Zelby. For him, and for his mates.
He’s working on behalf of the multinationals, bankers, etc.
Or did he? 
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When was this? And what does manifesting mean? Showing up? Or massing right before the invasion?
It might make a difference, from what I can see, Trump sent some offensive weapons, and Biden kick started a real arms build up, so yes, this is what I am talking about. That build up went on for a year or so, before the invasion. 
While there were Russian troops in the area, according to the screen shot I just put up, IDK how significant they were, but either way, Biden’s presence didn’t calm anything down and quite possibly encouraged that “Potential move” by the Russians which led to the 2022 invasion.
I don’t believe I’m getting the timeline wrong but lmk if I am. And please, I’m not letting the Russians off the hook. If anything I’m saying Biden’s terrible foreign policy record got a big star for this boner of a move.
That said, I also consider that Putin used the buildup up as an excuse to invade, that he didn’t feel threatened at all. But if you speculate one way, then you can speculate the other way as well.
Who knows? Biden could have been arming Ukraine because he and Z wanted to take a shot at getting Crimea back from Putin. A LOT of things were possible.
Trump’s primary goal is to remain in the spotlight. In that respect he’s been a runaway success.
He’s been President twice. He’s extremely divisive and rates highly. He gets people riled up and gets eyes focused on himself. He’s good for ratings, and incredibly well-known. Folks simply cannot stop talking about him, so clearly he’s “smart” to some extent. There’s multiple threads in this very forum about the guy. A fool/ clown he may be, but he’s not completely stupid, as he’s clearly positioned himself to remain the focus of everyone’s attention, 24/7. I don’t believe he’s fussed about whether or not the US “becomes great again” (whatever that means to peeps).
Like Sheen, in his own mind he’s clearly winning.
Indeed. Never seen anything quite like it. Its true people cant stop thinking and talking about him - good and bad.
Seems like he just wants to be the alpha male of the entire world. Have you ever seen a leader do this to another leader?
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I see him more as the best manchild of them all. Maybe the hugest. I have no doubt he’s absolutely nutso.
To be fair, they’re all completely insane - Starmer, Macron, Musk, Putin, Zelbo, Harris, Biden, etc. They’re all complete lunatics. Narcissistic, power-hungry asswipes, the lot. Clownshow. Trump may be clown no. 1, for sure (although Zelbo has been an actual clown on TV before). Maybe Zelly’s upset to come up against someone who isn’t merely acting as a clown, but really is one. Zelly’s basically a cheapish performance artist. Trump is more like his persona than Zelly would like, imo.
I find it quite funny when folks start siding with one or the other, when they’re all simply working on behalf of the bankers, warmongers and various other elites. At the end of the day, end of the war, the entire
place will be carved up for the elites, that’s all. Doesn’t matter who “wins” in the eyes of the public. There is always only one winner - the elites. If the war continues, it will be to profit the elites as well.
They’re all basically colluding and for the same essential goal.
As a group they don’t give a fook about the common man. Certainly none of them actually care about the Ukrainian people. Zelbo himself has simply performed the role of middle man to sell off that piece of land to the highest bidder and enslave the population with debt. That will be his legacy of “democracy” and “freedom” lol. And if not, he’ll keep the people in perpetual war.
The others are also simply exploiting the situation for themselves. If Ukraine remains in perpetual war, who will miraculously remain their Supreme Leader? Shock, horror, it will be the same man who pretended to play a piano with his dick on national television to get attention for himself. The little fella has quite ambition and he aint gonna let that go easily. Imo his need to feed his ego is significantly bigger than his desire to help the long-suffering Ukrainians. That long precedes the war and is the deeper motivator.
Let’s see who is the greatest exploiter, the best! Will it be Putin, Zelbo, or the giant orangemanbad himself, The Dumpster?
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Precisely this lol. Yeah people dont realize its the military industrial complex who control the us govt. Meanwhile the media extend this control to the population, hence the constant wars.
Any politician who defies them is gonna end up like Kennedy.
Meanwhile other lesser shadowy elite lobby groups still weild immense power. Eg the current rising star being Blackrock, many people dont even know Blackrock exist.
No. You want to wallow in the mud of nihilism and cynicism go right ahead though.
You’re clearly much more intelligent and incisive than the rest of us. How’s that working out for you?
It’s called reality.
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