"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (15 Viewers)

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SplitRz said:
Food for thought. But its giving me indigestion and a sense of nausea.

Without wishing to diss it completely out of hand, your link is to a low readership online publication, with a paywall for many articles. The writers submit articles under pseudonyms - which is clearly designed to protect them from possible legal action. By its very nature, its a publication designed not to root out new information, so much as to generate clicks, engagement and advertising revenue which it does under the guise of 'free speech', but which is pretty transparently wanting to attract controversy and attention. The idea that its a reliable and fact-checkable source of objective information is flawed from the off. For example, the hyperlinked sections just veer off into speculation: The supposed justification of the censorship claim is German discussion about the banning of the AfD is but one example of hyperlink BS -not only has the AfD NOT been 'banned', its just won a substantial victory in the German elections. This is classic Orwellian double-speak. Naked misleading propaganda. There has been no 'suppression', even if there has been discussion of what constitutes a neo nazi organisation, something (unsurprisingly!) is banned under German law. Its the corollary of trying to argue that concern over where porn veers into paedophilia is 'censorship and suppression'. Adult consideration is a quite rational and fair consideration of German concern about the far right- given what nationalism brought to Germany twice in the 20th century.

The piece may reflect or reinforce your opinion - but what new insight is it actually bringing to the table? I mean, he's a $hit writer for starters: 'It is difficult to say what specifically most triggered the catatonic European breakdown'.

Catatonic means - "Appearing mentally stupefied, unresponsive, and motionless, or almost so; seemingly unaware of one's environment".
Whether you agree with it or not, European response was ANYTHING but catatonic.

There are also a lot of straw-man implications in the rest of what you say:

"IMO A government that suppresses or deems free speech as hate crimes, prohibits ANY peaceful assembly, imposes their will on their citizens, prohibits the right to keep and bear arms, trashes the right to privacy and the right to confront accusers in a criminal procedure - are either fascist or have tendencies toward totalitarian rule in my world view."...

I'm gobsmacked ...errr, an ACTUAL one, like Russia, the invader of Ukraine...? :rolleyes: ...

I've read much of the rest of the article. I mean, dear god, where even to start?! :oops:

The mischaracterisation of European democracy is laughable. Its also insulting as well as dangerously inaccurate. Why would anyone simply accept this steaming pile of dung as either true and therefore a justification boggles my mind. I find it genuinely terrifying. You're an eloquent guy and clearly not alone in giving this stuff uncritical bandwidth. Differing opinions I can handle, but how far in extremist denial can you be to give countenance to this kind of stuff? But then again, many of not most of the people to whom this content appeals, know most no little to nothing of the outside world, in reality, do they? How many gobbling this sewage down have even been to Europe, and of the few that have, how many spent time not sealed away on a base or on some whistle-stop 'do all the sights' week holiday?

I had an insight into this naïve (and casually arrogant) view of the outside world once, when I was asked to invite the head of European Marketing for a large American mobile phone company to a meeting in the UK to discuss raising the profile of his products in our market (which were dismally failing to attract custom). I got on the phone to his secretary. "Could I come to the US?" she asked. "Erm, that would be an amazing opportunity for me, and would require clearance from my management", I said, "But surely he'd like to come here, meet some of the key executives, get an understanding of the market and have a tour round - really get to see the diversity of the culture, potential customers, the local competition and the challenges and opportunities. We can then host a round table and make suggestions on how we might be able to help." "Ah, I'm sorry," she said, "He doesn't have a passport". The Head of European Marketing for a leading US phone manufacturer! :oops:

How do you think the half dozen or so Europeans who regularly post here not only feel about what you've said, but who's intelligence you're now insulting by reposting and endorsing this article? You see, we ARE diverse. We have no problem expressing fundamental disagreements between our nations. If this hit-piece had any accuracy, I'm sure we'd all be pointing at each other and sagely nodding. But I'd be astounded if anyone here recognises what's described in this appalling piece.

Lets look at the author. 'Tyler Durden'. This nom de plume 'to protect his amendment rights' is pure BS for starters. The site founder and one of the key writers is purported to use it - and his identity is long since established. So who is this 'journalist' and what is his CV? Aha. His daddy registered the domain - Krassimir Ivandjiiski of ABC Media Ltd.

Who he? - A former Soviet-era Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Trade official. Let that sink in.

And the main writer-come-owner is his son - Daniel Ivandjiiski. And his 'qualifications'? He's a Bulgarian-born, U.S.-educated, former hedge-fund trader, who was barred from the securities industry in September 2008 for earning US$780 from an insider trade by FINRA .

This is the source 'that succinctly explains the last 45 days in office in context that I agree with'. And therein lies the problem. You agree with. But no one in their right mind would trust if they dug any deeper as to the objectivity, motivation or source, would they?

So why are you???

'Taking what you want and leaving the rest' means you're probably filtering out some otherwise unpleasant truth that contradicts the easier to swallow and more simplistic narrative. You're far from alone. But surely you and the USA is better than that? Don't we ALL owe a better democracy more than this?
Click to expand...

e-what-they-want-to-believe-julius-caesar-66-14-66.jpg
 
SplitRz said:
Food for thought. But its giving me indigestion and a sense of nausea.

Without wishing to diss it completely out of hand, your link is to a low readership online publication, with a paywall for many articles. The writers submit articles under pseudonyms - which is clearly designed to protect them from possible legal action. By its very nature, its a publication designed not to root out new information, so much as to generate clicks, engagement and advertising revenue which it does under the guise of 'free speech', but which is pretty transparently wanting to attract controversy and attention. The idea that its a reliable and fact-checkable source of objective information is flawed from the off. For example, the hyperlinked sections just veer off into speculation: The supposed justification of the censorship claim is German discussion about the banning of the AfD is but one example of hyperlink BS -not only has the AfD NOT been 'banned', its just won a substantial victory in the German elections. This is classic Orwellian double-speak. Naked misleading propaganda. There has been no 'suppression', even if there has been discussion of what constitutes a neo nazi organisation, something (unsurprisingly!) is banned under German law. Its the corollary of trying to argue that concern over where porn veers into paedophilia is 'censorship and suppression'. Adult consideration is a quite rational and fair consideration of German concern about the far right- given what nationalism brought to Germany twice in the 20th century.

The piece may reflect or reinforce your opinion - but what new insight is it actually bringing to the table? I mean, he's a $hit writer for starters: 'It is difficult to say what specifically most triggered the catatonic European breakdown'.

Catatonic means - "Appearing mentally stupefied, unresponsive, and motionless, or almost so; seemingly unaware of one's environment".
Whether you agree with it or not, European response was ANYTHING but catatonic.

There are also a lot of straw-man implications in the rest of what you say:

"IMO A government that suppresses or deems free speech as hate crimes, prohibits ANY peaceful assembly, imposes their will on their citizens, prohibits the right to keep and bear arms, trashes the right to privacy and the right to confront accusers in a criminal procedure - are either fascist or have tendencies toward totalitarian rule in my world view."...

I'm gobsmacked ...errr, an ACTUAL one, like Russia, the invader of Ukraine...? :rolleyes: ...

I've read much of the rest of the article. I mean, dear god, where even to start?! :oops:

The mischaracterisation of European democracy is laughable. Its also insulting as well as dangerously inaccurate. Why would anyone simply accept this steaming pile of dung as either true and therefore a justification boggles my mind. I find it genuinely terrifying. You're an eloquent guy and clearly not alone in giving this stuff uncritical bandwidth. Differing opinions I can handle, but how far in extremist denial can you be to give countenance to this kind of stuff? But then again, many of not most of the people to whom this content appeals, know most no little to nothing of the outside world, in reality, do they? How many gobbling this sewage down have even been to Europe, and of the few that have, how many spent time not sealed away on a base or on some whistle-stop 'do all the sights' week holiday?

I had an insight into this naïve (and casually arrogant) view of the outside world once, when I was asked to invite the head of European Marketing for a large American mobile phone company to a meeting in the UK to discuss raising the profile of his products in our market (which were dismally failing to attract custom). I got on the phone to his secretary. "Could I come to the US?" she asked. "Erm, that would be an amazing opportunity for me, and would require clearance from my management", I said, "But surely he'd like to come here, meet some of the key executives, get an understanding of the market and have a tour round - really get to see the diversity of the culture, potential customers, the local competition and the challenges and opportunities. We can then host a round table and make suggestions on how we might be able to help." "Ah, I'm sorry," she said, "He doesn't have a passport". The Head of European Marketing for a leading US phone manufacturer! :oops:

How do you think the half dozen or so Europeans who regularly post here not only feel about what you've said, but who's intelligence you're now insulting by reposting and endorsing this article? You see, we ARE diverse. We have no problem expressing fundamental disagreements between our nations. If this hit-piece had any accuracy, I'm sure we'd all be pointing at each other and sagely nodding. But I'd be astounded if anyone here recognises what's described in this appalling piece.

Lets look at the author. 'Tyler Durden'. This nom de plume 'to protect his amendment rights' is pure BS for starters. The site founder and one of the key writers is purported to use it - and his identity is long since established. So who is this 'journalist' and what is his CV? Aha. His daddy registered the domain - Krassimir Ivandjiiski of ABC Media Ltd.

Who he? - A former Soviet-era Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Trade official. Let that sink in.

And the main writer-come-owner is his son - Daniel Ivandjiiski. And his 'qualifications'? He's a Bulgarian-born, U.S.-educated, former hedge-fund trader, who was barred from the securities industry in September 2008 for earning US$780 from an insider trade by FINRA .

This is the source 'that succinctly explains the last 45 days in office in context that I agree with'. And therein lies the problem. You agree with. But no one in their right mind would trust if they dug any deeper as to the objectivity, motivation or source, would they?

So why are you???

'Taking what you want and leaving the rest' means you're probably filtering out some otherwise unpleasant truth that contradicts the easier to swallow and more simplistic narrative. You're far from alone. But surely you and the USA is better than that? Don't we ALL owe a better democracy more than this?
Click to expand...
👏👏👏👏👏

The reaction list only let give you a like but you just merit a ton of bacon.
 
A video I came across today from a cohost of a WWII channel I watch, discussing the leadup to current events in Ukraine. It's long, so pop open a beer and get some popcorn ready, but while I'm not done watching it, I agree with enough already 35 minutes in that I thought it belongs here:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyF7uMukW1A
 

America As Republic, Not As Empire – Europe's 'Sound And Fury' After Jaw-Dropping Pivots In US Policy | ZeroHedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
www.zerohedge.com www.zerohedge.com

I've just read this. What a load of nonsense. :laughing3: What I struggle to understand is how someone educated in history over the past 80 to 100 years can be taken in by this government's policies. All those US soldiers, sailors and airmen and women who lost their lives in Europe and elsewhere in support of the US' strongest allies are being thrown under the bus by Hegseth, Vance and the rest of the administration in supporting this agenda. It is extremely destructive and will not end well, that's what supporters of all this simply don't see - it plays directly into the USA's enemies of the past 80 years' hands. The USA stands to lose enormously from this.
 
Thumpalumpacus said:
A video I came across today from a cohost of a WWII channel I watch, discussing the leadup to current events in Ukraine. It's long, so pop open a beer and get some popcorn ready, but while I'm not done watching it, I agree with enough already 35 minutes in that I thought it belongs here:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyF7uMukW1A
Click to expand...

Is this on the "Unauthorized History of the Pacific War" Channel?
 
Glider said:
And you can be sure that the absolute minimum will be spent in the USA
Click to expand...

You're touching on a key aspect that is being ignored in all the current shenanigans. America wants a stronger Europe but that may mean, in the future, that Europe no longer wants/needs to purchase American weapons systems. Indeed, there may be a growing bias against any dependence on American weapons. Will the European allies contribute funding to development of America's F-35's replacement (the UK alone put in $2B very early in the program) or will they invest in home-grown businesses?

The F-35 has been very successful from an export perspective but if Europe builds its own 6th Gen replacement, it will be in direct competition to any American alternative...and it will be interesting to see which option the world purchases. Will America still be seen as the trusted supplier or will Europe take over that mantle? Let's be under no illusion, a European airframe designed and built with the collective smarts of Saab, BAES, Dassault, Thales and others could be very attractive to nations that seek to avoid getting into bed with an untrustworthy America.

The mantra that every dollar spent overseas is a dollar that could be spent in the US is patently ridiculous. Dollars spent overseas increase America's influence. Removing those dollars simply leaves a vacuum for China and others to fill. Unfortunately, the current "America First" strategy is looking far more like "America Alone." It feels like we're entering a new era of isolationism without learning the lessons from history. At some point, America will need allies. When was the last time the US went to war on its own? The Russian leopard isn't changing its spots and so, at some point, we'll likely reach a point where Russian expansionism hits an American red line. Unfortunately, there's a real risk that America won't have any allies left when we hit that crisis...even before then, how many European nations will want to help America in its efforts to contain China?

Bottom line is to be careful what you ask for. The new world order you hoped for may not be the new world order that you actually get. We're already seeing individuals and nations change buying habits to reduce purchases of American goods. The decision by Canada's biggest liquor wholesaler to remove Jack Daniels and other American suppliers from sale is a trivial example but it's just the tip of the iceberg. Expand that type of thinking to the defense industry and America's ability to influence globally will be hurt, maybe not today but in the long run.

To bring this diatribe back to Ukraine, America has the political and military heft to force Zelensky to the negotiating table, and even to accept an unjust peace. However, the people of Ukraine don't have to abide by it. They may well vote with their fists to continue fighting the Russian invaders. That's the problem with agency...people will actually employ it, whether we like it or not.
 
Thumpalumpacus said:
Actually, you are, because you're implying that anyone who disagrees with you is ignorant.

Furthermore, I don't see him upholding the Constitution, but upending it.

But hey, support who and what you want. Just don't expect a free pass on it. POTUS has sold out the Ukrainians. Maybe you're okay with that. I'm not. It harms American interest, it harms the free world which looks to us for leadership in a world that's pretty dangerous, and it harms innocent people who did nothing to merit death and destruction by invasion.
Click to expand...
You know I love ya Thumpalumpacus Thumpalumpacus I can agree to you having a different view of things, no harm no foul. And for the record, no I was not implying ignorance, unless you mean merely ignorant of the way certain things work, which does not mean that person is an ignoramus, merely not fully informed, the way I am relatively ignorant of how a Constitutional Monarchy functions. There's a difference as you well know.

Cheers
 
Marcel said:
I found this to be an interesting remark. Living in a Constitutional monarchy myself, maybe I should try to clarify.
Actually there is not a significant difference between our constitutional monarchy and your constitutional republic. The basic difference is that head-of-state is also the executional head-of-state and politically elected. Here, our head-of-state is mostly ceremonial and used for PR. The prime-minister is the executional head-of-state, meaning that he is the one actively leading the government. Like your president, he is elected by the people. The King has no saying in the daily governing of the country, however he is sometimes used as an impartial mediator, being officially apolitical and above the parties.

This of course is the theory. But if you want to talk to the active head of the state, you talk to the prime-minister, not the king.

edit: changed some stupid mistake
Click to expand...
Awesome reply Marcel Marcel thanks.
 
defence-blog.com

Mirage 2000 fighters help counter Russian air assault

For the first time, French-made Mirage 2000 delta-wing fighters have taken part in repelling a Russian air attack on Ukraine. In the early hours of March 7, Russia launched a large-scale combined airstrike, targeting Ukrainian infrastructure with missiles and drones. Ukrainian air defense...
defence-blog.com defence-blog.com
 
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