Thank God we have strong leadership.

I said it before, I'll say it again.  Time to disband NATO.

 The Russians so successfully manipulated the American left that they switched to the right and it’s worked fantastically.


 It amuses me no end that a poll of foreign policy on Arf 2021 would find the favored platform to be identical to Code Pink’s  2002 demands.

That's how world wars happen. Sounds like a wonderful idea.

Where are you going to run away to when that happens?

It's a pretty good argument that it is the League of Nations (UN predecessor) that got us into WW II. They set out the Versailles Treaty. The major players (France and Britain gave away Czechoslovakia- For appeasement). The League fell apart right in the middle  at  the end of the war because they lacked the backbone to enforce the Versailles Treaty and sought appeasement until it was too late. The Russians built a counterpoint to it in the Warsaw Pact. The UN is dominated in its decision-making by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation today (the Largest organized affiliation of states within the UN) . The UN went along with the Hillary Clinton/ Susan Powers "responsibility to protect" to mandate the overthrow of one UN state by the other UN states.  the UN resolution, and the subsequent intervention in Libya, conceptualized by Hillary, Rice, and Powers, used the international community to launch a new and accelerated Arab Spring by attacking and deposing Kadaffi. Think about that.

the EU is pretty much an outgrowth of the UN. despite it hugely affecting decision-making within the UN.

We should be giving the Eastern European NATO allies tons of weapons and be raising up para-military forces to do some dirty work in Ukraine and beyond.


Treat it like a British beer. A room temp ColdWar-lite, not cold or hot.

the League of nations collapsed. the UN replaced it. NATO acted under the request of the UN to provide military and logistical support for the overthrow of Libya. Nato is pretty much a functioning arm, with some occasional resistance, to the aims of the UN (Juncker got pissed about this and tried to form up his own EU army). The overthrow of Kadaffi was a compromise between Szarkosy, Hillary, Cameron and a few others to depose the authoritarian regimes of the ME and replace them with "someone they could work with" (which apparently became the MB who Obama said would be great moderators). EU is like the brains, NATO/ UN the muscle. It's not an international cooperation of peace. It's more like Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia working it to keep the power and oppress the masses...

The protective umbrella of Needs America To Operate allowed and enabled Western Europe to spend its wealth on social programs instead of defense.  Thanks America!  

Disbanding NATO right now is probably a bad idea.  That doesn't mean we're handcuffed to this dysfunctional relationship forever.

How I put Putin in his place. I think: Biden reveals he threatened Putin with 'economic consequences like none he's ever seen' during call but says he has RULED OUT boots on the ground in Ukraine


Joe Biden on Wednesday revealed he threatened Vladimir Putin with 'economic consequences like none he's ever seen' if the Russian president invades the Ukraine.

'I was very straightforward. There were no minced words. It was polite, but I made it very clear. If in fact, [Putin] invades Ukraine , there will be severe consequences, economic consequences like none he's ever seen or ever have been seen being imposed,' Biden told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House as he departed for a trip to Kansas City.

He ruled out putting US boots on the ground in the Ukraine, saying that 'is not in the cards right now.




'That is not on the table. We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation to our NATO allies if they were to attack under article 5, it's a sacred obligation. That obligation does not extend to NATO, I mean to Ukraine,' the president said.

But he did hint the US would shore up its military presence in NATO countries and help the defensive capabilities of the Ukraine.

'I indicated I knew he would respond, but beyond that, if in fact, we would probably also be required to reinforce our our presence in NATO countries, particularly those in the eastern front,' he said. 'In addition to that, I made it clear that we would provide the defensive capability to the Ukrainians as well.'

Biden said he was absolutely confident that Putin got the message.  

'I have absolute confidence he got the message,' he said.

He also said the administration hopes to announce by Friday a series of follow up meetings among high level staff of the two countries.


Video


In addition to economic consequences, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that also Biden threatened Russia's gas exports.

'There's no finger wagging but the president was crystal clear about where the United States stands on all of these issues,' Sullivan said, calling Tuesday's two-hour conversation with Putin 'useful.'

The US has taken a strong posture as Russia builds up its troop presence along the US border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he welcomed Biden's 'personal role' in the negotiations.

'In general, I think it is positive that the president of the United States spoke with the president of the Russian Federation,' Zelensky said at a news conference. 'The most important thing that we see now is that there is a personal real reaction and personal role of President Biden in resolving this conflict, the war in the east of our state.'

Sullivan said if Russia goes on the attack that NATO partners on the Eastern front such as Poland and Romania, would be understandably concerned and the US would 'fortify' its allies along with providing 'additional defensive material for the Ukrainians.'

'In the event there's an escalation, our partners on the eastern front - Romania, Poland, other countries - will be increasingly concerned about the security and territorial integrity of their countries. They will be seeking, we expect, additional capabilities and potentially additional deployments and the United States will be looking to respond positively,' Sullivan said.

The administration has indicated for the past three days the US would step up its commitment to the NATO alliance in the face of Russian aggression in Eastern Europe. But officials have stopped short of saying the US will put boots on the ground in the Ukraine.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump said in a statement on Tuesday that the Russian president is 'not worried' about any threats or warnings from Biden.

'Vladimir Putin looks at our pathetic surrender in Afghanistan, leaving behind dead Soldiers, American citizens, and $85 billion worth of Military equipment. He then looks at Biden. He is not worried!' Trump declared in a statement via his Save America PAC.


More

It would make alot of people happy.  

We are not the world's army  and cannot allow policies to be set based on the idea that if it doesn't work out we all go to war together.  

Ukraine has a neighbor they need to manage that relationship.  

Europe is too busy creating a police state. America is too busy dividing itself. Nobody is going to help the Ukraine against Russia steamrolling it in a day.  Don't take free handouts for your energy and other resource needs from your neighbor and then go lie in bed with their opposition.

Please do.

That'll give us a chance to defeat Denmark once and for all, and carry out an anschluss of Norway.

You should team up with Poland and go kick Germany's ass.

Poland will be brought back to the dominion of the House of Wasa.

We'll obviously have to convert them to Lutheranism, but otherwise it should be easily done.

Biden: Looking for An “Accommodation” For Putin

thank god though....no more mean tweets.

I'd like to see the actual video of the Biden / Putin meeting and see what Biden actually said and how he said it.

The Russians leaked the first few seconds of the talk. Biden seemed awful friendly towards Putin. I'm having trouble seeing Biden talk tough to Putin.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-fight-for-ukraine-from-putin-view-vladimir-biden-talks-russia-unity-ussr-crimea-invasion-11638889320

I'm pretty green on the whole Russia/Ukraine thing but I found this article interesting.

If all of this is true, it's hard to see him letting the opportunity slip by.

Biden’s Defense Secretary: “Russia Should Be Concerned About Its Reputation" If They Invade Ukraine




Jake Sullivan Says Nord Stream 2 "Not Leverage" Because Incomplete, But Biden Waived Sanctions




Jake Sullivan Says US “Planning For All Contingencies” With Russia

Agreed.  EU has a much higher population and GDP than Russia, they could defend themselves if they wanted to.

This is where I am at, I just don't think it will happen.

Just like I don't think China will move on Taiwan.

As of today, military force is going to cause a really big negative reaction from the rest of the world. By using their pipeline, the Russians will eventually bend the rest of Europe to their will, there aren't enough balls in EU .gov to fight back or maneuver around this. Same goes for China, they could probably buy enough Taiwanese politicians and businesses and then low-vis operations/assassinate just enough folks to get Taiwan to reunify without firing a shot.

I don't think that we'll see big time military conflict in either place. This is just my opinion and not based on anything other than that.

A game changing dynamic would be to see Ukraine hire big name contracting companies that employ former American and Allied SOF and support to do some heavy lifting. I'm positive if the $1,000 a day gigs (and sweet libo with Kiev blondes) start popping back up, you'd see former American and Allied servicemen beating down doors to get over and get some. Especially against Russians.

He's making a good point that the idea of open borders in Texas, but the threat of US military intervention in Ukraine is next to insane.

Now, I would agree that Ukraine for the Russians isn't entirely about Ukrainian accession to NATO nor do I believe that Putin isn't a threat to Western Europe, because Putin was, is and will be.

There is a real anti Russia push among the American left, there is ton of Ukrainian money sloshing around our political system and there is no real plan for off-ramping Russia.

Ultimately, the winner of a US intervention into Ukraine would be the Chinese. Period.

Agreed.

But, the Euros wanted Biden over the American right.

That's not a bad point.

The end of NATO doesn't need to mean the end of security guarantees to New European partners.

Indeed, a very strong case could be made for such guarantees independent of Greek Russophila or some other no vote within the NATO construct.

For the vast majority of Euros, picking up a gun is icky. Better to sit in a cage and watch Abdul rail Greta.

Local corrupt government will hire local bandera for $100 a day and pocket the rest $900.

You are oblivious......

Tell me you've never contracted, without telling me you've never contracted

Pelosi reports the news

NATO is nothing without the US so why should the US have to listen to the little people dictate orders while supplying virtually nothing.  Let Europe take care of itself.  Let Ukraine create stronger treaties with countries like the US.

I highly doubt that I'll be seeing any German soldier coming to my rescue (Russia will not take the entirety of Ukraine.)

War isn't a charity.  It's BIG business, just look at AFG.

I think there are enough disenfranchised US troops in Ukraine now that could easily cause issues for Putin but I think the problem will be getting them to fight another war after being used during the past 20 years.  Ukraine needs to stand up for itself instead of relying on foreigners to defend it.  I don't think they like me telling them to go Chechen on Putin.  

Ted Cruz on Russia's aggression with Ukraine: 'This is Joe Biden's fault'

Guess they should have given 50% to the big guy to buy protection.

Meanwhile after the Putin meeting..Let's go Steak!

Biden: "This is the United Steak of America for God's sake!"

NATO doesn't dictate orders and we don't have to do anything they want.  As an interesting point, Article 5 has only been invoked once and it led to a lot of allied troops in Afghanistan.  Other than that, NATO is great for standards so that we can work well in coalitions and for moving troops around without customs hastles.

The big guy needs to worry more about smoking turds in hell at his age.

Lol. Europeans preparing for war=sit with their thumbs up their asses.

Biden holds 90-minute call with President Zelensky amid reports he wants Ukraine to give up parts of territory already occupied by Russians to head off invasion


Joe Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for nearly 90 minutes on the phone Thursday amid the threat of Russia invading Ukraine.

Biden voiced the United States' 'deep concerns' over Russia's military buildup at Ukraine's eastern border,' the White House said after the call.

The president also 'made clear that the U.S. and our Allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of a further military intervention,' the White House said.




'He reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Biden made clear that the United States and its allies and partners are committed to the principle of “no decisions or discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine.”

'The leaders called on Russia to de-escalate tensions and agreed that diplomacy is the best way to make meaningful progress on conflict resolution.'

The Associated Press reported in advance of the call that Biden may press Zelensky to formally cede some autonomy to a portion of Ukrainian lands already controlled by Russian-backed separatists in order to head off an invasion.  

During her regular briefing, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked whether the president would ask Ukraine to cede territory to Russia.

'That's absolutely false,' she said.

Psaki added that the president was expected to offer support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

'President Biden was intending to discuss his deep concerns with Russia's buildup on Ukraine's borders and his commitment to respond to strong measures in the event of a Russian military escalation,' she said.

In a tweet after the call ended, Zelensky said Biden updated him on talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'We also discussed possible formats for resolving the conflict in Donbas and touched upon the course of internal reforms in Ukraine,' he said, referring to eastern Ukraine.

The area of eastern Ukraine was given 'special status' in a European-brokered peace deal in 2015, but it never took hold.

Eastern Ukraine has been the source of tension since 2014. And Ukrainian lawmakers voted to extend the special status a year ago, until Dec. 31, 2021.  








The call follows weeks of a Russian military build up and after Biden said the U.S. would take a bigger role in trying to broker a diplomatic solution to the region's tensions.

That means also addressing Ukrainian ambitions to join NATO - a red flag to Putin.

While Biden and allies have resisted Putin's calls to deny NATO membership to Ukraine, senior State Department officials have made it known that Ukrainian membership is unlikely to be approved in the next decade.  

On Tuesday morning, Biden held a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

'I was very straightforward. There were no minced words. It was polite, but I made it very clear. If in fact, [Putin] invades Ukraine, there will be severe consequences, economic consequences like none he's ever seen or ever have been seen being imposed,' Biden said from the South Lawn Wednesday before traveling to Kansas City, Missouri.  

'I have absolute confidence he got the message,' the president added.

The White House indicated that those threats included economic sanctions - including pushing the new German government to pull out of its Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal with Russia - as well as sending more troops to NATO allies in the region and supplying Ukraine with more material support.


Continued

With the state of the world and weak liberal views, Russia could walk to the English Channel while the West marched in protest. The Europeans don't have the backbone to put up a fight.