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Posted: 6/25/2024 7:26:41 PM EST
[#1]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By stone-age: And as I understand it China turns off social media at like 5pm for their children and only airs educational programs for kids after that. It seems like that would cause a different education outcome from ours. Something we could probably use to our advantage. Because we aren't control freaks, we will be left behind in the process. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 7:31:10 PM EST
[#2]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lorazepam: We are half their economy, if not more. Switching to war economy and losing half your income would be a blow the empty city economy might not be able to handle. That culture is dog eat dog and if any weakness shows, there are plenty of folks ready to take advantage. At all levels. We are not half of their economy. We do not buy half of their exports not even close. So stop spewing that shit. We are their biggest buyer at 15% of their total exports. China has been making deals all throughout South and Central America. They are all over Africa buying resources for pennies on the dollar. They have a two years supply of grains to feed their livestock and people. They have massive stockpiles of commodities. Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Perus would still feed China if they went for Taiwan. Europe isn’t going to do shit if China destroys Taiwan. Europe is broke and is in worse shape economically than the US or China. Would it hurt China if we stopped buying their stuff yep it would. But it would hurt the US way more. Just look at where the ingredients to pharmaceuticals that we use come from. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 7:46:22 PM EST
[#3]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By stone-age: He really does seem to think that him making some kind of deal is the absolute highest priority, always. And being able to say that it is a "good" deal for "us" is the next highest priority. I definitely don't see the freedom of Ukraine as being in the list of top priorities unless there is huge political support in that direction. And trump supporters are definitely not in the "support Ukraine" camp. I think he would like to tell his supporters how much money he has saved the US. If he truly wants to make America great again, that would include being the shining beacon on the hill, helping those who aspire to self determination and freedom. It ain't about making deals with a genocidal psychopath. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 7:47:25 PM EST
[#4]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By stone-age: And as I understand it China turns off social media at like 5pm for their children and only airs educational programs for kids after that. It seems like that would cause a different education outcome from ours. When I was there, they had learn english programs on the tv every morning. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 7:58:15 PM EST
[#5]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By GoldenMead: We are not half of their economy. We do not buy half of their exports not even close. So stop spewing that shit. We are their biggest buyer at 15% of their total exports. China has been making deals all throughout South and Central America. They are all over Africa buying resources for pennies on the dollar. They have a two years supply of grains to feed their livestock and people. They have massive stockpiles of commodities. Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Perus would still feed China if they went for Taiwan. Europe isn’t going to do shit if China destroys Taiwan. Europe is broke and is in worse shape economically than the US or China. Would it hurt China if we stopped buying their stuff yep it would. But it would hurt the US way more. Just look at where the ingredients to pharmaceuticals that we use come from. Drugs mostly come from india or china. Yes, we are pretty well fucked for self reliance. I suppose they have gotten some things in order, it has been a while since I have been there. They suck at maintenance, disease prevention, and even the 5 star places show less than 5 star around the edges. They cut every corner they can, will steal your or anyone else's intellectual property and make a shitty copy. They act a lot like russia, to be honest. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 8:01:31 PM EST
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lorazepam: If he truly wants to make America great again, that would include being the shining beacon on the hill, helping those who aspire to self determination and freedom. It ain't about making deals with a genocidal psychopath. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lorazepam: Originally Posted By stone-age: He really does seem to think that him making some kind of deal is the absolute highest priority, always. And being able to say that it is a "good" deal for "us" is the next highest priority. I definitely don't see the freedom of Ukraine as being in the list of top priorities unless there is huge political support in that direction. And trump supporters are definitely not in the "support Ukraine" camp. I think he would like to tell his supporters how much money he has saved the US. If he truly wants to make America great again, that would include being the shining beacon on the hill, helping those who aspire to self determination and freedom. It ain't about making deals with a genocidal psychopath. 👍👍 |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 8:27:46 PM EST
[#7]
ISW assessment for June 25th.
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-25-2024 |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 8:28:47 PM EST
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#8]
 
North Korea launches ballistic missile into the East Sea..."Hypersonic test launch presumed failure" (comprehensive) (Seoul = Yonhap News) Kim Ho-jun = North Korea launched an unknown ballistic missile into the East Sea on the 26th, but it is believed to have failed, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message sent to the Defense Ministry's press corps, "North Korea is believed to have launched an unknown ballistic missile from the P'yongyang area into the East Sea at 5:30 a.m. today (26 July), but it is believed to have failed, and the ROK and US intelligence agencies are conducting further analysis." A military source told Yonhap News Agency that "the missile launched by North Korea today flew about 250 kilometers" and that "it appears that North Korea attempted to test-fire a hypersonic missile but failed." North Korea's ballistic missile launch is the first in nearly a month since the 30th of last month. North Korea sprayed a dirty balloon against the South for two consecutive days on 24 and 25 March, and then launched a ballistic missile in the early morning of the same day, showing a pattern of complex provocation. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message distributed to reporters at the Ministry of National Defense the night before that "North Korea is once again levitating a (presumed) sewage balloon against South Korea" and that "the wind direction is currently northwesterly and moving in a southeasterly direction from the northern part of Gyeonggi Province." On the night of 24 February, North Korea also released more than 350 filth balloons, and more than 100 of them landed in the northern part of Gyeonggi Province and the southern part of the country, including Seoul. North Korea's spraying of a filth balloon is the sixth since the first spraying on 28 March. [email protected] https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20240626006751504 |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 9:19:08 PM EST
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By borderpatrol: The U.S. Armed Forces severely restricts the publication of any U.S. soldiers dead or severely wounded. This has been a SOP for over thirty-five years now. The military learned from Vietnam that you can't serve dead and wounded Americans for desert on TV and expect to get continued public support for any conflict. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By borderpatrol: Originally Posted By Inneedofhelp: I just watched some of this, and got to where Margarita Simonyan started talking at about 6:22, and damn......yeah, it's complete projection. She starts going on about how the US covers up its losses in wars. No, not at all, has this woman ever been to the US at all? At least as far back as WWII Roosevelt himself allowed the showing of dead American soldier/marines on a Pacific beach, so that people could know the toll of the war, more or less. Since Vietnam, people in the US have had a hard time accepting anything like losses Russia has historically taken. She thinks the US in that regard is just like Russia. Do they all take a few hits from a crack pipe before they appear on Solovyov's show or wherever? The U.S. Armed Forces severely restricts the publication of any U.S. soldiers dead or severely wounded. This has been a SOP for over thirty-five years now. The military learned from Vietnam that you can't serve dead and wounded Americans for desert on TV and expect to get continued public support for any conflict. Conversely... Watching Israel's war in Gaza that is something that really surprised me. How quickly they release the names of KIAs and announce injuries. Often within 24 hours of death! |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 9:20:31 PM EST
[#10]
 
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NV, USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 9:24:33 PM EST
[#11]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Lieh-tzu: It's anybody's guess what level of sanctions the US would apply over conflict in Taiwan. A total embargo would be the correct response, but it's hard to DC going to that level, especially with so much Chinese penetration of US institutions. And unless the US leadership is pushing diplomatic efforts really hard, Europe is not going to join us. As long as China doesn't trigger NATO Article 5, Europe is likely to prioritize their addiction to cheap Chinese manufacturing over saving liberal democracy in Taiwan. That would leave China's economy in far better shape than American doomers would project, and it's unclear that there's any price PRC would NOT pay to subjugate Taiwan at last. To include establishing sovereign control over a smoking ruin. It's getting to a point where we need them more than they need us, which is why I keep harping the diplomacy to bring all free societies together to stand against the authoritarians. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Lieh-tzu: Originally Posted By lorazepam: Originally Posted By Lieh-tzu: https://archive.is/zQuci A long read, I read some and skimmed some. It looks like a lot of hopium. We'll do this, and we'll do that, and our enemies will act the way we expect them to. It lacks substance, IMO. Someone who reads it more closely may correct me or disagree. China's nationalist imperialism is not subject to being reined in, not when China is finally truly becoming a global superpower. They might restrain themselves at the margins (low-intensity fights with Filipino vessels), but they aren't going to stop their plans to conquer Taiwan. With many projecting the next Presidential term as the target date range, whoever wins in 2024 is going to have one of the hardest challenges we've faced - confronting an expansionist nuclear superpower while constrained by economic decline. It's going to be interesting watching china implode their entire economy and political structure over an island. Their banggood capitalist model is full of flaws, and will come to a screeching halt when the west stops buying their shit. It's anybody's guess what level of sanctions the US would apply over conflict in Taiwan. A total embargo would be the correct response, but it's hard to DC going to that level, especially with so much Chinese penetration of US institutions. And unless the US leadership is pushing diplomatic efforts really hard, Europe is not going to join us. As long as China doesn't trigger NATO Article 5, Europe is likely to prioritize their addiction to cheap Chinese manufacturing over saving liberal democracy in Taiwan. That would leave China's economy in far better shape than American doomers would project, and it's unclear that there's any price PRC would NOT pay to subjugate Taiwan at last. To include establishing sovereign control over a smoking ruin. It's getting to a point where we need them more than they need us, which is why I keep harping the diplomacy to bring all free societies together to stand against the authoritarians. Freedom Trade - have to establish an 'Anywhere But China' ABC Supply Chain - with trade done only with allies. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 9:27:35 PM EST
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Inneedofhelp: I just watched some of this, and got to where Margarita Simonyan started talking at about 6:22, and damn......yeah, it's complete projection. She starts going on about how the US covers up its losses in wars. No, not at all, has this woman ever been to the US at all? At least as far back as WWII Roosevelt himself allowed the showing of dead American soldier/marines on a Pacific beach, so that people could know the toll of the war, more or less. Since Vietnam, people in the US have had a hard time accepting anything like losses Russia has historically taken. She thinks the US in that regard is just like Russia. Do they all take a few hits from a crack pipe before they appear on Solovyov's show or wherever? She's not completely wrong on that point. There were media restrictions on flights into Dover with remains from Iraq/Afghanistan war dead. It was not fully hidden, but it was carefully limited. Some say there should have been more coverage and the general public became so uninvested in the wars, most people didn't even grasp that other American families were struggling with deployments, WIA and KIA. Remember, all good propaganda has a grain of truth, and Simonyan is a good propagandist. Solovyov is the attack dog, Simonyan is the architect. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 9:36:03 PM EST
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By GoldenMead: Would it hurt China if we stopped buying their stuff yep it would. But it would hurt the US way more. Just look at where the ingredients to pharmaceuticals that we use come from. Short term yes but long term it would be the best thing to ever happen to us. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 9:41:01 PM EST
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lorazepam: Drugs mostly come from india or china. Yes, we are pretty well fucked for self reliance. I suppose they have gotten some things in order, it has been a while since I have been there. They suck at maintenance, disease prevention, and even the 5 star places show less than 5 star around the edges. They cut every corner they can, will steal your or anyone else's intellectual property and make a shitty copy. They act a lot like russia, to be honest. Common heritage of Mongol conquest? 
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Posted: 6/25/2024 9:44:19 PM EST
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#15]
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
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Posted: 6/25/2024 9:48:13 PM EST
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Prime: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GQ9GCZuW8AAb3Vn?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GQ5iGwrW4AESRKd?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GQ1pz7bWcAAEWCQ?format=jpg&name=large
two whole city blocks they'd already leveled with indiscriminate artillery? 
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Posted: 6/25/2024 10:05:43 PM EST
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lorazepam: When I was there, they had learn english programs on the tv every morning. So the Chinese govt is actively trying to cultivate a population that is smart? That's just weird. |
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USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 10:25:27 PM EST
[#18]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By borderpatrol: The U.S. Armed Forces severely restricts the publication of any U.S. soldiers dead or severely wounded. This has been a SOP for over thirty-five years now. The military learned from Vietnam that you can't serve dead and wounded Americans for desert on TV and expect to get continued public support for any conflict. So she is actually right? Still, I think there is some projection going on, that Russia has demonstrated with this war it is still willing to take high losses, although the estimates vary per the source. She probably thinks the US is just the same, but maybe she is right there too. If NATO (thereby US) forces become directly involved, the numbers would be high on both sides, even barring the use of WMDs. |
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USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 10:30:59 PM EST
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Inneedofhelp: So she is actually right? Still, I think there is some projection going on, that Russia has demonstrated with this war it is still willing to take high losses, although the estimates vary per the source. She probably thinks the US is just the same, but maybe she is right there too. If NATO (thereby US) forces become directly involved, the numbers would be high on both sides, even barring the use of WMDs. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Inneedofhelp: Originally Posted By borderpatrol: The U.S. Armed Forces severely restricts the publication of any U.S. soldiers dead or severely wounded. This has been a SOP for over thirty-five years now. The military learned from Vietnam that you can't serve dead and wounded Americans for desert on TV and expect to get continued public support for any conflict. So she is actually right? Still, I think there is some projection going on, that Russia has demonstrated with this war it is still willing to take high losses, although the estimates vary per the source. She probably thinks the US is just the same, but maybe she is right there too. If NATO (thereby US) forces become directly involved, the numbers would be high on both sides, even barring the use of WMDs. IIUC, borderpatrol was talking about publishing the images of individual casualties in the media vs Russia blatantly lying about their casualty numbers. |
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USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 10:32:50 PM EST
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lorazepam: When I was there, they had learn english programs on the tv every morning. Do you know if they teach it in schools to their kids at a young age? That's what a German exchange student told me they do in Germany years ago at the high school I was going to. He spoke perfectly fluent English, albeit with a strong accent. More recently, I see it in action with Russian kids who came here with their parents when they were very young. All the really young ones speak English perfectly, a lot of the adults know little to none. |
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USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 10:41:49 PM EST
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Lieh-tzu: Common heritage of Mongol conquest? Both communist countries that were actually trying for communism at one time? |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 11:26:10 PM EST
[#22]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By doc540: two whole city blocks they'd already leveled with indiscriminate artillery? If history is any guide, certainly. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 11:31:24 PM EST
[#23]
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NV, USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 11:44:53 PM EST
[#24]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By castlebravo84: The Bones are clapped out. Buffs might be older airframes, but they haven't been used as hard. We built a bunch of Buffs during the height of the cold War that ended up mostly sitting around not being flown a lot, so we still have a number of them with a lot of service life left in them. They will end up being in service long past the B-1 and the B-2. Hell they might outlive the B-21 if that program goes sideways. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By castlebravo84: Originally Posted By absael: Originally Posted By AlmightyTallest:
The Bones are clapped out. Buffs might be older airframes, but they haven't been used as hard. We built a bunch of Buffs during the height of the cold War that ended up mostly sitting around not being flown a lot, so we still have a number of them with a lot of service life left in them. They will end up being in service long past the B-1 and the B-2. Hell they might outlive the B-21 if that program goes sideways. 
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Posted: 6/25/2024 11:45:23 PM EST
[#25]
  National day of support for victims of torture.  — ?????????-??????? ???? ?? ??????? (@UA_NAVY) June 26, 2024 |
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NV, USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 11:53:46 PM EST
[#26]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By borderpatrol: You give Trump more credit than he deserves. As far as international politics is concerned, he is retarded. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By borderpatrol: Originally Posted By ITCHY-FINGER: I think it's mostly to look like the US is taking a leadership role, being "reasonable" at least from an outsider perspective as apposed to Xiden's "management by crisis". Trump will approach this conflict from an unbiased and disinterested perspective (he has gotten ZERO money from Russia or Ukraine) and probably only cares about US funds being well spent. Whichever side act the bigger asshole or makes Trump look weak/foolish will get fucked over. I think/hope that Russia will be the ones that overplay their hand and earn Trump's rage. We shall see. You give Trump more credit than he deserves. As far as international politics is concerned, he is retarded. His admin had the most successful Foreign Policy since 1992. If anyone disagrees, I'd love to know which post cold war admin had a better FP. |
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Posted: 6/25/2024 11:56:53 PM EST
[#27]
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NV, USA
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Posted: 6/25/2024 11:57:04 PM EST
[#28]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By stone-age: And as I understand it China turns off social media at like 5pm for their children and only airs educational programs for kids after that. It seems like that would cause a different education outcome from ours. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By stone-age: Originally Posted By lorazepam: If you want to tell them to kiss off, we need high schoolers that can do basic math and are able to read. Add in some work ethic as well. We have no workers for an industrial base, and the flood of illegals with an IQ of 80 aren't the answer. And as I understand it China turns off social media at like 5pm for their children and only airs educational programs for kids after that. It seems like that would cause a different education outcome from ours. At the end of the day, most of the educational outcomes boil down to this: 
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Posted: 6/26/2024 12:13:16 AM EST
[#29]
A drone attacked a school building in the Belgorod region, it was completely burned down. ASTRA found out that the Russian military was based there
The day before, a kamikaze drone detonated at a school in the village of Moshchenoe, Yakovlevsky urban district, 25 km from the border with Ukraine. The establishment has not been functioning for its intended purpose for a long time. “In the village of Moshchenoe, as a result of the arrival, the former school building completely burned down,” Gladkov reported today. According to ASTRA sources, as a result of the detonation and subsequent fire, one soldier was killed and another was injured. In addition, due to the arrival, fire and possible further detonation, 200 people had to be evacuated from nearby houses. https://t.me/astrapress/58376
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Posted: 6/26/2024 12:21:24 AM EST
[#30]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By jungatheart: Guys went overboard with all their gear on. Blub blub blub blub |
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Posted: 6/26/2024 12:21:50 AM EST
[#31]
❗️🇷🇺🇺🇦 Uncrewed boats as mine-layers — truth or fiction
The Wall Street Journal reports that Ukrainian forces have begun using uncrewed boats to lay mines near Crimean ports and Black Sea Fleet bases. According to WSJ, in this way the AFU struck the Pavel Derzhavin patrol ship, Samum small hovercraft and several other boats and auxiliary vessels. 🔻Despite the fact that The Wall Street Journal has recently turned into a tabloid press, they did not deceive in this matter. Indeed, there has been evidence of uncrewed boats being used to plant mines. ▪️Six cases were recorded with the participation of the Sea Baby drone, which planted more than ten mines in 2-5 km from the entrance to Sevastopol Bay in September-October 2023. And then the target of the attack became and Pavel Derzhavin and Samum, but to no avail, because the mines exploded either too early or too late. And for the attacks were used Italian mines Manta, which in a number of about fifty handed over by the Italians in one of the military aid packages. ▪️The AFU used not only Sea Baby for this task. Another Mamai-type uncrewed boats was seen once during an attempt to lay mines on October 6 near Sevastopol, but without success. And that was the only time the Mamai was used for this purpose. Although, to be fair, drones of this type have only been observed a few times, and apparently they were abandoned altogether in favor of Sea Baby. 
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Posted: 6/26/2024 12:48:13 AM EST
[#32]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Lieh-tzu: This is worth reading. Also @eesmith for a knowledgeable take. Erin, what the heck was your podcast called? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Lieh-tzu: Originally Posted By spydercomonkey: A long but important read: The People Setting America on Fire An investigation into the witches' brew of billionaires, Islamists, and leftists behind the campus protests https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/people-setting-america-on-fire-soros-tides-wespac "What you're seeing is a real witches' brew of revolutionary content interacting on campuses," says Kyle Shideler, the director for homeland security and counterterrorism at the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D.C., and an expert on far-left domestic extremism. "On the left-wing side, you have a broad variety of revolutionary leftists, who serve as rent-a-mobs, providing the warm bodies for whatever the leftist cause of the day is. And on the other side you have the Islamist and Palestinian networks: American Muslims for Palestine and their subsidiary Students for Justice in Palestine, CAIR, the Palestinian Youth Movement. We're seeing a real mixture of different kinds of radical foment, and it's all being activated at the same time." This is worth reading. Also @eesmith for a knowledgeable take. Erin, what the heck was your podcast called? https://www.amazon.com/Unmasking-Antifa-Perspectives-Growing-Threat/dp/B08M8DRZJZ https://contextualinsurgent.substack.com/ |
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Posted: 6/26/2024 12:53:31 AM EST
[#33]
Dagestan videos
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Posted: 6/26/2024 12:57:09 AM EST
[#34]
I guess even Russians are confused about Serbia
"I think there is nothing to argue about the fact that Serbia behaved like a complete wh*re." Russian propagandist Mardan was very offended that Serbia supplied ammunition to Ukraine. Then, apparently, he got new instructions and had to apologize and blame everything on "common enemies" (but still pushed in his agenda in the last paragraph): "Regarding the latest broadcast, where the topic of Russia's allied relations with Serbia was raised. A lot of unnecessary things, a lot of unacceptably offensive and simply harmful things were said in the heat of the moment. There are few places on earth where Russia and Russians would be loved so sincerely and devotedly as in Serbia. Therefore, it is unacceptable for any Russian to insult Serbs and their homeland. Forgive me, fellow Serbs, for falling for the provocation of our common enemies. Crimea is Russia. Ukraine is Russia. Kosovo је Србија."
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Posted: 6/26/2024 1:15:24 AM EST
[Last Edit: Capta]
[#35]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By spydercomonkey: His admin had the most successful Foreign Policy since 1992. If anyone disagrees, I'd love to know which post cold war admin had a better FP. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By spydercomonkey: Originally Posted By borderpatrol: Originally Posted By ITCHY-FINGER: I think it's mostly to look like the US is taking a leadership role, being "reasonable" at least from an outsider perspective as apposed to Xiden's "management by crisis". Trump will approach this conflict from an unbiased and disinterested perspective (he has gotten ZERO money from Russia or Ukraine) and probably only cares about US funds being well spent. Whichever side act the bigger asshole or makes Trump look weak/foolish will get fucked over. I think/hope that Russia will be the ones that overplay their hand and earn Trump's rage. We shall see. You give Trump more credit than he deserves. As far as international politics is concerned, he is retarded. His admin had the most successful Foreign Policy since 1992. If anyone disagrees, I'd love to know which post cold war admin had a better FP. 95% of our foreign policy since Bush 1 has been ass. The lowlights: Clinton - Dealt far too lightly with Russia, could’ve made demands that would’ve prevented all this and set Europe (and Russia) on a path to peace and stability. Bush 2 - Iraq/Afghanistan war, most of which never should’ve happened. Obama - Iran appeasement which blew up our ME policy and that of previously reliable allies, complete inaction on Ukraine made today inevitable. Trump - Had a number of broadly “classic conservative” positions which I could get behind but failed with his soft positions on NATO, Russia, and North Korea, all of which contributed to the issue today. Trump actually had some good conservative foreign policy advisors who have now all turned into “deepstaters” because they criticized his presidency. Biden - Returned to Iran appeasement which, shockingly, again blew up in our faces. Admin shows high level of risk-aversion in most foreign policy. Got stuck with Bush2 and Obama’s problems, dealt with them poorly. At least moderate success in post-2022 Russia policy. The biggest overall failure - probably Bush. He had the chance to take us another direction towards economic engagement with latin America instead of China, and make us a juggernaut and curb China, instead he got suckered into a worthless 15-year quagmire. Unfortunately I think our political system no longer favors accountability, but political loyalty. Neither side will call their own policy a shitshow while the other side’s policy is always a shitshow. No Democrat can admit that Obama’s (and Biden’s) Iran policy has brought the ME close to all-out war. No Trump supporter can admit that there’s a lot of smoke in certain policy directions. Many (certainly not all) Trump supporters are sympathetic to Russia simply to oppose “Biden policy” and prevent him from getting “a win.” Political tribalism is all that matters. So, as with Biden, when one party returns to the same failed policy, no one who elected them will say, “wait a fuckin’ minute! We just did this!” It’s more important to show political loyalty. If Trump is elected the same thing will happen and his supporters will cast anything he does in the most favorable light, as part of some kind of masterplan. |
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Posted: 6/26/2024 1:35:41 AM EST
[#36]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Prime: Dagestan videos
Any terrorist attack (or freedom fighter attack depending on semantics) that focuses on hostage taking is stupid. You might get a concession or two but you lose the PR battle. Attacks on security forces like this might actually be seen sympathetically by some in the population, and it accomplishes the goal of promoting an escalation of the cycle of attack/repression/resistance which can bring more support to your movement. Hostage-taking is for pussies. |
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Posted: 6/26/2024 1:48:48 AM EST
[#37]
The decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated June 25, 2024 "On the creation of unmanned systems forces as a separate type of force in the structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine" has been put into effect.
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Posted: 6/26/2024 1:55:23 AM EST
[Last Edit: Prime]
[#38]
Caught Between Allies: China’s North Korea Dilemma
Rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang has caused mixed feelings in Beijing, as China’s own relations with North Korea are far from close. By Anny Boc June 22, 2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea marked a rare trip abroad and only his second trip to the country in his 24 years of power. The two leaders signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that includes a clause of mutual assistance if either country is attacked. The deepening ties between Russia and North Korea have sparked significant concerns in the United States regarding the potential impact on the war in Ukraine and security on the Korean Peninsula. But the rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang has also caused mixed feelings in Beijing, as they create new uncertainty for China. Despite being North Korea’s neighbor, economic lifeline and formal ally, China’s relations with North Korea are far from close, as recent developments indicate. North Korea’s condemnation of a joint statement by South Korea, Japan, and China during their first trilateral summit since 2019 was seen as a rare rebuke against China. The statement mentioned denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang’s provocative actions around the same time further signaled its displeasure with the summit. It is remarkable that the Kim regime chose to launch a military spy satellite into orbit during a major diplomatic initiative involving China. The last time North Korea clearly sought to embarrass China was shortly prior to the inaugural Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in May 2017, when it conducted a missile launch from a base near the Chinese border. Since then, the regional dynamics have shifted significantly. After hitting their lowest point in decades in 2017, China-North Korea relations began to improve significantly following the first meeting between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un in March 2018. Despite having met five times since then, their relationship is not back to being “as close as lips and teeth,” as described once by Mao Zedong. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea closed all its borders and halted practically all trade, including with its largest trading partner, China. It was only in April 2024 that China conducted a high-level visit to North Korea with Zhao Leji, China’s third-highest ranked official, leading the delegation. This visit took place against a backdrop of increasing international concern regarding North Korea, which has intensified its aggressive rhetoric and military missile test activities. In early 2024, Kim Jong Un announced a major policy shift toward South Korea, ruling out any possibility of a peaceful Korean reunification and thereby signaling a preference for hostility over reconciliation. In 2022, North Korea experienced an unprecedented year of missile tests, and in 2023, it successfully launched a military spy satellite into space – with Russian assistance. Since its invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s isolation from the West has led to a deepening of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang, resulting in enhanced military cooperation between the two states. It is believed that in exchange for large amounts of North Korean munitions and ballistic missiles for Russia’s war in Ukraine, Moscow is providing North Korea with military technology, increasing Pyongyang’s military capabilities. The newly close North Korea-Russia relationship poses a serious challenge for the West in Europe and Northeast Asia. Beijing, a key partner of both Pyongyang and Moscow, has refrained from commenting on these recent developments. However, the Chinese media was quick to blame the United States, claiming that its “hostile” policy has driven Russia and North Korea closer together, thereby undermining the security situation in both regions. The Chinese portrayal of the United States as the primary instigator of tensions reflects China’s belief that Washington is its greatest threat and enemy, not Pyongyang. In response to North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile capabilities, the United States has strengthened its military cooperation with South Korea and Japan, much to China’s dismay. Beijing has long accused Washington of using the North Korean nuclear issue as a pretext to expand its military presence in the region, thereby further exacerbating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Most of China’s foreign policy thinkers believe that Washington’s overall goal. is not to deter North Korea but to contain China. Given that China views its foreign policy through the lens of its broader rivalry with the United States, both in Asia and globally, it is highly unlikely that Beijing will exert pressure on either North Korea or Russia to resolve the conflicts in Northeast Asia or Europe. For China, the Kim regime remains an important buffer zone against an increasing encirclement by the U.S. and its allies, while Russia serves as an important ally in countering a U.S.-led world order. However, Beijing’s choice to not “interfere” might, in the long run, undermine its own strategic interests. By staying on the sidelines as ties between Russia and North Korea deepen, China risks potentially exacerbating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. With Russia’s help, the Kim regime is likely to accelerate the development of its nuclear capabilities. This could lead to a stronger response from the United States, and, in a worst-case scenario for Beijing, lead up to the formation of what the Chinese call a U.S.-led “Asian NATO” aimed at targeting China. Furthermore, an emboldened North Korea increases the possibility of a more aggressive and provocative behavior, possibly stepping up its weapon testing or, even more concerning, conducting a seventh nuclear test. This inevitably would place China in a position where it is exposed to the escalation of conflicts it prefers to avoid. As a result, Beijing would face intense international pressure, particularly from the United States, to take a stronger stance against the Kim regime. The Trump administration serves as a stark reminder of how tensions on the Korean Peninsula could exacerbate existing bilateral frictions and extend into other areas of Sino-U.S. relations. In 2017, China’s perceived inaction on North Korea became intertwined with U.S. concerns about its trade practices, ultimately leading to a trade war and sanctions that continue to this day. China’s longstanding strategic priority to maintain stability over pursuing denuclearization has allowed North Korea to advance its nuclear capabilities to a point where it has become very difficult to stop its progress. Officially, China has always adhered to the three principles: “no war, no instability, and no nukes,” reflecting the order of its priorities regarding the Korean Peninsula. But it has become evident over time that pursuing these three goals simultaneously is impossible, as the first two ultimately undermine the third, and vice versa. Beijing is well aware that without denuclearization, achieving peace and maintaining sustainable stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia will be unattainable. In this regard, the expanding relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow has intensified China’s dilemma. As world politics is increasingly framed as a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, there is a tendency to view growing ties between Russia and North Korea as part of a formation of a trilateral axis with China, aiming at countering the United States, Japan and South Korea. Beijing has denounced this narrative as a revival of “Cold War mentality” and “bloc politics,” accusing the U.S. of attempting to divide the region along ideological lines in order to build an anti-China front. The Chinese leadership is particularly concerned over the increasing trilateral coordination and cooperation linking Japan and South Korea with the United States. Rather than antagonizing its neighbors, Beijing has a great interest in improving relations with Seoul and Tokyo to reduce frictions and counterbalance U.S. influence. Economic cooperation and trade are viewed as crucial for boosting China’s post-pandemic economic recovery and maintaining regional peace and stability. Nevertheless, North Korea remains a thorny issue and its provocative actions are disruptive to China’s efforts to forge a more cooperative environment in Northeast Asia. Despite Beijing’s economic and diplomatic support for Pyongyang, they are anything but close friends. The very fact that Kim’s first post-pandemic foreign trip was to Russia rather than China raises questions about the current state of their relationship. While Kim Jong Un has now held two summits with Putin in less than a year, Xi Jinping has not met the North Korean leader since 2019. Moreover, North Korea’s efforts to strengthen its ties with Iran further alleviate its isolation, signaling a strategic attempt toward diversifying its alliances and bolstering its nuclear and ballistic missile cooperation. These new dynamics significantly complicate China’s balancing act in the region. https://thediplomat.com/2024/06/caught-between-allies-chinas-north-korea-dilemma/ |
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Posted: 6/26/2024 2:39:35 AM EST
[#39]
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NV, USA
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Posted: 6/26/2024 3:45:27 AM EST
[Last Edit: spydercomonkey]
[#40]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Capta: 95% of our foreign policy since Bush 1 has been ass. The lowlights... Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Capta: Originally Posted By spydercomonkey: Originally Posted By borderpatrol: Originally Posted By ITCHY-FINGER: I think it's mostly to look like the US is taking a leadership role, being "reasonable" at least from an outsider perspective as apposed to Xiden's "management by crisis". Trump will approach this conflict from an unbiased and disinterested perspective (he has gotten ZERO money from Russia or Ukraine) and probably only cares about US funds being well spent. Whichever side act the bigger asshole or makes Trump look weak/foolish will get fucked over. I think/hope that Russia will be the ones that overplay their hand and earn Trump's rage. We shall see. You give Trump more credit than he deserves. As far as international politics is concerned, he is retarded. His admin had the most successful Foreign Policy since 1992. If anyone disagrees, I'd love to know which post cold war admin had a better FP. 95% of our foreign policy since Bush 1 has been ass. The lowlights... Sure, they've all had failings. However the Trump admin is the only one with very clear Wins as well: -Called out China by name, and actually oriented the US finally against China. Deployed tariffs, the first real concrete action taken against China, and going forward one of of most effective tools against them. Officially recognized Cold War 2, started process of Decoupling. -Abraham Accords (any other President would have gotten the Nobel prize on this) -Sliced Salami at Baghdad airport, setting Iran back and re-establishing deterrence + reimposed sanctions -Bombed the shit out of ISIS rather then arming proxy groups in Syria -Renegotiated NAFTA to more favorable position to the US (this may qualify as domestic policy as its a neighboring country) -Began end of war in Afghanistan (although should have gone with Erik Prince's plan to keep contractors there) -Remain in Mexico policy + got Mexico to do at least something on stemming flows of migrants (this may qualify as domestic policy as its a neighboring country) -Brief detente with North Korea, likely could have lead to positive things but got distracted / sandbagged. Still more effective than previous policies of refusing to even talk to them. I'm hard pressed to find many FP wins in the other admins, other then Biden a) leaving Afghanistan b) publishing intel on RU plans to invade Ukraine c) continuing and expanding Trumps tariffs and export controls on China. |
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Posted: 6/26/2024 4:51:36 AM EST
[#41]
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Posted: 6/26/2024 5:18:11 AM EST
[#42]
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Posted: 6/26/2024 5:36:16 AM EST
[#43]
 Not much changed in 80 years since they stole Karelia from Finland. |
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Posted: 6/26/2024 5:49:06 AM EST
[#44]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By 4xGM300m:
Neat, imagine how much easier with airburst ammo that would be.
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Posted: 6/26/2024 5:50:39 AM EST
[Last Edit: AlmightyTallest]
[#45]
1 hr ago.
 Additional images.
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Posted: 6/26/2024 5:53:37 AM EST
[#46]
 
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Posted: 6/26/2024 5:54:57 AM EST
[Last Edit: AlmightyTallest]
[#47]
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Posted: 6/26/2024 6:06:34 AM EST
[#48]
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Posted: 6/26/2024 6:47:48 AM EST
[#49]
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Posted: 6/26/2024 6:48:57 AM EST
[#50]
NSFW, Russians on fire and being put out of their misery.
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