Poland's aid to Ukraine if Russia invades - part 27

No you don't.

Nevertheless, NATO is highly constrained in what it can do, and are very much the good guys. Despite the trumps and Orbans, it is a defensive alliance of democratic states.

My God - I have so many questions...

When will Europe cut itself off from stinking American gas (Venezuela is said to hold the world's largest hydrocarbon reserves, so they will surely replace American shipments)?

-//-

What clever spelling will Europeans apply to the word "America"? Seeing as we already have ruSSia, it seems a no brainer that it will be ameriKKKa.

But then what will Europeans call Americans? Slave/Orc proudly belongs to Russia - so they will need to come up with something different.

I like that but Ice Cube already holds the copyright

Iran next

That's country. People: ameriKKKanSS. xD

I need to stand in defense of Maf here. He is right.
The US always fights a war with some goals in mind. Goals might be far-fetched or not well thought through, but that is a different matter.
Russia is a Borg-like bot; the core of its existence is a territorial expansion. That is all there is.

Au contraire, mon ami!

In case you forgot - the EU has a combined GDP in excess of 20 trillion. It is the largest and richest trade bloc in the world. A world leader in regulatory innovation and Camembert production.

I firmly believe in European strategic autonomy - and cannot even imagine it allowing itself to be bullied by some upstart nation from the world periphery!

This is a masterpiece of Yugoslav cinema 📽️



Walter Defends Sarajevo (1972)



The lead actor became an icon in China. It became the most watched foreign film of all time in China. The Chinese could identify themselves with it and their struggle because they too were occupied by the Fascist power Japan.

sixthtone.com/news/1010236

Perhaps we can export it to Venezuelans too and a Walter who defends Caracas will emerge.

Get a grip.

I'm sorry - I just get very emotional when people talk about international law and the UN Charter.

Not as emotional as Szymon Hołownia when he talks about Polish constitution. xD

Thanks, Crno - always a pleasure to listen to the Serbian language. Will watch the masterpiece later.

🤣

-//-

In any case, we need to steer this conversation back on topic.

Tell me your thoughts - gentlemen - is this war good for Russia, or is it bad?

-//-

Arguments "FOR":

1) Perhaps a short term boost in oil prices.

2) The whole world is laughing at EU hypocrisy/impotence. Within the EU, there is also some cognitive dissonance. This is ammunition for the industrial lobbies of European states, who have been pressuring governments to consider restarting oil/gas supplies from Russia. The Scholzs and Macrons of the world, will tow the line for as long as they are in power, but the replacements may reopen the discussion.

3) America is clearly intent on focusing on its own backyard. This cannot but come at the expense of reduced attention to other places.

Arguments "AGAINST":

1) Removal of sanctions from Venezuela, and the return of various Chevrons and Exxons - will inevitably boost Venezuelan oil production over the long term. This is increased competition for Russia's exports, and a near certain reduction in global oil prices - hitting Russia's budget revenues.

2) Russia (and China) - will be seen as unable to defend a friendly country from predation by the US.

3) Assuming Venezuela gets a puppet regime friendly to America - this means a loss of an important export market for Russia's defense industry (not so much over the last ten years, but still).

The USA has just shown that it can carry out a "special operation" in 3 days or even less. This will hurt russia a lot.

Alternatively - is this war good or bad for Ukraine?

One can simply assume that anything that is bad for Russia is good for Ukraine (and vice versa) - but that would be an oversimplification.

-//-

Arguments "FOR":

1) Russia lost a nominal ally. One that didn't really send any fighting men, or weapons, or money - but still an ally.

2) America is "aping out" and this may give pause to Putin, somehow convincing him to treat America's ceasefire proposals more seriously.

3) Europe may finally realize, from which side the wind is blowing - and hurry things up in terms of rearmament and overall "bulk".

Arguments "AGAINST":

1) Once again, a key shareholder of the current world order has demonstrated that international law is as good as toilet paper. This is not beneficial to Ukraine.

2) American weapons, and ammunition, are now going to some other place than Ukraine. Not great.

3) There is some sense that America worked out a deal with China and Russia - some sort of quid pro quo.


lol what?

First of all - how? I'm very curious? Through psychological damage? Haha.

Second - I will tell you that we overthrew the government of Afghanistan in one day - and we ended up being stuck there for ten years. Similarly - America blew up Iraq and Afghanistan quickly - but then ended up stuck there for ten plus years.

Well, the demonstration that a stronger country can capture a head of state of another country, because they have reservations as to the legitimacy of his office, might make Zelensky at least a little bit worried.

I wish somebody told us that you can do that!

Putin is some especial kind of autist for studiously avoiding hitting Ukraine's government buildings. Sending paratroopers to Hostomel, instead of the Bankovaya...

Look at America! Bombed Saddam's palace day 1. Here, they bombed Venezuela's parliament building in the first hours.

Here we are in year 4 of this war - and not a single bomb has dropped on the Ukrainian Rada building.

America truly leads the way.

I know just like I know that magastan is not the official name of that place. My objection is that NATO is led and directed by a thuggish country and the other members ignore that often twisting themselves in knots excusing the dear leaders actions.

This particular operation at this time.... (reading comprehension, read what I wrote and not what you imagined).

Well, it would seem that you can.

I wonder if Russia could possibly capture Tusk. Putin would score a lot of brownie points with Ironside then! :)

Donald wouldn't allow that.

Donald T.?

If you meant Trump, then I suppose he wouldn't mind either...





... hahaha.

Russia had goals. Namely - a friendly regime in a neighboring country.

-//-

Everything here is in fact nearly identical.

Russia spent approximately 20 years trying to force a change of behavior in Ukraine. First using carrots, and then increasingly sticks.

America spent approximately 20 years trying to force a change of behavior in Venezuela. First using carrots, and then increasingly sticks.

Ukraine aligned itself with hostile alliances and trade groupings.

Venezuela aligned itself with hostile alliances and trade groupings.

Ukraine was led by a series of kleptocrats and outright criminals, that eventually turned Ukraine into the poorest country in Europe (despite being blessed with enormous natural wealth).

Venezuela was led by a series of kleptocrats and outright criminals, that eventually turned Venezuela into the poorest country in Latin America (despite being blessed with enormous natural wealth).

Ukrainian exiles in Russia, fed a false narrative to Russian leadership about the rapturous welcome they would receive in Ukraine.

Venezuelan exiles in America, fed a false narrative to American leadership about the rapturous welcome they would receive in Venezuela.

Screwed that pooch for the the foreseeable future....

So many similarities there.

Did Venezuelans also murder hundreds of thousands of civilians of a neighbouring country in the most horrific fashion and today they build stadiums and monuments dedicated to the murderers?

That would be uncanny.

Maduro's wife has also been charged, public prosecutor Pamela Bondi emphasizes.

"Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States. They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers."

x.com/AGPamBondi/status/2007428087143686611

ala mu je tramp napakovao, svaka mu čast

If their dog had been kidnapped as well, he too would have been charged.

@mafketis
I understood what you wrote it's still nonsense. From reports they appear to have kidnapped at least two people with zero plan of what comes next. Rubio and Trump have contradicted each other, there is no consistency at the top of government. That indicates a half arsed plan.

A classic smear campaign to slander opponents in order to delegitimize potential successors as members of drug cartels, so much for the rumors about some agreed voluntary surrender...

"The Government of Mexico strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations (UN).

Based on its foreign policy principles and its pacifist vocation, Mexico makes an urgent call to respect international law, as well as the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, and to cease any act of aggression against the Venezuelan government and people.

Latin America and the Caribbean is a zone of peace, built on the basis of mutual respect, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the prohibition of the use and threat of force, so any military action seriously jeopardizes regional stability.

Mexico emphatically reiterates that dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate and effective ways to resolve existing differences, and therefore reaffirms its willingness to support any effort to facilitate dialogue, mediation or accompaniment that contributes to preserving regional peace and avoiding confrontation.

It also urges the United Nations to act immediately to help de-escalate tensions, facilitate dialogue and create conditions that allow for a peaceful, sustainable solution in accordance with international law."

gob.mx/sre/prensa/mexico-condena-intervencion-militar-en-venezuela?state=published

I hope America and Venezuela will become famous friends!


Claudia Scheinbaum must be sh*tting bricks.

If Maduro can be branded a "narco trafficker" and thus - magically stripped from the sovereign immunity that he should enjoy (based on common federal law, international law, and executive practice)... then what stops America from declaring her as an even bigger drug peddler and similarly kidnapping her and depositing her in a Manhattan prison cell?

Unlike Venezuela - Mexico is a truly huge supplier of narcotics into America. There have been numerous reports of collusion between Mexican officials and the many cartels operating within their country.

This is probably why, despite the overarching need to maintain good relations with America - she issued such a message haha!