Eyes Wide Open + 3,555 January 10, 2022 21 hours ago, Andrei Moutchkine said: Yes, the imports are for diversity. Russia is a net exporter of agricultural goods though. Kicking US from #1 position in grain, among other things, leading to a bust time. Thanks to your "sanctions" I would say it is President Putin who has his foot firmly on Mr. Biden's carotid. What are you gonna do, a naval blockade? I see vodka has not lost its appeal. A thought here, a maddening tirate cannot displace the nuclear triad nor the agricultural output of the US. Now you once stated the Ukraine was a broken country, yet at the same time only the Ukraine can come close to the US agricultural output. This I will say you most certainty have a creative mind....although a bit disturbed. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrei Moutchkine + 828 January 10, 2022 5 hours ago, surrept33 said: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/08/us/politics/us-sanctions-russia-ukraine.html U.S. Details Costs of a Russian Invasion of Ukraine The Biden administration and its allies are assembling a punishing set of financial, technology and military sanctions against Russia that they say would go into effect within hours of an invasion of Ukraine, hoping to make clear to President Vladimir V. Putin the high cost he would pay if he sends troops across the border. The plans the United States has discussed with allies in recent days include cutting off Russia’s largest financial institutions from global transactions, imposing an embargo on American-made or American-designed technology needed for defense-related and consumer industries, and arming insurgents in Ukraine who would conduct what would amount to a guerrilla war against a Russian military occupation, if it comes to that. American diplomats worry that after the whirlwind week, the Russians could declare that their security concerns are not being met — and use the failure of talks as a justification for military action. “No one should be surprised if Russia instigates a provocation or incident,” Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Friday, and “then tries to use it to justify military intervention, hoping that by the time the world realizes the ruse, it’ll be too late.” This time, he said, “we’ve been clear with Russia about what it will face if it continues on this path, including economic measures that we haven’t used before — massive consequences.” Rather than start with moves against small banks and on-the-ground military commanders, officials said, the new sanctions would be directed at cutting off the largest Russian financial institutions that depend on global financial transfers. The plan was described by one official as a “high-impact, quick-action response that we did not pursue in 2014.” The technology sanctions would target some of Mr. Putin’s favored industries — particularly aerospace and arms, which are major producers of revenue for the Russian government. The focus would be on Russian-built fighter aircraft, antiaircraft systems, antisatellite systems, space systems and emerging technologies where Russia is hoping to make gains, like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. In one additional step, according to American officials, the Commerce Department could issue a ruling that would essentially ban the export of any consumer goods to Russia — from cellphones and laptop computers to refrigerators and washing machines — that contain American-made or American-designed electronics. That would apply not only to American makers, but also to European, South Korean and other foreign manufacturers that use American chips or software. Unlike China, Russia does not make many of these products — and the effects on consumers could be broad. But a senior European official said there was still a debate about whether the Russian people would blame Mr. Putin, or the United States and its allies, for their inability to buy the goods. While the Commerce and Treasury Departments work on sanctions that would maximize America’s advantages over Russia, the Pentagon is developing plans that have echoes of the proxy wars of the 1960s and ’70s. To underscore the potential pain for Russia, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley, spoke with his Russian counterpart two weeks ago and delivered a stark message: Yes, he said, you could invade Ukraine and probably roll over the Ukrainian military, which stands little chance of repelling a far larger, better armed Russian force. But the swift victory would be followed, General Milley told Gen. Valery Gerasimov, by a bloody insurgency, similar to the one that led to the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan more than three decades ago, according to officials familiar with the discussion. General Milley did not detail to General Gerasimov the planning underway in Washington to support an insurgency, a so-called “porcupine strategy” to make invading Ukraine hard for the Russians to swallow. That includes the advance positioning of arms for Ukrainian insurgents, probably including Stinger antiaircraft missiles, that could be used against Russian forces. Intelligence officials said recently that they thought the least likely possibility was a full-scale invasion in which the Russians try to take the capital, Kyiv. Many of the assessments, however, have explored more incremental moves by Mr. Putin, which could include seizing a bit more land in the Donbas region, where war has ground into a stalemate, or a land bridge to Crimea. Several officials familiar with the planning say the administration is looking at European nations that could provide more aid to support Ukrainian forces before any conflict, as well as in the initial stages of a Russian invasion. Banning US consumer goods is the stupidest thing I ever heard. They must be grasping for straws. Of course the Russian people are smart enough to know who to blame for the sanctions - Americans. You WILL have to pay us the damages back. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
surrept33 + 609 st January 10, 2022 3 hours ago, Andrei Moutchkine said: Of course the Russian people are smart enough to know who to blame for the sanctions - Americans. You WILL have to pay us the damages back. good luck with that. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUZNV + 1,197 January 10, 2022 (edited) Both USSR and US did not trust Ho and viewed him as the other side. Ho wanted to use the King to united both sides of Vietnam, given that China at that time was not Communist Party but KMT (Communist Party has been chased the the Western side of China for the Long March for regeneration and preparing for the civil war against the KMT after WW2). However US needed France and UK for the Cold War so gave yield. France and UK needed the colonial resources to rebuild the country. After the civil war in China, KMT ran to Taiwan, Chinese Communist Party & USSR helped Ho against France occupation so Communism was the only choice for Ho. Ho&Giap lost power against Duan because of the land reformation in 1954, following Communism ideology in North Vietnam. Some Ho's allies against France even move south to join South Vietnam because they did not approve Land Reformation. Ho later cried and admitted his mistakes. Duan was not part of the land reformation because he was activist in South Vietnam liberation front aka Viet Cong before came to the north and get the real power. Little known that Ford has offered some form of normalization to Vietnam right after the war but maybe out of arrogance or under USSR pressure, Duan asked for 3billion reparation which Ford declined because that is a humiliation (Duan should change the word reparation to aids to have more chance). Given economy of US at that time (officially gave up gold standard few years ago) , I don't think any aid would pass through the congress to an ex enemy. Later on Carter became president abandoned this approach. After the death of Stalin , USSR and China got into quarrel which lead to normalization between Nixon and Mao (and Deng after Mao). USSR became the only sponsor/lender to North Vietnam while China tried to stop the supply from USSR on sea. Duan considered this as a betrayal and cut ties to China. During the Vietnam War, the North used Cambodia as path to supply to the Vietcong in the south with the help of Red Khmer with some implication that Vietnam will give Cambodia some land back (which arguably was own by Cambodia but colonialized and developed by Vietnam few hundreds year back as mostly was waste land). After the War, Duan ignored this. Red Khmer Polpot came to power in Cambodia as Lol nol has no support since US withdrawal from South Vietnam while Red Khmer was supported by China against USSR and Vietnam . The "rich" people in urban treated badly while the rural support Polpot with the classical land reformation but worst, ,this regime hate anyone appear to be educated. Red Khmer regularly raid and genocide border towns in south Vietnam and even asked for Saigon back. Duan ensured the promised of USSR to put pressure on the north of China and Vietnam "heed the call" of Hussein and invaded Cambodia to remove the Red Khmer. Red Khmer got supported from Thailand which was a US ally during Vietnam War and the Royal Army of Thailand even clash with Vietnam on the seek of Red Khmer. This with the sanction imposed by the US is where anti US propaganda that US support Khmer Rouge. To be fair only USSR and Eastern Bloc supported Vietnam. The war ended quick yet Vietnam got stuck in guerilla welfare for 10 years, just like what the US faced in South Vietnam. Vietnam was isolated and sanctioned (not for the Vietnam war but for the invasion of Cambodia). Please not that at this time no-one believed Vietnam about their was a genocide caused by Khmer Rouged (which later on confirmed by Australia journalists). Because Red Khmer is a communist Regime, current Cambodia Government is not a communism country but still have good relationship with Vietnam but the opposition party constantly asked Vietnam to give back the land in south Vietnam. Deng just won against the Gang of Four and wanted to consolidate his power. He used the excuse of Vietnam invaded Cambodia and needed to teach Vietnam a lesson, invaded VN in the north while most of the veteran was in Cambodia. But even the reserved army in Vietnam got battle hardened experience than China Army so China pulled back before the battalions of Vietnam got back from Cambodia. USSR didn't do anything in the north China border but offered transportation for the troops from Cambodia back to the north Vietnam. Deng succeeded in consolidating his power and reformed China economy. Vietnam still got sanctioned and still got stuck in guerilla warfare with Khmer Rouge in the south and border skirmish with China in the North (China using this border skirmish to modernize their warfare to catch up. However both Vietnam and China was awed with the new style of US warfare during Gulf War). When the USSR collapsed along with the Western Bloc, there is 2 factions among communist party in Vietnam: Go for democracy like Eastern Europe or reforming like China. The pro-China faction got a treaty with China, withdraw the occupation from Cambodia and emerged. Unlike Eastern Bloc, the Vietnamese casted their vote during the civil war and boatman so it is very risky for Vietnam Communist Party to give up their power. Hussein understandably hated Vietnam for this and turned to China as well, why does he need a middle man. ------------------------------------- Since Pearl Habor, US was the major supply of food, steel and weapon to anyone against the Axis. With the Soviet Union, US supplied foods, steels and especially fuel for aircrafts. That was how Soviet Union could spam tanks to counter Germany. That is why Hitler was so rushing in the war with Soviet Union as time was not in Axis side, they couldn't compete the supply production with the US and half of any war fight in the logistic side. If only Japan didn't go south for China (which was a share market of US,UK, France) but heeded Hitler call to the north for Russia. US may not join the war but even may keep trading with Japan ( Japan-Russia war predated WW2 so technically it should not a war declaration against Allies) and Japan may avoid the 2 nukes. We will never know how would this end for all sides. ----------------------------------- Kuomintang (KMT) was considered ally with US for their war with Japan in WW2 (They were assigned de-arm Japan in Vietnam and looting and ignore Ho but wanted to talk to the King). Communist Party in China did fight along side KMT against Japan pre WW2, but Chiang Kai-shek tried to destroy them first which caused the Long March. Chiang Kai-shek tried to destroy the last base of Communist Party in Xi'an but was kidnapped by Chang Hsueh-liang (who was thinking Chiang should against Japan first). CCP did not took part in WW2 but the civil war later on. ------------------------------------ This is why I don't line mainstream or history class in school in either Vietnam or around the world. They don't broadcast real history but only part that fits the propaganda and therefor mostly half true, even everything happened less than 100 years ago and have countless of historical evidences from all sides but people won't have time to do their own research but let mainstream think for them. Politicians won't be broadcasting real history which exposed that they were the reason for WW1, WW2 and the consequences wars. Ironically the more internet, the less true journalism. Edited January 10, 2022 by SUZNV 3 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 January 10, 2022 On 12/4/2021 at 3:37 AM, Tomasz said: It is the West that wants war, not Russia. Just listen to this Norwegian Quisling, who is currently at the head of NATO. Only that he wants Eastern European "subhumans" to die in this war, ie Ukrainians, Poles, Balts and Russians. The reason is in geopolitics, i.e. it is in the clash between the West and China. To this end, it uses Ukrainian nationalism, just as Hitler used it during the Second World War. Yesterday, a Western journalist asked Putin when his red line would be crossed. Putin replied that when either NATO or the US deploy their missiles near Kharkov, they would reach Moscow within five minutes. And this is a matter of life and death for Russia. But not for the West. The West doesn't need these rockets to survive. And that is why the situation is so dangerous, because the Russians cannot simply ignore this threat. In 1962, President Kennedy was ready to start a nuclear war with the USSR because Soviet nuclear missiles were deployed in Cuba. However, Cuba is further from Washington than Kharkiv is from Moscow. Florida, home of Mira Lago and Donald J. Trump. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 January 10, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, SUZNV said: Both USSR and US did not trust Ho and viewed him as the other side. Ho wanted to use the King to united both sides of Vietnam, given that China at that time was not Communist Party but KMT (Communist Party has been chased the the Western side of China for the Long March for regeneration and preparing for the civil war against the KMT after WW2). However US needed France and UK for the Cold War so gave yield. France and UK needed the colonial resources to rebuild the country. After the civil war in China, KMT ran to Taiwan, Chinese Communist Party & USSR helped Ho against France occupation so Communism was the only choice for Ho. Ho&Giap lost power against Duan because of the land reformation in 1954, following Communism ideology in North Vietnam. Some Ho's allies against France even move south to join South Vietnam because they did not approve Land Reformation. Ho later cried and admitted his mistakes. Duan was not part of the land reformation because he was activist in South Vietnam liberation front aka Viet Cong before came to the north and get the real power. Little known that Ford has offered some form of normalization to Vietnam right after the war but maybe out of arrogance or under USSR pressure, Duan asked for 3billion reparation which Ford declined because that is a humiliation (Duan should change the word reparation to aids to have more chance). Given economy of US at that time (officially gave up gold standard few years ago) , I don't think any aid would pass through the congress to an ex enemy. Later on Carter became president abandoned this approach. After the death of Stalin , USSR and China got into quarrel which lead to normalization between Nixon and Mao (and Deng after Mao). USSR became the only sponsor/lender to North Vietnam while China tried to stop the supply from USSR on sea. Duan considered this as a betrayal and cut ties to China. During the Vietnam War, the North used Cambodia as path to supply to the Vietcong in the south with the help of Red Khmer with some implication that Vietnam will give Cambodia some land back (which arguably was own by Cambodia but colonialized and developed by Vietnam few hundreds year back as mostly was waste land). After the War, Duan ignored this. Red Khmer Polpot came to power in Cambodia as Lol nol has no support since US withdrawal from South Vietnam while Red Khmer was supported by China against USSR and Vietnam . The "rich" people in urban treated badly while the rural support Polpot with the classical land reformation but worst, ,this regime hate anyone appear to be educated. Red Khmer regularly raid and genocide border towns in south Vietnam and even asked for Saigon back. Duan ensured the promised of USSR to put pressure on the north of China and Vietnam "heed the call" of Hussein and invaded Cambodia to remove the Red Khmer. Red Khmer got supported from Thailand which was a US ally during Vietnam War and the Royal Army of Thailand even clash with Vietnam on the seek of Red Khmer. This with the sanction imposed by the US is where anti US propaganda that US support Khmer Rouge. To be fair only USSR and Eastern Bloc supported Vietnam. The war ended quick yet Vietnam got stuck in guerilla welfare for 10 years, just like what the US faced in South Vietnam. Vietnam was isolated and sanctioned (not for the Vietnam war but for the invasion of Cambodia). Please not that at this time no-one believed Vietnam about their was a genocide caused by Khmer Rouged (which later on confirmed by Australia journalists). Because Red Khmer is a communist Regime, current Cambodia Government is not a communism country but still have good relationship with Vietnam but the opposition party constantly asked Vietnam to give back the land in south Vietnam. Deng just won against the Gang of Four and wanted to consolidate his power. He used the excuse of Vietnam invaded Cambodia and needed to teach Vietnam a lesson, invaded VN in the north while most of the veteran was in Cambodia. But even the reserved army in Vietnam got battle hardened experience than China Army so China pulled back before the battalions of Vietnam got back from Cambodia. USSR didn't do anything in the north China border but offered transportation for the troops from Cambodia back to the north Vietnam. Deng succeeded in consolidating his power and reformed China economy. Vietnam still got sanctioned and still got stuck in guerilla warfare with Khmer Rouge in the south and border skirmish with China in the North (China using this border skirmish to modernize their warfare to catch up. However both Vietnam and China was awed with the new style of US warfare during Gulf War). When the USSR collapsed along with the Western Bloc, there is 2 factions among communist party in Vietnam: Go for democracy like Eastern Europe or reforming like China. The pro-China faction got a treaty with China, withdraw the occupation from Cambodia and emerged. Unlike Eastern Bloc, the Vietnamese casted their vote during the civil war and boatman so it is very risky for Vietnam Communist Party to give up their power. Hussein understandably hated Vietnam for this and turned to China as well, why does he need a middle man. ------------------------------------- Since Pearl Habor, US was the major supply of food, steel and weapon to anyone against the Axis. With the Soviet Union, US supplied foods, steels and especially fuel for aircrafts. That was how Soviet Union could spam tanks to counter Germany. That is why Hitler was so rushing in the war with Soviet Union as time was not in Axis side, they couldn't compete the supply production with the US and half of any war fight in the logistic side. If only Japan didn't go south for China (which was a share market of US,UK, France) but heeded Hitler call to the north for Russia. US may not join the war but even may keep trading with Japan ( Japan-Russia war predated WW2 so technically it should not a war declaration against Allies) and Japan may avoid the 2 nukes. We will never know how would this end for all sides. ----------------------------------- Kuomintang (KMT) was considered ally with US for their war with Japan in WW2 (They were assigned de-arm Japan in Vietnam and looting and ignore Ho but wanted to talk to the King). Communist Party in China did fight along side KMT against Japan pre WW2, but Chiang Kai-shek tried to destroy them first which caused the Long March. Chiang Kai-shek tried to destroy the last base of Communist Party in Xi'an but was kidnapped by Chang Hsueh-liang (who was thinking Chiang should against Japan first). CCP did not took part in WW2 but the civil war later on. ------------------------------------ This is why I don't line mainstream or history class in school in either Vietnam or around the world. They don't broadcast real history but only part that fits the propaganda and therefor mostly half true, even everything happened less than 100 years ago and have countless of historical evidences from all sides but people won't have time to do their own research but let mainstream think for them. Politicians won't be broadcasting real history which exposed that they were the reason for WW1, WW2 and the consequences wars. Ironically the more internet, the less true journalism. Almost all American educational institutions, especially colleges, promote socialism. They are materialistic and not anything like those that founded the colleges. Fortunately many students will learn better on their own and figure things out. They see what Covid restrictions and abuses have done to countries and all of the economic damage. They have seen the lies of the governments in the name of a false god called "science" which is really propaganda and not open to those scientists who know better. Edited January 10, 2022 by ronwagn spelling 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 January 10, 2022 (edited) 23 hours ago, surrept33 said: So it sounds like Putin at best could seize some more more of the Donbas at the cost of the Russian economy being torpedoed for the next 10 years. Fair exchange? Who knows, maybe Putin is crazy enough to take that deal. Why ten years and not for as long as he lives and a good leader takes over. He is an evil dictator. Edited January 11, 2022 by ronwagn spelling 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 January 10, 2022 On 1/9/2022 at 2:15 AM, Andrei Moutchkine said: Yes, the imports are for diversity. Russia is a net exporter of agricultural goods though. Kicking US from #1 position in grain, among other things, leading to a bust time. Thanks to your "sanctions" I would say it is President Putin who has his foot firmly on Mr. Biden's carotid. What are you gonna do, a naval blockade? https://www.upi.com/Voices/2022/01/10/kazakhstan-Russia-Kazakhstan-Ukraine-playbook-Vladimir-Putin/8111641818501/ VOICES JAN. 10, 2022 / 8:02 AM In Kazakhstan, Russia follows a playbook it developed in Ukraine By Lena Surzhko Harned, Penn State Riot police officers block a street during a protest rally over a hike in energy prices in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. Protesters stormed the mayor's office in Almaty, as Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a state of emergency in the capital. Photo by EPA-EFE Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Add Kazakhstan to the list of former Soviet republics whose independence is being threatened by Russia. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is using a similar playbook in Kazakhstan to one that he has used over almost a decade to threaten the sovereignty of Ukraine. What began as protests over rising fuel prices on Jan. 2, quickly escalated into violent clashes on the streets of Kazakhstan. On Wednesday, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a firm ally of Putin's, requested support from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Putin's Russian Federation is the leading member. Russia has responded decisively by sending paratroopers, special operations troops and equipment as part of a nearly 3,000-strong force to Kazakhstan. ADVERTISEMENT Tokayev explained his request by claiming that protesters are really "a band of terrorists" trained abroad. On Friday, Tokayev escalated the conflict: "I have given the order to law enforcement and the army to shoot to kill without warning," Tokayev said. ADVERTISEMENT As a scholar of post-Soviet Ukraine, Russia's involvement in Kazakhstan looks very familiar to me. It's similar to what happened in Ukraine beginning in 2014, when peaceful protesters were met with violence by the government and a protest grew into a revolution that ultimately overthrew the Russian-backed leadership of the country. RELATEDRussian troops flood Kazakhstan with forces amid protests Dangerous neighborhood Seizing on that moment of domestic unrest in 2014, Putin gave direct orders to annex Crimea, a Ukrainian territory home to a key Russian naval base. Shortly afterward, he supported a war mounted by so-called Russian-speaking separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions. For more than eight years now, the Russian Federation has continued to support that conflict in Ukraine and has recently threatened Ukraine with a full invasion. This most recent version of Putin's aggression toward Ukraine came in November, when he staged 175,000 troops along the Ukraine border. His goal: to use a potential invasion as leverage to stop Ukraine from joining the alliance of Western countries known as NATO. RELATEDKazakhstan: Authorities arrest ex-intelligence chief on accusations of treason In Kazakhstan, as in Ukraine in 2014, the Russian government explains its military presence as appropriate and requested by a legitimate government. As in Ukraine, the Russian government emphasizes that external forces are responsible for unrest in the former Soviet republic. As in Ukraine, the Russian Federation has pointed out the need to protect a Russian-speaking population. ADVERTISEMENT These tendencies of the Russian government to assert dominion over former territories that it lost during the breakup of the Soviet empire demonstrate that Russia is willing to act quickly and do anything to keep control of its neighborhood. I see this as an important message about what the Western leaders can expect from a meeting with Russian officials in Geneva on Monday to discuss the conflict building again along Ukraine's border and Russia's demands that NATO not expand to Ukraine. Soviet and Russian legacies RELATEDKazakhstan president tells police to open fire with lethal force on protesters Russia has long seen Kazakhstan as within its sphere of influence. In a press conference on Dec. 23, Putin called Kazakhstan a "Russian-speaking country in every sense of the word." Earlier Putin claimed that before the collapse of the Soviet Union, "Kazakhs never had a state of their own." In December 2020, two members of Russia's parliament claimed that territories of northern Kazakhstan were "a big gift" from Russia to Kazakhstan. Such claims are reminiscent of the language that Putin has applied to Ukraine. He has often claimed that Ukraine was not a real country, including in an article published by the Kremlin in July, in which he claimed that "modern Ukraine is entirely the product of the Soviet era." ADVERTISEMENT The use of the same terminology does not bode well for Kazakhstan. Putin's references to a Russian-speaking population in Kazakhstan are reminiscent of the experience of Ukraine's Crimea region. In April 2014, Russian soldiers appeared on the streets of Crimea, forced Ukrainian soldiers to leave their posts, and oversaw a so-called referendum that allowed for Crimea to be integrated into the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation said then, and continues to claim, that its interest in Ukraine is a continued concern for the welfare of the Russian speakers in Ukraine, which in Russia's view is being oppressed. Controversial Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovski claimed on Jan. 6, 2021, that Russian speakers in Kazakhstan are similarly oppressed by Kazakh language requirements. Zhirinovski is a radical figure in Russian politics, but it is usually assumed that he voices the more extreme claims of the Russian government. Protecting from foreign invaders Tokayev claimed that the protests in his country were fueled by the "free press" and foreign forces who were sponsoring terrorist activity in his country. The Russian government willingly accepted this terminology. Tokayev did not specify which external forces he meant. Putin has long claimed that the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine in 2014, which ousted his ally, President Viktor Yanukovich, was really a coup sponsored and coordinated by the United States. ADVERTISEMENT Similar arguments about outside influences were made by the embattled Belarusian dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, about the anti-government protesters in Russia-aligned Belarus in 2020. The spokeswoman for the Russia Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday that there is a need to stop extremism in Kazakhstan. Her words came in response to European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's concerns over the Russian troop deployment. This consistent message supports Putin's narrative about the need to protect Russia and the countries in its neighborhood against what he regards as destabilizing influences like the United States and NATO, which, according to Putin, support and promote anti-government extremists and revolutions in the region. Show of strength Putin continues to cultivate an image as a decisive leader who responded to a call from a neighboring country to "help Kazakhstan overcome this terrorist threat." His actions in Kazakhstan, I believe, are aimed at both internal and foreign audiences. Domestically, Russian media see Russian troops as a part of a multilateral peacekeeping response, which includes troops from Belarus and Armenia. Deployment of so-called peacekeeping forces in Kazakhstan in the middle of instability and violence will be portrayed in Russia as a huge achievement for Putin. ADVERTISEMENT This is also a message to Ukraine and the West. Putin will not hesitate to show strength to achieve Russia's goals. Russia now has nearly 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. And while there was a reported withdrawal of 10,000 soldiers in late December in a de-escalation effort, most of the troops and military equipment remain. Geneva outlook Negotiations in diplomacy require compromise. However, Russia is entering the talks in Geneva with an ultimatum toward NATO and the United States. Russia's demands, according to Reuters, include a "halt to NATO enlargement, no deployment of its weapons systems in Ukraine and an end to provocative military exercises" in the region. Russian action in Kazakhstan should serve as a sobering reminder to Western countries that Russia is willing to act decisively to protect its interests and retain its influence in the neighboring countries. Lena Surzhko Harned is an assistant teaching professor of political science at Penn State. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. ADVERTISEMENT The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. Topics Alexander Lukashenko Maria Zakharov 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUZNV + 1,197 January 10, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, ronwagn said: Almost all American educational institutions, especially colleges, promote socialism. They are materialistic and not anything like those that founded the colleges. Fortunately many students will lean better on their own and figure things out. They see what Covid restrictions and abuses have done to countries and all of the economic damage. They have seen the lies of the governments in the name of a false god called "science" which is really propaganda and not open to those scientists who know better. Propaganda was based on chopping up a long stream of history/event/truth bit by bit, which leaves room to inject lies or cherry picking facts. While politicians around the world was busying stirring up nationalism or blaming other countries and covering their lies. It is too bad most US people was busy with life and stocks and worrying for retirements or sometimes entitlement and vote based on what they think will benefit them the most in short term without really being informed the geopolitical pictures and history. Any problem in the world will blame the US first hand while ignore all the good part US did, for example: no WW3 and putting out the Marshal Plan for Western Europe competing welfare with Eastern bloc socialism and Russia, which now in turn, becoming the Welfare Standard that the Liberal in US was seeking for. Regardless of Trump, MAGA is just a political slogan yet the response from US newspapers is fascism, populism, US has never been great etc. This allow other countries' politicians to blame the US and the absence of defense from US media make them believe they were right, and that's how the true picture are ignored by all sides, regardless of the whole long chain of historical events make very little room for lies. Capitalism in modern time have no country, the same with Socialism. Both represent a bunch of aristocracy elites with capital or political power or natural resources flowing around globally. If US people are proud of their stock index, think again. Any other countries institution/person who has large amount of USD can own these as well. When USD became the world currency, Wall Street (including US banks list on it) is the international assets. This means foreign élite/politicians have mutual interests in US politics to ensure their assets or their powers and US government bailed these international corporations out by US people's tax, and defend their benefit with US military. Any GOV debt will need to pay someday, eventually in the future. Most of the geopolitical sanctions nowadays are about local elites vs global elites. The key ideology that separated US to the rest of the world is the believe in Individualism and Decentralization of powers. The people votes for the government, the government ensure the execution of corporations, corporations employed the people. Government sliced in 3 branches: legislative, executive and judicial. These 3 branches sliced to state and federal level. Another extra layer is Fed is sliced half private bank, half public officers. USD as world currency broke this system gradually because it allows corporations to be owned globally, bankers globally, and therefor US government became global police where other country call US just the same US citizen called 911. While the people in the US bares all the cost and hated from any of the other 2 branches' misbehaviors. If the US people understand this and strive to independent from government, they can balance the use of the system and control the global corporations for their own futures. Otherwise Global corporations control the US people votes and then the US government to ensure their establishment. And that's why there are so much lies, cherry piking facts and reparation movements among US mainstream, politicians and education is just one of the channel. US Individualism is the arch enemy of Global Capitalism/Socialism/Liberalism. Edited January 10, 2022 by SUZNV 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tomasz + 1,608 January 11, 2022 (edited) On 1/9/2022 at 10:36 AM, Andrei Moutchkine said: This was mine meme send to you ;P One more meme This mem says in polish When you have already chosen to buy Ukraine on the shelf, but suddenly you see a fucking awesome seasonal promotion for Kazakhstan More and more it seems to me that all Russia needs to do to realize Solzhenitsyn's proposed borders is to show unhesitating resolve, historyless elites that rule post-Soviet quasistates will cut out their games with larp nationalisms and "multi-vector" foreign policies quite quickly then. https://twitter.com/i/status/1479423021639208963 Lukashenka in his Christmas speech: this year will be year of the states into unions. We should unite with our brothers: Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. We will do everything to take back Ukraine Edited January 11, 2022 by Tomasz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tomasz + 1,608 January 11, 2022 (edited) Is Putin set on conquering Europe at any cost? By imagining Russia to be uniquely evil, Western commentators misread its every move By Paul Robinson, a professor at the University of Ottawa. He writes about Russian and Soviet history, military history and military ethics, and is author of the Irrussianality blog. He tweets at @Irrussianality. https://irrussianality.wordpress.com/ Quote The new year has begun in much the same way as the old one ended: with predictions that Russia could invade Ukraine before the snow melts. Behind these as-yet-unfulfilled prophecies, however, are some fairly shaky assumptions. There are two factors behind any potential threat: capability and intention. There is little doubt that Russia has at its disposal the military force required to invade Ukraine. The question is whether it intends to do so. Underpinning the widespread belief that it does is an assumption that Russia is a malign actor, intent on doing bad things for the sake of doing bad things. Typical of this kind of thinking is an article by Anne Applebaum published this week in The Atlantic. Analyzing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions, Applebaum tells readers Putin aims to “reinforce his autocracy, undermine all democracies – and push Russian political influence as far as it will go. Break up NATO. Destroy the European Union. Remove American influence from Europe and everywhere else, forever.” Along the way, he seeks also “to realize his long-standing dream of removing Ukraine from the map.” Those are some ambitious intentions! Not only are they plainly unrealistic – eradicating American influence “everywhere” and “forever”! – but Putin has never publicly stated any of them, not even once. Determining others’ desires is difficult because it involves getting in their heads. To do that, it’s worth paying attention to what they say. But Putin has never said he wishes to “remove Ukraine from the map,” “undermine all democracies” (in fact, he has good relations with many democratic states, such as Israel, India and Armenia), “break up NATO,” “destroy the European Union,” and so on. Applebaum is simply making this up. Peoples’ intentions can also be deduced from what they do. For the Applebaums of the world, Russia’s record is one of aggression – against Ukraine, Georgia and the US, in the form of purported electoral interference and the like. From this they deduce a pattern and predict that the aggression of the past will be repeated in the future. The problem with this type of analysis is that it only works if you cherry-pick appropriate examples and then interpret those examples in ways that reinforce your prejudices. According to Applebaum, for instance, Russia “invaded” Georgia in 2008 and this proves its innate malevolence. The reality of the 2008 Georgian war, however, is rather different – it was the Georgian side that fired the first shots. The pattern isn’t quite what Applebaum imagines. In fact, detailed analysis of Russian behaviour reveals considerable caution and restraint, even when using military power. There is absolutely no precedent in post-Soviet times for anything like a full-scale invasion of Ukraine being launched without any provocation whatsoever. This is a point that is well made in an article by Russian journalist Leonid Radzikhovsky in The Insider, a publication not exactly noted for being pro-Putin – on the contrary, it is a regular thorn in the Russian authorities’ side and is designated as a 'foreign agent' by the Ministry of Justice over links to overseas funding. Radzikhovsky comments that those who think Russia will invade Ukraine assume that Putin is a maniac in the mould of Adolf Hitler. But there is absolutely no reason to believe that he is. In 2008, Radzikhovsky notes, the Russians had destroyed the Georgian Army. They could have entirely conquered Georgia if they had wanted. Instead, they turned around and went home. Would Hitler have done such a thing? Certainly not. Likewise, in 2014, following the Battle of Ilovaisk, the way was open for pro-Russian separatists to advance as far westwards as they wanted, “to seize Odessa, Kharkov, and go on to Kiev.” They could easily have been followed by the Russian Army, and the Ukrainians would have been in no position to resist. Kiev alleges Moscow’s forces were embedded alongside the separatists – a position Russia has consistently denied. Whatever the case, they didn’t push on further into Ukraine. None of this suggests that Putin or the Russian leadership as a whole are Hitlerite lunatics bent on invading and occupying a foreign country. Rather, it points to a system that is prepared to use force when necessary, but which imposes very strict limits on it when it does. This is, of course, somewhat different to the approach of the United States and its allies, which have shown themselves quite willing to engage in total war, as they did in their invasion of Iraq. Another way of determining intent is by means of what intelligence analysts call “indications and warning tables”. Lists are drawn up of indicators that, if detected, suggest some future event is imminent. The more of these that are observed, the more likely and imminent the event in question. In the case of war, one indicator is efforts by the state leadership to prepare its people. It’s rare for a state just to jump into war out of the blue. The political groundwork has to be laid first so the population accepts it. So, if you spot a ramping-up of state-driven war rhetoric, you have grounds for suspecting hostile intent. But as former Canadian intelligence analyst Egor Evsikov points out in a piece last week for the online journal iAffairs, there is absolutely no sign of this happening in Russia. On the contrary, says Evsikov, “The [Russian] media is mostly focused on Covid-19, vaccine rollouts and the economy. Tensions with NATO and the situation in Ukraine are mentioned, but mostly to mock Western media coverage about the possibility that Russia might invade Ukraine, or to emphasize the need to de-escalate through diplomacy.” This is hardly indicative of war. “A more plausible explanation of the Russian build-up [of forces near Ukraine] is that Putin wants to signal his intention to intervene should Ukraine attempt to re-capture territory seized by pro-Russian separatists,” argues Evsikov. This seems a sound conclusion. It also contradicts what Radzikhovsky calls the “Western politicians and, after them, a crowd of political scientists, journalists and other prostitutes [who] scream about the invasion of Ukraine.” Surely they know better? Indeed, they do. But it suits them to say otherwise. For whatever reason, they have determined that tension with Russia is in their interests, and if the truth gets in the way of that, then the truth be damned. As Radzikhovsky concludes, “All the presidents, senators, political science professors, famous publicists and journalists cannot lie so brazenly! Of course they can. Lying is their craft, and if they don’t lie, what will they say?” What indeed? Edited January 11, 2022 by Tomasz 1 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikero designer 0 mr January 11, 2022 On 12/7/2021 at 12:10 AM, frankfurter said: Returning to the title... what is the threat from China exactly? Has China a military base, armed with 100,000 soldiers and nuclear weapons, anywhere near the USA? Has China bombed and invaded any country in the past 50 years? Has China formed any military alliance with any country anywhere? Do the Chinese consume more, pollute more per capita than the Americans? Do the Chinese force all countries in the world to buy crude and gas in CNY and no other currency? Has China funded any separatist, any terrorist groups in America? Check Tibet, Mongolia, Viet Nam and India. Ask them how nice the Chinese are as neighbors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichieRich216 + 454 RK January 11, 2022 The most important takeaway from all this is China is an open book known for stealing technology and making financial loans to Countries that can't pay it back. Still, I always think back to the history of DARPA and the technology and production of weapon systems that you only learn about a decade later. I refer to President Trump commenting about missiles and their incredible speed; I further look back at the subtle change of Boeing's Company logo that resembles a hypersonic missile and the logo circles around. I believe we are way further advanced in weapons than we will ever disclose. In the ’'80s and yes I'm up there in age I had a lifelong friend that joined the Air Force and was part of the nuclear weapons program, after a thorough and complete background check, he and the others in his class was received the highest level clearance, and he told him they we taken to an auditorium and dialed in on the United States most advanced weapon systems. Though he obviously could not elaborate, he started; he was stunned by the capabilities that the United States had in its arsenal. Several years later, he directed me to a discontinued weapon that could be used if a nato Country had a ground intrusion from the Russians. This weapon could be deployed by air, artillery, and mortars, and it would kill humans but leave the cities intact. If you are interested, do some research in modifying neutron weapons; and the program was ended because it was deemed inhumane. He retired but still must maintain the secrecy of the nature of what he was trained with. By the age of mid-’20s, he was getting grey-haired, much like what happens to former Presidents while in office or out of office. 1 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RichieRich216 + 454 RK January 11, 2022 Check out history of Ion Weapons are advanced directed energy weapons utilised by the Fire Caste of the Tau Empire. Ion Weapons typically are capable of engaging enemies at long range with high-energy streams of ionised subatomic particles, vaporising flesh and metal with equal ease. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frankfurter + 562 ff January 11, 2022 2 hours ago, RichieRich216 said: The most important takeaway from all this is China is an open book known for stealing technology and making financial loans to Countries that can't pay it back. Still, I always think back to the history of DARPA and the technology and production of weapon systems that you only learn about a decade later. I refer to President Trump commenting about missiles and their incredible speed; I further look back at the subtle change of Boeing's Company logo that resembles a hypersonic missile and the logo circles around. I believe we are way further advanced in weapons than we will ever disclose. In the ’'80s and yes I'm up there in age I had a lifelong friend that joined the Air Force and was part of the nuclear weapons program, after a thorough and complete background check, he and the others in his class was received the highest level clearance, and he told him they we taken to an auditorium and dialed in on the United States most advanced weapon systems. Though he obviously could not elaborate, he started; he was stunned by the capabilities that the United States had in its arsenal. Several years later, he directed me to a discontinued weapon that could be used if a nato Country had a ground intrusion from the Russians. This weapon could be deployed by air, artillery, and mortars, and it would kill humans but leave the cities intact. If you are interested, do some research in modifying neutron weapons; and the program was ended because it was deemed inhumane. He retired but still must maintain the secrecy of the nature of what he was trained with. By the age of mid-’20s, he was getting grey-haired, much like what happens to former Presidents while in office or out of office. The claim is: China is inferior and weak, it resorts to stealing technology. The USA is superior and strong; it resorts to stealing technology, resources, gold and cash reserves. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 January 11, 2022 3 hours ago, Tomasz said: Is Putin set on conquering Europe at any cost? By imagining Russia to be uniquely evil, Western commentators misread its every move By Paul Robinson, a professor at the University of Ottawa. He writes about Russian and Soviet history, military history and military ethics, and is author of the Irrussianality blog. He tweets at @Irrussianality. https://irrussianality.wordpress.com/ A very deceitful take on the situation IMO. This is just a Ukraine like excuse to save a dictatorial puppet regime by Russia. They did the same in Byelorussia recently. They people had huge demonstrations then Russia sent in support for their dictator. Then they encouraged him to fly in immigrants and encourage them to break into Poland. Poland is still resisting the attempts to forcefully invade its land. The neighboring Muslim countries will join together and assist each other in the long run. They are stuck between China and Russia but there are many Muslim countries that have been watching what China is doing to its Uighur Muslim people. Mongolia has just been told to stop using its native language in school also. Russia and China are biting off more than they can chew in the long run. Meanwhile they are showing their imperialist goals very clearly. The world is far larger and greater than the sum of Russia and China which are dubious allies anyway. Both will eventually fall either from without or within. The people of both countries see the stupidity of taking on the whole world for the glory of the leaders for life, when peace would be much more beneficial to the people of China and Russia. https://news.yahoo.com/un-slams-kazakhstan-soldiers-seen-224129945.html VOICES JAN. 10, 2022 / 8:02 AM In Kazakhstan, Russia follows a playbook it developed in Ukraine By Lena Surzhko Harned, Penn State Riot police officers block a street during a protest rally over a hike in energy prices in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday. Protesters stormed the mayor's office in Almaty, as Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a state of emergency in the capital. Photo by EPA-EFE Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Add Kazakhstan to the list of former Soviet republics whose independence is being threatened by Russia. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is using a similar playbook in Kazakhstan to one that he has used over almost a decade to threaten the sovereignty of Ukraine. What began as protests over rising fuel prices on Jan. 2, quickly escalated into violent clashes on the streets of Kazakhstan. On Wednesday, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a firm ally of Putin's, requested support from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Putin's Russian Federation is the leading member. Russia has responded decisively by sending paratroopers, special operations troops and equipment as part of a nearly 3,000-strong force to Kazakhstan. ADVERTISEMENT Tokayev explained his request by claiming that protesters are really "a band of terrorists" trained abroad. On Friday, Tokayev escalated the conflict: "I have given the order to law enforcement and the army to shoot to kill without warning," Tokayev said. ADVERTISEMENT As a scholar of post-Soviet Ukraine, Russia's involvement in Kazakhstan looks very familiar to me. It's similar to what happened in Ukraine beginning in 2014, when peaceful protesters were met with violence by the government and a protest grew into a revolution that ultimately overthrew the Russian-backed leadership of the country. RELATEDRussian troops flood Kazakhstan with forces amid protests Dangerous neighborhood Seizing on that moment of domestic unrest in 2014, Putin gave direct orders to annex Crimea, a Ukrainian territory home to a key Russian naval base. Shortly afterward, he supported a war mounted by so-called Russian-speaking separatists in Ukraine's eastern regions. For more than eight years now, the Russian Federation has continued to support that conflict in Ukraine and has recently threatened Ukraine with a full invasion. This most recent version of Putin's aggression toward Ukraine came in November, when he staged 175,000 troops along the Ukraine border. His goal: to use a potential invasion as leverage to stop Ukraine from joining the alliance of Western countries known as NATO. RELATEDKazakhstan: Authorities arrest ex-intelligence chief on accusations of treason In Kazakhstan, as in Ukraine in 2014, the Russian government explains its military presence as appropriate and requested by a legitimate government. As in Ukraine, the Russian government emphasizes that external forces are responsible for unrest in the former Soviet republic. As in Ukraine, the Russian Federation has pointed out the need to protect a Russian-speaking population. ADVERTISEMENT These tendencies of the Russian government to assert dominion over former territories that it lost during the breakup of the Soviet empire demonstrate that Russia is willing to act quickly and do anything to keep control of its neighborhood. I see this as an important message about what the Western leaders can expect from a meeting with Russian officials in Geneva on Monday to discuss the conflict building again along Ukraine's border and Russia's demands that NATO not expand to Ukraine. Soviet and Russian legacies RELATEDKazakhstan president tells police to open fire with lethal force on protesters Russia has long seen Kazakhstan as within its sphere of influence. In a press conference on Dec. 23, Putin called Kazakhstan a "Russian-speaking country in every sense of the word." Earlier Putin claimed that before the collapse of the Soviet Union, "Kazakhs never had a state of their own." In December 2020, two members of Russia's parliament claimed that territories of northern Kazakhstan were "a big gift" from Russia to Kazakhstan. Such claims are reminiscent of the language that Putin has applied to Ukraine. He has often claimed that Ukraine was not a real country, including in an article published by the Kremlin in July, in which he claimed that "modern Ukraine is entirely the product of the Soviet era." ADVERTISEMENT The use of the same terminology does not bode well for Kazakhstan. Putin's references to a Russian-speaking population in Kazakhstan are reminiscent of the experience of Ukraine's Crimea region. In April 2014, Russian soldiers appeared on the streets of Crimea, forced Ukrainian soldiers to leave their posts, and oversaw a so-called referendum that allowed for Crimea to be integrated into the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation said then, and continues to claim, that its interest in Ukraine is a continued concern for the welfare of the Russian speakers in Ukraine, which in Russia's view is being oppressed. Controversial Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovski claimed on Jan. 6, 2021, that Russian speakers in Kazakhstan are similarly oppressed by Kazakh language requirements. Zhirinovski is a radical figure in Russian politics, but it is usually assumed that he voices the more extreme claims of the Russian government. Protecting from foreign invaders Tokayev claimed that the protests in his country were fueled by the "free press" and foreign forces who were sponsoring terrorist activity in his country. The Russian government willingly accepted this terminology. Tokayev did not specify which external forces he meant. Putin has long claimed that the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine in 2014, which ousted his ally, President Viktor Yanukovich, was really a coup sponsored and coordinated by the United States. ADVERTISEMENT Similar arguments about outside influences were made by the embattled Belarusian dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, about the anti-government protesters in Russia-aligned Belarus in 2020. The spokeswoman for the Russia Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, said on Thursday that there is a need to stop extremism in Kazakhstan. Her words came in response to European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's concerns over the Russian troop deployment. This consistent message supports Putin's narrative about the need to protect Russia and the countries in its neighborhood against what he regards as destabilizing influences like the United States and NATO, which, according to Putin, support and promote anti-government extremists and revolutions in the region. Show of strength Putin continues to cultivate an image as a decisive leader who responded to a call from a neighboring country to "help Kazakhstan overcome this terrorist threat." His actions in Kazakhstan, I believe, are aimed at both internal and foreign audiences. Domestically, Russian media see Russian troops as a part of a multilateral peacekeeping response, which includes troops from Belarus and Armenia. Deployment of so-called peacekeeping forces in Kazakhstan in the middle of instability and violence will be portrayed in Russia as a huge achievement for Putin. ADVERTISEMENT This is also a message to Ukraine and the West. Putin will not hesitate to show strength to achieve Russia's goals. Russia now has nearly 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. And while there was a reported withdrawal of 10,000 soldiers in late December in a de-escalation effort, most of the troops and military equipment remain. Geneva outlook Negotiations in diplomacy require compromise. However, Russia is entering the talks in Geneva with an ultimatum toward NATO and the United States. Russia's demands, according to Reuters, include a "halt to NATO enlargement, no deployment of its weapons systems in Ukraine and an end to provocative military exercises" in the region. Russian action in Kazakhstan should serve as a sobering reminder to Western countries that Russia is willing to act decisively to protect its interests and retain its influence in the neighboring countries. Lena Surzhko Harned is an assistant teaching professor of political science at Penn State. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. ADVERTISEMENT The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. Topics Alexander Lukashenko Maria Zakharov 1 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 January 11, 2022 5 hours ago, SUZNV said: Propaganda was based on chopping up a long stream of history/event/truth bit by bit, which leaves room to inject lies or cherry picking facts. While politicians around the world was busying stirring up nationalism or blaming other countries and covering their lies. It is too bad most US people was busy with life and stocks and worrying for retirements or sometimes entitlement and vote based on what they think will benefit them the most in short term without really being informed the geopolitical pictures and history. Any problem in the world will blame the US first hand while ignore all the good part US did, for example: no WW3 and putting out the Marshal Plan for Western Europe competing welfare with Eastern bloc socialism and Russia, which now in turn, becoming the Welfare Standard that the Liberal in US was seeking for. Regardless of Trump, MAGA is just a political slogan yet the response from US newspapers is fascism, populism, US has never been great etc. This allow other countries' politicians to blame the US and the absence of defense from US media make them believe they were right, and that's how the true picture are ignored by all sides, regardless of the whole long chain of historical events make very little room for lies. Capitalism in modern time have no country, the same with Socialism. Both represent a bunch of aristocracy elites with capital or political power or natural resources flowing around globally. If US people are proud of their stock index, think again. Any other countries institution/person who has large amount of USD can own these as well. When USD became the world currency, Wall Street (including US banks list on it) is the international assets. This means foreign élite/politicians have mutual interests in US politics to ensure their assets or their powers and US government bailed these international corporations out by US people's tax, and defend their benefit with US military. Any GOV debt will need to pay someday, eventually in the future. Most of the geopolitical sanctions nowadays are about local elites vs global elites. The key ideology that separated US to the rest of the world is the believe in Individualism and Decentralization of powers. The people votes for the government, the government ensure the execution of corporations, corporations employed the people. Government sliced in 3 branches: legislative, executive and judicial. These 3 branches sliced to state and federal level. Another extra layer is Fed is sliced half private bank, half public officers. USD as world currency broke this system gradually because it allows corporations to be owned globally, bankers globally, and therefor US government became global police where other country call US just the same US citizen called 911. While the people in the US bares all the cost and hated from any of the other 2 branches' misbehaviors. If the US people understand this and strive to independent from government, they can balance the use of the system and control the global corporations for their own futures. Otherwise Global corporations control the US people votes and then the US government to ensure their establishment. And that's why there are so much lies, cherry piking facts and reparation movements among US mainstream, politicians and education is just one of the channel. US Individualism is the arch enemy of Global Capitalism/Socialism/Liberalism. SUSNV, how did you get so smart and wise? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 January 11, 2022 (edited) https://news.yahoo.com/un-slams-kazakhstan-soldiers-seen-224129945.html UN slams Kazakhstan after soldiers seen wearing UN helmets amid unrest Kazakh soldiers are seen patrolling the streets in Almaty on January 10, 2022 (AFP/Alexandr BOGDANOV) Mon, January 10, 2022, 4:41 PM·1 min read In this article: Stéphane Dujarric UN official The United Nations on Monday criticized Kazakhstan after government soldiers there were seen wearing the UN peacekeepers' blue helmets during last week's violent unrest. "We have conveyed our concern to the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan directly on this issue, and we've received assurances from them that this issue had been addressed," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters. He added: "Any UN troop and police-contributing countries are to use UN insignia only when they are performing their mandated tasks as UN peacekeepers in the context of their deployment within a UN peacekeeping operation, as mandated by the UN Security Council." Photos posted on social media showed several soldiers in Kazakhstan's main city of Almaty dressed in military fatigues and wearing blue helmets with UN insignia. Kazakhstan issued an awkward statement in response, saying the helmets were the only part of UN gear worn by its soldiers. "During the violent riots in Almaty, the Peacekeeping Unit of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan (Kazbat) was put on high alert to assist and protect strategic infrastructure facilities of the city from the terrorists and extremists," Kazakhstan's mission to the UN said in a statement on Twitter. "Except for the helmets that were worn as part of the official gear of local peacekeepers during the high threat, no 'UN' marked equipment was used." Dozens of people were killed in clashes between protesters and government forces during historic violence in the Central Asian state last week in what authorities described as an attempted coup d'etat inspired by foreign forces. Thousands were detained for questioning. prh/md/crs/jh Information on all of these countries and recent news. RCW https://docs.google.com/document/d/17mqP16qchaFQusxLExpY1EtKpkEMe6gkM-Vjv-Q636c/edit Central Asia, The Stans Edited January 11, 2022 by ronwagn reference Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrei Moutchkine + 828 January 11, 2022 4 hours ago, Wombat One said: By the way Andrei, them roo's you love to eat ain't roadkill, only the best roo meat is allowed to be exported after stringent quality testing The rest we feed to our dogs and cats Good to know. The rumor is, nobody in Australia eats or grows roo, so it must be roadkill. Personally, I do like the taste. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boat + 1,324 RG January 11, 2022 On 12/4/2021 at 4:07 AM, Tomasz said: Two, it would seem, that the US should not be at war with Russia and China at the same time. Especially after saving their ass during WWII. Why are these countries so ungrateful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boat + 1,324 RG January 11, 2022 5 hours ago, RichieRich216 said: The most important takeaway from all this is China is an open book known for stealing technology and making financial loans to Countries that can't pay it back. Still, I always think back to the history of DARPA and the technology and production of weapon systems that you only learn about a decade later. I refer to President Trump commenting about missiles and their incredible speed; I further look back at the subtle change of Boeing's Company logo that resembles a hypersonic missile and the logo circles around. I believe we are way further advanced in weapons than we will ever disclose. In the ’'80s and yes I'm up there in age I had a lifelong friend that joined the Air Force and was part of the nuclear weapons program, after a thorough and complete background check, he and the others in his class was received the highest level clearance, and he told him they we taken to an auditorium and dialed in on the United States most advanced weapon systems. Though he obviously could not elaborate, he started; he was stunned by the capabilities that the United States had in its arsenal. Several years later, he directed me to a discontinued weapon that could be used if a nato Country had a ground intrusion from the Russians. This weapon could be deployed by air, artillery, and mortars, and it would kill humans but leave the cities intact. If you are interested, do some research in modifying neutron weapons; and the program was ended because it was deemed inhumane. He retired but still must maintain the secrecy of the nature of what he was trained with. By the age of mid-’20s, he was getting grey-haired, much like what happens to former Presidents while in office or out of office. I’ve been making the point about hypersonic missiles making much of the military obsolete for years. Yet a Trumper would buy more nukes. Lol Idiots. What will bases and conventional weapons do but die a quick death. Putins military on the border. They would last a few hours tops if total death was the goal. Same with any conventional military gathering. No place to hide boys. Just reality. Tech has killed conventional military systems like Musk killed ICE cars. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrei Moutchkine + 828 January 11, 2022 2 hours ago, Boat said: Especially after saving their ass during WWII. Why are these countries so ungrateful. Except it was the other way around - USSR saved the rest of the world. 1 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Neopalimy + 14 January 11, 2022 On 10.01.2022 at 00:21, nsdp said: Не выгнать Россию из Международного банка расчетов. В этот момент вы не можете обменять рубль на какую-либо иностранную валюту. вы используете прямой бартер. В этот момент все зарубежные российские активы заморожены. Спросите у японцев, как сработало замораживание активов и исключение из IBS в 1941 году. Кроме того, российская нефть не может фрахтовать суда под иностранным флагом и не может заходить в российские гавани. Грузы и суда, направляющиеся в Россию, не могут быть застрахованы. Как вы собираетесь экспортировать свое зерно без порта захода? Спросите у иранцев и Венесуэлы о бартерной торговле и проблемах с Международной морской организацией. Ваши корабли не могут покупать топливо в иностранных портах. Как ваши корабли возвращаются домой? SPFS + CIPS (or SPFS + CUP) = BRICS Pay You will not disable SWIFT, because incur huge losses and reduce confidence in the "main reserve currency of the world" to 0. You are tormented by driving planes with cash to Russia to pay for contracts on hydrocarbons, metals, wheat ... In addition, Russia has had an analogue of SWIFT since 2014. The SPFS (Financial Message Transfer System) of the Bank of Russia appeared in 2014. It was originally conceived as an alternative channel of interbank interaction in case the country is disconnected from SWIFT. Now SPFS accounts for about 20% of the total number of financial transactions within the Russian Federation. And NSPK Mir is an analogue of Visa and Mastercard payment systems. China since 2002 has its own national payment system in China UnionPay (CUP) and China International Payments System (CIPS) plus digital yuan .... And before the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing, we will probably))) sign an agreement on the unification of the national payment systems SPFS-CIPS (or SPFS-CUP) into one. Subsequently, we will connect India and create BRICS Pay " 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Neopalimy + 14 January 11, 2022 3 hours ago, Boat said: Особенно после спасения их задницы во время ВОВ. Почему эти страны такие неблагодарные. 1. If the US decides to attack Russia, they will be destroyed in preparation for war * during the "threatened period" the US will receive a "preemptive nuclear missile strike" which is guaranteed (98%) to destroy the US / NATO. (At the same time, systems will be disabled: missile attack warnings, communications, location, navigation, reconnaissance ... and power supply))) Since 2012, the United States is guaranteed to lose the "Nuclear War with Russia", and from 2025, the percentage of the guarantee of the victory of the Russian Federation will strive for 100, and the degree of damage inflicted on Russia will tend to zero idiots. And the management knows about it !!! In this version, you will present victory over yourself to Russia and China. 2. If the United States decides to start a war with the PRC, it can only win by inflicting RNW - having spent the entire stock of strategic nuclear weapons (you have almost no tactical nuclear weapons, you cannot produce nuclear weapons, modern ICBMs, BBs, or strategic submarines with bombers - you Russia is ridiculously funny, even the "Papuans" are not afraid of you, clowns who have not won a single war, except for their civil war! You have long lost your competence, technology, resource - as soon as the "von Brauns" run out). In this version, you will present the world domination of the Russian Empire, since you will be left with nothing. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,756 RP January 11, 2022 1 hour ago, Andrei Moutchkine said: Except it was the other way around - USSR saved the rest of the world. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/05/08/dont-forget-how-the-soviet-union-saved-the-world-from-hitler/ Andrei in the West and history taught at schools in the West, the part the USSR had to play in the defeat of Hitler and the Nazi's is very rarely told. This I believe comes from nationalistic pride on the part of each respective country and the role each played in WW2 but it is not the reality or the truth and only tells a fraction of the story. As this article (from the Washington Post) highlights is the incredible heroism and stoicism of the people from the USSR to be so determined to play a major part in winning a truly horrific war. 80 USSR soldiers to every Allied 1 tells its owwn story but the truly gruesome fact that 60% of nuclear families lost 1 member and the level of civilian casualties is the real tradegy. Why the West and USSR became so divided so quickly to me is very sad. Respect to your nation for the losses they suffered! 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites