Xerxes

I think Pabrai himself sold RACE way too early based on “valuation concerns”

not a good answer. The sandbox is around NATO spending, for the simple fact that the argument made by Washington is specifically around NATO spending. Nothing more. Nothing less. The complain is Canada and everybody else falls short. Correct. But look at amazing us, we are meeting our obligation. Do they really or not ? It is as simple as that.

I get home late everyday, battling the traffic and reclaiming my energy that is sapped during the day. That is enough battling and reclaiming for me.

I think this is a great interview with US Ambassador to Canada. Seems like a good guy. it is all about delivery. He does it well.

All three countries - PRC, Russia and U.S. are a threat to Canada’ sovereignty. And in different ways. Not every threat is about annexation.

How much does US spends on military that actually accrues to its European NATO obligations, …. net of pacific and Middle East. Sounds like US has been free riding the whole time, double counting its military spend in pacific and elsewhere as NATO contribution.

Say you are in 1967 and just finished the war. If you had the powers to decide (and knowing what you know now), what is the one or two (or three) things that you would do differently as the Israeli government, when it comes to newly conquered territories and people within. The year is 1967 and you need to decide.

Agreed. No picture and videos please. we already get that on news, and don’t need this thread to become “my picture is scarier than yours”.

That is proof enough that he is not a robot. As he got carried away. He is human after all.

It is not “click” worthy. Now Afrikanners, that is something.

How about the letters. those are chairman letters or CEO letters ? I think at the very least next year letter be from Buffett. After that Greg will be penning those

That is actually not correct Hizbollah was a militia, but when they participated in the Syrian War on the side Bashar, Iran and Russia, they lost their militia roots and became more of a conventional force. Their metamorphosis in the late 2010s became seed that will later destroy them when facing IDF in 2024. That said they will continue to exist as a political-military entity, until there is resolution on the border. Once there is resolution, their “resistance” raison d’être should evaporate. And the regular army should be the only bearer of the arms south of the border.

How did the Americans were able to defeat ISIS in the mid 2010s or even break the Iraqi insurgency back in the late 2000s before that. By allying with the locals. By showing that they kind of gave a damn, in their own twisted ways. Why Americans were ideologically ok to ally with the locals to uproot the evil ? As oppose to “starve” Iraq until the leaders of insurgency have bowed down. Because Americans had no claim on the land. When you have no “ideological” skin in the game, you think pragmatically. In Gaza, Israel has a messianic claim and it’s going through this massive internal debate of what it wants to be. A pariah state with expanding borders, or not. Therefor, this is more far more than just “yay release the hostages and you will be fine”

“Buy Canadian” with GE Passport engines from the U.S.

corrected !

Montreal. But am in Ottawa often.

Cubsfan, Majority of Gaza population were born after the election that brought Hamas to power in the 2000s. They happen to be born at the wrong place and the wrong time. Yeap it sucks to be them, but point is, it could have easily been you and me. Moving forward though the past two years has definitely shaped their thinking in terms of what is life really about. In any case, I do admire the former prime minister for having the conviction to stand up. Not an easy thing to do these days. Israel is becoming more like an Iran from the 1980s, and Saudi Arabia is becoming more like an Israel from the 90s. The reality is that all this is about Bibi and his job. If he could burn down his own family, he would do it only if to get him a few months more on the job.

man has balls a rarity these days

@schin based @Jaygo comment about used-book store in Ottawa I will do a few field trips to see what i can find. I will report back soon.

Well done James and well earned. Time to get that penthouse you wanted.

The author of book, Pierre Berton, has a few more in that series alongside The Last Spike, have you read anything else in that series I see National Dream, The Arctic Grail and Klondike: Goldrush

Cole Smead on opportunities in Canadian oil sands He covers MEG, Imperial Oil, Strathcona, talks about Fairfax, The Waterous Funds, even Couche Tard. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/in-the-money-with-amber-kanwar/id1790432796?i=1000699626644 I think @SafetyinNumbers will like this one. This was before the Strathcona offer for MEG

https://www.ucpress.edu/books/the-world-in-depression-1929-1939/paper

Of interest, here some other readings from William D.

I have been wanting to get on The Last Spike for a while now. In fact also bought Dominion based on your review I think it was. Haven’t cracked it yet. But first I need to complete my Romanov studies. Robert Massie’ Catherine the Great. In parallel, will do some shorter readings: Taste of Conquest (covers the spice trade), Return of the King by William D. On the business side throw in Bond King, Lesson from Titans, MCU: Reign of Marvel These are considerably shorter than 1,000 page long history books that takes months to get through.