Spekulatius Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 They say Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country:
Ulti Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/21/alexei-navalny-patriot-memoir excerpts from Navalny’s memoir…. I read this and realize how , paraphrasing Buffett , lucky I am to be living in the
John Hjorth Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 3 hours ago, Ulti said: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/21/alexei-navalny-patriot-memoir excerpts from Navalny’s memoir…. I read this and realize how , paraphrasing Buffett , lucky I am to be living in the Yeah, Great to be born and to live in the Western part of the world, as an alternative to, and compared to, such a hellhole as Russia nowadays. I preordered The book today at my favorite Danish online bookstore [called saxo.com].
Spekulatius Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 The most important thing about Navalny is that he is dead. He basically surrendered himself to Putin when he flew back into Russia. Putin tends to kill his opponents. Something to think about when recommending to surrender to Russia.
Spekulatius Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 (edited) @Luke views pretty much line up with those from the AfD leadership, which is a German right wing party. For those that care: AFD believes that everything will be fine if Germany leaves NATO, the EU and makes deals with Putin and Xi Jinping. Edited October 13, 2024 by Spekulatius
John Hjorth Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 (edited) 23 hours ago, Spekulatius said: @Luke views pretty much line up with those from the AfD leadership, which is a German right wing party. For those that care: AFD believes that everything will be fine if Germany leaves NATO, the EU and makes deals with Putin and Xi Jinping. I'm personaly not sure about that. It does a not matter at all. Naturallly, and sucject to, and untill it does. Edited October 14, 2024 by John Hjorth
WayWardCloud Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 (edited) China is starting a massive military exercise around Taiwan called Joint Sword-2024B. 2024"A" was last May and lasted for two days. Could this be the start of an actual invasion? It's too soon to tell but if I put on my conspiracy hat a lot of elements are lined up. - October and April are the best two months to attack because of the weather. - Current US president is mentally impaired from old age. - US weapons are spread thin around the world with Russia + Middle East fronts - Weeks before a tight election where Americans are already at each others throat and ready to claim election interference. What if China has a plan to sow enough mistrust about the results that neither side recognizes the other's right to govern? - They just propped up their stock market 25% on little more than announcements, it could have been to bait western money in while telling party friends at the top to unload their shares. - Demography shows time is not anymore on the Chinese side. - AI difference between the two is actually supposed to widen in the next few years according to Ex Google CEO Eric Schmidt giving the US an advantage, so better attack quickly now? Hopefully I'm just scaring myself Edited October 14, 2024 by WayWardCloud
crs223 Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 3 hours ago, WayWardCloud said: China is starting a massive military exercise around Taiwan called Joint Sword-2024B. 2024"A" was last May and lasted for two days. Could this be the start of an actual invasion? According to ChatGPT, these are common: Here is a list of large-scale military exercises that have taken place in Asia over the past 20 years (from around 2004 to 2024). These exercises often involve thousands of troops, advanced military hardware, and international collaboration. The list covers major exercises involving countries across Asia, as well as joint exercises between Asian nations and extra-regional powers: 1. Vostok Series (Russia) Timeframe: 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 Participants: Russia, China, India, Mongolia, Belarus, and other countries (varies by year) Scale: Tens of thousands of troops Details: These are among the largest military exercises held in the Eastern Military District of Russia, which extends into Asia. The exercises focus on combined arms operations, live-fire drills, and international coordination. Notable Edition: Vostok 2018 involved around 300,000 troops, 1,000 aircraft, and 36,000 vehicles. It was the largest Russian military exercise since the Cold War. 2. Cobra Gold (Thailand) Timeframe: Annual (since the 1980s) Participants: Thailand, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and other invited countries Scale: Over 10,000 troops regularly, with larger numbers in certain years Details: Cobra Gold is the largest joint military exercise in Southeast Asia, co-hosted by Thailand and the U.S. It includes amphibious landings, live-fire drills, and humanitarian exercises. 3. Malabar (India) Timeframe: Annual (since 1992, larger scales in recent years) Participants: India, the U.S., Japan (since 2007), and Australia (since 2020) Scale: Large naval forces, carrier strike groups Details: A significant naval exercise originally between India and the U.S., it expanded to include Japan and Australia in response to growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific. It focuses on anti-submarine warfare, carrier operations, and maritime security. 4. Joint Sea (China-Russia) Timeframe: 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 Participants: China and Russia Scale: Large naval and air forces Details: These joint naval exercises focus on enhancing interoperability between the Chinese and Russian navies, including anti-submarine operations, surface warfare, and air defense. Exercises have occurred in the East China Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Baltic Sea. 5. Talisman Sabre (Australia) Timeframe: Biennial (since 2005) Participants: Australia, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and others Scale: Approximately 30,000 troops Details: Although held in Australia, Talisman Sabre involves many Asian nations. It focuses on amphibious landings, air combat, and large-scale multinational operations, serving as a showcase of interoperability between Asia-Pacific forces. 6. Shaheen Series (China-Pakistan) Timeframe: Annual (since 2011) Participants: China and Pakistan Scale: Large-scale air forces Details: Focused on air warfare, Shaheen exercises involve fighter jets, bombers, and support aircraft. It serves as a key element of defense cooperation between China and Pakistan, testing air combat skills and coordination. 7. Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Timeframe: Biennial (since 1971, with many Asian participants) Participants: U.S., Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and others Scale: The world's largest naval exercise, involving 25,000–30,000 personnel Details: Although centered in the Pacific, many Asian nations participate. RIMPAC includes large naval, air, and amphibious forces, focusing on disaster relief, maritime security, and combat training. 8. Foal Eagle (South Korea-U.S.) Timeframe: Annual (discontinued in 2019) Participants: South Korea, U.S. Scale: Up to 300,000 South Korean and 30,000 U.S. troops in some years Details: Foal Eagle was one of the largest combined field training exercises in the world, focusing on the defense of South Korea against potential aggression from North Korea. It involved ground, air, and naval forces in full-scale combat scenarios. 9. Key Resolve/Ulchi Freedom Guardian (South Korea-U.S.) Timeframe: Annual (until 2019) Participants: South Korea, U.S. Scale: Similar in size to Foal Eagle Details: These command post exercises (CPX) simulated war scenarios in the event of conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Ulchi Freedom Guardian often involved cyber warfare components and leadership simulations. 10. Zapad (Russia-Belarus) Timeframe: Biennial (latest in 2021) Participants: Russia, Belarus, and observers from China, India, Pakistan, Mongolia Scale: Approximately 200,000 troops (2021) Details: While primarily focused on Europe, Zapad 2021 had Asian components and observers, reflecting growing Russia-China military cooperation and the involvement of Central Asian partners. 11. Garuda Shield (Indonesia) Timeframe: Annual (since 2007) Participants: Indonesia, the U.S., Australia, Japan, and other ASEAN nations Scale: Over 5,000 troops Details: This exercise has grown significantly in scope, focusing on jungle warfare, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and combined arms operations. It's one of the most important Southeast Asian military drills. 12. Peace Mission (SCO Anti-Terror Exercise) Timeframe: Biennial (since 2007) Participants: Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) Scale: Over 10,000 troops Details: Focused on counter-terrorism and military cooperation, Peace Mission involves joint maneuvers, tactical operations, and counter-insurgency exercises, reflecting security concerns in Central Asia. 13. Yudh Abhyas (India-U.S.) Timeframe: Annual (since 2004) Participants: India and the U.S. Scale: Approximately 5,000 troops Details: A bilateral exercise that focuses on counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism operations, humanitarian relief, and peacekeeping missions. It involves infantry, air, and mechanized forces. 14. Shanti Path (India-Nepal) Timeframe: Annual Participants: India and Nepal Scale: Hundreds to a few thousand troops Details: This is one of several bilateral exercises between India and its neighbors, focusing on peacekeeping operations and disaster response.
John Hjorth Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 (edited) @Xerxes, Thank you, I have read the piece on the Economist website, too : The Economist - Europe [September 19th 2024] : Aland is lovely, weapon-free and too close to Russia. Personally, I can relate to the sentiment expressed in the article by people living there, and the thinking about what to do? Deadlock it is. Nato [<-?], EU, Europe, Western World here has to do with a mad man and his doings, based on delutional ideas inside that mans head, rooted in the past greatness of Russia. It's deeply concerning. On the TV Channel National Geografic a series [Title : 'Defence Europe'] of the war / military history of each European country is rolled out by now, one piece, one country, one session per week, transmitted late in the evening here on Sundays [, but doesen't really matter, because our household has access to it as a streaming service]. The first three pieces has been about Finland, France and Poland. I somehow succeded in missing the Poland session last night, but I will get to it, eventually. Great mental fodder for an old historical ignorant like me, I would say. The history of France's perpetual disagreements with Germany during history is just so striking and mind provoking, like a never ending story. Yet, somehow the world has become a better place to live, since the war ax was burried last time between those two countries. The war history of Finland is similar towards Russia. I did not know before, that the people of Finland back in the '60's decided to build an 'undergound city' - carved out under central Helsinki [Wikipedia : Asematunneli] as a precaution towards possible agressions from the - from to times to times - agressive neighbour to the East. Edited October 14, 2024 by John Hjorth Spelling
UK Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 7 hours ago, John Hjorth said: The war history of Finland is similar towards Russia. I did not know before, that the people of Finland back in the '60's decided to build an 'undergound city' - carved out under central Helsinki [Wikipedia : Asematunneli] as a precaution towards possible agressions from the - from to times to times - agressive neighbour to the East. A bit offtopic, but I read these books first and only later realised why they had such an apocalyptic feel at times: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/tove-jansson-s-moominland-what-was-the-inspiration-for-finland-s-most-famous-family-9883098.html Much of this had a direct effect on Moominvalley. The knowledge that the world could be destroyed by just the push of a button certainly influenced the books. The threat of total annihilation is therefore a major theme and a highly original one in a book for children.
Hektor Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-15/china-moves-to-tax-the-ultra-rich-for-overseas-investment-gains China Moves to Tax the Ultra-Rich for Overseas Investment Gains The move underscores growing urgency within the government to expand its sources of revenue.
Xerxes Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 14 hours ago, John Hjorth said: @Xerxes, Thank you, I have read the piece on the Economist website, too : The Economist - Europe [September 19th 2024] : Aland is lovely, weapon-free and too close to Russia. Personally, I can relate to the sentiment expressed in the article by people living there, and the thinking about what to do? Deadlock it is. Nato [<-?], EU, Europe, Western World here has to do with a mad man and his doings, based on delutional ideas inside that mans head, rooted in the past greatness of Russia. It's deeply concerning. On the TV Channel National Geografic a series [Title : 'Defence Europe'] of the war / military history of each European country is rolled out by now, one piece, one country, one session per week, transmitted late in the evening here on Sundays [, but doesen't really matter, because our household has access to it as a streaming service]. The first three pieces has been about Finland, France and Poland. I somehow succeded in missing the Poland session last night, but I will get to it, eventually. Great mental fodder for an old historical ignorant like me, I would say. The history of France's perpetual disagreements with Germany during history is just so striking and mind provoking, like a never ending story. Yet, somehow the world has become a better place to live, since the war ax was burried last time between those two countries. The war history of Finland is similar towards Russia. I did not know before, that the people of Finland back in the '60's decided to build an 'undergound city' - carved out under central Helsinki [Wikipedia : Asematunneli] as a precaution towards possible agressions from the - from to times to times - agressive neighbour to the East. Thank you. Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend means, time to catch up on reading. I would say that when it comes Norway, Finland and Sweden, and the Baltic powers in general my history is “lacking”. So i enjoy reading up on tidbits here and there.
Hektor Posted October 15, 2024 Posted October 15, 2024 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-10-14/bmw-mercedes-and-volkswagen-bmw-mbg-vow-evs-struggle-to-compete-in-china VW, BMW and Mercedes Are Getting Left in the Dust by China’s EVs After falling behind on tech trends, German carmakers are scrambling to recover in their biggest and most lucrative market.
whatstheofficerproblem Posted October 16, 2024 Posted October 16, 2024 I was looking for a Tyson Foods thread and didn't find one. But thought I'd place it here. I'll play @Luke's advocate. https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/department-labor-child-labor-tyson/527-21c0bd01-6313-45a7-843a-f5f00582b841 Why does the western media that harps about sweatshops in China, conveniently forget to cover this news.
Luke Posted October 16, 2024 Posted October 16, 2024 https://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/notes-chinafile/its-too-convenient-say-xi-jinping-second-mao “It’s Too Convenient to Say That Xi Jinping Is a Second Mao”
UK Posted October 16, 2024 Posted October 16, 2024 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-16/china-s-wild-stock-market-swings-hurt-a-21-trillion-bull-case “Close securities account”
John Hjorth Posted October 18, 2024 Posted October 18, 2024 (edited) On 10/12/2024 at 5:55 PM, John Hjorth said: A few days ago I started reading : Amazon : Samuel Rachlin : 'Jeg, Putin' [which translates, from Danish to English : 'I, Putin'], second edition. First edition was written under 'the Russian Spring' first half 2014, when the Crimea situation evolved and escalated. Second edition is with a new foreword spring 2022 added. While reading the book I feel like getting dragged up of the soil I was planted in with my roots, to be replanted in another set of values and criteirias by which to judge Putins motives, actions and doings in general, that are so far away from my personal set of values as a Western European. Unfortunately, with this book, there is a language barrier, because the book is only available in Danish language. Now I'm taking a break from Samuel Rachlins book "I, Putin' and switched to start reading the following book by Anders Puck Nielsen [the man introduced upstream in this topic by @Spekulatius ] : 'Krigens Logik' [which translates from Danish to English by 'The Logic of the War'. I think of it as 'The Warfare's ABC'. To me, very good and educational for a western citizen ignorant related to real warfare, like me. Unfortunately for this book, there also exists a language barrier here, because the book is only available in Danish language. This book also introduces the original book - 'bible' - of warfare by former general Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz [1780 - 1831] of the Army of the Preussian pricipality Magdeburg, which book still by its basic concepts and principles applies to warfare in our times, the book called 'Vom Kriege', originally written in German, translated from German to English by 'On Wars', and this book also available in English language, in several versions, at various prices, and also in other languages, among those, Danish. This one I'm about to order today, and with this one I'm taking it on in it's original German language [great brain exercise to revive an inactive and dormant language, in which I as a young person at a time once was actively fluent in speaking]. Edited October 18, 2024 by John Hjorth Fixed spelling and language
John Hjorth Posted October 19, 2024 Posted October 19, 2024 (edited) Reuters [October 18th 2024] : North Korean troops in Russia readying for combat in Ukraine war, S.Korea says. Concerning information indeed. I have no idea about what this might cause or bring in the future. Letting ones imagination and fantasy stray about it is a really unpleasant mental exercise. Edited October 19, 2024 by John Hjorth
UK Posted October 19, 2024 Posted October 19, 2024 (edited) 16 minutes ago, John Hjorth said: Reuters [October 18th 2024] : North Korean troops in Russia readying for combat in Ukraine war, S.Korea says. Concerning information indeed. I have no idea about what this might cause or bring in the future. Letting ones imagination and fantasy stray about it is a really unpleasant mental exercise. This is indeed worrisome, still direction is the same, more and more escalation, formerly silent parties geting directly involved and also this recent talk/idea of Ukraine acquiring its own nuclear weapons. Edited October 19, 2024 by UK
Xerxes Posted October 19, 2024 Posted October 19, 2024 I want to get myself a Lego set of this Dark Eagle for Christmas.
Spekulatius Posted October 19, 2024 Posted October 19, 2024 (edited) 7 hours ago, Xerxes said: I want to get myself a Lego set of this Dark Eagle for Christmas. This is a repeat of the SS20 / Pershing 2 discussion during the 80‘s. The Russian were placing SS20 at their borders and in Poland believe. They were mid range nuclear missions. The counter was Pershing 2‘s. There was a piece movement in Europe and Germany if the sake be countered for the sake of piece and de-escalation. Well, Breshnev was no Putin and whoever is going to be elected in November is no Ronald Reagan. Europe may have to get its own nukes eventually probably via France ( force de frappe) Edited October 19, 2024 by Spekulatius
Xerxes Posted October 20, 2024 Posted October 20, 2024 16 hours ago, Spekulatius said: This is a repeat of the SS20 / Pershing 2 discussion during the 80‘s. The Russian were placing SS20 at their borders and in Poland believe. They were mid range nuclear missions. The counter was Pershing 2‘s. There was a piece movement in Europe and Germany if the sake be countered for the sake of piece and de-escalation. Well, Breshnev was no Putin and whoever is going to be elected in November is no Ronald Reagan. Europe may have to get its own nukes eventually probably via France ( force de frappe) Yes. I dug this out from David Hoffman’ Dead Hand. Some additional details on SS20 “Pioneer”. It was after all the Soviet military complex with its massive inertia and desire to keep the factories humming that came up with this unwanted product that ultimately created a problem for the gentlemen sitting in the Kremlin.
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