Russia-Ukrainian War - Political

[cubsfan]

1 minute ago, Hektor said:

The more I read about this event, I feel Zelensky pulled a master class in negotiation. He pulled out of a negotiation where the terms did not meet his needs. Does anyone else feel this way?

 

He certainly did if he can win the war or convince the Europeans to carry the war burden of men and materials.

 

We wish him luck with a high stakes gamble.

[Xerxes]

2 minutes ago, Hektor said:

The more I read about this event, I feel Zelensky pulled a master class in negotiation. He pulled out of a negotiation where the terms did not meet his needs. Does anyone else feel this way?

I don’t think it was a masterclass. But he is brave to enter the lion’ den, and pull that stunt. 
 

At least he has full clarity and will come back as a hero. And for a change just like how European had to scramble to get off Russian natural gas before the winter of 2023, they will perform some miracles. 
 

Trump is also correct in the following: the path of just dumping military hardware and money and expecting a material change in the war is idiotic at best.

 

Trump is just a realist stating the obvious. 

[Hektor]

27 minutes ago, Parsad said:

Is the U.S. worried about Iraq?  Afghanistan?

I feel these adventures are resulting in the push for peace by this president. Many kids born in the US after 9/11 went to fight wars in distant lands that started before their birth and did not come back. A good majority of their communities are the current president’s constituents, I feel. He has been clear about not going on these adventures even during the previous term.

 

I feel that if the fighting continues and Ukraine does not have man power, US will be involved directly sooner or later.

[Parsad]

22 minutes ago, Xerxes said:

We also tried with Stalin, Saddam, Pinochet and Mao. it was transactional and worked for the duration of quid pro quo. 
 

While I disagree with the approach that the Trump administration is taking with Ukraine, this whole Munich/Hitler analogy is getting overused and tiresome. 
 

The same “survivorship bias” that applies to stocks also applies to historical analogies. Don’t always go with Munich/Hitler, and ignore all other madmen we (West) had a wink-wink understanding with. 

 

And like stocks, you also look for the outlier event...the one that no one expects.  Hitler was that outlier event...that's why it's referred to over and over again.  A lesson learned...no?  Cheers!

[Xerxes]

4 minutes ago, Parsad said:

 

And like stocks, you also look for the outlier event...the one that no one expects.  Hitler was that outlier event...that's why it's referred to over and over again.  A lesson learned...no?  Cheers!

Yes definitely. 
 

That said, if the Soviet Union was based in Central Europe and Nazi Germany where Russia is (reverse their geographical location) we would have allied ourselves with Hitler to fight off Stalin. 
 

And in 1945 Allied meetings, it would have been Roosevelt, Churchill and Hitler in the pictures. 
 

Point being, it is not about a person.
 

Germany had to be brought down as a military power, as it was threatening Western Europe due to its proximity. 
 

There was no other choice. Just geopolitics.
 

The same geopolitics that had Nixon and Kissinger sit down with Mao, (another genocidal character) 

[Xerxes]

As far as Russia is concerned on this fiasco in the Oval Office, is it really a win for them ?

 

Definitely a PR win, and a long term win in terms of US disengagement, but they are NOT getting a subjugated Zelenskyy either. Instead they are getting a soon to be defiant Europe (a day later and a dollar short), and a defiant Zelenskyy. 
 

Is that a win or not a win ? Time will tell but I don’t think that is a clear win for Russia. 

[Mephistopheles]

1 hour ago, Ghost said:

I enjoyed Vance's comment.  Have you said "Thank you" to this administration.  This administration wants to offer nothing and take a generation of Ukraine mineral wealth, when Ukraine is at its weakest.  Thank you Mr. Trump.

 

 

It’s a cult. Vance himself called Trump Hitler but then he joined the ass kissing. “Say thank you to the king”

Don’t waste mental energy arguing with cultists. Just sit back and invest accordingly and accept these moments as a fact of life.

[Xerxes]

Rubio on CNN

 

 

[changegonnacome]

39 minutes ago, Luke said:

Trump and Vance want a settlement now

They want it so badly - they look and smell desperate….when has looking desperate headed into a negotiation ever been the best strategy?

 

Regardless based on the last few weeks relations between the US, EU & Ukraine - impending trade wars, accusations of ungratefulness, press conference melt downs….twinned with Russia’s current undoubted artillery and man power advantage’s on the battlefield….you really do have to ask yourself why would Putin acquiesce to US desires for a peace deal???…..unless it was deeply deeply favorable to the Russian’s….and that type of deal would be so deeply embarrassing to Trump the ‘deal maker’ that I can’t see him signing it.

 

So as I’ve said - why the hell would

Putin agree to anything right now….he’s the upper hand on the battlefield and his opponents are fighting amongst themselves like kids on international TV. Think of it from his point of view - at a minimum you put this so called ‘alliance’ through the meat grinder of at least one more spring/summer/fall offensive of defeats on the battlefield, take another 5-10% of Ukraine before you agree to give back anything….in say early 2026 just as the incumbent Republican’s in Congress have to head back to their constituents to explain why the forever wars are still going on for forever and Trump didn’t solve Ukraine on Day One like he said he would. 

[Stuart D]

39 minutes ago, Xerxes said:

Rubio on CNN

 

 

Thanks for posting.

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, Mephistopheles said:

It’s a cult. Vance himself called Trump Hitler but then he joined the ass kissing. “Say thank you to the king”

Don’t waste mental energy arguing with cultists. Just sit back and invest accordingly and accept these moments as a fact of life.

 

The cult is trying to end the war.  The fools want it to continue.

 

[james22]

What's he sorry for?