16 August 2026
Rudolf Leitgebtext not yet in the index
I look at that as very different, I don't buy the comparison at all.
One could say the USA was a bellicose nation in the Vietnam era, but I believe the USA was a decent nation facing two bellicose nations, Russia's empire in the form of the USSR, and China, expansionist totalitarian states, and I suggest the USA was motivated to help defend a friendly nation against a common enemy. The USA was the nation that with the allies rebuilt and remodelled Germany & Japan (with great results) post WWII, which compares with Soviet subjugation of Eastern Europe. The USA joined the Korean war, they weren't alone, and it was to save Korea from domination by the communists backed again by Russia and China. Let us remember that South Korea is a good nation, and a nation that is thankful to the USA, noting that North Korea is what the South would be if that war had been completely lost). The USA viewed (as do I) the Soviet Union and Red China as malevolent actors, and was fighting to stop their expansion, they believed they were helping more reasonable regimes. Essentially the USA has long been a decent nation, a beacon of democracy, playing defence against expansionist autocratic regimes.
In contrast Russia has been an evil malevolent nation since a century.
After Vietnam the USA was peaceful because the USA was essentially a peaceful democratic free nation, it remained true to itself, if rather chastened.
If Russia suffers any level of defeat short of absolute crushing defeat it will also remain what it is, essentially an evil expansionist brutal totalitarian state, with designs on all its neighbours.
I really don't buy the comparison.
Moving past Vietnam America was 'nice and peaceful' in the liberation of Kuwait, the first Gulf War. I am somewhat familiar with Kuwait, and in my opionion this was a righteous cause to help defend a budding democracy against a dictator. The second Gulf war, beginning with the invasion of Afghanistan was also a justified defensive actio
id 5202930254text not yet in the index
Absolutely agree with you. Trump always has been a useful idiot. He has (in my opinion) no ideology, despite what MAGA cultists believe. Putin has always understood that Trump is just ego and greed but actually hasn’t been able to fully exploit it. Others (like Peter Thiel) very likely will - Trump is the means to an end for these ideologically motivated individuals, a gateway to power and a blunt force instrument to remove the checks and balances that hitherto protected America from descent into a very different future. Vance may well be the next stage in the planned takeover. Trump will walk away counting his billions, unaware that he actually got used by people he viewed as his disciples.
Philip ClaytonAbsolutely agree with you. Trump always has been a useful idiot. He has (in my opinion) no ideology, despite what MAGA cultists believe. Putin has always understood that Trump is just ego and greed but actually hasn’t been able to fully exploit it. Others (like Peter Thiel) very likely will - Trump
Yes, Trump managed to say enough words to get a variety of causes behind him, the Dominionists appear to have the closest hold on power through him
id 5899927898I look at that as very different, I don't buy the comparison at all.
One could say the USA was a bellicose nation in the Vietnam era, but I believe the USA was a decent nation facing two bellicose nations, Russia's empire in the form of the USSR, and China, expansionist totalitarian states, and I
I agree with your assessment Buck, it can be hard to recall a legitimate motive for Vietnam in retrospect. I certainly hope we can wrest control back from the fanatics ! I’m told by historians we’ve been through similar situations and survived, let’s hope 🤞
Mr. Franktext not yet in the index
I am sure I am being naive and unrealistic but I'll point out that this is exactly what was done with the 'ethnic Germans' from post WWII Poland. It was not just German settlers, it was all ethnic Germans, some longstanding, and let's note that post WWII Poland included parts of pre WWII Germany. Ethnic Germans were often not German nationals, they were Poles, but they were undesirable to Poland and followig the war this was part of the solution to forming a homogenous Poland.
The world is different now, indeed. Or is it?
Different in that the evil expansionist regime is not Germany (Russia actually was evil and expansionist back then so in that respect it is not different).
Different in that we agreed, until Trumpdim, that wars of aggression were not just bad but were illegal. But we seem to have regressed back to 'might is right' in some ways, so it's actually far less different than it was pre 2025.
Indeed it is not so different in that an expansionist regime led by a psychopath pursues continuous war crimes against civilians, for ego and arguably for 'Lebensraum' (for a Greater Russia).
The solution is unthinkable to many, but the war is unthinkable to many, and engaging properly in support of Ukraine is unthinkable to far too many. Kicking all Russian sympathisers, whether Ukrainian or invaders, out of the Donbas should not necessarily be excluded as a potential part of a solution, if it sounds mad just remember it has historical precedent, and arguably worked, eventually.
I'm not proposing it nor supporting it, I really don't know how peace can be achieved (other than believing it just involve the complete defeat of Russia, and the breakup of the Federation, or much of it). I just would not exclude something just because it seems outlandish, the whole situation we live in is bizarre in the extreme
Mr. Franktext not yet in the index
I see what you mean, the Donbas was Ukrainian, even after the annexation of Crimea, and whilst in reality there was a separatist civil war, it was 'theoretically' civil, rather than Ukrainian/Russian. I say theoretically as I do beieve in the 'little green men' and in Russian agitators and puppet masters. But it was indeed not til 2022 that Russia recognised DPR and LPR, part of their plan to subsume Donbas into Russia.
id 5202930254text not yet in the index
We learn much the same in the UK (thankfully, if we all learned different histories.... well.....)
I tend to agree with you.
Have you built yours yet?
Rudolf Leitgebtext not yet in the index
Thank you. I tend to distrust much of the media and I'm impressed by Russia's manipulation of it, right now Russia ape Ukraine's report on enemy activity, and regularly report civilian targets hit by Ukraine, civilian losses, etc. which the western media, seeking to be balanced, repeat with few caveats.
Rudolf Leitgebtext not yet in the index
I wonder whether things will change significantly when Russia loses (temporarily stolen) Crimea?
Will that blow be enought to shake all resolve to remain in the Donbas?
Will continuous drone strikes into Donbas make them give up on a bad deal, part of a larger bad plan that didn't work out?
I don't know. I just wonder a lot
Rudolf Leitgebtext not yet in the index
No, I don't think he meant a pandemic. Just an outbreak of syphilis.
id 5202930254text not yet in the index
Vance frightens the hell out of me.
I think he is more dangerous precisely because he appears, superficially at least, to be less dangerous.
id 5899927898I am sure I am being naive and unrealistic but I'll point out that this is exactly what was done with the 'ethnic Germans' from post WWII Poland. It was not just German settlers, it was all ethnic Germans, some longstanding, and let's note that post WWII Poland included parts of pre WWII Germany. Et
But Buck … Buck you’re so reasonable, all is worth considering
But Buck, what does an ethnic German look like ? I learned German and poles were essentially the same
🤷🏻♂️
id 5202930254text not yet in the index
I just can't understand how people could see Trump as a Christian
id 5899927898I just can't understand how people could see Trump as a Christian
He mimics, says “god” held a bible up once
id 5899927898Vance frightens the hell out of me.
I think he is more dangerous precisely because he appears, superficially at least, to be less dangerous.
We are liable to find out, one way or another
id 5899927898I just can't understand how people could see Trump as a Christian
I know trump is tied to the Heritage Mandate, they’ve dictated nearly his entire policy
id 5899927898text not yet in the index
Indeed, you can’t throw tactical nukes without expecting tactical nukes in return. Escalation, inevitably will result in MAD being the end result. The issue, as I see it, is, if Putin gets to the point where he feels like he has no option in order to stay in power, somehow, given his madness and lust for power, he will resort to nukes, as a last resort.
Angus McDuffIndeed, you can’t throw tactical nukes without expecting tactical nukes in return. Escalation, inevitably will result in MAD being the end result. The issue, as I see it, is, if Putin gets to the point where he feels like he has no option in order to stay in power, somehow, given his madness and lus
Yes, the time for a limited nuclear strike has come and gone. The first was the last
id 5899927898I look at that as very different, I don't buy the comparison at all.
One could say the USA was a bellicose nation in the Vietnam era, but I believe the USA was a decent nation facing two bellicose nations, Russia's empire in the form of the USSR, and China, expansionist totalitarian states, and I
Just to refute about half of what you said, check out 'The USA and history of terrorism'
Part 1: https://youtu.be/n4H_E8b-qmo?si=gt3dyiNREMn2Xczi
Part 2: https://youtu.be/WOZd3iCknZU?si=M-iqzCpNo4gyNSJp
Part 3: https://youtu.be/qRWAyM26YV8?si=gZmTFgx-NW59zRa7
Part 4: https://youtu.be/qQ9Amuri6G8?si=5O0CnKQBZl3q4Tk6
And part 5: https://youtu.be/Z2ullkbVCL8?si=3xddEopRyDE8lmT0
Yes Volker Pisper is a very sharp and cynical 'comedian' with biting wit but what he says is very true.
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He is just inviting all of the dictators for escalation. Big war is coming, guys. Russia and China would be stupid not to use this perfect time for more special military operations.
Idiot rules USA.
10.1K · Mr. FrankIf this is a real message by Trump we need to call the hospital, grandpa is off his medicines again.
I don't think he was ever on them? Or maybe this is the side effect?? 🤫