That's awfully close to insulting one of your fellow Weigantians.

Which is now frowned upon around here.

Let's stick to criticizing ideas and not disrespecting each other. It's more fun that way!

China is covering the wrong flanks from too far away.

Putin worked for a spy agency but he was functionary not a spy. Putin has created an image of himself in the style of James Bond but it’s bullshit. His martial skills are meh, the sort I meet at the gym. Judo Olympians have called him on this. Large swaths of Ukraine will be occupied,but that will not contain an Afganish resistance of the sort that ultimately sent the Russians home from Afghan….as were the Americans who ignored the Russian lesson.

The Russian invasion has been cruel, but inept. They were supposed to have the business over in 4 days. They can’t supply their own troops. Rubbling cities will just make the street fighting tougher.

Those who ignore history are 1) doomed to repeat it and 2) dumb asses.

People who base their opinions are Fox News are double dumb asses.

IN FACT, forget about who this guy is. Who cares Do? Do you agree or disagree with him?

Don't like no Rebels but I gotta respect them.

@M

I went to your link and read the whole thing. Fox News or not, it struck me as straight up news reporting with no bias whatsoever. I would have summarize the whole story in my own words and pointed out that...

JUST AS Afghanistan was a fiasco for Biden because he believed the same people who have predicted imminent victory for 20 years now -- ha! The fool!

NOW Joe is wussing out on helping Ukraine turn back Putin. Instead of your boldified copy and paste job which, to be candid, is needlessly hard on my eyes. And which needlessly promotes absent minded scrolling through your contrarian contributions to Weigantia, if you must know.

But that's just me.

THAT ASIDE would you give (8:36) of your open mind listening to this Southern Gentleman Beau of the Fifth Column and thence tell me what you think about this YouTube Guy?

@M

I went to your link and read the whole thing. Fox News or not it struck me as straight up news reporting with no bias whatsoever.

Would you spend (8:36) of your time listening to this Southern Gentleman Beau of the Fifth Column add at tell me what you think?

If I can curtail my massive amounts of comments (more because of the war drums and less because of the kumbaya here in Weigantia) surely you can afford to have a little patience..

I mean, the world here in Weigantia has turned upside down and nukes can start flying at any time...

Let's take a moment to smell the roses, eh? :D

Hey, Don. One tro -- er, commenter at a time, please.. I mean, Kumbaya and all and yes, the new dynamic is undeniably encouraging.

I'll get back atcha.

"We, the 58 members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, urge continued U.S. commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the freedom of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s ongoing invasion," the moderate, bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC) said Sunday. "We strongly believe that the U.S. must provide additional defense materiel to Ukrainians protecting their nation."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ukraine-russia-biden-mig-fighter-jets-escalate

Biden needs to quite trying to protect Ukraine and PROTECT Ukraine..

Putin is going to escalate no matter WHAT Biden does..

"If we are to be damned, let us be damned for who we really are..."
-Captain Jean Luc Picard

Mind you, this has nothing to do with the Jan. 6 riot. The violence that occurred is irrelevant to any assertion that he “engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States.” Instead, what is being alleged is that President Trump had no right under law to contest the election in the United States Congress, and that by seeking to prove that the election was fraudulent, he himself is guilty of fraud.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2022/03/14/the_criminal_conspiracy_against_donald_trump_147321.html

How badly have Democrats so perverted the rule of law as to twist it to say that President Trump's LEGAL and LEGITIMATE efforts to question the results of the 2020 election amount to criminal "fraud"...

Such a position is ESPECIALLY ironic when one considers the LENGTHS that Democrats and Trump/America hating Republicans went to question the legitimacy and results of the 2016 election..

Democrats are SOOO afraid of President Trump running again in 2024..

Why??

Because they know he will win...

There are credible reports from several sources that this is the case..

Do you think Z is capable of doing something to force NATO into this thing? I mean, he is STILL calling for a no fiy zone .

I am sure he is.. But that might be just pro forma requests because, beyond the possibility of China's involvement, the situation on the ground has really not really changed much at all.. Ukraine is still getting their ass pounded..

I am still of the same opinion..

If US/NATO forces are sufficient to deter Putin, then why didn't Biden use that deterrence to save Ukraine...

And, as I mentioned above, Putin is inching closer and closer to NATO territory...

Biden is fast approaching a decision as to whether to put up or shut up..

If factually accurate, this new China wrinkle may force Biden's hand...

Do you think Z is capable of doing something to force NATO into this thing? I mean, he is STILL calling for a no fiy zone ...

There are reports that Russia is seeking China's assistance in the war in Ukraine..

So, this begs the question..

Is NATO joining the fray NOW more appropriate??

There are many MANY reasons why Ukraine should NOT have been offered NATO membership..

Placating or appeasing Putin and Russia is simply NOT one of them...

PRECISELY!

Which is completely understandable. When your entire society is a warzone and you have a loaded, cocked and locked weapon pointing at your head 24/7.....

Well, one tends to shoot first and ask questions later...

Or, as one of my old military buddies said, "Michale would just shoot first, shoot some more and then ask questions.."

My response was simple.. "Wait?? We're spose to ask questions!??"

:D

I just saw the NY Times editorializing in an article, hoping for unconditional surrender by Ukraine. That's depressing.

Iddn't it though?? :^/

My disappointment with Biden and Burns knows no bounds and, at this late stage, redemption is not even possible.

There are many MANY reasons why Ukraine should NOT have been offered NATO membership..

Placating or appeasing Putin and Russia is simply NOT one of them...

I see no unfair ant domination...

The Palestinians could live in peace side by side with Israel if they would just be content to live in peace side by side with Israel..

But the Palestinian people *ELECTED* Hamas as their government..

The Palestinian people said to Israel in ONE VOICE..

"WE WANT A TERRORIST GOVERNMENT!!"

How the hell is Israel SUPPOSED to react? Hold state dinners honoring Hamas terrorists??

Every hardship that Palestinians have to endure in the here and now can be traced back to HUGE Palestinian mistakes of the past...

While Israel is FAR from completely blameless, she has the moral, ethical and legal high ground, solely based on the Palestinians embrace of terrorism as their go-to plan...

Mr. Burns surprises me. Putting a State Department guy in at the CIA was a masterstroke, or so I thought.

But, then again, all of this was pretty much inevitable when Biden decided to take NATO membership for Ukraine off the table when it actually comprised one of the legs of the table.

My disappointment with Biden and Burns knows no bounds and, at this late stage, redemption is not even possible.

Revise, not write. He's already written everyone's death sentence. Humanity cannot survive in a world of eighteenth-century imperial geopolitics and twentieth-century weapons.

--

I just saw the NY Times editorializing in an article, hoping for unconditional surrender by Ukraine. That's depressing.

That's all for now.

Russia delenda est

The UN

For JL

The 6 Day War be like

Then, there will be an "accident" where a missile "malfunctions" and hits an empty area in Poland..

Putin will gauge the US/NATO's commitment in their response.. If Biden/NATO let it slide, then another "accident" will strike a very small insignificant Polish settlement. Maybe an empty factory... Something that would give an excuse for US/NATO forces to ignore it..

Remember, Putin is thinking 3, 4 even 5 steps ahead.. You don't rise to the head of the USSR's infamous KGB by being a dullard and unable to predict and prepare for all contingencies..

If Putin is satisfied that US/NATO will take any excuse NOT to get involved, then Putin will prosecute his war accordingly. Giving the US/NATO forces just enough of a reasonable excuse NOT to get involved..

Putin is playing long-term 3D chess, while US/NATO politicians are thinking conventional short term tiddly-winks. Biden's primary focus is going to be November 2022. All of Biden's actions will be taken with his eye on the mid-terms..

This is what I think, too. Even this Ukrainian-American was as surprised as anyone that this invasion has gone as poorly as it has.

But has it REALLY gone that poorly?? Or does Putin just want us to THINK it's gone that poorly??

As I said to Stig.. Putin is a spy.. He is playing this war as a spy would.

Putin has had ample time to study the US. He probably knows what we are going to do 3 steps before WE know what we are going to do...

The end of this slog is going to be VERY different than what we think it will be..

The Ukrainians will ultimately throw out the Russians (on their asses) using the same fundamental strategy the Afghans used to throw out the Russians in the 1980s. Does anybody around here remember that?!

All too well... But I have to disagree..

Putin is no Leonid Brezhnev..

Brezhnev had to hold back because the USSR was not in the same position has Putin is today.. The USSR did not have China covering the USSR's flanks..

Putin has PLANNED for all the sanctions and whatever the West can throw at him. Plus Putin has China... And, to a lesser extent, Germany..

No, things are MUCH different in Ukraine than in Afghanistan in '79..

If NATO doesn't step in, Ukraine will go to Putin.. The only question is how many lives will be lost and how much of Ukraine will be destroyed in the process..

But, in the end, Ukraine will be Russia's in one form or another..

One needs to keep in mind.. Brezhnev was a soldier/leader. Granted, he was a political officer and not a real soldier, but Brezhnev prosecuted the Afghanistan as a soldier would..

Putin is a spy/leader.. He is prosecuting the Ukraine war as a spy would do.. Layer upon layer of intrigue and guile and mis-direction..

This is why I take ALL reports of Russian troubles in Ukraine with a HUGE grain of salt.. More or less, Putin is only showing us what he WANTS us to see...

But, if NATO doesn't save Ukraine, there is only ending possible..

A subjugated and beaten Ukraine..

And remember that the spring Rasputitsa mud season is forthcoming. The Mongols,, Napoleon and the Nazis will tell you it shuts down offensive operations for weeks every spring and autumn.

This is what I think, too. Even this Ukrainian-American was as surprised as anyone that this invasion has gone as poorly as it has.

Like the Afghanis and the Viet Cong before them all Ukraine has to do is keep fighting and let an economically trashed Russia withdraw.

This is what I think, too. Even this Ukrainian-American was as surprised as anyone that this invasion has gone as poorly as it has.

Like the Afghanis and the Viet Cong before them all Ukraine has to do is keep fighting and let an economically trashed Russia withdraw.

This one goes out to Kick and Joshua ... nothing about Titanic cats or even pie but, I think you'll both like it!

Phil Palmer in the studio with Wings of Pegasus

And, I think that is about it for me for tonight.

Just want to send out a big CONGRATULATIONS to Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. Can't wait for September 24 at Massey Hall in Toronto for the big ceremony. I'm even going to try to get tickets!

And, with that, it's over to you MtnCaddy ... or take me away, TS!

Do you have a tune to go along with that comment!?

Deuces Are Wild

PRiSM's eponymous 1977 debut album, by the way, was the first debut album by a Canadian artist to achieve platinum status in Canada! How awesome is that!?

You Walked Away Again

This was also the first PRiSM hit without Ron Tabak, who was fired from the band at the end of 1980 in one of the most self-destructive moves that any rock band has ever made in the history of bad moves by rock bands. Ahem.

But, Henry Small does a very good job on the lead vocals of this one and I have come to like it. :)

Well, dinner turned out okay and I don't feel like doing the dishes. Also, we need a break from what's happening in Ukraine, if only for a few hours, so...

Great news! It was announced this week that Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Bryan and Jim make up one of the most prolific songwriting teams that ever was. Bryan's Cuts Like A Knife album featured many songs by this songwriting duo, including https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VZhSkREYBc">Cuts Like A Knife

Thank you. I appreciate you saying that!

Russ

You're an old man? Older than my 63 years 4 months?

What's that old saying??

"If you are not a liberal in your 20s or 30s, you have no heart.
If you are not a conservative in your 50s or 60s, you have no brain.." :D

I hit the big six oh this year... :D

You're an old man? Older than my 63 years 4 months?

Yes, it was meant in the best possible way.

I read the "maybe include the kids in the proper circumstances" on what is your undoubtedly ancient Swinger's profile. While I'm in the leaving kids out of adult sexual activity camp, I think we share the same sentiment... that Westerners are way fucked up about sex, nudity and their bodies. I've always regarded the Swinger scene as a reaction to this insane level of prudeness. That's all I was trying to say...not going to call you Cho'mo anymore...start going to Church more...

Heh.

Fair enough. In fact, it sounds great to my ears!

This dinner is in celebration of my continued existance, comfortable though sad as it sometimes is, as I have known it for all my adult life. Been renting in a very nice building - location, beautiful backyard and inground pool. Owners of my unit wish to sell and have given me first digs. Unfortunately, I'm not able to get a mortgage on a unit in a "co-op" building even though it is moving to condo status but at a very, very slow pace. So, my uncle has helped me get a huge line of credit to purchase the place. Which I will be working 'til I die to pay off, as I would never want to move. (Did I say there is a beautiful pool in the tree-filled back yard that can feel very much like you are living at a resort!)Anyway, suffice to say that moving would mean The End for me. Hence, the celebratory dinner for him tonight. :)

Gotta run now - I'm trying something new, sill me, and have to prepare.

Have fun tonight and I'll be there later!

Com'on man.. Peace is breaking out all over!! Bask in the glory!!! :D

Indeed!

Very nice! It put a smile on my face ... I was scratching my head on those, too ...

Oh well..

Ok, not with that tag. I don't have any other ideas right now.

It's my experience that the Weigantia Wordpress is VERY limited in what it allows.. It's not that big a deal..

This is the SPOILER text

It just would be nice.. :D

Really, Michale I've been looking for a Conservative to set me straight but, regrettably, they keep declining the opportunity.

It's on you, Dawg.

I am going to go with option B.. :D

BTW, for the record: I've bagged on you over the "include the kids" thing but I feel ya,

Not sure exactly what that means, but I am going to take it in the best way possible. :D

in that Westerners are way the bleep too uptight about sex and their bodies. So I see where you're coming from even if I'm not 100% on board with the practice.

I am going to have to clarify exactly what you mean here.. I mean, I can go off on what I THINK you mean and put down a whole litany of thoughts, only to learn that you were on a totally different plane of existence.. :D

So, if ya don't mind, clarify for me..

With your permission I would like to simply shorten the salutation to MC.. Less typing for my old brittle fingers.. :D

{{{{Com'on MC.. It's obvious I am making an effort here..

Dammit, today I started peeking at some of your comments Michale (first time in two months) and yes, you are making an effort.

"That's great! Actual, physical contact!!"
-Ray Stantz, GHOSTBUSTERS

:D
Us Libtards go off the deep end, too. That's why your side of the aisle needs to get it together because Trump Fan Club is not the answer to any of America's problems.

This is probably a point we'll never agree on.. But as long as we can disagree civilly, I am OK with that..

President Trump might not be the answer to America's problems. But considering how well President Trump did the first time around, he will do until the "real" answer comes around.. :D

Look at the bright side.. After 2029, you Lefties will never have to worry about President Trump again.. :D

I mean, all respect to Trump (because IMO he did some some good things for our country) but he's old news and most of America is over Trump.

I think you are going to be sorely disappointed.. America is far from over President Trump..

Put another way.. If that were factually accurate, then there would be no need for the 6 Jan Committee or all the other witch hunts going on..

And please.. Don't insult my intelligence by claiming that President Trump's criminality should be punished.

You and I both know that President Trump's political actions and business actions are simply run o the mill actions that ALL politicians and ALL high end business people are guilty of..

While immoral and unethical and maybe even quasi-illegal, they are how business and politics work these days..

Do you HONESTLY believe that Pelosi's (both Mrs and Mr) actions and business dealings would withstand President Trump level scrutiny?? What about Chuck Schumer's or Occasional Cortex's (that's another one you have to give me, Liz.. I am SOO in love with "Occasional Cortex" :D) political and business and ethical dealings??? Could they withstand a complete baring of the facts?? Would we find even a glimmer of shady dealings?? You and I both know we would..

What about George Soros or Warren Buffett.. If we crawled up their asses with a microscope, what would we find about how their value/devalue their holdings to fit whatever deal they want to push thru..

Let's agree that ALL of these legal proceedings against President Trump have ONE sole purpose in mind..

It's NOT to see justice is done.. If "justice" was the goal, then we would need to line up a whole bunch of Democrats for "justice" as well..

No, the SOLE goal of all of this crawling around President Trump's colon is to prevent President Trump from running again in 2024..

Which is fine.. Hay, it's politics and that's what politics is all about..

But lets not fool ourselves into believing this is some high and mighty pursuit of justice and "the right thing"... It's not..

Apologies if this got real deep and if it looks like I am trying to rip up old wounds.. I am not.. I am thrilled to death that we can talk about this... :D

And I am certain you don't agree with most, if not all of it.. Just as I am sure your passions against President Trump likely run as deep as my passions FOR President Trump...

But, as I said above... After 2029, neither of us will have to worry about President Trump again.. :D

I was just gonna ask you about UPLOAD… loved the first season! Only got to watch the first episode of season 2, but plan on binging it tonight.

Now I have to admit that this is the PLUS side of the new way TV Shows have gone.. Granted a 9-12 episode "season" is really annoying..

But to have the entire "season" to watch all at once??

REALLY awesome!!!

We just finished watching 1883 last night.. If yer a Yellowstone fan I would highly recommend 1883..

If you are not a Yellowstone fan I would HIGHLY recommend becoming one.. It's a great show and you have 4 Seasons to watch to catch up! :D

Wow, there was a fairly good debate about the problems of actually achieving peace in Ukraine, for about 30 posts. Then things fell apart and the comments board was, once again, unreadable for the following 50 posts or so.
Too bad.

Com'on man.. Peace is breaking out all over!! Bask in the glory!!! :D

Um, would you have any guidance about a Sunday evening target start time?

Too late, Led Zeppelin rules!

It may be rather late in the evening before I can properly start up our little Sunday night shindig and, since I haven't heard from Kick, of late, I'm wondering if you might get things started tomorrow night and then I'll be able to join in later ... I'm hosting a celebratory dinner party, so ...

So, all of the sudden some so-called celebratory dinner party is more important than us poor unenlightened schmucks down here in The States, eh?

Aaand...I 'spose I'm 'sposed to just pick up your slack and pretend that I didn't notice the poor schmucks down in the States implications...

Fine. Be that way!

Ahem. Being that to be the state of affairs I hereby declare Sunday evening's theme to be anything whatsoever besides C anadian

Haha Michale! Get a load of Elizabeth! She's killing me!

...KILLING your street cred here...

What? Are you effing kidding me? You're killing your street creed here, Gurl! YOU ARE EMBARRASSING us North Americans.

Do. Not. Throw. Out.

Thanks for reminding We the People that Our Government is every bit as capable of hypocrisy as is, um...most other Governments? Throughout history?

Methinks that seeing what's in my mirror doth much reduce hubris, no?

It may be rather late in the evening before I can properly start up our little Sunday night shindig and, since I haven't heard from Kick, of late, I'm wondering if you might get things started tomorrow night and then I'll be able to join in later ... I'm hosting a celebratory dinner party, so .,.

If the weed is dry -- and you trust that the weight is true -- buying dry weed actually means you get more cannabis and less water weight for your money. You can always rehydrate the weed, as above.

It's not time but rather hydration that determines shelf life.

WHEN you keep your flower,

1- properly hydrated (moist but not growing a fungus) and

2- store the flower in your refrigerator,

...your flower will have more weeks of shelf life than you probably need. How to keep moist? Cut a 3cm x 3cm square of lettuce and put it into the cannabis container for four hours, give or take. Trust me, not a whole lot longer least you risk eventual fungus.

Dry cannabis burns and tastes harsher. Weed that's properly hydrated demonstrates some bouquet and smokes rico y suave, Señorita.

MtnCaddy,

By the way, how long does flower last before you must grind and smoke it? :(

First off, the :( just kills me, especially when I don't see how I merited it.

Second, I am not only reading his comments after months but I have thence recognized that Michale appears to be kinda sorta (don't tell him, for God's sake!) reaching out to this Libtard. Or even Libtards in general.

Thirdly, I thought that asking Michale to sharpen my Liberalism by pointing out when my Liberalism is full of donkey-doo was reaching out to him, and I ...might even sharpen his Conservatism as well. Then we'd both be better Citizens, huh?

I did my best...wasn't hard when I dwell with the spirit of Kumbaya...so what remains unclear, Elizabeth?

plus, one of my favorite people in the world lives there.

Something tells me I should know to whom you refer. But, alas, my memory is pretty terrible.

Just want to say that I have been enjoying reading your comments, especially the last few days!

I just wish you would simply take 'Yes' for an answer, so to speak ... with regard to the new dynamics here in Weigantia, you know.

And, I hope you'll come by Sunday Night with your favourite tunes!

By the way, how long does flower last before you must grind and smoke it? :(

The UN is useless unless it's razed to the ground and replaced with an organization that works for it's people and not for itself..

That’s the point I was trying to make, but failed to do so.

We chose not to allow ourselves to be held culpable for our actions even if we demand it of everyone else. I am all for burning the UN down and starting completely new with a world governing agency that has teeth and cannot be ignored by any nation.

Between 1946-1948, the IMTFE (better known as the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal) convicted 25 Japanese leaders for crimes against humanity, specifically including torture by waterboarding. We put to death enemy combatants as war criminals for committing the same actions Dick Cheney & friends openly admitted to ordering be used! The precedent on this subject matter cannot be denied, nor can there be any justification that would validate the use of torture. Our country has a responsibility to charge these people as war criminals! America must show the world that we will not turn a blind eye to crimes against humanity simply because they are being committed by our countrymen.

Elizabeth Miller inextricably wrote:

Persuade me. Don't annoy me because you're willing to settle for trolling rather than persuading.

STOP!

Elizabeth, do you have even the slightest clue as to what I'm trying to accomplish here? Lemme Caddysplain...

Both Michale and Don Harris present as smart guys who are settling for annoying Weigantians instead of doing the harder work of persuading Weigantians. If they persuade I'm all in. If they troll then not so much.

Michale undeniably elected to be Alt Michale in this thread. I have to respect that for! That means Michale may help straighten out my thinking in some areas. What I want.

I hadn't read a single fucking Michale quote since 29 December. Glad I checked in and I hope Michale cares enough to stand and deliver.

Sorry you don't see it but that's okay. You're still Miss Vancouver even if one of us acts the foole!

Got news for you, Miss Vancouver, I love it, too!

Aaand...we shall meet for coffee or adult beverages in Vancouver. With a view, although word on the street is that all of Vancouver has a view. 'Tever, it'll be fun.

Most of my DNA/family tree is in Canada, and I wasn't kidding about the "world needs more Canadian politeness" stuff because, duh, it's sooo true, no?

It really bothered me that after I responded to some of your Ukraine comments you didn't address my replies but rather told me that I was of no damned use to the conversation.

But that's okay. Go ask your Ukrainian-Canadian buddies what they think and they'll convince you that Ukraine won't ever surrender.

STOP!

Persuade me. Don't annoy me because you're willing to settle for trolling rather than persuading.

Would you please give that a rest! There is no need for that, anymore.

The next person to utter the word 'troll' or any related such words is a dirty, rotten egg. Ahem.

Make it better rather than simply making it more hateful. Grateful, not hateful, huh? Be a constructive humanoid. You know you have it in you.

'Miss Vancouver'

Ya know, I really, really like the sound of that!

Ergo, I'm naturally predisposed to support OD or anything that would fix that.

Again, I've seen nothing to indicate that our fellow Weigantians remotely disagree with that and that it's just that I and others remain unconvinced that OD will do the trick.

Same to you as to Brother Michale...

Persuade me. Don't annoy me because you're willing to settle for trolling rather than persuading.

To do so would be to waste your time on Earth.

Please.

Brother Don, let me be crystal clear that Big Money is an abomination in our politics, and that I'd love to fix that before I die.

Brother Don, you haven't been excused! Man up, please, and answer my (above) questions when you return to these pages.

Just because idiot Putin has nukes doesn't mean he'll write his own Death Sentence by launching them.

Won't happen for the same reason it hasn't happened since the Soviets went nuclear. If everybody dies everybody loses, simple as that.

I thought it was Sunday Night already.

For the record, Beau reminds me that part of the reason the Union needed so damn long to beat them Rebels was because at that time most of America's military talent came from the South

I like Beau in general, but I think he's overstating things this time. What he describes is all stuff that happens during an ordinary economic downturn. What we need to inflict on Russia, if humanity is to survive at all, is more like the Great Depression times three.

I got the impression that Beau was describing just that horrific scenario for Russia -- and that's only the sanctions to date. More will pile on until Russia retreats.

The UN was never able to act as the planet's law enforcement agency. The world has always had sovereign countries and spheres of influence.

True, that.

...military forces is a red line. If Russian troops fire on US troops or vice versa, we're in across-the-line territory, and we're at unacceptable risk of launching the ICBMs.

A no-fly zone would surely bring both sides into open warfare. No doubt thats s result everybody wants to avoid.

Not so likely if the Russians have figured out that if they cannot defeat Ukraine’s air force they would likely get killed by NATO's air forces, no?

You care.

You have the brains.

Do you wanna troll and effect exactly zero influence, or do you want to help set Murica straight, one Libtard at a time?

It's on you, Dawg.

BTW, for the record: I've bagged on you over the "include the kids" thing but I feel ya, in that Westerners are way the bleep too uptight about sex and their bodies. So I see where you're coming from even if I'm not 100% on board with the practice.

Question, Brother Don:

Do you think anyone here doesn't agree that Big Money is a big problem in America?

Me, too, Miss Vancouver. Maybe you drew Michale out with what I regarded at the time to be naivete, but perhaps Michale can provide me a service that I'm confident he can render.

I want Michale to hone -- to refine -- my Liberalism. I want someone to point out when I'm full of doo-doo and MOST IMPORTANTLY say why.
We'd both know we weren't going to convert each other, but while he was making me a better American Citizen I maybe could help him likewise refine and sharpen his Conservatism. 'Tever.

You hear me, Michale? I know you have it in you...

Seriously!? Unreadable?

Well, I for one think this thread is a real treat, start to finish. :)

"IF NATO WAS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR POLAND, WHY WASN'T NATO WILLING TO FIGHT FOR UKRAINE"...

Because in MAD you have to be clear where your red lines are, and not cross the other side's red lines. Direct, acknowledged combat between US and Russian military forces is a red line. If Russian troops fire on US troops or vice versa, we're in across-the-line territory, and we're at unacceptable risk of launching the ICBMs. This only applies to troops who are there openly. It wouldn't apply to "Georgian" separatists (who everyone knows are Russian soldiers) exchanging fire with "Georgian" government troops (who everyone knows are American). We're still alive because we have limited proxy wars instead of total war.

So, WWIII is acceptable if it's defending NATO territory..

But WWIII is NOT acceptable if it's defending Ukraine.

WWIII is set off by Russia if they attack NATO territory. WWIII is set off by the US if we attack Russian troops openly in Ukraine.

[77]
“WWIII” isn’t actually a threat as long as other countries recognize that there can be no benefit in their supporting Russia’s aggression.

There can be benefit. China can benefit: if the rest of the world refuses to buy Russian oil and gas, Russia has to sell to China at whatever price China feels like paying. Belarus can benefit: if Russia marches its troops through Belarus without anyone complaining, the potential complainers aren't found to have committed suicide under circumstances that no one says are suspicious at all. Ok, that last one isn't exactly a benefit, but it's a pretty compelling incentive, if you happen to live within Russia's sphere of influence.

Let's not allow Russia's sphere of influence to expand and intensify.

This is when I realize how idiotic and destructive it was for us to neuter the United Nations from being able to act as this planet’s law enforcement agency.

The UN was never able to act as the planet's law enforcement agency. The world has always had sovereign countries and spheres of influence.

Our greed and arrogance caused us to believe that our country has the right to do what it wants without being held to the same rules that we expect everyone else to be held to.

Truth. And we really, really need to mend our ways.

[80]
IN 8½ minutes this Beau of the Fifth Column guy explains just how effed Russia's economy is about to be

I like Beau in general, but I think he's overstating things this time. What he describes is all stuff that happens during an ordinary economic downturn. What we need to inflict on Russia, if humanity is to survive at all, is more like the Great Depression times three.

Enough for now.

Russia delenda est