Quote:
Originally Posted by country978
watching bidens speech just now. I accept his explanation for the end result. He only mentioned Trump's role in this in the negative when I think he had an opportunity and a duty to praise Trump for what he did to get us near the end. I didn't like it that he referred to the numbers of people they got out as being such a positive thing when the number was far from 100%. After Viet Nam there were POW's still left behind. It's why we have the black flag with pow/mia to this day I believe. There are so many people to share in the blame for all of this. I could've spoken up more or organized or offered more support and I failed too. Its a national failure on all of us. Its definitely on Biden its just not only on Biden.Quote:
Originally Posted by country978
i agree that trump likely had more to do with why this wasnt much, much worse than biden implied but also fuck trump because he literally tarred and feathered biden for this minutes after it happened without taking any responsibility for it because election coming etc.
Agree 100%. Trump should've been speaking out in support and instead chose the low road as usual. He has no grace whatsoever. Incapable of deference and respect for the office he held. It used to be that former presidents would either support the current president or stfu. At least Obama and Bush have the sense of mind to be staying on the down low for a minuteQuote:
Originally Posted by sonatineQuote:
Originally Posted by country978
i agree that trump likely had more to do with why this wasnt much, much worse than biden implied but also fuck trump because he literally tarred and feathered biden for this minutes after it happened without taking any responsibility for it because election coming etc.
Not only that, the same people attacking Biden now were sniffing Trump’s butt hairs (which are also combed over, little known fact) when he said it’s time to get out and get out now.Quote:
Originally Posted by sonatineQuote:
Originally Posted by country978
i agree that trump likely had more to do with why this wasnt much, much worse than biden implied but also fuck trump because he literally tarred and feathered biden for this minutes after it happened without taking any responsibility for it because election coming etc.
Biden just DESTROYED the critics. Anyone here for escalation rather than withdrawal?
BIDEN OWNS YOUR SOUL
Table the PFA partisan political nonsense for a sec….
We are in agreement that the US will return to Afghanistan, right Sonatine?
In the tweets above and Biden’s speech today you hear the same tough talk about consequences from the leaders who surrendered. It’s truly cringey. But I get the fans in the bleacher seats love that shit
Doubt it's happening in the next few years. Few unrelated random articles...Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...uption-taliban
https://www.thenation.com/article/wo...funds-taliban/
...for anyone that doesn't understand how things work in the 3rd world with military contractors. Running theme is that there's corruption at every level. Whoever has reach will tax everyone that is looking to operate there.
US funded Taliban for 15ish years. It's just a part of logistics there.
Currently Taliban has most of their legal financial taps shut down. Bad harvest, end of most extortion opportunities and now they have to take care of the country.
They did ok running their own operation of few 100k fighters and associates with just the drug trade and extortion. Maybe few million people related to that. But there's another 30+ million afghans that's now their problem.
West has leverage now.
Russia and China i think said they expect the Taliban to fight ISIS and control al-Qaida. That's about best you can expect from them.
Qatar won their bet. They expect to collect. So far they have an open untouched embassy in Kabul. China pulled some diplomats but i think they still held their embassy open.
There's about 1-3T dollars worth of minerals in Afghanistan. Few hundred billion in oil and gas.
Their GDP was about 20 billion. More than half of that relied on foreign capital. Outside of that their opiate related economy is in the 5-10 billion region with maybe a billion or half more from hash. 2018 they had 200k hectares of opium and 30k for cannabis growing. Taliban taxed that in the 50-200 million dollar range.
All in all if they play nice they could afford even better than refurbished caves.
USSR, West, China and Middle-East haven't been interested in Afghanistan because of the scenery.
funny thing about the return to af thing...
ive heard for decades that china wants a crack at those afghan mineral mines.
id like to know how many ww3 game theory dossiers start with the us and china firing shots in anger in the hills of afghanistan.
imagine how hard indias dick would get, and then consider how lucky we are that they would have to send rockets over pakistan to get involved.
its defo chinas turn next, usa and russia both had a good try but ended up defeated maybe china will do better
if it doesnt work out they prob end up just putting them all in concentration camps and replacing the entire population with chinese people lol
It worked for the Tibetans and the Uighurs, it’ll work for the Afghans.Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKDANIELS
The Russian Chinese war games last month demonstrate you will certainly see a different twist on an old song.Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKDANIELS
at least the taliban will have a better chance of defending themselves this time with all the fancy gear the usa generously left for them upon their retreat
maybe uncle joe is a genius after all make it look like a hasty retreat so they can donate the taliban shitloads of weapons without being too obvious about it
this actually makes some sense, makes things as difficult as possible for whatever superpower decides to have a crack next
Quote:
Originally Posted by SanlmarThe Russian Chinese war games last month demonstrate you will certainly see a different twist on an old song.Quote:
Originally Posted by JACKDANIELS
Japanese Prime Minister going to step down.
We went over Kamala and Viet Nam already.
Lining up really poorly for us in Asia. Won’t stop us though.
Raytheon
Chinese Leader Xi snubs Biden’s request for summit. Biden counters with Zoom style meeting and that too was a firm “No”
Biden isn’t running the show. Biden is getting end run by Neocon diplomats at the same time he’s trying to improve Chinese relations. He continues to look like a dummy.
We can talk about the nuke sub sales to Australia later.
Asian-Pacific fun.
Stay tuned.
Biden is going to straight dick down China mark my words. You faggots have no idea, and you faggots that think trump owns China are going to eat a double decker shit sandwich.
Do you retards understand how much money we owe China? I mean I know $ is literally made up and means nothing but ffs you act like Biden is the first president to deal with this.
Russia+China vs US+(Australia?). We can review the recent Russian Chinese war games 2 months ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommyt
Maybe Toyota & Yamaha pitches in.
I hope you’re getting points on this. But I agree it’s on.
I think the just completed Russian gas pipeline to Germany is interesting as fuck too.
No one is jumping when you snap your fingers anymore Holmes.
We don’t owe China very much.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommyt
But Biden is much better on China than fake tough guy Trump.
:wtfQuote:
Originally Posted by Walter SobchakWe don’t owe China very much.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommyt
But Biden is much better on China than fake tough guy Trump.
$1.2 trillionQuote:
Originally Posted by Walter SobchakWe don’t owe China very much.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommyt
But Biden is much better on China than fake tough guy Trump.
Biden has been owned by China beginning with his international debut @ the G7 in Alaska in June. It was considered a US embarrassment by the international press. Power balance is shifting. Stay with us Walter.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is working against Biden behind the scenes for reasons one can only surmise. That’s another story. You clearly aren’t ready for that level of detail.
We are considering what penalty you will have to serve Walter. Don’t pull a Druff-style whaddabout with Trump.
Walter is incapable of admitting fault in Biden, you must know this by nowQuote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar$1.2 trillionQuote:
Originally Posted by Walter Sobchak
Biden has been owned by China beginning with his international debut @ the G7 in Alaska in June. It was considered a US embarrassment by the international press. Power balance is shifting. Stay with us Walter.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is working against Biden behind the scenes for reasons one can only surmise. That’s another story. You clearly aren’t ready for that level of detail.
We are considering what penalty you will have to serve Walter. Don’t pull a Druff-style whaddabout with Trump.
The funny thing is that you people think you know what you’re talking about.
Funny, I am the only person you have any contact with that skims diplomatic readouts nearly every day now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter Sobchak
Financial Times is god now too.
The Biden Blinken thing is a good cop bad cop schtick. Biden plays nice and Blinken wields the threats. China and Russia are way past this now.
The military industrial complex is your only remaining friend.
Taiwan and the Asian-Pacific is coming. Invest some effort now so you can enjoy the coming shitshow fully. You really think we are entering years of peace?
I agree wholeheartedly with this Guardian article. Packed with so much goodness and disdain. Boris Johnson really is a swizzle stick stirring the China drink. Johnson just trying to play on the world stage with the big boys. Dangerous fucker he is.
Boris Johnson’s military alliance in the Pacific is reckless post-imperial nostalgia
https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...ostalgia-aukus
Quote:
Britain has no conceivable reason for adopting an aggressive position in the Pacific. It is all arcane post-imperial nostalgia. If the US is mad enough to return to war in south-east Asia over Taiwan, it is nothing to do with Britain, any more than Vietnam was. France, too, claims concern for its “citizens” in the Pacific. Europe’s second-rank states seem unable ever to let go of their empires.
These western diplomatic amateurs are gonna get crushed.Quote:
Boris Johnson protested that it was “not adversarial” toward China, but, when Theresa May asked if he seriously envisaged war over Taiwan, he refused to say no.
Biden to announce in his UN address that “America is back”.
Lol, ok Joe
:lol2Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter SobchakWe don’t owe China very much.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommyt
But Biden is much better on China than fake tough guy Trump.
And he’s correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
back where, Walter? We have so many serious and immediate issues in this country, hardly any of which will get better or be solved by Mr Biden. And I don't know how a person can show such unwavering support for him while there is a serious crisis at the southern border growing worse by the day on his watch. And, doesn't he deserve to pay some price for killing that innocent family in Afghanistan and then telling us they were ISIS? Shouldn't we want our president to be sure before ordering these types of executions? This country is at a very weak and vulnerable point in its history and we have a weak and vulnerable president to go along with the times. Best to accept reality, IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter SobchakAnd he’s correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanlmar
Biden isn't getting bashed for his southern border fuckup as much as he deserves.
If you're going to campaign on the idea that Trump was cruel and callous with his attitude about migrants trying to cross that border, and you don't have a plan of how to deal with it yourself, that's a huge disaster.
Basically the migrants were waiting for Biden to beat Trump, and when he did, they flooded the border, expecting to be allowed in the country. Bafflingly, despite this being very predictable, Biden wasn't at all prepared for this, and has basically just been ignoring the situation for as long as he can. He tried to delegate it to Kamala for awhile, but that became a PR nightmare when she couldn't handle it, so they quickly backed away from that.
It remains a huge issue. COVID concerns are complicating it even further.
Biden's attempt to return the US to the days of being the UN's bitch doesn't bode well for us, either.
Everything Biden has done regarding foreign policy has resulted in a (foreseeable) fiasco. It's only going to get worse.
Trump was crushed by the media for the border issues. Kids in cages, etc etc. And nothing has gotten better, only worse and yet Mr Biden hasn't received the same media hatred Mr Trump did. Too many people want to see every issue as one between democrat and republican when so few of these issues should be or are political. There is a crisis at the southern border. We should all want that to change for the better regardless what political party is in power, no?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
The UN’s bitch lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
The US does what it wants with or without the UN.
He’s deporting lots of people, that should make you happy.Quote:
Originally Posted by country978Trump was crushed by the media for the border issues. Kids in cages, etc etc. And nothing has gotten better, only worse and yet Mr Biden hasn't received the same media hatred Mr Trump did. Too many people want to see every issue as one between democrat and republican when so few of these issues should be or are political. There is a crisis at the southern border. We should all want that to change for the better regardless what political party is in power, no?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
The US pretty much was the UN's bitch, prior to Trump. GW Bush somewhat broke from what they wanted, but he never had the balls to take that concept as far as it needed to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter SobchakThe UN’s bitch lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
The US does what it wants with or without the UN.
Trump's attitude was, "Fuck it, we will do what's best for America. I don't give shit what the UN thinks."
That was actually the correct attitude. The US doesn't really need the UN, and if something really big happens to where UN cooperation is necessary, they'll cooperate anyway, as our interests do align a good deal.
Biden is back to kissing ass to the UN.
I was impressed with Trump's foreign policy moves, in general. That was the best aspect of his Presidency, but it was overshadowed by his tweets, bad behavior, and ultimately his inability to accept defeat.
However, Trump basically got every major foreign policy decision right, whereas Biden has them all wrong thus far.
not really about my happiness. I don't know the right answers but I do know the action the government has taken have only made matters worse. Under this president and many before him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter SobchakHe’s deporting lots of people, that should make you happy.Quote:
Originally Posted by country978
The US is the all-time world leader in defying UN resolutions, doesn’t sound like being their bitch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffThe US pretty much was the UN's bitch, prior to Trump. GW Bush somewhat broke from what they wanted, but he never had the balls to take that concept as far as it needed to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter Sobchak
Trump's attitude was, "Fuck it, we will do what's best for America. I don't give shit what the UN thinks."
That was actually the correct attitude. The US doesn't really need the UN, and if something really big happens to where UN cooperation is necessary, they'll cooperate anyway, as our interests do align a good deal.
Biden is back to kissing ass to the UN.
I was impressed with Trump's foreign policy moves, in general. That was the best aspect of his Presidency, but it was overshadowed by his tweets, bad behavior, and ultimately his inability to accept defeat.
However, Trump basically got every major foreign policy decision right, whereas Biden has them all wrong thus far.
I did not like the decision to assassinate the Iranian general in Iraq mostly because of the retaliation against the American soldiers in Iraq that could have easily been expected. Aside from that my objections to Trump foreign policy are few. And its good to hear Druff finally compliment Trump, albeit indirectly, for his role in getting us out of Afghanistan.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffThe US pretty much was the UN's bitch, prior to Trump. GW Bush somewhat broke from what they wanted, but he never had the balls to take that concept as far as it needed to go.Quote:
Originally Posted by Walter Sobchak
Trump's attitude was, "Fuck it, we will do what's best for America. I don't give shit what the UN thinks."
That was actually the correct attitude. The US doesn't really need the UN, and if something really big happens to where UN cooperation is necessary, they'll cooperate anyway, as our interests do align a good deal.
Biden is back to kissing ass to the UN.
I was impressed with Trump's foreign policy moves, in general. That was the best aspect of his Presidency, but it was overshadowed by his tweets, bad behavior, and ultimately his inability to accept defeat.
However, Trump basically got every major foreign policy decision right, whereas Biden has them all wrong thus far.