O/T:- Trump

[drillerpie]

I'm not pro-Trump, but I think he's more likely to bring a swift resolution to the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine rather than chucking endless money at them. Perhaps a bit of a fringe issue for some, but I also much prefer his stance on digital assets and the entire industry being built around them, which the Democrats have done everything they can to stifle.

Just a few thoughts here:

Last time he got in I remember him boasting about having the biggest defence budget ever. Presumably he is not going to cut military spending this time. What difference does it make if they send a few percent of that to Ukraine? Or do you think he's going to take money from the defence budget and put it into addiction counselling or social housing?

Do you think a swift resolution to either of those conflicts would involve a just resolution? Presumably it would involve rewarding Russia for its invasion and for threatening to use nukes every other day for 2 years by giving international recognition of stolen territory. Do you think this would guarantee a peaceful future given the number of unresolved territorial disputes in the world? Do you think this will disincentivise countries from developing nuclear weapons knowing thatbthebcrazier you act with them the more free stuff you get? Is there any empirical evidence from previous periods of US isolationism that it leads to world peace?

[slack_pie]

Just a few thoughts here:

Last time he got in I remember him boasting about having the biggest defence budget ever. Presumably he is not going to cut military spending this time. What difference does it make if they send a few percent of that to Ukraine? Or do you think he's going to take money from the defence budget and put it into addiction counselling or social housing?

Do you think a swift resolution to either of those conflicts would involve a just resolution? Presumably it would involve rewarding Russia for its invasion and for threatening to use nukes every other day for 2 years by giving international recognition of stolen territory. Do you think this would guarantee a peaceful future given the number of unresolved territorial disputes in the world? Do you think this will disincentivise countries from developing nuclear weapons knowing thatbthebcrazier you act with them the more free stuff you get? Is there any empirical evidence from previous periods of US isolationism that it leads to world peace?

At some point, the war in Ukraine has to end. The best way for it to end is with both sides agreeing to a deal that settles the matter as peacefully as possible, as soon as possible. I believe Trump is more inclined to pursue this approach than Biden, who seems happy for the war to continue indefinitely.

Besides supporting the military effort, there are obvious questions to be asked about funnelling billions of dollars into one of the most corrupt nations in Europe.

Trump is also more likely to ensure the integrity of the southern border and stop illegal immigration.

Please note: pursuing peaceful resolutions to war and stopping illegal immigration aren't "far-right" ideas.

And once again for the record, before I get called this or that, I'm not a Trump supporter.

[M0ufMk3]

At some point, the war in Ukraine has to end. The best way for it to end is with both sides agreeing to a deal that settles the matter as peacefully as possible, as soon as possible. I believe Trump is more inclined to pursue this approach than Biden, who seems happy for the war to continue indefinitely.

Besides supporting the military effort, there are obvious questions to be asked about funnelling billions of dollars into one of the most corrupt nations in Europe.

Trump is also more likely to ensure the integrity of the southern border and stop illegal immigration.

Please note: pursuing peaceful resolutions to war and stopping illegal immigration aren't "far-right" ideas.

And once again for the record, before I get called this or that, I'm not a Trump supporter.

Trump's frequent announcements on foreign policy basically represent an isolationist stance. His other pronouncements are basically cosying up to the alt right which he believes will grant him power. [The centre - there is no mainstream left in America, Biden would almost be a conservative in the UK, albeit a moderate - would never countenance a misogynist braggart.]

However, to the point of backing out of Ukraine, the question is where then will Putin stop. He is an imperialist at heart (I can already hear the right wondering "well, what is wrong with that"), who uses expansion conveniently to cover up the gangster state he has grown, a sort of Peaky Blinders +. Next stop will be Finland, then possibly the former Soviet states and the West needs an America which is actively engaged in the world. Whilst Russia is the immediate existential threat, China is the underlying long term problem (same thing we need an America actively engaged) but operates with more intelligence and has weaponised Western 'five minutes of fame' culture along with its addiction to social media and reasonably priced serviceable gadgets.

[andy6025]

I’d really like to see some back of the napkin math that shows that on some planet it’s a logical move for Putin to wake up one day and say, “I think I’ll role the dice on taking over and attempting to occupy the fast declining economic entity that is now Europe.”

I mean, American is the military and economic powerhouse of the world, and yet it cost them trillions to invade and occupy Iraq and Afghanistan, in which they ultimately lost the latter and effectively handed the former over to become a proxy of Iran.

But supposedly a country with a GDP smaller than that of Italy is going to have better luck taking on the entire west to indefinitely occupy all (or most?) of Europe because, u know… daddy needs a new empire!

[LincsPie]

I’d really like to see some back of the napkin math that shows that on some planet it’s a logical move for Putin to wake up one day and say, “I think I’ll role the dice on taking over and attempting to occupy the fast declining economic entity that is now Europe.”

.........

But supposedly a country with a GDP smaller than that of Italy is going to have better luck taking on the entire west to indefinitely occupy all (or most?) of Europe because, u know… daddy needs a new empire!

The thing is Putin (or any other despot/dictator/autocrat/politician) tend not to act logically when it comes to wielding power.

And yes he wants to restore the former Soviet Union and create a buffer zone of Russian friendly states between the west and Russia.

[andy6025]

The thing is Putin (or any other despot/dictator/autocrat/politician) tend not to act logically when it comes to wielding power.

And yes he wants to restore the former Soviet Union and create a buffer zone of Russian friendly states between the west and Russia.

Yeah, Putin strikes me as a highly impulsive guy too. He’s also a staunch supporter of communism.