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POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

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Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

... it made me think of economic warfare - specifically with China in terms of currency valuation ...

Wasn't he harping about China and manipulating the value of the yuan during his campaign? I heard on the CBS Radio news this morning that trade and China were on his agenda today. Asking his NSA'r about strong/weak dollar seems like the wrong guy to ask (wake up Mnuchin :D ), unless you're wondering about the national security impacts (who we gonna **** off on trade and how may they hit back: economically, internet, move a battalion).

But, I'm probably overthinking that. He was probably flat-out wondering and just hit the wrong speed dial button.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

Here's one that still churns in me:

Why are there so many US troops amassed in Poland?

The Super Bowl LI Hyundai commercial with troops was from one of those US formations in Poland near the Russian border. Do we really believe Russia is after (NATO allies) Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania*, or are we looking to provoke a confrontation, and WW III?


*Just like Russia took "Korea" <-- thank you for that gem Rep. Waters :)
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

Isn't the answer to the strong/weak dollar question: What's your economic policy going to be? (You manipulate the value of the dollar as a means to that end.)

Had there been enough collective brain-power on either end of that phone call perhaps, but that's not what you wanted in that position.

By the way, since you pride yourself in your consistency and you were practically in tears over the DAPL protesters that allegedly killed a couple cows, I'm sure you'll be just as outraged at this.....unless there was some factor guiding that outrage.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

By the way, since you pride yourself in your consistency and you were practically in tears over the DAPL protesters that allegedly killed a couple cows, I'm sure you'll be just as outraged at this.....unless there was some factor guiding that outrage.

Those drillers that don't handle frack water properly (or let it get away) have been hammered by landowners in the courts. And they should be. It's not that hard to not release that water.

Mentioning clean-up, this has to be a pleasant task. Let's hope they finish before the spring thaw and flooding or else the water protector's camp runoff will contaminate the water of the people they were looking to help out.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

Those drillers that don't handle frack water properly (or let it get away) have been hammered by landowners in the courts. And they should be. It's not that hard to not release that water.

Nah. I'm sure the drillers will go the Harold Hamm route and spend ten times the cost of the fine in order to beat it in court, then travel to every billionaire cocktail they can get invited to so they can whine about how unfair it is that all these laws and regulations are hurting their business.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

The Super Bowl LI Hyundai commercial with troops was from one of those US formations in Poland near the Russian border. Do we really believe Russia is after (NATO allies) Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania*, or are we looking to provoke a confrontation, and WW III?

In a way, Russia will always be after any flatland between its heartland and a mountain range or water. Russia's history has been its knowledge that it's easy for an invading force to speed across the steppe (given good weather), so it's top priority has been to spread out until it hits water (Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Arctic Sea) or mountains (Urals, Caucaus, Carpathians) to prevent that from occurring. Since the northern, southern, or eastern frontiers are not changing (or at the very least, no one wants them), the leaves the western one. Strategically, it makes the most sense for them to go as far west as Poland, since there the gap between the Carpathians and the Baltic is at its thinnest, and as a result that's the easiest position to defend.

Granted, it also depends on what it's in their power to acquire at any given time. During the USSR they had the military and political power to put this into practice. Since the fall of communism, they had enough to worry about at home that the west was able to gain these footholds. Now it's a question of which are the largest priority for each side. The West is much more likely to throw down the gauntlet over Poland and the Baltic States, so they haven't tried anything yet; but ultimately they would like to have them back as geographic buffers. The Crimean was in interesting case, because Ukraine would have been a much more deeper penetration for the west, so there the Russians' unwillingness to let that happen was greater, and the west's desire to hold onto it was weaker, and the balance tipped towards Russia taking action. Whether that happens elsewhere remains to be seen.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

In a way, Russia will always be after any flatland between its heartland and a mountain range or water. Russia's history has been its knowledge that it's easy for an invading force to speed across the steppe (given good weather), so it's top priority has been to spread out until it hits water (Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Arctic Sea) or mountains (Urals, Caucaus, Carpathians) to prevent that from occurring. Since the northern, southern, or eastern frontiers are not changing (or at the very least, no one wants them), the leaves the western one. Strategically, it makes the most sense for them to go as far west as Poland, since there the gap between the Carpathians and the Baltic is at its thinnest, and as a result that's the easiest position to defend.

Not easy to defend against moose and squirrel.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

Here's one that still churns in me:

Why are there so many US troops amassed in Poland?

The Super Bowl LI Hyundai commercial with troops was from one of those US formations in Poland near the Russian border. Do we really believe Russia is after (NATO allies) Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania*, or are we looking to provoke a confrontation, and WW III?


*Just like Russia took "Korea" <-- thank you for that gem Rep. Waters :)
The buildup began a couple weeks before Trump took office, when Pres. Obama wanted to affirm our support of NATO and tell Russia where to stick it when they were sabre rattling. Would that such an action have taken place now that Putin's boy toy has taken office?
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

Were Russia to move, I'd say it would be to have a better western port.

I'm concerned that massing large forces and having them eyeballing each other (prior to official hostilities) has seldom led to positive outcomes.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if we're moving into an age of a Chilled War, the Diet Coke of Cold Wars - not quite cold enough to sever all relations but certainly will be strained for a long time to come.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

Do we really believe Russia is after (NATO allies) Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania

Putin's popularity is based on his strongman image. If/as Russia continues to decline economically due to low oil prices or just the inefficiency of a kleptocracy, he will need to distract his people with some sort of testosterone ploy. Add that Russia and NATO are in competition for influence in Eastern Europe and that Putin is starting to age. Yes, I think a Russian invasion of the Baltic states is a serious threat, especially since Trump has all but proclaimed he won't commit any US resistance.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

Here's one that still churns in me:

Why are there so many US troops amassed in Poland?

The Super Bowl LI Hyundai commercial with troops was from one of those US formations in Poland near the Russian border. Do we really believe Russia is after (NATO allies) Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania*, or are we looking to provoke a confrontation, and WW III?


*Just like Russia took "Korea" <-- thank you for that gem Rep. Waters :)

There is an exclave they're blocking... ;)

I'm not taking too much stock in a heavily politicized set of commercials. It wouldn't surprise me, though, if NATO insists upon troops in Poland...
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

It wouldn't surprise me at all if we're moving into an age of a Chilled War, the Diet Coke of Cold Wars - not quite cold enough to sever all relations but certainly will be strained for a long time to come.

"Now we go live to < war correspondent > at the Fresca Front."
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

PS - Who here hasn't received a work-related phone call (boss, customer) or email between midnight and 0500 hours? I average about two per calendar quarter.

Yeah, but that's like your boss calling you at 3 AM asking about whether the carpet in the office needs to be replaced.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

PS - Who here hasn't received a work-related phone call (boss, customer) or email between midnight and 0500 hours? I average about two per calendar quarter.

I never have, simply because I have structured my life to never have to deal with that crap. IMO, work's cute and all for an income, but it's not important.
 
Re: POTUS 45.3 - Bowling Green Massacre Memorial Thread

Even weirder was when he asked the Secretary of Defense "How is babby formed? How girl get pragnent?".
 
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