Most are probably doing pretty well, actually. I've read multiple articles quoting Ukrainian soldiers that the majority of Ukrainians who didn't flee the active war zones are pro-Russian ones.
I’m talking about the Ukrainians, not the ethnic Russians. Because I’m hearing differently (rumors only, not intelligence). I’m hearing a lot people have just “gone to the East,” to use an expression not heard in about 80 years.
Nah. I’m sure they’ll be fine. The families may even get a generic, undated letter every few months for the next year or so. And after a while we can just forget about them. The Russians probably gave them their own piece of land to work, and communications are so poor … in the East.
At this point, moral arguments won’t make much of a difference. To channel Dolores O'Riordan, a surprising number of people are able to tell themselves, “But you see, it’s not me. It’s not my family.” And to a certain extent, I get it. You need to appeal to interest. I would say the economic interest is clear. The impact this war is having to food and fuel markets is only beginning to manifest. This winter is going to be severe. When and if Russia wins a strategic victory, they will parlay it into more economic extortion to further their next goals. I will also again point out that Russia has reintroduced a game we thought long obsolete: That Used To Be Mine And I Want It Back. If Russia is allowed to play and allowed to win, then who else is allowed to play? China is on deck to take its turn. Once Russia succeeds in fracturing NATO, what’s to prevent Germany from striking a bargain with Russia to partition Poland for a third time? We love to think of Germany as the one we’ve reformed since 1945, but underneath all of that, they are still Germans. And they know that Poland (and some other countries) are sitting on German soil waiting to be reclaimed. But before any of that happens, do we think a non-NATO Germany won’t start rearming to prepare for its historic national security problem of enemies on all sides? Do we think they won’t feel the need for nuclear weapons, since the UK, France, and Russia have them? Without going down too many rabbit holes (which are infinite, frankly), if we need to think purely in self-interest, then we need to remember that the world order we’ve lived in since WW2 has been relatively stable. I don’t think we’ll like the alternative.
CHIPS act is a start but building plants will take years to complete. That said government subsidies do not guarantee a favorable outcome Solyndra readily comes to mind ($570 Million failure). As for greed that is a human trait. Profits drive investment and capitalism. Humans suffer from greed. It is also worth noting that greed does not need capitalism to survive.
The Solyndra argument is so misplaced. Stronger words are probably appropriate but I’m trying not to be too insulting. That was the rare failure in all of that subsidized R&D at the time, which were pursued because the legal impediments to more direct stimulus projects. To the extent that we avoid catastrophic global warming, it will be due in large part to a lot of the success made in lowering alternative energy costs to that subsidized research, in combination with Chinese over production of photovoltaic cells at the time. In fact, the success rate from that subsidized research far exceeded almost any conventional private directed financing. Elon Musk’s efforts, among others, came out of those subsidies. Viewed as a whole by any reasonable means, itis one of the great success stories of our time. I realize that right wing media constantly indoctrinates so there is no perspective, but that is not an argument.
A well grounded fear, not stated too often. The Germans have outlawed Naziism, but I fear what would be if a nationalist like Orban gained traction there.
ive been saying this a ton. Especially to non interventionists. The world order created by the us and held stable by nato since the collapse of the Soviet Union is at risk and if people think that order can crumble without major warfare following in the years that follow they just do not understand history
You haven't seen much of "that was mine and I want it back" because the pre-eminent powers of the world, especially THE pre-eminent power of the world, have little that they don't already have back. I mean, can you think of a single territory that was American at some point of history that we don't have now? If say the UK takes back the 13 colonies and then say "let's stop this barbaric 'this used to be mine and I want it back' thing" would you be cool with it?
I don’t argue that with respect to the U.S. Apart from exceptions here and there, such as maybe the Canal Zone, we still sit at the peak of our expanse and more or less have land that other people might grumble is theirs, instead of the other way around. But if we are to compare the problem set to Europe and Asia, we are a young power on a young continent when it comes to great powers struggling, having borders, etc. Sure, every once in a while, you get a Russian nationalist lay claim to Alaska (ironic, since we bought it, did not take it by conquest), but for the most part our borders are accepted emotionally, not just legally. I don’t think the same is true in Europe. I think if you asked the average German what Germany’s real borders should be, you would get a variety of answers, but very few would accept the Oder-Niesse Line or Russian/Polish occupation of East Prussia. Same thing with Poland; their lands would extend into portions of modern Belorus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. Hungary, Romania, and Austria have ancient land disputes. Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria all claim Macedonia as inextricable. And so on. Their is no way to cut the map of Europe that would satisfy everyone. You can set unsatisfactory borders for all and tell everyone to accept them and behave (the current, dying world order) or you can let the strong impose their will on the weak (where we are going once more). I’m just pointing out the dangers of the second scenario. Because it does not end at Ukraine.
Intel is already building new chip plants in the Chandler AZ area. Intel breaks ground on $20bn Arizona chip plants in battle with TSMC
After the Soviet Union fell, a lot of people on the extreme right and left in this country asked, “So what do we need NATO for now?” The wise among us pointed out that NATO served three original purposes: keep the U.S. in, keep the Soviet Union out, and keep Germany down. The Soviet Union by another name might have no longer been a problem (a temporary condition as it turned out), but continuing to have a NATO with Germany as a key member keeps them inside the tent pissing out, instead of outside the tent pissing in. As I pointed out earlier, if Germany is no longer part of NATO either because NATO does not exist or they get better terms from the Russians, they will necessarily rearm in accordance with their defense requirements, and the rest of Europe will follow suit.
That was under way before CHIPS was passed. The question now is how much time will be spent on environmental studies etc... If we are willing to build it there are already any number of best practices concerning environmental, saftey and building concerns. So I say break ground and perform routine inspections for compliance.
Right. The NATO force in Germany serves an occupier function, one that the Germans have wanted. The people who lived through what Germany did in the early and mid 20th Century are largely gone. But, the attitudes that created the conditions for genocide are attitudes and beliefs that usually get passed. As a Jew, I am particularly aware of what Germany did and am concerned about whether those conditions can occur again. My grandfather was shot on the Argonne in 1918 and my father joined the Coast Guard at 17 in 1943 and served in the Navy. I have known holocaust survivors. Germans are very able and adaptable people. I posted a thread with a link to the show Cabaret, which is set in 1931 Berlin. It is worth watching to see how ordinary Germans were politicized. And what we in this country have to guard against.
It'll never end. There can be pauses, but it'll never end. Pauses can happen when a dominant power emerges and everyone within its sphere of influence defer to said power's judgment, which is what happened the past few decades. No power lasts forever, however, and people will resume their quest for supremacy when a power vacuum emerges.
outstanding post. Russia doesn’t appear as formidable as expected. maybe our military knew. But Russia is still a significant force. it will take our (and nato) continued support of Ukraine. Not only sending them military armaments but also helping prop up the Ukraine gov, at least during the war. This equates to a lot more $. I agree if we don’t support Ukraine the cost will be much higher. But as the war continues its a concern if we can maintain the support needed. Especially with so many congressional seats changing.
HIMARS wreaking havoc with Russian supply lines and Germany sending their version of HIMARS to add to number of units that Ukraine has to deploy. At some point, the west needs to remove restrictions that are preventing the use of HIMARS to destroy weapons depots on Russian soil near Ukrainian borders. As russis digs deeper into it's old munitions stores, it is going to become more and more dangerous to handle those old shells knowing that missile incoming could happen at any moment. Then these old shells have to be moved much further by truck with transport routes being limited. Tough job in that supply line. If this would ahve happened int he first couple of weeks, Russia never would have occupied the territories that they did. Russia Blows Up Its Ammunition While Trying to Hide From HIMARS: Report (msn.com) The Ukrainian directorate said in a report Tuesday that the explosion took place on Monday. A train with military equipment and ammunition for Russian forces arrived at the Kalanchak station in Ukraine's Kherson region on Sunday, and the personnel began unloading the next morning, the report said. An explosion was reportedly heard in the work area at about 11:20 a.m. local time. Immediately after the explosion, the convoy of train cars began moving in the direction of Crimea "without any warning," and Russia's personnel "scattered in panic," according to the report. While the intelligence agency said that it was not possible to determine the nature of the explosion, it presumed that it was due to "careless" handling of the ammunition or a fire "that arose as a result of inept use of pyrotechnics during the creation of a smoke screen."
6 day old article but good read on how long range weapons with accuracy have neutralized the Russian artillery advantage. I was not aware that private US contractors had been hired to train these Ukrainian troops. 22 year old lawyer last year, commander of a 40 unit squad of misc volunteers with 2 months training preparing to go to the front. Ukraine war: West's modern weapons halt Russia's advance in Donbas Bring your leg up like this," said the man, a former British paratrooper, who was part of a private group offering support to a Ukrainian brigade that had recently arrived to reinforce the frontlines. The Ukrainians were all volunteers, and had only had a couple of months basic training. Their commanders had reached an informal agreement with the Western trainers, for a five-day course. "Of course, it's scary. I've not seen war before," said the unit's 22-year-old commander, a lawyer, who asked that we not use his name. "Worrying is the fact that these guys… lack the basic soldiering skills that the West is used to," said another trainer, Rob, a former US marine.
Not good UN nuclear chief: Ukraine nuclear plant is `out of control' Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press that the situation is getting more perilous every day at the Zaporizhzhia plant in the southeastern city of Enerhodar, which Russian troops seized in early March, soon after their Feb. 24. invasion of Ukraine. “Every principle of nuclear safety has been violated” at the plant, he said. “What is at stake is extremely serious and extremely grave and dangerous.”
