Russia Invades Ukraine

calvegas04

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I agree with everything except for the bolded. Ukraine is virtually out of soldiers. Continuing to support them militarily is simply pouring money down the drain at this point. There is no scenario in which they can win unless we directly start fighting on their behalf. I don't think anyone wants that, but some on this board may disagree.
I think russia is much worse off than they are making it out to be. I have seen videos popping up of them using mules to deliver supplies now. Much less armor being used in their assaults. I don't think they can afford for the war to go on much longer. If Ukraine continues to cripple their oil economy russia will be forced to agree to more favorable terms.
 

ab2cmiller

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I think russia is much worse off than they are making it out to be. I have seen videos popping up of them using mules to deliver supplies now. Much less armor being used in their assaults. I don't think they can afford for the war to go on much longer. If Ukraine continues to cripple their oil economy russia will be forced to agree to more favorable terms.
That can't be true, Zelensky has let it be known that Putin plans to go to war against NATO countries next year.
 

Blazers46

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Yeah we thousands of military vehicles in the desert sitting there never being used. Let Ukraine have them and kill some russians
Yay war! I guess they could borrow them from Hamas and ISIS…
 

TorontoGold

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Ok, i think I understand. You are objecting to the use of the term, not alleging that the practice is good.

People are using the term "laundered" in a manner that doesn't meet the definition.
There is literally no point for the US Government to "clean" money.

Similar to how you would classify a civil conviction vs a criminal one. Civil might not be great but it's not the same level of criminal.

Correct. He couldn't get past the term audit and how they weren't going by the book. When is reality they were reviewing the data at a high level to find the anomalies before they get into a real audit.

I think you're missing your fastball. You didn't follow the conversation. This has nothing to do with USAID. This is purely on the funds being sent to the Ukraine. Less twitter time, more reading time.
 

Blazers46

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There is literally no point for the US Government to "clean" money.

Similar to how you would classify a civil conviction vs a criminal one. Civil might not be great but it's not the same level of criminal.
Oh contrar… if the moneys “purpose” is to be circumvented it’s dirty to begin with. I can slap a label of military aid on it but if I’m funneling and channeling that money with a nefarious purpose it was never clean. You can call it whatever you want.
 

ab2cmiller

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Did he actually say those words. The video doesn't show where he said that. He did say they lost a lot of soldiers doing it, but I didn't hear anything about "so Russia should keep it". At this point it wouldn't totally surprise me if he did, but I'm skeptical since it wasn't in the video.
 

ab2cmiller

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I can only assume it's propaganda at this point and that Twitter account can't be taken seriously unless someone can provide some proof.
 

NorthDakota

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I think it is dumb calling them a shitty country, have you been there? Do you know people from there? Feel like they are a victim of being next to shitty countries.

Obviously they have a right to defend themselves and they should be at the negotiations when it comes to peace. It's obvious the new administration preferences russia over Ukraine.

If Ukraine still wants to fight for their freedom when we should support them. Russia is no friend of the American people
You'll need to define what Ukraine is then. Are you talking about the people or the people in charge?

There have been hundreds of videos for a couple years of men being kidnapped off the street to go fight. Conscription is a thing and always has been, but beating men in the street and throwing them in vans is a bad look. I think the NYT or WaPo said their admitted desertions in the last year were as many as the first two years combined.

Hegseth's speech last week seemed about as reasonable as you could hope for. Ukraine isn't taking their land back. So it's in our best interest to get this wrapped up.
 

ab2cmiller

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Beuhler, Beuhler
You'll need to define what Ukraine is then. Are you talking about the people or the people in charge?

There have been hundreds of videos for a couple years of men being kidnapped off the street to go fight. Conscription is a thing and always has been, but beating men in the street and throwing them in vans is a bad look. I think the NYT or WaPo said their admitted desertions in the last year were as many as the first two years combined.

Hegseth's speech last week seemed about as reasonable as you could hope for. Ukraine isn't taking their land back. So it's in our best interest to get this wrapped up.
I support coming to some kind of negotiated deal. What I don't understand is Hegseth and Trump publicly saying things that takes away any leverage that the US or Ukraine could possibly use to arrive at a better deal.
 

NorthDakota

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And we were called delusional for pointing out the obvious. You can practically see the puppet strings.
I don't follow? All he said was it was unlikely that Ukraine was going to get back to their old borders?

Do you think it's likely? Because yes that is going to make people think you are delusional.
 

Irish#1

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There's a lot of truth in all of these posts. Ukraine was a corrupt country before Putin decided to flex. They learned how to be corrupt while under Soviet rule. Regardless, there has to be a balance in continuing this because there has been no real progress by either side since it started. NK joining the fight probably is an indication that Russia is depleting their resources, but by how much? I don't think either side can sustain the fight much longer.
 

NorthDakota

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Beuhler, Beuhler

I support coming to some kind of negotiated deal. What I don't understand is Hegseth and Trump publicly saying things that takes away any leverage that the US or Ukraine could possibly use to arrive at a better deal.
What leverage does it take away? Stating basic truths doesn't give up anything.
 

ab2cmiller

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What leverage does it take away? Stating basic truths doesn't give up anything.
Like saying that there is no way that Ukraine would become a NATO member. Putin is probably pretty confident that's how Trump feels, but to come out and say it publicly just prior to negotiations starting is stupid.
 

NorthDakota

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Like saying that there is no way that Ukraine would become a NATO member. Putin is probably pretty confident that's how Trump feels, but to come out and say it publicly just prior to negotiations starting is stupid.
Have you considered that acknowledging Ukraine will never be in NATO is a precondition to even talking?
 

ab2cmiller

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Have you considered that acknowledging Ukraine will never be in NATO is a precondition to even talking?
Then shouldn’t we also be having Russia concede certain items before even talking?

Instead we have reports that Putin wants all of Ukraine.

Us conceding huge leverage points without Russia conceding anything basically guarantees a worse outcome.
 

calvegas04

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Then shouldn’t we also be having Russia concede certain items before even talking?

Instead we have reports that Putin wants all of Ukraine.

Us conceding huge leverage points without Russia conceding anything basically guarantees a worse outcome.
Trump isn't the smartest man at the table.

Regardless just admit Ukraine into NATO in 4 years with the next administration
 

NorthDakota

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Then shouldn’t we also be having Russia concede certain items before even talking?

Instead we have reports that Putin wants all of Ukraine.

Us conceding huge leverage points without Russia conceding anything basically guarantees a worse outcome.
What leverage have we given up?

Putin can reportedly want whatever he wants. He's not getting it all. If he wants to look like a dork, he is free to do so.

I get the whole "low ball" or "high ball" to start negotiations thing, but it's probably good to be the adult in the room.
 

TorontoGold

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Oh contrar… if the moneys “purpose” is to be circumvented it’s dirty to begin with. I can slap a label of military aid on it but if I’m funneling and channeling that money with a nefarious purpose it was never clean. You can call it whatever you want.
Well, why vote for people want to increase military budgets?
 
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