'Disaster just around the corner': Australia must not misread China's deadly strategy
https://www.smh.com.au/national/disaster-just-around-the-corner-australia-must-not-misread-china-s-deadly-strategy-20220623-p5avxp.html (https://www.smh.com.au/national/disaster-just-around-the-corner-australia-must-not-misread-china-s-deadly-strategy-20220623-p5avxp.html)
Putin will be livid as Russia officially becomes an economic basket case
https://www.watoday.com.au/business/the-economy/putin-will-be-livid-as-russia-officially-becomes-an-economic-basket-case-20220628-p5ax3d.html (https://www.watoday.com.au/business/the-economy/putin-will-be-livid-as-russia-officially-becomes-an-economic-basket-case-20220628-p5ax3d.html)
In times of war the first casualty is often the truth. It's hard to know what is the truth, even from ones usual news source. Thank you Dave for your efforts in this regard.
Missiles hit Poland!
One or two options:
1. Russia did it deliberately? Unlikely.
2. Ukraine did it as a 'false flag op'? Once again unlikely.
3. Ukraine jammed or spoofed the Russian GPS (GLONASS) signal sending it/them off track? Or, if spoofed, possibly deliberately into Poland? A Possibility?
4. But most likely. Dmitriy had an extra bottle of his home made samogon and dialed the wrong co-ordinates in.
Edit
5. Even more likely, as it turns out, seems to have been a Ukrainian missile gone astray.
quite often there are videos posted of Ukranian AA missiles going astray and hitting buildings in cities.
Most of their stuff is quite old.
There was nothing in the way of this one so it flew to its limit i suppose.
Crypto is still the biggest risk... to the financial system.. could it be the new CDO...but even more deadly?
According to this, (see link that follows below), the total capitalization of all forms of Crypto is now down to just under 1 Trillion, down from nearly $3 Trillion a while back. That's quite some drop so I think we've already seen most of the blowback from this bubble bursting. https://coinmarketcap.com/charts/
According to CNBC this morning the total value of housing just in the US is $29 Trillion, about 30 times the size of the global crypto market. With 30 year mortgage finance now about 6.7% up from just 3.0% at the beginning of 2022, affordability is now a key issue. Maybe real estate is the next shoe to drop assuming Putin doesn't create even worse problems or other dictators in China or North Korea beforehand.
Bit of a stretch comparing a possible property meltdown to the current crypto meltdown isn't it??
I'm just pointing out the relative size of the two markets. Real estate starting to come off the boil in the US and the Fed committed to crushing inflation and asking questions later. Any real chance of a soft landing ? What if Trump gets back into power in 2024 ?
Quote from: Basil on Nov 18, 2022, 08:14 PM......Any real chance of a soft landing ? What if Trump gets back into power in 2024 ?
Exactly........Beagles and pessimists always find a bone to chew.
I prefer optimism.
Even though CP is small at the ,moment the fact that cracks have appeared before it controls the worlds transaction based platforms is possible a good thing.
what most people dont realise is the long term plan for the tech being rolled out and then the counter parties would be a whole lot bigger than they are today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-Term_Capital_Management
Pension funds are being caught up these platforms already.
Is it a sign that the global system is more fragile then we think? Bank of international settlements does it have any insight into CP or is CP already out of control and a slow train wreck.
Some pretty good shooting from the crews on the german anti aircraft tanks.
one crew downing 10 drones near odesa.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-gepard-antiaircraft-drones-switzerland-ammunition-german/32162844.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 06, 2022, 01:05 PMSome pretty good shooting from the crews on the german anti aircraft tanks.
one crew downing 10 drones near odesa.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-gepard-antiaircraft-drones-switzerland-ammunition-german/32162844.html
I guess this is the dream job for the Gepard - exactly what it is made for. Hit rate in the high 90% even when taking down faster objects like ultrasound fighters (which the drones are not), lots of shots in a row (basically unlimited - belt fed like a machine gun) and very cheap to get the targets down. How much is a 35 mm shell?
One Gepard should be enough for a drone swarm, though normally they come in prides of 4 ...
Only problem is the range - roughly 6km from memory, i.e. you need a lot of Gepards to cover the full length of the Ukrainian border ...
Lucky the UKE's are well lead army and the politicans are doing a pretty good job of global PR...
european arms manufacures look like they dont have the capacity or the governments the budget to keep up with the UKE gunners rate of fire.
reading in das spegial the lastest interview of Merkel gives some insight into german politics...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-year-with-ex-chancellor-merkel-you-re-done-with-power-politics-a-f46149cb-6deb-45a8-887c-8aa37cc9b3c3
A world at war ... the TV series... history constantly repeating itself in patterns of behaviours.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-children-russia-chechnya-camps/32164367.html
With IWI seats in the LABOURED government now in open defiance of the PM surely the PM must be looking to move on to greener pastures becuase she has no control over her kindergarten play ground kiddies...
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bryce-edwards-labour-needs-nanaia-mahuta-to-go-but-shes-too-powerful/4TNTR3T2VJBJPENKCWPS6XC55A/
its all over for the PM .... a lame duck; no ducks in a row... they are all quacking off in different directions... and the a black day with nothing to crow about ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=duck+quacking&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBNZ875NZ875&oq=duck+quacking&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64.3989j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:338fe7ab,vid:SxTn1cNrSgI
New cold war? still in the old one? Merkel just told us we havnt gone anywhere!!!
back to the old normal after all...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/08/cold-war-never-ended-says-angela-merkel-admits-germany-should/
and since we are in the New Old Cool war....
Arts Channel ... Cold war and cinema....
get the family lined up and start that education... does the current generation of under 30's even know what it is?
Get them Red october out? and other cold war movies?
gosh ... and now it turned hot and is as insane as its possibe to be...
luckly China has told Moscow to put the nukes away and it turns out crinimal country's are back and human nature is the same as it always been....
new era is breaking upon us and it looks like the old one after all...
George smilye anyone? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Smiley
Atomic Blonde ...
Girls with the Dragon Tattoo...
The Right Stuff
...
Doctor Strange Love ...
Our Man in Havana ...
Its going to HOT up in the middle east with IRAN getting Modern Russian 4th generation jet fighters...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/09/russia-send-iran-top-fighter-jets-return-kamikaze-drones/
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 08, 2022, 04:15 PMWith IWI seats in the LABOURED government now in open defiance of the PM surely the PM must be looking to move on to greener pastures becuase she has no control over her kindergarten play ground kiddies...
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bryce-edwards-labour-needs-nanaia-mahuta-to-go-but-shes-too-powerful/4TNTR3T2VJBJPENKCWPS6XC55A/
its all over for the PM .... a lame duck; no ducks in a row... they are all quacking off in different directions... and the a black day with nothing to crow about ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=duck+quacking&rlz=1C1CHBF_en-GBNZ875NZ875&oq=duck+quacking&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64.3989j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:338fe7ab,vid:SxTn1cNrSgI
Maybe - but why would this be a Geo Political risk? I think you are more pointing to local opportunities ...
yes you are right BP its off topic.
The fractures in local politics though can lead to mounting pressure on so called united fronts globally.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/10/fear-full-blown-war-west-russia-nato-chief-warns/
There appears to be no end in site here....
and that bad for markets.
we could no movement in the NZX for years at this rate.
Geo politics could mean the NZX is a solely traders market.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/12/10/west-has-reason-fear-rational-vladimir-putin/
Anything can happen.
Russia might crumble under the pressure of decades of economic mismanagement and a lost war - like the Soviet Union crumbled (quite unexpectedly I might say) in 1991. These events don't tend to give long notice.
However - while it would be unusual for losing autocrats, Putin might hold on to power in Russia and turn it into a much larger North Korea.
A triangle of evil (Russia, Iran, North Korea) could start (and lose) WW 3 in earnest, but inflict immeasurable damage on the world while doing so.
But whatever happens - there would be huge opportunities for New Zealand to turn into the Switzerland of the South Pacific. Swiss economy did not have issues during WW 2 - and if we have problems over the next decade or so, than it would be only due to our lack of vision and lack of flexibility.
Anyway - I am an optimist.
"Switzerland of the South Pacific."
with the universities embeding tribal values in every class including financial banking (assume they are) which has spread from the social science departments all across all public educational sectors i dont give you much chance of that.
even if ACT gets everything they want IWI has planted enough MP's into national to stop anything radical and National doesnt have the Chutzpah to anything radical...
NAY not buying it... country going no where and if SWIZZLAND arrives will fall off the chair....
do buy russia falling apart though as history repeats and lets face a new war in europe is here and right now Germany and france are still in "we cant see nothing" as the out house is buring down....
i dont think markets have prices this war in yet....
Does it look like the sanctions are going to work or fall apart slowly...
https://tvpworld.com/65019822/impasse-in-eu-talks-on-9th-sanction-package-against-russia
what ever happens it doesnt look clean cut and dried... but messy... and anything but certain.
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 11, 2022, 01:56 PM"Switzerland of the South Pacific."
with the universities embeding tribal values in every class including financial banking (assume they are) which has spread from the social science departments all across all public educational sectors i dont give you much chance of that.
even if ACT gets everything they want IWI has planted enough MP's into national to stop anything radical and National doesnt have the Chutzpah to anything radical...
NAY not buying it... country going no where and if SWIZZLAND arrives will fall off the chair....
...
Not saying it will happen, just pointed to an amazing opportunity.
... and while I agree that our current path could well point towards NZ turning into an inward looking remote island at the end of the world losing contact and neglecting to teach our children even maths and at least one international language properly ... there is a lot to say about the hit rate of linear extrapolation in highly complex chaotic systems.
Anyway ... lets talk again about the geopolitical risks, plenty of them around.
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 11, 2022, 01:56 PM...
do buy russia falling apart though as history repeats and lets face a new war in europe is here and right now Germany and france are still in "we cant see nothing" as the out house is buring down....
i dont think markets have prices this war in yet....
Does it look like the sanctions are going to work or fall apart slowly...
https://tvpworld.com/65019822/impasse-in-eu-talks-on-9th-sanction-package-against-russia
what ever happens it doesnt look clean cut and dried... but messy... and anything but certain.
Not sure whether Russia has the stamina to stand through an extension of the war in Europe. Don't forget - at the end its an economy half the size of Italy - and they would stand against something like 50% of world GDP. As well - their soldiers are highly demotivated, they are not even able to fight a country 1/5th of their size and corruption and incompetence reigns in the Russian ranks. No - while they will happily seed discontent, they won't go and fight openly against Europe.
Markets seem to be optimistic. Most of my European shares look full green (i.e. they had their golden cross already over the last couple of months).
Lastest figures got Ugly Bear with GDP not far beghind italty but per head of population its look bad...
canada a long way ahead....
thing is winter is going to cost the west a lot more to fund UKE and Ugly bear has the money still flowing in.
Euro markets havnt priced in a winter where it has to supply Everything (alomst anyway) to UKE's
has anyone figured out what that cost is going to be and remeber it not just this winter but N(winters)....
the UKE's ant going to stop no way not even if the EUROS ask them to....
Maybe of the ugly bear force freeze to death in the coming months ....
but the UKE will only want to keep going if they cubs are all dead in front of them...
Has anyone totalled up the bill for this on euro markets?
now none of that made much sense as we are on to many key boards all at once....
Elon hurry up with Opto robot... it can lift stuff but can it type? will it need to type?
it bound to be plugged into everything right?
ugly bear really isnt going to win if elon get Opto prime to mars first...
who said mars was going to a human place... robots would really go a lot better there than humans...
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 11, 2022, 07:37 PMLastest figures got Ugly Bear with GDP not far beghind italty but per head of population its look bad...
canada a long way ahead....
thing is winter is going to cost the west a lot more to fund UKE and Ugly bear has the money still flowing in.
Euro markets havnt priced in a winter where it has to supply Everything (alomst anyway) to UKE's
has anyone figured out what that cost is going to be and remeber it not just this winter but N(winters)....
the UKE's ant going to stop no way not even if the EUROS ask them to....
Maybe of the ugly bear force freeze to death in the coming months ....
but the UKE will only want to keep going if they cubs are all dead in front of them...
Has anyone totalled up the bill for this on euro markets?
now none of that made much sense as we are on to many key boards all at once....
Elon hurry up with Opto robot... it can lift stuff but can it type? will it need to type?
it bound to be plugged into everything right?
ugly bear really isnt going to win if elon get Opto prime to mars first...
who said mars was going to a human place... robots would really go a lot better there than humans...
Whoa... okay I have read this a couple of times. I admire your free form structure and its reflection of the process of thought through a stream of consciousness style but I don't have much idea what it is that you're on about, eh?
HP - you nailed it!!!!
as the world decends into a place that only https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostradamus would , could predict.....
the stream of consciousness will reflect a whole series of unrelated thoughts which depicts one descending into a state of panic....
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 11, 2022, 07:37 PMLastest figures got Ugly Bear with GDP not far beghind italty but per head of population its look bad...
canada a long way ahead....
thing is winter is going to cost the west a lot more to fund UKE and Ugly bear has the money still flowing in.
Euro markets havnt priced in a winter where it has to supply Everything (alomst anyway) to UKE's
has anyone figured out what that cost is going to be and remeber it not just this winter but N(winters)....
the UKE's ant going to stop no way not even if the EUROS ask them to....
Maybe of the ugly bear force freeze to death in the coming months ....
but the UKE will only want to keep going if they cubs are all dead in front of them...
Has anyone totalled up the bill for this on euro markets?
now none of that made much sense as we are on to many key boards all at once....
Elon hurry up with Opto robot... it can lift stuff but can it type? will it need to type?
it bound to be plugged into everything right?
ugly bear really isnt going to win if elon get Opto prime to mars first...
who said mars was going to a human place... robots would really go a lot better there than humans...
Look, you seem to be currently in a quite dark mood.
Not too concerned about the coming winter in Europe (and neither are our relatives and friends living there). Amazing thing is how fast Europe is now moving to alternative energy supplies (including regeneratives). Russia is shooting itself into the feet - again and again, and it will take a long time for them to recover (if ever). For the short term - ever wondered why the price of oil is already dropping if everybody expects such terrible winters for the worlds largest economic union ahead?
And talking about the rebuild of Ukraine (and just to brighten you up) - have a wee look at what the rebuild of Germany did cost after WW2 (in relation to world GDP at that time) and check what it did to the economy (check 1946 to say 1966 ...); amazing times for Europe as well as for the supporting US. They called it the Golden Age of Capitalism!
Here is one useful source for data: https://www.statista.com/topics/8096/post-wwii-economic-boom/#topicOverview
And now put this into relation to the rebuild costs for the Ukraine and tell us how bad things really are ...
BP some of it is in jest...
BP to cheer us up youve had to lay down the worst cases in History!!!
Well laid out arguments in deed.
Rock Rochan on the situation... the polish are a bit dark on it...
"keep calm, carry on and shoot Ruskkies..."
yes as a history major before going over the darl arts of double entry book keeping most of those suggections if yours have been in the library before being born...
there is even an orginal copy of "Defenders of New Zealand"...
Debt to GDP for europe is not looking good and Mario will tell you they havnt yet even started unwind the central banks QE from 2008...
BP they have a french lawyer in charge of the central bank... think Helen Clarke!!!!
Now debt to GDP is a big thing for markets and right now show us a european country with a good sound ratio...
NZ has a mich better one and so does AUS...
right now AUS is looking like the winner!
Ulgy bear.... https://www.rferl.org/a/interview-dominic-lieven-ukraine-russia-war-crimea/32171757.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 12, 2022, 02:00 PMBP some of it is in jest...
BP to cheer us up youve had to lay down the worst cases in History!!!
There is a reason I try to learn from the 1850/60 íes (various revolutions in Europe and American civil war) and 1930 ies / 40íes (Global economic crisis and WW2, obviously) when trying to assess what might happen in the 2010's / 20íes: If you follow human history, there is a real crisis every four generations (or one full human life) or so (some people call this time saeculum) - and this time is now.
Some interesting books in this context would be e.g.
Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail
by Ray Dalio (try your local library ... or buy the e-book)
or (already one generation old, but quite relevant):
The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy - What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny
by Neil Howe und William Strauss
Obviously - we don't know, whether we are already through the worst of this current crisis, but we can learn a lot from the patterns which played out in the past. And yes, we know, there will be an economic spring ... and terrible destruction is often a cause for a significant and long ongoing upturn.
OK BP just for you we have taken off the LIbrary dinning room book case....
1848 - Jean Sigmann - germany.
Europe Since Napolean, David Thomson.
Europe 1880 - 1945 , JM Roberts...
stable stuff for winter reading... in holland and sweden.
And in poland the reporting goes on...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-rjIbYgS8M
Why are ugly bear troops putting on Gas Masks? what are they planning on the UGLLY bear side next ?
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2022/12/14/ukraine-russian-soldiers-intercepted-calls-freezing-frontline-ebof-sot-vpx.cnn
Gosh LUXON finally shines....
hes a big stage player after all...
ARDERN flops into Hellen clarke, Mukler Merkel speech....
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130757871/christopher-luxon-the-statesman-emerges-as-the-ukraine-war-beams-into-parliament
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 15, 2022, 10:17 AMGosh LUXON finally shines....
hes a big stage player after all...
ARDERN flops into Hellen clarke, Mukler Merkel speech....
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130757871/christopher-luxon-the-statesman-emerges-as-the-ukraine-war-beams-into-parliament
Luxton's ability to identify the weakness of the UN does not make him a statesman, which requires more than merely the ability to
state the blindingly obvious. Thomas Manch's piece is headed with the word, "analysis" in bold and all capitals. There appears little actual analysis thereafter.
"Luxton's"
think the name is Luxon.... my typing these days is pretty bad... need a robot opti prime.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Luxon
the speechs were all hopeless... his apparently the best according the article.
The most deadly war in europe since WW2 and that threaten to go global and nuclear and thats all they managed....
well back to Portrait artist of the year ...
wonder if NZ will even have an orchestra in a decade or 2...
but it will have this forever...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq2K8ak47nM
Lesson from the Russo Finnish war ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pf7MLUIiBw
Horrific stuff from the front lines... Ukraine taking losses that arnt reported on very often...
https://kyivindependent.com/national/understanding-russias-relentless-assault-on-bakhmut
nuclear power making a coming back. Is this going to be an investable sector in the near future.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/16/bill-gates-backed-nuclear-demonstration-delayed-by-at-least-2-years.html
The new gold rush for gas fields...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/12/16/cold-snap-has-brought-total-economic-defeat-putin/
Heres one for BP... maybe a german AA tank was operating in the area at the same time as this sharp shooter quick drawed his machine gun...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/16/ukraine-soldier-achieves-impossible-downing-cruise-missile-machine/
Its a cold war thats not happening only the west doesnt know how to do one anymore... Muckerla Merkel says it never stopped...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/08/cold-war-never-ended-says-angela-merkel-admits-germany-should/
black ops are back ?
https://www.rferl.org/a/military-strategist-mcfate-what-could-stop-russia/32180030.html
does it mean instability is here to stay...
and warren says hold forever is your best option....
or better yet just pass the ...
https://www.tuihq.co.nz/
An NZ beach and a surf board with a ice cold bin of your favourite beverage sound better than a re run of the 1930's arms race...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/16/japan-launches-320bn-defence-spending-boost/
and these guys says they hit the jack pot and knocked out a lot of russian tanks...
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-donetsk-fighting-soldiers/32180219.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 17, 2022, 12:03 PMHeres one for BP... maybe a german AA tank was operating in the area at the same time as this sharp shooter quick drawed his machine gun...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/12/16/ukraine-soldier-achieves-impossible-downing-cruise-missile-machine/
Actually - it is doable. Needs just a lot of rounds, some idea how to calculate the offset and plenty of luck ....
really!!! amazing...
and what about these BP ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eitUCcDgr0c
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_KF51#:~:text=The%20Panther%20KF51%20is%20a,%22%2C%20i.e.%2C%20tracked%20vehicle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXG_WpicClI
Only now are the getting rid of the communists in Finland...
are there any still left here in parliment?
"reds under th Beds"
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/video/dancing-cossacks
Those statues have got to go!!
https://www.spiegel.de/international/the-death-of-a-forced-friendship-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-ends-an-era-in-finland-a-aaacd05d-0c33-4215-bd2b-3be3e0b6368e
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 18, 2022, 04:58 PMreally!!! amazing...
and what about these BP ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eitUCcDgr0c
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_KF51#:~:text=The%20Panther%20KF51%20is%20a,%22%2C%20i.e.%2C%20tracked%20vehicle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXG_WpicClI
... not my area of expertise :) ;
Used to serve in and later on develop stuff for the air defence. Panther not air defence - it is some sort of replacement for the Leopard 2. Not really defence (and certainly not air defence), but attack.
I am sure the older Leopard 2's would do just fine for Ukraine (certainly compared to the gear Russia recovered from the scrap yards), but for some reason Nato seems to be very reluctant to give Ukraine anything they can use for offence, even if they want to use it only to attack the attackers.
Some say China is objecting to gear being sent to ukraine
but who knows...
Its looking bleak... does russia care how many of its soldiers die... maybe not ... can the west keep up this war?
a bleak accessment ...
is Iran the real problem here and North K..
the new axis of evil.
https://www.newsweek.com/russia-running-out-ammo-how-much-longer-can-keep-fighting-1762346
https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-solution-bakhmut-meat-grinder-1768195
BP these a big...
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-send-seven-additional-gepard-tanks-ukraine-spiegel-2022-12-02/
apparently large orders being handed out by ugly bear for missile to the defence industry... will sanction work ... where does North K get its missile guidence technology from... lots of questions...
if this thing goes for on for years it will effect markets...
whos selling western technology and where.
is crypto at the heart of the evil defence trade for these evil countries.
Well BP - if this is right then the germans and the french are in for a shock and those tank systems and fighters cant be handed over fast enough....
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/target-russia%E2%80%99s-capability-not-its-intent
and market impact is not built in yet..
of course having the intent and actually doing it is another thing..
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 21, 2022, 09:41 PMWell BP - if this is right then the germans and the french are in for a shock and those tank systems and fighters cant be handed over fast enough....
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/target-russia%E2%80%99s-capability-not-its-intent
and market impact is not built in yet..
of course having the intent and actually doing it is another thing..
Hard enough to fathom the intent of somebody you know and can trust ...
Putin on the other hand is for Russia, what Hitler was four generations ago for Germany: A populist leader who promises his subjugated subjects that they will conquer the world.
Good thing is - Putin is dumber and more corrupt than Hitler was and the Russians are less enthusiastic to fight.
But still - I think that this nightmare will only end when Russia is either militarily defeated or when they manage to change the system. Only choice the West has is to pick whether they want a long and painful experience (a la World War 2) or whether they want to short cut the slaughter by properly supporting Ukraine.
BP "cut the slaughter by properly supporting Ukraine."
yes that the heart of the matter....
Book "Heart of Darkness"
and there lurks a new darkness... 500 thousand troop announced but where is ugle bear going to get the equipment from...
and are the hord going to follow orders? It isnt a german army that followers orders and they know they arnt threatened...
this war isnt following the pattern of the old ones and that means no ones knows how it will end becuase it isnt like any other one..
My Cousin who served in the balkans for NZ... says thay are all different..
be interesting to see how the new air defense systems work...
BUY DEFENSE stocks cause this looks like it going to go for a while unless the ugly bear freezes in the dug outs...
and BP thats just going to go down in history along with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_invasion_of_Russia
is this what we are going to see shortly?
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 22, 2022, 11:49 AMand BP thats just going to go down in history along with https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_invasion_of_Russia
is this what we are going to see shortly?
Are you referring to the forecasted second full scale attack Russia's against Ukraine? Maybe, but as you indicated - Russia has not even enough gear to supply their existing troops. Apparently soldiers need to bring their own gear - the evil stepmother Russia provides only the weapons, and even those are old and bad maintained. How are they going to equip new troops?
If you are talking about the final solution to Russia - I would think that the Russian federation starts crumbling. If Russia can't even discipline their little neighbor Ukraine, whey should the rest of the Russian federation bow to the cruel but inept czar in Moscow?
A look back at WW2 and resource management and industrial production.
Is the west now at War in a new era of war that will go on for how long? Well it sure looks like a world at the begining of new era of war..
Arming the Uke's is only just beginning as most of the budget that has been passed for the Pentagon to buy weapons that havnt even been built yet...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZnfmaGC3Lg
The interesting conclusion was that while the UK created a social solution for housing after WW2 it failed to develop a vibrant market economy to support it.
Atlee is hailed as a great social reformer but by the 1970's the UK had nearly failed as a market leader in every sector of its industrial base...
Lessons here for NZ?
Maybe - but your argument is predicated on some serious cherry picking. The UK economy was a basket case post WW2 - crippled by chronic shortages in food, housing and resources. Atlee's social and economic reforms may not have resulted in the UK becoming, "a market leader in every sector of its industrial base" but when you're coming off a base of reliance on foreign aide, would you expect that in 20 short years? Especially given that Atlee lost power in '51 - so had no handle on the rudder for 19 of them.
Not my argument, my statements did not say it was.... it was an argument deep into the video ....
Interesting that this country also has a government not dissimilar to UK after the war.
Much more air defence needed for these poor people being murdered by Ugly beer evil.
2 deacdes can be a long time in a market economy.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-missile-defense-weapons-charts-russia/32192132.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 25, 2022, 09:52 PMNot my argument, my statements did not say it was.... it was an argument deep into the video ....
Interesting that this country also has a government not dissimilar to UK after the war.
Much more air defence needed for these poor people being murdered by Ugly beer evil.
2 deacdes can be a long time in a market economy.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-missile-defense-weapons-charts-russia/32192132.html
Apart from the party moniker of "Labour" these two Governments - Britain post WW2 and modern NZ have little in common. I'm not seeing Ardern throwing open the doors to immigrants or nationalizing core assets. The issues faced by both Governments do have some commonality, on a rudimentary level. Much as any economy coming out of war or a pandemic will. It's time the Nats put some real policy planks around growth on the table. So far, they have presented little more than a few easy re-heats. It's not clear what their vision actually is; although that may not be a problem at the polls, given how unpopular this government is becoming.
some light reading ... but one does hope that something good happens next year becuase 2022 was a shocker...
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/russia-ukraine-war-vladimir-putin-faces-humiliating-reality-and-political-ruin/WPRLW7EM7RBKTNXWR4ZKIXSLE4/
something good and well done to these two for showing they are people after all and not just pollies...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130848645/damien-grant-even-contrarians-deserve-a-happy-christmas
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/26/ukraine-war-revenge-of-history-how-geopolitics-shaping-conflict
Interesting piece from the Grauniad.
Uk defence minister
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuHbcM9Gg40
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 27, 2022, 04:25 PMUk defence minister
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuHbcM9Gg40
Interesting, cheers for posting ... and it appears that they do have a reasonably competent defence minister. Wish they would have more of that sort.
Some old flying buzz bombs hitting target BP?
the ugly bear said they got shoot down but these fires look like something landed somewhere?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKT-wwkhCOA
and ugly bear foriegn MiMster say Give UP! we are coming for you...
even he doesnt sound like he believes it...
You may be right about complete melt down in ugly bear land in the next years to come..
International Brigades in action..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POyo09LEnw
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 27, 2022, 09:08 PMSome old flying buzz bombs hitting target BP?
the ugly bear said they got shoot down but these fires look like something landed somewhere?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKT-wwkhCOA
Yes, I wondered that as well. But given that Russian propaganda obviously never lies, maybe it was the Russians who killed their own people and set the fire after shooting down the drone?
Is this what people call "friendly" fire?
Fires looked far to big and out of control for anything other than a major explosion...
what if the UKE's have more of them being banged together in a bombed out garage?
Noticed that in some UKE's MI helicopters they had displays that looked like small computers....
As if they are going round and jacking up eletronics in old gear to add some wiz tech to the old flying birds...
its a war of old tech being repurposed as the new stuff trickies in..
The Repulicans want to ship longer range missiles under the thery that if you give the UKE's the stuff they need it bring the whole thing to culmination quicker and is better for business...
Biden may find himself forced into send bigger better harder hitting stuff sooner as this long war is really bad for markets....
Uk looks to be stuck with brexit and have no idea how to get out of the hole they have dug for themselves...
Remind one of NZ a little country now stuck trading with a communist gaint and having no where to go...
If NZ doesnt trade the country is stuffed....
We are thinking of moving our tech base to southern ireland as it has the best private company tax structures and you then have freedom to move in the scandi countrys...
NZ has some really big trade issues to sort out else it just going to have to be a bigger and bigger tax em country..
the IRD letters to the wealthy creating a new DOOMS day book is a loud sounding horn in the fog...
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/27/europe/brexit-2023-intl-analysis-cmd-gbr/index.html
Some great stories here of help for UKE Land...
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russian-blogger-kyiv-hardships-hopes/32197563.html
Interesting that Government funded broadcasting coming in for criticism in the UK....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/12/29/bbc-dramas-warping-modern-britain-allowing-left-wing-bias/
and here apparently govt funding has no influence on public journalism...
not related to geo P but still interesting...
Does the average person give a TOSS about PHD papers used as the basis to create ever bigger bureaucracy that does become a threat in itself to markets...
IS NZ in danger of becoming a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka paradise?
Dont travel with the back hatches of your vechile open....
UKE drone operators entering by the back door... BOOM....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8JxJpW2AXk
The boys doing the hard yards on the front lines...
Some old UKE tanks in action... when is the west going to actually realise this is a real war and send in the equipment needed.
Winstone V Churchil may have had his faults but really these pre war english type pollies have blood on their hands for only now sending AIR defence....
Where are the tanks and air craft ... nearly 12 months on... the phoney war this isnt..
NZ could send some M777's and some tanks and could rent out its figter jets..
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-t64-tank-artillery-helicopter-drone-donetsk-infantry-bakhmut/32201535.html
Hell on the front lines ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lpe1OgCbCY
The faster this country breaks up the better? well bunch of people that were thrown together against there wills now shows that the USSR was a complete failure and the world is paying the price.... still
Democracy is it the ONLY safe way forward? Sure looks like it.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/01/europe/putin-ukraine-war-shift-europe-security-intl-cmd/index.html
Building the infrastructure that will keep europe running and markets moving...
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2023/01/01/the-greek-island-helping-europe-dodge-an-energy-crisis.html
And its HI MARS oclock.... AGAIN!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMMnv21bBAU
Sign of things to come and maybe ugly bear just doesnt know whats coming next...
https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-russians-hundreds-killed-attack-donetsk-barracks/32203938.html
Its dangerous out there people... Fingers of Steel strike again....
Ok now what if the US still had a fleet of F14s they could deploy to Ukraine.
Would the old F14's still be able to fly fast and deliver a knock out blow... well according to the top speeds the F14 was seriously quick. First testing models with the older engine variants flew at over mach 2.5.
The upgraded models that should have been developed but was replaced by the F18 would have been expensive. But the Hill new best and like the SR71 (actually not its proper name) it was canned. But it was so effective they put them all in the yard and were concerned that other country's not get hold of the aging beast...
As everyone knows the f18 had a high angle of attack.
Also note that in some model of the F14 wings are usually controlled by the computer (based on the current altitude and the airspeed) automatically and it is already available since the F-14A. So when Maverick splits the throttle, it is possible that the computer decides the wing should probably stay swept back.
also keeping the wings swept back would not alert the SU's of his intensions and doesnt leak energy.
Now if your in your f14 simulator then this tutorial is for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIeMGqfVnRE
F18 air attack mode.
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-002-DFRC.html
What about those top gun scenes well Cruise can fly but maybe someone got the scenes all wrong...
The F14 it using the later engine variants could only be caught by an SU by firing a missile cause it cant outrun an f14 in expert hands with wings fully swept back position...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjjxsIDSsTI
Maybe you flight pilots out there would want the new f14 that wasnt ever put into production cuase lets face it; the F14 is the meanst looking fighter ever built and would have just got meaner...
The US always get ride of its best aircraft before they fully develop them.
All in all the f14 Tomcat if developed farther could have become a serious as platform adding another dimension to US air combat power. Even today the new versions not in production would be the plane to hand to the UKE's instead of the f15...
GO the super Tomcat ... just bonkers...
https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/super-tomcat-the-21st-century-f-14-that-would-still-be-flying-today/
Deadly..
Looks like the HI Mars oclock is ticking ever closer to mid night ....
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-1-3-23/index.html
The ugly bear has nowhere to hide it appears and panic could start to erupt inside ugly bear country...
German minister of defence shows the real problem here and that those in charge in europe are in some country's are still not understanding whats going on here.
She need to resign...
Ok one of the best POD casts yet on Ukraine.
If your looking to invest in europe in the future understanding the forces at work is paramount.
This podcast is a must on east european history.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
Have the french finally realised the problem here?
There is an imperial army in the east and its coming to a country near you.... if it can find the way ....
get a load of this BP.... finally and now where are those LP 2's ..... this war is going to go into 2024... rewind spring 1939?
and wer'e off ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/04/france-supply-armoured-combat-vehicles-ukraine/
BP - looks like its got some serious hitting power and hopefully the UKE's get the lastest upgraded versions...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMX-10_RC
now how about some Planes Mr France...
It is a France day today or a german one... lets go retro german ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tok5ThLJB78
US about to send BFV's ...
is this the start of a new wave of KIT...
wonder which tank they are thinking of becuase a Heavy MBT might not suite the bridges nor smaller roads.
Bradleys might be the perfect fit for the UKE style of fighting... bit like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Stirling.
Did the UKE's study this guy?
Plus they all read urban warefare manuals apparently... or they made it up themselves as the whole country appears to be a bunch of game players..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Fighting_Vehicle
With the House in a state with no speaker or
controlled by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilien_Robespierre replubicans
US policy will be going no where and are they going to raise the debt ceiling...
will China brankrupt itself buiding Super carriers and going to mars?
Dell has started cutting many components in its computers from china.
Will the west start to realise it cant do business with china but it cant afford not to?
Horns of a dilemma and its enough to cause the next financial crisis if the CPP cant get the china economy back on its feet...
China now has an economic policy starting to resemble chaos...
Here come the tanks....
the scramble to offer a Menu of hardware to Ukraine.
After all no one want to be responsible for Ukraine being in a frozen conflict? or do they..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/05/olaf-scholz-pressure-send-tanks-ukraine-wake-emmanuel-macrons/
Now the germans are finally all in or nearly... light tanks arnt really tanks...
but the fench tank fire a Armour penetrating round from 100 MM gun....
well BP what is the lethality of this 100mm Gun...
The french have already sent there lastest high tech shell that splits in two and tracks ground targets....
If your sending all this high tech stuff ....
well when do you finally send some little fighter jets ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/05/us-germany-send-light-tanks-ukraine-france-commits-fighting/
https://www.joint-forces.com/defence-equipment-news/12108-rheinmetall-integrates-mells-into-marder-ifv
NEWS ...
German Minister of defence to resign ...
after she is let out of the recovery ward for drunk beer festival goers...
NEWS ...
New Zealand Air force to send Spare Fighter Jets on lease to Ukraine...
Gripens apparently in storage in Sweden where New Zealand Air force pilots regularly train with European Air Forces in combine military excercises..
More News...
NZ to send spare Light Tanks to Ukraine which are in storage in Germany with RM...
Apparently they were under going a major refit that could only be done at the factory ....
NZ keeps an Armour Bridage on stand by in Europe in case to deter Aggression from communist block country's....
News
German minister of defence found recovering from a gaint hang over after a visit to a Beer festival and apparently claims to have lost her phone while NENA played 99 Luft balloons...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO5lfJ9dhs
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 06, 2023, 11:18 AMNews
German minister of defence found recovering from a gaint hang over after a visit to a Beer festival and apparently claims to have lost her phone while NENA played 99 Luft balloons...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO5lfJ9dhs
Hahaha! Great posts, Waltz. You're on fire this morning...
Not as on fire as the UKE's motorized Cavalry boys are going to be when they mount there new lethal steeds...
Could there be another 73 easting out there as the blazing guns of 50 BFV send lead flying ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_73_Easting
And Brits still to line up with Kit...
Lethal ....
battle of 73 easting...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKZn-vT9CRE
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 05, 2023, 11:43 AMHave the french finally realised the problem here?
There is an imperial army in the east and its coming to a country near you.... if it can find the way ....
get a load of this BP.... finally and now where are those LP 2's ..... this war is going to go into 2024... rewind spring 1939?
and wer'e off ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/04/france-supply-armoured-combat-vehicles-ukraine/
You are right - going West is well what Bloodymir and is henchmen have in mind ... but I guess there is one significant difference to 1939: Adolf had a well trained, well equipped and motivated army. Bloodymir has not.
Just imagine - if Adolf would have got stuck with his army in Czechia for a year with no end in sight instead of taking it within a day ... WW II would have looked different.
Talking about the Leopards ... I must admit I am not privy to these discussions :) - however I understand that there might be as well some issues with training, maintenance and spares if they hand them over to the UKE army. Easier for them to use the old Soviet stuff .... They know them and spares freely available on the market.
As well - German army probably does not want to be in a position to just throw stones, if somebody attacks.
Not so easy - none of the Western armies seems to be prepared for a full on war, with even ammunition only for a week or so if they would have to fight as the Ukrainian army does. Industry needs to start up another production line or two ...
Quote from: Hectorplains on Jan 06, 2023, 11:32 AMHahaha! Great posts, Waltz. You're on fire this morning...
Time flies when one is having a good time....it's 1 April already. ;D
Building flattened is a lot bigger than seen on most new feeds...
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-64168392
" Industry needs to start up another production line or two ..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZnfmaGC3Lg
well another day BP and now the US supplying the BFV and finally germany says ok we have to do something as that darn frenchman is out gifting us and making us look stupid...
oh hang on we are stupid with our intelligence agencies infiltrated and our defence minister applying for the ministry of beer festivals and xmas fireworks displays....
really the germans are the comic member of NATO...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 06, 2023, 05:48 PM" Industry needs to start up another production line or two ..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZnfmaGC3Lg
well another day BP and now the US supplying the BFV and finally germany says ok we have to do something as that darn frenchman is out gifting us and making us look stupid...
oh hang on we are stupid with our intelligence agencies infiltrated and our defence minister applying for the ministry of beer festivals and xmas fireworks displays....
really the germans are the comic member of NATO...
"A German joke is no laughing matter."
Mark Twain , more than a 100 years ago...
OH my gosh.... that man was a wonderful writer....
Stop press .....
"Germany will send Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, official says "
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-1-6-23/index.html
now apparently the Germans have a spare MIM-104 ready to go ... how about that...
RM actually has Marders ready to go and apparently has had them ready for a WHILE just waiting on an EXPORT order....
Wonder what else they have sitting in a warehouse waiting to go.....
Chit chat on the channels ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge2YZ8YSNjU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdkY3VhytqQ
And the Politic ... the strategic stuff.... be first! says M from France... first!!! Bet you lot!!
https://www.politico.eu/article/emmanuel-macron-sending-western-tanks-to-ukraine-amx-10-rc-volodymyr-zelenskyy/
whose going to be the first to send some planes....
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 06, 2023, 05:48 PM" Industry needs to start up another production line or two ..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZnfmaGC3Lg
well another day BP and now the US supplying the BFV and finally germany says ok we have to do something as that darn frenchman is out gifting us and making us look stupid...
oh hang on we are stupid with our intelligence agencies infiltrated and our defence minister applying for the ministry of beer festivals and xmas fireworks displays....
really the germans are the comic member of NATO...
I guess this depends on your sense of humour.
But anyway we need to be a bit careful to keep the actions of any government of the day apart from the country they reign. I guess not all Brits are idiots despite their long term support for a Tory government crushing the British economy by shooting themselves again and again and again into the foot, and neither are all Americans senseless clowns despite having again put a bunch of those brainless GoP clowns in charge of the house.
At least it seems to me that Germany is still governed by grown ups ... even if you (and I) might not always agree with their decisions.
BP it now a game of "we can do better than you"....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/06/how-macron-seized-ukraine-leadership-britain/
Germany has a lot of stuff sitting in warehouses which RM can dust off.
On international markets inflation is taking a bit of a breather and the 10 year was hit....
Very warm summer (oh its winter) in europe but freezing in ugly bear country.
looks like stragety back fired for ugly bear...
history going to write this one off as the biggest russian blunder ever?
lastest package of goodies...
100 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers
55 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles
138 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles
18 155mm self-propelled Howitzers and 18 ammunition support vehicles
70,000 155mm artillery rounds
500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds
1,200 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine Systems
36 105mm towed Howitzers and 95,000 105mm artillery rounds
10,000 120mm mortar rounds
Approximately 2,000 anti-armor rockets
now what are the 155 self propelled guns BP?
are we talking this? almost a TANK...
https://www.army-technology.com/projects/paladin-m109a7-155mm-artillery-system/
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 07, 2023, 12:15 PMlastest package of goodies...
100 M113 Armored Personnel Carriers
55 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles
138 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles
18 155mm self-propelled Howitzers and 18 ammunition support vehicles
70,000 155mm artillery rounds
500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds
1,200 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine Systems
36 105mm towed Howitzers and 95,000 105mm artillery rounds
10,000 120mm mortar rounds
Approximately 2,000 anti-armor rockets
now what are the 155 self propelled guns BP?
are we talking this? almost a TANK...
https://www.army-technology.com/projects/paladin-m109a7-155mm-artillery-system/
Yes, almost a tank ... but I doubt the Americans supply them with some of their newest gear.
More likely some of the earlier generations of this baby: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M109_howitzer .... they are all light tanks, but they are not all brand new like the a7 you link shows.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/russia-ukraine-war-us-to-send-375b-in-military-aid-to-ukraine-its-neighbours/X3DOUWK7KFF3FIB4KUTRC3MEQA/
The real situation in China .....
You cant say this wont effect the work force...
will another variant emerge from this...
Anyone masking up? YEP...
notice the nurse and doctors dont have proper 95 masks....
wonder if masks will be in short supply and soon.
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/01/05/china-covid-outbreak-severity-who-watson-cnntm-pkg-vpx.cnn
While the UKE's arnt asking for french aircraft the french do have the old
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Rafale
it maybe old but it has some cool features for ground attack .
dont know it can handle the 400 defence but it has had success in taking out air defence in other campaigns..
More orders of the HImars ... even the Kangas are buying ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3BL9rvdhOw
Get a look at this BP - its a strange looking multi wheel cross country armoured vechile and an over sized gun...
actually if you sure one of these careering around you tank position the ugle bear tankers might not even see it coming...
it actually look very dangerous kit...
smallest vechile with biggest gun prize?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdywWrmYKAU
A look at the self propelled guns shipped to Ukraine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYFYV7Aa3sc
Notice that this video is very detailed and one wondered what effect they have had on the defensive operations of the Ukraine War.
Notice the mention of projectiles developed to actually defeat air born missile threats.
Note the spanish L2 units 40 of them that german has so far blocked..
Get ready for the big fire works... lets hope not as Russia trys to go 500G Units. It doubtful the system will be able to cope with the orders to the front line...
Left field says it nearly all done and dusted...
oh good to know....
now your really confident you will be booking a flight to KV to have look at the front lines and see how the British MBT's are doing in the field...
Then the train to KH.....
Think there will be annoucement shortly....are the Brits are going to go full Churchil...
Think we will stay here for a bit longer..... surf should be up shortly...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkrVRyOIrbk
mount up into those BFV as the Russian horde crosses the step in there hundreds of thousands...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ_zNUmr8fM
let hope someone trips up Ivan reincarnate from a very high set of stairs....
This is far from a done deal...
The longer this goes on the more likely markets will start discounting something more serious.
they could start lobbing ballistic missles at KIEV with convential war heads but is there anyone left at the depot to change the war heads in freezing cold tempatures...
what could be really funny is that there is a complete collapse at a huge battle in april may in the mud some where and the ukrain army breaks into the rear and heads for moscow...
bit like the big thunder run in the 2nd Iraq war...
Russia with no Tanks left to stop the Nato MBTS...
This is what the germans are really scared of.... think blitz you know what but this time in the hands of the UKE's it works...
imagine the LP2 and Challenger 2 MBT hitting everything is sight now that we and the germand know that the UKE's mastered the thunder run in one easy lesson...
but wait The french man thinks hes been made to look stupid and now hes gone full Napoleon..Leclerc being readied by Nextor ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XETw9Vuhbw0
German is scare of what ? a total ukraine victory with germant tanks leading the charge.....
There could be a 73 easting in the wings....
imagine T64's against LP2 and C2's .... hardly a fear fight ... bigger turkey shoot than 73 easting...
theres a shit storm coming if they send the Nato MBT in numbers....
The UKE's will go full rambo....you can see it coming... revenge... its in the air.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XETw9Vuhbw0
Interesting times in Ukraine eh Waltzing.....
Have you discovered this site? (Seems to be updated daily late afternoon NZ time.)
https://www.understandingwar.org
[deleted]
The Uke's boys are coming for YA... and those sites wont know when or where... forget them....
When the BOYS get the BIG GUN MBT's they coming for YA and if your russian your dead....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5R9SZM2jaE
when they get the BIG GUNS....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XETw9Vuhbw0
YA Dead....
The Sweds are finally stepping up and giving UKE the Archer...
This year could become the biggest display of western arm's show on earth .... what next ... MBT and .... Attack helicopters and Fighter jets ...
https://kyivindependent.com/news-feed/sweden-pledges-to-provide-ukraine-with-archer-artillery-systems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8x8ITwd4Vg
On the firing line ....
https://kyivindependent.com/national/hell-in-high-definition-inside-front-line-aerial-unit-surveilling-battle-of-bakhmut
notice how the gunners on the polish Nato kit miss the target and then finally land one....
the pressure of the keyboard .... FAT finger firing ...
Detailed look at the Hardware being supplied to UKE to perhaps go on the offensive at some point again....
https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/01/06/the-west-sends-armoured-fighting-vehicles-to-ukraine
OK people... the big decisions are being made and as stated earlier in the day would the BRITS go full Churchill..
and heeere's the answer ... CH2 Tanks are on the table and that means we have major escalation ... from the Allies..
should we now call the NATO block the ALLIES...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/09/britain-could-send-challenger-ii-battle-tanks-knock-russians/
T64 versus CH2.... 73 easting ...
Here it comes and if your on the other side of the step .... it might be time to retreat...
Mars the GOD of war is entering the Arena...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpJdkoLw5B0
Holts the Planets for those who dont know the music..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXOanvv4plU
Its the sound of death approaching ...
Notice the excellent comments on the Video from those who have served with Tank regiments equiped with the CH2. (typo t)
Also other comments regarding the LP2 and US tank.
handsome beast isnt it....
Scare the living daylights out you if it was coming for you...
Wonder if the UKE boys will play MARS over the intercom or post videos like the one with the Rolling stones from 7 years ago...
Well who wasnt following this thing from the get go.. 2014....
we all knew Vlad Terrorist II would roll his tanks west ward...
And the final scene starts to unfold...
or will it be a rerun of Cesar ... they stab him on the stairs .. and then the fight begins to see who is the next Cesar.
The UKE's need those Tanks months ago...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/10/russia-brink-first-battlefield-breakthrough-months-capture-soledar/
Canada to buy missile defence system from the US for Ukraine.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-canada-us-missiles/32218297.html
wonder what NZ is buying.. how about wool bomber jackets?
A view on the World from the Heart of the Ugly Bear from Amercian intelligence writer..
Its Polish TV of course as we all know there is only one other country beside Ukraine that understands what the threat really is beside a few other country's north of poland...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEsvjpTP4m4
who hasnt been following poland right?
did you know that there is a big polish community here? you may have met them in your travels...
Your cousins might be married to them!!
Poland has order enough military equipment to invade Russia ...
Lockheed Martin could not fill the order of wait for it....5 ... HUNDRED HIMARS...
they ordered the Korean version instead....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrbaAKZfjwg
Ok investing for defence...
If your looking to invest in defence what is the US going to order this year and next.
its going to required some research... HImars order book for example... 155 Rounds ect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deK98IeTjfY
Musical Chairs .....
General Armageddon replaced after the bombing of cities and infrusture has failed .....
Look ma we are running out of missiles....
War criminal just runs up a bigger list of crimes.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/11/general-armageddon-replaced-russias-commander-ukraine-war-just/
UK to send TANKS.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/11/poland-piles-pressure-germany-release-battle-tanks-ukraine/
Of more practical importance then UKE getting around 10 challanger2s is perhaps this from the comment section of the FT - "100 T-72 tanks are undergoing modernization in the Czech Republic as we speak (the project is financed by the Netherlands and the USA, and is carried out by a Czech contractor "Excalibur Army" in the Czech city of Sternberg: the tanks are being completely refitted and brought to a "3rd generation" standards: this should be a very significant boost to the Ukrainians when they do receive them)."
! CH is probably worth 10 older upgraded soviet tank....
1 CH in Iraq with stood 16 shoulder fired projectiles while it was stalled...
6 hours later it was back in action after a wuik repair.
Poland is bumping all it upgraded tanks in favour of Abrams and K2's.
Poland has a lot of tanks though and some of those upgraded older tanks will be around for a while.
Political scientists Mark Galeotti and another fellow has liken Putin to Ivan the Terrible and his 30 year failed war.
It really looks like PUTIN the Terrorist actually uses Cesar play book down to the use of governing power and rotation of military leaders to stop everyone from taking power....
Listen to Mark Galeotti if you get time.
According to the Pentagon the upgraded T-72 they are paying for "will be the most technically advanced tank on the battlefield ". Presumably that includes the T-90 which, some would argue, is a match for the Challanger2.
T90 still has the same problem.... cooks up ...
T90 is a lighter tank... and Cooks... still the same basic older design with some Thales gear.
Which ugly bear will have trouble getting as supplies of western tech is being shut down one at a time. A T-90 with out its western tech is a dumbed out T Tank? Looks like it.
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukrainian-uav-operator-destroyed-russian-t-90m-tank/#:~:text=The%20Ukrainian%20operator%2C%20with%20the,from%20an%20anti%2Dtank%20mine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX7xi7L_QFk
T90 would probably be crewed and command old style.. and Cooks on a JAV hit.
Failure in Ukraine .....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0O144KhIGk
For a indepth look at the replacement for the current IFV.. Next generation gun....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-zY_F57SwI
The we have the troubled AJX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIa79kiTXFI
Now if the SWED's send these to Ukraine watch out ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i-7K7E_FeI
You can see here the development of GPU solutions and that means Pattern recognition maths and Virtual reality rendering....
what the public calls AI...which isnt really true AI but it what it called today..
The next level will be chips specially designed for combat operations...
Its the formula one of IFV's and UKRAINE should ask for 100's of these.
Developing technology for Defence or tracking any movement of humand and equipment starts with knowing what you want to track....
An americas cup French foil designer looked at our rig set up and said , put a sensor here....
What amazed me was we were already up to 2 sensors and thinking how we integerate the sources becuase each device had a different chip in it...
And what if you went ballistic and wanted say 10 as a standard junction box can have 10 and a standard video capture device also packs its video and data together.
That means you need to convert the long data types from the different sensors into a standard long data type in C lanuage first for speed of processing...
Then bring your data together by time stamp to get the big picture right?
And the RTOS in each device might be sampling the data streams at different timer intervals...
Now imagine that for a IFV ging at 60 KIlometers an hour building a real time virtual image of the terrian and whats in it....
Now you need big computing power in your boat, car, or light tank....
Turns out sport is one of best places to test this stuff..
When you invest in defence you need to know who got the data structures right cause that where the market is ...
https://hcie.csail.mit.edu/research/sensorviz/sensorviz.html
That also means perhaps the computing modular systems of the future arnt of today..
Sitting ready to go at RM in germany..
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/forty-marders-for-kyiv-germany-moves-forward-with-tank-deliveries-to-ukraine-a-3ac7ce39-3ead-4425-be7e-c7228f00b59f
Urkraine defacto member of nato says ukraine minister..
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64255249
New from the from line in Soledar is not something one wants to hear. A young soldier saying they have been left behind as other units retreat..
sad news...
a long front line and probably many very sad stories out there.
Fron line video report... very dangerous reporting by the journalists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8sz0HiFmX8
Seems they've concentrated their most effective infantry and their t-90 tanks in the Soledar area.
At Last Europe has found deposits of Rare Earth minerals and its in North of Sweden.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64253708
F35 seems to becoming the default go to Fighter for European Nato country's.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/germany-is-the-latest-country-to-join-multinational-f-35-team/
Germany looking at its Military Export settings reguarding manufacturing and supply.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-weapons-dilemma-germany-takes-a-critical-look-at-arms-exports-a-1ba58fae-ba40-4b86-8f5d-47eff4fb0516
News from Kiev today .. the war of the west to defend democracy from resident evil.
https://kyivindependent.com/
Germany Increases it Exports the US, France and other European Country's.
If Germany was able to do it what happened to the UK.
"German exports to Russia dropped by 52.8% to 1.2 billion euros in November 2022 compared to the same period a year prior, according to Germany's federal statistical office.
"In contrast, exports to the United States, the most important destination of German exports, increased by 30.9% to 14.4 billion euros," the office wrote, adding that motor vehicles and machinery were among the top exported goods.
Germany, Europe's largest economy, said that other important export partners were France at 10.5 billion euros and the Netherlands at 10.1 billion euros."
Horror stories from Ukraine by British Aid Workers...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
Some sad Videos of over run Ukraine positions on Polish Channels...
but also live video of this...
Its the same UKE plan ... seed ground for time and then hit them..
Even if they take a town the russians then get HIT hard by HImars oclock...
and its the same old story in SLD....
We took the town look MUM!!! then HIMARS oclock arrives ...
The Uke watch the russian settle in and then determine which building is being used as the head quarters...
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-1-13-23/index.html
no where left to hide ...
Yes we lost the town but them we HIMARS their hide outs....
Ukraine has a access to satellite intell and has its own newly bought one coming..
The Brits up the ANTi....
14 CH2 Tanks plus 30 S90's
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64274755
Is it real.... who in the depths of RM was busy developing this ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzWKpWfYmRU
Notice good investors that the new technology in the demostrator can be bolted on to the existing fleet chassis of the LP2 lastest variant.
Does this mean that over 5000 upgrades are on the cards for RM ?
Surely its the best option yet for NATO to upgrade its aging tank fleet and a real money spinner for RM..
Invest in defence...
Abrams X
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjX5JE_3T5k
Some lessons from the global introduction of E transport....
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/14/amsterdam-crackdown-souped-up-e-bikes-dangerous-streets
ban them... peddle power only...
Right up on the front line in SLDR....
heave ugly bear presents just hard to stop as one gunner says their guns over heat ...
and not enough western equipment to go round. What are the germans waiting for and why do they keep putting someone in charge of defence who looks like they are from a knitting club..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Lambrecht
Really obvious the UKE need AIR POWER... what is the west thinking...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQyU9bMptK4
More Tank Talk from Poland and France and where is Germany .... hiding behind the skirts of its defence minister...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/14/europe/european-tanks-to-ukraine-intl/index.html
Ukraine software is powering up the strike capability of its armed forces..
You may also have notice electronic devices (computers) in the cockpit of old helicopters. GPS
devices?
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/15/politics/ukraine-russia-war-weapons-lab/index.html
Yawn , is this all relevant to NZX??
Global connected markets ..
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-response-ukraine-invasion/impact-of-russia-s-invasion-of-ukraine-on-the-markets-eu-response/#:~:text=Since%20the%20second%20half%20of,energy%20supply%20in%20the%20EU.
Investing in defence stocks...
https://www.investors.com/news/defense-stocks-russia-ukraine-invasion-upends-military-austerity-europe/#:~:text=U.S.%20defense%20stocks%20have%20soared,decline%20by%20Boeing%20(BA).
Thesis dated early 2022.
https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/research/russia-ukraine-crisis-market-impact
https://www.eiu.com/n/war-in-ukraine-delays-industry-recovery-beyond-2023/#:~:text=In%20real%20terms%2C%20global%20sales,to%20phase%20out%20nuclear%20power.
Franch and Germany to meet shortly and this relationship is going to be defining for Europe in 2023 and beyond...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/friends-and-strangers-the-franco-german-relationship-is-cooling-at-a-critical-time-a-13a0adfa-dc17-416e-acbd-121cefe9fbce
Actually - here might be a geopolitical opportunity:
China reached peak population and is now living with a dropping and fast aging population.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/17/chinas-population-falls-for-first-time-in-more-than-60-years
This well might reduce the conflict potential with Taiwan .. can't imagine China wants to recruit their attack forces from the local retirement homes ... and they might need the shrinking number of young people left for better things.
Thanks for that BP...
presenters today on CNBC discussing investment requirements for China and saying they can no longer not depend on overseas investment...
Well that would dry up pretty fast if anything went bang...
and of course NZ market would implode...
so much for Global connected world going away ... not likely...
AT last the Germand Minister of defence has resigned....
Germany really needs to step up big time now else we are stuck with this war for more than the next 12 months and that will not be liked by markets.
Many european wars as you will all well know went on for decades...
Oh forgot the UKE's say it been going since 2014....
Nearly 10 years !!!
Some economists have been saying inflation has nothing to do with this war but one hates having any extra fuel added to the fire.
Lucky the ugle bear has blown it and isnt trying to invade poland by now as that would put the world markets into a spin...
The state of western european security looks just like in 1938 as english military intelligence experts say bang for the Buck Australia is miles ahead of the UK and Finland leads the EU in preparedness...
But will the germans actually do whats required and this weekend we will find out .
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-bad-news-bundeswehr-an-examination-of-the-truly-dire-state-of-germany-s-military-a-df92eaaf-e3f9-464d-99a3-ef0c27dcc797
Amazing that they have had since 2014 to wake up and start to work on defence of the free world..
Basically every report written on the german defence ministry for the last 5 or 6 years depicts a shambles.....
Im sure everyone has been reading these reports since 2014 with alarm right?
wondering around Topics....
If you want to see what happen to investments in an economy when you take policy and ACT on it....
NZ such a small Corner Dairy on the global scale that policy here probably doesnt matter as much. But still if you want a country to prosper off shore investment is our future as even CHINA at DAVOS is saying Invest with us its SAFE!!!
right .... pass the cold one...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/01/18/world-giving-britain-warns-cbi-chief/
The word is out the UK could be more uninvestable than CHINA!!!
Was BRIXT a policy from the 1600's ?
The big take here was stated clearly....
"Instead the UK has raised corporation tax by six percentage points to 25pc – one of the higher levels in the OECD bloc – but ignored pleas for a 'super-deduction' on fresh investment to limit the economic damage. This contrasts horribly with the irresistible tax credits of the Biden plan in the US, suddenly sucking in the world's investment capital like a giant vacuum."
NZX attracting what portion of world capital....
"Perhaps the worst sign in Davos is that nobody is talking about Britain at all. It is as if the island has vanished into the sea."
NZ is a small rock on the beach that is obscured by the sand piling up over it by the tides....
NZ doesnt have a stragety....
AND SHES GONE!!!!
Yep get off the sinking SHIP before it hits rough water and move to New York and sit at the UN and go to DAVOS!!
I got the date wrong on the MOVE... thought it would be April..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130990117/live-jacinda-ardern-announces-she-will-resign-as-prime-minister-by-february-7
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 19, 2023, 01:20 PMAND SHES GONE!!!!
Yep get off the sinking SHIP before it hits rough water and move to New York and sit at the UN and go to DAVOS!!
I got the date wrong on the MOVE... thought it would be April..
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/130990117/live-jacinda-ardern-announces-she-will-resign-as-prime-minister-by-february-7
Shame we have to wait until October to get rid of them entirely
World HEAD LINES!!!
Front page CNN....
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/18/asia/new-zealand-jacinda-ardern-not-seeking-reelection-intl-hnk/index.html
BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64327224
You have to say its a total vote of NO confidence on her part of her Caucus and the fact that IWI were running riot and stabbing her in the back...
she could no longer control the Tribes....
Totally out of control GOVT and she knew it....
Through her toys out and said... bugger off your on your own...
My brand is too important to waste on your lot... IM only staying for the PAY... thanks Bank me .....
and i need you all to vote for me on my next planned move onto the world stage at the UN...
what UN? oh u said i have no PLANS!!! NO PLANS!!!
now i need my new friends in europe to vote for me too... That nice PM in FINLAND...
Girls need to stick together!!!
I think we could see a mini rally off the back of this exceptional news!!
You Could well be right!!!
but money as been flowing out for a while..
NZ is no longer seen as a ROCK STAR!!!
more like a falling STAR...
The tribal parties say it was white hate that forced her out...
AH no ... shes wants that UN seat...
and she had lost control of the tribals.... they cant be controlled ... they can never be controlled...
Funniest commentt yet..
" Pm hits the eject lever"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131014676/jacinda-ardern-and-grant-robertson-just-conceded-the-election
All eyes will be on the meeting this weekend in Germany ...
https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-1-19-23/index.html
Poland Threatens to go it alone forcing the hand of the Germans ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/19/poland-threatens-send-ukraine-tanks-without-germanys-permission/
Big meeting coming up today and Germans communciation has been a series of domestic related steps for voters.
Lets hope something gets sorted out this weekend...
https://edition.cnn.com/us/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-1-19-23/index.html
Is Urkaine war about to go big or will it be like the JAPO-RUSO war...
Germany seems to be in chaos and POLAND warns it will go it alone... The Sweds have one of the best IFV's and say it will supply ukraine.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/19/germany-must-stop-stalling-ukraine-tanks-deal-say-nato-allies/
Swdish to send the most modern IFV? the CV90...
Its truely a modern and highly effective system according to the experts..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRwdxHXnUA0
Probably older models but they are still highly regarded apparently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUyZIqH2XQE
50 CV 90 being sent... Its a big number along with the ARCHER self propelled 155..
Brigade size highly mobile armour... its a big shipment from the Sweds and has made the daily Telepgraph podcast...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
Its a sizable war developing right on europes borders.
CNN report - General Clarke says western aid needs to step up to providing not 5o of a vechile type is more like 100's..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7wKIeu9pC4
This war is just starting according to Clarke.
They are calling for a WAR TIME LEADER...
from Stuff ...
"Now the country, this is the reality, it needs a war-time leader and Labour does not have one waiting in the wings."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/political-roundup-jacinda-ardern-resigns-as-prime-minister-why-this-changes-everything-bryce-edwards/UVTFAGFPFVBOLJ4GY34GWECQ7I/
NZ have a new PM but even if they take away all those policies that no one was expecting they are still the same Tiger and they dont suddenly reverse the strips to different direction and colors....
Those policies will come back .....
They will just HIDE them maybe for a while but really will the TRIBES put up with that?
And will the pressure build for a March election as they have a figthing chance right now...
better a fighting chance then going out to fight in a snow storm that might be coming...
The Real cost of this war is the children effected by the death of parents and family...
we are all paying a financialc cost but that is not such a huge one compared to these young people and the famiy members they have lost.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-teen-dancers-america-s-got-talent/32233757.html
Germany stuck in a guilt and denial trip...
US gives them a kick up the you know what ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/22/us-reads-riot-act-germany-refusal-send-leopard-tanks-ukraine/
The risks to the NZX market may be down a bit as its not really debatable that the Current GOVT has done nothing much for the private sector,,,
But now it appears that the POPP (the party of plenty of Policies) is now the PO NOPE ( Party of NO POLICIES)
not sure what the party is excited about as their new leader has just said we have NO BANANAS today...
Which could rally the stock market on the basis that a labour party with NO POLICIES is more market friendly.....
Understanding the New Leader...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9_YJS7rFDM
And history repeats itself...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIedNhGqWF0
stuck in a guilt and denial trip...
Could it be that the current WOKE generation has no sense of HUMOUR...
this is a classic ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIedNhGqWF0
Reruns on JONES please....
along with YES MINISTER...
And the Germans start to collapse into the inevitable saying poland can go ahead or wont be stopped from sending in the big toys...
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-air-strikes-extended-military-threat/32234293.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 23, 2023, 11:49 AMGermany stuck in a guilt and denial trip...
US gives them a kick up the you know what ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/22/us-reads-riot-act-germany-refusal-send-leopard-tanks-ukraine/
Actually - with all due respect, but this is all overblown kindergarten behaviour of a bunch of cowards and hesitants looking for an excuse. Heard yesterday an interview with the German Foreign Minster (Annalena Baerbock) and she said that Germany would not stand (and never stood) in the way of allies wanting to send Leopards into the Ukraine ... however, nobody yet has asked.
So - Germany is clearly not standing in the way of Leopards being sent to the Ukraine ... it just was such a convenient excuse for the others. Blame the Germans that they don't allow it, but better not ask them because them might say yes.
I recon the Western allies need to look for a different excuse not to send the Leopards. The old don't ask the Germans but blame them for not allowing the export strategy does not work anymore.
YES BP - a lot of different messages coming from everyone.
But the Polish have now stated they will send ... or as you have said... have they...
it a very confusing state of affairs...
it does need someone to send a whole lot of tanks and soon... or will the russians get lost ...like last time they advanced to far...
its bewildering...
bear and tanks....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/20/ukraine-invasion-germany-tanks-leopards-russia-war-europe-weapons/
The confusing grows. The Telegrah prodcast covers the matter. This podcast has listeners even in the south island of New Zealand....
The German position on Tanks is extensively covered ...
The germans appear to be in complete confusion....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
The fine print on the next moves for longer range attack missile and tanks is going to be like a EU agreement on anything... MAJOR discussions and paper work.
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 23, 2023, 06:46 PMYES BP - a lot of different messages coming from everyone.
But the Polish have now stated they will send ... or as you have said... have they...
it a very confusing state of affairs...
it does need someone to send a whole lot of tanks and soon... or will the russians get lost ...like last time they advanced to far...
its bewildering...
bear and tanks....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/20/ukraine-invasion-germany-tanks-leopards-russia-war-europe-weapons/
cheers for that videoclip - love it, though I suppose the Ukrainians would want to use the Leopards not just to transport their beer :) :
Do they drink beer in the Ukraine, or is it more Vodka?
Quote from: BlackPeter on Jan 24, 2023, 09:17 AMcheers for that videoclip - love it, though I suppose the Ukrainians would want to use the Leopards not just to transport their beer :) :
Do they drink beer in the Ukraine, or is it more Vodka?
Yup, plenty of beer consumed. The best known Ukrainian brand is probably Obolon. Although, Pravda Brewery's strong ale Putin Huylo (trans: "Putin is a dick") certainly received plenty of press.
"Do they drink beer in the Ukraine, or is it more Vodka?"
more beer consumed or V for victory Vodka... imagine a new cocktail will be mixed in LVIV...
Indeed we know they have a lot of argi farming going on....or did until most farmers started collecting Tanks which apparently are now tax free and if you sell one you dont have to declare it...
Certainly no wonder they want those tanks... Are the german worried about the risk of ukraine developing the world best bears?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q69PULHs_-M
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 24, 2023, 03:24 PM... imagine a new cocktail will be mixed in LVIV...
Not a new cocktail as such but it goes off with a bang! (https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220227-ukrainian-brewery-switches-from-beer-to-molotov-cocktails)
The Mr Magoo of european parliments has finally made a decision... or its been reported as such...
whats in a decision ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/24/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-leopard-tanks-germany-tymoshenko/
the man in the hot seat and what was he thinking...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany-s-tank-debate-why-is-the-chancellor-taking-so-long-a-4ebc6f40-a153-45c7-90f0-acf09a350186
Macron is all over this guy and from here on Magoo is looking like he always going to be a step behind Macron..
and Boris has stepped back into the fight as the current UK PM sinks in the poles ..(north and south)..
Boris is thinking of applying for special UK ambassador to the EU ...
well looks like the US has decided the Germans needed some support and suddenly those complex tanks that arnt suitable can now go...
Does that mean f16 can go as well? ..
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/24/politics/us-abram-tanks-ukraine/index.html
after all these guys are allowed to buy them?
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/11/11/bahrain-newest-advanced-f-16-aircraft/
Hammer blow .... it will be all over the news later in the week; Rock Rachon TVP world...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/24/hammer-blow-vladimir-putin-ukraine-get-200-tanks-west/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rztAp8Z6pXc
The rats leaving a sinking ship...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/25/europe/russia-fsb-defectors-osechkin-intl-cmd/index.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 25, 2023, 08:13 PMwell looks like the US has decided the Germans needed some support and suddenly those complex tanks that arnt suitable can now go...
Does that mean f16 can go as well? ..
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/24/politics/us-abram-tanks-ukraine/index.html
after all these guys are allowed to buy them?
https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/11/11/bahrain-newest-advanced-f-16-aircraft/
Hammer blow .... it will be all over the news later in the week; Rock Rachon TVP world...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/24/hammer-blow-vladimir-putin-ukraine-get-200-tanks-west/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rztAp8Z6pXc
The rats leaving a sinking ship...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/25/europe/russia-fsb-defectors-osechkin-intl-cmd/index.html
Hammer blow:
assuming it works as planned, the west might get companies like General Dynamics (for the Abrams) and Krauss Maffei (for the Leopards) to pay for the donations out of their marketing budget. What an amazing opportunity for these arms manufacturers to demonstrate the quality of their tanks!
yes BP .. RM has a new tank of course and really these are the older tank versions one assumes..
Germany has no choice cause as everyone was saying "Dont send tanks and no one will buy"
mind you RM could perhaps have moved country except if its Intellectual property could not be moved but just becuase your registered in a country doesnt mean you can pick up and move and register your patents in say UK...
RM income was in serious DO DO...no one would have bought the new tanks..
RM share shot up 1.15% the other day.
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 26, 2023, 09:45 AMyes BP .. RM has a new tank of course and really these are the older tank versions one assumes..
Germany has no choice cause as everyone was saying "Dont send tanks and no one will buy"
mind you RM could perhaps have moved country except if its Intellectual property could not be moved but just becuase your registered in a country doesnt mean you can pick up and move and register your patents in say UK...
RM income was in serious DO DO...no one would have bought the new tanks..
RM share shot up 1.15% the other day.
For sure it will be the elder tank versions. However - even a 1970íes Leo 2 is several generations more sophisticated than a Russian T-62!
For starters - it is able to shoot with high precision while moving (the T62 has even its problems to hit a target while being stationary) ... and it is faster than any Russian tank.
It has as well much better equipment for intelligence gathering (don't think the T62's have any ...) - i.e. if working together with the Ukrainian tanks, a handful of Leopard 2 in a battalion might well increase the effectiveness of the other tanks as well.
" i.e. if working together with the Ukrainian tanks, a handful of Leopard 2 in a battalion might well increase the effectiveness of the other tanks as well."
yes the T72 can keep up one supposes as it is agile apparently ...
narrow roads they say but every time you watch a VID its pretty open country out east...
yep the T72 has a machine gun and it can fire non amoured round ... anothing that goes bang helps right?
BP; The statements coming from officials about F16 and typhoons would take years to train pilots?
really most digitial display systems are similar and flight sims are everywhere these days and surely 2 months training would do the job...
a plane is a plane and they all fly using more more computer assisted control systems....
i think it will come along sooner than we think and it wont be a big training deal..
Tanks are probably just as hard to maintaine in the field and the UKE are already running a lot of western systems day and night...
the UKE built a lot of turbine engines over the year to run helicopter abd one think ships ect and they have a turbine in one of there tanks i think..
Polish TVP Wordl News...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDpukTtNYyQ
Time to get to know modern tanks for the rest of us...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4cl45gLB2U
Perun on the long road to the ukraine invasion....
starting in the 1990's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx5mTslkUBs
The UK CH2 Tank and its development history and what technology the UKE's will train on. The hunter killer mode..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re-zMIOtSk0
unlease the leopards ...... sir David Attenborough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4FUxKtzNZw
The top 10 Tanks... according to someone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8HVOBzg2pE
And which public air craft kit set maker going to dominate the 6th gen air space ...
the Kanda logistic boy is at it again... and whatch the japanese as they have a new program that they hope to base on the designs of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YF-23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPrWm6fWuaM
There is a new term in european politics...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ag4nkSh7Q
there will be no fighter jets.... NO JETS... what tanks... sholtzing... i see no war!!!
what blown up pipe line?...i see no problems ....
Will Macron take the lead here on jets?
What would churchill have done?
Has JB just dropped the ball?
https://www.spiegel.de/international/
YAT ......
could the big Risks going forward actually be government spending!!!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/300796601/have-economists-misunderstood-inflation
Was the polish presidents plane blow out of the sky or is it just a conspiracy theory...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ge5-ISJUjU
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/10/poland-marks-10-years-since-plane-crash-that-killed-president
NO Fighter Jets .......
NO SOLID decisions ,,,,, but the decisions could be watered down to a new FLUID ONE!!!
Ben Wallace ,,,, well SOLID decisions are always FLUID in Nature!!! FLUID.....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/01/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-putin-france-caeser-howitzer/
Worlds most powerful western decisions makers think the UkE's cant fly "FLY BY WIRE" modern aircraft?
Maybe they dont know how to operate their smart phones ... gosh that phone has a color screen? AMAZING!
Yes the UKE wont be able service them without training but if training had started 6 months ago where would markets be today...
More confident of stronger european markets as UKE's show off their talents and educated population.
Johnson does a churchill and puts pressure back on JB and other slow to act western leaders.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/01/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-putin-france-caeser-howitzer/
It RISK off and stocks are ripping in after hours trading?.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCIUf8eYPqA
about time...
The new batch of smart small munitions flying bombs are due to be shipped soon and Seal Team Leader briefs polish news about the lethal new toys heading to a front line and behind it soon.
Its a HIMARS upgrade with well over 100 KM stro\ike range. It can fly around like a low flying cruise missle type weapon.
Think BP will be interested in this one,,,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVFw0Wzm1VQ
Well anyone seen any bloons flying around lately....
freindly country's dont fly these around for fun....
https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/suspected-chinese-balloon-over-us-02-04-23/index.html
China... a friendly country ? Risk from this country is? not low but not yet high.
GFC REDUX as war drags on for years and OIL and Gas investment tanks.
North africa the key for Gas? New Gas fields now the next Gold Rus world Wide?
The British army could not fight for "more than a few days", defence sources have warned, as Rishi Sunak was urged to "wake up" to the fight against Russia.
"Vladimir Putin has declared war on the West '
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/06/russia-ukraine-war-latest-news-putin-battle-bakhmut-missiles/
Its panic in China capital as they realise something went wrong... they have fired the weather man...
In the US... There is something up there...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsWlLzfvTzk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dSkX9VySOI
In China ....
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/06/china/china-response-suspected-spy-balloon-intl-hnk/index.html
more missiles .... more omney wasted ... defense stocks ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/07/politics/china-icbms-us-letter-congress/index.html
If war with the Ugly Bear is severeal more years in the making does it mean the FED chair wont be able to lower rates for at least 12 months longer than expected. Rate usualy take 12 months to hit the system ot longer which means you wont see the effect of these rate hikes until ... 2024? surely not ...
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-interview-vladimir-sorokin/32249339.html
looks like RM will deliver panther new tanks in 2 years time...
even stated they will allow a factory in UKE.
sholz is now completely sholzed by RM.
The last weeks on a friday night TV 3 has aired the 300 and the Rise of Empire.
Is this to educate the average KIWI what and where deomcracy comes from and the costs of keeping freedom.
if not intentional a whole new generation will see where democracy was born by sword and blood.
Even if these movies are somewhat game like. Perhaps thats what Gen Z can only consume.
BP might be interested in this major offensive by ugly bear... does not appear to have gone well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uEZXUcmnZo
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 11, 2023, 03:59 PMBP might be interested in this major offensive by ugly bear... does not appear to have gone well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uEZXUcmnZo
Obviously - impossible to verify the pictures and still more difficult to fathom how the big picture looks based on a small number of jig saw puzzle pieces which both sides no doubt try to make look suitable for their version of the big picture.
But no doubt - the Russian losses have been bad. Question is - does Putin care? If he lost so far 200.000 men in his assault against Ukraine (as conservative estimates state), then there are still roughly 40 millions in fighting age left in Russia (I took for simplicity half of the male population) - all keen to die for Putins expansion plans.
Any ideas on a palatable endgame? At this stage the only sensible solution I can see equates to the end of the Third Reich (i.e. total occupation of Russia, forced change of government and de-putin-isation) ... and seriously - does anybody expect the US and Europa to invade Russia and China and India to peacefully standby?
Any other endgames look to me more like an endless festering wound - a terrorist state on Russian ground constantly attacking its neighbours whenever the Russian head terrorist of the day pleases?
Third Reich (i.e. total occupation of Russia)
sorokin does say something similar and jhes russian... but i think they will run ou of tanks before than but that means industry will have to step up big time.... both sides will run out of ammo surely?
UK reportly does not have much but production is increasing but with no new factories coming on line UGLY bear probably can go for a while yet.
the politicans got this so badly wrong becuase they are thinking or were thinking all WOKIE DONKIE....
where was churchill... he is reincarnated and living happily in UKE land.
really US defense stocks are like a stream locomative leaving the station.
Polish ordering 500 Himars and getting 18...
Yep "no end game in sight" new COLD WAR borders coming and lots and lots of missile and tanks in europe.
RIEN M now in talks in UKE's for a factory producing Panther Tanks in UKE land.
Now a month ago that would have been fantasy talk but the Germans arms industry are now thinking not "I LIKE (CARS, CARS CARS)" (Tina) but (We like "TANKS, TANKS, TANKS")
RM just got it order book full like every other Tank manufacture in the west..
Russia uses Drone boats to attack bridge...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/11/ukraine-invasion-russia-strikes-key-odessa-bridge-drone-boat/
2 Years to capture Donbas say the Ugly bear...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/11/russia-ukraine-war-latest-news-putin-belarus-poland/
the siutation on UKraine is going to get a lot worse if the west doesnt step up the pace..
"Russia is putting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant at risk of a disaster, Ukrainian official alleges
Russia is draining water from Kakhovka reservoir on temporarily occupied territories
This puts in danger the cooling system at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, irrigation for nearly half-a-million acres of farmland and drinking water for many peoplehttps://t.co/5BATcGAxPc pic.twitter.com/y0mLNBLENU
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 11, 2023"
battle footage from Vuhledar both UKE and UGB.
https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vuhledar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Quote from: BlackPeter on Feb 12, 2023, 11:02 AMAny other endgames look to me more like an endless festering wound - a terrorist state on Russian ground constantly attacking its neighbours whenever the Russian head terrorist of the day pleases?
Well this has been the case for the past 10-15 years and I don't think anything will change in the next 10-15 years.
Look like NZ need some fighter Jets to shoot down UFO's
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/canadian-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-says-unidentified-object-shot-down/NYCDHCX6DJHIDKLXMTT444LURM/
Was HC's decision to get rid of Fighter Jets really a good one in the long term?
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 12, 2023, 02:36 PMLook like NZ need some fighter Jets to shoot down UFO's
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/canadian-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-says-unidentified-object-shot-down/NYCDHCX6DJHIDKLXMTT444LURM/
Was HC's decision to get rid of Fighter Jets really a good one in the long term?
That was last century and no party has shown the blindest bit of interest in putting a jet fighter force back in the sky. No votes in it, apparently - cf p105. (https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/series/sdsc/timing-everything)
Wait till the sky is full of UFO's
and dont forget NZ is not on its own...
Ukraine is looking for F16's... NZ should have hangers of them ready in Europe ready to defend democracy...
Privatise all Government departments and list them on the stock market... schools hospitals the lot...
decommission every commision ... more commisions then anywhere in the word...
Then buy defense stocks...
CCP or the CCCP (communist confusion party of China) now appears to want better accounting from its banks.
This is of couse a good thing but when your country isnt a profit and loss driven market reporting model one imagines finding out what one owns and doesnt own is an even bigger problem than sorting out western balance sheets which are bad enough.
Does it give one confidence over your morning cup of tea or coffee...
Confidence to bold go on markets where you havnt gone before.... well not really...
And maybe why some dont want to go much farther than EBOS and a daring raid is HLG....
Of course if your MR P you just LOV aussi stocks....
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/12/china-tightens-requirements-on-classifying-banks-asset-risks.html
from the "People's Bank of China and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC)."
"Current rules are inadequate because "in recent years, the asset structure of China's commercial banks has changed quite a lot, and risk classification faces many new situations and problems," the CBIRC said. The new rules, it said, will help prevent credit risks more effectively, the regulator said."
The Russian started practising their unsafe flying and ship manoeuvre many years ago and we see where it all lead.
Today China appears to be adopting the same behaviours...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/13/asia/philippines-china-coast-guard-laser-intl-hnk-ml/index.html
Friday 8.30 PM, national Geographic will be featuring Ukraine.
and how can you deal wth a country that just loves to tell porkies...
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/china-says-more-than-10-us-balloons-flew-in-its-airspace/DXAVB3WW6FEEJKAF5HLF5WF3II/
China now out of control inside the doors of power with no one in charge?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/13/even-xi-may-have-lost-control-muddled-beijing-bureaucracy/
Shoot first ... is that how things started in 1938...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/13/politics/unknown-objects-leaders-response/index.html
What if it turns out they are shooting down Kites....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB2FKe8BVVY
you can see how hard it is to keep it in the camera sight... hard to see at the distance and it just keeps bouncing around with the wind currents...
and you can see there are a lot of people out there building kites that are not authorised.
It appears to be a totally unregulated indusrty
in fact it seems to be one of the last unregulated frontiers where inventors can development new designs without having to make a consent application to any authorities or government departments.
many of could be looking for a new frontier where you are FREE truelly FREE to express yourselfs without any worries about being monitored by anyone including the WOKIE DONKIE police.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB2FKe8BVVY
go on go on,,, just go fly fly your kite...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA-g8YYPKVo
looking forward to see all your designs and you can send them to me at my private private top secret IP company...
we need to keep it all super secret from 5 eyes... you never know who is going to want to steel your IP ... especially those sneaky Chinese spys at the ambassy in wellington... or it is in Auckland or a secret China police station where HP lives...
Its an all NEW world and be shocked... very shocked....
wake up to your coffee and a shock....
Even the NZ PM is dressed in an orange telly tumbby suit to shock you into paying attention...
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/14/think-of-the-unthinkable-imf-chief-warns-world-is-a-very-different-place-after-crises-like-covid.html
.
Add to that from an NZ perspective....
After the recent flooding and cyclone more and more property or events may become extremely expensive to insure if not uninsurable altogether.
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 14, 2023, 01:50 PMShoot first ... is that how things started in 1938...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/13/politics/unknown-objects-leaders-response/index.html
Well, I guess any war started with shooting first ... but to the best of my recollection did Hitler not shoot at unmanned and unidentified flying objects over his territory, but he "shot back" against an staged attack he arrange himself.
Not quite comparable.
Hilters secret trains.....
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-special-train-travel-secret-ukraine-war/32270737.html
More Kite flying...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/15/ukraine-russia-war-news-putin-latest-nato-talks-conflict/
Go Go fly your Kite ...
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/02/15/chinese-spy-balloon-selina-wang-ebof-dnt-vpx.cnn
Invest in ... SHELLS, SHELLS, SHELLS...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/17/politics/us-weapons-factories-ukraine-ammunition/index.html
The propaganda in the balkans could flare into regional conflicts again...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/11/wagner-mercenaries-helping-serbia-prepare-potential-attack-nation/
Europe Gas's up...
The UGly bear reseve bank is selling 100 M a day.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/02/17/ftse-100-markets-live-news-natwest-results-retail-sales-ons/
"Moscow's finance ministry has pledged to stick to running a budget deficit of no more than 2pc of gross domestic product (GDP) this year, even as its spending outweighed income by nearly $25bn (£21bn) in January."
That would bankrupt this country in no time...
Here in NZ the population is protected to do the WOKIE DONKIE stuff....
but if you want tocome down to reality then Colonel Richard Kemp interview reminds us all where humanity is up to...
and NZ when Aunty Helen came to power a whole new world order came with her... and reality was suspended...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5uJHqlJ7S0
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 18, 2023, 08:08 PMand NZ when Aunty Helen came to power a whole new world order came with her... and reality was suspended...
Hmmm interesting theory that, Waltz. Maybe Clark's Labour was the real Y2K bug and we'd been looking in all the wrong places, eh. Quite a legacy to have brought a whole new world order into being, that's definitely something to tell the grandkids about.
A young person recently told me that a whole New system was going to be voted in soon.
6 weeks later the AG binned the new system. She had no idea that there was an AG in the behive or what the role is.
last 2 fridays the Rise of Empire and the 300 played in TV3 friday movie...
Young viewers probably think they are hollywood block busters fiction....
Pitty she did not whatch them...
Never forget the 300....
Aunty Helen might have forgotten..
von der Leyen tries to leave her legacy after the Merky years of do nothing...
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-can-move-mountains-supply-ammunition-kyiv-says-von-der-leyen-2023-02-18/
Gen. David Petraeus told CNN he believes Ukrainian troops will be able to push Russian forces further back this summer, contingent on arms supply and strategy.
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-2-18-23-intl/h_59cf8f167be5d51272c297027391adc2
And the west looks on... no we cant send aircraft ....
History will look back on this and it wont be kind to the west...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/17/europe/ukraine-pilots-helicopter-russia-intl-cmd/index.html
"US should give Ukrainians "everything they need to win this thing," House Foreign Affairs chair says"
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-2-17-23/h_89821d3f4646658ec14817541df08fdb
China... Trust us .... pass the TUI... Did not John Tami Ha HA tell us he trusted the China Dragoon far more than the English...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/18/politics/us-warns-allies-china-russia/index.html
Is the biggest risk to western civilisation the Geek community...
Shut it down, Shut it down quick....
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/17/microsoft-limits-bing-ai-chats-after-the-chatbot-had-some-unsettling-conversations.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 19, 2023, 01:23 PMIs the biggest risk to western civilisation the Geek community...
Shut it down, Shut it down quick....
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/17/microsoft-limits-bing-ai-chats-after-the-chatbot-had-some-unsettling-conversations.html
"The change comes after early beta testers of the chatbot...found that it could go off the rails and discuss violence, declare love, and insist that it was right when it was wrong." It sounds very human. We're a big enough risk to ourselves as a species, without AI further upping the ante.
"off the rails"
lucky it wasnt actually out in the wild and roaming free...
Just a few twinks and shell be right mate!!!
sure, sure... no its actually showing us the N NETS can take control of themselves very quickly..
Glory to the 300....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlWknBYCbKI
and the battle rages on today and no doubt for all time it appears....
In the UK the conversation on European and Uk resolution to with stand the coming battle for democracy..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxGxCTuuj8w
The RR (Ronald Reagan) of the Republican Party is who? Senator G ? your kidding hes starting to talk like his own man!
"""You have to have actions consistent with that statement," he said. The senator said Ms Harris' comments in Germany were particularly poignant given the historical context. "We're talking about the Vice President of the United States declaring that Russia is involved in crimes against humanity — in Germany of all places, you know, echoes of World War II," he said.""
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/20/train-ukrainian-pilots-f-16-fighters-now-biden-urged/
One gun run... just one and the RR man will try to take the hill!
What has happen to Senator G? Hes a man after all....
RR to the rescue...
what ever ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-T8cnCrxO8
it all unplugged...
Jokes aside "Uk Defense officials in whitehall"
"They added: "You can see there is a storm coming because all the trends and indicators are that we will find ourselves in trouble at some point in the next five to 10 years.
"We have a leaking roof and rather than fixing it we are removing roof tiles and making the roof worse." "
Are we taking this serious enough and is it a rerun of 1930's all over again.
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 20, 2023, 10:34 PMThe RR (Ronald Reagan) of the Republican Party is who? Senator G ? your kidding hes starting to talk like his own man!
"""You have to have actions consistent with that statement," he said. The senator said Ms Harris' comments in Germany were particularly poignant given the historical context. "We're talking about the Vice President of the United States declaring that Russia is involved in crimes against humanity — in Germany of all places, you know, echoes of World War II," he said.""
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/20/train-ukrainian-pilots-f-16-fighters-now-biden-urged/
One gun run... just one and the RR man will try to take the hill!
What has happen to Senator G? Hes a man after all....
RR to the rescue...
what ever ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-T8cnCrxO8
it all unplugged...
Jokes aside "Uk Defense officials in whitehall"
"They added: "You can see there is a storm coming because all the trends and indicators are that we will find ourselves in trouble at some point in the next five to 10 years.
"We have a leaking roof and rather than fixing it we are removing roof tiles and making the roof worse." "
Are we taking this serious enough and is it a rerun of 1930's all over again.
Not a rerun of the 1930's but it is a natural culmination of modern US foreign policy. One month from today marks the start of the US illegal invasion of Iraq. Since then the US has ignored chemical weapon use in Syria, watched Crimea be annexed, left Afghans at the mercy of the Taliban, turned a blind eye to horrific human rights abuse in Saudi...and on and on.
With the US 'pick and choose' attitude to foreign affairs (Libya - no, Syria - yes) it is simply not trusted. Look no further than the Global South's key players refusal to condemn Putin's Ukraine invasion. The US does not hold a moral mandate.
The beginning of the end to this will not come from the US but it might from the Chinese peace plan - no matter how much the US would want it to be otherwise.
Its the follow on from the 1930's .
In fact from Sorokin its just the same old same old...
They say of him in russia he can hear the water running under the ground...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Sorokin
who wasnt reading pravda in 2010...
Its all part of the grand ugle bear plan to self destruct.
What your looking at here is a just like the 1930 sliding into global fires..
As Londons officials are starting to wake up and say " we have scen this movie before"
it is the 1930's... history always repeats becuase humans progress very very slowly.
Its less than one hundred years since 1930. Some of that generation are still alive... go talk to them and ask them what did they see.
They say to me how they ducked fire from german bombers while playing soccer in Ken school play grounds... NO kiddng just last year.
They say its all the same movie...
"modern US foreign policy"
think in writtings, he "sorokin", disagrees with that.
he says its all the result of european history back to 16th century russia.
We dont have a Sorokin here in these little islands or one that is yet as well known.
We have in the cupboard jokes and jolly fine jokes they are too...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIedNhGqWF0
Sorokin basically says its all fate as far as russian goes and nothing has changed in Russia since the 16 century. And that is why it was obvious putin would invade Ukraine .
Sorokin.. "His 2006 novel, Day of the Oprichnik, describes a dystopian Russia in 2027, with a Tsar in the Kremlin, a Russian language with numerous Chinese expressions, and a "Great Russian Wall" separating the country from its neighbors . He was awarded in 2015 the Premio Gregor von Rezzori for this novel.
"For Sorokin, Putin's goal is not Ukraine. It is the dismemberment of NATO and the destruction of western civilization."
In 2010 re started reading Parvda ..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravda
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 21, 2023, 12:51 AMSorokin basically says its all fate as far as russian goes and nothing has changed in Russia since the 16 century. And that is why it was obvious putin would invade Ukraine .
Sorokin.. "His 2006 novel, Day of the Oprichnik, describes a dystopian Russia in 2027, with a Tsar in the Kremlin, a Russian language with numerous Chinese expressions, and a "Great Russian Wall" separating the country from its neighbors . He was awarded in 2015 the Premio Gregor von Rezzori for this novel.
"For Sorokin, Putin's goal is not Ukraine. It is the dismemberment of NATO and the destruction of western civilization."
In 2010 re started reading Parvda ..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravda
There are many differences - a one key being the utter irrelevance of the UK - laid bare after Brixit. The UK economy is stuffed. Its continued role in world politics exists mostly in delusions carried over from their former grandeur. The UK lacks the means to make any real military intervention on foreign soil.
"irrelevance of the UK"
actually in the 1930's UK barely had an army if was the French army that Churchil counted on...
Today the world looks very much like the 1930's with 3 gaints powers....USA, Russia and Japan...
UK had only some ships and they were all out gunned and armoured... LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE IT...
Hood had her armoured belts updated at the Water line not the Deck. Price of Wales was the new ship but later lost off singapore where the british did not yet understand air power at sea.
UK looks exactly like in it was in the 1930s. It actually still has a ncuclear deterence and a Navy but China now replaces Japan.
UK and French offcials seem to be exactly where they were in 1930's.
""Thank God for the French Army!" This was Winston Churchill's remarks after learning of Hitler's rise to power in 1933. The French Army was the best in the world and its Navy was was the 2nd best after the Royal Navy."
https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-173/churchill-france/
All countries in Europe now see themselves in a rerun. The polish and the eastern country's are still in a centuries old struggle for freedom.
Every country in europe now knows they are in a rerun of about 1936-38,
There is nothing new here. Uk was never capable of a war on land in europe.
Wellington needed Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher at Waterloo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gebhard_Leberecht_von_Bl%C3%BCcher
Even on the spanish campagin Wellington had to be careful.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsular_War
When the hell have the English ever feilded a Army capable of operations in Europe since https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Agincourt.
In every 20th century war The Uk had to call on empire troops where ever it went.
Uk has always wielded nothing more than bluff just like when spain tried to invade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Armada.
In the Amercias it was beaten by some farmers!!!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington
Lets not forget the Battle of Balaclava.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade
What the British capable of overseas operations on land? Your JOKING!!!!
Oh lets not forget ... operation Market Garden....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Market_Garden
and the nearly biggest you know what of all....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_campaign
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's A Long Way To Tipperary Sung By John McCormack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPLS5nNFWTU
Liars Poker ...
Bluffing... lets hope so ...
Battle of the bad hair days... Boris showing off his wild look...
Ukraine voted en mass for freedom and are now the new greeks...
Look mum they have stolen our uniforms...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/23/moscow-claims-ukraine-prepping-invade-moldova-wearing-russian/
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 20, 2023, 10:34 PMThe RR (Ronald Reagan) of the Republican Party is who? Senator G ? your kidding hes starting to talk like his own man!
"""You have to have actions consistent with that statement," he said. The senator said Ms Harris' comments in Germany were particularly poignant given the historical context. "We're talking about the Vice President of the United States declaring that Russia is involved in crimes against humanity — in Germany of all places, you know, echoes of World War II," he said.""
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/20/train-ukrainian-pilots-f-16-fighters-now-biden-urged/
One gun run... just one and the RR man will try to take the hill!
What has happen to Senator G? Hes a man after all....
RR to the rescue...
what ever ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-T8cnCrxO8
it all unplugged...
Jokes aside "Uk Defense officials in whitehall"
"They added: "You can see there is a storm coming because all the trends and indicators are that we will find ourselves in trouble at some point in the next five to 10 years.
"We have a leaking roof and rather than fixing it we are removing roof tiles and making the roof worse." "
Are we taking this serious enough and is it a rerun of 1930's all over again.
To be honest ... I never understood why Western fighter jets might be useful in Ukraine's defence against the Russian attack? They are bloody expensive and easy to take down, it costs an arm and a leg to maintain them and you need to train people for years to be able to properly control them. As well - you can't really do a lot of useful things with them.
Give them enough tanks and ammunition, give them mid range rockets (to take down enough Russian infrastructure to keep the ugly bears busy fixing their own stuff), give them land - sea missiles to manage the Russian navy and give them enough Patriot missiles and Gepards to keep the Ukrainian air clean of the Iranian drones and whatever is left of the Russian rockets. But for what would they need fighter jets?
it not my field but its incredible to see the development of ammo and it new age designs...
whats next... AI bullets? Lets hope "Chat im a alive" doesnt arm its self...
the UKE's are apparently development Graphical Processing Unit software probably based on Navidia GPU's to sort out the battle field...
Dont put on the other guys helmet!!!!
Will China Dare?
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-war-in-ukraine-china-is-reportedly-negotiating-with-russia-to-supply-kamikaze-drones-a-13909157-4740-4f84-830e-fb3c69bc1dff
Western media (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/24/vladimir-putin-invade-ukraine-2022-russia) finally looking a little more critically at the invasion.
A good summary (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/24/how-might-the-ukraine-war-end) of where it's at.
Putin did not snap... it was the plan all along... everyone knew that except Merky Muckel.
now shes reading SpokeShave...
she having a reflecting time at the moment before starting think...
did we ..... UP!!
How did the UKE keep the trains running when the power was out...
Diesels and STREAM!!!!!
Get a puff of this!!!!!
If NZ has a really bad problem getting Diesal and the power grid goes down "this is how you do it"!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQZAQ9R2_Oc
We do not seem to need foreign invaders firing missiles to take out our infrastructure; we seem to do it ourselves.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/300816828/west-auckland-community-isolated-after-temporary-internet-cables-cut
There are many factions in a country that is full of diverse groups.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite
Its a country now full of more and more extremes at both ends of the spectrum.
Puts lives in danger and no one with an ounce of care for the safety of communities would do this even if your opposed to societies governance.
G20 Finance Minister meet in India over the weekend . No statement on IMF debt programs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-DJbXkfc7w
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 26, 2023, 12:59 PMPutin did not snap... it was the plan all along...
How would you know?
Don't forget, Adolf Hitler as well was once just a mediocre painter without ambitions to take over the world, and I would assume that Putin was not different. Admittedly - I can't assess Putins painting skills, but I hear he used to be once a quite insignificant KGB paper shuffler with a very boring job. I doubt that he had at that stage already the plan to recreate the big Russian empire by attacking other countries.
He "advanced" during his lifetime from an insignificant KGB bureaucrat over strongman to Adolf Hitler Mach 2 - and while his ambitions have been obvious at least since 2014 ... I don't think it was possible to foresee or predict them from the beginning of his reign.
And don't forget - he is not the only strongmen meddling with other countries ... if we fight all of them all of the time, then there are not too many countries left we can deal with ... not even the US (which attacked over the last 70 years or so Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and overthrew democratically elected governments and established instead murderous regimes in some other countries like e.g. Chile).
last decade BP ...cant remeber the moment but it was at a speech he made in europe.
Think once the oil rev came in he saw the opportunuity to restart the empire.
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 27, 2023, 01:39 PMlast decade BP ...cant remeber the moment but it was at a speech he made in europe.
Think once the oil rev came in he saw the opportunuity to restart the empire.
This would be consistent with my remark about 2014 ... so, yes - its not a recent surprise, but Merkels reign and Russia - policy (Ostpolitik) started nearly ten years earlier, didn't it?
Yes she did... but it all started with this guy and german business..
https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/gerhard-schroeder-altkanzler-erhaelt-561-000-euro-fuer-buero-aus-staatskasse-a-1170471.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 27, 2023, 03:49 PMYes she did... but it all started with this guy and german business..
https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/gerhard-schroeder-altkanzler-erhaelt-561-000-euro-fuer-buero-aus-staatskasse-a-1170471.html
Yeah, Schröder is a special case ... Ex chancellor, personal friend of Putin, Socialdemocrate and he takes whatever he can get from German taxpayers as well as from Russian oligarchs / eh - enterprises to fund his lavish lifestyle - strictly following the old Roman saying "pecunia non olet".
Don't ask me what I think about him, but I guess he clearly demonstrates that the lack of moral values does not necessarily correlate with any party line.
And yes - allowing Germany to get that dependent on cheap Russian energy imports was criminal. Heads should roll for that.
How did it come to this .....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVEYcTyj1Do
Technology in democracy is exposed to public gaze but in other political systems that may not happen.
IS AI a false GOD that is going to fail?
Recogniation chips are one thing but THINKING?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/02/27/watching-one-spectacular-technology-implosions-time/
Russian £274m spy plane blown up by Belarusian partisans.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/02/27/putins-274m-spy-plane-destroyed-belarusian-partisans/
South Africa in big trouble ...
Could the same happen here ?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/south-africa-faces-civil-war-conditions-due-to-possibility-of-power-grid-collapse/5TFXMJFSHJHAZNRUXIVHBHRJXA/
Going back in time ... was this a declaration of WAR by the Surfers of the South Pacific...
Stealing a long boat from COOK? After all what would happen today if the Chinese tried to steel all the life boats from a US war ship?
Is there something in all this that alludes the writer of this article?
Cook was probably deciding he has had enough of these south pacific pirates.... GIVE ME MY BOATS BACK ya pack of bastards... PIRATES!!!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/300815746/echoes-of-ringo-the-ongoing-debate-over-the-role-of-the-royal-family-in-modern-society
Its the New World Order of "Taking Care of Business"
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/01/business/russia-oil-shadow-fleet/index.html
Bring back https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Drake
Sink them or board them and steal the oil....
He would have know what to do. The west has forgotten how to fight for its survival.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/01/politics/us-f16-missiles-taiwan/index.html
Buy a defense ETF? How is the US supposed to have a recession if sales of industrials and defence starts cooking hotter and higher..
Poland want hundreds of HImars and everyone else wants them too?
The Boys and Girls in europe are having a bit of a Pow Wow about UKE join the EU this year...
Imagine how the others are feeling about their applications.
Should NZ join with AUS and form a south pacific union... inviting other south pacific county's as well.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-european-union-membership-talks-metsola/32299247.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 05, 2023, 09:13 AMShould NZ join with AUS and form a south pacific union... inviting other south pacific county's as well.
Here's an oldie for you: CANZUK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHglo_N7P_Y
Brilliant searching OMP...
your close having OMG as your ticker!!!
CAN what? yes it could be a winner() but they speak french dont they?
love french...
This is the moment free Europe was protected by the lives of UKE special forces in the battle for KIEV.
Right up there with the 300 from Sparta.
"In mid-March 2022, Ukrainian armed forces blew up a dam to flood the Irpin River, a tributary of the Dnieper, and stop steadily advancing Russian forces from entering Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital."
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-satellite-photos-environmental-damage-russia-invasion/32300056.html
Junk yard business is booming in Ugly bear federation...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/03/06/russian-forces-resort-welding-war-relics-tankenstein-vehicles/
Its just like the OLD Days of the communist cold war...
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/07/chinas-new-foreign-minister-qin-gang-holds-first-press-briefing.html
It appears that The Ugly Bear is not going to deploy it newest tank and in fact no one want to accept the T14 for battle.
Poor performance and thermals and ... who knows what actually works..
BUT this does work apparently and its brand NEW....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/03/06/russian-forces-resort-welding-war-relics-tankenstein-vehicles/
This really shows how advanced a country they are......
Ukraine could match this in any town junk yard and maybe even do better ...
This is a whole new view of Shovel ready ....
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64855760
XI PING PING - which reminds of the characters in that classic musical "The Mikado, by Gilbert and Sullivan"
PING PING is whoowing private enterprise and has said "we the communist party cant live with you oh lovely Private Enterprise"
"Come and party with us please please do"
"For we just cant do with out you"
But we know that this is wishful thinking as the "Lovely Private Enterprise can always do without you Nanki-Poo - Poo , Poo"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRnFp27gUXc
now if your confused than so will XI PING PING be when private enterprise tells him to just PING OFF!!!
i could amend that rubbish to "PING PONG OFF" !!
well BP i dont think NZ should equip the ARMY with shovels....
unless thats how they expect to clean up the East Coast!!!
We need to wake up here to these threats are now emerging into the open and arnt going to go away.
Markets are not returning to normal this year and one can only hope they run out of missiles but it doesnt look like it. Every effort will be made to build the weapons.
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-03-09-23/index.html
In 1967 the US lead the world in hypersonic flight and now the world is paying the price for the US grounding it programs.
Nuclear strike alarm on Moscow!!!!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/03/09/russians-told-rush-nuclear-bomb-shelters-hackers-take-state/
European Arms stocks continue to rise ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/09/business/europe-procurement-weapons-ukraine/index.html
Chinese senior colonel: "in Ukraine 'has nothing to do with China'
Interview at the recent security Pow Wow in europe.
Interesting interview with attending china official.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHOvEE1Y230
Thanks for posting this, what an excellent interview!
This could be a turning point for the Middle East.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/10/iran-saudi-arabia-agree-restore-ties-china-talks
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 10, 2023, 10:42 PMChinese senior colonel: "in Ukraine 'has nothing to do with China'
Interview at the recent security Pow Wow in europe.
Interesting interview with attending china official.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHOvEE1Y230
Very interesting interview. Thanks for posting.
Rock interviews Seal Team 6 leader...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=likXjVYeuHI
Great interview on just where the ugly bear is in its development..
It probably not far removed from from 1945...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/historiker-timothy-snyder-zum-ukraine-krieg-in-russland-steht-der-wille-ueber-der-vernunft-1678197359-a-063f199f-2112-4874-abf2-cfc017b93e88
Defence Tech innovation to counter hypersonic missiles...
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/usaf-testing-mutant-missiles-that-twist-in-mid-air-to-hit-their-targets
China now on a path to a full blown hot cold war ...
it all on again...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/13/politics/joe-biden-aukus-china/index.html
A new take on Arnie carrying a machine gun...
This is how they will take on the horde...
https://tvpworld.com/68472820/military-mind-1303
Arnie in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41J1nbFABgk
The world in getting pretty hot out there in more ways than one./..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/14/russias-next-civil-war-has-already-begun/
and the ugly bear pilots must be getting very worried...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/14/politics/us-drone-russian-jet-black-sea/index.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 15, 2023, 04:14 PMand the ugly bear pilots must be getting very worried...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/14/politics/us-drone-russian-jet-black-sea/index.html
I saw a headline somewhere (can't remember where but possibly CNBC) that it may have been accidental. Doesn't diminish the political/ diplomatic fallout though.
Dangerous games....
Yep OMP you right..
it appears to be all over the press and leading democrates have warned against farther moves by ugly bear.
In the UK they are saying the US is sending a message to XI to get things dialed back in Moscow...
https://thehill.com/policy/international/3900448-senators-decry-russias-dangerous-reckless-downing-of-us-drone/
China... right sending all those coast guard ships into or near other country's oceans waters and islands...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km545zUzq-g
Copied from Bonds and Banking:
A week after the US programmes were announced, First Republic remains under pressure ......
—the good news is a lot has changed since 2008. ........
.......The bad news is that so far trust in the banking sector has not been restored.
Central banks and regulators must do more to restore confidence. .......... If even a few small banks have to write down assets, solvency questions will become contagious.
Another risk lies in private markets. ......... They may delay crystallising losses in the hopes that asset values reflate in the meantime. .......... Private markets could undermine financial stability.
We shouldn't assume the cat is dead and a banking crisis is upon us, but we will keep hitting pockets of market dislocation as central banks continue to withdraw liquidity by raising rates and shrinking balance sheets. ............. Even if the cat is alive this time, we can't assume it has nine lives.
Snippets from https://www.ft.com/content/23f56227-ec57-4de8-9127-2f94b53d7864
"Catastrophe looms as China encircles Taiwan"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/300850360/newsable-catastrophe-looms-as-china-encircles-taiwan
Seems like military exercises are ramping up tensions again.
The slow decision making by western governments is going to cost a lot more UKE lives...
https://kyivindependent.com/russias-smart-bombs-pose-increasingly-serious-threat-to-ukraine/
very interesting the similarities between this war and the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Persian_invasion_of_Greece.
Very concerning risk assessment ....
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-general-barrons-interview-tavberidze/32359148.html
Did Russia kill the Polish PM and delegation in 2010? It cant be true? or is there no logic left in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYjT7NUxtS0
This is the slow creep of the EVIL... are we blind to this here?
https://www.rferl.org/a/poland-doctors-georgia-ex-president-saakashvili/32315672.html
Blink time soon.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/debt-ceiling-2023-debt-limit-default-what-could-happen/#:~:text=Since%201960%2C%20Congress%20has%20acted,debt%20limit%2C%20according%20to%20Treasury.
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 20, 2023, 11:54 PMBlink time soon.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/debt-ceiling-2023-debt-limit-default-what-could-happen/#:~:text=Since%201960%2C%20Congress%20has%20acted,debt%20limit%2C%20according%20to%20Treasury.
Will be interesting, but given that they prepare for election year I suppose even the Rep boneheads realise that they only can lose when driving the state into bankruptcy. So - I assume there will be the usual posturing, grandstanding and rattling the cage ... and after some weeks of chaos everything will be back to normal.
hope so BP... hope so.....
well 2 DOGs say 3 months to train uke pilots of f16 if they are experienced but the trouble is they are running out of pilots...
should have given them the F16 last year then...
and apparently transport UKE land is not limiting the speed on their motor ways just yet...
The world is still back in the early 1800's?
Looks like it...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/20/vladimir-putin-is-preparing-to-attack-the-uk/
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 22, 2023, 09:07 AMThe world is still back in the early 1800's?
Looks like it...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/20/vladimir-putin-is-preparing-to-attack-the-uk/
Maybe... Thou' the author is the Tory MP Bob Seely, and his party have invested heavily in stirring up 'invasion' sentiment; be it from the Russians or refugees.
Maybe he would point to the number of children killed in the Bombing here ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariupol_theatre_airstrike
the insanity of human kind down the centuries.
for those who dont follow international defense presentations here is a fast growing new platform as defense (defence) ( défense) starts to take a high profile in peoples risk assessments.
reminds one of the early 1900's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BHnijL9xYc
no more peace in our time...
do russian nukes still work or maybe they can get new ones from north K...
its all turning to .... again..
https://kyivindependent.com/russia-tries-to-conceal-its-dwindling-nuclear-stockpile/
2027, is it the next big world global disruption event?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfzHeiDSk3Y
or we can take in good old
Noam Chomsky: Who is the greatest threat to world peace?
or has the old guy lost it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiA9PtTLi-Q
The interviewer thinks the old guy's lost it. Maybe it'll be better when the old guy's as old as Henry Kissinger.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/a-trip-down-memory-lane-with-twitters-corbynista-bots-and-cranks-dwwncs87w
There has been publlished in Kanga land propaganda regarding attacking fish in Kiwi Land.
Hypersonic weapons are as we sleep being designed to attack Kiwiland Fishing grounds...
This new intelligence need to be sent to the james bonds of NZ spy land...
This is currently the greatest threat yet faced by KIWI land in this new age of complete lunacy...
Things just keep catching on fire in Ugly bear land...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra3Mr-4I6Zg
https://www.newsweek.com/russian-mlrs-weapons-factory-bursts-flames-reports-1797569
The essential defense quandary - people or kit? What good is one without the other, but how much of each is New Zealand willing to pay for?
https://northandsouth.co.nz/2023/02/11/new-zealand-defence-force/
It certainly is looking a bit sad. What's the solution?
Quote from: Henry Filth on May 03, 2023, 05:36 AMThe essential defense quandary - people or kit? What good is one without the other, but how much of each is New Zealand willing to pay for?
https://northandsouth.co.nz/2023/02/11/new-zealand-defence-force/
Don't worry - the current government is busy in painting over the crack in their government, they won't have time to fix the army ... and the other party will be busy to cut taxes. How would you fix the army with less money?
Maybe we can use ACT's gun lovers ... they can donate their private weapons arsenal to the NZ army and volunteer to defend the country, this might fix it.
just fire 25% of the Government work force in wellington and Auto the IRD with AI...
its going to happen anyway and NZ might as well get in early ... plan for it as it coming... real soon...
AI is not software now its actually in the chip Hives.... its not what people think.
The tax system need stream lining just like roger said... he was a visionary.
There is always a war coming...
Ok this solves the local missile defence problem... without using expensive Rocket lab motors...
These can be fired from anywhere onto landing beaching where the invaders are landing...
Some refinement might be in order such as GPS from T7...
The "Whats Its" name comapny can retail these and it can save the share price from farther embarrasment...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/02/ukraine-russia-invasion-war-peoples-missile-air-defence/
A different view from The ODT:
https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-national/axing-missile-system-leaves-nz-army-without-air-defence
"The New Zealand Defence Force has quietly disposed of $29 million worth of air defence missiles which were never used or brought into service.
As a result, the New Zealand Army no longer has any dedicated air defence capabilities.
An Official Information Act (OIA) request made by the Otago Daily Times reveals Mistral short range air defence missiles were removed from New Zealand service more than a decade ago.
Hold the rear .....
Always nice to see yourself in the paper. Well done the commas team.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/05/04/new-zealand-military-plays-catchup-in-pandemic-aftermath/
Quote from: Henry Filth on May 05, 2023, 05:10 AMAlways nice to see yourself in the paper. Well done the commas team.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/05/04/new-zealand-military-plays-catchup-in-pandemic-aftermath/
From that article:
" However, in January this year, the vice chief of the Defence Force, Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies, invited New Zealanders to take part in an online survey regarding the country's future defense policy and strategy."
Who makes the decisions around here?
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 21, 2023, 07:39 PMwell 2 DOGs say 3 months to train uke pilots of f16 if they are experienced but the trouble is they are running out of pilots...
should have given them the F16 last year then...
and apparently transport UKE land is not limiting the speed on their motor ways just yet...
Big trouble coming if they use F16's I reckon. Takes the war to a new level and who knows how the psychopath will respond? Aren't they better off supplying more small drones and the reaper drones as well?
Nah send the F16's ...
they are an old fighter but have a long range radar...
send them its a year late..
this is the pending stages of world war 2.5 already ... its the burning embers...
this is battle of the bulge.. reeimaged in the 21 century.
F16's in hide sight will be required and then bigger better drones for sure.
The UKE's have a new small drone that is brillant and is small perfect for the modern batte field.
It is a one winged propeller recon drone with secure comms..
2 feet wide... fab product for securing the battle field views at day and night.
Quote from: Basil on May 05, 2023, 09:58 AMBig trouble coming if they use F16's I reckon. Takes the war to a new level and who knows how the psychopath will respond? Aren't they better off supplying more small drones and the reaper drones as well?
Admittedly - I am wondering as well, whether F16's are the best value for money we can help them with - lots of money gone if they drop down for whatever reason (like maintenance issues, inexperienced pilots or even just a dumb Russian bullet).
However - I think we should stop doing our bidding to the psychopath. If he sees an advantage in escalating, he will, no matter what we do or don't do. If necessary he will make up a reason himself (like this ridiculous drone which certainly came from Russian sources). Putin's big idol Hitler did that as well. Remember - Germany was just shooting back on a Czech attack the Germans faked themselves. This was how WW2 started.
Stop worrying about the psychopath and give UKE all the help we can ... as long as it makes sense. But yes, you are right - you can supply a lot of good quality drones and rockets to pay for one downed F16.
Quote from: Waltzing on May 05, 2023, 10:34 AMNah send the F16's ...
they are an old fighter but have a long range radar...
send them its a year late..
this is the pending stages of world war 2.5 already ... its the burning embers...
this is battle of the bulge.. reeimaged in the 21 century.
F16's in hide sight will be required and then bigger better drones for sure.
The UKE's have a new small drone that is brillant and is small perfect for the modern batte field.
It is a one winged propeller recon drone with secure comms..
2 feet wide... fab product for securing the battle field views at day and night.
Hope they can ramp up production really quickly and build heaps of them.
Thats the problem ... its private enterprise and it looks like the Tech hubs in LVIV and KH are ahead of the old corrrupt system in Keiv...
and of course then there is the problems of the black market food precurement in the armed forces...
Hard for auditors to make an impact when your being bombed... war is a shambles its just who manages it best and the US and EU seem to be coming to terms with the mess.
Polish TV is helping with this from TVP world. Right wing polish news hub.
ugly scenes from india as they line up for photo shoot with russian military....
is there no stability in the future?
if the answer is no then a balance between trading and longer term holds is the "way of the future"
Aviator...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_Pbx9mvWPY
India.
Oh yeah, India. Maybe, or perhaps not until things get a bit grimmer up in the northern borders
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/india/americas-bad-bet-india-modi
Its just going to get ugly and Ulgla in
https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2023/05/04/russia-to-bolster-support-for-indias-defense-industry/
and a world more and more unstable...
mind you has it ever really been any different..
Sending the UKE pilots into battle with those old rockets ships will go down in history as a disgrace..
https://eurasiantimes.com/us-f-16-pilot-heaps-praises-on-mig-29-fighter-jets/
Western politicans have been heads in the sand and ass up since 2014.
Big scalp for the US missile defence industry...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/05/ukraine-shoots-down-russian-hypersonic-missile-patriot/
Buy US military stocks.. well they could be up next week if this keeps up..
Truely hope this stuff ant actually how it is .... sadly ...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/atomic-scientist-and-former-los-alamos-director-siegfried-hecker-my-fear-is-that-putin-has-destroyed-the-nuclear-order-a-833d93ef-5b55-46f9-bbda-dc6503b028b2
a criminal takes over a country with nuclear weapons; rides around in an armored train; has 20 offices all alike; kills his enemies anywhere in the world; and unleases chaos in the security council and threatens the world with nuclear melt down.... invades countries on a whim...
sorry what MAD movie are you living in now?
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/02/17/russia-vladimir-putin-armored-train-ebof-vpx.cnn
what next ....
Quote from: Waltzing on May 06, 2023, 03:16 PMBig scalp for the US missile defence industry...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/05/ukraine-shoots-down-russian-hypersonic-missile-patriot/
Buy US military stocks.. well they could be up next week if this keeps up..
You could also try
Norwegian defense stocks - Kongsberg has been on a tear lately. . .
Interesting discussion on F14 A to D's... one pilot also on US pod casts boasted he got 100 to 600 Knots in under 9 seconds... on D's clean no tanks... sooo may be Mav could have hit the afterburners and smoked that su 57 after all... right well never mind the junk in the films heres the real thing talking...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqGvInfXz3Q
also you get to see NZ's top gun fighter the ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf3rA2xzPr4
No end in sight....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIYC_WUSw4c
movements out crimea by the population?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqm4GT264pw
a mention of an announcement from the dutch ...
a little graphic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pNLVFEtzyU
appears that western military equipment such as HIMAR may be requring some workshop time and of course the GPS jamming from the russian is a problem and maybe even F16's wont be enough... F18 growlers might actually be what is required and of course no chance of those being supplied...
In other words UKE being asked to counter attack with most of the air arm not really in the position to cover the boys and girls on the ground.
But we will soon see what the UKE air arm can provide if the UKE decides to try a counter attack later this month of some kind.
Quote from: Waltzing on May 08, 2023, 09:04 PMNo end in sight....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIYC_WUSw4c
movements out crimea by the population?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqm4GT264pw
a mention of an announcement from the dutch ...
a little graphic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pNLVFEtzyU
appears that western military equipment such as HIMAR may be requring some workshop time and of course the GPS jamming from the russian is a problem and maybe even F16's wont be enough... F18 growlers might actually be what is required and of course no chance of those being supplied...
In other words UKE being asked to counter attack with most of the air arm not really in the position to cover the boys and girls on the ground.
But we will soon see what the UKE air arm can provide if the UKE decides to try a counter attack later this month of some kind.
Just wondering who is interested in keeping to cook this counterattack story? Did this come from Western media, UKE or directly from Putin's desk?]
Anyway - if they attack I hope it will be a surprise. This exchanging of shells and rockets at the front line is just a dumb meat grinder and reminds at the WWI stalemate.
There are so many tempting soft targets in Russia: Power stations, bridges, fuel depots, weapons and ammunition factories .... ah yes, and isn't there a "victory parade" coming up? Must be an amazing concentration of military brass and gear- and the Russians need anyway some fresh blood, don't they?
I just hope UKE will at some stage return Russias favours ...
yes BP these CTR's are apparently likely to be more than one now...
its an media industry sector all of its own....
lets face it the UKE's would be MAD to do a CTRA without proper AIR support...
If one wishes to understand the dangers of invading crimea and taking down the bridge the west needs to read ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimea:_The_Last_Crusade
Becuase even if russia is driven out this wound in the side of russia will festa and no matter what the west thinks about the evil empire the russians themselves see it as theres...
this one isnt going to go quietly into the night...
Its a bit like the situation on the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock
its just to go on and on with none of the parties happy about the situation....
this war is a big one and bigger than perhaps we imagine and its been going on for hundreds of years... it flares up... and the Tartars arnt happy either..
It really does look like the west still stumbled into this one a bit like the US stumbled into its doomed invasion of Iraq war number 2...
Russian's arnt going to stop this war and Putin knows how to stoke it in fact he probably needs the UKE's to attack crimea, its his only hope now his missile war has failed.
Its about to heat up...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/09/europe/russia-victory-day-parade-moscow-analysis-intl-cmd/index.html
Fighter cover needed ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXaR6kKMdJQ
Long war ... not what the west was thinking was it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0TI0ygFP_Y
Interesting to see the guest list at Red Square
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/05/09/in-photos-moscow-celebrates-victory-day-with-slimmed-down-military-parade-a81075
Ok all the experts says this thing is going on for years and years and years....
but whos guarding the road to moscow?
could the UKE tanks turn left at Kharkiv city central and head straigh to moscow? and one T34 and some kids are going to defend the city?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFaHvEaM5x8
is russia actually in a state where they can defend themselves ? well they have some planes and ships left but do they have anything else?
the aircarft carrier is Ka Putin... and they have got some sub's that could strike the charging tanks on the road to moscow.. but they might also take out a town or two... you know like the bombs they dropped out the bomb bay doors of a plane over https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/20/europe/russia-belgorod-accidental-bombing-intl-hnk/index.html
becuase we all know what happened to this lot dont we....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KOod95OEh4
they mostly got Ka putin and long with the 1st Tanks guard .. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8D-CHjnhms
all Ka Putin...
the road to moscow is wide open with th whole russian army tied down in the south by the UKE army... including all those accountants, teachers and mechanics, cooks bottle washers both men and women,,,,
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/10/putins-one-tank-military-parade-was-an-embarrassment-for-russia.html
Looks like the UKE's have just carried out another dagger strike operation ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Nge72GliM
UKE's smacking them up again..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGmczLcGBD4
it could all go KA Putin from here...
send them STORM shadow ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFrxx8fkQM
Putin probably counting on his MAGA Republican mates to stymie Ukraine's defence by withholding USA debt ceiling and budget approval.
Nuclear accident warning ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0vuUYjXtJI
what comes next looks like a plan from world war 2...
Its a world class knock out from Kiev .... look what we knocked out of the sky!!
says world champ boxer from KIEV...
NZ pole of political risk ... you being the Risk to market on how your going to vote and (weather) (rain mostly) we finally get all government departments listed on the stock market...
and the field rounds the top turn on the back straight and CENRIGHT has its nose in front ....
followed by ...
STORM SHADOW .......
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/11/britain-send-ukraine-long-range-missiles-storm-shadow/
well hoping we will return shortly to the Nordic countries.. something always very relaxing about them... or WAS..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfPbZLeuxgk
The real world of the new Hitler ...
or the same old same old dictators...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJtYec5LwjU
But this view is from one of his most high level security officers who defected... in 2022.
no way he has a Cone of silence ... just like in Get Smart...
oh of course we are living in a movie...
ok folks every one go back to your seats and ... dont forget your popcorn and frozen coke...
this is how the UKE's commanders do it...
Japan building up its military ... ready for action in the seas around Japan...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-g9RyJm9y8
Gosh are the UKE's getting better at duck shooting or have they found a new national sporting pass time...
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-jets-helicopters-downed/32410378.html
Hunting and fishing big in the Ukraine...
Does who wins Eurovision have an impact on markets
If your wondering about technology of Israel's digital surveillance unit tasks ..
A200 is the deep state of keeping an eye on the enenies of the state...
wait till they employee AI...
https://www.mei.edu/publications/nowhere-hide-impact-israels-digital-surveillance-regime-palestinians
wait till they get hold a dirty bomb...
US developing a huge embassy in https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/12/middleeast/massive-us-embassy-middle-east-mime-intl/index.html
no wonder they need to lift the debt limit every year..
Who won , the swedes of course...
and you get some ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETxmCCsMoD0
And as the world descends into global chaos.... are we there yet?
yes chaos can effect markets ...
do we have chaos in NZ ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve8pKKMpZS0
Those south africans want some ? what from Russia?
and the big leach pin of Nato is now awaiting its election results?
It's all to play for on the big board of global politics and influence....
Lets start a new political party in NZ... the ONE K Party...
One with the Kangas....
Quote from: Waltzing on May 12, 2023, 10:32 AMSTORM SHADOW .......
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/11/britain-send-ukraine-long-range-missiles-storm-shadow/
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky in private plots bold attacks inside Russia, leak showshttps://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300878442/ukraine-president-volodymyr-zelensky-in-private-plots-bold-attacks-inside-russia-leak-shows
British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said Friday that the missile would give Ukraine "the best chance" to defend itself and would be for use only "within Ukrainian sovereign territory." A spokesman with the British Embassy in Washington declined to comment on whether Zelensky's leaked remarks might give London pause about its decision.
Quote from: Waltzing on May 14, 2023, 02:55 PMUS developing a huge embassy in https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/12/middleeast/massive-us-embassy-middle-east-mime-intl/index.html
no wonder they need to lift the debt limit every year..
They probably just foresee the need for a larger embassy in a "United" Israel stretching across Palestine, Lebanon, parts of Syria and perhaps Jordan?
Don't forget - there is a reason that Israel never criticized Russia's invasion in Ukraine ... maybe they plan to follow Putin's footsteps and take over the Near East?
Clearly - Israel needs enough land to allow people to print the full name of its country on the globe :) ;
DA! of course ... Pax Americana... carry a big stick...
Some kind of "Jets for Ukraine Club" taking shape ....
like there are probably some old F16's out there that have a few years left of air frame and can we get them over there?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/15/ukraine-russia-war-news-latest-putin-zelensky/
why not send them some old Tornado's... they can probably be wired to fire something... anything really..
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/01/10/new-german-government-revisits-tornado-replacement-options/
STORM SHADOW..... no where to hide .... finally some fat ugly bear ass gets kicked... lots more to come... they will be starting to wet the udders.
Havnt the Russians shot these down in Syria??
They shoot everything down... no evidence that any SS missile have been fired yet ... or is there..
The US has a special missile to confuse the already confused ...
BUY US defence stocks... can they really supply poland with 500 Himars?
Dont think the factory can make anything like that number by next month, year the year after years...
any everyone want HImars... "give me my himars!"
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/lockheeds-himars-plant-gearing-up-meet-demand-after-ukraine-success-2023-02-28/
Quote from: Waltzing on May 16, 2023, 12:40 PMThey shoot everything down... no evidence that any SS missile have been fired yet ... or is there..
The US has a special missile to confuse the already confused ...
BUY US defence stocks... can they really supply poland with 500 Himars?
Dont think the factory can make anything like that number by next month, year the year after years...
any everyone want HImars... "give me my himars!"
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/lockheeds-himars-plant-gearing-up-meet-demand-after-ukraine-success-2023-02-28/
Sounds like the current generation has screwed up. When I was still working in the defence industry and a customer asked whether they can have a certain product, the answer was always ... of course, we have a factory.
Funny times ... people need to learn again to produce the olive stuff - and hopefully things will turn better again. They certainly used to be (in the 1980íes or so). It appears too much pacifism can be a killer ...
Bernard-Henri Lévy the french film maker says Z is the New Man in charge and europe is going to line up to send him pretty much everything they can spare and even more...
UKE's say they shot down another 6 of those speedie ugly bear long distance missiles...
if RAY hits 80 again it might be a buy...
best advertising RAY could ever get...nothing like a real war to show off the stuff in the cupboards..
Yes something not quite right today...
Ukraine said they shot down all the kinzhal missiles fired at kiev, but the americans have said the patriot battery was hit by one.
After watching the video it was hit by at least two missiles.. :(
Quote from: mcdongle on May 17, 2023, 11:29 AMYes something not quite right today...
Ukraine said they shot down all the kinzhal missiles fired at kiev, but the americans have said the patriot battery was hit by one.
After watching the video it was hit by at least two missiles.. :(
Not sure, what happened, but the good thing is - Patriot batteries are geographically pretty wide stretched (often over several km). You can't destroy the whole battery with just one (or even two missiles) ... and they still work with a smaller number of rocket launchers.
more likely the urkaine oeprators were a bit nervous and once they settle in to a few more months they will get better...
There is a new product that intergrates all networked radars in the field... the UKE are supposed to have got one from the US...
it decides what to fire from what battery ...
which video there are lots..
"which video there are lots.."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oepttcw5fMQ
It looks like the Ukraine operator pressed every button on the control panel :)
oh the HT a kremlin site...
well lets see ... maybe they need to patch the software but the real world saturation will give the missile makes something to work on...
round one ...
This is the short and the tall of it .... jets are all the rage now... cumon... give us em there jets ya lovely bunch of euro philes... gime them...
Couldnt tell which video i just watched one.
Have been trying to find out how many patriot missiles raytheon make a year, best i could find is 300 so 10% of a years production in 2 mins... ??? And roughly $130 million yikes
Yes YIKES!!!
they need a lot more as they are trigger harrrpy...
was talking to my cousin a Lt COL and he suggested they phantom the another System that turns on after the attack begins and then shuts down after the attacked and moves...
but they dont have enough systems to have phantoms...
Yeah US defense stocks are already in demand but wait for the debt limit to be confirmed... else Europe will have to create some bigger missile defence systems which they should do anyway..
BEA could license stuff from RAY GUN Corp...
Apparently only some minor damage ... spares needed from USA home base or forward warehouses...
Geee does NZ need one too?
"Damaged defenses: Two components of a US-made Patriot battery were damaged in a Russian attack Tuesday, but the system "was never offline," according to a US official familiar with the matter. The Russian barrage damaged the Patriot battery's generator and part of the system's electronics."
Apparently the Pats are all on line and working fine...
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-05-18-23/index.html
No one shoots down our vissles... NO ONE!!!
Perun has done it again and threaten this time a nuclear strike on Kiwi Land!!!!
Its outragous!!!! Ive posted a supporting post made by others regarding his persistent attempts to overun Kiwiland by force such as we might see China do one day to an island near by....
Readers will notice that there are many replies support kiwiland in this horrific battle and supporting the flightless birds in action...
"@danielpeirson3071
3 days ago
I am utterly appalled by the brazen disregard of the Emutopians for their neighbors. Time and time again, the poor Kiwilanders have to deal with crises brought about by Emutopia's unchecked aggression in the region. Great vid Auzzie, keep up the great work. #StandwithKiwiland #ResistEmuAgression"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5eUh3_eo9E
Lots of nuclear options in this handy website
https://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/
Apparently some air weapons junks fell on parts of the Pats system ... and they uke's fixed it up with Duck Tape... you know like how they fixed the moon landers...
Well even if it tru ... please pass the TUI... number eight wire beat that...
Gosh l;ets hope the Ugly bears dont actually learn to do stuff... this war needs to end soon as inflation effects is having a world wide effect on food inflation and therefore our markets..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/19/russian-fighters-using-strelets-battlefield-computers/
Else the UKE's arnt going to get far and its going to cost them even more...
This is sucking more and more equipment from the west.. no end in sight?
bad for markets.
Found this on my wanderings across the net, About the Patriot in Kiev, It is quite a long read with the video i must have seen with the two hits on the system.
Couple of things stood out to me. In a house committee report the patriot was reported to have a success rate of 10%
There is a problem with the missiles doing a loop and crashing back down to earth.. videos of this are in there.. quite scary.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/anatomy-of-mim-104-patriot-destruction
I am now trying to find out about this supposedly radioactive cloud which is drifting across poland / moldova and further into europe.
F16 now going to be stationed for the UKE's to fly around in..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIBJL3CtqYI
The statistical data on the effectivness of the Pats will only be found in the actual data feeds inside the computer backs up of the Pat units and the data feeds if those feeds are later sent to the central database at the manufacture sites servers..
The flight data will have been tracked and can be saved to those servers. Anything else is conjecture.
Some more junk reporting ...
just missing animated soliders firing the missiles...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIgmwm_D61Q
Now these could be pruchased for the NZ Army... cross country pretty good ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnHurMudAJk
Wiesels ... yes perfect ..
This article on the estonia view of greater russia is one that they believe the west has yet to come to terms with.
The rules order system is no longer; might is right and imperialism is here to stay.
The age of peace is over? Or rather it never really existed in the first place...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/20/world/estonia-russia-narva-threat-intl/index.html
we have met the enemy and its US!!!
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/liam-dann-why-labours-budget-might-be-the-most-radical-in-30-years/6JAWQDWUURBQTC7NKEGUGO3QDU/
The West is piss scared of Russia and PuTilter....
Why else would sending an old out of data fighter jet that even the USAF regards as needing some big radar upgrades be such a big deal..
The F16 is one of the oldest most out of date fighter jets that Nato has right up there with all other old stuff that is being retired and the older F16's all need upgrades...
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/russias-su-35-fighter-vs-americas-f-16-fighting-falcon-who-13918
Its gaint air intakes arnt very stealthy are they? and it even looks OLD!!
The block 70 - 72.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifszKzOvN5o
Simulators ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KXESbXJ030
and a look at the Gripen E.
Great place to cycle in summers where the sun doesnt bite like here in southern oceans..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBSQEInFiKU
Gives you a look at the new wide screen displays.
Another summary of this amazing little jet...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkEVYHvzfpo
For anyone wanting to see how the france get more bang for the franc ... then PERun does a great job in showing how good the french are at military manufacture and procurement...
Dassult..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xiwgBdWPL4
PeRun...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5eUh3_eo9E
and his discussions on space weapons...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xl0C6K2Nug
Hes the guy who has often got very upset when the all blacks beat the Kangas and then threatens to Nuke the south island....and make videos
about it... he could be said to be NZ Enemy No 1!!!
Quote from: mcdongle on May 20, 2023, 12:29 PMFound this on my wanderings across the net, About the Patriot in Kiev, It is quite a long read with the video i must have seen with the two hits on the system.
Couple of things stood out to me. In a house committee report the patriot was reported to have a success rate of 10%
There is a problem with the missiles doing a loop and crashing back down to earth.. videos of this are in there.. quite scary.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/anatomy-of-mim-104-patriot-destruction
I am now trying to find out about this supposedly radioactive cloud which is drifting across poland / moldova and further into europe.
Don't waste your and our time. The link looks quite funny .... and the numbers you quote are clearly wrong. Ever tried to use some credible sources?
Oh deaar ,, high alert people....
Kiwiland is now planning an attack on Kanga land...After many threats from Kanga land there now appears to be a counter attack being planned...
revenge at last !!!
ALL you Kiwilanders who are interested to signing up for the counter attack need to listen to Prerun ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xl0C6K2Nug
at 25 minutes or about half way through you will get the chance to sign up...
GLORY to KIWI LAND!!!!!
We just dont see this stuff in this locale do we..
Across the Ditch the sense of apprehension amongst the Kanga's is growing and they are getting ready ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Qyp14sX_Y
It sure feels like the days when we all looked across the borders in europe to the east from holland and knew that east berlin was just over there, it was 1983... Amsterdam was having a lovely warm summer as we drank afternoon tea looking over at the historic swing bridge across the Amstel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutschland_83
It was 1983 and Nena sang you know that song... it went nuclear at the time...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpu5a0Bl8eY
Today The sub hunting goes on in the baltic and the north sea... its 2023...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfPbZLeuxgk
This high quality armored car just T Boned a Volvo in Moscow... local KGB car ... bullet proof, bomb proof, drone proof... everything proof... but not VOLVO proof... It T Boned a VOLVO and did not survive... VOLVO not so bad...
Quote from: Waltzing on May 23, 2023, 02:42 PMThis high quality armored car just T Boned a Volvo in Moscow... local KGB car ... bullet proof, bomb proof, drone proof... everything proof... but not VOLVO proof... It T Boned a VOLVO and did not survive... VOLVO not so bad...
Did the occupants survive?
Not sure. the volvo sure did..
It went viral ... VOLVO 1 , Moscow Nill.
ZOMBIE alert ...
from the front line...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65673272
Happy days are here again... that golden retirement isnt looking so good in UGlY Bear land...
Sure makes those Retirement Villages in NZ looks like heaven...
SO young... just so young.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/23/europe/russia-minister-dies-falling-ill-on-plane-intl/index.html
reminds one of the days of the 15 and 16th century..
For some fun reminders suggest KIWI's who missed this period in history can take a not factual but near enough ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(film)
who hasnt got this in the old Blue Ray format.
Has this movie ever been seen on NZ TV movies channels?
any way over the lock downs the subject matter of the invasion of england by the spanish was reviewed on History channel..
Invasions they make a come back every now and then.. some successful and some not so much...
Quote from: Waltzing on May 24, 2023, 12:47 AMHappy days are here again... that golden retirement isnt looking so good in UGlY Bear land...
Sure makes those Retirement Villages in NZ looks like heaven...
SO young... just so young.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/23/europe/russia-minister-dies-falling-ill-on-plane-intl/index.html
reminds one of the days of the 15 and 16th century..
Defenestration is so last month.... :o
For the rest of us OMP just Toasted it at the top table...
"Defenestration is the act of throwing someone or something out of a window. The term was coined around the time of an incident in Prague Castle in the year 1618 which became the spark that started the Thirty Years' War."
or other reported incidences... date 1419 for all you history mad denizen's.
https://www.britannica.com/story/defenestration-pragues-history-of-literally-throwing-authority-out-the-window#:~:text=The%20earliest%20recorded%20defenestration%20in,of%20religious%20reformer%20Jan%20Hus.
Moral of the story ; History repeats itself... And the forefathers keep repeating "everything changes and everything stays the same".
"Prague's storied history of defenestration continued into the modern age as well. After the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia on February 25, 1948, Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk decided to stay at his post at the request of President Beneš. On the morning of March 10, 1948, Masaryk was found lying dead on the pavement below the bathroom window of his residency at the Foreign Ministry. Although the death was initially ruled a suicide, there were suspicions that Masaryk had been defenestrated by communist agents. The investigation into his death was reopened numerous times over the course of multiple decades, and a 2004 police report ruled that at least one other person had been involved in his death. However, the case was reopened in 2019 and closed two years later after concluding that the involvement of additional people in his death could neither be confirmed nor denied due to a lack of evidence. At least for now, Masaryk's death remains the mysterious final chapter in Prague's history of defenestration."
Looks like Moscow is the new capital...
The more it changes, the more its the same ... plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Alphonse_Karr
The Kangas have been worried that Kiwiland has been developing a range of space based first strike options....
This slow build up in weapons between Kanga land and Kiwiland has reach a whole new level of technology developments...
The kangas have spied kwilander gaming teams dressed in black rehearsing new stratgies causing the kangas to sound the alarm bells!
For a really good indepth look at Ugly Bear tactics Chornobaivka provides historian's with prehaps one of the great examples of Russian military doctrine since the second world war and those battles of the great generals in this theatre of war.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Chornobaivka_attacks
A great talk is given by Perun on what happened at this air port to there personal and air craft that were repeatly shelled by the ukraine army on multiple occasion in a ground hog day senario.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnoKpXvj41A
Recently wrote up a note here that someone should turn left in KH and drive north north east... up the motorway..
and sure enough someone did and they came back after deciding not to go all the way ....
and they brought back something they could sell in the local car yard or TRA equivalent
for army cars and trusks ect.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/25/europe/ukraine-anti-putin-militia-russian-intl/index.html
For some trench to trench fighting and a commander who leads his men this TVP military minds ... skip to last clip at the closing of the show..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25ps03TQ220
Does a critical time approach for the future of europe and the west...
https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-clans-war-russia-interview-succession-ukraine-war/32425962.html
STORM coming ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/26/fires-surge-ukraine-bombards-russian-territory/
and how the head of the RAF sees it.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/26/russia-poses-danger-to-uk-sir-mike-wigston-raf/
"
Quote from: Waltzing on May 27, 2023, 09:10 PMSTORM coming ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/05/26/fires-surge-ukraine-bombards-russian-territory/
and how the head of the RAF sees it.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/26/russia-poses-danger-to-uk-sir-mike-wigston-raf/
"Swarming drones is undoubtedly a feature of the future battlespace."
Future wars; we all live in underground bunkers and silos while unmanned drones directed by AI fight it out above.
Lets go to the beach while we can ... wheres that winter rip curl wet suit...
Reports from Kiev..
In place of an on the ground report we bring you a top local broadcaster from Kiev to keep you all up todate..
Ukraine Daily Update | Day 460
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eQt2JO3jKs
A World in Turmoil ...
Pakistan ... just one example of the stresses on the global map
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqm3kcHpIsI
STORM, STORMING those hiding places where bears like to hide...
now there is an ad for the sponser... oh well this guys stuff is worth the listen.. his best one was on the west production capacity for getting those little things called shells..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVNjqX5HQGQ
if youve served in an army using modern equipment you can probaly skip these as they are for arm chair bowls club members in retirement homes...
but if you want to learn where to check for fires with NASA technology then stick with the channel...
this is how the chess champ sees it... they are having a POW WOW in poland and that cross boarder raid was planned by the master minds ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV1T8xb1NQ8
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 01, 2023, 11:43 PMthis is how the chess champ sees it... they are having a POW WOW in poland and that cross boarder raid was planned by the master minds ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV1T8xb1NQ8
Interesting interview. Cheers for sharing.
New cold war ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRFAuIKkP7o
Maybe Japan is at it again.. they are going to do for Naval boaties what they did the for cars...
Japan may just be the best hope the west has in generating the stuff that is needed for defence.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/02/asia/japan-south-korea-naval-shipbuilding-intl-hnk-ml-dst/index.html
Could NZ learn from the UKE's
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/03/europe/ukraine-secretive-drone-program-russia-war-intl/index.html
Ok all you budding pilots its time to join your local drone club and control up to speed...
you can start with drive way patrol for your local street patrol....
its the only way to stop these RAM RAID's...
Patrol up people!!!
lcoal Political risk to a geographic location... near by...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/132031985/a-northland-shipwreck-has-been-labelled-an-environmental-time-bomb--so-why-is-the-government-refusing-to-act
When a country starts lying in front of everyone about rules based systems its the slippery slope to something bigger.
There is no doubt that China is closing down again and a New COLD war is here.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/04/asia/china-defense-minister-shangri-la-speech-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-its-forces-thwarted-major-ukrainian-offensive-2023-06-04/
MOSCOW, June 5 (Reuters) - Russian forces have thwarted a major Ukrainian offensive in the southern Ukrainian region of Donetsk and killed hundreds of pro-Kyiv troops, the defence ministry in Moscow said on Monday.
In a statement, the ministry said Ukraine had launched the attack on Sunday using six mechanised and two tank battalions.
"On the morning of June 4, the enemy launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the front in the South Donetsk direction," the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.......
.....The ministry also released video of what it said showed several Ukrainian armoured vehicles in a field blowing up after being hit.
Russian forces killed 250 Ukrainian troops as well as destroying 16 tanks, the infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armoured combat vehicles, the ministry said.....etc.
Leopards seen stalking ...
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-counteroffensive-russia/32445738.html
Your Done ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne03yoDUS5o
Inside Job ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79SMdmj9fME
A Clear view on a Clear Day ... You can see for Miles....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDJ2MEk0TEo
Out of a Dark end of days movie .. Its been planned for well over a decade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQbCOYnp_fA
Should NZ allow embassy's from these regimes?
The UGly Bears have Blown the Nova Khakovka Dam ...
Could this have implications for the CO and stall some phases of UKE operations..
You cant drive your offensie through this... It was also blown in WW2.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/06/ukraine-russia-war-latest-counter-offensive-kakhovka-dam/
I guess you would have to believe that the Eukranians have factored this possibility into their plans.
Dam good excuse to cancel this one and dream up something else... like wait for F35's and do a CO in 5 years time.
https://edition.cnn.com/
Let Russia have its own civil war ... far better option...
Wagner group was attacked by russian forces and took the russian commanding office prisoner...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 06, 2023, 05:53 PMThe UGly Bears have Blown the Nova Khakovka Dam ...
Could this have implications for the CO and stall some phases of UKE operations..
You cant drive your offensie through this... It was also blown in WW2.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/06/ukraine-russia-war-latest-counter-offensive-kakhovka-dam/
Actually blown twice in WW II - first time by Stalin to prevent Hitler to proceed and the second time by Hitler (blowing the dam his troops repaired) to prevent Stalin to proceed.
But yes, interesting ... and you wonder who really will gain from this catastrophe.
BTW - the Dnjepr is providing most of Crimea's drinking water and I understand this action might impact on the supply.
In my view some gains and some problems on both sides and no doubt - a terrible catastrophe for the population in between.
GOSH twice!!! little *uggers...
Excellent interview with General Philip Breedlove on the current situation in Ukraine.
https://youtu.be/6OYF0pnvLMY
Perun on Nuclear up the ANTI and the ugle bear response so far but that was before the DAM busters raid...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWKGYnO0Jf4
Dam Busters Raid.
https://www.facebook.com/SSAFAOfficial/videos/dam-busters-march-raf-music/1164990723842725/
One of the early Perun presentations that garnered high praise from military personal. He fired himself into a new role and who knows where this capable Military Analyst will go next and he is a good geo political Analyst.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJkmcNjh_bg
YUP... it was on this evenings busy list of items to do...
"Excellent interview with General Philip Breedlove on the current situation in Ukraine."
as he states he does not want to see a "The Charge of the Light Brigade"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S93lvQ4Ukg8
There is a clear and present danger and once you start creating epic devastation it is but the first step to greater destruction and with it come more power to the bearer of the swords of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damocles.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-dam-putin-nuclear-threats-kevin-ryan/32449075.html
Another really insightful interview. This time with Gary Kasparov discussing the war and sharing his insight into the Russian mentality and what will be needed going forward.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV1T8xb1NQ8
The 2014 warning from the Polish president... and of course he was killed in a very strange air craft ACCIDENT over russia...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8ffU5kay9I
The Movie dear comrade comes to mind ...
Claims of boats being removed before they blew the dam preventing the means of rescue...
https://kyivindependent.com/they-are-destroying-us-people-plea-to-escape-flooded-russian-occupied-areas/
They blew it to early ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1SyRt-Nqfw
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 09, 2023, 10:47 AMThey blew it to early ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1SyRt-Nqfw
From a military perspective you are right.
From a historic perspective ... I guess it was clearly important for Putin to go into the history books as number 3 to blow this dam. Just remember - Stalin was the first to do that and Hitler (after the repair) was number two.
I am sure Putin is annoyed of only being number 3, but he clearly wanted to make sure that he is not moving further down the list. First after Stalin and Hitler, well - this still is something, isn't it? I am sure he feels absolutely comfortable in this group.
Looks like the new UKE brigades have not done a combined arms movement and got a bit caught up like the Germans at Kursk...
Im sure the UKE's will learn not to do that again....
Germany is moving fast to wean itself off china ...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/business/the-global-competition-for-raw-materials-europe-at-risk-of-losing-the-lithium-race-a-bcbb3566-36ed-491d-bfac-3756ffee638e
On the ground in Belgorod Region...
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-belgorod-kremlin-losing-control/32450495.html
The Russian defence lines are akin to Kursk.
The recent mess of fighting kit that hit mines shows that there will likely be no break through any time soon.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/12/ukraine-penetrates-the-first-line-of-russian-defences/
Some budget looks at Swedens approach to air defence.
Could the Gripen suit NZ ? or is there no requirement for AIR Defence and in fact has NZ even got a GDP that can handle anything much...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEX8JJ0eXL4
How long before NZ has to look at using the AUD.
Recently someone said china would not engage in actual live fire on anyone outside it boundaries but that little island it considers to be inside its boundaries.
The west is now lagging in long range fire although Finland is working on long range rocket shells.
But this little bit of KIT from China poses a real threat along the Line of Control in the Himalayas and across the lagoon from TW.
Military dont care about stock markets like you do. Is GOLD becoming a more important assets class as the world gears up to fire all sorts of things all over the place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A31fegpaAI
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 13, 2023, 11:29 AMRecently someone said china would not engage in actual live fire on anyone outside it boundaries but that little island it considers to be inside its boundaries.
The west is now lagging in long range fire although Finland is working on long range rocket shells.
But this little bit of KIT from China poses a real threat along the Line of Control in the Himalayas and across the lagoon from TW.
Military dont care about stock markets like you do. Is GOLD becoming a more important assets class as the world gears up to fire all sorts of things all over the place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A31fegpaAI
You sure that artillery will be the most important component if China attacks Taiwan?
Have a look at the map as well as at Taiwan's distance from China.
I've been to Taiwan ... and I don't remember a lot of places where heavy artillery would be useful for an attacker.
What the Chinese would need is lots of boats and plenty of dispensable soldiers familiar with the Taiwanese topography. Plenty of opportunities to replay ANZAC cove if that's what makes them tick. Maybe planes, but they need to calculate with a terrible toll - Taiwan does have fist class air defence systems.
What the Taiwanese would need is plenty of surface - ship or air - ship missiles - and obviously enough ammunition for their air defence systems.
Don't think artillery will feature - certainly not from the Chinese side. Not enough accessible places to hide the launchers - any heavy artillery would just be a sitting duck.
Possible though that the Taiwanese did install some artillery in their mountain ranges (I don't know, but I know that many of their mountains are only accessible with special permit), at least they had all time of the world to plan for and install them.
China has huge roll on roll off ferries developed to handle a tone of equipment....
What if XI is toppled by a military coup?
will the chinese rise up or will the military stay loyal to the party..
There appears to be a play by the russian military to control the WPMC ...
What is WPMC going to do about it... all small stuff but it shows FLUX..
Latest update from Poland on the starting Offensive. There is coverage of the failed advanced that got ambushed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZioTG9szZs
The Dance of the wicked ... as confusion increases in the KM.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/13/vladimir-putin-russia-lost-tanks-counter-offensive-ukraine/
Ukraine group takes a HIt in their APC's the BRAD... and the whole crew is able to bail... 3 BRADS farther up also appear to have been hit by mines and the crews bailed...
The red smoke is actually not fire but red smoke screen making it look like the BRAD is on fire which it is not..
Imagine the problem for farmers ... what a nightmare.. "How many cows we lose today dear?"
Good advert for the old piece of Kit...
Though of quick trip to the Paris of the East and your looking for a good 5 Star Hotel. Well this one could your next exciting road trip!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/15/luxury-ukraine-hotels/
Heart warming stuff and maybe do a cooking course for the local cuisine.
Part's read like the "The Grand Budapest Hotel".
Sir Madam before you try to rush for your Taxi to the Airport as we are being invaded at this very moment could you take a moment to answer the check out questionnaire and did you use the MINI BAR?
Many thanks and just to remind you that the AIRPORT is currently under attack from Russian Air Borne troops and might we suggest you try the Train station instead..
Thank you for your Stay. Please come again after the War!
Great summary of world of a Commander in Chief of a disappearing army...
"Where are my Legions" comes to mind..
We all know this one right? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Teutoburg_Forest
Well .... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/15/vladimir-putin-is-retreating-into-dangerous-fantasies/
Where are my Battle Groups ...
my Tanks, where are my Tanks...
And to think maybe Social Media was his down fall after all..
All those pictures of Flying Tank Turrets..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiybJ8UuHXA...
If it Works they will BUY IT!!!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/15/israel-hypersonic-air-defence-system-russia-iran-missiles/
There are a lot of very big explosions going on in the CTFO....
Maybe the KM lost more than 52 tanks last week... juat saying...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbMMzre09NU
The grand evil master appears to be having trouble finding a story for this little misadventure and maybe he knowns; feels the story and the fact are not going to aligning up.
Is the new world of international Law now dead? So some are now saying and is it the slow train wreck for the United Nations.
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 16, 2023, 05:45 PMThere are a lot of very big explosions going on in the CTFO....
Maybe the KM lost more than 52 tanks last week... juat saying...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbMMzre09NU
The grand evil master appears to be having trouble finding a story for this little misadventure and maybe he knowns; feels the story and the fact are not going to aligning up.
Is the new world of international Law now dead? So some are now saying and is it the slow train wreck for the United Nations.
International Law? I recon Putin, Xi, the murderous Saudi crown prince, Erdogan, The UK Ex Prime Boris and the US Ex president Trump are treating any (not just international) law as a joke. The hard right all over the planet is laughing at the law and breaking it front left and centre.
Just funny that some of them come with a law and order agenda, but I guess this just shows how dumb their supporters are.
But yes, the UN obviously are a joke, as any organisation would be where you give the worst crooks the ability to veto anything. Peacekeeping is not so easy if you allow the top villain to steal, rape and murder wherever they please and at the same time allow them to control the peace keepers.
In the Front Line Tanks ...
These guys give accounts of the failed attacked above where there armour ran into mines.
"Misha reports that the night-vision capabilities of the Leopards makes it easy for him to see the Russians. He uses fragmentation munitions. "I just aim at a tree and pieces of shrapnel fly everywhere. And down below in the trench, everyone's dead," he says."
Looks like some A6's have been provided not just A4's.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/on-the-front-in-ukraine-going-into-battle-in-a-leopard-2-tank-a-9baffb53-1e5b-4a18-8ec5-173d067721af
How far down the Rabbit hole has Putin Gone ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/apr/05/putin-pathologically-afraid-for-his-life-says-russian-defector-video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAh9mbw1J68
When Dictators take command of their armies they get rid of there best commanders.
Hilter appointed Paulus to take Crimea. It was down hill from there and will Putin make the same mistakes if things start to go really wrong.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Paulus
AT that point he maybe should have given https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Model the main role in defending retreats instead of trying to hold the oil fields. Instead the Russian had the invasion plans of the oil fields but Stalin ignored the plans!!!!
Georgy Zhukov had been side lined by stalin...
Can the Uke's now take advantage of the Labyrinth of problems that KM politics creates for its self or will the lack of equipment and air cover simply mean we have a long long journey ahead to get rid of this festering evil empire and a danger to OUR WAY OF LIFE.
Appear russian Attack Helicopters are making life hard for the UKE's in the SOUTH.
Is this where A10's, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_AH-64_Apache and F16 combined would have been useful...
One BBC commentator says old F16 arnt up to the JOB... lets wait and see but it looks like the UKE's dont own the DAY yet...
Drinking in Russia ... what? drunks with fingers on the button...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/18/kremlin-officials-vodka-alcohol-ukraine-russia-war-stress/
From the K capital ..
https://kyivindependent.com/
And from London,,,,
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/16/kyiv-under-bombardment-as-african-leaders-visit-on-peace-mi/
Ukraine troops operating in BAK BUK MUT... Do the country proud..
https://kyivindependent.com/counteroffensive-underway-one-captured-position-at-a-time/
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 19, 2023, 06:01 PMAppear russian Attack Helicopters are making life hard for the UKE's in the SOUTH.
Is this where A10's, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_AH-64_Apache and F16 combined would have been useful...
One BBC commentator says old F16 arnt up to the JOB... lets wait and see but it looks like the UKE's dont own the DAY yet...
Just wondering what happened to the good old Stingers? Easy to operate, can be carried by one man and ideal to take a helicopter (or even a low flying jet) out of the sky.
And sure, the original from Raytheon is not cheap (used to be something like $100k - but still much cheaper than a fighter plane or an attack helicopter), but there are a lot of cheaper alternatives around these days, and as long as you try to hit only a (relatively) slow moving helicopter anything with a heat seeking sensor should do.
Didn't they give them to UKE?
Yes, UKE has lots of MANPADS like Stinger. Initially used to great effect. I think part of the problem is range. Helicopter stays just out of MANPAD range and uses its own comparatively much longer ranged missiles, etc.
Ukranians are running out of everything.... 30% of western supplied equipment has been destroyed so far..
Its a FOG for sure...
will be waiting for a PERUN webiner on the whole thing at some stage,
From the front lines .. Tankers in action..
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-tank-liberate-donetsk-villages-/32466241.html
RPG!!! UKE tankers on attack with incoming RPG's..
Tank takes an RPG HIT and keeps going ... Hit reactive armour..
Have Anti Aircraft Gun... Have Truck... We See you!!! And Take That!!!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/20/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-putin-counter-offensive/
Quote from: BlackPeter on Jun 20, 2023, 10:01 AMJust wondering what happened to the good old Stingers? Easy to operate, can be carried by one man and ideal to take a helicopter (or even a low flying jet) out of the sky.
And sure, the original from Raytheon is not cheap (used to be something like $100k - but still much cheaper than a fighter plane or an attack helicopter), but there are a lot of cheaper alternatives around these days, and as long as you try to hit only a (relatively) slow moving helicopter anything with a heat seeking sensor should do.
Didn't they give them to UKE?
Russain helicopters are well equip to deal with anti aircraft fire. They carry shit loads of light and heat decoys to render the infrared and heat seeking missiles useless
Quote from: snapiti on Jun 20, 2023, 10:13 PMRussain helicopters are well equip to deal with anti aircraft fire. They carry shit loads of light and heat decoys to render the infrared and heat seeking missiles useless
Interesting - so, you are saying that while Russian recruits need to buy their own winter gear, sleeping bags and body armour, while Russian trucks often get stuck because their tyres split due to old age and while they scrapped their last hurrah of tanks from the rust piles of the late 1950íes and early 1960íes, Mama Russia puts instead all the money which does not flow to the corrupt oligarchs into high tech anti rocket equipment for helicopters?
How do you know?
Ukraine's problems with the Alligator attack chopper are twofold.
First its missiles outrange Ukraine's manpads - Stinger's max range is 8km as against Russia's VIKHR anti tank missile which is 14 km.
Secondly, and most importantly, manpads are not much use at night, which is when Ukraine wants to attack, as the operator needs to see the target before engaging it.
That said Russia has lost 35 Alligators since Feb last year so, if the operator can see it and it's in range, they do fall out the sky.
Unfortunately my feeling is that this is headed for a stalemate and at some stage the Ukrainian politicians will have to exhibit a degree of pragmatism.
30 Years war...
Yep could be stop start for a long long time ... cold war 2 and half ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War
This is just another round of the former...
Another 2 to 3 Year at a 100 Billion dollars a year.... right...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEiI2cDNOnA
On the front lines ... the real cost in lives...
https://kyivindependent.com/inside-ukraines-costly-mission-to-grind-down-russia-near-bakhmut/
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 21, 2023, 10:18 PMAnother 2 to 3 Year at a 100 Billion dollars a year.... right...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEiI2cDNOnA
On the front lines ... the real cost in lives...
https://kyivindependent.com/inside-ukraines-costly-mission-to-grind-down-russia-near-bakhmut/
I guess the tragic is that the appeasers used the same arguments when Hitler first took Austria, than Czechia, than half of Poland, ... and look where they ended.
They always said, just be pragmatic, Hitler only wants Austria (Czecia, Poland, France, The Netherlands, .... surely he won't go further and we don't want to risk loosing valuable human life, just give him what he wants.
Great ideals, but unfortunately - what they got was the most terrible, most expensive and most murderous war of all times.
I don't think it is now the time to play the appeasing game again and "be pragmatic" against Putin. Any compromise will just encourage him to prepare for the next attack to add more land to his empire. The only thing he understands is strength and determination.
No conqueror in history has been stopped by loosing interest in acquiring more power or stealing more land. They all only got stopped by determined resistance, and the longer it takes until they feel real resistance, the more people have to die.
We can put everything in now - and have a short and painful war (which mainly UKE will conduct if we give them the resources), or we can keep sitting on the pot - and the war will be long, extended, impact on many more countries and the losses will just pile up.
There is only one way to stop Putin - and this is to make sure he looses this war. Better earlier than later.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Jun 22, 2023, 10:05 AMThere is only one way to stop Putin - and this is to make sure he looses this war. Better earlier than later.
100% agree
It looks like the UKE's havnt got the hang of combined ops yet according to some Xperts or they simply havnt got the Kit to cover everything.
instance of where they got stuck out in the open with Modern Kit with no Air defence cover.
ranking LT Col in Armoured NZ told me he could not understand the night attack that went ahead with out air defence cover unit that resulted in the pile up...
He though some commander did not get the training needed or high up pressure force someone to send the units into OPS without mobile air defence cover resulting in that pile up.. real stuff up according to him... total you know what ..
waste of good equipment and a unit that was not ready to handle the job according to him.
unless something gives this thing could effect markets for ages..
This is by far the best assessment of the whole state of affairs in Ukraine that I've seen. Written by a well respected Intelligence analyst it may be two months old but it's still relevant.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/04/ukraine-war-is-this-ukraines-last-chance-to-defeat-russia.html
I should add that I'd love to see the Russians not just having to withdraw from Ukraine but to be totally humiliated. Whether we've given them enough tools to do that though is debatable.
Russia did not face an imminent security threat to justify its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary outfit, said in a bombshell video posted on social media Friday.
"The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not going to attack Russia with the NATO bloc," Prigozhin explained in the half-hour tirade released by his press service.
"The Russian Defense Ministry is deceiving the public and the president," he added.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/06/23/wagner-chief-says-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-unjustified-a81609
(Yevgeny Prigozhin - Russia's next president?) ;D
Palace Coupe...
Kremlin is now in the WPMG groups sights...
Wagner chief launches military coup against the Kremlin
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/23/russia-war-ukraine-based-on-lie-yevgeny-prigozhin/
Will there be another film one day like "Death of Stalin"....
Nothing can be a funny as that...
Controlling the Masses ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/23/china/china-graduation-photos-youth-unemployment-intl-hnk-dst/index.html
Waltz ...is Russia invading Russia
What happens if Russia wins
Winner() as we have been out for the evening WALTZING around ... yes exactly that and must say the Central WakaToo puts on a lovely evening of Australian evening swing waltz followed by a champagne supper... and stone the outback crows ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/24/russia-ukraine-coup-wagner-kremlin-yevgeny-prigozhin/
STAY HOME!!!! WE are in CONTROL!!!
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-wagner-rebellion-ukraine/32474188.html
"Whos side are you on?" "My side says a young man".
Oh they are hitting them with the CV90 in BAK BAK... deadly ... anyone had a go in one of these?
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-06-25-23/h_d21217c6825296842bfb5a21fc37837e
ISW outlines the move by WPMG on moscow and the loss of russian aircraft and service men.
If elements of the Russian military had joined the fight russia could well now be in Civil War...
Pitty as the last one was a real Hum Dinger...
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-25-2023
are we seeing a Death of Stalin moment? Probably not but really nothing sane has been happening in that place for centuries...
Could they really do something silly at ZAP ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/25/vladimir-putin-disappears-question-how-wagner-close-moscow/
The average person IN THE STREET does not appear to back the current bunch of crooks in the K building...
The CBCk....
CV90's sent a while ago... Ukraine now got a lot of kit turning up...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw0W2Yr5L-g
Kremlins internal wars and the blame game... its turning into Death of Stalin with many chapters to go..
Is it likely that europe now realises Russia is far weaker than it imagined.. WPMG shot down attacking aircraft after aircraft on the road to moscow showing the world how easy it was if they are out in the open skys... including a very big one...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/yevgeny-prigozhin-wagner-uprising-likely-to-have-far-reaching-consequences-a-438f8aa4-724d-46a1-84e7-027725c851e8
As Prerun should be pointing out or already has the approach from the west is catch up.
Supplying what the Ukraine needs last year.....
To breach the complex russian defenses created obviously by experts the west has not provided the equipment and training required to in time.
The west has shown itself tragically unprepared for war and has been lead by socialist graduates from universities with arts degrees and Scientist like Muckle who were anti nuclear power..
UK general warns of unpreparedness ..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/06/26/credible-force-british-army-chief-of-staff-hitler-1930s/
Will the Wagner Group soldiers still be getting paid because i presume Putin surely would have locked access to the accounts.
FOR OVER A DECADE the polish have been warning ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N2_qi3xGEs
Hiding in plain sight...
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-06-26-23/index.html
For all you europhiles out there ... come get some... reality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU0rMELI_gc
I am picking the NZX50 is under 11000 come election day as the punters worry about a close election and the thought of having Labour and Greens running the show......I will also repeat what I have already said on another thread, a Grabour government will have offshore funds leaving in droves and the NZX50 will lose 20% in the following 12 months
Perhaps this was an election post but none the less the biggest risk to NZX is ... in NZ!!! The enemy is NZ!
Local Risk then is high best have stocks with revenue dominated in more than one currency....
Hedging your bets ...
Money could well flee to these stocks.
Certainly this GOVT has no news for business, NADA...
and that is a BIG RISK..
European Countries that are pro Russia... why? Energy that they still want and their business want.
This is all to play for but lucky they are the smaller players..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/06/27/why-pro-putin-parties-are-on-the-march-again-in-europe/
UKE go on the counter attack... attacking hardware not software ... things that fire off stuff....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olH2-_Gtczw
Wes Clarke say the mine field problems facing the UKE for the counter offensive is not enough..not enough equipment supplied by the west. Those images of tanks trying to clear a mine field and being hit is the example.
Atlantic Council...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7260rV_DH8
Oh you Band of Brothers...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDDzcz6S_Gc
Africa and the big picture fight just like in the late 1800's
Heart of Darkness....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydH39HjuFZs
Why Russia will never be a democracy under its current geographic federation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hOZ74kij2M
Where oh where are those Generals ...!!!
https://news.sky.com/video/ukraine-war-russian-general-missing-since-wagner-groups-rebellion-12911166
GOP The big red line ... nuclear event at ZAP an attack on NATO..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/29/general-armageddon-arrested-in-post-coup-purge/
Mystery In Moscow As Russian Bank Vice-President 'Falls Out Of A Window'
https://euroweeklynews.com/2023/06/29/mystery-in-moscow-as-russian-bank-vice-president-falls-out-of-a-window/
Not sure if the 'accident' is war related but reference is made to a previous such event where the company was critical of the war.
Well OMP... have we travelled far from the days of the Spanish invasion of Great Britain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Walsingham
how many Chinese and Russian spies are in NZ.. spying my Mumma Ma Hooter minister of off shore silly affairs...
where is Kiri?
Quote from: Waltzing on Jul 01, 2023, 09:18 PMhow many Chinese and Russian spies are in NZ.. spying my Mumma Ma Hooter minister of off shore silly affairs...
Couldn't help but smile at this....Chinese neighbours on one side and Russian on the other....both great neighbours and hope they never move :) the Chinese neighbours particularly involved with the community.
Anyone ever watch the TV series "The Americans"? ;D
Main opening scene of the very first episode has a nice extended version of Fleetwood Mac's Tusk.
Saw this from Newshub earlier today. Have to admit I haven't watched it but the title seems appropriate to your quote above ;D
Chinese propaganda researcher predicts CCP influence in NZ election | Newshub Nationhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDzW7h8QQ2I
Quote from: Onemootpoint on Jul 03, 2023, 12:02 AMCouldn't help but smile at this....Chinese neighbours on one side and Russian on the other....both great neighbours and hope they never move :) the Chinese neighbours particularly involved with the community.
Anyone ever watch the TV series "The Americans"? ;D
Main opening scene of the very first episode has a nice extended version of Fleetwood Mac's Tusk.
Saw this from Newshub earlier today. Have to admit I haven't watched it but the title seems appropriate to your quote above ;D
Chinese propaganda researcher predicts CCP influence in NZ election | Newshub Nation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDzW7h8QQ2I
Every race and every nationality has a similar percentage of good and bad people along some Gauss curve distribution. So, no doubt, there are (in percentage) as many nice Chinese and Russian people as there are nice Kiwi's. Same with the ar*eholes.
But that's all quite off the topic. While I don't know whether the NZ secret service has resources to spy overseas given that they seem to use plenty of resources to harass New Zealand journalists ... I am sure that there are as many nice western spies in China and Russia as there are nice Chinese and Russian spies in the West.
The Spies are busy reporting to Xi about what keeps kiwis up at night... "Wool Prices and they count sheep till mid night oh great leader!"
"The cultural practises of Kiwis is truly very peculiar dear Leader..."
Quote from: Waltzing on Jul 03, 2023, 12:43 PMThe Spies are busy reporting to Xi about what keeps kiwis up at night... "Wool Prices and they count sheep till mid night oh great leader!"
"The cultural practises of Kiwis is truly very peculiar dear Leader..."
Actually - it sounds more that they are busy monitoring their own countrymen and women and making sure that they don't step out of the prescribed political line. You will find that Chinese students in the West are very careful to speak out - they know that some henchmen of the big secretary are watching them and if they don't behave their family in China will pay the price.
The black market grain trade in eastern europe....
https://kyivindependent.com/occrp-ukrainian-grain-exported-through-tax-avoiding-shell-firms-robbing-country-of-wartime-revenue/
With 97 percent of the russian army deployed in ukraine.... how can they possible be losing?
could the road to moscow now be open for the first time in modern history and is that why the west doesnt want ukraine to have 500 hundred modern tanks..
actually the west hasnt got that many to spare. The cold war draw down saw many armoured divisions wound down....
But imagine if it HAD!!!! Imagine the UKE's doing what the great Napoleon and the Germans failed to do... overrun Moscow!!
A war where a COF thats probably going not far fast...
And live footage of some Irish machine gunners showing how hard it is to even get to fire a shot but how easily it is to get shoot...
https://news.sky.com/video/ukraine-war-foreign-fighters-describe-horrific-battle-to-reclaim-territory-12919281
Grateful .. the west wants grateful thanks for all its done for ukraine....
right and whose done all the fighting and whose been the cowards (western politicians)... honestly the west needs to get reel here...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/12/lithuania-nato-zelelenksy-gratitude-war-russia/
Quote from: Waltzing on Jul 13, 2023, 10:46 AMGrateful .. the west wants grateful thanks for all its done for ukraine....
right and whose done all the fighting and whose been the cowards (western politicians)... honestly the west needs to get reel here...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/12/lithuania-nato-zelelenksy-gratitude-war-russia/
I guess its always easy to complain about the coward politicians of the west who need to look for being re-elected.
On the other side - Putin does not have this problem (i.e. he does not need to care about public opinion), and given that he lost the war already he is behaving like a cornered rat.
Sure - the rat will eventually go down, but his bite still might be poisonous. If only one of his nuclear missiles makes it to one major western city ... what impact do you think this will have on the electability of the politicians who triggered his wrath?
So, I guess democracy is in that regard weak and slow, but this might be a weakness we better learn to accept given that the alternative is worse: More rats like Putin (and Xi, and the dear leader, and the Saudi butcher, and the Iranian unholy leader) running the worlds affairs.
We have already enough vermin in leadership positions, no need to ask for more of them.
Churchill gets my vote .... "The Island Race" Casell 1964...
Macron finally lining up with the good guys.. More Churchills less tyrants...
Germans need to send Tanks... lots of Tanks... they have had to since 2014 to rearm...
Send everything ... lots of it...
NZ PM looked lost in the crowd.... UK CNBC interview was ..... blip blip blip
Big changes over morning tea ..
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/12/middleeast/turkey-west-nato-recalibrate-mime-intl/index.html
The logistics and the counter offensive that isnt going anywhere fast...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi4GyLyHfH8
and is poland the place to invest ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6FczLXc5M
The new industry of covering the war in 3D graphics ..
Russian defences ... done on the cheap and maybe not as good as they first appear..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb7ORi4Axos
In Ukraine Russia has jammed GPS along nearly all the 1,200km front, rendering the US-donated Himar launchers and the Excalibur precision shells far less accurate than they should be. The Ukrainians have sometimes gone weeks without hitting a target due to Russian jamming, according to recent reports.
https://www.ft.com/content/eadfab31-a159-422e-94ae-9782d0246dd5
The COF... old article.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/western-support-for-kyiv-it-s-now-or-never-for-ukraine-a-b074ffd6-01b8-430b-a738-e6467ef39321
a view from the front lines ..
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66121584
RM doing the business and it will only get bigger orders...
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/07/13/italy-to-buy-leopard-combat-tanks-upgrade-arietes/
Quote from: Waltzing on Jul 15, 2023, 07:44 PMRM doing the business and it will only get bigger orders...
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/07/13/italy-to-buy-leopard-combat-tanks-upgrade-arietes/
Quite amazing how Putin managed to get the West to pull together and revitalise the Western arms production.
Given that all the world used to think he is a great strategist am I sort of wondering, what really motivated him to achieve a significant strengthening and expansion of NATO and to help the Western arms production to get on the backfoot again?
Maybe some hope at the end the tunnel er trench...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/07/15/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-putin-zelensky-general-popov/
A view from the elite russians on the blue ribbon ticket ...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/interview-with-mikhail-khodorkovsky-there-is-no-other-option-but-to-take-up-arms-a-8366b272-b25b-4178-9fec-7f39fdb06d56
Good investments ?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/07/17/us-bradley-fighting-vehicle-saves-lives-ukraine-russia/
Just even more surreal then "death of Stalin"
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/19/europe/mi6-putin-wagner-rare-speech-intl/index.html
Will they actually sink ships in the black sea?
Is inflation about to get a big push higher with wheat futures?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/20/russias-unrelenting-missile-attacks-linked-to-grain-deal/
https://www.ft.com/content/bbff1949-4f06-43ad-9691-7c124edbd004
Six weeks into Ukraine's counteroffensive to reclaim its eastern and southern regions from Russian occupiers, no military obstacle appears as daunting as Russia's vast and dense minefields, which are destroying Nato-supplied armour, wounding soldiers and zapping morale.
"We can push with 10 brigades but it won't work because the mines are everywhere, every half a meter there are mines," said Sultan, a commander in the 78th regiment, a special forces unit, at a field hospital near the front line in Zaporizhzhia region. "They are everywhere."
"These are real people in real machines that are out there really clearing real minefields and they're really dying," General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Tuesday
Ukraine's advance has been painfully slow, and frontline soldiers in southern Zaporizhzhia region and eastern Donetsk region largely blame Russia's minefields — a hidden threat that has become a psychological torment.
To recapture territory, troops must cross miles of open fields littered with thousands of mines: anti-tank, anti-personnel, improvised explosive devices and an array of booby traps.
Some are launched at random into fields from afar, so-called "distance mining"; others bounce in the air when triggered to spray shrapnel as far as possible. Small green plastic ones that soldiers call "butterfly" mines, a reference to their double-winged shape, are hard to de-mine and especially menacing, troops and doctors said.
Mine strikes have put many vehicles out of commission, halting advances, and leaving the troops to trek on foot through minefields while under fire. etc..etc..etc..
Not much fun being on the Ukrainian front line...
Russia declares war on the world...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/07/21/russian-warship-destroys-target-vessel-black-sea/
Putin tells Poland any aggression against Belarus is attack on Russia
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-tells-poland-any-aggression-against-belarus-is-attack-russia-2023-07-21/
Moscow would react to any aggression against Belarus, which forms a loose "Union State" with Russia, "with all the means at our disposal", Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks.
Russia has in recent weeks begun stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for the first time.
Found this quite informative:
From FT comments section by reader Timl:
For readers interested in the tactical and strategic challenges of displacing Russian defenders from Ukrainian territory, commentary by military analyst Michael Kofman is very informative. His podcast is available at the War on The Rocks website, some of which is free..
In essence,
1. Ukrainians fought an effective self-defence in 2022., including counter-attacks against mobile Russian forces in the north east, around Kharkiv.
2. The Ukrainian 2023 counter offensive is taking place on two fronts.
2a. In the east, where an attritional war of mobile forces continues around Bakhmut
2b Across a southern front toward Melitopol, where Ukrainian forces are attacking three well-prepared fixed defensive lines, with a Russian army dug in and fortified behind multiple minefields, trench lines and concealed fortifications.
3. Preliminary 'shaping operations' in early June failed to expose a weak point which might be exploited by the Ukrainians. I
4. In the south, Ukrainian forces are attacking in company and battalion strength, through minefields, toward first-line trench systems.
As specialist mine-clearing vehicles are detected, they are being put out of action by direct artillery fire (from 1km), infantry anti-tank weapons (up to 2km), helicopters (from 8km) and use of tactical minelaying. As forces advance, remote minelaying weapons lay mines behind them, preventing retreat, casualty evacuation and re-supply.
5. in the south, casualties from mines (anti personnel, anti vehicle and booby traps) slows offensive progress and saps morale of the attackers. There is a shortage of specialist engineers and equipment to overcome these defences. Tactical coordination in attack between branches of the army has, in some cases, been poor.
6. In most areas, artillery, along with counter-battery fire of all types, contributes to attritional warfare, as each side consumes ammunition and human resources. In general, attackers suffer more casualties and equipment losses in first phases than defenders.
Perun is as usual at his best ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zcUe47xerQ
from the front lines ... the boy flying suicide missions...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2vKRP-MxFY
Control of the Black Seas...
https://www.rferl.org/a/erdogan-looks-west-putin-russia/32514668.html
The Evil bear in Moscow now looks like he needs to stir up trouble on the polish border after all the polish PM and his team were wiped out on a russian airliner not long ago...
Evil bear needs to stir up the trouble where ever he can to detract from his failures...
How far is the bear willing to go barking at Nato eastern border... probably not far as finland has more stuff and now sweden is on board as well...
https://www.rferl.org/a/putin-lukashenka-wager-poland/32515408.html
Makes for sad reading... trenched being mined ... so many mines that even western armies would struggle...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66306150
A COF that as always going to achieve less by lack of western political will.... set in place years ago in fact almost a decade ago.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/stalled-at-the-front-lack-of-western-weapons-contributes-to-slow-progress-in-ukraine-counteroffensive-a-6c8cc665-44cb-41f0-89df-ca4ecee9a16e
What are the SK's doing to reduce the risk to the south pacific...
Its ARM UP BIG!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXZw_YGzxCc
and in this video there is an NZ Tank!!!
Quote from: Waltzing on Jul 30, 2023, 01:38 PMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXZw_YGzxCc
and in this video there is an NZ Tank!!!
Yes, of course. Doing our bit! :D
Pooh Pooh's support for war plummets in Urals... or somewhere out there in the heartland... is there something stirring out there beyond the spires of Moscow?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/07/30/putin-local-election-candidates-not-mentioning-ukraine-war/
The WOKE wont invest in defence ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/investing/news/how-to-cash-in-backing-vital-defence-firms-woke-banks/
What is Worrying Kiwi's ...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/132658217/its-a-bit-bleak-government-officials-warn-of-the-future-new-zealand-faces
Is the UK the place we will see the the effect of global rate hikes and a deep recession.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/08/03/the-british-economy-is-being-hit-by-four-policy-shocks/
Its in times like these you that realise that it is the generations from before the second world war that one wants to hear from.
Before there was a UN and the league of nations was the first body to bring some semblance of governance to the world what was it like for nations to live in this world and how did people see themselves...
As the world once again veers into the abyss of the Heart of Darkness.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/un-envoy-on-the-civil-war-in-sudan-both-warring-parties-are-still-convinced-they-can-win-a-d5154f6b-21d3-428b-8975-678719778cc7
China , EV cars... big bother is watching ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/08/05/china-will-use-cars-to-spy-on-britain-ministers-fear/
and so it begins. Joint naval patrols with multiple nations in the south china sea.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/07/asia/china-philippines-coast-guard-confrontation-south-china-sea-intl-hnk/index.html
Looks like the west is locked into a situation of the worst kind and no end in sight... not enough long range weapons and too few tanks and no planes or attack helicopters show the complete farce the west has made of this conflict since 2014...
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/07/when-and-how-will-ukraines-war-with-russia-end.html
the COF basically failed .... NCO's saying it did not go well and some of the vehicles not suited to the defensive battles...
SO much for the experts in the west saying it would be a knife through butter... a certain Italian army artillery officer on TVP world..
Failure of western politicians resulting in a blame game to come?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/07/ukraine-marines-lost-lot-of-men-counter-offensive-russia/
Quote from: Waltzing on Aug 08, 2023, 06:53 AMLooks like the west is locked into a situation of the worst kind and no end in sight... not enough long range weapons and too few tanks and no planes or attack helicopters show the complete farce the west has made of this conflict since 2014...
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/07/when-and-how-will-ukraines-war-with-russia-end.html
Continued fighting for the next couple of years is excellent news for The Wests's arms industry if not for those dying in the conflict.
It's a huge profit center for some companies: Lockheed Martin and Raytheon and Boeing amongst many, many others.
I do wonder how the markets would react if there were a sudden ceasefire?
A economic Tiger now no longer on the prowl....
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/China-is-drifting-toward-a-deflation-trap
China deflation.... what are they going to do now as they finally have to Pull a Rabbit out of the Hat....
Do you just fly your planes around for no reason... everything the chinese are doing the russian almost invented the play book on and have been doing for a decade... The unprofessional Naval manoeuvre, the flying behaviour and soon will they start putting it on the TV screens to condition the population for war?
You be the judge but the game book is a repeat of the Russians and the we known how in the end you just cant help yourself and you hit the big red button...
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/09/china-hawk-says-beijing-to-bring-war-to-the-west-take-taiwan.html
We are there and we understand that everything has changed!
The reality of the world is a seismic shift in that the genie is out of the bottle and we cant go back before the invasion of Ukraine and belief we can think that everything will go back to before the cumulating effects since 2014.
Is it too late .... Frederick Kagan outline his views on how late the west has been and there is not going to be a back to normal..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/08/ukraine-counteroffensive-russia-success-failure-struggles/
Is it time to read War and Peace?
China ramping up the tensions in the TS...
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/people%E2%80%99s-republic-china-framing-lai%E2%80%99s-us-transit-crisis
China really should just take the debts of local government and put it on the government books...
cause there are more birdies in the coal mine to come... last shoe or more out there...
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/10/china-property-market-roiled-by-default-fears-country-garden-spooks-investors.html
China better hope foreign investment doesnt flee...
https://www.dw.com/en/taiwans-tsmc-to-build-semiconductor-factory-in-germany/a-66469463#:~:text=TSMC%20is%20the%20world's%20largest,300%2Dmillimeter%20wafers%20per%20month.
How much longer are western countries going to allow Russian embassies to stay open...
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-new-08-11-23/h_ff7e82c537fdfc85e14024faae94cf84
This what Inter - cepting something looks like... can an expert on explosions tell us more please... boy thats more smoke than a gathering of street racers on a saturday night could generate in south auckland ..... or the WAKATOO. Appears to be smoke generated to hide it as a target.
FIlling up your car in Ugle Bear country has become an explosive experience... whole new meaning to firing the engine...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/15/dagestan-makhachkala-russia-ukraine-petrol-fire-explosion/
Fleeing little green men ... cluster munitions in action...
Is it the end of the UN? and all hellens dreams?
Of course it was all just a dream of a democratic world living in peace...
Mi6 is sending 007 to finish the job... now before you say he's dead; well... Anyone who has read Mast and Commander will know that all British man of war carry marines and in the case of the destroyer which fired the missiles it carries two combat helicopters ....the helicopters got him off the island seconds before the big bangs... Q had him in cryo while formulating a new top secret blood purification treatment.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/16/russia-claims-uk-plot-assassinate-pro-moscow-leaders-africa/
Is this china's 2008 moment...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/08/17/china-property-crash-becomes-more-dangerous/
Yes about time people... China has been the BIG E in the room for a while ... those little red bank accounts ...
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/132759852/reserve-bank-governor-adrian-orr-spells-out-big-risks-to-nz-of-china-downturn
That sound you here is the rumblings of the storm thats building on the distant horizon .....
Imagine the panic that going to break over Asian markets ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1hn1pF-ilQ
Next shoe to drop after EVERGREEN.. grande... blooms fading to winter bare branches...
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/18/china-property-developer-evergrande-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-in-us.html
We all admire the works of the Great Yu ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_the_Great
But will XI emulate the great Empero.r or will the rains doom his grand plans along with the likes of EVERGREEN.... ahh Grande
Grand cities of dreams ....
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/17/china/china-floods-xiongan-hebei-xi-jinping-intl-hnk/index.html
Economic impact, but no 'Lehman moment'
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/18/economy/china-zhongrong-trust-protest-intl-hnk/index.html
Washington Post columnists share their predictions regarding China's economic decline.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/18/china-economy-deflation-debt-analysis/
The latest news from China is ominous. A range of indicators suggests that Beijing is facing economic headwinds. Growth has failed to meet expectations. Foreign investment is sagging. The crucial housing market is soft. Companies and government institutions are struggling under mounds of debt. On Thursday, the giant property developer China Evergrande filed for bankruptcy. On top of all this comes news that the economy has entered deflation — raising fears of a downward spiral of the type that crippled mighty Japan in the 1990s. What does it all mean? We asked our columnists.
Ominous article...
Sure looks like the Communists just dont understand why the play book doesnt work... this time! ... what was wrong with Marks anyway right?
slippery slope everytime ...
and so they become a real danger again to world peace.... do we still believe or in another 25 years will the population of the planet simply over whelm.
You have to wonder why any Party in this country would have RED as their color and Labour in the name... change it to Purple and change the name to something else!!!!
Economics 101 - " A market economy will always outperform a command economy in the long run."
Quote from: Waltzing on Aug 19, 2023, 09:59 AMOminous article...
Sure looks like the Communists just dont understand why the play book doesnt work... this time! ... what was wrong with Marks anyway right?
slippery slope everytime ...
and so they become a real danger again to world peace.... do we still believe or in another 25 years will the population of the planet simply over whelm.
You have to wonder why any Party in this country would have RED as their color and Labour in the name... change it to Purple and change the name to something else!!!!
They need to change the colour at least. Think they will have plenty of time on their hands after the election.
Is it a hollywood movie like Captain America..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JerVrbLldXw
No its real.... Those sneaky chinese bbb ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/19/china-helping-arm-russia-helicopters-drones-metals-xi-putin/
Coincidence or not.....
Russian general who knew 'secrets' of Putin's palace dies suddenly in prison
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300953434/russian-general-who-knew-secrets-of-putins-palace-dies-suddenly-in-prison
For some countries its now obvious the UN was just a quicker way of controlling other countries... but really that its powerless and in the end it cant stop anything.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drone-strikes-ukraine-crimea-attack/32555000.html
Must congratulate the government on this policy.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-labour-launches-financial-literacy-in-schools-policy/XL6WVS5CCJGZHHZNEEVOQWCJIM/
Quote from: Shareguy on Aug 20, 2023, 04:30 PMMust congratulate the government on this policy.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-labour-launches-financial-literacy-in-schools-policy/XL6WVS5CCJGZHHZNEEVOQWCJIM/
We learned this stuff (financial literacy) 50 years ago in school. The called it "economics" back in Germany. Interest rates, company structures, share holdings, bonds, investment strategies, debts.
50 years later both big NZ parties agree that it would be a good idea to teach this as well in NZ. Amazing - it took them only half a century to test this idea for the specific New Zealand conditions ;
If we keep up this pace ... one day we might be first under the sun - hey, we are only two generations behind Europe, how hard can it be?
Quote from: Shareguy on Aug 20, 2023, 04:30 PMMust congratulate the government on this policy.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-labour-launches-financial-literacy-in-schools-policy/XL6WVS5CCJGZHHZNEEVOQWCJIM/
Good policy.
Should include it for MPs as a fair few could use it
Quote from: Fiordland Moose on Aug 21, 2023, 10:57 AMGood policy.
Should include it for MPs as a fair few could use it
Indeed
Quote from: BlackPeter on Aug 21, 2023, 10:43 AMWe learned this stuff (financial literacy) 50 years ago in school. The called it "economics" back in Germany. Interest rates, company structures, share holdings, bonds, investment strategies, debts.
50 years later both big NZ parties agree that it would be a good idea to teach this as well in NZ. Amazing - it took them only half a century to test this idea for the specific New Zealand conditions ;
If we keep up this pace ... one day we might be first under the sun - hey, we are only two generations behind Europe, how hard can it be?
True; had a choice between 'economics' and 'business economics' at the time. Neither of them were compulsory though so the option was still a aisle to not learn about it.
Very Interesting Interview with an American Astronaut on the situation in space and the relationship with Russia.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/21/russia-space-moon-mission-ukraine-cosmonauts-nasa/
More articles putting the Boot into China... Come on China get you act together and try Market policies you wont regret it...
There share market chart lately doesnt look good at all...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/21/economy/china-economy-troubles-intl-hnk/index.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Aug 22, 2023, 09:56 PMMore articles putting the Boot into China... Come on China get you act together and try Market policies you wont regret it...
There share market chart lately doesnt look good at all...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/21/economy/china-economy-troubles-intl-hnk/index.html
And neither does their exchange rate vs US$, AU$, NZ$, etc. Although there are always two sides to such a coin (so to speak).
Yevgeny Prigozhin in fatal plane crash, Russian officials say
Ten die on flight from Moscow to St Petersburg, according to emergency ministry:
https://www.ft.com/content/812c9da3-80f2-4fe1-8fad-0b4441d1977a
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/23/yevgeny-prigozhin-on-private-jet-that-crashed-near-moscow-russia-wagner
Inevitable some would say.
Quote from: kiwi2007 on Aug 24, 2023, 10:10 AMYevgeny Prigozhin in fatal plane crash, Russian officials say
Ten die on flight from Moscow to St Petersburg, according to emergency ministry:
https://www.ft.com/content/812c9da3-80f2-4fe1-8fad-0b4441d1977a
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/23/yevgeny-prigozhin-on-private-jet-that-crashed-near-moscow-russia-wagner
Inevitable some would say.
It appears Putin's lackeys are running short of nerve agent - and interesting that they even seem to run short of windows in Moscow to practise the good old custom of defenestrating political opponents?
I would have thought that defenestration would work as well when the glass is already blown out by an Ukrainian drone? But maybe not so stylish.
Anyway, Russians downing their own planes sets a good precedent. Hope they continue this new trend.
Yes BP a lawless country .... but still RRR is probably still higher per head of population here ... (Random Ram Raiders)
How on earth did the Ugly bears manage to loss an AS 400 ...
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-wipes-out-russian-missile-system-in-occupied-crimea/
Quote from: BlackPeter on Aug 24, 2023, 11:18 AMIt appears Putin's lackeys are running short of nerve agent - and interesting that they even seem to run short of windows in Moscow to practise the good old custom of fenestrating political opponents?
I would have thought that fenestration would work as well when the glass is already blown out by an Ukrainian drone? But maybe not so stylish.
Anyway, Russians downing their own planes sets a good precedent. Hope they continue this new trend.
Turn of events not too surprising.
But I have to wonder how he did not see this coming....sooner or later.
Quote from: Waltzing on Aug 24, 2023, 08:25 PMYes BP a lawless country .... but still RRR is probably still higher per head of population here ... (Random Ram Raiders)
How on earth did the Ugly bears manage to loss an AS 400 ...
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-wipes-out-russian-missile-system-in-occupied-crimea/
Not that difficult with civilians everywhere. I guess its probably not too difficult to find a bunch of UKE friendly and Russian speaking civilians with the appropriate equipment doing some useful work in the zone illegally occupied by Russia.
Ah yes - and the S 400 requires radar. An easy target if you've got a missile with the right searchhead ...
What always surprises me as well is that there are not more Russian planes going down ... not that hard to hide and operate a stinger in the occupied area.
Commando Raid !!!! Looks like they UKE BOYS's and maybe Girls are doing it ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXsOUdoU4vg
They landed in little boats and stormed the Ugly Bear positions creating UKE leagues.
Whole new meaning to shoot and scoot...
Ukraine stepping up the offensive..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/25/black-sea-fleet-base-hit-drone-attack-crimea-ukraine/
UK deploys new Kit to shoot down drones...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/26/british-soldiers-drone-buster/
Rubbing there noses in it ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/08/26/zero-covid-disaster-ends-china-triumphalism/
Just when you thought you were living in a Helen and Jacinda world...
Actually this is the real world ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/08/24/putin-prigozhin-surovikin-wagner-oligarchs/
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-26-2023
Ukrainian forces have made further tactically significant gains in western Zaporizhia Oblast, and several Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Ukrainian forces are advancing through what Ukrainian and US sources suggested may be the most challenging series of prepared Russian defensive positions.
Ukrainian forces now appear within striking distance of the next series of prepared Russian defensive positions, which may be weaker than the previous set of Russian defenses but still pose a significant challenge.
A Ukrainian source indicated that Russian forces have laterally redeployed elements of a relatively elite formation from the Kreminna area in Luhansk Oblast to the Robotyne area in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
Russian irregular formations remain willing to threaten to withdraw from combat unilaterally despite recent efforts by Russian military command to purge and suppress insubordination.
Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, and in western Donetsk Oblast but did not make any confirmed advances.
Russian regional governments continue to facilitate the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied Ukraine to occupied Crimea.
With reference to the posts on financial education last week. This today:
Stephen Agnew argues that financial education has its limits, meaning if we want New Zealanders to be better with money, we need to start at home
https://www.interest.co.nz/personal-finance/123981/stephen-agnew-argues-financial-education-has-its-limits-meaning-if-we-want
Posted this in the 'international' section but relevant here as well:
Interesting discussion about the integration of tech companies as it relates to chip manufacturing.
Chip WAR: Chris Miller on Nvidia, TSMC dominance & risks | nzherald.co.nz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weIAUzfByH0
Grain... now Rice ..
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/28/business-india/india-rice-ban-export-farmers-loss-intl-hnk-dst/index.html
What impact will an even longer war than expect do to europes economy in the next 2 to 3 years. Are we now in groundhog day and markets will stagnate...
This articles talks of a long war ... it really looks like a LOT MORE equipment will be needed and where is it going to come from and at what economic cost.
"he Russians won't stop, he said, "you can't negotiate with them". The West doesn't understand this. Young soldiers who expected to be home in a year realise now, he said, they will be gone longer."
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66581217
And a couple of weeks ago we read that the German citizens are not too pleased with their current regime being at the USA beck and call all the while imported gas from the same country cost so much more.
Will German support/ funding fade?
Markets entering a stagnation period ? or a slow grind higher based only on western growth?
India and Asia are just a pollution machine ?
and people talking like this about bombing the ukraine where is the new age of enlightenment....
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drone-attack-soltsy-invasion-ukraine-war/32569556.html
""We need to bomb them so that they won't even consider [attacking Soltsy], but only be afraid," one woman called Svetlana Lvovna said."
From Craigs
Will we see a post- election rally?
We're just six weeks out from the election.
The campaign is heating up and policy announcements are coming thick and fast.
It could still be a close race, but some recent polls suggest an increasing likelihood we'll see a changing of the guard.
How might financial markets perform in the aftermath of the election, and would a National victory prompt a rally in share prices?
I looked at the past ten elections, which takes us back to 1993 when Jim Bolger's National party won a second term.
In those 30 years there have been five victories apieces for our two major parties, Labour and National.
On six of those ten occasions the sharemarket has pushed higher in the following 90 days, with an average gain of 2.7 per cent.
When it's been a win for National, the average gain has been stronger at 4.6 per cent.
When Labour has emerged triumphant, the average post-election rise has been 0.9 per cent. That's more subdued, but it's a rise nonetheless.
At face value, it appears the market has typically cheered a National victory more so than a Labour one.
This makes some sense, with the former generally considered to be a more business-friendly party.
Having said that, there are many factors that impact the economy and the business environment just as much as (if not more than) the political backdrop.
The 2008 election is an obvious example.
We were in the thick of the GFC at the time, and the New Zealand sharemarket had already fallen more than 20 per cent from its peak the previous year.
Sir John Key's National party won in November 2008, and the market kept falling until it finally found a bottom in March 2009.
If we exclude 2008 from our analysis, the average sharemarket return in the 90 days following a National victory jumps to 5.8 per cent.
Another period that stands out is 1993, when the sharemarket rallied strongly after the election. This period has boosted the average gain for when National has won.
If we exclude 1993 as well, we're back at 3.3 per cent for a post-National rally. That's less impressive, but it's still above average.
Looking at moves in fixed income and the NZ dollar in the wake of past elections, we've generally seen conservative assets rise in value and the currency find a bit of support.
Bonds have produced positive returns seven out of ten times, with an average gain of 1.4 per cent, while the currency has increased on eight of ten occasions with an average gain of about one per cent.
Again, the 2008 election is a major outlier.
At that time, interest rates were collapsing because of increasing risk aversion (pushing bond values up) while the currency had slumped from US$0.80 to US$0.70 and was headed for a low of US$0.49 about six months later.
That example aside, one can generally deduce that fixed income has traditionally performed solidly after elections and the currency has found a bit of support.
Excluding 2008, the NZ dollar has gained 3.5 per cent (on average) following a National party victory and 1.6 per cent after a Labour win.
The economic and market backdrop during any election period is always unique, and 2023 is certainly no different.
However, the past 30 years suggest the market has typically performed well in the aftermath of an election, more so when we've seen a National victory.
One thing that's much less ambiguous is the fact that whoever ends up in parliament will inherit a challenging backdrop.
The dairy sector is under pressure, our fiscal position is deteriorating and we've got an inflation problem that's proving hard to get on top of.
Elections can impact investor sentiment and business confidence, but share prices will ultimately be driven by the path of the economy and corporate earnings.
We'll have to wait until October 14 to see how these challenges influence the post-election market performance.
Has the West gravely under estimated "as long as Takes"
They are likening it to Verdun ... here in the west we are shield from the true situation by our press being absent from the front lines...
One man braves the terror to find the truth on the step...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66621724
Well Verdun was horrific by all accounts...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun
Quote from: Waltzing on Aug 30, 2023, 06:46 AM.... and people talking like this about bombing the ukraine where is the new age of enlightenment....
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-drone-attack-soltsy-invasion-ukraine-war/32569556.html
""We need to bomb them so that they won't even consider [attacking Soltsy], but only be afraid," one woman called Svetlana Lvovna said."
Russia says major Ukraine drone attack reaches deep into its territoryhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/300961358/russia-says-major-ukraine-drone-attack-reaches-deep-into-its-territory
Quote from: Shareguy on Aug 30, 2023, 08:36 AMFrom Craigs
Will we see a post- election rally?........
Interesting. Thanks for posting.
(I'm sure some will say 'this time will be different' :) :D Maybe it will, maybe it won't.)
Oh NO it appears that we have a strategic competitor across the Tasman as the EMU-ites have out number 8 wired the Kiwi's in their gumboots...
An empire brought down by a cardboard flying Kite... a kit set box drone...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/30/cardboard-drones-ukraine-strike-russian-planes-kursk/
Of course Russian LNG costs a lot more than gas through a pipeline that you have blown up...
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/30/eu-imports-of-russian-liquified-gas-leap-by-40-since-ukraine-invasion
Ukraine lose 6 pilots in mission gone wrong ... 2 helicopters crashed with troops on board.
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-08-31-23/index.html
Now if anyone is thinking where do they set up their new production factory after this war is over look no farther than UKE ....
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/02/europe/kyiv-weapons-industry-power-intl/index.html
Interesting if you own a property in the UK.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/01/property-owners-failing-comply-new-energy-rules-face-prison/
also
https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-12449529%2FMillions-Britons-urged-turn-heat-night-help-government-hit-net-zero-target-critics-brand-daft-idea.html
Evil and its empires and just what kind of world where life is imitating the movies ... no List of Super heroes to the rescue yet in powered up suites...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/spying-and-sabotage-at-the-osce-how-russia-is-paralyzing-europe-s-peace-organization-a-ec57e9d9-67f1-4748-a22b-81bb4aa9e3b2
We are according to some about to enter a new cold war and NATO will be at the forefront with or without the US for defending the west as the Russia Empire will take decades to collapse ... A new wall will reemerge across the baltic and down to the black sea...
Will Germany understand the new world order and rearm herself to defend europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ0kzpMCu1s
A new Cold war is raging on the Baltic according to DW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVYFG8QOaTc
US to supply highly destructive Ammo.
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-us-depleted-uranium-ammnition-m1-abrams-tanks/32581371.html
Ok looks like they want to reward the UKE's and they dont want the AB's to look bad on the battle field...
A lot of Europes grain comes from Ukraine.... could be fun
Quote from: mcdongle on Sep 07, 2023, 12:21 PMA lot of Europes grain comes from Ukraine.... could be fun
If you refer to the radiation ... this would be a far cry from the Chernobyl incident. Depleted Uranium is just heavy and creates a bigger bang (and a larger hole) in any armour.
In this Documentary from DW you can see that Tradies win wars. Fabricated dug outs with removeable roofs and in other videos full protective cages around in place mobile artillery. Ukraines builders, fitters and turners are busy with hammers and welding kits.
The rebuild of Ukraine will be a big job but the skills are there for all to see. This bunker might not be the best looking or get an award from house and garden but it shows organisational skills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDHbjvN8Hjg
Quote from: Waltzing on Sep 07, 2023, 12:50 PMIn this Documentary from DW you can see that Tradies win wars. Fabricated dug outs with removeable roofs and in other videos full protective cages around in place mobile artillery. Ukraines builders, fitters and turners are busy with hammers and welding kits.
As impressive as that improvised structure is, you really do not want a static artillery piece or mortar etc. Even little old NZ had counter battery radars in the 1980s to detect incoming rounds and to determine the launch point. Back then our systems could auto aim counter fire before the first incoming round had landed....I'm sure such systems would be far more advanced today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-battery_radar
More from the front lines this time they are moving on foot and out in the open...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otixzgbvPbs&list=PLVgLHR9B9u9SwxLnahAdjXFUsNJATSycH&index=1
Apparently the C2 British tank ran over a mine crew were ok and later the tank was hit by a drone...
The critics of Russia's war in Ukraine caught in jail 'carousel'https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/arrest-detain-repeat-russian-war-critics-caught-jail-carousel-2023-09-07/
Summary:
- Russia has cracked down on criticism of Ukraine conflict
- Some war critics held multiple times for minor offences
- Lawyers say such 'carousel arrests' used to curb dissent
- Practice can buy time for police to build cases, they say
Quote from: BlackPeter on Sep 07, 2023, 12:48 PMIf you refer to the radiation ... this would be a far cry from the Chernobyl incident. Depleted Uranium is just heavy and creates a bigger bang (and a larger hole) in any armour.
Thats interesting but totally wrong.
This is an excerpt fom a UN report are you suggesting they are not telling the truth?
Depleted uranium may pose a risk to both soldiers and local civilian populations. When ammunition made from depleted uranium strikes a target, the uranium turns into dust that is inhaled by soldiers near the explosion site. The wind then carries dust to surrounding areas, polluting local water and agriculture.
UN report? that reminds of the WHO? What world pandemic... no no we dont have a global pandemic...
It doubtful the UN have anyone that knows what its doing and someone loaded the investigation party with green peace activist's...
Now the US is taking China to be the next USSR ... but will it be just a super bubble...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/07/opinions/rising-superpower-myth-china-rayburn-bergen/index.html
It will all be OK. The US can spend it's way out of trouble.
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2023/09/inside-story-how-navy-spent-billions-little-crappy-ship/390069/
Quote from: Waltzing on Sep 08, 2023, 08:01 PMUN report? that reminds of the WHO? What world pandemic... no no we dont have a global pandemic...
It doubtful the UN have anyone that knows what its doing and someone loaded the investigation party with green peace activist's...
Now the US is taking China to be the next USSR ... but will it be just a super bubble...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/07/opinions/rising-superpower-myth-china-rayburn-bergen/index.html
Ah i get it now if its not what you want to hear you dont believe it...
Well here is a video about Fallujh where the US used lots of depleted uranium , And the problems it is causing the population.
Its what the poor people of Ukraine can expect after all this is over as they try to get their lives back together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNi_1pbSqGY
Quote from: mcdongle on Sep 08, 2023, 12:15 PMThats interesting but totally wrong.
This is an excerpt fom a UN report are you suggesting they are not telling the truth?
Depleted uranium may pose a risk to both soldiers and local civilian populations. When ammunition made from depleted uranium strikes a target, the uranium turns into dust that is inhaled by soldiers near the explosion site. The wind then carries dust to surrounding areas, polluting local water and agriculture.
I was not saying it is zero risk. I was saying it is a far cry from the Chernobyl incident (which radioactively polluted large parts of Western Europe) and did harm a lot of people.
You might as well notice the word "might" in the UN report. Not yet proven.
Look - everybody is welcome to add here their personal views, but before one calls somebody's posts "completely wrong" I suggest you first do some research and thinking.
There is a lot of info out there on the stuff...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/07/depleted-uranium-munitions-what-are-they-and-what-risks-do-they-pose
The UN is populated with people and people make mistakes...
Certainly not keen to fish in a stream where a blown up tank is taking a bath...
Is the real problem western political elite who dont want there world disturbed by reality...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/09/general-david-petraeus-us-send-fighter-jets-ukraine/
The people behind Ukraine the latest and a great interview with General Petraeus .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21SVQY0ymZ8
And in this Video you get to ride with the 47th Brigade ...
The Leo 6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPi_YOKyADo
Tank on Tank action in June...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvfwBlFI5ao
Now if the UKE tankers make a break through AND they get to field some real tanks ... could it be a turkey shoot?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q83AIJCGaQ
Looks like the nine dash line has grown another line. . .
https://thediplomat.com/2023/09/chinas-new-standard-map-does-not-mean-what-you-think-it-means/
https://disarmament.unoda.org/convarms/depleted-uranium/
Well this conflict will give them another chance to collect the rusting metal and surrounding ground and run more tests..
Since New Zealand is not far away from adopting the Ausss dollar and basically forming a trade block with AUS we might as well get used to the AUSSI mind set...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XxySdqU1Xg
Well, we came close to parity with the AUD on 2 occasions over the past 10 years.
New boats!
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2023/09/11/new-zealand-seeks-new-ships-to-replace-majority-of-naval-fleet/
Oh yes well... how about every Surf club gets a dozen dual purpose rescue jet ski's which can be remote controlled and fitted with an explosive nose device.. comes complete with a fit able rear man pad launcher for anti aircraft duty...
the UKE remote controlled Navy has shown the way forward..
This new policy is Winston's ace in the hole policy announcement when he gets into the buzzy hive..
Seriously probably need a fleet replacement for sure... just which of the many new designs.. The Japanese have a good new ship but value for money the South Koreans also make good ships..
Quote from: Waltzing on Sep 12, 2023, 11:17 AMOh yes well... how about every Surf club gets a dozen dual purpose rescue jet ski's which can be remote controlled and fitted with an explosive nose device.. comes complete with a fit able rear man pad launcher for anti aircraft duty...
the UKE remote controlled Navy has shown the way forward..
This new policy is Winston's ace in the hole policy announcement when he gets into the buzzy hive..
Seriously probably need a fleet replacement for sure... just which of the many new designs.. The Japanese have a good new ship but value for money the South Koreans also make good ships..
That's not the spirit.
Given todays government policies we only can accept handcrafted wakas for the navy! Maybe if we negotiate well enough we can get a handful of patus for free thrown in ...
It will be sub contracted out to AUT and the other Institutes around the country to bail them out ....
Northrop Grumman's portfolio is growing 'very rapidly', says CEO Kathy Warden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9huc-asK-Fk
Putin has a new friend.
North Korea's Kim vows full support for Russia after viewing launch pads with Putin
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/300970513/north-koreas-kim-vows-full-support-for-russia-after-viewing-launch-pads-with-putin
its actually a micro de facto third world war... ?
Some big bangs ....
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-crimea-odesa-attacks/32590476.html
More big bangs in the sun shine coast that will be the big new tourist attraction site full of destroyed russian war ships...
and those missiles that dont always work... old stock suppose...
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66798508
only a matter of time before someone shoot down a western aircraft over the black seas...
If you listen to the lastest pod cast from the telegraph recorded in the US you will hear about the James Bond style life styles of the russian rich and famous... its Smerch all over ... or something... but it sure isnt Chippie from the HUT and mince pies...
'Someone' being accidental friendly fire, or enemy fire. If the latter does that count as an attack on NATO and its Allies? Didn't Pres Biden say at the start of all this something to the tune of even an inch of NATO territory will elicit a serious reaction?
Ok if you need to protect your garden against invading nefarious ait born threats this is the answer...
will Brisc stock these? or JB HI FI?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/15/soldiers-anti-drone-system-enforceair-fits-in-backpack/
You Tube Ukraine today from the presenters of the Telegraph podcast from the UK embassy in Washington USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADDWhkEJ6Q
Thanks for the updates Waltzing. It is much appreciated.
Quick question for everyone: has anyone here served in any of the forces in any capacity?
Quote from: Ferg on Sep 17, 2023, 08:00 PMThanks for the updates Waltzing. It is much appreciated.
Quick question for everyone: has anyone here served in any of the forces in any capacity?
Nope, but my son is currently in the navy.
my NZ born first cousin served in the balkan's un mission to https://peacekeeping.un.org/mission/past/unmibh/background.html
is now a wellington serving government official and says we need some eye in the sky stuff so if any of you have drones please keep practising...
he says they always had a small budget and had to make do...
Looks like the RAF are in the sky's ... saving the day...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/17/russian-forces-prepare-ukrainian-attack-tokmak-second-line/
Aces on patrol..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzclnH1nJgk
Its now a numbers game ... how many of the important toys do they have ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctrtAwT2sgs
And more numbers ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/17/europe/ukraine-shell-supplies-intl/index.html
and that how it goes when you have a big big war .... lets hope it doesnt get any bigger ... but really there is no way back now... strap in ...
Its shells baby , shell shells shells...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/17/europe/ukraine-shell-supplies-intl/index.html
Death rays again.
https://www.defensenews.com/battlefield-tech/2023/09/18/directed-energy-weapons-making-jump-from-sci-fi-to-real-world/
Cant find it listed on the WHS or MItre 10 product lists yet...
BRS doesnt stock them yet either...
who ever get one of these on the shelve first will really get some SP traction...
not sure about the name of that Stryker Leonidas ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonidas_I
and the brave 300 ... long live the 300...
same thing happening now out in Ukraine and it WILL GO DOWN in the HISTORY OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY ....
Ok if this information is factual and the russian planes are useless then the west needs to get a move on and supply the best 4th generation aircraft it can and this war would be over...
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/an-in-depth-analysis-of-why-the-sukhoi-su-35-is-the-most-overhyped-4th-generation-fighter-aircraft/#:~:text=Nevertheless%2C%20the%20Su%2D35%20takes,aviation%20expert%20explains%20on%20Quora.
Quote from: Waltzing on Sep 20, 2023, 11:14 PMOk if this information is factual and the russian planes are useless then the west needs to get a move on and supply the best 4th generation aircraft it can and this war would be over...
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/an-in-depth-analysis-of-why-the-sukhoi-su-35-is-the-most-overhyped-4th-generation-fighter-aircraft/#:~:text=Nevertheless%2C%20the%20Su%2D35%20takes,aviation%20expert%20explains%20on%20Quora.
This war is about
1) which country can supply more artillery shells for longer (hint - Russia needs already to fall back on the pariah nation North Korea to keep up, but then - the West has still not sufficiently ramped up production either)
2) which system's population is capable to stand a perceived suffering for longer (hint - The Russians trained their population for 4 continuous generations to suffer, they are used to it and they know they don't survive if they speak up, while the Western propulation already cries when its a bit more expensive for them to fill up with fuel to go the the third holiday trip a year).
This war is not about who has the most sophisticated 4th generation war planes.
AFP News Agency
@AFP
#UPDATE Poland will no longer arm Ukraine to focus on its own defence, Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Wednesday, a few hours after Warsaw summoned Kyiv's ambassador amid a row over grain exports.
https://thehill.com/homenews/4214502-polands-president-compares-ukraine-to-drowning-person/
Strike eagles a bit old with 150 should do the trick...
Blow a huge hole in the defence.. sink every ship in the black seas...
Destroy every air field and trail depot...
Like bomber harris said... it ant been tried in this war and we will see..
Bring the growlers for suppression ... give the ukraine the tanks it needs and ... OK there arnt enough shells or HIMAR supplied..
Give it 4 weeks of combined arms and it would be interesting to see what would happen if the country had been armed in 2014 when they defended themselves ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AneBcUrYl48
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22tmgCMvgpc
if done properly the ugly bears will be on the run if the Shells are there to follow up ...
Limited shells production as you point out..
4th GEN stealth... its all in the new paint jobs ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxCTllfVnrE
Could AIR power have made this offensive safer for ground forces doing what no modern western army would ever attempt..
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/20/europe/ukraine-counteroffensive-crucial-european-security-intl-cmd/index.html
lets face it the Esaaalaaation has already happened with arms supplied from Iran and now NK...
This is now a small third world war ... and is it just getting started..
Mines, Mines and more mines ... your at war according to this and you probably dont know it..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zM-aU2iW6s
And some words from a Brit ex army consultant... and you will get a great roof top view on Kiev..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ibVWMuCuYc
and is the US about to take that mach 6 aircraft from the 1960's to a new level...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtwTTMPB49I
China is running out of money? How will it fund all that military spending by starving the ZOO animals?
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/20/economy/china-debt-crisis-zoo-cucumber-fines-intl-hnk/index.html
Looks like the Ukraine offensive operations has found a gap and is set to try to exploit it..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/21/ukraine-breaches-surovikin-line-russian-defences/
Interview with Gen John Ryan in the US running the US Army munitions supply and production.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/21/ukraine-says-stop-sending-tanks/
Russian shells failing to explode... new production defects ..
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-20-2023
Quote from: Waltzing on Sep 22, 2023, 11:06 AMRussian shells failing to explode... new production defects ..
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-september-20-2023
Good. Wondering whether the Ukrainians can fix them and send them back ?
Looks like 2 Storms hit it .... not one ... the second one is inbound and on target...looks like someone is in barny rubble... (trouble)...
Are the UKE's doing the hard years and writing themselves into history ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/23/europe/ukraine-biggest-counteroffensive-to-come-intl-hnk/index.html
Lets here it for the bad guys?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQHKRbEPuo
You will like this one Waltzing. Norway have sent (or are sending) a large number of nano drones to Ukraine.
The black hornet.
Intro video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkD0OgxW_qs
More detailed video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IkaP6XMNZw
Thanks to those who shared their military connections - it was less than I thought it would be. I admire those who sign up voluntarily because it is not easy. I could write a short story on my time with RNZA but I won't bore you with the details. Good times, good times. Especially on the firing ranges with small arms and when the big guns let loose. It cost me my hearing...ACC disagree despite my having the perfect experimental 'control'. It amazes me how the role of artillery has changed so much and so little in the past 110 years.
Yes we are ready to service.... tea and scones i mean...
If you think the US air force is ready to take on the world think again...
but then if there new planes arnt ready does it mean all those fancy planes that china has arnt really ready either?
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/09/22/gao-blasts-contractor-led-f-35-maintenance-as-costly-slow/
could it be that those trust rusty old F15 and F16 and Typhoons are actually whats going to do the bulk of the work...
Quote from: Waltzing on Sep 25, 2023, 09:50 PMYes we are ready to service.... tea and scones i mean...
If you think the US air force is ready to take on the world think again...
but then if there new planes arnt ready does it mean all those fancy planes that china has arnt really ready either?
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/09/22/gao-blasts-contractor-led-f-35-maintenance-as-costly-slow/
could it be that those trust rusty old F15 and F16 and Typhoons are actually whats going to do the bulk of the work...
Bring back the Starfighter (F-104)! Cheap to build, easy to distinguish from other planes ... and everybody can have one. Back in Germany we used to say - just buy yourself a piece of land and wait ...
Starfighter F104 ? We used to call it The Flying Coffin when I was in Munster in the late 60's.
Nice looking aircraft thought... star role in the "Right STUFF"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAbRRpI8ohU
This make for sober reading ... and it isnt pretty stuff as it appears the front line storm troopers of ukraine are not all young men ...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66881269
nothing about the world is going back to what it was... new world or rather its back to the 1600's and where is our SIR Walter...
Prepare for WAR!!!
Lets hope not ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/26/britain-shapps-prepare-for-war/
On the front lines... in the fight ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO5aJgCw9Bk
and then there is the case of the New Version of the storm shadow which has a CREW...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdC__VV13Eo
Is this spain and then there is the big one in europe to come ?...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKUyN3HQ1bs
US tax payer in action in Ukraine...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkGJw5wUZI0
Combined arms attack at last ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/27/europe/ukraine-eastern-offensive-cotovio-intl/index.html
Is he Dead or is he dead ?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/27/russia-black-sea-fleet-ukraine-viktor-sokolov-retreat-war/
Would the real ... https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/one-year-of-meloni-has-italy-s-right-wing-leader-left-fascism-behind-a-c1a75c23-dfba-4b9d-951d-c01412eb986a
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJO5HU_7_1w
Really starting to look like " Charge into darkness "
well a melding there of "Charge of the light B... and Heart of Darkness"
Its looking like escalation !
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/30/grant-shapps-to-send-uk-troops-to-ukraine/
how will the UK get its ships into the black seas when most of them are having as much trouble with technology as the russian have actually getting something to get outside the break water...
INSIGHT-'They're just meat': Russia deploys punishment battalions in echo of Stalin
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/insight-theyre-just-meat-russia-050005526.html#:~:text=%22Storm%20fighters%2C%20they%27re,Ukraine%20in%20May%20and%20June.
Smooth hum of the L2 engine and a few blasts from the main armament ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxEx5bH7k44
Who needs high-tech when origami classes pays off:
Ukraine's flat-pack cardboard drones destroying Russian jets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ckYz616rEc
Think they are Australian ..
Love the sound of the L2 tanks ...
and that is a sound the Ugly bears are going to hate ..
They are going to sell a lot of these https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV_hRCLaxxo
RM might just be the new stock to hold...not H&M...
When is the WEST going to understand what is happening here and start getting serious about sending weapons...
WEAPONS ... LOTS OF WEAPONS...
a LOT MORE TANKS and LOTS OF PLANES and MISSILES... LOTS...
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-blackouts-ukraine-drone-strikes-civilians-dead/32623904.html
RM to supply 60 percent of UKE shells in new contract ..
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-10-06-23/index.html
Sheesh, chaos in the Middle East now. Israel declaring a state of war after Gaza's Hamas attack. :o :o :o
war? right well maybe the ISL prime minister thinks its a wonderful time for a WAR too...
after all he had a lot of problems as well...
did not look like the HAMAS boys dont knew how to drive a tank away... unlike UKE farmers...
who are probably all retired Tank Drivers...
is the middle east going to light up big time...
https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2023/10/08/us-military-to-move-a-carrier-strike-group-in-support-of-israel/
BBC reporter in GAGA land or somewhere say to question ...
Are you ok or do you want to Move... can you hear me ?
report adjusting his ear piece...
"Yes i hear... yes i think we should move ..... "
as missiles fly around the sky...
What will the iran backed armies and ramble in the middle east do...
the music kids gunned down at the music festival...
the tank columns are lining up and you can bet the F35's are in the sky's over northern Israel...
Quote from: Waltzing on Oct 09, 2023, 01:07 PMWhat will the iran backed armies and ramble in the middle east do...
the music kids gunned down at the music festival...
the tank columns are lining up and you can bet the F35's are in the sky's over northern Israel...
Quite sad, but so predictable.
Lets not forget that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian land for now more than 3 generations. Israel is stealing more Palestinean land every year (by allowing illegal Jewish settlements on Palestinian land) and Israel elected a hard-right government which is lead by a crook and strongman comparable to Trump , Erdogan or Putin. Extremists always call for extreme actions - this is how history works.
Israel did not condemn Russias attack against Ukraine. Wondering why? Well, Israel is illegally attacking and killing Palestinian people for generations. Must be ok. So, why should we now condemn the Palestinian attack on Israels land?
Not different to Putins attack on the Ukraine, but easier to justify. Ukraine did nothing to provoke Russias attack, while Israel is occupying Palestinian land for generations, stealing more and more of it and killing and suppressing Palestinians as they please.
While I don't think it is good what the Palestinians are doing, I can see why they are doing it.
Just hope the West keeps out of this mess - if anything, lets help the Palestinian people to get their own territory back.
GA GA GAS has not had an election in ages... yup the ISL's are hard right ... but the GA GAS are not elected... and shooting kids at a music fest is a war crime on a large scale... this wont end nicely..
the GA GAS might over played this one... and lost the moral high ground....
no peace now..this one is really dangerous but will the Iran back ramble with a lot of missiles want to take on the FORD... because it looks like if they do the FORD will into action... and that means who picks which side.. cant see the Arabs entering this one nor the EGYPTAINS..
GA GAS will now be selectively flattened ...
Oil could stay high now for a while..
The GA GAS are GONNER'S...
Iran soccer goers and players did not want anything todo with flag waving government backed promoters of the conflict....
the Iran public are fed up with their government and dont want to know about Hamas....
maybe they arnt happy with the retail shopping options in Iran at the moment....
Will retail shopping save the world? Will the chinese rebel if they cant Shop till they Drop?
Esper's on TV saying defence spending is just starting across many country's....
Everyone will want precision guided stuff... lots of it...
Pick your defence stocks ... better than old bangers in NZ?
What'd you make of the rumours of Putin being the puppet master behind the Hamas uprising, Waltz?
Gosh well .... anything is possible now isnt it... funny the way the white house called Hamas out over the possible beheadings and 2 days ago the Chinese made mumblings over the Missile attack on a ukraine church service that killed 52 ....
Just how many civilians need to be murdered in ukraine before the US send some serious armaments... yet the IDF gets backed up by the FORD....
30 Tanks the US sends... right but it only HAMAS we can send the FORD ...
Yet they could not send F16's and old Tanks, Attack Helicopters or A10's...
It beggers belief that the IDF gets the lastest and biggest AC in the world and the UKE's get what... small arms stuff...
Well HP things are looking pretty Grim around the world...
and on ART channel they are playing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HON-9Z1Greo
https://www.euroarts.com/tv-license/6885-czech-philharmonic-season-opening-concert-2021
The cynical part of the web rumour mill has it that IDF is a regular paying customer; UKE not so much.
Yes OMP... one is profitable the other not So MUCH!!
and boy IDF can have two fronts going if it plays it cards right...
Thats why defence stocks are set for the next 5 years..
Banking on the Bits and Bytes in the Block Chain...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/10/11/hamas-militants-millions-crypto-israel-terrorist-attack/
Discussion on who firing at who ... in the middle east...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/11/the-tank-war-enters-new-phase-as-russias-most-advanced-tank/
IDF's Trophy system in the M4 has already had some pretty good outings with HAMAS...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophy_(countermeasure)
probably the UKE's will get Tanks with these systems...
More dead Ugly bears ....
Does it feel like the middle ages yet?
Just how many be headings will emerge ....
Some liberal Journos in an interview just got dusted by the IDF rep... the JOURNOS just sat down...
The changing character of war:
Expensive, massive tanks destroyed by small and cheap loitering munitions.
Drones helping artillery locate targets.
A battlefield so flooded with sensors that it's impossible to stay hidden for long.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Army has carefully taken note of these trends. Now those changes are reshaping the service's plans from acquisition to how to approach formations to reimagining logistics. Already, the Army has rethought its plans to modernize tanks and altering its strategies with drones.
"The character of war is changing," Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George told Defense News in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Army's annual conference. "It's changed more in the last couple of years because of the war in Ukraine. And I think it will continue to change at a very rapid pace and we have to have the mindset to change with it."
https://www.defensenews.com/land/2023/10/09/change-of-plans-us-army-embraces-lessons-learned-from-war-in-ukraine/
Tanking Around ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCIZ7zIYe9c
Well when the WIND is blowing in the right direction the Ugly Bear attacks to get that extra speed from the barrel...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ0mifT4UuA
Big battle in the east.... both sides taking hits but it looks like the Ugly bears are taking the biggest losses since the start of the Kiev offensive..
and did the russian black seas fleet just get sunk by one of its own mine?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM7pIMofQbo
Quote from: Waltzing on Oct 13, 2023, 09:10 PM.....and did the russian black seas fleet just get sunk by one of its own mine?.....
Some 'friendly' fire....
Looks like the offensive on both side could start to wind down cause they are running out of stuff...
But Ugly bear has sourced stuff from NK....
NATO has got a BIG problem...
No shells... or rather it will take 12 months for RM to ramp up production and orders from germany defence has only just been signed...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/13/british-howitzers-ukraine-shells-shortage-soldiers-nato/
UKE start to find old guns to fire...
Dunkie Dunkie Sunkie Sunkie ....
sneakie stuff... baby boat drones.... may have damaged more black seas ships...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/13/ussia-ukraine-war-latest-news/
Not entirely related to this topic:
Dutch built the big new shiny bridge that went where no bridge has ever gone before...(star trek)...
Dutch prosecutor fines four companies that helped Russia build Crimea bridge
The Dutch prosecutor has penalised four Dutch companies and eight people for breaching EU sanctions on Russia between 2014 and 2017 for helping Moscow build a bridge to Crimea, it said in a statement on Friday.
The eight people were sentenced to community service ranging from 20 to 60 hours while the companies paid fines totalling 160,000 euros.
The companies involved supplied machines, machine parts and other services for the construction of the 19 kilometre (11.8 mile) long bridge spanning the Strait of Kerch, the prosecutor's office said.
"The Crimean bridge was built partly due to the use of Dutch knowledge and expertise," it added.
By committing the sanction violations, one company benefited from supplying the prohibited goods and services. This illegally obtained benefit amounting to 71,330 euros has been confiscated by the Dutch prosecutor.
The prosecutors' office did not name the companies involved.
THE NK have shipped 1000 container of AMMO and equipment to Ugly Bear...
It a global war people... it slowly slowly getting bigger...
Shells will need to come the four corners of the world to supply this war....
Every western country will need to dig deep and soon...
How will NATO and Europe respond to what amounts to an ACT of war from Russia...
Technically it starts a NEW COLD WAR... in the BALTIC...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/12/nato-gas-pipeline-baltic-sea-sabotage-finland-estonia/
There was the argument that the old Soviet leaders at least were 'rational' to some extent. Can we state the same of that region's current leader?
Good point OMP ..
Going back to 2010 and looking at the nightly TV NEWS in moscow you might think NOT what some would call RATIONAL...
very very strange News nightly viewing .....
Quote from: Onemootpoint on Oct 15, 2023, 01:16 AMThere was the argument that the old Soviet leaders at least were 'rational' to some extent. Can we state the same of that region's current leader?
The same argument could be made of Western leaders from the last decade too... Trump needs no explanation but check out Biden's remarks (https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/biden-s-beheading-gaffe-20231014-p5ec7f.html) on the Hamas / Israeli conflict. Phew, is he fully compos mentis?
No hes not ... and many other also...
Heres is his logic for only sending 30 ABM to UKE land...
They only sent 30 AMB's to UKE... to hard to drive and fire at the same time for the UKE to learn how to operate..
Gordan says on Telegraph its the "any dummy can operate it in the world" ..
Gosh if it is than obviously you dont want to give the UKE armoured the best tank in the world to operate in any numbers else they might dive them all over the place as there is no shortage of fuel in UKE land...
Biden doesnt know anything about the controls on the ABM cause he has never had a game boy ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B3ZwOvugX4
F16 not being sent till 2025?
who in the white house is making these decisions?
Most of the time hes asleep at the desk...
Of course (re other leaders).
2025...it is as if they are wishing for a protracted war.
Middle East looking like a growing flash point...
https://www.bbc.com/
It is, although the market doesn't seem too phased for the moment. Perhaps the 'security' of that second carrier strike group on its way to the med.
It appears that WAR is back to being normal business....
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/16/middleeast/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-border-clashes-intl/index.html
Ugly Bear attack just like the Kiev offensive and has run into the same results...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/16/ukrainian-refugees-in-poland-receive-respite-and-israel-den/
Markets not worried because WAR can be good for business..
RM and UK defense companies could be the NEW STAPLES..
Quote from: Waltzing on Oct 16, 2023, 07:41 AMMiddle East looking like a growing flash point...
https://www.bbc.com/
Just wondering at what stage we will call it a world war?
1) Russia attacking and occupying parts of Ukraine. Ongoing war of attrition.
2) Hamas (probably egged on by Russia) attacking Israel and Israel retaliating out of
proportion, basically taking the 2 million people they hold for the last 3 generations as
prisoners in Gaza as hostage.
3) US promising to protect Israel no matter what (same thing which resulted in the 1970 energy crisis).
4) Iran threatening to intervene if Israel attacks and re-occupies Gaza.
5) China continues to threaten its neighbours in the Eastern Pacific.
6) more and more puzzle pieces in Africa flipping to Russia / China: 7 coups in the last three years (all supported either by Russia or China), and none of them resulting in an improvement for the people.
It certainly looks like some of the players do their introductory moves while the West keeps sleeping at the wheel. US currently not even able to govern itself without a house speaker.
Interesting times ...
exactement !
when big Navel fleets start to move ....
Baltic will now be a new flash point soon if Ugly bear keeps up the stupid activities...
In the 1900's this would have been an ACT of War..
Lucky the Baltic have been in training for a while, Finland and Norway are always Ready..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkJJXMK6pv0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fugKO-90Ics
hear the Leopards purr...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV_hRCLaxxo
US deploying Supporting Troops to ISRL...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/16/politics/us-marines-pentagon-israel/index.html
UKE missiler's HIT ugly bear Hard with US made long range strike on air fields..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/17/ukraine-russia-war-live-putin-xi-jinping-china-bri-summit/
UKE Tankers talk of stalking the UGLY BEAR in the Leopards... the engine purring in the night as they creep up before hitting the bear in the dead of night...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJl7LigD1eg
Free to read:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/17/ukraine-us-missiles-zelenskiy
Ukraine deploys US-supplied ATACMS missiles for first time, Zelenskiy says
Long-range weapon 'executed very accurately' in strike on two airbases in Russian-held territory..
Probably the M39A1 (ATACMS Block IA) missile with GPS-aided guidance. It carries 300 M74 Anti-personnel and Anti‑materiel (APAM) bomblets. Range: 20–300 kilometres (12–186 mi). 610 M39A1 were produced between 1997 and 2003
And risk of escalation ratchets up another notch.
Risk of what? the risks are always the same and its time for the US and Germany to realise they are at WAR... its a cold WAR gone HOT ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmsudtNG2hE
The BALTICS always know the WAR with bear is only sleeping...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fugKO-90Ics
Its only here in little NZ that the KIWI sleeps with its head in the bushes..
UKE Tankers talk about the LP2's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0iZYxnBCQk
Leopards ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tob40ysidu4
IDF refutes who blew up the hospital....
This is the kind of stuff that bring about a bigger conflict...
https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-news-hamas-war-10-17-23/index.html
from Kiev...or somewhere the NEWS...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LEYzTQ9nqo
World Press reports that the IDF dropped a bomb on a hospital and that nearly 600 people or more were killed or injured...
IDF now showing INFRA red images that confirm according to them that the WORDL press has miss reported the event...
World press reported what the IDF calls incorrect news ...
If this is correct the WORLD press now looks like it just spreads fake news...
Biden, in Israel, says hospital blast appears to be caused by 'the other team'
https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-heads-middle-east-inflamed-by-gaza-hospital-blast-2023-10-18/
Quote from: Waltzing on Oct 18, 2023, 07:50 PMWorld Press reports that the IDF dropped a bomb on a hospital and that nearly 600 people or more were killed or injured...
IDF now showing INFRA red images that confirm according to them that the WORDL press has miss reported the event...
World press reported what the IDF calls incorrect news ...
If this is correct the WORLD press now looks like it just spreads fake news...
Not quite sure where in the world press you read that Israel bombed that hospital. I only read that a) the hospital was attacked and b) that Hamas was complaining that the attacker was Israel.
I am sure both parts of this message are absolutley correct, so - please - lets not construe fake news where the press was reporting absolutely correct. Its just - many people are not able to properly read :) ;
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F8tJCsqXcAAljDN?format=jpg&name=small)
https://twitter.com/PrivateEyeNews/status/1714545102977421797?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Lots of interesting comments following the tweet.
Im over hyping CNN and CNBC ... CNBC reported that IDF bombed the HOS ... lead commentators yesterday morning...
CNBC running a cover up story this afternoon...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/10/18/sickening-anti-israel-bias-handing-victory-to-hamas/
Actually think we need to go back to rotary telephone and reinstate the communist party in power in Russia.... more predictable ...
Will DEATH OF PUTIN be as funny as the British Film Death of Stalin...
oh yes but wait we have the China syndrome on going ....
im just getting a bit lost in the big picture out there...
apparently the russians are being kicked out of KIWI LAND .... according to the PA PA PARTY...
If Ru and Cn sink into conflict I am stuck in between....neighbours either side. Both good neighbours though.
Lift off !!!
2 HOT wars now ... and number 3?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2qq8peyzbs
Could the Ugly bears be destorying themselves by their counter to the counter Offensive?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/20/the-russians-may-have-lost-55-tanks-in-one-day-trying-and-failing-to-capture-avdiivka/?sh=32f5fd069125
Look MA we just lost the war cause we could not stop attacking...
Storm Troopers of the Russian Fed have been hydrating before operations... never go to war sober if you can help it ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3d7nRfw7u0
An interesting watch on the realities within Russian military forces:
Yep that was a goodie... glad to see it posted here again for everyone to see how criminal business pays ....
Do they know F35's circle above unseen just waiting to drop something deadly on them? or that the new mortars from the IDF use GPS to guide them to a target in one hit? Dont these young lad have something better to do?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/24/hezbollah-split-elite-commando-pushes-chiefs-to-join-war/
Out in the eastern step ... or somewhere far far away... hit them again sam..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXRNjJW_M_c&list=PLVgLHR9B9u9SwxLnahAdjXFUsNJATSycH&index=1
Could farther finds like this give western europe added resilience to battle imperial russia's plans to cripple europe economies by forcing up the cost of energy...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/29/climate/white-hydrogen-fossil-fuels-climate/index.html
notice in the article ...
""Natural hydrogen is a solution which will allow us to get get to speed" on climate action, he said.
Soccer fans not interest in the PL problem ....
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/27/middleeast/iran-may-not-want-full-war-israel-mime-intl/index.html
PM of IS says IDF is in action until HAMAS is no longer operating. The question is then how long will it take? Is the IDF now at war for years to come.
Is the middle East now slipping down the slippery slope to war. If HAMAS is wiped out IRAN will loop weak.
Calling all cat lovers ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/10/31/ukraine-front-line-counter-offensive-donbas-fighting-russia/
someone in the artcles in Radio Free Europe says you cant operate in ukraine winters as equipment freezes up ...
right has anyone tried there LP 2's out on the step in winter yet? but wait they havnt been out on the step in winter before ... till now...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbhRMH-hZP8
or this this ... Ukraine mud ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv9HxqDDrD8
In The Economist, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhnyi outlined the current operational environment in Ukraine and noted that, despite several previously successful Ukrainian counteroffensive operations in 2022, the war is now "gradually moving to a positional form."[2] Zaluzhnyi heavily stressed that the current positional nature of the war is largely a result of military parity between Ukrainian and Russian forces, noting that a deep and dramatic Ukrainian penetration of Russian lines will likely not be possible with the relative technological and tactical equilibrium currently between Ukrainian and Russian forces.[3] In his interview with The Economist, Zaluzhnyi acknowledged that technological and tactical parity between opposing forces in Ukraine has resulted in a "stalemate" similar to the case of the First World War.[4] In the more extensive essay on the subject, Zaluzhnyi notably refrained from classifying the situation as a full stalemate and instead framed it as a "positional" war resulting from aspects of this technological-tactical parity........ lots more....
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-1-2023-0
Seal Team 6 leader says its another 4 years of war to come but that the Russians are taking the biggest pounding hes ever seen...
Hows they are going on the ground ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3iPdVNm4pk
Its a TV war at home in IS lounges... anyone got folks in IS ?
whats on the TV there?
How long is HIZ BOO LA going to just use some fireworks and not the whole sha bang bang..
https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-03-23/index.html
HIZ BOO LA leader going to annouce something soon...
lights, camera and turn on the mic...
YUP its a stalemate where one side is getting its ASS ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/03/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/
Far from stalemate according to Lt Gen B Hodges..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlglfipDbK8
Russia Declared War on the West in 2007...
We are in a very different world to the one people think or maybe you knew all along ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/04/ukraine-russia-war-no-stalemate-volodymyr-zelensky/
Highlights the potential (https://www.ft.com/content/effaa755-3379-42f5-8d54-91ca66c1a0a7) for an oil crisis.
What did you see... I see NOTHING!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BFY9IkUt8w
What to see on the map by Military & History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUqbmbPzTlY
Transfers to the Russian front...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CID0IgNRWZ0
Is this admission a play to get the West to deliver a LOT more stuff... more Tonka Toys to get the job done... F15's? More AB's? Long range missiles?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J1JVQu1l-I
They are under the hospitals....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/05/israel-hamas-concealing-terror-tunnels-hospital/
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 06, 2023, 11:01 AMThey are under the hospitals....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/05/israel-hamas-concealing-terror-tunnels-hospital/
Always wondering how difficult it would be to flood the tunnels? Plenty of water in the sea close by ... no damage to civilians in buildings above and the terrorists could be picked up at the exits :) ;
BP your an in the Field operator ... will pass that on. Great Idea... imagine the Hostages are in them..
the rest of us watch Perun...
Flushed !!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JZpOEntU6I
RM was the investment to go for in europe for sure in the last 12 months..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/10/28/how-israel-hamas-war-propelled-bae-weapons-record-highs/
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 06, 2023, 02:19 PMBP your an in the Field operator ... will pass that on. Great Idea... imagine the Hostages are in them..
the rest of us watch Perun...
Flushed !!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JZpOEntU6I
Pretty sure most of the hostages are in them.
Did not stop Israel to bomb the sh*t out of tens of thousands of innocent civilians (and killing some of the hostages as well). So - what do you reccon - how many more innocent civilians are they going to kill in order to (perhaps) save some Israeli hostages?
Whats the going rate? How many innocent Palestinian women and children on one innocent Israeli? You tell me.
Well everyone in wellington is up in arms over the IDF.
But not a single one and some of them are EX military in Govt contract roles say anything when i mention Russia...
Its like they are all chatting in a GROUP think dynamic...
Russian threating the world order and western democracy and the Ukraine Arm taking all the KIA and wellington just sailing on blindly....
Strewberry Fruit Cake (CS of the green party) not out holding up a single PLACARD outside the Russian embassy...
HAMAS got elected but really it might be them that is holding the people as hostages. The whole population held as a shield and as KAD (Killed at Dinner) to create more young recruits in arms...
Fuel the fire...
IDF shoots down ballistic missile in upper Atmosphere ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADNA5PLpfDM
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 07, 2023, 02:17 PMWell everyone in wellington is up in arms over the IDF.
But not a single one and some of them are EX military in Govt contract roles say anything when i mention Russia...
Its like they are all chatting in a GROUP think dynamic...
Russian threating the world order and western democracy and the Ukraine Arm taking all the KIA and wellington just sailing on blindly....
Strewberry Fruit Cake (CS of the green party) not out holding up a single PLACARD outside the Russian embassy...
HAMAS got elected but really it might be them that is holding the people as hostages. The whole population held as a shield and as KAD (Killed at Dinner) to create more young recruits in arms...
Fuel the fire...
Good point. Clearly, there are a lot of armies around the globe behaving in a much more disgraceful way than the IDF at the moment in Gaza, and I agree, this deserves mentioning.
I think the difference is - everybody knew that the Russian army under Putin (or put in your favorite totalitarian army) will behave just like butchers, because they reflect the system they serve for.
People however are suprised about soldiers of the the Israelian Army behaving like the henchman of any other run off the mill totalitarian regime. And yes, this includes training a rocket on a civilian target. Sorry. I did serve in the army myself and they taught us that it is against international law to attack civilians. Even if you receive an order to do so, you must refrain - or you will be in any civilised and free society subject to the criminal law.
At this stage unfortunately there are too many soldiers in the Israeli army who are considered war criminals under international law, and I don't see the state of Israel doing anything against this unfortunate fact. Sure - the same thing is true as well for the Russian army (and the armies of many other totalitarian countries around the globe), but sadly - this does not make it better.
Well the IDF say they are being careful....
but some streets do look a bit like 617 dropped a few Tallboys out the bomb bay doors....
Iran...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy95hMoMhrY
Reporting of the views inside IS...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/07/middleeast/israel-mood-gaza-war-intl-cmd/index.html
HAM ASS - denies killing any civilians in IS...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67321241
IDF APC being hit by close fire...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9JXtHp-pAI
This is what happens to Russian ships that dock to close to incoming UKE missiles... will there be more of these this european winter? Or will ALL vessels RETREAT to safer waters...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g5ZVwDqLRg&t=126s
The Uke's are going to need a lot more in the way of weapons....
Is this a war that last's for how long? and does it reduce ukraine to an exhuasted stated just like Britain after the second world war?
Those russian frozen billions are needed now ... and has the west understood its in a phoney war?
Britains top military man talks about the stalemate...
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-dannatt-interview-strike-russia-counteroffensive-tavberidze/32624776.html
UK pens air defense deal with Poland...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/07/poland-uk-arms-defence-shapps-mbda-nato-camm-ukraine/
Here we go... world war 3... yes it looks very similar to World War 2....
well game makers are going to make a fortune from the Ukraine War and China war games in the south china sea...
Not just RM that is making money...
The UNREAL Games engine is one the best gane graphic engines out there and with AI Gen you can expect AI to be coupled up to UNREAL to create whole virtual worlds of War games... and mabe the real thing in the new generation of the Swedish CV90 ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkV6cV8jfxk
CV 90
https://www.armyrecognition.com/united_kingdom_british_army_light_armoured_vehicle/cv90_mk_iv_mkiv_ifv_tracked_armored_infantry_fighting_vehicle.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDYkA3vh9DI
"US military forces conducted a self-defense strike on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. This strike was conducted by two US F-15s against a weapons storage facility," Mr Austin said in a statement.
so much for all those old non stealth aircraft not being able to go anywhere near air space with radar and sams...
it is Syria and maybe no S400's in that location... still big fat targets...
Ukraine faces a big threat from the Ulgy Bear ... 40,000 thousand troops massed for attack.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/09/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news2/
Ukraine a great place to do business after the War...
Looking for a place to run software development and maybe you need carbon fibre fabrication lay up work.
LIV could be the place to set up contract work on the EU door step and get the jobs Done...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65901723
"Even if the defence of Ukraine ultimately succeeds, Ukraine will face a harsh reality, warns sociologist Oleksiy Antypovych, and Zaluzhny may choose to steer clear of politics.
"It is highly likely that after the war Ukraine will face a severe economic crisis, if not a complete collapse. It will be a completely different ball game."
With the IDF apparently doing a bit of Turkey Shoot in GAZA will this mean Ukraine will get a lot more military support from IS next year ?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/10/israel-isnt-struggling-in-gaza-its-winning-a-rapid-victory/
How about some tanks?
What is teh F16 going to do for Ukraine ... will they get newest version with the big radar or will yet again the west give Ukraine older equipment and to late...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhhOin2p5Qs
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 11, 2023, 01:29 PMWith the IDF apparently doing a bit of Turkey Shoot in GAZA will this mean Ukraine will get a lot more military support from IS next year ?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/10/israel-isnt-struggling-in-gaza-its-winning-a-rapid-victory/
How about some tanks?
Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/11/hamas-antitank-weapons-gaza-israel/) has a very different take on events.
Some of those APC's of the IDF are old for sure and they also have a lot of old HMV's...
But they have just done a 617 and and cut the place in half and flattened anything that has someone in it ....
Also no buses for transporting anyone from north to south on those roads... it donkey cart for the locals..
France coming out in support of cease fire.
The West Bank is going wild... with rage ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QM1x8LFTu0
better look at this if its true the PLA is under attack from HAMAS..
and on the UKE front ...
report from Seal Team 6 leader..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhR6wskmLjQ
well they could have given the poor GAGA's some way of travelling away from the bombs beside foot and carts.... it appears the IDF is doing a great job... pitty about the lack of plans to help 2 million hostages... not enough amoured buses one suppose and HAMAS would probably just fire APG's at them anyway... no win here for the poor GAGA's..
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-772919
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 13, 2023, 10:04 PMwell they could have given the poor GAGA's some way of travelling away from the bombs beside foot and carts.... it appears the IDF is doing a great job... pitty about the lack of plans to help 2 million hostages... not enough amoured buses one suppose and HAMAS would probably just fire APG's at them anyway... no win here for the poor GAGA's..
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-772919
All's not lost says NY varsity boffin. (https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/90-seconds-to-doomsday-five-geopoliticalrisks-for-investors-20231114-p5eju2)
Is China playing the same game as Russia in the information space...
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/13/us/china-online-disinformation-invs/index.html
Is it the 1930s all over again just this time on steriods..
Look we just cant have someone in the JOB of Nato GS being too hawkie... no no this is a very delicate situation and we dont want to humble anyone ... No not even criminals who kill old people and children... NO NO NO!!!
"Estonian PM signals interest in top Nato job
Kaja Kallas, the Estonian Prime Minister, has reportedly said she would like to be considered for the job of Nato secretary general once Jens Stoltenberg steps down.
Speaking at a Politico conference in Washington, Ms Kallas responded "yes" when she was pressed on whether she'd like to be considered for the role, according to the report.
Ms Kallas has been a leading critic of Russia in the European Union and Nato, and has pushed for more comprehensive plans to defend the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which all border Russia.
Nato diplomats have said, however, Ms Kallas may be regarded as too hawkish by some members of the Western defence alliance.
Mr Stoltenberg has been in post since 2014 and is due to step down in October 2024."
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 16, 2023, 03:37 PMLook we just cant have someone in the JOB of Nato GS being too hawkie... no no this is a very delicate situation and we dont want to humble anyone ... No not even criminals who kill old people and children... NO NO NO!!!
"Estonian PM signals interest in top Nato job
Kaja Kallas, the Estonian Prime Minister, has reportedly said she would like to be considered for the job of Nato secretary general once Jens Stoltenberg steps down.
Speaking at a Politico conference in Washington, Ms Kallas responded "yes" when she was pressed on whether she'd like to be considered for the role, according to the report.
Ms Kallas has been a leading critic of Russia in the European Union and Nato, and has pushed for more comprehensive plans to defend the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which all border Russia.
Nato diplomats have said, however, Ms Kallas may be regarded as too hawkish by some members of the Western defence alliance.
Mr Stoltenberg has been in post since 2014 and is due to step down in October 2024."
Lets not forget - she understands what it means to live under Russian threat, she is bright and I am sure her Russian is impeccable and last not least I prefer to watch her on TV rather than Mr Stoltenberg :);
If anybody interested - I would give her my vote :);
YUP - Vote her in !!!
No little cars left for the Ugly bears to visit ukraine in... all the Ladas stopped working for some reason...
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-war-avdiyivka-fighting-attack-push-back-/32686101.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 16, 2023, 03:37 PMLook we just cant have someone in the JOB of Nato GS being too hawkie... no no this is a very delicate situation and we dont want to humble anyone ... No not even criminals who kill old people and children... NO NO NO!!!
"Estonian PM signals interest in top Nato job
Kaja Kallas, the Estonian Prime Minister, has reportedly said she would like to be considered for the job of Nato secretary general once Jens Stoltenberg steps down.
Speaking at a Politico conference in Washington, Ms Kallas responded "yes" when she was pressed on whether she'd like to be considered for the role, according to the report.
Ms Kallas has been a leading critic of Russia in the European Union and Nato, and has pushed for more comprehensive plans to defend the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which all border Russia.
Nato diplomats have said, however, Ms Kallas may be regarded as too hawkish by some members of the Western defence alliance.
Mr Stoltenberg has been in post since 2014 and is due to step down in October 2024."
Couple this with Poland's intention to build the largest army in Europe, and you have to wonder if the center of gravity is moving eastward
Quote from: Henry Filth on Nov 18, 2023, 06:50 PMCouple this with Poland's intention to build the largest army in Europe, and you have to wonder if the center of gravity is moving eastward
Others agree with you.
Ima gonna leave this here: https://www.xtek.net/2022/12/15/xteks-highcom-opens-new-poland-sales-distribution-office/
" center of gravity is moving eastward"
yup .... lots and lots and lots of heavy stuff going to poland ... although they too have lots of different political parties..
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 18, 2023, 09:43 PMyup .... lots and lots and lots of heavy stuff going to poland ... although they too have lots of different political parties..
But do they have a Winston?? ;D
Far worse im sure... just follow TVP world.. polish news..
Ukraine will be happy if this front is shut down for a while as it need those shells...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/19/israel-gaza-latest-news-updates-hamas-palestine-day-44-live/
Ugly bear is benefitting the most from the mess in GAGA land...
IDF done a great job but no wheel chairs for elderly to escape in down those roads...
Flattened a lot of buildings and has developed a high tech battle field technology network....
Sell it to Ukraine ..
Europe needs to open a lot of manufacturing plants ... welcome to 1915 all over again.
Will risk now be measured in TIK TOK views ... is the media generating generation now the new enemy of society as we know it?
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/a-potential-rift-in-the-climate-movement-what-s-next-for-greta-thunberg-a-2491673f-2d42-4e2c-bbd7-bab53432b687
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 19, 2023, 06:14 PMUkraine will be happy if this front is shut down for a while as it need those shells...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/19/israel-gaza-latest-news-updates-hamas-palestine-day-44-live/
Ugly bear is benefitting the most from the mess in GAGA land...
IDF done a great job but no wheel chairs for elderly to escape in down those roads...
Flattened a lot of buildings and has developed a high tech battle field technology network....
Sell it to Ukraine ..
Europe needs to open a lot of manufacturing plants ... welcome to 1915 all over again.
True - hard to fathom why it is so difficult for some of the stongest economies in the world to supply a sufficient number of artillery shells. North Korea can do it. Iran can do it. Russia can do it. I am sure, China can do it - but Europe and the US can't?
Maybe all this ESG investing has a dark side? ... it is weakening the West! Who knows, maybe even Putin's troll army is pushing for ethical investments? I guess, he would be cunning enough, wouldn't he?
Apparently not the shells from North K are of a high quality and may be cuasing problems with the more modern barrels...
But both sides are using older stuff as well... cant see the uke's making much progress wihout some more missiles , tanks and planes...
Apparently the UKE pilots can fly the f16 but its the logistics of keeping stuff in the field isnt it... the tools.. the training to service those high tech toys...
Looks like it takes time for a peaceful europe to adapt to the situation.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/11/15/euro-leaders-blame-industry-for-failure-to-meet-ukraine-ammo-promise/
This is just the warm up round like spain was...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QtUZmABVq4
want to make money... buy defense...
https://www.defensenews.com/
some great ugle bear machinery now ready for the junk yard...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rgfg1AbkEg
Ukrainian optimism fades at start of another winter of war
Rumours of tensions at the top, exhaustion after two years of fighting and frustration with allies dampen the mood in Kyiv.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/20/ukrainian-optimism-fades-at-start-of-another-winter-of-war
With a distinct lack of volunteers for the Ukrainian army and 30,000 already dead the enthusiasm for carrying on seems to come from those not directly in the firing line (as usual).
I also think many in the USA are starting to wonder why they are supplying most of the money and hardware for a fight in Europe when many of the European nations seem to have long pockets and short arms.
YUP dont forget to watch FDR on history TV....
its all a repeat of history... we are in the spain time line...
and the ART of the Garden on arts TV..
Why is china sound pinging australian divers off Japan...
Why are the CHIKA planes hot dogging the Allied (the US, CANUCKS, AUSSIES ect) over south china sea...
remember when russia started doing the same a while back... militaries pushing outside the UN rules...
It all adds up to the same play book... the same playbook that ment he had to invade ukraine becuase his brain could not help it.... after all when you the top Caesar there is only them in history to compare to...
https://kyivindependent.com/harvard-historian-serhii-plokhy-the-better-we-prepare-for-the-long-war-the-sooner-it-will-end/
Well who would have though this Soviet country could be what Kiev needs... some old stuff that goes bang...
Take the tour...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUWNTaDzrPY
and those things that go bang...
https://kyivindependent.com/despite-strong-russian-influence-bulgaria-to-provide-ukraine-with-arms/
If the West Cuts Aid to Ukraine, Russia Will Win. If the West Leans in, Ukraine Can Win.
By Frederick W. Kagan
The positional war in Ukraine is not a stable stalemate. It is not the result of fundamental realities in modern warfare that can only be changed with a technological or tactical revolution, as was the First World War's stalemate. Neither does it rest on a permanent parity in military capacity between Russia and Ukraine that will continue indefinitely regardless of Western support to Kyiv. It results, on the contrary, from self-imposed limitations on the technologies the West has been willing to provide Ukraine and constraints on the Russian defense industrial base largely stemming from Russian President Vladimir Putin's unwillingness so far to commit Russia fully to this war. The current balance is thus, in fact, highly unstable, and could readily be tipped in either direction by decisions made in the West...............
https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/if-west-cuts-aid-ukraine-russia-will-win-if-west-leans-ukraine-can-win
An interesting read.
Looks bad for UKE land... weapons not going to be shipped for a victory?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/24/germany-and-us-want-zelensky-to-make-peace-with-moscow/
its the 1930's rerun 2..... of "AXIS of EVIL" not sure why Hollywood is waiting to make a film of it...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/11/25/liz-truss-washington-dc-republicans-ukraine-war/
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 26, 2023, 01:34 PMLooks bad for UKE land... weapons not going to be shipped for a victory?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/24/germany-and-us-want-zelensky-to-make-peace-with-moscow/
its the 1930's rerun 2..... of "AXIS of EVIL" not sure why Hollywood is waiting to make a film of it...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/11/25/liz-truss-washington-dc-republicans-ukraine-war/
Jeez - you can't be serious?
The telegraph referring to "Bild".
Bild is as a newspaper in Germany the equivalent to what Fox news is now in the US. They are well known for making up their news instead of doing research. Referring to Bild for news means - its either lies or hyperbole ... otherwise they could refer to a credible source.
Well BP , the Tankers on the Telegraph and the comentators (ex military) on you tubby have been saying for a long time that they cant understand why so few tanlie's and long range missiles have been shipped after how many days of trouble at the wood shed......
it does look a bit odd that only 30 AB were shipped... the AB while being a technical Tonka Tank to field is apparently easy to put in cruise control and play with the game boy controls....
imagine if the US in world war 2 had said to the British... are you sure you can handle our tanks and planes... we are sending over some trainers to check you can read the manual....
it a political foot ball ... what a mess...
how much money was paid out to many people over the last decade in europe from various source crime related from the orders of the kremlin..
did that magazine get some money from somewhere to write what ever junk they were told?
the dutch chap visited moscow not long ago.
Well BP - this appears to be a WIN for Ukraine...
Could be a big tourist attraction back in KEIV as this COOK sets up his street food van...
BBQ steaks ....
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-donetsk-chef-michelin-kitchen-morale-russia-front-lines-mice-mackerel/32695688.html
wonder if this story stuff is more accurate ...
https://stocktalk.co.nz/index.php?action=post;msg=15388;topic=37.780
we will have to go over to oryx to count up the Tonka Toys that arent operating properly ...
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html
how do you pronouce that anyway...
more Tonka Toys ...
https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/search/label/Ukraine
with all these Tonka Toys is must just be the biggest mine fields in the world and massive artillery keep the Ugly Bear in this fight..
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 26, 2023, 05:28 PMWell BP , the Tankers on the Telegraph and the comentators (ex military) on you tubby have been saying for a long time that they cant understand why so few tanlie's and long range missiles have been shipped after how many days of trouble at the wood shed......
it does look a bit odd that only 30 AB were shipped... the AB while being a technical Tonka Tank to field is apparently easy to put in cruise control and play with the game boy controls....
imagine if the US in world war 2 had said to the British... are you sure you can handle our tanks and planes... we are sending over some trainers to check you can read the manual....
it a political foot ball ... what a mess...
how much money was paid out to many people over the last decade in europe from various source crime related from the orders of the kremlin..
did that magazine get some money from somewhere to write what ever junk they were told?
the dutch chap visited moscow not long ago.
I give you that both the European as well as the US effort to help Ukraine appears somewhat half-ar*ed.
Clearly - if they both would open their arsenals and would have told (and paid) their respective industries to ramp up ammunition production for a long and intense artillery war, than things would look different now.
Its just - things are complicated.
Politicians in all Western countries need to make sure they keep their voters happy.
A lot of right wing populist voters complaining about too much support going to UKE. Just look at the spectacle the US tea party (aka GOP) is playing to underfund the UKE support - and what I hear from Germany ... there are as well populist politicians (luckily not in power yet, but their support is rising) fighting against UKE support.
Not everybody in the West would be happy to risk Putin pressing the nuclear button (and therefore reluctant to increase support for UKE) - and people are just asking whether they should risk the destruction of their lives and lifelyhoods for supporting UKE. Right or wrong, but people are people and fearful.
Most (or all) Western armies have been run down over the last two generations or so. When I served in the Bundeswehr (in the late 1970íes) it used to be a well equipped and motivated army with more than 500,000 soldiers. They had good gear and plenty of ammunition, thanks to the threats of the cold war being at its peak. When my son served there nearly 30 years later, the size of the army was shrunk to one quarter, many weapons systes have been the same they have had 25 years earlier (and started to show their age) - and ammunition was just enough to cover for the next annual exercise and a bit of playing "peace games" in Afghanistan. Politicians just didn't get any brownie points in that time for using tax money to boost the army.
I recon all Western countries enjoyed the "Friedensdividende" (peace dividend) a bit too much - and they now just don't have all the material and ammunition they might want to provide without leaving themselves without protection. Most people are happy to help their neighbours if they can help them with giving them some of their spares / reserves, but giving them the stuff they need for themselves is a different game.
So - I guess the question is - how much are we all prepared to reduce our standard of living (and potentially risk our lifes and the lifes of our children) to help UKE against the Russian attack? Would we be happy for our taxes to say increase by 10% to allow real support of Ukraine?
As long as we don't give UKE full support, we probaly can't blame others as well ...
Unfortunately corruption in the UKE is still endemic and I'd imagine undermines the financial support that some other European countries are prepared to give. Also an argument, no doubt, that Trump would use to reduce American support.
YUP ... auditing the spending is going to be hard when tracking all that equipment...
Ukraine was highlighted in the movie "Lord of War"
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-james-jones-interview-long-range-weapons/32700251.html
"I think we did a lot, which successfully convinced a big part of the Global South that Russia is making troubles across the world. And that Russian behavior has a dramatic and negative impact on the most valuable countries in terms of food and security, economic crisis, inflation, etc."
are we in a World at War....
https://kyivindependent.com/charles-michel-its-up-to-ukrainians-to-decide-on-elections-in-2024/
Some poor decisions made by Ukraine commanders in the field leaves these soldiers in big trouble....
So much for drone recon....
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/28/europe/avdiivka-ukraine-trenches-oleh-senysov-intl-hnk/index.html
Apparently the UGLY BEARS have already shot the long range gluide bombs down launched by Ukraine...
only they dont have any yet and they wont arrive until 2024...
https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-delivery-of-new-us-long-range-weapon-systems-for-ukraine-pushed-to-2024/
Ruassian Confusion in the Command and Control in Crimea as units refuse to advance not knowing where the mine field are as the mine fields are classified...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/30/putin-pays-tribute-to-farsighted-statesman-henry-kissinger/
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 01, 2023, 10:07 PMApparently the UGLY BEARS have already shot the long range gluide bombs down launched by Ukraine...
only they dont have any yet and they wont arrive until 2024...
https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-delivery-of-new-us-long-range-weapon-systems-for-ukraine-pushed-to-2024/
Well,
I guess this coming from the same people who promised to guarantee the territorial integrity of Ukraine, who said that they don't intend to attack the Ukraine, who threaten anybody with up to 15 years prison who says the truth about their war in the Ukraine, and who claim that they don't commit war crimes while constantly and deliberately attacking hospitals, birthing units, cultural places, kindergartens and other non military places.
I am wondering why anybody still bothers to report what they are claiming ...
Kissinger - the good, the bad and the downright ugly...
Celebrated and reviled: The complicated legacy of Henry Kissinger
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/henry-kissinger-is-dead-at-100-shaped-the-united-states-cold-war-history/HFPSWRFO7BASZJAY5AYVCURLT4/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/henry-kissinger-is-dead-at-100-shaped-the-united-states-cold-war-history/HFPSWRFO7BASZJAY5AYVCURLT4/)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/henry-kissinger-death-complicated-legacy-draws-admiration-and-scorn-from-across-the-globe/H42CKVDV75CAXAQS65ADKLX5MU/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/henry-kissinger-death-complicated-legacy-draws-admiration-and-scorn-from-across-the-globe/H42CKVDV75CAXAQS65ADKLX5MU/)
Kissinger ...
nothing in DS ...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/
Just what is germany going to do is the question everyone wants to know in 2024...
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231116-germany-hikes-ukraine-military-support-but-is-its-defence-spending-tilt-tenable
Meanwhile Ukrainian operatives are striking at key infrastructure deep inside Russia.
Apparently the trans-Siberian railway line is a major route for munitions etc delivered ex China. A key tunnel was taken out on that line. Then when trains used the only alternative railway line, a bridge on that line was also taken out. If you can cripple the logistics, you cripple the armed forces.
Sources:
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/12/01/they-fell-into-the-trap
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/30/europe/russia-train-fire-ukraine-intl/index.html
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-siberia-railway-explosion-second-ukraine/32710142.html
Yup mean while... some idiot has told the new Tankers to take their Lp2 A6 and rock over the open fields near ADIKA while Ugle bear drone oeprators fly right into the after compartments hitting the armour blow off containers causing fires that halt the normal operations of the tanks....
they have taken out 7 LP2 in ADICKA...or disabled them till they are refiited...
who the heck is stupid enough to roll them out in the open without some units to cover them and shoot down the drones?
The UKE;s are loosing the plot in some areas... its the pressure ...
what they need is these ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OKt5wRb-xI
and lots of them...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybPrBAx3yoQ
The LP2's in UKE are not equiped with top attack protection systems and its proving very costly in the number of tanks disabled for periods of time until the machines can be returned back to the manufacture for extensive rebuilds....
IDIOTS.... both the western diplomats and the UKE field commanders...
Lucky the Bradley race over to big up the crews..... the Ulge bears dont like the Bradleys at all nor the CV90 currently supporting UKE field operations.
Great listen to a young Ukraine political Activist ... Radio Times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=outX-wTnYhI
and the Lastest from DW....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf18eEb-QYE
Hes all IN .....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8nBrcRwXQ0
are we heading to a much bigger european war?
Russia has upped its military budget and there is no end in sight for this war...
What was tat europe was hoping that russians would come to there senses and get rid of PUTIN... they cant as they are the Russian world and the problem.
What is europe to do and its looking just like "PEACE in our TIME" moment coming soon....
There are small up ticks in incidents across the world making this the HOTEST time in world geo risk since the war in Korea?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBJ2TpRa83k
Probably not the second best army in the world but a brave one .....
and now there is pre election manoeuvre... french word.....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/12/03/zelensky-is-losing-popularity-because-of-his-mistakes-says/
YUP those Lp2's rolling around ADICKUP with no cover is really a military losing its way ... or some new commanders who know nothing about what they are doing....
YUP takes years of study and practise .... not a few months...
The Ukrainian army lost one of its rare, and precious, Leopard 2A6 tanks outside Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine ..............
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/11/02/ukraine-sent-its-surviving-leopard-2a6-tanks-to-help-save-avdiivka-and-quickly-lost-one-of-them/?sh=fe0912727549
The army's 47th Mechanized Brigade is the sole user of Ukraine's Leopard 2A6s. That a Leopard 2A6 has showed up around Avdiivka, just northwest of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, means all or much of the 47th Mechanized Brigade is there, too.
Todays Update
Ukraine Update: Why a lack of armored vehicles is stalling Russia's infantry assault
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/12/3/2209226/-Ukraine-Update-Why-a-lack-of-armored-vehicles-is-stalling-Russia-s-infantry-assault
...Note how losses vary, presumably depending on the intensity of Russian assaults, but Russia is losing 15-25 armored vehicles on most days, while spikes of losses occur every 5-10 days Where Russia loses 40-70+ vehicles in a single day....
Roll out the welcome mat; we will not resist....
Does NZ really need its defence force, asks leading academic
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/richard-jackson-does-nz-really-need-its-defence-force/CE7GHBBRBJBLXBMZNTVA6PZK3E/
Can the UKE barrels possible fiire fire 17 million shells.....
"I need £300bn and 17m shells to defeat Russia, Zaluzhny told Austin
General Valery Zaluzhny told American defence secretary Lloyd Austin that Ukraine needs £300bn and 17million shells to completely defeat Russia, the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper has reported.
"The calculations of the general staff show that to fulfil the task of the president to liberate the entire territory of Ukraine requires forces and means for $350-400bn (£277-316bn)," a source said Mr Austin was told when he visited Kyiv in November.
"Austin was told about the need for 17million [artillery] shells," they added.
"He, to put it mildly, was stunned, because you wouldn't be able to collect so many shells all over the world.""
right .... back to commercial property
"Does NZ really need its defence force, asks leading academic"
YUP ... for civil defence and for civil unrest...
also ask the AUSSI KANGA's and they will tell you that NZ trained artillery units were one of the highest performing units in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Tan...
Also its time to get a proper air force probably flying the gripen... China invades the south pacific...and its already doing it...
If you dont patrol your seas the Chinese will patrol it for you... also get some coastal german subs..
Is there some semblance of civilisation left in Russia?
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-war-z-symbol-resistance-legal-actions-vandalism/32713146.html
Quote from: Onemootpoint on Dec 05, 2023, 02:35 AMRoll out the welcome mat; we will not resist....
Does NZ really need its defence force, asks leading academic
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/richard-jackson-does-nz-really-need-its-defence-force/CE7GHBBRBJBLXBMZNTVA6PZK3E/
No mention of the great technical training and character building members receive throughout their service. I suspect the authors are all well to the left and would be unlikely to find anything positive to say about the armed forces.
3 years!!! ok not quite sure Russia can replace all those tanks.... but the EU wont have that many anyway ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/12/05/nato-has-three-years-to-prepare-for-russian-attack/
If this is half true its very concering especially for your investment horizons...
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 06, 2023, 03:55 PM3 years!!! ok not quite sure Russia can replace all those tanks.... but the EU wont have that many anyway ...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/12/05/nato-has-three-years-to-prepare-for-russian-attack/
If this is half true its very concering especially for your investment horizons...
Unfortunately I'll never know, because, I don't have free access .
Its a MESS... the west under supplied and took to long to get it all underway...
The offensive is really a massive stall.... will the US get it right the second time if there is a second time...
Its looking like a repeat of history and Russia is back and a war with NATO is coming...
its 1935 .... Europe needs to rearm and after 2014 Europe and Germany have been in denial...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USr4oKR7Rko
Its a slow train wreck and PUTIN is now going to rearm and there will be more wars in EUROPE in the next decades...
Thank goodness the FINS and the POLES are preparing to defending themselves.....
New Wars coming people in Europe.
Quote from: kiwi2007 on Dec 05, 2023, 11:18 PMNo mention of the great technical training and character building members receive throughout their service. I suspect the authors are all well to the left and would be unlikely to find anything positive to say about the armed forces.
I'm right there with you.....once I saw it was a University academic I didn't waste any time reading the article.
Slightly off topic but Kiwi comedian Javier talks to an English audience about our air force and defence against an invading force (NSFW language):
Jokes asides that pretty much sums it all up...
he did not say what kind of apple ..?
the story here is to stock pile and freeze apples as a last line of defence...
Sounds like the Chinese did already win the next global conflict ... they can replace destroyed warships three times faster than the Americans can!
https://www.wsj.com/economy/the-u-s-can-afford-a-bigger-military-we-just-cant-build-it-7edd0e74
(probably paywalled)
Sounds like paying for all these weapons is not the problem, building them is! The West enjoyed the peace dividend after the cold war far too long - and now we have neither the specialist skills nor the factories able to produce military stuff.
West closed down most large scale military development and manufacturing in the early 1990'ies. I was one of the engineers who moved at that stage to commercial development, when our company moved away from military (communication) products. Thirty years later - the people with specialist skills in this field have retired, and nobody after them learned these skills ... there are not even enough of them left to help quickly ramping up a new skilled workforce.
Maybe we should improve our relations with North Korea and Iran? I am sure both the dear leader as well as the Ayatollah's have enough people with skills and recent experience in military development and production ...
What a shambles ...
Yes the Chinese have ramped ship building and thats also why NZ is sleep walking into not being able to defend its costal waters... no submarines and no robotic under sea warefare capability...
Not all bad news from the Eastern front... the UKE took down a 100 million dollar air defence system with some drones...
could David Slay the goliath yet?
These polish new site will be shut down soon by the left leaning communist government just elected in poland....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96a5ViKH0yE
and the results of a direct hit on a russian tank by a modern advanced drone . WHich model drone hit it we dont know but it was a lethal hit and the tank exploded into small itty bity bits...
Latvia needs to buy thousands of attack dones... so many it can wipe out the entire russian tank force and then invade russia and capture an undefended moscow...
It now obvious that after the mutiny the UKE's should have been given 300 AB MTB's and allowed to take moscow by 500 Bradleys....
End of History moment lost there im afriad....
The great Khan would have pulled it off...
Its 1935 BP...1935... and no doubt someone will be waving "peace in our time"
oh thats right they already did that back in 2014.
BP dont worry the Russian can only make new T64 tanks...
and there are plently of M60's still in service in Turkey....
may be those old Lp1 combined with AB mark ones can save the day in europe but not if china invades someone...
lucky the south koreans have a arms industry and some good gear...
This is possibly one of the last production of RR from poland on the forces of evil now attacking the west...
Real or imagined...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOCYWX_Qfmc
Vald the volatile ... im going to invade europe!!!
well have to ask "WHAT WITH!"
Spread the panic ..... the internet is full of these presentations and some will even use HI tech software like Unreal... AI will soon hear and see. It will also be able to write code that is more advanced than just boiler plate....
Watch out for presentation that use big software engines like UNREAL.
You will think your looking at a presentation made by for instance the Institute for War and it well researched...
But in fact it will be generated by AI and could actually cause people to be influenced by these high presentations that are in fact AI generated and possible also generated by countries like Russia...
We wont be able to know what we are watching or where it is generated or where the information came from...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5B9FBiFkQk
They are still in the fight ...
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/12/07/ukraine-avdiivka-soldiers-coren-ac360-vpx.cnn
War in Europe and can Russia rebuild it military as it can allocate 30 Percentage of GDP to military expenditure....
Russian is now set to put it country and economy on a WAR footing...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/12/07/russia-attacks-port-live-from-the-uae-as-putin-visits/
Best assement yet of the stalemate and highlights that Russia is once again in control due to it superior supply of muntions.. Shell production for firing artillery is out stripping wester production... Its serious read and highlights that the ukraine command and control structures are still not western combined arms proficient...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-fizzled-counteroffensive-fears-grow-of-a-stalemate-on-the-front-in-ukraine-a-e27e00b8-c0a0-4d18-ba33-e6f612ce8973
Does the Kremlin have control over russia or is the current structure is the russian legal system a weak link that the west has yet to sanction and cuase a lot of trouble for the rulers in Moscow..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/12/08/strangling-putins-legal-system-bring-about-his-downfall/
?But Western countries could also ramp up the pressure, says Savva. He has worked on several cases where direct appeals from Russian lawyers to Russian regional prosecutors, informing them they are holding a non-combatant illegally without charges, have surprisingly led to their release. "Some of them are afraid," he suggests. "They know they are breaking Russian and international laws. They don't know how long the current regime will last. When it falls, they will have to answer for the crimes they have committed."
35 - 40 percent of GDP to be spent on Military for next russian budget....
Wasnt that the kind of structural economics that brought the USSR to its knees?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/12/08/strangling-putins-legal-system-bring-about-his-downfall/
listen to the podcast ...
after all isnt this more important than watching the Cricket?
who is the NZ team playing this summer anyway?
https://www.nzc.nz/cricketnation
F16's - some new old planes at last...
Xmas present?
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-f16-delivery-soon/32723297.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 10, 2023, 03:11 PMF16's - some new old planes at last...
Xmas present?
https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-f16-delivery-soon/32723297.html
Xmas as in ""Peace on Earth?
moved to politics
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 11, 2023, 01:15 PMmoved to politics
Most of this thread needs moving to politics & warmongering in general about the war in ukraine/Russia
https://www.spglobal.com/en/enterprise/geopolitical-risk/
Would it not be great for the world to return to peace ... but in its long history when has that been the case.
Agreed, YUP need a new thread over in General ..
Posted November 6th on stocktalk:
Quote from: BlackPeter on Nov 06, 2023, 11:24 AMAlways wondering how difficult it would be to flood the tunnels? Plenty of water in the sea close by ... no damage to civilians in buildings above and the terrorists could be picked up at the exits :) ;
Looks like the Israeli Army is reading this forum:
https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-hamas-war-pumping-seawater-gaza-tunnels-2ed3b3f2
Good news for democracy in USA
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/19/trump-colorado-presidential-ballot-disqualified-14th-amendment
Likely to be appealed to USA Supreme Court, but a strong line being drawn in Colorado that the Trump appointed majority in the Supreme Court would be crazy to overturn IMO.
Thought this might be interesting. Note the urgency.
Australia will start making long-range missiles from next year
https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/australia-will-start-making-long-range-missiles-from-next-year-c-13237224 (https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/australia-will-start-making-long-range-missiles-from-next-year-c-13237224)
Yes and in europe the alarm bells are ringing belately...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/01/19/putins-petrodollars-dry-up-as-arab-russian-cartel/
Demonstrating just how twisted the Middle East situ is with Iran (in Iraq's influence) for Biden...
Iraq and Iran were complicit in the Tower 22 attack
https://asiatimes.com/2024/02/iraq-and-iran-were-complicit-in-the-tower-22-attack/ (https://asiatimes.com/2024/02/iraq-and-iran-were-complicit-in-the-tower-22-attack/)
After Gerald Hensley's recent passing, I thought it might be worth pointing to an item on his website concerning NZ's relationship with Lee Kuan Yew - 2 people who I admire the most - and the key part international relationships play in Geopolitics thru the years...
Lee Kuan Yew in NZ
https://kahudespatches.nz/recollections/lee-kuan-yew-in-new-zealand/ (https://kahudespatches.nz/recollections/lee-kuan-yew-in-new-zealand/)
well they have done it again...
is the PAT systems changing the air war just like drone boats have changed the black sea naval war... or did the russians shot down own aircraft or can the PAT go farther than the published spec's...but the UKE have the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-200_missile_system
and if this is the shot then what a kill for the UKE anti aircraft missile team - high five!
Thats maybe 8 fighter bombers in a week and now another big score .. A 50 https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukrainian_forces_successfully_shoot_down_another_russian_a_50_aircraft_over_the_azov_sea-9616.html
pitty the F16 arnt in the air yet...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjhmHtpPLLo
maybe defence stocks were tha place to be over the last two years after all..
some european defence stocks have already doubled over the last year and half.
Dark warnings from lastest pod cast of the telgraph in Kiev .. should we take it seriously.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/24/russia-ukraine-stop-world-war-podcast-latest/
The (Aussi) Navy gets bigger under the fleet review. But is it enough?
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-navy-gets-bigger-under-the-fleet-review-but-is-it-enough/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_1abc83e0e9fa2179a1c882224bc57e62&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=The%20Navy%20gets%20bigger%20under%20the%20fleet%20review%20But%20is%20it%20enough (https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-navy-gets-bigger-under-the-fleet-review-but-is-it-enough/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_1abc83e0e9fa2179a1c882224bc57e62&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=The%20Navy%20gets%20bigger%20under%20the%20fleet%20review%20But%20is%20it%20enough)
Going to be interesting to see where NZ's tiny Navy will fit in. Don't know if buying extra Hunter-class frigates is an option (it is considered as a Tier-1 warship), perhaps we will buy 3-4 General Purpose Frigates, perhaps the S. Korean Daegu-II or III class modular frigates ? They will at least add a significant number of VLS's to the fleet to update missile capabilities in any future conflict.
UKraine uses drone boats..
NZ will need a navy of Drone Waka's,,,,
with no ferries for the cook ditch ... what hope is there of some new navy boats...
the country maybe approaching one of Roger D moments in economic history.
The Risk going up or just words ..
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/27/ukraine-war-live-updates-latest-news-on-russia-and-the-war-in-ukraine.html
this could move markets but would it make any dif the NZX as it already in the doldrums...
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 27, 2024, 11:45 AMUKraine uses drone boats..
NZ will need a navy of Drone Waka's,,,,
with no ferries for the cook ditch ... what hope is there of some new navy boats...
the country maybe approaching one of Roger D moments in economic history.
Maybe we could train some of our dolphins to attach mines on animal ships? Both Russian navy as well as US navy seems to use dolphins in warfare - why not we?
Source: quora.com:
QuoteThe US Navy Marine Mammal Program has been training dolphins and sea lions since the 1960s to perform a variety of tasks, including: Underwater surveillance: Dolphins can be outfitted with cameras to scope out enemy submersibles or check out underwater defenses around coastal installations.25.07.2023
QuoteThe naval base there is important to the Russian military because of its proximity to the Crimean Peninsula. Russia's military is using specially trained dolphins to defend a critical naval base off Crimea, according to an analysis published by U.S. Naval Institute News.29.04.2022
Source:
From Bloomberg:
Marcos Says a Death May Trigger US Pact as China Tensions Rise
Philippines says no plan to give US access to more bases
Marcos eyes exploring oil and gas in non-conflict areas
"The Philippines will invoke its defense treaty with the US if a Filipino soldier dies from a foreign attack, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said, in remarks that come amid growing tensions with China.
"I think Secretary Austin explained it very well, if any Filipino serviceman is killed by an attack from any foreign power, then that is time to invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty," Marcos told foreign correspondents in Manila on Monday, referring to his conversation with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last week at the Pentagon."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-15/marcos-says-no-plans-to-grant-us-access-to-more-military-bases?cmpid=BBD041524_MKT (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-15/marcos-says-no-plans-to-grant-us-access-to-more-military-bases?cmpid=BBD041524_MKT)
Let's hope the resupply missions to Ayungin shoal (in the Spratlys) go well then, and the severe injuries from China's water cannons / ramming maneuvers don't kill anybody in the SCS.
One would like to think that the President would be bluffing (the death of one person say) though he IS the President, and he discussed this with the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, so...
(There were 14 resupply missions to the shoal concerned, so once a month give or take)
Between the possibility of a wider Middle-East war (with Israel still feeling aggrieved) and an accidental trigger in the SCS, risk is going up several more notches.
This article is somewhat prescient - and what I have been trying to warn about in the "other" blog in recent years - the likelihood of a Chinese war over Taiwan or the SCS...
I suggest you make the effort to read this article if you care about the geopolitical risks at this time...Good luck...
Mystery gold buyer is betting on geopolitical and financial mayhem
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard (Telegraph)
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/mystery-gold-buyer-is-betting-on-geopolitical-and-financial-mayhem-20240417-p5fkdc.html?instance=2024-04-18-08-16-AEST&jobid=30400792&list_name=2031_smh_busnews_am&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&promote_channel=edmail (https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/mystery-gold-buyer-is-betting-on-geopolitical-and-financial-mayhem-20240417-p5fkdc.html?instance=2024-04-18-08-16-AEST&jobid=30400792&list_name=2031_smh_busnews_am&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&promote_channel=edmail)
(You need a SMH free account and to log-in or Telegraph sub)
"It is not a Western institution behind this. It is a massive player with very deep pockets. I have never seen this kind of buying before," said Ross Norman, a veteran gold trader and now chief executive of Metals Daily.
Gold has been ratcheting up fresh records against the headwinds of a strong dollar, a 70 point jump in 10-year US Treasury yields, and hawkish talk from the Federal Reserve. This mix would normally spell trouble for gold.
Whoever it is – or they are – seems insensitive to cost. Central banks do not behave like this. "They buy on the London benchmark and they don't chase the price," said Norman. This rally is happening off books in the OTC market."
yes buying gold is up and that is very interesting....
it was supposed to be useless ...
apparently a few central banks have been buying lately...
https://www.reuters.com/plus/why-central-banks-buy-gold
...and Gordon Brown sold almost all the UK's gold right at the bottom. Decent guy compared to several PMs the UK's had but what a mistake there.
Name a Labour party somewhere in the world that does accounting ...
They dont teach accounting in hHstory and the Arts ....
great subjects though...cant do without them...
Obviously did not talk to G Soros....
https://www.centarzlata.com/en/george-soros/
Now just raised a notch or two with Israel striking Iran
Quote from: Minimoke on Apr 19, 2024, 03:59 PMNow just raised a notch or two with Israel striking Iran
Good but it was only a pussycat strike in this instance by comparison with Iran's the other day which could have caused catastrophic damage.
Looked on FlightRadar and four hours after the 'strike' near Isfahan two Emirates flights, one coming from London and the other Washington, were crossing Iran and flying 100 miles East of Isfahan heading for Dubai.
I wonder if all the passengers were cool with the route?
Time to get with it on Drones esp counter-drone people eg. DRO (middle of capital raise) & EOS (just finished CR) in Aust.
Disclosure: own both
Ukraine's Experience in Developing Lethal Drones Should Be Lesson for NATO, Says Panel
https://news.usni.org/2024/04/18/ukraines-experience-in-developing-lethal-drones-should-be-lesson-for-nato-says-panel?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=69f0fdfd1e (https://news.usni.org/2024/04/18/ukraines-experience-in-developing-lethal-drones-should-be-lesson-for-nato-says-panel?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=69f0fdfd1e)
Risk just went down ... a fraction...
https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/house-vote-ukraine-israel-taiwan-aid-04-20-24/index.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 21, 2024, 08:16 AMRisk just went down ... a fraction...
https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/house-vote-ukraine-israel-taiwan-aid-04-20-24/index.html
Can't see how providing more weapons reduces risk. Risk of what - war?
War is already here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpu5a0Bl8eY
In the northern baltics they are on high alert...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS2p4e5NP6o
im sure anyone who has lived in europe over the last 60 years knowns the drill...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EANI3XnQqcs
let not forget the budgets will have to go up...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/investing/how-profit-from-new-cold-war/
Yes war is already here - that's my point. How does more weapons, whether to Israel or the Ukraine - end war? Won't it just ensure the carnage continues? Shouldn't we be trying to de-escalate through cease-fires and peace talks rather than just flooding those countries with more weapons? What's the end game? Neither side can win in Ukraine, and there sure isn't going to be any winners in Gaza. So, I repeat - what's the end-game here?
All emails here ...
https://www.president.gov.ua/en
"Shouldn't we "
Your welcome to try ... good luck.
This may be just the opening event ... the warm up ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 21, 2024, 04:54 PMAll emails here ...
https://www.president.gov.ua/en
"Shouldn't we "
Your welcome to try ... good luck.
This may be just the opening event ... the warm up ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27_War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War
Cynical but unfortunately true. Joe Biden recently said to US Congress, urging them to pass the bill, that the war in Ukraine was good for the American economy. Also cynical but also unfortunately true.
Invest in defence .. why stop a perfectly good war ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE03Lqm3nbI
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 18, 2024, 08:03 PMName a Labour party somewhere in the world that does accounting ...
They dont teach accounting in hHstory and the Arts ....
great subjects though...cant do without them...
Obviously did not talk to G Soros....
https://www.centarzlata.com/en/george-soros/
Actually - if you look just a few decades back - NZ's fourth Labour government (under Lange and Roger Douglas) has not too bad with numbers, haven't they?
I don't think that fiscal prudence has anything to do with left or right wing. Both sides of the political spectrum harbour some people who are responsible with money and others who just burn it.
Their predecessor Muldoon on the other hand would be a good example for a right wing politician who worked hard on stifling the economy and burning money.
Off Topic... Roger Douglas - was an accountant by trade ....
and he left the labour party went he realised they did not want to listen to anything he had to say about the governments economic papers..
Lange tried to shut him down and that was RD own words in a recent interview... RD was going down a much bigger privatise it model than has ever been attempted here.. He is amazed at how big the govt is today..
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 21, 2024, 03:13 PMYes war is already here - that's my point. How does more weapons, whether to Israel or the Ukraine - end war? Won't it just ensure the carnage continues? Shouldn't we be trying to de-escalate through cease-fires and peace talks rather than just flooding those countries with more weapons? What's the end game? Neither side can win in Ukraine, and there sure isn't going to be any winners in Gaza. So, I repeat - what's the end-game here?
War is here. No doubt ... and as usual, there is no easy solution.
However - if I take e.g. the Ukraine where the Russian aggressor happily bombs Ukrainian towns, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure, happily kills Ukrainian civilians, rapes Ukrainian women and happily abducts Ukrainian children in droves. Are you saying that it is better to not support Ukraine and let all these atrocities continue? Are you saying its better to allow Russia to take whatever they want and make it easy for them to pick the next country they want to bully and subjugate?
Than you must say as well that the world should have given Hitler his way - and should have allowed him to kill the Jews and to subjugate the better part of Eastern Europe? Really - why support a war if it might make it more difficult for a bully to take whatever they want?
And of course - America should not have fought back after Pearl Harbour ... hey - better to let the aggressors and bullies do what they are best at?
Is this what you are saying? Better to allow the bullies to take whatever they want?
Or do you say that the world should negotiate with Putin? Well, in this case I have a message for you. The world did and Putin did guarantee that he will protect the Ukrainian borders and political integrity. Just google for "Budapest memorandum" Its just - Putin is a liar and his word is not worth the paper written on it. So - what's the point in wasting time and negotiate with him?
Appeasement did not work with Hitler and resulted in a much longer and more painful war than early resistance against him would have. Why do you suggest the same failed strategy again with Putin?
Crooks like him understand only one language - and this is strength.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Apr 22, 2024, 09:24 AMWar is here. No doubt ... and as usual, there is no easy solution.
However - if I take e.g. the Ukraine where the Russian aggressor happily bombs Ukrainian towns, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure, happily kills Ukrainian civilians, rapes Ukrainian women and happily abducts Ukrainian children in droves. Are you saying that it is better to not support Ukraine and let all these atrocities continue? Are you saying its better to allow Russia to take whatever they want and make it easy for them to pick the next country they want to bully and subjugate?
Than you must say as well that the world should have given Hitler his way - and should have allowed him to kill the Jews and to subjugate the better part of Eastern Europe? Really - why support a war if it might make it more difficult for a bully to take whatever they want?
And of course - America should not have fought back after Pearl Harbour ... hey - better to let the aggressors and bullies do what they are best at?
Is this what you are saying? Better to allow the bullies to take whatever they want?
Or do you say that the world should negotiate with Putin? Well, in this case I have a message for you. The world did and Putin did guarantee that he will protect the Ukrainian borders and political integrity. Just google for "Budapest memorandum" Its just - Putin is a liar and his word is not worth the paper written on it. So - what's the point in wasting time and negotiate with him?
Appeasement did not work with Hitler and resulted in a much longer and more painful war than early resistance against him would have. Why do you suggest the same failed strategy again with Putin?
Crooks like him understand only one language - and this is strength.
Not what I'm saying at all, BP. What I'm asking - maybe you have the answer - is so we continue to give Ukraine more weapons, then what? Ukraine wins the war? No-one is saying that, not even NATO commanders, because they know that the war cannot, and will not, be "won" militarily. So, at best, more weapons means prolonging a war that each year it continues will leave, potentially 150k dead in total. How long do you want that continue? How long do you think the US is going to bankroll the war? How long before the Ukrainian people themselves - a quarter of them Russian Ukrainians - say they want Zelensky (whose popularity is declining) to negotiate a settlement?
The Hitler analogy is erroneous and tiresome. Different era, non-nuclear and completely different context. If you want to use historical wars then update your comparisons. Try Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. They have more relevance because they all show that modern wars will go on ad infinitum until someone finally says, "No more."
So easy, for armchair experts and NATO commanders to say they won't negotiate. They and their families aren't in the firing line. "Forward!" they cry - from the rear.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 22, 2024, 10:31 AMNot what I'm saying at all, BP. What I'm asking - maybe you have the answer - is so we continue to give Ukraine more weapons, then what? Ukraine wins the war? No-one is saying that, not even NATO commanders, because they know that the war cannot, and will not, be "won" militarily. So, at best, more weapons means prolonging a war that each year it continues will leave, potentially 150k dead in total. How long do you want that continue? How long do you think the US is going to bankroll the war? How long before the Ukrainian people themselves - a quarter of them Russian Ukrainians - say they want Zelensky (whose popularity is declining) to negotiate a settlement?
The Hitler analogy is erroneous and tiresome. Different era, non-nuclear and completely different context. If you want to use historical wars then update your comparisons. Try Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. They have more relevance because they all show that modern wars will go on ad infinitum until someone finally says, "No more."
So easy, for armchair experts and NATO commanders to say they won't negotiate. They and their families aren't in the firing line. "Forward," they cry - from the rear.
See - that's where you got it wrong. WW2 is extremely relevant. WW2 was caused by a populist right wing war lord who wanted more land for his people and his race.
Putin wants to restore the old Soviet union in its old glory (well, that's what he said), no matter the cost, and as demonstrated before, negotiations with him are absolutely pointless, because he is breaking previous commitments whenever it pleases him.
I see only two scenarios how this can play out:
1) Putins lackeys and bots in the West manage to weaken the Western resolve (Trump is clearly working on it) and allow Putin to regain Russia's previous empire piece by piece - only attack at one time what he can chew, integrate the new piece into his empire, force new soldiers into his army and then attack the next country. Exactly the same strategy as Hitler did, but probably a bit slower, Hitler just took too much to bite at the same time. Not enough patience was it what killed him.
Obviously - this would encourage other crooks like Xi, to seize the day as well and take Taiwan while nobody is watching and it would encourage other bullies like the dear leader of North Korea and the Ayatollahs of Iran to extend their area of influence as well, given that clearly the West is weak.
This variant will cost millions of lives, at some stage all of our freedoms and it might end up in a nuclear war. Not sure about you, but I don't like this alternative.
2) The West is standing decisively against Putin ... and sending the Russian soldiers back to where they belong - into Russia. This would make the other authoritarian crooks around the globe a bit more careful as well. Unfortunately did Western countries neglect their armies since the breakdown of the Russian empire in 1989, while Russia is currently already full in war economy mode. So, it will cost some money, but the more the West invests now in fighting Putin, the more lives will be saved.
The only worthwhile endgame I would see is Russia's return back to its borders and into a peaceful and rule based community of states. I don't think this will work with a crook and liar like Putin, but for sure there are honest Russians around as well (just not in power), even if Putin tries hard to kill them all off. The Soviet Union crumbled before - so it is possible.
Obviously - this endgame could be achieved through various means, open war (not very desirable), economic sanctions or maybe some other methods to remove the illegal regime controlling currently Russia. It is possible to influence the political game in foreign countries, just look at Putin and Xi who are masters in splitting the political forces in our countries. Whether our secret services have what it takes to do that in Russia as well, I don't know.
The only choice the West has now is either showing strength and stop the monster (and yes, this does mean risking a war), or alternatively do nothing, strengthen Putin and having a significant conflict against a much stronger Putin later.
Anybody who tries to weaken Ukraine's defences is clearly supporting the big war solution and undermining any international treaty, given that they clearly support Putin breaking his word and attacking any country he wants to subjugate at will. Anybody who tries to undermine Ukraine's defences is saying that its ok to break international treaties and only the law of the jungle should apply.
Not a world I would want to live in. What about you?
Quote from: BlackPeter on Apr 22, 2024, 11:16 AMSee - that's where you got it wrong. WW2 is extremely relevant. WW2 was caused by a populist right wing war lord who wanted more land for his people and his race.
Putin wants to restore the old Soviet union in its old glory (well, that's what he said), no matter the cost, and as demonstrated before, negotiations with him are absolutely pointless, because he is breaking previous commitments whenever it pleases him.
I see only two scenarios how this can play out:
1) Putins lackeys and bots in the West manage to weaken the Western resolve (Trump is clearly working on it) and allow Putin to regain Russia's previous empire piece by piece - only attack at one time what he can chew, integrate the new piece into his empire, force new soldiers into his army and then attack the next country. Exactly the same strategy as Hitler did, but probably a bit slower, Hitler just took too much to bite at the same time. Not enough patience was it what killed him.
Obviously - this would encourage other crooks like Xi, to seize the day as well and take Taiwan while nobody is watching and it would encourage other bullies like the dear leader of North Korea and the Ayatollahs of Iran to extend their area of influence as well, given that clearly the West is weak.
This variant will cost millions of lives, at some stage all of our freedoms and it might end up in a nuclear war. Not sure about you, but I don't like this alternative.
2) The West is standing decisively against Putin ... and sending the Russian soldiers back to where they belong - into Russia. This would make the other authoritarian crooks around the globe a bit more careful as well. Unfortunately did Western countries neglect their armies since the breakdown of the Russian empire in 1989, while Russia is currently already full in war economy mode. So, it will cost some money, but the more the West invests now in fighting Putin, the more lives will be saved.
The only worthwhile endgame I would see is Russia's return back to its borders and into a peaceful and rule based community of states. I don't think this will work with a crook and liar like Putin, but for sure there are honest Russians around as well (just not in power), even if Putin tries hard to kill them all off. The Soviet Union crumbled before - so it is possible.
Obviously - this endgame could be achieved through various means, open war (not very desirable), economic sanctions or maybe some other methods to remove the illegal regime controlling currently Russia. It is possible to influence the political game in foreign countries, just look at Putin and Xi who are masters in splitting the political forces in our countries. Whether our secret services have what it takes to do that in Russia as well, I don't know.
The only choice the West has now is either showing strength and stop the monster (and yes, this does mean risking a war), or alternatively do nothing, strengthen Putin and having a significant conflict against a much stronger Putin later.
Anybody who tries to weaken Ukraine's defences is clearly supporting the big war solution and undermining any international treaty, given that they clearly support Putin breaking his word and attacking any country he wants to subjugate at will. Anybody who tries to undermine Ukraine's defences is saying that its ok to break international treaties and only the law of the jungle should apply.
Not a world I would want to live in. What about you?
Where do I start?
Before the Maidan Revolution or coup, depending on how you view it, Putin had expressed no interest in Ukraine. If he had wanted to invade for no reason (ie do a Hitler) he would have done so before then, when Ukraine was militarily weak. The events of February 2014, gave him a reason, changed everything - for the worse. They provided a context for Putin to firstly, go into Crimea to safeguard the Black Sea fleet, support the East (mainly Russian speaking people) in their war against Kiev, and finally to invade. That's the context. Trying to compare that context to that of Hitler and the Nazis to take over the world, is, quite frankly, bonkers.
Your idea of an "endgame" where Ukraine defeats Russia militarily is just completely unrealistic. I haven't even heard NATO commanders say they can win. Even the Ukrainian Commander in chief said as much. A recent pole of Europe showed that the majority of Europeans don't think it's possible either. So, your favoured scenario 2 is not supported even by the protaginists. It's just not going to happen.
Scenario 1, isn't how it's going to go either. There's ridiculous fear mongering that Putin will attack Poland or some other NATO country, despite the fact that would ensure nuclear annihilation for everyone, including Putin.
The world I want to live in is one in which both sides stop using countries like the Ukraine to fight their proxy wars for geo-political gain. The Ukraine should've been left as it was - politically and militarily neutral, on good terms with Russia and with the west. It was doing just fine as it was. The Maidan changed all that - and remember this was elected Government that was removed at the point of a gun. Normally the West would abhor something like that - how on earth did we end up supporting it and unleashing all that followed. The answer - geopolitics. We wanted Ukraine to take sides- ours.
The middle ground to your two scenarios is a negotiated peace settlement, brokered by a UN peace envoy (why haven't they appointed one?) which tries to re-set Ukraine's neutrality ie no NATO membership. That's a big lever to pull and would get Putin at the table - it is after all, why he said he had to act in the first place. The existential threat, as he put it, of US nuclear missiles being placed just a few kilometers from Russia's border. Then they would have to look at some sort of autonomy for Crimea and for theEast. Perhaps a referendum on self determination or Russian/Ukraine rule? It's been done before in peace deals that the West has brokered for other regions.
The reason that there's no peace settlement even being talked about is unusual after 2 years of war. Maybe after 3. Or 5. Or 10. If we know, as we found out in countless other wars that we were involved in, that eventually both sides have to sit down and negotiate, then why not now, and save all those countless lives being lost?
Invade poland? nuclear war? There are so many play books being discussed at the moment .. putin no interest in Ukraine before 2014... right ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHtFo3eoFOo
history will record it all...
most historian read between lines .... no quotes are usually required... oh dear... https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2014/03/i-predicted-russias-invasion-of-ukraine.html
https://foreignpolicy.com/2014/03/07/i-predicted-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/
Sweden ... and the other getting ready.. they arnt waiting for a letter from anyone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJyPMla95Nk
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 22, 2024, 06:23 PMInvade poland? nuclear war? There are so many play books being discussed at the moment .. putin no interest in Ukraine before 2014... right ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHtFo3eoFOo
history will record it all...
Waltzing - a 30 minute YouTube video is too long to wade through. If you've got a quote from Putin that supports plans to invade Ukraine before 2014 then post a quote.
Sure, the breakup of the USSR, was in Putins view, a tragedy, but once gone I think he recognised there was no going back. Those former states that joined NATO sure rankled though, and probably set the scene for an enduring Cold War.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Apr 22, 2024, 11:16 AMThe only choice the West has now is either showing strength and stop the monster (and yes, this does mean risking a war), or alternatively do nothing, strengthen Putin and having a significant conflict against a much stronger Putin later.
Nato was built to protect democratic Europe from Russian aggression. It's also the most powerful military on Earth. Expelling the invaders from Ukraine requires proper combined-arms offensive ability, which Nato has in spades, but which Ukraine has none of. Think Gulf War 1 as a prime example of removing an invader: overwhelming air superiority to soften then support, massed armor, effective utilization of special forces, lots of troops, most fighting done at night, etc. But the Biden Administration doesn't want Ukraine to win, for some weird reason. These "aid packages" just postpone the inevitable, unfortunately.
It gets even weirder: recently, Secretary of State Blinken said, "Ukraine will become a member of Nato." When exactly will this happen though? Not right now. The war with Russia needs to finish first lol.
And weirder:
"US Slams Strikes on Russia Oil Refineries as Risk to Oil Markets
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that Ukraine's recent attacks on Russian oil refineries risk impacting global energy markets and urged the country to focus on military targets instead."
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-09/us-slams-strikes-on-russia-oil-refineries-as-risk-to-oil-markets
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 22, 2024, 06:10 PMWhere do I start?
Before the Maidan Revolution or coup, depending on how you view it, Putin had expressed no interest in Ukraine. If he had wanted to invade for no reason (ie do a Hitler) he would have done so before then, when Ukraine was militarily weak. The events of February 2014, gave him a reason, changed everything - for the worse. They provided a context for Putin to firstly, go into Crimea to safeguard the Black Sea fleet, support the East (mainly Russian speaking people) in their war against Kiev, and finally to invade. That's the context. Trying to compare that context to that of Hitler and the Nazis to take over the world, is, quite frankly, bonkers.
Your idea of an "endgame" where Ukraine defeats Russia militarily is just completely unrealistic. I haven't even heard NATO commanders say they can win. Even the Ukrainian Commander in chief said as much. A recent pole of Europe showed that the majority of Europeans don't think it's possible either. So, your favoured scenario 2 is not supported even by the protaginists. It's just not going to happen.
Scenario 1, isn't how it's going to go either. There's ridiculous fear mongering that Putin will attack Poland or some other NATO country, despite the fact that would ensure nuclear annihilation for everyone, including Putin.
The world I want to live in is one in which both sides stop using countries like the Ukraine to fight their proxy wars for geo-political gain. The Ukraine should've been left as it was - politically and militarily neutral, on good terms with Russia and with the west. It was doing just fine as it was. The Maidan changed all that - and remember this was elected Government that was removed at the point of a gun. Normally the West would abhor something like that - how on earth did we end up supporting it and unleashing all that followed. The answer - geopolitics. We wanted Ukraine to take sides- ours.
The middle ground to your two scenarios is a negotiated peace settlement, brokered by a UN peace envoy (why haven't they appointed one?) which tries to re-set Ukraine's neutrality ie no NATO membership. That's a big lever to pull and would get Putin at the table - it is after all, why he said he had to act in the first place. The existential threat, as he put it, of US nuclear missiles being placed just a few kilometers from Russia's border. Then they would have to look at some sort of autonomy for Crimea and for theEast. Perhaps a referendum on self determination or Russian/Ukraine rule? It's been done before in peace deals that the West has brokered for other regions.
The reason that there's no peace settlement even being talked about is unusual after 2 years of war. Maybe after 3. Or 5. Or 10. If we know, as we found out in countless other wars that we were involved in, that eventually both sides have to sit down and negotiate, then why not now, and save all those countless lives being lost?
Just wondering - what exactly is different between Putins "liberation of Ukraine" and Hitlers "liberation of the German speaking population in Elsass and Lothringen as well as of the German speaking population in Sudetendeutschland? Sure - Hitler was more successful, but otherwise - both events have been based on just a bunch of lies from some racist autocrats and the desire to grab more land from the weaker neighbors.
Look - I realize that you take the historic nonsense you write directly from Putins propaganda machine, but maybe you should at least pretend to know and reflect on historic facts.
There is no evidence at all that Russian speaking population in the East Ukraine had any disadvantages from speaking Russian. Actually - Russian used to be quite widely spoken throughout Ukraine. There is as well no evidence that anybody in the Eastern parts of the Ukraine (but a small number of traitors) wants to join with Russia. First - many of the people living there before the
Russian monsters attacked had to flee from the Russians or the Russians killed them or forced them to relocate into Russia - and second - there was no free election at all in the Eastern part of Ukraine since the Russians attacked.
The only thing we know is that the so called elections in Eastern Ukraine have been neither free (armed criminals recruited into the Russian army forced people to vote the way the regime desired) nor representative. No Russian election under Putin was. Another thing he has in common with Hitler.
So - don't tell us you know what the people in the Eastern parts of the Ukraine want.
Your suggestions related to a peace agreement are ridiculous.
Lets assume that the Mongrel mob is moving into the house next to you. Lets assume that they discover that you have a couple of nice looking girls and maybe a pretty wife, so they come over, rape the girls and the wife and steal your stuff. They kill as well parts of your family and actually threaten to kill you if you don't surrender.
That's what the Russians did in the Ukraine - again and again.
Back to the Mongrel Mob - you know already that they don't keep their promises, because they broke them before. So - would you be happy with them occupying your house, raping your family on an ongoing basis but promising you that you might keep a bed in the sleepout if you shut up in return?
If you are honest - probably not.
So, why are you suggesting this is what Ukraine should do?
Now - has the Ukraine a chance to send the Russian troops back?
Obviously - without support from Nato this is difficult, though I find it amazing how long they managed to stem against a tsunami of Russian criminals and mercenaries. That's the difference to e.g. Afghanistan or Vietnam. The Ukraine is fighting for their own country against a foreign invader. This makes them strong. Putin on the other hand sends mainly criminals and mercenaries. This makes him weak.
Does the NATO support suffice? So far probably not. But the solution is neither to allow the Mongrel Mob to terrorize your family, nor to allow the Russians to terrorize Ukraine.
We have only two options - either we keep our half ars*d support of Ukraine going and move towards a long and painful WW3 (unless Russia crumbles before, but this is a risky game) - or we support Ukraine properly (including stopping the constant Russian terrorist attacks on Ukrainian territory) - and send Putin where he belongs.
On a personal perspective - I find it difficult to understand how anybody could take the side of terrorists, rapists, thieves and child abductors - but hey, if that's where you feel at home?
We heard about some of these Russian troll farms. Just wondering - are you affiliated with them?
Quote from: BlackPeter on Apr 23, 2024, 12:09 PMJust wondering - what exactly is different between Putins "liberation of Ukraine" and Hitlers "liberation of the German speaking population in Elsass and Lothringen as well as of the German speaking population in Sudetendeutschland? Sure - Hitler was more successful, but otherwise - both events have been based on just a bunch of lies from some racist autocrats and the desire to grab more land from the weaker neighbors.
Look - I realize that you take the historic nonsense you write directly from Putins propaganda machine, but maybe you should at least pretend to know and reflect on historic facts.
There is no evidence at all that Russian speaking population in the East Ukraine had any disadvantages from speaking Russian. Actually - Russian used to be quite widely spoken throughout Ukraine. There is as well no evidence that anybody in the Eastern parts of the Ukraine (but a small number of traitors) wants to join with Russia. First - many of the people living there before the
Russian monsters attacked had to flee from the Russians or the Russians killed them or forced them to relocate into Russia - and second - there was no free election at all in the Eastern part of Ukraine since the Russians attacked.
The only thing we know is that the so called elections in Eastern Ukraine have been neither free (armed criminals recruited into the Russian army forced people to vote the way the regime desired) nor representative. No Russian election under Putin was. Another thing he has in common with Hitler.
So - don't tell us you know what the people in the Eastern parts of the Ukraine want.
Your suggestions related to a peace agreement are ridiculous.
Lets assume that the Mongrel mob is moving into the house next to you. Lets assume that they discover that you have a couple of nice looking girls and maybe a pretty wife, so they come over, rape the girls and the wife and steal your stuff. They kill as well parts of your family and actually threaten to kill you if you don't surrender.
That's what the Russians did in the Ukraine - again and again.
Back to the Mongrel Mob - you know already that they don't keep their promises, because they broke them before. So - would you be happy with them occupying your house, raping your family on an ongoing basis but promising you that you might keep a bed in the sleepout if you shut up in return?
If you are honest - probably not.
So, why are you suggesting this is what Ukraine should do?
Now - has the Ukraine a chance to send the Russian troops back?
Obviously - without support from Nato this is difficult, though I find it amazing how long they managed to stem against a tsunami of Russian criminals and mercenaries. That's the difference to e.g. Afghanistan or Vietnam. The Ukraine is fighting for their own country against a foreign invader. This makes them strong. Putin on the other hand sends mainly criminals and mercenaries. This makes him weak.
Does the NATO support suffice? So far probably not. But the solution is neither to allow the Mongrel Mob to terrorize your family, nor to allow the Russians to terrorize Ukraine.
We have only two options - either we keep our half ars*d support of Ukraine going and move towards a long and painful WW3 (unless Russia crumbles before, but this is a risky game) - or we support Ukraine properly (including stopping the constant Russian terrorist attacks on Ukrainian territory) - and send Putin where he belongs.
On a personal perspective - I find it difficult to understand how anybody could take the side of terrorists, rapists, thieves and child abductors - but hey, if that's where you feel at home?
We heard about some of these Russian troll farms. Just wondering - are you affiliated with them?
Ok, BP, I'll have to respond to that, since you seem to be labouring under the delusion that one cannot hold two thoughts in one's head at the same time. i.e that one can condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine - which I do and have - whilst also accepting that the West stoked the fires by encouraging and promoting the overthrow of it's
democratically elected government. It's pretty clear that if the Government hadn't been overthrown none of this would have happened. Check out some of the interviews with Noam Chomsky who cuts through most of the hyperbole that you seem so addicted to.
I know a great deal about history, particularly European - thanks for asking. You however seem to regurgitate the same old tired YouTube nonsense that we have to teach the other side a "lesson". What lesson would that be? How to engineer a nuclear apocalypse in three easy steps? You do seem to be unable to learn from the "axis of evil" and "mission accomplished" rhetoric that has led to so many futile wars in the last few decades.
I'll have to deal with your misinformation, one by one:
1. The issues surrounding Ukraine of 2014 are light years away from 1939 and rise of Nazi Germany. One invasion of one country for reasons that have more to do with the geopolitical environment, cannot be compared to an attempt to essentially take over the entire world. Was the invasion of Iraq a throwback to Hitler's days? Of course not - there was a unique context that precipitated the action. And of course there's the little matter that we are living in the age of nuclear deterrence which prevents any thoughts of the superpowers attacking one another. Although, worryingly there are some - and you do seem to be one of them - that suggest that maybe we should be looking at that.
2. There has been a long history of antipathy between the East and West of Ukraine. Russian Ukrainians have been discriminated against for a longtime - they are not seen as "proper" Ukrainians. Like it or not, there's an ugly thread of hardline, ultra-nationalism that has a hold in the West of Ukraine. Some of these hardliners are now in parliament. One of the first actions of the new parliament after the coup was attempt not to recognise Russian as an offical language. And there have been a lot of atrocities committed against the people of the east, which I won't go into.
3. No-one knows what the people of Crimea and the East really think about the war and how they would like to live after it is all over. So let's ask them shall we, as part of the settlement? Run a UN referendum on self determination or otherwise. Seems like the democratic thing to do, wouldn't you say?
4. The mongrel mob analogy. Really? Let's try something that makes more sense. Palestine. Atrocities committed on both sides. Disputes on who owns what land and where people can live, under what rule. Sound familiar? Israel, backed by the US, killing more civilians in 6 months than the 2 years of the Ukraine war. Using your fight-to-the-death logic (other peoples death that is, not yours of course) we should just watch, and in the case of the US, continue to supply more weapons to allow it to continue. But most reasonable and compassionate people say, this has to stop. The two sides need to call a ceasefire and Hamas and Israel need to negotiate an end to the current conflict, and more broadly a compromise needs to be brokered over these conflicting historical claims. Same with the Ukraine. Same, ultimately with any war.
4. Your attempts at a personal slur, I will take as a sign that you simply don't like to hear an alternative view. It seems like all the years of wars that turned out to be about something that we weren't told, don't exist. You still believe the binary good and evil nonsense that both sides in any war propagate to their people. The wars of the last 60 years have ALL been about geo-politics. Nothing to do with morality or human rights. The Ukraine is the same. This is a proxy war between the US and Russia, with the people of Ukraine paying the price with their lives. The war hawks have got what they wanted.
The Russians aren't playing tiddlywinks in Ukraine. They have been doing terrible things. Mass rapes of women and girls. Squads specializing in house-to-house clearances of stolen territory (this means killing everyone on sight: man, woman, child). The theft of Ukrainian children to be taken into Russia to be indoctrinated to hate Ukrainians. Fully equipped torture chambers. Summary executions of POWs. Wholesale theft of priceless Ukrainian artifacts. The deliberate destruction of entire villages and cities. The aiming of missiles into public places (such as cafes) and inhabited apartment buildings. Attempts to destabilize nuclear power plants... It's an impressive list of war crimes.
It's nothing noble or of historic necessity or trying to save Russian speakers or any of that. It's a gang of thugs and thieves with Putin at the top invading a sovereign country with a different language so as to steal its natural resources and enslave its people.
Quote from: Azz on Apr 23, 2024, 02:23 PMThe Russians aren't playing tiddlywinks in Ukraine. They have been doing terrible things. Mass rapes of women and girls. Squads specializing in house-to-house clearances of stolen territory (this means killing everyone on sight: man, woman, child). The theft of Ukrainian children to be taken into Russia to be indoctrinated to hate Ukrainians. Fully equipped torture chambers. Summary executions of POWs. Wholesale theft of priceless Ukrainian artifacts. The deliberate destruction of entire villages and cities. The aiming of missiles into public places (such as cafes) and inhabited apartment buildings. Attempts to destabilize nuclear power plants... It's an impressive list of war crimes.
It's nothing noble or of historic necessity or trying to save Russian speakers or any of that. It's a gang of thugs and thieves with Putin at the top invading a sovereign country with a different language so as to steal its natural resources and enslave its people.
I don't dispute all of the terrible things that Russia has committed in the Ukraine. They are war crimes and should be treated as so.
But my main point is - and I'll say it again - you can utterly condemn the actions of the military, but at the same time also be aware that at the heart of this conflict lies a geo-political battle between the US and Russia, precipitated by the overthrow of the Ukraine government in 2014. An overthrow that we - the west - encouraged and promoted. Unfortunately this has been the modus operandi of the US for the last few decades - where it cannot bomb outright, it sows dissent and civil war from within. There are countless examples of that from Asia to the Middle East to South America. And now to Europe.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 23, 2024, 03:30 PMI don't dispute all of the terrible things that Russia has committed in the Ukraine. They are war crimes and should be treated as so.
But my main point is - and I'll say it again - you can utterly condemn the actions of the military, but at the same time also be aware that at the heart of this conflict lies a geo-political battle between the US and Russia, precipitated by the overthrow of the Ukraine government in 2014. An overthrow that we - the west - encouraged and promoted. Unfortunately this has been the modus operandi of the US for the last few decades - where it cannot bomb outright, it sows dissent and civil war from within. There are countless examples of that from Asia to the Middle East to South America. And now to Europe.
All good, and I get what you're saying.
I don't actually agree with this, however: "at the heart of this conflict lies a geo-political battle between the US and Russia, precipitated by the overthrow of the Ukraine government in 2014"
The heart of this conflict is Mob Boss Putin wanting to steal a country packed full of resources. He's first and foremost a thief.
If the US had wanted to play - and win - this alleged grand geo-political battle game, they could have gotten Ukraine into Nato easily ages ago, and whilst doing that dropped several Nato military units into Ukraine as a warning. And if they had done that the Russians would never have invaded Ukraine.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 23, 2024, 03:30 PMI don't dispute all of the terrible things that Russia has committed in the Ukraine. They are war crimes and should be treated as so.
But my main point is - .... the heart of this conflict lies a geo-political battle between the US and Russia, precipitated by the overthrow of the Ukraine government in 2014. ... this has been the modus operandi of the US for the last few decades - where it cannot bomb outright, it sows dissent and civil war from within.
Crikey I hadn't thought of that......USA probably used its influence on the Brexit vote to help weaken the ECC and Nato....... USA probably using its influence to allow China to claim large parts of the South China Sea 1000's of miles from its borders. USA also probably used its influence to elect a Moscow loving and Nato hating president. Crikey you are really on to something.
Or it could be that the USA (and many of its allies,) have fallen asleep at the wheel, and have been losing the 'Cold War' for many years.... and are only now waking up.
Now back to investing.....
Quote from: Left Field on Apr 23, 2024, 04:00 PMOr it could be that the USA (and many of its allies,) have fallen asleep at the wheel, and has been losing the 'Cold War' for many years.... and is only now waking up.
The waking-up part is taking a while.
Quote from: Left Field on Apr 23, 2024, 04:00 PMNow back to investing.....
There's nothing like it. It's a damn fine hobby/career/obsession.
Quote from: Left Field on Apr 23, 2024, 04:00 PMCrikey I hadn't thought of that......USA probably used its influence on the Brexit vote to help weaken the ECC and Nato....... USA probably using its influence to allow China to claim large parts of the South China Sea 1000's of miles from its borders. USA also probably used its influence to elect a Moscow loving and Nato hating president. Crikey you are really on to something.
Or it could be that the USA (and many of its allies,) have fallen asleep at the wheel, and have been losing the 'Cold War' for many years.... and are only now waking up.
Now back to investing.....
I realise you're probably being sarcastic there LF, but to say that the US intervenes when its interests are threatened shouldn't come as shock, surely? Or does it?
Quote from: Azz on Apr 23, 2024, 03:48 PMAll good, and I get what you're saying.
I don't actually agree with this, however: "at the heart of this conflict lies a geo-political battle between the US and Russia, precipitated by the overthrow of the Ukraine government in 2014"
The heart of this conflict is Mob Boss Putin wanting to steal a country packed full of resources. He's first and foremost a thief.
If the US had wanted to play - and win - this alleged grand geo-political battle game, they could have gotten Ukraine into Nato easily ages ago, and whilst doing that dropped several Nato military units into Ukraine as a warning. And if they had done that the Russians would never have invaded Ukraine.
That doesn't make any sense I'm afraid. The US couldn't have, out of the clear blue sky, "dropped several Nato military units into Ukraine." Admittedly , it can, and does, do that in the Middle East, but Europe is another matter altogether. It would be a huge breach of international law, sovereignty and would lead to a direct confrontation with Russia. And it would be the US that would be condemned by the international community, not Russia.
Nope, subverting from within was the only way, and far better, as there are no US servicemen lives at risk. This proxy war has a lot of benfits for the US - good for the war industry ( and as Joe Biden said, the US economy), has disconnected Russia from Europe and has led Europe to finally start spending more on its defence
Lots of big wins there.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 23, 2024, 04:38 PMThat doesn't make any sense I'm afraid. The US couldn't have, out of the clear blue sky, "dropped several Nato military units into Ukraine." Admittedly , it can, and does, do that in the Middle East, but Europe is another matter altogether. It would be a huge breach of international law, sovereignty and would lead to a direct confrontation with Russia. And it would be the US that would be condemned by the international community, not Russia.
Nope, subverting from within was the only way, and far better, as there are no US servicemen lives at risk. This proxy war has a lot of benfits for the US - good for the war industry ( and as Joe Biden said, the US economy), has disconnected Russia from Europe and has led Europe to finally start spending more on its defence
Lots of big wins there.
The US could have had Ukraine join Nato; plenty of other ex-Soviet nations joined. And if Ukraine invited Nato units onto their soil, whether Ukraine was a Nato member or not, that would be up to Ukraine - NOT RUSSIA. What has Russia got to do with the decision making of the sovereign nation of Ukraine?
Quote from: Left Field on Apr 23, 2024, 04:00 PMCrikey I hadn't thought of that......USA probably used its influence on the Brexit vote to help weaken the ECC and Nato....... USA probably using its influence to allow China to claim large parts of the South China Sea 1000's of miles from its borders. USA also probably used its influence to elect a Moscow loving and Nato hating president.
If only! :-)
One thing that has defeated consistent and intelligent US foreign policy aims for a very long time is the dysfunction between the federal govt departments related to interaction with other countries - ie, decades-long vicious rivalries between State, Defense, CIA. One lot will f*ck up a foreign country because it's good for America, and another lot will then send aid and voice support for that foreign country because those unfortunate foreign people are suffering, while the lot remaining will have a wait-and-see approach and screw over whoever seems to have the upper hand in Washington at any given time (but usually by eventually f*cking up the foreign country concerned no matter what).
Quote from: Azz on Apr 23, 2024, 04:51 PMThe US could have had Ukraine join Nato; plenty of other ex-Soviet nations joined. And if Ukraine invited Nato units onto their soil, whether Ukraine was a Nato member or not, that would be up to Ukraine - NOT RUSSIA. What has Russia got to do with the decision making of the sovereign nation of Ukraine?
The Ukraine Governments prior to 2014, were firmly neutral and had expressed no interest in joining NATO. There could be no forcing of the Ukraine to join NATO, the Ukraine Government at that time (Yanukovych) was also against it. The only way to change that was to change the Government - either through the democratic process of an election (scheduled to be held only 12 months after the coup) or through a coup. A section of Ukraine (encouraged by the US and Europe), sadly, chose the coup as their method to get a more Western sympathetic Government in place. And the rest is history.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 23, 2024, 06:33 PMThe Ukraine Governments prior to 2014, were firmly neutral and had expressed no interest in joining NATO. There could be no forcing of the Ukraine to join NATO, the Ukraine Government at that time (Yanukovych) was also against it. The only way to change that was to change the Government - either through the democratic process of an election (scheduled to be held only 12 months after the coup) or through a coup. A section of Ukraine (encouraged by the US and Europe), sadly, chose the coup as their method to get a more Western sympathetic Government in place. And the rest is history.
You're basically pro-Russian. Imagine if you were in-person saying, the things you're saying, to a Ukrainian - one who had witnessed the horrors of the invasion. Would you stand there and say these things? Would you be so confident of your "knowledge" (which is nothing but propagandized Russian fantasy dressed up as history)?
Quote from: Azz on Apr 23, 2024, 07:18 PMYou're basically pro-Russian. Imagine if you were in-person saying, the things you're saying, to a Ukrainian - one who had witnessed the horrors of the invasion. Would you stand there and say these things? Would you be so confident of your "knowledge" (which is nothing but propagandized Russian fantasy dressed up as history)?
Agin with the slurring. I have already said that the Russian invasion was wrong and the military are committing war crimes. I am talking purely about the context surrounding that invasion - and none of what I have said is wrong in fact. It doesn't mean I am pro-Russian to say that this is a geo-political proxy war between the US and Russia. Your mistake is to think that these sort of wars or international events are 100% to do with one side only. Zero on the other. There are people who like to say that the situation in Gaza is all Hamas's fault or all Israels fault, when the truth lies somewhere in between. To recognise that and to advocate a negotiated settlement isn't propaganda for one side or the other. It's a recognition of facts and it's compassionate to call for an end to war, to end the suffering.
I can't think of any recent war that the West, or any other country for that matter, has been involved in that has ended well for the local people. I don't think the Ukraine will ultimately be any different.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 23, 2024, 08:21 PMI have already said that the Russian invasion was wrong and the military are committing war crimes. I am talking purely about the context surrounding that invasion - and none of what I have said is wrong in fact. It doesn't mean I am pro-Russian to say that this is a geo-political proxy war between the US and Russia. Your mistake is to think that these sort of wars or international events are 100% to do with one side only. Zero on the other.
I've seen this diversionary focus many times before on the specific things you've mentioned, and to a person they were all coming from supporters of the Russian military. Not neutrals. But absolute supporters of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Maybe you're the first one who isn't. But I'm just telling you the company you keep.
Quote from: Azz on Apr 23, 2024, 08:25 PMI've seen this diversionary focus many times before on the specific things you've mentioned, and to a person they were all coming from supporters of the Russian military. Not neutrals. But absolute supporters of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Maybe you're the first one who isn't. But I'm just telling you the company you keep.
Maybe. But then I could say that you are part of the company you keep - ie rabid war mongerers who would risk an all out war with Russia to prove a point. I'm assuming though that you're not, so extend the same credit and we're fine.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 23, 2024, 08:28 PMMaybe. But then I could say that you are part of the company you keep - ie rabid war mongerers who would risk an all out war with Russia to prove a point. I'm assuming though that you're not, so extend the same credit and we're fine.
There's already a war with Russia. They invaded Ukraine and Ukraine fought back. My position is that it would take three weeks for Nato to kick the Russians out of Ukraine. Nato would have total control of the sky over the entire battlefield. There would be nothing left of the Russian invaders and very quickly, they only have trenches and artillery.
Quote from: Azz on Apr 23, 2024, 08:33 PMThere's already a war with Russia. They invaded Ukraine and Ukraine fought back. My position is that it would take three weeks for Nato to kick the Russians out of Ukraine. Nato would have total control of the sky over the entire battlefield. There would be nothing left of the Russian invaders and very quickly, they only have trenches and artillery.
Jeez, there's not much more I can say then. Your position is in fact to have a full on war between NATO and Russia, which would probably end up with nuclear weapons being launched and the end of civilisation as we know it. Glad we've got that straight.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 23, 2024, 08:38 PMJeez, there's not much more I can say then. Your position is in fact to have a full on war between NATO and Russia, which would probably end up with nuclear weapons being launched and the end of civilisation as we know it. Glad we've got that straight.
What do you think Nato is for?
Is it a book club, cups of tea and sandwiches. No it isn't.
It's a military alliance that was built to crush Russian invasions.
And the argument about nukes is utterly ridiculous - by that argument Nato can't even defend a Nato member such as Poland against nuke-rattling Putin.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 23, 2024, 01:49 PMOk, BP, I'll have to respond to that, since you seem to be labouring under the delusion that one cannot hold two thoughts in one's head at the same time. i.e that one can condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine - which I do and have - whilst also accepting that the West stoked the fires by encouraging and promoting the overthrow of it's democratically elected government. It's pretty clear that if the Government hadn't been overthrown none of this would have happened. Check out some of the interviews with Noam Chomsky who cuts through most of the hyperbole that you seem so addicted to.
I know a great deal about history, particularly European - thanks for asking. You however seem to regurgitate the same old tired YouTube nonsense that we have to teach the other side a "lesson". What lesson would that be? How to engineer a nuclear apocalypse in three easy steps? You do seem to be unable to learn from the "axis of evil" and "mission accomplished" rhetoric that has led to so many futile wars in the last few decades.
I'll have to deal with your misinformation, one by one:
1. The issues surrounding Ukraine of 2014 are light years away from 1939 and rise of Nazi Germany. One invasion of one country for reasons that have more to do with the geopolitical environment, cannot be compared to an attempt to essentially take over the entire world. Was the invasion of Iraq a throwback to Hitler's days? Of course not - there was a unique context that precipitated the action. And of course there's the little matter that we are living in the age of nuclear deterrence which prevents any thoughts of the superpowers attacking one another. Although, worryingly there are some - and you do seem to be one of them - that suggest that maybe we should be looking at that.
2. There has been a long history of antipathy between the East and West of Ukraine. Russian Ukrainians have been discriminated against for a longtime - they are not seen as "proper" Ukrainians. Like it or not, there's an ugly thread of hardline, ultra-nationalism that has a hold in the West of Ukraine. Some of these hardliners are now in parliament. One of the first actions of the new parliament after the coup was attempt not to recognise Russian as an offical language. And there have been a lot of atrocities committed against the people of the east, which I won't go into.
3. No-one knows what the people of Crimea and the East really think about the war and how they would like to live after it is all over. So let's ask them shall we, as part of the settlement? Run a UN referendum on self determination or otherwise. Seems like the democratic thing to do, wouldn't you say?
4. The mongrel mob analogy. Really? Let's try something that makes more sense. Palestine. Atrocities committed on both sides. Disputes on who owns what land and where people can live, under what rule. Sound familiar? Israel, backed by the US, killing more civilians in 6 months than the 2 years of the Ukraine war. Using your fight-to-the-death logic (other peoples death that is, not yours of course) we should just watch, and in the case of the US, continue to supply more weapons to allow it to continue. But most reasonable and compassionate people say, this has to stop. The two sides need to call a ceasefire and Hamas and Israel need to negotiate an end to the current conflict, and more broadly a compromise needs to be brokered over these conflicting historical claims. Same with the Ukraine. Same, ultimately with any war.
4. Your attempts at a personal slur, I will take as a sign that you simply don't like to hear an alternative view. It seems like all the years of wars that turned out to be about something that we weren't told, don't exist. You still believe the binary good and evil nonsense that both sides in any war propagate to their people. The wars of the last 60 years have ALL been about geo-politics. Nothing to do with morality or human rights. The Ukraine is the same. This is a proxy war between the US and Russia, with the people of Ukraine paying the price with their lives. The war hawks have got what they wanted.
Not sure in which alternative world you live in, but there are clearly parallels to Donald's (who by the way is as well a great fan of Putin). Interesting to see your personal slurs against me, based on figments of your imagination while you are complaining on the other hand about facts I stated based on reading your posts.
But anyway - lets put the kindergarten stuff beside, shall we?
So - how do we start? Obviously - we only can judge your historic knowledge based on what you post.
If you know the facts, but don't tell us, well - this would be worse, wouldn't it? You keep telling us Putin's fairy tales (to pick a nice word) and expect people to take you seriously. Well, if it moves like a duck and it quakes like a duck, it probably is ...
Your slurs against the Maidan Revolution are Putinesk. Yanukovych curbed democracy in Ukraine, he jailed his opponents (e.g. Julia Tymoshenko) and reduced press freedom while allowing cronyism and corruption to increase under his rule. He is basically made from the same wood as any of the other strongman who currently pollute our political landscape (and most of them got at some stage elected), whether they run e.g. Belarus, Turkey or Russia. I hear as well that his friends in Russia gave him asylum. LOL. What else can the people of Ukraine do if they want to get rid of a corrupt suppressor?
Your outrage about Israel's atrocities in Gaza is understandable, but I don't get your point. I never ever condoned Israel's brutal onslaught against Palestinian civilians, and I agree that their behaviour and war crimes put them on the same moral level like Russia or any other terror regime. However - this is neither related to Putin's war crimes, nor does it justify them in any way.
O.K. - I do apologize for the Mongrel Mob analogy. I do understand that many of these gentlemen are much nicer and friendlier people than whoever populates Putin's death swadrones, however if you keep the story and just pick a neutral name - what's wrong with the analogy as such?
You suggest Ukraine to accept an (anyway worthless) agreement on Putin's terms, accepting the loss of something like a quarter to a third of their territory (and most of their valuable natural resources), the torturing and killing of hundreds of thousands of their civilians, the abduction of their children and the rape of their women. You expect as well that they just tolerate that a significant number of their citizens is handed over to Russia to live in future under a terror regime moving every day closer to North Korea.
This is what you suggest. Maybe its "Realpolitik" (and clearly easy to suggest, given it does not impact on you - is this what armchair warriers do?), but I find that repulsive.
Look, I realize that in our current geo political situation we have a lot of strongmen and bullies wielding nuclear weapons. Putin is one of them. Xi is one of them. The dear leader of North Korea and the Ayatollahs are not far away form wielding their own. Nethanyahu is another one of these strongman, who needs a long war in Gaza to secure his political survival and who can threaten a nuclear attack.
Its a dangerous world we live in.
However - on thing I learned is that you don't stop a bully by giving in to their demands (as you suggest). They just come back with another larger demand like any other blackmailer, if they see their strategy of bullying does work.
Putin is a bully. Xi is a bully. The dear leader of North Korea is a bully. The ayatollahs are bullies. Nathanyahu is a bully - and yes, there are many more.
The only language bullies understand is strength - and lets face it, while they are all despicable crooks, none of them is suicidal. So, I don't see how my suggestion to unite and stand up to them is anymore risky than yours to appease them and give them more and more of our freedoms.
The difference between us seems to be that you suggest to give in to the bullies and fearfully wait for their next demand. I suggest to stand up against them.
I guess the question is just how you want our children and grandchildren (do you have some?) to live. Do you want them to live in freedom and prosperity and a rule based civilisation which allows them to thrive - or do you want them to live under the law of the jungle and in constant fear of the neighbouring bully who asks every year for a larger tribute?
I know what I want, and I suppose we disagree on this point.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Apr 24, 2024, 10:56 AMNot sure in which alternative world you live in, but there are clearly parallels to Donald's (who by the way is as well a great fan of Putin). Interesting to see your personal slurs against me, based on figments of your imagination while you are complaining on the other hand about facts I stated based on reading your posts.
But anyway - lets put the kindergarten stuff beside, shall we?
So - how do we start? Obviously - we only can judge your historic knowledge based on what you post.
If you know the facts, but don't tell us, well - this would be worse, wouldn't it? You keep telling us Putin's fairy tales (to pick a nice word) and expect people to take you seriously. Well, if it moves like a duck and it quakes like a duck, it probably is ...
Your slurs against the Maidan Revolution are Putinesk. Yanukovych curbed democracy in Ukraine, he jailed his opponents (e.g. Julia Tymoshenko) and reduced press freedom while allowing cronyism and corruption to increase under his rule. He is basically made from the same wood as any of the other strongman who currently pollute our political landscape (and most of them got at some stage elected), whether they run e.g. Belarus, Turkey or Russia. I hear as well that his friends in Russia gave him asylum. LOL. What else can the people of Ukraine do if they want to get rid of a corrupt suppressor?
Your outrage about Israel's atrocities in Gaza is understandable, but I don't get your point. I never ever condoned Israel's brutal onslaught against Palestinian civilians, and I agree that their behaviour and war crimes put them on the same moral level like Russia or any other terror regime. However - this is neither related to Putin's war crimes, nor does it justify them in any way.
O.K. - I do apologize for the Mongrel Mob analogy. I do understand that many of these gentlemen are much nicer and friendlier people than whoever populates Putin's death swadrones, however if you keep the story and just pick a neutral name - what's wrong with the analogy as such?
You suggest Ukraine to accept an (anyway worthless) agreement on Putin's terms, accepting the loss of something like a quarter to a third of their territory (and most of their valuable natural resources), the torturing and killing of hundreds of thousands of their civilians, the abduction of their children and the rape of their women. You expect as well that they just tolerate that a significant number of their citizens is handed over to Russia to live in future under a terror regime moving every day closer to North Korea.
This is what you suggest. Maybe its "Realpolitik" (and clearly easy to suggest, given it does not impact on you - is this what armchair warriers do?), but I find that repulsive.
Look, I realize that in our current geo political situation we have a lot of strongmen and bullies wielding nuclear weapons. Putin is one of them. Xi is one of them. The dear leader of North Korea and the Ayatollahs are not far away form wielding their own. Nethanyahu is another one of these strongman, who needs a long war in Gaza to secure his political survival and who can threaten a nuclear attack.
Its a dangerous world we live in.
However - on thing I learned is that you don't stop a bully by giving in to their demands (as you suggest). They just come back with another larger demand like any other blackmailer, if they see their strategy of bullying does work.
Putin is a bully. Xi is a bully. The dear leader of North Korea is a bully. The ayatollahs are bullies. Nathanyahu is a bully - and yes, there are many more.
The only language bullies understand is strength - and lets face it, while they are all despicable crooks, none of them is suicidal. So, I don't see how my suggestion to unite and stand up to them is anymore risky than yours to appease them and give them more and more of our freedoms.
The difference between us seems to be that you suggest to give in to the bullies and fearfully wait for their next demand. I suggest to stand up against them.
I guess the question is just how you want our children and grandchildren (do you have some?) to live. Do you want them to live in freedom and prosperity and a rule based civilisation which allows them to thrive - or do you want them to live under the law of the jungle and in constant fear of the neighbouring bully who asks every year for a larger tribute?
I know what I want, and I suppose we disagree on this point.
No point in pursuing it further. I had hoped for a more contextual debate, but I can see that there are those who just see things in black and white terms, with no room for the grey areas, even when history has shown that things are never as simple as they appear. Hopefully in year or three, the momentum will shift, as it always does, towards finding a peaceful, negotiated settlement. Same thing happened in the Iraq war - the Stop the War coalition were castigated as being sympathetic towards tyrants, undermining the war effort, conspiracy theorists etc. Turns out that they right all along. Twenty years of war and hundreds of thousands of lives lost and a country in ruins. But hey, we stood up to a bully and that's what it was all about. Wasn't it?
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 24, 2024, 11:45 AMI had hoped for a more contextual debate, but I can see that there are those who just see things in black and white terms, with no room for the grey areas.
It's very much black and white for the people of Ukraine.
well is it? the discussion here indicates that the uke's have really had the opportunuity but sadly the stuff they needed came to late....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvzukrtGSxg
This thing more likely a frozen conflict and a re match later on... If Putin lives he wont stop no matter what the liberal left thinks..
The English industrial base "Rishi Sunak " are now on the pathway to a war footing?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/04/23/war-footing-as-sunak-ramps-up-defence-spending/
DISC: Ex Arts history student ... liberal left.... hopeless dreamers it turned out...
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 24, 2024, 05:06 PMThis thing more likely a frozen conflict and a re match later on...
It is a frozen conflict. Up to a point: it will unfreeze eventually because Russia wins, and that will be due to current Nato/Biden Administration guidance of, "Here you go, Ukraine, have some artillery shells, and 23 Bradleys, look after them. And go dig some trenches."
The Russians cannot be expelled from Ukraine with these "aid packages" they're being given. Russia just digs-in when Ukraine gets more ammo. Then Ukraine runs out of ammo. It's deliberate policy by the US to make sure that Ukraine does not win. It's a form of big-power cruelty actually, the giving of aid that only does enough to stop total collapse for a few more months.
To remove dug-in invaders originating from a country much bigger across every metric that can be considered, control of the skies is needed - and that means ground attack by many squadrons of jets to kick off the removal, then sorties on demand whenever a Russian pops his head up (control of the air also means destruction of enemy anti-air assets, usually that's done first; as for shoulder-fire SAMs, liberal use of cluster can attend to that).
And proper armor is required, in volume, not a few here and there, drip fed. They can't get very far currently anyway because Ukraine doesn't have an air force; armor needs air support.
There's a possibility it's even worse: it could be that these huge US aid packages are not to aid Ukraine in any way, but are instead designed to aid US arms manufacturers.
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 24, 2024, 05:06 PMIf Putin lives he wont stop no matter what the liberal left thinks..
The Baltics will be next. He'll walk into those. What will Nato do? Sure, they're Nato members, but so what? Nato has shown total cowardice.
And Putin must find it so funny: naive pundits in the West thinking he's gonna drop a nuke any moment. He can't believe his luck on this I reckon, there's no way he's going to nuke anyone, but just doing things like casually carrying around the "nuke-codes briefcase" causes fearful apoplexy lol (in reality the only thing in there is a chicken sandwich and a thermos of borscht).
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/24/politics/us-secretly-sent-long-range-missiles-to-ukraine/index.html
It appears the US has move its position on heavy stuff.. Clears the way for Germany to step up also.
It appears europe is starting to step up the pace.
It's far from being a frozen conflict - the Spring and Summer offensive seems to have kicked off already - and the Ukrainians are loosing significant amounts of land (and men and equipment)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/23/russian-forces-make-significant-gains-in-eastern-ukraine
and mainly due to the 'new' wonderweapon.
https://cepa.org/article/glide-bombs-the-russian-wonder-weapon/
hard to imagine a lump of metal weighing 1500 kg gliding unpowered for 40 miles! Even harder to imagine is it exploding anywhere near you.
Maybe these guys did imagine it:
Mykola Melnyk, a company commander in the 47th wrote on social media: "The drastic advancement of the Russians became possible because certain units just f---ed off positions.
"Hope they get trained and retrained into stormtroopers."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/04/24/as-russian-troops-broke-through-ukrainian-lines-panicky-ukrainian-commanders-had-no-choice-but-to-deploy-one-of-their-least-prepared-brigades/?sh=525e9eb54e64
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Apr 24, 2024, 11:45 AMNo point in pursuing it further. I had hoped for a more contextual debate, but I can see that there are those who just see things in black and white terms, with no room for the grey areas, even when history has shown that things are never as simple as they appear. Hopefully in year or three, the momentum will shift, as it always does, towards finding a peaceful, negotiated settlement. Same thing happened in the Iraq war - the Stop the War coalition were castigated as being sympathetic towards tyrants, undermining the war effort, conspiracy theorists etc. Turns out that they right all along. Twenty years of war and hundreds of thousands of lives lost and a country in ruins. But hey, we stood up to a bully and that's what it was all about. Wasn't it?
You historic horizon appears to be very short and very selective.
Just wondering - go back one human life and think about what stupid and arrogant stories you would have told your temporaries at the time Stalin (and Hitler) invaded Poland. Not that bad, wasn't it - and for sure, in a handful of years they reach a peaceful agreement and everybody will be nice and fluffy. Lala Land stuff produced by armchair pacifists who don't have to pay for the nonsense they produce.
But - yes, you are probably right - at some stage there will be some understanding about the Ukrainian - Russian border (wherever it will be). What nobody of us can predict at this stage is, whether this will be an agreement like we have currently between Israel and Palestine, whether it will be an agreement like between North and South Korea - or whether it will be an agreement like the one Hitler and Stalin signed to "share" Poland.
History is brutal - and the current monsters like Putin are stand well up to the worst scum we know from history.
What we do know is - as long as Putin is running Russia, no matter what the agreement might say, it will not be worth the paper it is written on. Putin has a long history of breaking agreements if it suits him. Why bother to negotiate?
What we do know as well is - any agreement will be more favourable to the side which inflicts a higher cost of war on the other. So - if the free world does the appeasement game with Russia, the agreement will be bad for Ukraine. However, if the war is expensive for Russia and whoever runs it after Putin's departure finds it difficult to explain every year to an increasing number of Russian widows and mothers why their husbands and sons had to die in his special military operation, than it might be more favourable for Ukraine.
Lets hope Putin goes soon and Ukraine and Russia find a faster way to solve their problems than e.g. Palestinians and Jews. The latter groups are already working on their conflict for the last 2 millennia (or if you read the bible, make that 4. Orthodox people (call them populists) are always trouble makers) ... and we all know, what the current status is, don't we?
The northern baltics think this is just the start...
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-war-latest-us-secretly-provides-ukraine-with-100-atacms-denmark-announces-additional-military-aid-for-kyiv/
Top Guns : Inside the RAF...
Channel 3...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCxYYn9QLSQ&t=92s
Yes european weapons stocks up....
RAF looks like it needs more jets and new ones... In that RAF Top GUN it looked like the jets were aging...
All european country will need new stuff....
unfortunately many NZ stocks might not see that demand performance..
They did not say which sectors on the market were the top performers... probably the manufactures?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5obFBodSgvQ
Most NZ stocks are consumer based in some way.
Government debt are in most OECD is already tapped out... and the STAG word is sarting to be used..
Is the mosting interesting TOPIC we dont have is
INFLATION TOPIC...
Combination water cannons & ramming in SCS
China Coast Guard Attacks Philippine Ships Near Scarborough Shoal, Say Officials
https://news.usni.org/2024/04/30/china-coast-guard-attacks-philippine-ships-near-scarborough-shoal-say-officials?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=48ca4bd036&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89 (https://news.usni.org/2024/04/30/china-coast-guard-attacks-philippine-ships-near-scarborough-shoal-say-officials?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=48ca4bd036&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89)
What's at stake:
Will Intel build it's massive new chip-fab facility, before China retakes Taiwan (and the majority of global complex chip-fab manufacturing)...
Intel inside Ohio
https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-intel-comeback-chipmaking/?cmpid=BBD050224_MKT&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=240502&utm_campaign=marketsasia#:~:text=The%20company%20has%20committed%20%2428,next%2Dgeneration%20artificial%20intelligence%20algorithms. (https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2024-intel-comeback-chipmaking/?cmpid=BBD050224_MKT&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=240502&utm_campaign=marketsasia#:~:text=The%20company%20has%20committed%20%2428,next%2Dgeneration%20artificial%20intelligence%20algorithms.)
Quote from: Davexl on May 02, 2024, 04:22 PMCombination water cannons & ramming in SCS
China Coast Guard Attacks Philippine Ships Near Scarborough Shoal, Say Officials
https://news.usni.org/2024/04/30/china-coast-guard-attacks-philippine-ships-near-scarborough-shoal-say-officials?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=48ca4bd036&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89 (https://news.usni.org/2024/04/30/china-coast-guard-attacks-philippine-ships-near-scarborough-shoal-say-officials?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=48ca4bd036&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89)
I see that the famous "nine-dash line" is slowly giving way to the updated "ten-dash line".
Think of the South China Sea as a box - Vietnam/Malaysia on the west side, Malaysia across the bottom, and the Philippines on the east side. The oil, gas, and other resources are in the box.
Who can put the lid on the box?
Philippine Sailor Severely Injured, Vessels Damaged as Chinese Block South China Sea Mission
https://news.usni.org/2024/06/17/philippine-sailor-severely-injured-vessels-damaged-as-chinese-block-south-china-sea-mission?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=a5ea256e36 (https://news.usni.org/2024/06/17/philippine-sailor-severely-injured-vessels-damaged-as-chinese-block-south-china-sea-mission?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=a5ea256e36)
US renews warning it's obligated to defend the Philippines after its new clash with China at sea
https://apnews.com/article/south-china-sea-philippines-second-thomas-shoal-75c2ecc0804d1160e691f6e066c88f10 (https://apnews.com/article/south-china-sea-philippines-second-thomas-shoal-75c2ecc0804d1160e691f6e066c88f10)
Until the next attempt at resupply ?
China and Philippines hold crucial talks after chaotic confrontation in South China Sea
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350329998/china-and-philippines-hold-crucial-talks-after-chaotic-confrontation-south (https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350329998/china-and-philippines-hold-crucial-talks-after-chaotic-confrontation-south)
"Marcos said the Chinese actions would not activate the treaty because no shots were fired."
Introduced by MOKA on the 'other' site - the following presentation by Peter Zeihan recently at Otago University.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/519988/why-new-zealand-needs-to-prepare-now-for-a-future-in-a-world-without-china (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/519988/why-new-zealand-needs-to-prepare-now-for-a-future-in-a-world-without-china)
Found Peter Zeihan's presentation very interesting. Particularly his idea that Biden will win in a landslide vs Trump.
The key factor of Demographics breaking globalisation and particularly China seems at first on point, but I suspect
he has forgotten one key factor that might save the day, and that is Artificial Intelligence.
A.I. driven factories don't need so many workers to carry on producing goods for a start.
The issue that remains is consumption - who is going to consume all this manufacturing largess.
The answers here are perhaps Africa, South and East Asia, South America, who are ripe for development.
China might yet win the Geopolitics battle as they historically & strategically back the BRICS country networks
that the US has largely ignored until recently.
If we can ignore Thucydides trap, between the US and China, we will all be living in very interesting times...
right ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgEOTzSrv9s
AI doesnt know what its doing yet ...
but boston dynamics robot (the new one they kept a secret) look pretty good...
Elon is leaving on a Starship ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MIxcvw6LJg
High noon at Second Thomas Shoal
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/high-noon-at-second-thomas-shoal/ (https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/high-noon-at-second-thomas-shoal/)
Helen Clark at it again, pretending that NZ has an independent foreign policy -
certainly not when push comes to shove !
Helen Clark and Don Brash warn Government dragging NZ into US-China conflict
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/helen-clark-and-don-brash-warn-government-dragging-nz-into-us-china-conflict/7CRWIFNXGNEZ5OWT5N7X6SGIBE/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/helen-clark-and-don-brash-warn-government-dragging-nz-into-us-china-conflict/7CRWIFNXGNEZ5OWT5N7X6SGIBE/)
Quote from: Davexl on Jul 16, 2024, 05:50 PMHelen Clark at it again, pretending that NZ has an independent foreign policy -
certainly not when push comes to shove !
Helen Clark and Don Brash warn Government dragging NZ into US-China conflict
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/helen-clark-and-don-brash-warn-government-dragging-nz-into-us-china-conflict/7CRWIFNXGNEZ5OWT5N7X6SGIBE/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/helen-clark-and-don-brash-warn-government-dragging-nz-into-us-china-conflict/7CRWIFNXGNEZ5OWT5N7X6SGIBE/)
I guess its a tough decision. I assume most of us align with values like personal freedom, human rights and democracy, which clearly would give the US a head start if we compare them with the other guy. On the other hand - do we really want to be too close to a country which might be ruled in 6 months by a guy who has been called "America's Hitler" by his running mate (his words, not mine)? If you sit between a rock and a hard place, the best position might be equidistant from both sides instead of gluing yourself to one of the sides and waiting for the other side to squash you.
One other thing to consider: If you look at the last big global crisis (WW2): One of the big economic winners was Switzerland, and they made their fortunes not by picking a winner and running with them, but by keeping distance to all warring parties (neutrality). This way they managed to make amazing deals with both sides. Staying out of this war and making good money instead of sacrificing their children in a war which was not theirs was certainly in the Swiss national interest.
Admittedly - other than NZ did they still maintain an army which would have been able to defend the country, this is probably as well something we could learn form.
But anyway - while I neither particularly like Helen Clark nor Don Brash ... I think they have in this case a point worthwhile to consider.
Very much respect your opinion BP, but I would suspect that the time for diplomacy in the form of soft power is coming sadly to an end.
China, by it's actions is demonstrating that it will do whatever it damn wants to eg in the South China Sea, Hong Kong & Taiwan (within limits so far), and the pendulum has swung from soft power relations to hard power between peers.
While it may be expedient to attempt to maintain equi-distance between the two peers involved, at the point the pendulum swings towards hard power it becomes necessary to form alliances and firm up military options, initially for deterrence and then for actual conflict preparation. This is where we are at now.
For New Zealand to attempt neutrality, it needs to be armed neutrality to be credible to outside parties. New Zealand is too broke to afford this - which leads to option two namely alliances.
Australia, while not broke has at least fully recognised the risks of conflict, directly affecting themselves and is putting their money behind where their values lie, as they deem themselves to be highly vulnerable.
NZ is meant to be an ally of Australia's, yet needs to double its defence expenditure to even be in the picture of supportive ally, yet alone being a "force multiplier". I think Luxon might have been a bit over-awed by his American experience this trip around - he needs to contemplate more before he commits himself to paper and speech, we can both agree on that...
Quote from: Davexl on Jul 17, 2024, 02:41 PMVery much respect your opinion BP, but I would suspect that the time for diplomacy in the form of soft power is coming sadly to an end.
China, by it's actions is demonstrating that it will do whatever it damn wants to eg in the South China Sea, Hong Kong & Taiwan (within limits so far), and the pendulum has swung from soft power relations to hard power between peers.
While it may be expedient to attempt to maintain equi-distance between the two peers involved, at the point the pendulum swings towards hard power it becomes necessary to form alliances and firm up military options, initially for deterrence and then for actual conflict preparation. This is where we are at now.
For New Zealand to attempt neutrality, it needs to be armed neutrality to be credible to outside parties. New Zealand is too broke to afford this - which leads to option two namely alliances.
Australia, while not broke has at least fully recognised the risks of conflict, directly affecting themselves and is putting their money behind where their values lie, as they deem themselves to be highly vulnerable.
NZ is meant to be an ally of Australia's, yet needs to double its defence expenditure to even be in the picture of supportive ally, yet alone being a "force multiplier". I think Luxon might have been a bit over-awed by his American experience this trip around - he needs to contemplate more before he commits himself to paper and speech, we can both agree on that...
Nothing wrong with differing opinions - and open to discussions.
But not even sure we disagree on the facts - it is for everybody clear to see that geopolitics is currently moving towards the "hard power". Not sure you've read the Fourth Turning?
"The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy - What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny" written by Neil Howe und William Strauss
If you didn't - I can highly recommend it if you are interested in history and want to better understand it.
Anyway - we are currently in a historical period quite similar to the phase which created the Spanish flu, the World economic crisis and World War 2
If you check the history books, you will find that they used at that stage as well plenty of "hard power", and Switzerland used to be much closer to any of the warring parties thant New Zealand is. They even had a long common boundary with Hitler's Germany.
They still managed to stay neutral and do well, and I can't see why NZ would not be able to do that as well.
Sure - In Switzerland every able male is a trained soldier and has a gun (and ammunition) in his home to be prepared for any attack. Some deterrent to any attacker. Maybe we need to work a bit on rebuilding our army, but better some effort to do that than to leave our fate to some allies who might change their position with every election, dependant on which side had the more convincing better conspiracy theorists.
Well, that's my view anyway. Look I grew up in a country very supportive of the US and always prepared to walk together with them - but I must admit, after the last Trump term and potentially prior to the next alt right term in the US am I not so sure anymore whether these are the people we can or should rely on. Feels just a bit risky to me - I guess Trump would drop us like a hot potato if Xi or Putin offer him some nice compliments and a good deal.
Thanks for the headsup on the book BP, always plenty to learn.
Re:
Well, that's my view anyway. Look I grew up in a country very supportive of the US and always prepared to walk together with them - but I must admit, after the last Trump term and potentially prior to the next alt right term in the US am I not so sure anymore whether these are the people we can or should rely on. Feels just a bit risky to me - I guess Trump would drop us like a hot potato if Xi or Putin offer him some nice compliments and a good deal.
I grew up in Little ol' Gisborne, with the US, Aust and NZ Navy assets tying up at our local port for RIMPAC etc. It was a somewhat different US then. Solid, reliable, sound leadership sole super-power etc.
Sure they made some terrible mistakes, were a little too human in that regard, but they had our backs & we were contributors back around 40 to 50 years ago.
I'm not sure that NZ has the will anymore to defend democratic values as a nation when it won't pull its weight with our sole ally Australia, Hell, we are a liability to Australia as it stands AFA our defence spend.
As for the US, I would like to think they were cohesive enough to still have our backs, but why should they when we don't even do our bit ?
It would be nice to have the option of being neutral, but for me that doesn't align sufficiently with our values
and with the divisive state of the US in recent times eg Trump - Australia has decided it must rely on itself more and has gone on with AUKUS-I and whatever AUKUS-II turns out to be.
In my view, it would be unconscionable to abandon our ally-status with Australia, they need all the help they can get and are way more vulnerable. We are not far behind them and have only BEGUN to wake-up to the threat to Australia and help them out. I personally cannot imagine neutrality for NZ and leave Aussi behind. We could never look ourselves in the eye again IMO.
Chump equals Chumpville....
Everyone will have to pay for their defence... invest in US defence stocks ...
Quote from: Davexl on Jul 17, 2024, 05:37 PMThanks for the headsup on the book BP, always plenty to learn.
Re:
Well, that's my view anyway. Look I grew up in a country very supportive of the US and always prepared to walk together with them - but I must admit, after the last Trump term and potentially prior to the next alt right term in the US am I not so sure anymore whether these are the people we can or should rely on. Feels just a bit risky to me - I guess Trump would drop us like a hot potato if Xi or Putin offer him some nice compliments and a good deal.
I grew up in Little ol' Gisborne, with the US, Aust and NZ Navy assets tying up at our local port for RIMPAC etc. It was a somewhat different US then. Solid, reliable, sound leadership sole super-power etc.
Sure they made some terrible mistakes, were a little too human in that regard, but they had our backs & we were contributors back around 40 to 50 years ago.
I'm not sure that NZ has the will anymore to defend democratic values as a nation when it won't pull its weight with our sole ally Australia, Hell, we are a liability to Australia as it stands AFA our defence spend.
As for the US, I would like to think they were cohesive enough to still have our backs, but why should they when we don't even do our bit ?
It would be nice to have the option of being neutral, but for me that doesn't align sufficiently with our values
and with the divisive state of the US in recent times eg Trump - Australia has decided it must rely on itself more and has gone on with AUKUS-I and whatever AUKUS-II turns out to be.
In my view, it would be unconscionable to abandon our ally-status with Australia, they need all the help they can get and are way more vulnerable. We are not far behind them and have only BEGUN to wake-up to the threat to Australia and help them out. I personally cannot imagine neutrality for NZ and leave Aussi behind. We could never look ourselves in the eye again IMO.
Fair enough ... though we started with talking about the distance to China vs the US.
I do see Australia in a different bucket. Yes, I do see the historic connections, and clearly the geography as well a similar language ( ;) ) play all an important role. And they like to use us to put out their garbage, don't they? So - clearly, they like us for something, that's a good start.
And lets face it - it does make sense to militarily work together with them. Still not sure, though whether this means we need to give up our independent political views and follow the US wherever they point. I can still help a neighbour if his house is on fire if I don't agree with his political views, can't I?
A Trumpesk US might not care about us, no matter whether we talk economic relations or military support - unless we pay them enough. Trump is a quite transactional type - loyalty is for him only important if its loyalty to him.
For that reason I think it would be better for us to keep some other options open.
Anyway - I think, no matter which way we go we must invest into our defence, and keep our options open. The latest news from our glorious government (redundancies for the forces to close a budget gap) is clearly a big step in the wrong direction. Without a decent force we won't have any options at all, no matter where we position us in the geopolitical field.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Jul 18, 2024, 01:50 PMFair enough ... though we started with talking about the distance to China vs the US.
I do see Australia in a different bucket. Yes, I do see the historic connections, and clearly the geography as well a similar language ( ;) ) play all an important role. And they like to use us to put out their garbage, don't they? So - clearly, they like us for something, that's a good start.
And lets face it - it does make sense to militarily work together with them. Still not sure, though whether this means we need to give up our independent political views and follow the US wherever they point. I can still help a neighbour if his house is on fire if I don't agree with his political views, can't I?
A Trumpesk US might not care about us, no matter whether we talk economic relations or military support - unless we pay them enough. Trump is a quite transactional type - loyalty is for him only important if its loyalty to him.
For that reason I think it would be better for us to keep some other options open.
Anyway - I think, no matter which way we go we must invest into our defence, and keep our options open. The latest news from our glorious government (redundancies for the forces to close a budget gap) is clearly a big step in the wrong direction. Without a decent force we won't have any options at all, no matter where we position us in the geopolitical field.
The wild card in all this is Trump himself. He could be so entirely unhinged, together with using his majority in the politicised Supreme Court, that even Australia could have another think about decoupling and considering armed neutrality, thereby opening up the possibility of NZ doing the same?
However my money would tend to be on Australia swallowing the dead-rat (Trump), and gritting their teeth, seeing out his final 4-year term. Of course Trump could simply extend his term by some kind of decree, whereby we are now dealing with an authoritarian US regime gone rogue ? Surely too extreme a possibility ? One would hope the US military itself would rise-up against Trump in defence of the constitution before this could eventuate...
I can't believe I am even entertaining this idea, but this will be Trump's America we could be dealing with. And with no Angela Merkel in sight to represent the West's institutions vs its most powerful member.
I hope like hell that Biden the decent, wise man that he is, does in-fact step down in his infirmity, and perhaps someone like Gavin Newsom steps into the breach. I don't think Kamala Harris would cut it against Trumps electioneering. Far too sensible, without the mongrel to take on Trump. Sadly every way you turn there are huge risks.
On the defence expenditure issue, it is extremely concerning with the coalition doing the exact opposite against it's partners' stated objectives of increasing expenditure to 2% over time. Although a friend who was in the military noted that there were in fact too many civilians in the Wellington MoD vs uniformed members.
I note that even a country like Greece, with its dozens of F-16 C/D fighters, can afford to give away a bunch to Ukraine. https://www.twz.com/air/greek-f-16c-ds-lined-up-for-ukraine-report (https://www.twz.com/air/greek-f-16c-ds-lined-up-for-ukraine-report) If Greece can afford to have them NZ certainly can. It truly is a matter of priorities in a strategic time-frame of great danger.
Similarly, with our frigates, Aussi is starting to decommission it's oldest ANZACs shortly and NZ needs to step up with a minimum of 3 General Purpose frigates in the joint purchasing / build agreement, just to have a single frigate with the readiness to patrol https://defsec.net.nz/2024/07/11/australian-surface-combatant-review/ (https://defsec.net.nz/2024/07/11/australian-surface-combatant-review/)
Even Peeni Henare is stepping into the fray, demanding that NZ spends more on defence. https://defsec.net.nz/2024/07/12/peeni-henare-time-for-real-defence-investment/ (https://defsec.net.nz/2024/07/12/peeni-henare-time-for-real-defence-investment/)
Sound commentary on future foreign policy / trade considerations from Matthew Hooton
Economic outlook improves but Trump looms - Matthew Hooton
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/...J2VN4CFBAZ2JU/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/economic-outlook-improves-but-trump-looms-matthew-hooton/7BGJ3YQSONA5JJ2VN4CFBAZ2JU/)
Warnings of 'catastrophic conflict' by Australian Aukus sceptic Hugh White
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/warnings-of-catastrophic-conflict-by-australian-aukus-sceptic-hugh-white/IDCDWMRMJVFGDGGXARUUAOVQLQ/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/warnings-of-catastrophic-conflict-by-australian-aukus-sceptic-hugh-white/IDCDWMRMJVFGDGGXARUUAOVQLQ/)
China's trade policy is almost a declaration of economic war - Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/china-s-trade-policy-is-almost-a-declaration-of-economic-war-20240724-p5jwaa.html?list_name=2032_smh_busnews_pm&promote_channel=edmail&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&instance=2024-07-26-18-32-AEST&jobid=30662413 (https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/china-s-trade-policy-is-almost-a-declaration-of-economic-war-20240724-p5jwaa.html?list_name=2032_smh_busnews_pm&promote_channel=edmail&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&instance=2024-07-26-18-32-AEST&jobid=30662413)
Winston Peters on New Zealand's AUKUS stance | Full video on TVNZ+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqZnvGmfVrM&ab_channel=1News (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqZnvGmfVrM&ab_channel=1News)
Australia Inks $2.2B Deal to Extend Collins-class Submarines into 2030s
https://news.usni.org/2024/07/30/australia-inks-2-2b-deal-to-extend-collins-class-submarines-into-2030s?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=239b606bb6 (https://news.usni.org/2024/07/30/australia-inks-2-2b-deal-to-extend-collins-class-submarines-into-2030s?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=239b606bb6)
Quote from: Davexl on Aug 02, 2024, 03:30 PMWarnings of 'catastrophic conflict' by Australian Aukus sceptic Hugh White
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/warnings-of-catastrophic-conflict-by-australian-aukus-sceptic-hugh-white/IDCDWMRMJVFGDGGXARUUAOVQLQ/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/warnings-of-catastrophic-conflict-by-australian-aukus-sceptic-hugh-white/IDCDWMRMJVFGDGGXARUUAOVQLQ/)
Quite a lot of warnings of "catastrophic conflict" by somebody who bases all his warnings on unconfirmed working assumptions - or should I say unconfirmed guts feelings?. He clearly is not privy to the AUKUS agreement (otherwise he would not talk about it in public) and he does not know anything more about the intentions of any of the players than anybody else.
Long article based on minimal substance ... but sure, anybody can be concerned about what's happening in world politics, and anybody with concerns might well be right. We just don't know which of the many powder kegs will start the chain reaction.
But back to China and the US: If you look at the money flow ... then I am not sure why any of US or China could have any interest in an armed (or even nuclear) conflict, but sure - sh*t happens.
Australian professor (Hugh White) on why NZ shouldn't join AUKUS | Q+A 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OacZj6WFhFs&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OacZj6WFhFs&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame)
Unipolar vs Multipolar, US supremacy vs Peer relationship with China
US Aggression and effectively Lower Deterrence, supposedly what we have now = Dangerous.
Does Hugh White seriously think China will respect us (NZ & Australia) more - if the US treats China as a peer?
Seriously, after what Hong Kong has experienced ?
China's high stakes and deepfakes in the Philippines - ASPI
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-high-stakes-and-deepfakes-in-the-philippines/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Strategist%20Special%20Report%20Chinas%20high%20stakes%20and%20deepfakes%20in%20the%20Philippines&utm_content=Strategist%20Special%20Report%20Chinas%20high%20stakes%20and%20deepfakes%20in%20the%20Philippines+CID_32a510460ff97459698645b0241dc990&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Chinas%20high%20stakes%20and%20deepfakes%20in%20the%20Philippines (https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-high-stakes-and-deepfakes-in-the-philippines/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Strategist%20Special%20Report%20Chinas%20high%20stakes%20and%20deepfakes%20in%20the%20Philippines&utm_content=Strategist%20Special%20Report%20Chinas%20high%20stakes%20and%20deepfakes%20in%20the%20Philippines+CID_32a510460ff97459698645b0241dc990&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Chinas%20high%20stakes%20and%20deepfakes%20in%20the%20Philippines)
15 Ks to go to the big nuclear power station....
ICYMI RNZ Audio
David Sanger is the White House and National Security Correspondent for the New York Times, where he's worked for more than four decades and covered five American presidents.
His latest book 'New Cold Wars' examines the relationship between the U.S., Russia and China and looks at how technology, military intelligence and economic sanctions play into the conflict.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018951275/new-york-times-national-security-correspondent-david-sanger (https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2018951275/new-york-times-national-security-correspondent-david-sanger)
Thanks for that will read some ...
Its an INVASION!!!!
of ugly bear land ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvAdd4Oefrk
An Address by Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon (to the prestigious Lowy Institute)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcdezzVSyu0&ab_channel=LowyInstitute (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcdezzVSyu0&ab_channel=LowyInstitute)
Very impressive speech by PM Luxton. We are very fortunate to have someone as capable as Christopher Luxton as our PM.
However, I will believe that he means what he says concerning Defence and Security expenditure when I see it in black & white in the likely to be waffly Defence Capability Plan - which appears to be undergoing a rethink as it is delayed further to later this year...
When our defence spending rises from a pathetically shameful 1.1% of GDP to at least 1.6% of GDP, in the near term, given the geostrategic state of the world and his stated desire to "be a force multiplier for Australia" then my faith will be somewhat restored.
When our men & women in the services are paid competitively, when we have ordered 4 replacement General Purpose frigates to dovetail with Aussie defence interoperability requirements, when we can fully man them all, when our forces have a higher state of readiness, when we have an air / drone strike force of our own to support out P8's - then and only then can we say "we are doing our bit" to the Aussies.
(No wonder the comments on YouTube were turned off...)
yes but dont think he would be any good in the chart departments.....
(he cut funding for music and arts in schools, which means if your kids got talent move to ..... anywhere thats sings, dances, and needs some paint on the walls of the halls)..
and they still do that in Berlin.. check our Emma Smith and the DR orchestra .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M55azaQT0I
no experiance with pastels and if google maps goes down someone has to be able to draw where the troubles are....
dont worry though IWI will have some arts and crafts classes for him to go too....
berlin ..... song and dance town....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peaKoJSKRa4
alway keep some coloring in pencils in your back pocket....
Every new ship built counts to even up the deterrence value...even from little ole NZ
(4 new General Purpose frigates to work with Aust)
Report to Congress on China Naval Modernization
https://news.usni.org/2024/08/20/report-to-congress-on-china-naval-modernization-2?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=6b0002e97d (https://news.usni.org/2024/08/20/report-to-congress-on-china-naval-modernization-2?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=6b0002e97d)
Report on U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas - USNI News
https://news.usni.org/2024/08/28/report-on-u-s-china-strategic-competition-in-south-and-east-china-seas-3?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=c66085d221 (https://news.usni.org/2024/08/28/report-on-u-s-china-strategic-competition-in-south-and-east-china-seas-3?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=c66085d221)
New Caledonia crisis: a turning point in Pacific security - by our very own Anne-Marie Brady
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/new-caledonia-crisis-a-turning-point-in-pacific-security/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_696dd2ede3e852c96effa79a1a709f25&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=New%20Caledonia%20crisis%20a%20turning%20point%20in%20Pacific%20security (https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/new-caledonia-crisis-a-turning-point-in-pacific-security/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_696dd2ede3e852c96effa79a1a709f25&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=New%20Caledonia%20crisis%20a%20turning%20point%20in%20Pacific%20security)
China's failed first attempt to stymie the Pacific Policing Initiative - from the PIF
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-failed-first-attempt-to-stymie-the-pacific-policing-initiative/ (https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/chinas-failed-first-attempt-to-stymie-the-pacific-policing-initiative/)
Thailand buying (Saab) Gripens E/F's to keep Myanmar in check
(also balancing China / US acquisitions / exercises) - Asia Times
https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/thailand-buying-gripens-to-keep-myanmar-in-check/ (https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/thailand-buying-gripens-to-keep-myanmar-in-check/)
Could be a good option for NZ (acquisition)
US racing to shield Indo-Pacific bases from China's missiles
US Air Force's ACE strategy aims to overhaul base defenses but China's AI and machine-learning advancements may foil the plan
https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/us-racing-to-shield-indo-pacific-bases-from-chinas-missiles/ (https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/us-racing-to-shield-indo-pacific-bases-from-chinas-missiles/)
No NZ is going to declare its self unable to operate effectively as a country and will have to adopt the KANGA dollar and join join in a hybrid union with AUS...
its only a matter of time because all the IP will leave the country...
South Korea gets closer to NATO in the Indo-Pacific
Disrupting the current power equations and the status quo carries both potential benefits and risks for Seoul
https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/south-korea-gets-closer-to-nato-in-the-indo-pacific/ (https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/south-korea-gets-closer-to-nato-in-the-indo-pacific/)
"The increase in South Korea's defense spending, rising from 2.4% of GDP in 2005 to 2.7% in 2023, further underscores its growing investment in national defense and its desire to contribute meaningfully to global security efforts." (Compared with NZ's 1.1% of GDP)...
Quote from: Waltzing on Aug 31, 2024, 10:57 AMNo NZ is going to declare its self unable to operate effectively as a country and will have to adopt the KANGA dollar and join join in a hybrid union with AUS...
its only a matter of time because all the IP will leave the country...
Not quite yet, although the Coalition is NZ's last chance to straighten NZ out with some strategic thinking - and it will need at least one further term in Govt to cement the changes (also after voting for a 4-year term in the next referendum). Labour the Greens & Te Pati Maori needs to be entirely relegated into history with the damage they have caused, though demographics maybe in their favour longer term.
NZ is not really compatible with Aussi culturally IMO, though economic integration would be welcomed along with recognition of Aussi franking credits for NZers...
Perchance to dream...imagine bringing in all this Vietnamese expertise in electronics to NZ, to add to our thriving Philippine community in the sector...
Vietnam becoming a chip-making powerhouse
Global semiconductor makers piling into Vietnam to decouple from China and eschew much higher Western wages
https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/vietnam-becoming-a-chip-making-powerhouse/ (https://asiatimes.com/2024/08/vietnam-becoming-a-chip-making-powerhouse/)
Quote from: Davexl on Aug 22, 2024, 05:56 PMEvery new ship built counts to even up the deterrence value...even from little ole NZ
(4 new General Purpose frigates to work with Aust)
Report to Congress on China Naval Modernization
https://news.usni.org/2024/08/20/report-to-congress-on-china-naval-modernization-2?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=6b0002e97d (https://news.usni.org/2024/08/20/report-to-congress-on-china-naval-modernization-2?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=6b0002e97d)
US Deputy Secretary of State Praises NZ as "essential" to US interests, argues for more maritime defence spending...
https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/politics/us-deputy-secretary-of-state-kurt-campbell-praises-nz-as-essential-to-us-interests-argues-for-more-maritime-defence-spending
(Very unfortunately Paywalled but "Noted")
the south pacific union... kanga dollar with a central bank...
imagine it... fiji the cooks... NZ , Aus....
might as well use the kanga .... its the only hope...
drone wakas and canoes for defenzze.....
ukraine will come and show team NZ how to build them....
did anyone see that overtaking the other day by Team NZ
hope the boat being dropped did not doom them....
Chinese Vessels Ram, Surround Philippine Coast Guard Flagship in South China Sea
https://news.usni.org/2024/08/31/chinese-vessels-ram-surround-philippine-coast-guard-flagship-in-south-china-sea?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=0545c0241f (https://news.usni.org/2024/08/31/chinese-vessels-ram-surround-philippine-coast-guard-flagship-in-south-china-sea?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=0545c0241f)
China issues veiled threats while denying state sponsored interference within NZ's Chinese diaspora...
How NZ responds will determine if it is a sovereign nation or not...
China issues warning to New Zealand after spy report claims foreign interference
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/china-issues-warning-to-new-zealand-after-spy-report-claims-foreign-interference/TKT7L4T37RHC3PDNPLNINH35WE/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/china-issues-warning-to-new-zealand-after-spy-report-claims-foreign-interference/TKT7L4T37RHC3PDNPLNINH35WE/)
Putting the NZ back into ANZUS: Why a fleeting reference means a lot - ASPI
(Time for a Mature & Grown-up national conversation)
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/putting-the-nz-back-into-anzus-why-a-fleeting-reference-means-a-lot/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_61a95bb27881e6b25ed7a9e1d8cf4717&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Putting%20the%20NZ%20back%20into%20ANZUS%20Why%20a%20fleeting%20reference%20means%20a%20lot (https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/putting-the-nz-back-into-anzus-why-a-fleeting-reference-means-a-lot/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_61a95bb27881e6b25ed7a9e1d8cf4717&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Putting%20the%20NZ%20back%20into%20ANZUS%20Why%20a%20fleeting%20reference%20means%20a%20lot)
"When New Zealand refused to admit into its ports US Navy vessels that were nuclear-powered or might be carrying nuclear weapons, Washington's view was that if its allies wanted protection—including shelter under the nuclear umbrella—they had to accept some of the risks associated with extended deterrence. Freeriding was not an option. With America First shaping US politics today, that view has only hardened.
Today's announcement has not reset the nuclear clock. While there has been some restoration of US-New Zealand defence co-operation since the 1980s, including port visits to New Zealand by conventionally powered and armed US Navy ships, anti-nuclear sentiment remains embedded in New Zealand. Wellington's nuclear ban will extend to the conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines that Australia will acquire through AUKUS, as Luxon's predecessor Jacinda Ardern made clear after AUKUS was announced.
While anti-nuclear sentiment was also significant in Australia in the 1980s, Canberra used nimble diplomacy to mitigate the blowback it felt from the fracturing of ANZUS. By signing the Treaty of Rarotonga in 1985, which established the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, Canberra mollified Wellington and its wider Pacific partners. But Canberra also inserted caveats into the treaty that made visits by US nuclear forces exempt from the prohibition on stationing nuclear weapons within the SPNFZ—a policy that has allowed nuclear-capable US bombers to rotate through Australia for decades.
Today's announcement deals with cyber, but it refocuses minds on the continued importance of ANZUS for wider deterrence. At some point, that discussion must include the US and must cover extended nuclear deterrence. The conversation will become more complicated as the US develops a more conspicuous forward presence for its nuclear forces in the Indo-Pacific and expects more burden-sharing from allies to support this."
no where to store tactical nukes on a remote controlled waka....
however those new frigates might come in handy for transporting supplies to the south island if all the public and private ferries are out of action due to anything really... strikes or if they get knocked out by giant freek waves...
you can probably store a tractor or bulldozer in the helicopter hanger?
they better check that something more than a helicopter can fit in the aft deck hanger....
How should NZ navigate growing US/China tensions? (Video)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/how-should-nz-navigate-growing-uschina-tensions/5PMDNJUCMDMTCLUR3HUNBQWRDA/ (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/how-should-nz-navigate-growing-uschina-tensions/5PMDNJUCMDMTCLUR3HUNBQWRDA/)
A bit of good news! (At least we got to replace them...Thanks Ron Mark)
C-130H to C-130Js - Ex-planed: The Air Force's brand new planes (C/o Ron Mark, NZ First)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/350403182/ex-planed-air-forces-brand-new-planes (https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/350403182/ex-planed-air-forces-brand-new-planes)
Fight for the Peace, but Prepare for War...
Air Force Units Will Flood The Western Pacific In Huge New Airpower Exercise Next Summer (US time)
https://www.twz.com/air/air-force-units-will-flood-the-western-pacific-in-huge-new-airpower-exercise-next-summer?utm_term=The%20War%20Zone_Wire_08.20.24&utm_campaign=The%20War%20Zone_Dedicated/Sales&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email (https://www.twz.com/air/air-force-units-will-flood-the-western-pacific-in-huge-new-airpower-exercise-next-summer?utm_term=The%20War%20Zone_Wire_08.20.24&utm_campaign=The%20War%20Zone_Dedicated/Sales&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email)
Has a Russian Naval ship fired on a European Ship north of Murmansk ? Fishing boat was fired upon with a warning shoot from the Russian warship inside its economic zone... Inside Norways ZONE....
Norway being tested by Russian...
Nato facing its first big test not unlike China testing the Philippines.
Its very very close to North Korea firing on South Korea Island...
This is very very close to a major incident...
Russia just put a big chemical bomb in the channel ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIFrVip_y0s
Radio times ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO-44eDrNYo
Not since 2017 has this occurred:
New Zealand navy joins Japanese warship in sailing through Taiwan Strait
https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350431008/new-zealand-navy-vessel-passes-through-contested-taiwan-strait
Japanese Destroyer Sails Through Taiwan Strait, Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt Makes Guam Port Call - USNI News
https://news.usni.org/2024/09/26/japanese-destroyer-sails-through-taiwan-strait-carrier-uss-theodore-roosevelt-makes-guam-port-call?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=8c09fab5c1
Ukraine the first battle of world war 3....
https://shows.acast.com/ukraine-the-latest
Quote from: Waltzing on Sep 28, 2024, 11:25 AMUkraine the first battle of world war 3....
https://shows.acast.com/ukraine-the-latest
Quite possible.
More interesting question however is - where will be the final battle of WW 3?
On the Korean Peninsula?
Or in the middle East?
Or in the depths of Russia or China?
But hey - lucky us we have the UN "to maintain international peace and security" and "to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace" (the stuff in quotation marks is from article 1 of the UN charta).
So - what the heck, just let the UN sort it out - that's what we pay the big bucks for, isn't it?
No worries.
Good thing is - after every world crisis the winners change the world order. UN has been invented by the winners of WW 2 and clearly outlived its use by date (if it ever had a use).
Will be interesting to see what's coming next - time to learn Chinese?
The young in china are lying down ....
they dont want to do anything that looks like hard work for nothing...
maybe XI did not read the "Book of the Young"...
anyway out on the eastern front... did we ever think we would be saying that again?
just watch history channel and ww2 is on every day....
boy with all the drone footage this war could fill the channels for ever...
does anyone in this country even notice..it would be very interesting to do a survey on what people watch down under by population demographic..
Russian are getting a bit sick of the dead and deaded to come...
imagine if the west has actually starting rearming after 2014... i mean really who did not think back then ... ARM UP... it was not hard to understand and report after report was being written about he perilous state of western europes readiness....
does it not look like the 1930's peace in our time says everyone except the polish PM who got taken out in a russian plane crash... cant be true...
someone forgot to check the plane for stress cracks one supposes...
well here the russians are starting to question the blokes in charge...
cant the US give ukraine 300 abrams? and about 500 bradleys? whats the problem....
https://kyivindependent.com/as-russian-losses-in-ukraine-surge-some-military-bloggers-turn-on-kremlin-military-command/
Warships from the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, U.S. and Japan Sail in Joint South China Sea Patrol
https://news.usni.org/2024/09/29/warships-from-the-philippines-australia-new-zealand-u-s-and-japan-sail-in-joint-south-china-sea-patrol?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=a1ed9dc424
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard - Shock and awe: Xi Jinping needs to do more to pull China out of its spiral
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/shock-and-awe-xi-jinping-needs-to-do-more-to-pull-china-out-of-its-spiral-20240925-p5kd91.html?utm_content=opinion&list_name=2031_smh_busnews_am&promote_channel=edmail&utm_campaign=business-am&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=2024-10-01&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&instance=2024-10-01-07-56-AEST&jobid=30839243
its the new china .... its lying down.... :o
Rialto Channel ...
Superpower...
Sean Penns Doco on ukraine and the Z man...
and what is IDF thinking hitting a Russian Airbase in Middle east...
It all getting very very unstable out there...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIcQTG_Xjuw
Oil not going down then...inflation pressure lurking...
It looking very volcanic ..
Quote from: Waltzing on Oct 03, 2024, 09:12 PMRialto Channel ...
Superpower...
Sean Penns Doco on ukraine and the Z man...
and what is IDF thinking hitting a Russian Airbase in Middle east...
It all getting very very unstable out there...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIcQTG_Xjuw
Oil not going down then...inflation pressure lurking...
It looking very volcanic ..
On the other hand - nice to see the Russians getting still more to chew, given that they seemed to have taken already a larger bite they can process with Ukraine alone.
Also thinking that every rocket Iran sends to Israel they can't sell to the Russians to attack Ukraine.
Who knows - Hitler lost because he opened too many fronts. Maybe Israel baiting Putler to do the same thing.
Yes Ukraine will be happy if the IDF starts hitting back into the Heart of Darkness.
J Conrad....
Interesting comments also about Australia defending its Sea Lines of Communication...
Subtle dig at NZ needing to up its game, especially when looking to buy replacement General Purpose Frigates
in the upcoming joint purchase agreement eg NZs intentions within the upcoming Defence Capability Plan!
Why Australia wants NZ to beef up its military | Q+A 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRzuTT9H8r8&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame
Quote from: Davexl on Oct 06, 2024, 12:53 PMInteresting comments also about Australia defending its Sea Lines of Communication...
Subtle dig at NZ needing to up its game, especially when looking to buy replacement General Purpose Frigates
in the upcoming joint purchase agreement eg NZs intentions within the upcoming Defence Capability Plan!
Why Australia wants NZ to beef up its military | Q+A 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRzuTT9H8r8&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame
Yes interesting programme. We now have one less ship to contribute after todays disaster.
no worries....
Team NZ will team up with Ukraine to develop a stealth under water Drone and a robot Waka .....
patrol cook straight and steward island and white island BOP.... and North land...
They got it covered... now just need some ferries that work....
Quote from: Waltzing on Oct 06, 2024, 05:57 PMno worries....
Team NZ will team up with Ukraine to develop a stealth under water Drone and a robot Waka .....
patrol cook straight and steward island and white island BOP.... and North land...
They got it covered... now just need some ferries that work....
You forgot that we need less self sinking vessels ... but on the other hand - we might be a good match to the Chinese, they have self sinking subs as well :) ;
Iran cannot set off a global oil crisis without hurting its biggest ally
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard - Telegraph
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/iran-cannot-set-off-a-global-oil-crisis-without-hurting-its-biggest-ally-20241004-p5kg0x.html?utm_content=opinion&list_name=2031_smh_busnews_am&promote_channel=edmail&utm_campaign=business-am&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=2024-10-07&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&instance=2024-10-07-07-17-AEDT&jobid=30855046
If they arnt trying to sell the oil now then obviously they dont see the electric vehicles taking over anytime soon...
plenty of time to sell oil.. decades of time.
From the sun flower country. An English Man abroad .... its 1938...
A Psychopath has stolen a country and now is hell bent on war ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1G7ckaNJho
The west is losing ...
New Zealand Navy Hydrographic Ship HMNZS Manawanui Sinks Near Samoa - USNI news
https://news.usni.org/2024/10/06/new-zealand-navy-hydrographic-ship-hmnzs-manawanu-sinks-near-samoa?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=2b1fd9620a
Excerpt:
"The loss of Manawanui has reduced the RNZN fleet to eight ships and added to fleet availability issues. The RNZN have laid up three ships, offshore patrol vessels HMNZS Otago (P148) and HMNZS Wellington (P55), and inshore patrol vessels HMNZS Hawea (P3571), due to a lack of personnel to crew the ships. Frigate HMNZS Te Mana (F111) is in the midst of an extended maintenance period which includes upgrades to its communication systems, leaving now only four ships on operational status – frigate HMNZS Te Kaha (F77), multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury (L421), fleet oiler HMNZS Aotearoa (A11) and inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Taupo (P3570)."
What a sick joke our Defence forces have become - this isn't funny any more, now we are shamed and publicly embarrassed.
A Navy with only 2 Frigates and 2 offshore patrol vessels insufficiently manned.
An Airforce with no strike wing and long range missiles, yes we have the P8s and the SuperHercs
(after 60 years!)
An Army severely short of personnel and equipment.
And none of them sufficiently well-housed and paid competitively vs the private sector in the middle of the most dangerous strategic environment since WW-II.
Great - can't end well...
A Minister of No Defence, running down the Science & Technology sector cutting budgets left right and centre!
Thanks Minister Collins. Still awaiting our Defence Capability Plan!
'Extreme importance': What's at stake for NZ with Luxon in Laos
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350443758/extreme-importance-whats-stake-nz-luxon-laos
Adding to the Sea lines of communication concerns of the Aussies - (see above)
Excerpt:
The US election will be held in less than a month, and will either see the return of President Donald Trump or the promotion of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The other big challenge, which New Zealand could influence, was around maritime safety. The South China Sea and other waters on the east of Asia have become hotly contested geopolitical sites. If disputes escalate, then Khoo said there was potential that these seas could close to trade ships.
At the end of September, the New Zealand navy joined with the Australian and Japanese armed forces to sail through the Taiwan Strait. It was the first time in seven years that the New Zealand navy had patrolled that area, and its visit was of great political significance.
Xiaoming Huang, a Victoria University professor of international relations, agreed that marine security was a major issue for New Zealand - and one where this country could show its commitment to the region.
"This is a very volatile international environment," Huang said.
For New Zealand, but also every trading nation, he said security of the sea would be of "extreme importance".
Close to the end of the video, Judith Collins is refreshingly honest about the current state of our Navy in particular (compared to 35-years ago), and the need to finance new frigates among other items in the upcoming Defence Capability Plan.
Proof will be in the level of ACTUAL capital spend on Defence, whether it will satisfy the Aussis to lower the cost per General Purpose Frigate (3 or 4 required in NZ), and whether it will satisfy the likes of Donald trump (if he heaven forbids gets in) and his demand for countries to stop freeloading on the US for Defence coverage in the Indo-Pacific & elsewhere...
ie. Will NZ raise its defence spending from a pathetic 1.1% of GDP to something like 1.6% of GDP in short order given the geopolitical backdrop in the Northwest Pacific.
Judith Collins: Cleaning up after Manawanui, Pacific-style NATO? | Q+A 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVw-mYC2lcA&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame
Since 2014 the west has been attacked directly by Russia and now Troops are on the battle field are from more and more countries...
Is North Korea now a combatant.
Are we at the cross roads...
https://www.politico.eu/article/north-korean-soldiers-are-fighting-for-putin-in-ukraine-zelenskyy-says/
is the world of the social liberals dead ..
Weekend reading:
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies recently published a comprehensive paper 'The Global Impact of the 2024 US Presidential Election' that assesses the various implications of the election result for Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. The report notes that many are viewing this election as a 'make or break moment' for the global economy, trade, geopolitics, and international conventions, concluding that "there could not be a more consequential moment for the US to be choosing its next leader."
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2024-09/240926_Cha_Global_Impact.pdf?VersionId=lgqOdzLFxo2YIcraos_a35l9LRyxfOZH
well is it 1939 ?
China and Russia just signed a new agreement?
isnt this the start of the new era of axis of evil?
NK now in the field and more in training in russia...
Is this not China signing on to the WAR in Ukraine...
Ok your all complaining about your infrus = structure ....
right? but your water comes out of a tap not your stove right and your other amenities dont explode very often...
you might enjoy this....
Hes a retired US Nuclear Vissile man who chats about the state of the world wars...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bmDXNry9Qo
South Korea talks about sending personal to Kiev....
your kidding .....
putler says new world order saying forming or is it all just bluff stuff..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
Is Elon Musk public enemy number one and is he actually in communication with the new hilter secretly..
that would breach his security clearance ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/25/politics/video/wsj-trump-ally-musk-in-regular-contact-with-putin
The pacific is being opened up again by the US military...
The old base at Tinian is being reopened ... the island chain air fields are being redeveloped into operations.
Here comes the us...Will we see the US moving more personal back to Australia...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW1TYDVBSmI
here we go again....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bck_CHmtWPI
Nuclear threat imminent .... stop watches are running ....
Bunker bunker bunker...
or you can always go out to your concrete gardening shed...built in the 1970's .... we got one...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fjxf9W8Nx8
we may need to take Conrads the heart of darkness off the book shelf ... or is western civisilation going to be saved..
its all on the line in the next 48 hours..
are you ready for a new world dis order?
The german says a Finish solution is looking good...
just how out of touch is he?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HblPucwN-m0
Dark days may be coming ...
The era of the dictator is only just starting unless a miracles appears in the next 4 years...
https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/2024-election-trump-harris/index.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 06, 2024, 09:13 PMDark days may be coming ...
The era of the dictator is only just starting unless a miracles appears in the next 4 years...
https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/2024-election-trump-harris/index.html
The Fourth Turning by Strauss and Howe describes quite well the secular cycles of history.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Fourth-Turning-American-Prophecy/dp/0767900464/ref=asc_df_0767900464/?gad_source=1&hvadid=675350116278&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvlocint&hvlocphy=9118813&hvnetw=g&hvpone&hvpos&hvptwo&hvqmt&hvrand=16882320552379956226&hvtargid=pla-434010102866&language=en_AU&linkCode=df0&mcid=f5141c306035341a8195e58e4a0aae1d&psc=1&tag=nzgoshpadde-22
Currently we are in the "winter" - phase of history, which means extreme polarisation of societies and countries looking inwards instead of working together to solve humanities problems on a global level. Last time we've been in a historical winter (1930ies/40ies) culminated into WWII - and the time before (late 1840ies to early 1860'ies) it featured unrest in many parts of Europe and the American Civil war.
I guess the good thing is that these periods never run forever - just think about how long Hitler's 1000 year empire lasted. So, yes, it well might turn into the era of dictators, but most of us probably have a good chance to see as well the end of this era.
What I expect in the near future is an extremely inward looking and isolationist America (actually, quite like the US prior to Pearl Harbour and WWII) not worrying anymore about its previous allies, and the Putin's and the Xi's of the world will run like crazy. What might come is another Pearl Harbour event for the US (dictators never get enough, no matter how much they have) and lots of blood spilled.
What will come is a new world order. The question is just who will run it? US clearly on the down path. China (which seemed to be next) has problems due to its population policies (they run out of young people), and so does Russia (for different reasons, but they do).
Who knows - it well might be India, Brazil and parts of Africa running the world affairs in another two decades or so. It might be the time of the dictators, but I assume that long term meritocracies (like Singapore) might prevail.
Anyway - we live in interesting times - but unless Europe gets its act together I suppose the time window for the Western civilisation to shape the future of this planet starts to close. Too many populists and not enough brains.
Time for europe to find its time in the sun.. can europe surprise us.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
What Trump presidency means for NZ's security | Q+A 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxI12-oJ8i8&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame
From the CSIS, selling the idea of NZ participating in AUKUS Pillar II. The need for New Zealand to make hard choices about China and SOON. Jack Tame presenting the opposite arguments.
Personally, feel that NZ has totally abdicated the necessary role of paying meaningly for Defence. It doesn't even achieve the new global minimum of 2% in a very very dangerous world situation.
Judith Collins needs to be put "On Notice" by the media and Winston Peters in my view.
Perhaps New Zealand IS broke and we are being lied to by our politicians about the true state of our economy
NZ is broken, naive and out of options to continue participating as a first world country.
Perhaps we should use our weak currency to do far more export consultancy between the first world countries and the global south eg the BRICS, at least they are growing fast.
Relying on mostly China alone is becoming extremely dangerous in my view and the US will put up tariff walls against its allies also. No where else to go...
Quote from: Davexl on Nov 10, 2024, 11:46 AMWhat Trump presidency means for NZ's security | Q+A 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxI12-oJ8i8&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame
From the CSIS, selling the idea of NZ participating in AUKUS Pillar II. The need for New Zealand to make hard choices about China and SOON. Jack Tame presenting the opposite arguments.
Personally, feel that NZ has totally abdicated the necessary role of paying meaningly for Defence. It doesn't even achieve the new global minimum of 2% in a very very dangerous world situation.
Judith Collins needs to be put "On Notice" by the media and Winston Peters in my view.
Perhaps New Zealand IS broke and we are being lied to by our politicians about the true state of our economy
NZ is broken, naive and out of options to continue participating as a first world country.
Perhaps we should use our weak currency to do far more export consultancy between the first world countries and the global south eg the BRICS, at least they are growing fast.
Relying on mostly China alone is becoming extremely dangerous in my view and the US will put up tariff walls against its allies also. No where else to go...
Interesting Interview - Charles Edel would be a good complement to the Trump team, but I suppose his competence and common sense would disqualify him for any job in Trumps team? :):
But yes, times will become tougher and more unpredictable. And no matter how things go I see basically three major options for NZ:
1) Keep our ridiculously low defence spending (1% of GDP) and allow China to take responsibility for our defence. I don't see that as desirable, but if our politicians keep ignoring our army, this is where we will get.
2) At least double our defence spending (to 2% of GDP) - this would give us options to either play some broker between the autocrats of the world or to align ourselves with the wanna-be and soon day one autocrat from the East Island.
3) Apply in Canberra to become part of the Commonwealth of Australia. I understand they have this option as part of their constitution. While this would not reduce our defence spending (I suppose we would need to pay taxes there as well, and they are currently from memory at 2.3% of GDP on defence spending), but it might give us a bit better backup in a world which gets more dangerous from US election to US election.
Lets not forget - our Maoris who claim sovereignty anyway came from Taiwan which China claims as its very own - i.e. it would not be a too far stretch to imagine Chinas desire to protect their people (our tangata whenua) here as well. Putin clearly did show Xi the way with his desire to protect the Russian people in the Ukraine. Might is right and populism sucks.
So I guess, unless we want to invite China to protect us, we better find the money to increase our defence spending. Anything else would appear to be quite reckless.
BTW - just checked - Singapore (population similar to NZ and going an independent path between the Chinese Dragon and the US Grizzly) had in 2023 a GDP of 501 billion USD. Their defence budget 2024 is 15 billion USD (25 billion SGD) - i.e. they are already at 3 % of GDP - and hey, their army does have power and commands respect. It can be done.
well BP - thats funny... what is KIWILAND going to use as money... seas shells?
anyway its the end of western democracy as trump wont be stepping down in 4 years ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/10/politics/video/treene-trump-senate-leader-recess-appointment-digvid
it could be civil war in the US....
unless its a republican replacement ... TRUMP JR...a family affair...
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 11, 2024, 02:05 PMwell BP - thats funny... what is KIWILAND going to use as money... seas shells?
anyway its the end of western democracy as trump wont be stepping down in 4 years ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/10/politics/video/treene-trump-senate-leader-recess-appointment-digvid
it could be civil war in the US....
unless its a republican replacement ... TRUMP JR...a family affair...
How are we going to pay? Easy ... milk, fruit, any produce, gold, coal, green hydrogen (maybe at some stage), tourism (services), education (services), entertainment (services). We do have enough money, the question is just how we decide to spend it - and whether we prefer to spend some more of it on defence, or whether we prefer the Chinese to take it instead as tribute. China has a (really) long history of receiving tributes from states which they in return didn't attack. So, yes the money is here and we do have the choice whether we want to put it in defence or (instead) pay a tribute to China.
End of democracy? - Not sure. I am pretty certain that this specific method of picking a government will hang around, and as usual in history, some states will subscribe to it and others won't. Maybe the US will move in the "won't" camp, but some people might ask, whether they ever have been in the democratic camp anyway. Their election system gives people based on where they live more or less influence over the elected government - which is obviously highly undemocratic.
End of American Democracy? Possible, but in my view not certain. The system does have some resistance ...
Civil war in the US? Quite possible if things go wrong. I can't really imagine that e.g. countries like California or New York would be prepared to put up for long with a fascistic authoritarian in the white house breaking the rules.
i see finland norway maybe sweden.. as the future capitals of democracy of the world ....
simula was created there in 1963 and never made it here..
the country is not broke but its productivity is not great ...
i would not rule out the performance of the scandi's ...
just looks at the performance of the NZX ...
sorry but growth here has always been slow.. slow slow..
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 12, 2024, 04:41 PMi see finland norway maybe sweden.. as the future capitals of democracy of the world ....
simula was created there in 1963 and never made it here..
the country is not broke but its productivity is not great ...
i would not rule out the performance of the scandi's ...
just looks at the performance of the NZX ...
sorry but growth here has always been slow.. slow slow..
Isn't the Swedish government dependant on the support of far right populists? Not sure I'd see that as the future of democracy.
isnt the NZ Nats in co hooties with the far right in NZ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo
Nazi's in sweden.. yes there are far right and evens Nazis in sweden as we both know...
The writer of the stories was concerned about their reemergence when writing the books...they made a doco on his concerns..
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 13, 2024, 12:39 PMisnt the NZ Nats in co hooties with the far right in NZ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo
Nazi's in sweden.. yes there are far right and evens Nazis in sweden as we both know...
The writer of the stories was concerned about their reemergence when writing the books...they made a doco on his concerns..
Fair enough - we do have our very own right wing populists manipulating our government. They work hard to improve the killing potential for our population by making access to firearms and tobacco easier and cheaper. But still - for some reason I think they are less concerning than the so called "Sweden Democrats" (but the concern is obviously in the eye of the beholder), and they have a lower voter percentage as well (even if you add ACT and NZ First as right wing populists together).
straying a bit off topic and really should be on political on other thread..
but not sure NZ has a democracy..it seems to have the trappings of it....
best left to another thread..and a big long book... Doctor E Rata might be a good read on that.
not best person to comment as have a long waited for change of citizenship status..
More Lawfare...
New Philippine Laws Define Maritime Zones in the South China Sea
https://news.usni.org/2024/11/12/new-philippine-laws-define-maritime-zones-in-the-south-china-sea?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=21627b4617&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Its all the same rerun of the 1930's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAtUXoewlhI
China is now japan ...
in china they ride bikes at night to eat out... its a group thing... 10 thousand at a time....
or they go pub night ...
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/15/china/china-academic-pubs-intl-hnk/index.html
China may be almost broke but its still going to for broke...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg79y3rz1eo
can NZ really stay on its lonesome...
time dump the KIWI before its to late and adopt the Kanga?
The world is becoming a much more unstable place again with historians N Fergie boy a newly centre right winger now living in the US likening the world to 1930's and N Chamberpot having a doppelganger in Schultz
we see nothing.. singing songs of peace...
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 17, 2024, 01:22 PMChina may be almost broke but its still going to for broke...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg79y3rz1eo
can NZ really stay on its lonesome...
time dump the KIWI before its to late and adopt the Kanga?
The world is becoming a much more unstable place again with historians N Fergie boy a newly centre right winger now living in the US likening the world to 1930's and N Chamberpot having a doppelganger in Schultz
we see nothing.. singing songs of peace...
Its Scholz, not Schultz - and I suppose he will be gone in a quarter (Feb 23rd, 2025).
Not sure, though, whether the replacement will be any better - or just different.
im pretty sure its ...what's a few letters between gags...
https://www.google.com/search?q=you+tube+i+see+nothing&oq=you+tube+i+see+nothing&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l3j0i390i512i650l5j0i512i546.3680j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b32be43b,vid:-BFY9IkUt8w,st:0
its only a few gesticulations between Schultz, sholtz and Schnitzer..
played the vet looking after the dogs at ST 13...
mean while in moscow its ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rri_E4BKjUE
Ha Ha someone ... short gag for All Hail Czar...
Taiwan Experts On Chances Of Chinese Invasion Under New Trump Administration
https://www.twz.com/news-features/taiwan-experts-on-chances-of-chinese-invasion-under-new-trump-administration?utm_term=The%20War%20Zone_Wire_GA_Sponsored_ShieldAI_11.15.24&utm_campaign=The%20War%20Zone_Dedicated/Sales&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email
For all you non-users of NZ Herald...
Biden approves Ukraine's use of long-range U.S. weapons inside Russia, reversing policy
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/
Quote from: Davexl on Nov 18, 2024, 11:12 AMFor all you non-users of NZ Herald...
Biden approves Ukraine's use of long-range U.S. weapons inside Russia, reversing policy
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/11/17/ukraine-russia-north-korea-atacms/
Here is another link not requiring you to sign your life away :) ;
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/17/politics/biden-authorizes-ukraine-missiles-russian-targets/index.html
Right now, as fibre-optic cables are being cut in the Baltic (between Germany & Finland), and we are on the cusp of a possible WW-III (at least between Russia & NATO), it's worth briefly re-capping the success of the last 70 years, before it is rendered mute by Trump and his sycophants...
Perhaps the West will find a backbone again following the outbreak of war, but it is singularly un-prepared for the fight, at this time.
So as Sweden & Finland dust of their 'preparations for war' booklets to the masses and Poland remains on high alert - how will Russia respond to the ATACMS provocation in response to Russia bringing in the North Koreans to fight in Kursk.
Is this how major war begins ??
Donald Trump and the New World Order
The End of the West
A DER SPIEGEL Editorial by Dirk Kurbjuweit
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/donald-trump-and-the-new-world-order-the-end-of-the-west-a-b71fa1bd-6147-47a4-8738-5c17eff44a55
if there is no peace on earth DX then there can be no peace in space...
Elon needs a lot of money to make 100 star ships a year.... whos going to be the investors...
The chinese are out of the game that leave the middle east and billions held by Crypto pirates....and where is putins money...
wont he want some of space X?
Prepare for war...
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/sweden-finland-urge-residents-to-be-ready-for-war/WOR2QPOVIZGXPGASPOSJPITODY/
End of liberal democracy ...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/donald-trump-and-the-new-world-order-the-end-of-the-west-a-b71fa1bd-6147-47a4-8738-5c17eff44a55
Quote Originally Posted by Davexl View Post
Trump is Putin's man without a doubt - probably being blackmailed by Putin to do his bidding -
or perhaps he is merely nuts full stop.
Either way - not good, and for another 4 whole years ??
Quote Originally Posted by blackcap View Post
If you think that, you are deluded.
I have a lot of hope for the next 4 years. A Trump presidency is exactly what the world needs right now to stop the madness.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trump IS the madness!
Cancelling the TPP undermining Western economic influence in the Pacific Rim, the dismissal of James Comey accusing him of being the nut job Trump is, the Unmonitored meeting with Putin at Helsinki, cancelling the Iran JCPOA non-nuclear agreement with Iran, massive tax cuts for corporations increasing Federal debt closer to unsustainable levels, meeting with Kim Jong Un three times giving him legitimacy & undermining Western nuclear containment credibility on the Korean peninsular, completely stuffing up the Covid response in the US causing 10's of thousands of unnecessary deaths tantamount to murder, promulgating outlandish Covid treatments killing many more, withdrawing from the scientifically unchallenged Paris Climate Agreement, the underming of NATO whereby Angela Merkel became the de-facto leader of the West in Trumps complete absence of military credibility.
In fact, about the only things Trump succeeded with were the Abrams Accord between some Arab states and Israel and his encouragements to NATO, Japan & South Korea to increase their share of defence spending...
Trump's Leadership style etc - from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_...f_Donald_Trump
Trump's own staffers, subordinates, and allies frequently characterized Trump as infantile.[47] Trump reportedly eschewed reading detailed briefing documents, including the President's Daily Brief, in favor of receiving oral briefings.[48][49] Intelligence briefers reportedly repeated the President's name and title in order to keep his attention.[50][51] He was also known to acquire information by watching up to eight hours of television each day, most notably Fox News programs such as Fox & Friends and Hannity, whose broadcast talking points Trump sometimes repeated in public statements, particularly in early morning tweets.[52][53][54] Trump reportedly expressed anger if intelligence analyses contradicted his beliefs or public statements, with two briefers stating they had been instructed by superiors to not provide Trump with information that contradicted his public statements.[51]
Trump had reportedly fostered chaos as a management technique, resulting in low morale and policy confusion among his staff.[55][56] Trump proved unable to effectively compromise during the 115th U.S. Congress, which led to significant governmental gridlock and few notable legislative accomplishments despite Republican control of both houses of Congress.[57] Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin found Trump lacked several traits of an effective leader, including "humility, acknowledging errors, shouldering blame and learning from mistakes, empathy, resilience, collaboration, connecting with people and controlling unproductive emotions."[58]
In January 2018, Axios reported Trump's working hours were typically around 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (a later start and an earlier end compared to the beginning of his presidency) and that he was holding fewer meetings during his working hours in order to accommodate Trump's desire for more unstructured free time (labelled as "executive time").[59] In 2019, Axios published Trump's schedule from November 7, 2018, to February 1, 2019, and calculated that around sixty percent of the time between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. was "executive time."[60]
False and misleading statements
Main article: False or misleading statements by Donald Trump
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...site_graph.png
Fact-checkers from The Washington Post[61] (top, monthly), the Toronto Star[62] and CNN[63][64] (bottom, weekly) compiled data on "false or misleading claims", and "false claims", respectively. The peaks corresponded in late 2018 to the midterm elections, in late 2019 to his impeachment inquiry, and in late 2020 to the presidential election. The Post reported 30,573 false or misleading claims in four years,[61] an average of more than 20.9 per day.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Trends.svg.png
Google Trends topic searches for "Gaslighting" began a substantial increase in 2016, at the time of the campaign for the U.S. presidential election.[65]
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Trends.svg.png
Google Trends topic searches for "Fake news" began a substantial increase in late 2016, about the time of the U.S. presidential election.[66]
The number and scale of Trump's statements in public speeches, remarks, and tweets identified as false by scholars, fact-checkers, and commentators were characterized as unprecedented for an American president,[67][68] and even unprecedented in U.S. politics.[69] The New Yorker called falsehoods a distinctive part of his political identity,[70] and they have also been described by Republican political advisor Amanda Carpenter as a gaslighting tactic.[71] His White House had dismissed the idea of objective truth,[72] and his campaign and presidency have been described as being "post-truth",[73] as well as hyper-Orwellian.[74] Trump's rhetorical signature included disregarding data from federal institutions that was incompatible to his arguments; quoting hearsay, anecdotal evidence, and questionable claims in partisan media; denying reality (including his own statements); and distracting when falsehoods were exposed.[75]
During the first year of Trump's presidency, The Washington Post's fact-checking team wrote that Trump was "the most fact-challenged politician" it had "ever encountered ... the pace and volume of the president's misstatements means that we cannot possibly keep up."[76] The Post found that as president, Trump made more than 30,000 false or misleading claims, increasing from an average of six a day in his first year as president to 39 claims a day in his final year.[77] The most common false or misleading claims by Trump involved the economy and jobs, his border wall proposal, and his tax legislation; he had also made false statements regarding prior administrations,[78] as well as other topics, including crime, terrorism, immigration, Russia and the Mueller probe, the Ukraine probe, immigration, and the COVID-19 pandemic.[61] Senior administration officials had also regularly given false, misleading, or tortured statements to the news media,[79][80] which made it difficult for the news media to take official statements seriously.[79]
Rule of law
Shortly before Trump secured the 2016 Republican nomination, The New York Times reported "legal experts across the political spectrum say" Trump's rhetoric reflected "a constitutional worldview that shows contempt for the First Amendment, the separation of powers, and the rule of law," adding "many conservative and libertarian legal scholars warn that electing Mr. Trump is a recipe for a constitutional crisis."[81] Political scientists warned that candidate Trump's rhetoric and actions mimicked those of other politicians who ultimately turned authoritarian once in office.[82] Some scholars have concluded that during Trump's tenure as president and largely due to his actions and rhetoric, the U.S. has experienced democratic backsliding.[83][84] Many prominent Republicans have expressed similar concerns that Trump's perceived disregard for the rule of law betrayed conservative principles.[85][86][87][88]
During the first two years of his presidency, Trump repeatedly sought to influence the Department of Justice to investigate Clinton,[89][90] the Democratic National Committee,[91] and Comey.[92] He persistently repeated a variety of allegations, at least some of which had already been investigated or debunked.[93][94] In spring 2018, Trump told White House counsel Don McGahn he wanted to order the Department of Justice to prosecute Clinton and Comey, but McGahn advised Trump such action would constitute abuse of power and invite possible impeachment.[95] In May 2018, Trump demanded that the Department of Justice investigate "whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes," which the Department of Justice referred to its inspector general.[96] Although it is not unlawful for a president to exert influence on the Department of Justice to open an investigation, presidents have assiduously avoided doing so to prevent perceptions of political interference.[96][97]
Sessions resisted several demands by Trump and his allies for investigations of political opponents, causing Trump to repeatedly express frustration, saying at one point, "I don't have an attorney general."[98] While criticizing the special counsel investigation in July 2019, Trump falsely claimed that the Constitution ensures that "I have to the right to do whatever I want as president."[99] Trump had on multiple occasions either suggested or promoted views of extending his presidency beyond normal term limits.[100][101]
Trump frequently criticized the independence of the judiciary for unfairly interfering in his administration's ability to decide policy.[102] In November 2018, in an extraordinary rebuke of a sitting president, Roberts criticized Trump's characterization of a judge who had ruled against his policies as an "Obama judge", adding "That's not law."[103] In October 2020, twenty Republican former U.S. attorneys, among them appointees by each Republican president since Eisenhower, characterized Trump as "a threat to the rule of law in our country." Greg Brower, who worked in the Trump administration, asserted, "It's clear that President Trump views the Justice Department and the FBI as his own personal law firm and investigative agency."
Last edited by Davexl; Today at 10:00 AM.
Sabotage blamed for cutting of undersea internet cables in Baltic Sea
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360492990/sabotage-blamed-cutting-undersea-internet-cables-baltic-sea
Putin signs law allowing nuclear strike in response to long-range missile attack
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360492872/putin-signs-law-allowing-nuclear-strike-response-long-range-missile-attack
Comment from Bloomberg:
The primary objective for Xi Jinping during two global summits in South America was apparently to push for fewer trade barriers so he can focus on reviving China's economy. In more than a dozen meetings with world leaders over the span of a week, the Chinese premier repeatedly sought to win assurances that nations would uphold the international free trade system. But his pleas may have been drowned out by the actions of others. His pitch came as Donald Trump prepares to turbocharge the trade war he started six years ago with 60% tariffs on Chinese goods. And Xi's case also wasn't helped by his ally Vladimir Putin, who shook markets by removing some guardrails on the use of nuclear weapons in his war on Ukraine. "Xi's message is that China supports economic globalization and the current international order while the US is a disruptor that will damage the world economy," said Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis. "Xi wants to position himself to third countries as the reasonable party in US-China relations, and the Trump administration as irresponsible if they do not maintain dialogue and guardrails." —David E. Rovella
China looking almost like the Adult in the room now - used to include Biden also - now we get Trump ?
Quote from: Davexl on Nov 20, 2024, 10:06 AMQuote Originally Posted by Davexl View Post
Trump is Putin's man without a doubt - probably being blackmailed by Putin to do his bidding -
or perhaps he is merely nuts full stop.
Either way - not good, and for another 4 whole years ??
Quote Originally Posted by blackcap View Post
If you think that, you are deluded.
I have a lot of hope for the next 4 years. A Trump presidency is exactly what the world needs right now to stop the madness.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trump IS the madness!
Cancelling the TPP undermining Western economic influence in the Pacific Rim, the dismissal of James Comey accusing him of being the nut job Trump is, the Unmonitored meeting with Putin at Helsinki, cancelling the Iran JCPOA non-nuclear agreement with Iran, massive tax cuts for corporations increasing Federal debt closer to unsustainable levels, meeting with Kim Jong Un three times giving him legitimacy & undermining Western nuclear containment credibility on the Korean peninsular, completely stuffing up the Covid response in the US causing 10's of thousands of unnecessary deaths tantamount to murder, promulgating outlandish Covid treatments killing many more, withdrawing from the scientifically unchallenged Paris Climate Agreement, the underming of NATO whereby Angela Merkel became the de-facto leader of the West in Trumps complete absence of military credibility.
In fact, about the only things Trump succeeded with were the Abrams Accord between some Arab states and Israel and his encouragements to NATO, Japan & South Korea to increase their share of defence spending...
Trump's Leadership style etc - from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_...f_Donald_Trump
Trump's own staffers, subordinates, and allies frequently characterized Trump as infantile.[47] Trump reportedly eschewed reading detailed briefing documents, including the President's Daily Brief, in favor of receiving oral briefings.[48][49] Intelligence briefers reportedly repeated the President's name and title in order to keep his attention.[50][51] He was also known to acquire information by watching up to eight hours of television each day, most notably Fox News programs such as Fox & Friends and Hannity, whose broadcast talking points Trump sometimes repeated in public statements, particularly in early morning tweets.[52][53][54] Trump reportedly expressed anger if intelligence analyses contradicted his beliefs or public statements, with two briefers stating they had been instructed by superiors to not provide Trump with information that contradicted his public statements.[51]
Trump had reportedly fostered chaos as a management technique, resulting in low morale and policy confusion among his staff.[55][56] Trump proved unable to effectively compromise during the 115th U.S. Congress, which led to significant governmental gridlock and few notable legislative accomplishments despite Republican control of both houses of Congress.[57] Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin found Trump lacked several traits of an effective leader, including "humility, acknowledging errors, shouldering blame and learning from mistakes, empathy, resilience, collaboration, connecting with people and controlling unproductive emotions."[58]
In January 2018, Axios reported Trump's working hours were typically around 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (a later start and an earlier end compared to the beginning of his presidency) and that he was holding fewer meetings during his working hours in order to accommodate Trump's desire for more unstructured free time (labelled as "executive time").[59] In 2019, Axios published Trump's schedule from November 7, 2018, to February 1, 2019, and calculated that around sixty percent of the time between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. was "executive time."[60]
False and misleading statements
Main article: False or misleading statements by Donald Trump
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...site_graph.png
Fact-checkers from The Washington Post[61] (top, monthly), the Toronto Star[62] and CNN[63][64] (bottom, weekly) compiled data on "false or misleading claims", and "false claims", respectively. The peaks corresponded in late 2018 to the midterm elections, in late 2019 to his impeachment inquiry, and in late 2020 to the presidential election. The Post reported 30,573 false or misleading claims in four years,[61] an average of more than 20.9 per day.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Trends.svg.png
Google Trends topic searches for "Gaslighting" began a substantial increase in 2016, at the time of the campaign for the U.S. presidential election.[65]
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Trends.svg.png
Google Trends topic searches for "Fake news" began a substantial increase in late 2016, about the time of the U.S. presidential election.[66]
The number and scale of Trump's statements in public speeches, remarks, and tweets identified as false by scholars, fact-checkers, and commentators were characterized as unprecedented for an American president,[67][68] and even unprecedented in U.S. politics.[69] The New Yorker called falsehoods a distinctive part of his political identity,[70] and they have also been described by Republican political advisor Amanda Carpenter as a gaslighting tactic.[71] His White House had dismissed the idea of objective truth,[72] and his campaign and presidency have been described as being "post-truth",[73] as well as hyper-Orwellian.[74] Trump's rhetorical signature included disregarding data from federal institutions that was incompatible to his arguments; quoting hearsay, anecdotal evidence, and questionable claims in partisan media; denying reality (including his own statements); and distracting when falsehoods were exposed.[75]
During the first year of Trump's presidency, The Washington Post's fact-checking team wrote that Trump was "the most fact-challenged politician" it had "ever encountered ... the pace and volume of the president's misstatements means that we cannot possibly keep up."[76] The Post found that as president, Trump made more than 30,000 false or misleading claims, increasing from an average of six a day in his first year as president to 39 claims a day in his final year.[77] The most common false or misleading claims by Trump involved the economy and jobs, his border wall proposal, and his tax legislation; he had also made false statements regarding prior administrations,[78] as well as other topics, including crime, terrorism, immigration, Russia and the Mueller probe, the Ukraine probe, immigration, and the COVID-19 pandemic.[61] Senior administration officials had also regularly given false, misleading, or tortured statements to the news media,[79][80] which made it difficult for the news media to take official statements seriously.[79]
Rule of law
Shortly before Trump secured the 2016 Republican nomination, The New York Times reported "legal experts across the political spectrum say" Trump's rhetoric reflected "a constitutional worldview that shows contempt for the First Amendment, the separation of powers, and the rule of law," adding "many conservative and libertarian legal scholars warn that electing Mr. Trump is a recipe for a constitutional crisis."[81] Political scientists warned that candidate Trump's rhetoric and actions mimicked those of other politicians who ultimately turned authoritarian once in office.[82] Some scholars have concluded that during Trump's tenure as president and largely due to his actions and rhetoric, the U.S. has experienced democratic backsliding.[83][84] Many prominent Republicans have expressed similar concerns that Trump's perceived disregard for the rule of law betrayed conservative principles.[85][86][87][88]
During the first two years of his presidency, Trump repeatedly sought to influence the Department of Justice to investigate Clinton,[89][90] the Democratic National Committee,[91] and Comey.[92] He persistently repeated a variety of allegations, at least some of which had already been investigated or debunked.[93][94] In spring 2018, Trump told White House counsel Don McGahn he wanted to order the Department of Justice to prosecute Clinton and Comey, but McGahn advised Trump such action would constitute abuse of power and invite possible impeachment.[95] In May 2018, Trump demanded that the Department of Justice investigate "whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes," which the Department of Justice referred to its inspector general.[96] Although it is not unlawful for a president to exert influence on the Department of Justice to open an investigation, presidents have assiduously avoided doing so to prevent perceptions of political interference.[96][97]
Sessions resisted several demands by Trump and his allies for investigations of political opponents, causing Trump to repeatedly express frustration, saying at one point, "I don't have an attorney general."[98] While criticizing the special counsel investigation in July 2019, Trump falsely claimed that the Constitution ensures that "I have to the right to do whatever I want as president."[99] Trump had on multiple occasions either suggested or promoted views of extending his presidency beyond normal term limits.[100][101]
Trump frequently criticized the independence of the judiciary for unfairly interfering in his administration's ability to decide policy.[102] In November 2018, in an extraordinary rebuke of a sitting president, Roberts criticized Trump's characterization of a judge who had ruled against his policies as an "Obama judge", adding "That's not law."[103] In October 2020, twenty Republican former U.S. attorneys, among them appointees by each Republican president since Eisenhower, characterized Trump as "a threat to the rule of law in our country." Greg Brower, who worked in the Trump administration, asserted, "It's clear that President Trump views the Justice Department and the FBI as his own personal law firm and investigative agency."
Last edited by Davexl; Today at 10:00 AM.
No doubt - Trump is unpredictable, he clearly has no ethical or moral constraints and he is likely to wreck whatever is left of an independent US justice system and US democracy. Corruption and Incompetence will flourish. Not good.
On the other hand - while Biden had significant achievements (like the huge Infrastructure Investment package he got through congress), he made as well huge mistakes. The messy withdrawal from Afghanistan will stick forever as a stain on his records. The sad situation of the Ukraine attacked by Trumps friend Putin is only due to Bidens reluctance to properly put his foot down against Putler, but the worst thing was Bidens weakness in dealing with the criminal and conman Trump. It is absolutely unacceptable that Trump didn't got properly dealt with by the justice system over the last 4 years ... Justice delayed is justice denied - and I guess we all will now pay for Biden's mistakes.
Having said that - the US supreme court, stacked by Trump towards alt-right - decided already that a US President can't be hold responsible for any actions he takes in office in order to protect the American people. It would not be hard to argue that protecting the world from Trump 2.0 would be such an action;
Where are the Iranians if you need them?
Anyway - the world is clearly moving towards a time window with significantly increased risk. We've been there during WW2 and before during the American civil war. Players better be thoughtful and considerate in picking their next moves - or it might be there last.
The risk is coming from all sides. US long range missiles hitting Russia. North Korean troops fighting the Ukrainians. Russia threatening asymmetric warfare against the West. The US backing Israel to do whatever it likes in Palestine. The centre cannot hold when the extremists on both sides each accuse the other of escalation. And then they escalate.
And now Trump, the great transactionalist and his apparent distaste for the economic waste of war. A white knight or a dark lord? Being very risk averse I'm thinking it may be time to move out of NZX for a time. Gold looks to be a safe bet??
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Nov 20, 2024, 05:36 PMThe risk is coming from all sides. US long range missiles hitting Russia. North Korean troops fighting the Ukrainians. Russia threatening asymmetric warfare against the West. The US backing Israel to do whatever it likes in Palestine. The centre cannot hold when the extremists on both sides each accuse the other of escalation. And then they escalate.
And now Trump, the great transactionalist and his apparent distaste for the economic waste of war. A white knight or a dark lord? Being very risk averse I'm thinking it may be time to move out of NZX for a time. Gold looks to be a safe bet??
We do have a similar view on the risks (and yes, its not just Trump - idiots are everywhere), but not quite sure whether I agree with your conclusion.
Personally I do think that NZ is a good place to live (not just) in these uncertain times - and I prefer to have at least the larger part of our funds close to us (mitigating currency exchange risks, avoiding legal risks and easier access to domestic funds). I am not sure either whether I want to pick the winner of a possible war - and investing in the looser might be fatal.
Switzerland (a small country in Europe) and its industry happened to do quite well during WW 2. Would not have minded to own shares of some of their banks or other industries (like chemistry) during the conflict (or after). But actually - even German industry (and last time I checked, Germany lost WW 2) did quite well after the war.
On the other hand - physical gold is not very safe, and gold funds have similar properties than other securities.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Nov 20, 2024, 05:53 PMWe do have a similar view on the risks (and yes, its not just Trump - idiots are everywhere), but not quite sure whether I agree with your conclusion.
Personally I do think that NZ is a good place to live (not just) in these uncertain times - and I prefer to have at least the larger part of our funds close to us (mitigating currency exchange risks, avoiding legal risks and easier access to domestic funds). I am not sure either whether I want to pick the winner of a possible war - and investing in the looser might be fatal.
Switzerland (a small country in Europe) and its industry happened to do quite well during WW 2. Would not have minded to own shares of some of their banks or other industries (like chemistry) during the conflict (or after). But actually - even German industry (and last time I checked, Germany lost WW 2) did quite well after the war.
On the other hand - physical gold is not very safe, and gold funds have similar properties than other securities.
I probably agree regarding gold. It's another market that one needs to understand and I don't have the time or inclination to delve further. Mind you, gold is predicted to reach US$3,000 next year, which is probably a safer prediction than many stocks at present. However, I'll stick with bank bonds and term deposits, although the deposits guarantee scheme doesn't get under way under mid 2025. Hopefully there won't be a banking collapse before then.
Speaking of Switzerland and gold didn't they do very well as brokers/launderers for Nazi Germany?
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Nov 20, 2024, 07:16 PMI probably agree regarding gold. It's another market that one needs to understand and I don't have the time or inclination to delve further. Mind you, gold is predicted to reach US$3,000 next year, which is probably a safer prediction than many stocks at present. However, I'll stick with bank bonds and term deposits, although the deposits guarantee scheme doesn't get under way under mid 2025. Hopefully there won't be a banking collapse before then.
Speaking of Switzerland and gold didn't they do very well as brokers/launderers for Nazi Germany?
Absolutely - pick your favorite crook and Switzerland did very well in looking after their money. The Nazis had plenty of money in Switzerland, every African dictator I remember had money there and so does Putin and (I suppose) the Trump organisation.
It clearly pays very well to help rich people to hide money or its origin. Casinos can do that, anybody creating and maintaining crypto currencies does that, and any country with strict banking laws does that. Switzerland is a good example for the latter. Might be morally questionable, but I think for a country it would be dumb to ignore the opportunities, and if you look at it from a different angle - we all live still very well from the spoils of colonisation and slave trade of past centuries.
It was already the old Romans who said "pecunia non olet" (money does not stink).
many societies have done the slave thing...
including the locals ...
its just that the UK created the machines to let them move around the world and trade and pillage faster ...
now musk can do it in space ..
who is going to control mars..and is elon planning a space station of his own.. a moon base and then its MARS!!!
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 21, 2024, 09:28 AMmany societies have done the slave thing...
including the locals ...
its just that the UK created the machines to let them move around the world and trade and pillage faster ...
now musk can do it in space ..
who is going to control mars..and is elon planning a space station of his own.. a moon base and then its MARS!!!
Suppose he will notice quite soon that any growth is limited. Hard to see the business case for a space station on the moon or on Mars, unless he destroys this planet beforehand.
But hold on - isn't that what his closest buddy Trump is just starting to do? Actually - this might be a clever strategy ... destroy planet earth and than you can sell places on planet Mars for any price the desperates are able to pay. And to make sure people don't notice this strategy he is concurrently dumbing down and destroying the education system. What was the name of this wrestling lady (well, lady not sure, but female anyway) charged by him to look after this job?
mars will be a mining colony...
dont worry Putin will give him the money...
he will want to escape earth to avoid being stalin...
re death of stalin....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9eAshaPvYw
this was a gag when it came out... not so much now... more like real life...
Could this be the feared RS-26 reported earlier today, or something else ? https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/russia-threatens-to-strike-kyiv-with-massive-new-missile/WAWQ44WYDJHLLCY7PR5E4ORPQY/
Ukraine claims Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile for first time during war
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/nov/21/russia-ukraine-war-live-storm-shadow-missiles-kyiv-putin-zelenskyy?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-673ee7e98f08b8d1c90a72c1#block-673ee7e98f08b8d1c90a72c1
Turns out the missile was an Intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) fitted with a MIRVed (Multiple, independently targeted) hypersonic warhead, capable of hitting the UK, not the US - vs an ICBM.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/nov/21/russia-ukraine-war-putin-zelenskyy-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-673f8f2d8f087ff7bcc42ae5#block-673f8f2d8f087ff7bcc42ae5
Early Trump troubles...
From Bloomberg:
Matt Gaetz is withdrawing from consideration to be US attorney general in the first major defeat for Donald Trump. The US president-elect wanted the controversial former Congressman to upend the Justice Department and potentially use it to target his political enemies. Gaetz, the subject of investigations ranging over allegations including sex trafficking of a minor and drug use, has categorically denied any wrongdoing. An earlier federal criminal probe of him was eventually dropped. But Trump's problems don't end there, as his selection of Russia-friendly Tulsi Gabbard for national intelligence director, vaccine-skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services and cable television host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense may also be in jeopardy. In the case of Hegseth, who has no high-level experience in government or the military and is of deep concern to the Pentagon for other reasons, the Associated Press today reported new details of sexual assault allegations from 2017. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing. —David E. Rovella
Quote from: Davexl on Nov 22, 2024, 01:07 PMEarly Trump troubles...
From Bloomberg:
Matt Gaetz is withdrawing from consideration to be US attorney general in the first major defeat for Donald Trump. The US president-elect wanted the controversial former Congressman to upend the Justice Department and potentially use it to target his political enemies. Gaetz, the subject of investigations ranging over allegations including sex trafficking of a minor and drug use, has categorically denied any wrongdoing. An earlier federal criminal probe of him was eventually dropped. But Trump's problems don't end there, as his selection of Russia-friendly Tulsi Gabbard for national intelligence director, vaccine-skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services and cable television host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense may also be in jeopardy. In the case of Hegseth, who has no high-level experience in government or the military and is of deep concern to the Pentagon for other reasons, the Associated Press today reported new details of sexual assault allegations from 2017. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing. —David E. Rovella
I can see why Tump loves Matt Gaetz. Trump loves himself, and Matt is basically a moral clone of him.
Sounds pretty spot on BP - have to read this book on one of our anti-Trumps then... :)
Merkel: I mistook Trump for 'someone completely normal'
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/21/angela-merkel-i-mistook-donald-trump-for-someone-completely-normal
More preparations underway...(Doesn't appear in online media, saw it in Sunday Herald's print version initially)
Austin Bolsters U.S. Cooperation with Fiji, Concludes 12th Trip to Indo-Pacific
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3976773/austin-bolsters-us-cooperation-with-fiji-concludes-12th-trip-to-indo-pacific/
Is the biggest risk now that news is not news ... its all AI generated...at RT at least and how long before all news is delivered via ...
AI RT news ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq3P_UZiSTg
Max you were ahead of your time ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYdpOjletnc
For those who don't get the NZ Herald - register & read the W. Post
Opinion
How a 'rightfully traumatized' NATO can survive Donald Trump
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/11/26/rutte-trump-nato-united-states/
Russia's sabotage of western targets 'could trigger Nato defence clause'
German intelligence chief warns continued hybrid warfare by Moscow increases risk of alliance invoking Article 5
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/27/russia-sabotage-of-west-may-prompt-nato-defence-clause
Note also the Defence Capability Plan is now due out "in the new year", after its latest delay...
Hope the money for 3-4 General Purpose frigates is in there - else no credibility left in Defence for NZ...
Why do you favour frigates? From a purely defensive point of view I would have thought anti-missile, anti-air and anti-ship equipment would suit us best.
Quote from: Plata on Nov 28, 2024, 09:56 PMWhy do you favour frigates? From a purely defensive point of view I would have thought anti-missile, anti-air and anti-ship equipment would suit us best.
I guess it depends what you want to do. If its just defending our two islands against direct attack and invasion, you are probably right. However - if we want as well to protect our links to the rest of the world (we might want to do some trade), we need as well ships ... and I am not even sure whether three frigates will do the job to protect all the ships coming an going to NZ. Plenty of water around NZ. And that's not even considering our economical interests in the huge water body around NZ and Antarctica.
Abandoning Ukraine means 'infinitely higher' long-term security costs, MI6 chief says
If Putin allowed to reduce Ukraine to vassal state 'he will not stop there', Richard Moore says in plea to Trump
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/29/abandoning-ukraine-infinitely-higher-costs-head-of-mi6
Well dont worry to much about the south china seas at the moment as the concrete used to build the land bases was not very high quality and the island are suffering from global warming threats... they will and are sinking already and the concrete structures are not weathering well ... runways might also be under pressure. Very expensive repairs may already be required and china will find out the true cost of a blue water navy and power projection.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
reports from the reports globe trotting... reports from the sniffers... ah reports of world class.
BP's most hated news paper.
Applies to NZ also...
As important as Ukraine is, a Taiwan war must be Australia's biggest worry - Paul Dibb
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/as-important-as-ukraine-is-a-taiwan-war-must-be-australias-biggest-worry/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_7dd74b1c2cc93b81a06d37a60d894892&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=As%20important%20as%20Ukraine%20is%20a%20Taiwan%20war%20must%20be%20Australias%20biggest%20worry
from Bloomberg:
Donald Trump's inflammatory selection for America's top intelligence post may be at risk of becoming his second post-election defeat when it comes to a slew of highly controversial cabinet picks. Tulsi Gabbard, the Democrat-turned-Republican who sided with Russia over its war on Ukraine, met secretly with a key Russian ally and is often praised by Russian state media, is under renewed scrutiny. Already the subject of caution by some Republicans, key Democrats are warning that if confirmed she'll endanger national security, because allies will limit intelligence cooperation out of fear their secrets won't be safe. Other Republicans meanwhile are lining up to defend her nomination.
Tulsi Gabbard speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, in 2022. Photographer: Bloomberg
Selling it to Trump...
Trump's likely foreign policy: selective engagement, and helping those who help themselves
Watch out Australia, God help New Zealand if it doesn't step up Massively !
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/trumps-likely-foreign-policy-selective-engagement-and-helping-those-who-help-themselves/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_6948b65e0f020a1e640c5b8569465c95&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Trumps%20likely%20foreign%20policy%20selective%20engagement%20and%20helping%20those%20who%20help%20themselves
We did well last time. Here's how Australia (& New Zealand ?) should work with Trump again
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/we-did-well-last-time-heres-how-australia-should-work-with-trump-again/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_6948b65e0f020a1e640c5b8569465c95&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=We%20did%20well%20last%20time%20Heres%20how%20Australia%20should%20work%20with%20Trump%20again
Major development for Ukraine / Europe (Paywalled)
Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy willing to let Russia retain territory for peace in call to Nato
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/ukraine-leader-volodymyr-zelenskyy-willing-to-let-russia-retain-territory-for-peace-in-call-to-nato/7JDUU37O6JBFFKF6C6OH5TGUBU/
Excerpt:
Russia has this week threatened to strike government buildings in Kyiv and launched a massive aerial attack on Ukraine's energy sector – something it called a response to Ukraine firing US and British-supplied missiles on Russian territory.
"If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under Nato umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control," Zelenskyy told Britain's Sky News, according to a voiceover translation of his remarks from Ukrainian into English.
"That's what we need to do fast, and then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically."
From Guardian (No paywall)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/29/zelenskyy-says-ukrainian-territory-should-be-under-nato-umbrella-to-stop-war
It that just the last threats of Russia ...
The collapse of Syrian armed forces appear to have collapsed without russian help. Has Russian overreached itself as the IDF have damaged Iran proxies...
The unrelated wars appear to be having far reaching effects on other Theaters of War.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEdmc78t1m8
Further delays to the DCP ! (Of-course situations keep changing Minister Collins - Duhh...)
Judith Collins says Defence plan impacted by worsening global situation, China 'changed game' with missile launch
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/judith-collins-says-defence-plan-impacted-by-worsening-global-situation-china-changed-game-with-missile-launch/GAKIAOMADFCA7PHS6C5PQNCD5A/
(Pay-walled)
Defence budget heading in the wrong direction !
Defence planning cuts as minister warns of 'not happy times' in the Pacific
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360508343/defence-planning-cuts-minister-warns-not-happy-times-pacific
It's official (Made it into the USNI News). Unbelievable this could happen - especially after the ferry grounding heads up on autopilots...
Crew Failures Led to Grounding, Sinking of New Zealand Navy Ship, Says Report - USNI News
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/01/crew-failures-led-to-grounding-sinking-of-new-zealand-navy-ship-says-report?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=7052d70b64&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Quote from: Davexl on Dec 04, 2024, 09:54 AMIt's official (Made it into the USNI News). Unbelievable this could happen - especially after the ferry grounding heads up on autopilots...
Crew Failures Led to Grounding, Sinking of New Zealand Navy Ship, Says Report - USNI News
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/01/crew-failures-led-to-grounding-sinking-of-new-zealand-navy-ship-says-report?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=7052d70b64&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Just wondering whether they added a replacement ship already to the budget? Would this be covered by the meagre 1% of GDP NZ invests into our security? Though on reflection ... isn't it frequently the lucky three? Maybe we should add another three ships to the three more frigates we need (just to have one spare), and this is before we increase the defense budget to some sensible number like e.g. Singapore's 3% of GDP!
Few bits:
Chinese industry association issues warning that US chips are "no longer safe" (Reuters)
https://marketindex.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=178a9f99c942c15cd57e649b8&id=d38c37eb6b&e=6b978d6f00
Gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials are no longer allowed to be shipped to America, says the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (Bloomberg) https://marketindex.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=178a9f99c942c15cd57e649b8&id=a5b6c1f539&e=6b978d6f00
Oh, South Korea declared martial law for 6 hours then rescinded it (Opposition too close to North Korea...)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/dec/03/south-korea-declares-emergency-martial-law-yoon-suk-yeol-north-korea-latest-updates
Fun times!
Quote from: Davexl on Dec 04, 2024, 11:00 AMFew bits:
Chinese industry association issues warning that US chips are "no longer safe" (Reuters)
https://marketindex.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=178a9f99c942c15cd57e649b8&id=d38c37eb6b&e=6b978d6f00
Gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials are no longer allowed to be shipped to America, says the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (Bloomberg) https://marketindex.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=178a9f99c942c15cd57e649b8&id=a5b6c1f539&e=6b978d6f00
Oh, South Korea declared martial law for 6 hours then rescinded it (Opposition too close to North Korea...)
Fun times!
To be fair - Chinese warships don't appear to be safe either:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/26/politics/chinese-nuclear-powered-submarine-sank/index.html#:~:text=China's%20newest%20nuclear%2Dpowered%20submarine%20sank%20pierside%20in%20the%20spring,near%20the%20city%20of%20Wuhan.
Oops - ships vs chips? Ah well ... my security software stopped me to open the link above ...
Talking about the safety of Chinese chips? I guess as long as the Russians buy Iranian drones featuring western chips (vs. Chinese chips) to bombard Ukraine this must be clear evidence that Western chips are better.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Dec 04, 2024, 11:12 AMTo be fair - Chinese warships don't appear to be safe either:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/26/politics/chinese-nuclear-powered-submarine-sank/index.html#:~:text=China's%20newest%20nuclear%2Dpowered%20submarine%20sank%20pierside%20in%20the%20spring,near%20the%20city%20of%20Wuhan.
Oops - ships vs chips? Ah well ... my security software stopped me to open the link above ...
Talking about the safety of Chinese chips? I guess as long as the Russians buy Iranian drones featuring western chips (vs. Chinese chips) to bombard Ukraine this must be clear evidence that Western chips are better.
BP - Now all we need is for some of Rakon's precision timing solutions to show up on Iranian drones!
and perhaps next, for Rare-Earths to be cut off to the west by China also (Do wonders for Gina Rinehart's holdings in Lynas (LYC:ASX))
Now that was funny when it happened...
cant image why a security guard would block that...
Quote from: Davexl on Dec 04, 2024, 11:24 AMBP - Now all we need is for some of Rakon's precision timing solutions to show up on Iranian drones!
This actually might be a good solution for the Iranian problem ... doesn't Rakon manufacture in China?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/manufacturing/china-deal-to-double-rakon-production/C65ZS6Q4DZZFXRH7SNEUCB734Y/
but then - this might be yesterdays news, no idea whether they still manufacture anywhere, but this is for a different thread ...
Quote from: BlackPeter on Dec 04, 2024, 11:35 AMThis actually might be a good solution for the Iranian problem ... doesn't Rakon manufacture in China?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/manufacturing/china-deal-to-double-rakon-production/C65ZS6Q4DZZFXRH7SNEUCB734Y/
but then - this might be yesterdays news, no idea whether they still manufacture anywhere, but this is for a different thread ...
Nope it fits in Geopolitical risk (Geo-Tech)...
Most of Rakon's off-shore production ramping up in India these days. Also shut down their French production a while back. Rakon seems to be a perennial under-performer sadly on the bottom line (or the top line for that matter). Always some excuse or other.
Can't seem to catch a break...
Important video to watch, if you missed the shorter version on the news...(1st 6 mins)
Penny Wong laying out the facts of the current status of the relationship between China & Australia.
And by implication, asking for NZ to step up with our contribution to security in our region. eg AUKUS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1U1gGfN73o&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame
Excerpt:
Australia's Foreign Minister said while 'each government will obviously look to assure the security of its people,' a common-sense approach is being taken.
The importance of the Aukus decision
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has joked about the announcement at the weekend that the Labour Party will not support New Zealand's involvement in the Aukus pillar 2 defence technology sharing alliance, and that it would withdraw in Government if the coalition signed up to it.
"Labour is deeply concerned about how much time and effort this Government has spent getting closer to the US over the past year," Labour leader Chris Hipkins said.
Foreign affairs spokesman David Parker explained it this way: "New Zealand's interests lie in trade, peace and in ongoing diplomacy, not in being a 'force-multiplier' for one superpower in a containment strategy directed against another."
Alluding to the TPP, which became the CPTPP under Labour, Luxon joked on Monday that if it only changed its name to the Comprehensive and Progressive Aukus, perhaps it would support it.
It is not a joking matter. And contrary to Luxon's framing of the respective positions, Labour's position, especially under Hipkins, has been to cautiously explore Aukus. That is quite different to National's and the coalition's, which is to enthusiastically explore it.
(I don't personally think Labour EVER intended possibly sign up to AUKUS, they were merely being disingenuous / polite to the US).
The fact that Luxon described Labour's position as "putting party before country" suggests that the coalition has all but made the decision to join in principle.
Labour's position is the most serious departure from bipartisan foreign policy since the 1980s anti-nuclear crisis. Labour did not campaign to leave Anzus in 1984 and campaigned, either naively or dishonestly, to maintain an anti-nuclear policy within the alliance.
The significance of its position now will depend on whether Aukus fizzles or develops into a muscular defence vehicle. If it becomes the latter, then any withdrawal is likely to present another crisis in the future.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above is an excerpt from a Herald article...
Quote from: Davexl on Dec 06, 2024, 09:15 AMThe importance of the Aukus decision
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has joked about the announcement at the weekend that the Labour Party will not support New Zealand's involvement in the Aukus pillar 2 defence technology sharing alliance, and that it would withdraw in Government if the coalition signed up to it.
"Labour is deeply concerned about how much time and effort this Government has spent getting closer to the US over the past year," Labour leader Chris Hipkins said.
Foreign affairs spokesman David Parker explained it this way: "New Zealand's interests lie in trade, peace and in ongoing diplomacy, not in being a 'force-multiplier' for one superpower in a containment strategy directed against another."
Alluding to the TPP, which became the CPTPP under Labour, Luxon joked on Monday that if it only changed its name to the Comprehensive and Progressive Aukus, perhaps it would support it.
It is not a joking matter. And contrary to Luxon's framing of the respective positions, Labour's position, especially under Hipkins, has been to cautiously explore Aukus. That is quite different to National's and the coalition's, which is to enthusiastically explore it.
(I don't personally think Labour EVER intended possibly sign up to AUKUS, they were merely being disingenuous / polite to the US).
The fact that Luxon described Labour's position as "putting party before country" suggests that the coalition has all but made the decision to join in principle.
Labour's position is the most serious departure from bipartisan foreign policy since the 1980s anti-nuclear crisis. Labour did not campaign to leave Anzus in 1984 and campaigned, either naively or dishonestly, to maintain an anti-nuclear policy within the alliance.
The significance of its position now will depend on whether Aukus fizzles or develops into a muscular defence vehicle. If it becomes the latter, then any withdrawal is likely to present another crisis in the future.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above is an excerpt from a Herald article...
I guess - so hard to predict the future. On one hand it does make sense in dangerous times to stick together and support countries with a very similar set of values like ours (individual freedom, democracy, integrity, rule of law, rule based international system) - and in general I would count Australia, Canada, the UK and even the US into this category.
On the other hand there is no guarantee that the perceived allies will stick with the same set of values. If the US are now marching towards totalitarism, international isolation and favoring the law of the jungle - what possibly can we gain by sticking with them? If anybody puts Xi, Putin and Trump into one room it is hard to identify the adult in this crowd - and it certainly won't be the US under Trump.
I would see in the current position clear advantages to keep a position of equidistance to all of them, but again - its dependent on things which will happen in the future, and nobody can predict that.
Sort of glad I don't need to make the decision re Aukus - and I hope as well that we don't leave that up to the whim of populism. I just wish that we would have a set of grown up politicians making the best decision for the country, instead of playing politics. At the moment though, its clearly the latter.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Dec 06, 2024, 09:46 AMI guess - so hard to predict the future. On one hand it does make sense in dangerous times to stick together and support countries with a very similar set of values like ours (individual freedom, democracy, integrity, rule of law, rule based international system) - and in general I would count Australia, Canada, the UK and even the US into this category.
On the other hand there is no guarantee that the perceived allies will stick with the same set of values. If the US are now marching towards totalitarism, international isolation and favoring the law of the jungle - what possibly can we gain by sticking with them? If anybody puts Xi, Putin and Trump into one room it is hard to identify the adult in this crowd - and it certainly won't be the US under Trump.
I would see in the current position clear advantages to keep a position of equidistance to all of them, but again - its dependent on things which will happen in the future, and nobody can predict that.
Sort of glad I don't need to make the decision re Aukus - and I hope as well that we don't leave that up to the whim of populism. I just wish that we would have a set of grown up politicians making the best decision for the country, instead of playing politics. At the moment though, its clearly the latter.
All good points BP. It will be good to see if the adults in the US can carry on keeping Trump in check, or if he is going to continue to trash the foundations of the West's economic and political security.
If things were to go pair-shaped in the US, one would hope the military itself would rise up to defend the constitution as they are sworn to uphold if the very worst were to come to pass...
At the end of the day, as Penny Wong makes clear in the earlier video - the time has passed on whether we can choose to maintain equi-distance between trade and security and Australia has both moderated its rhetoric on China (lesson from NZ ?) but definately chosen security, and is ACTIVELY stepping up.
NZ needs to follow and become way more clear eyed about the security situation and its near-term future...
The US has been saying for some time now that is is time to decouple from China also eg GM plants in China being shut down, similar with other manufacturers - meanwhile NZ is STILL pretending it's business as usual...
Finland has many lessons for NZ and is already at 2.4% of GDP vs 1.1% for NZ (if we are generous).
Australia has already learned some of them some time ago and is stepping up rapidly...
Finland Crafting Whole-of-Government Defense Posture
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/04/finland-crafting-whole-of-government-defense-posture?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=c722ed1071&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Excerpt:
He pointed to Finland spending 2.4 percent of its gross domestic product on defense. That percentage needs to increase as security threats in Europe and the Arctic change. "That's our message [along with France] to other European countries" in the alliance and European Union.
In April, French President Emanuel Macron proposed a European defense initiative to defend the continent with its own nations' defense capabilities through a "common security framework."
Two percent of GDP has been a NATO security spending goal for members since 2014, when Russia illegally annexed Crimea and first openly backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern provinces.
Twenty-three of the 32 treaty partners meet the 2 percent target. Two of the largest economies in the alliance, Germany and Canada, do not.
In President-elect Donald Trump's first administration, he repeatedly criticized alliance members for failing to meet that goal. During his 2024 campaign, he added that he would not necessarily protect "delinquent" members if they failed to meet the 2 percent goal.
New Zealand and Australia strike new defence agreement
by Thomas Manch
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360511120/winston-peters-judith-collins-speak-australian-ministers
Watch: Winston Peters, Penny Wong, Judith Collins, Richard Marles meet in Auckland
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/535855/watch-winston-peters-penny-wong-judith-collins-richard-marles-meet-in-auckland
Man, we need those new frigates, along with all those drone & counter drone systems...
Dwarfed by China in shipbuilding, US looks to build its defence base
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/12/06/dwarfed-by-china-in-shipbuilding-us-looks-to-build-its-defence-base/
Apologies to Professor Paul Dibb for the late entry:
Finally we can see some crystal clear thinking and clear expectations.
But should have come from one of our own...
Designing a force structure for New Zealand's strategic circumstances
- Emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/designing-a-force-structure-for-new-zealands-strategic-circumstances/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_7fe16ca385a783b33802d5aeb728f633&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Designing%20a%20force%20structure%20for%20New%20Zealands%20strategic%20circumstances
The flip side to standing up to Trump (Ist term)
Has Angela Merkel no shame?
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/has-angela-merkel-no-shame/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_7fe16ca385a783b33802d5aeb728f633&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Has%20Angela%20Merkel%20no%20shame
Where do they dredge up these people...from Bloomberg
Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's nominee to be America's most senior intelligence official, has secretly met with Assad and defended Putin's war on Ukraine. Viewed as "compromised" and even a "Russian asset" by Democrats who, along with some Republicans, vehemently oppose her becoming national intelligence director, Gabbard now faces a broader coalition of opponents. The Associated Press reported that almost 100 former diplomats, intelligence community members and national security officials from both parties have urged the Senate to have closed-door hearings on her nomination, allowing for a broad review of all classified government information on the former Congresswoman.
Good summary of the Syrian situation to date (Audio)
Will be interesting to see if neighbouring states allow room for Syria to breath as it reorganises its future, or if the 'order' vacuum formed by losing their ruthless strongman will collapse Syria into warring factions in a similar way that Iraq fell apart after the US military victory against Saddam Hussein.
For now, celebrations for the Syrian people, including their communities in New Zealand.
(But, Tulsi Gabbard could well be proven right on her Syrian views anyway...)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ousted as rebels take Damascus
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018967587/syrian-president-bashar-al-assad-ousted-as-rebels-take-damascus
Quote Originally Posted by moka View Post
Tulsi Gabbard ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2020 election, but her campaign was ultimately unsuccessful. 2020 Election Tulsi Gabbard policies.
https://www.cfr.org/election2020/candidate-tracker/tulsi-gabbard
She opposes overthrowing the Assad regime, arguing that it would result in the victory of Islamist terrorist groups. She visited Syria in 2017 and controversially met with Assad and other Syrian leaders. Though she calls Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a "brutal dictator," she opposes his overthrow. She is a harsh critic of U.S. support for Syrian rebels, who she says have close ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Gabbard identifies as a "hawk" on Islamist terrorism, supporting U.S. military missions against al-Qaeda and the self-proclaimed Islamic State, while opposing regime-change policies that she says create openings for terrorist groups.
She has spoken in favor of many aspects of the Green New Deal framework. She positions herself as an environmentalist and a critic of "regime change wars. Gabbard says she will end "wasteful regime change wars" that she says have cost the United States trillions of dollars that should have instead been directed toward health care, infrastructure, and other domestic priorities. She has warned against U.S. military interventions aimed at changing local governments in Iraq, Libya, Syria, and elsewhere, though she backs targeted counterterrorism missions.
Gabbard criticizes President Donald J. Trump's confrontational stance toward Beijing and warns about the downsides of escalating tensions with China. She says a cooperative relationship is needed instead to confront global challenges.
Gabbard supports the Paris Agreement, calling Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the climate deal "short-sighted and irresponsible."
She has opposed the expansion of federal surveillance powers, which she says are a violation of basic civil liberties, and she backs legislation to end warrantless surveillance of Americans' communications.
She calls the market dominance of large tech companies such as Google and Facebook, which she calls monopolies, "a direct threat to our democracy," arguing that they censor dissenting views. She proposes breaking up such firms.
Gabbard, who saw active-duty military service in Iraq, has based her campaign platform around ending major U.S. troop commitments abroad, reorienting military policy toward more targeted counterterrorism goals, and improving veterans' care.
Gabbard is broadly noninterventionist, arguing that the United States should not use its military power to reshape other countries' political systems, but rather should use diplomacy to find common ground and avoid war even with the most intransigent adversaries.
Gabbard says it is the United States' responsibility as the world's most powerful country to give up "gunboat diplomacy" and seek to influence the world through "communication, negotiation, and goodwill."
She advocates for reducing tensions with nuclear-armed powers, especially Russia, in order to avoid "sleepwalking" into nuclear war. She says she would call for summits with the leaders of both China and Russia in her first week in office.
Gabbard opposed the 2017 tax reform championed by Trump, which she says provided "giveaways to corporations and special interests" while adding trillions of dollars to the "already-reckless deficit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the face of this much more nuanced description, Tulsi Gabbard comes across as very balanced and sophisticated in her views on many issues, which would align with many if not most Kiwi opinions also.
I wholeheartedly take back my earlier snapshot reaction to the short Bloomberg summary article and will try to keep a more open mind.
To date, I have trusted Bloomberg, at least on financial & investment commentary, but politics may not be their forte...
Her comments on Syrian policy resonate here in NZ (except perhaps on overthrowing Assad, at this time).
eg. She opposes overthrowing the Assad regime, arguing that it would result in the victory of Islamist terrorist groups. She visited Syria in 2017 and controversially met with Assad and other Syrian leaders. Though she calls Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a "brutal dictator," she opposes his overthrow. She is a harsh critic of U.S. support for Syrian rebels, who she says have close ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Gabbard identifies as a "hawk" on Islamist terrorism, supporting U.S. military missions against al-Qaeda and the self-proclaimed Islamic State, while opposing regime-change policies that she says create openings for terrorist groups.
She has spoken in favor of many aspects of the Green New Deal framework. She positions herself as an environmentalist and a critic of "regime change wars. Gabbard says she will end "wasteful regime change wars" that she says have cost the United States trillions of dollars that should have instead been directed toward health care, infrastructure, and other domestic priorities. She has warned against U.S. military interventions aimed at changing local governments in Iraq, Libya, Syria, and elsewhere, though she backs targeted counterterrorism missions.
Trump turned up in Paris with a YELLOW tie and deep blue suit...and met with M and Z...
well will T but the boot into P.
Sweeping Syrian rebel advance resurrects US fears of Islamist takeover
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360516045/sweeping-syrian-rebel-advance-resurrects-us-fears-islamist-takeover
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 09, 2024, 03:37 PMTrump turned up in Paris with a YELLOW tie and deep blue suit...and met with M and Z...
well will T but the boot into P.
Yep - interesting - can't remember I have seen him with a yellow tie (or better without a red tie) before. Clearly - must mean something. Time will tell, whether its a good sign, though.
went up to Z and shook hands at the end again... also Z got the big clapping from the crowd.... The R MOB losing out in the middle east might turn out to be a decisive moment in GR (global Risk)..
South Korea STILL unstable...(Some distressing content)
Police raid South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol's office over martial law declaration
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360519943/police-raid-south-korean-president-yoon-suk-yeols-office-over-martial-law-declaration
Cracks are showing...
Putin's banker feels the heat as Russia's elite turn on each other
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/putin-s-banker-feels-the-heat-as-russia-s-elite-turn-on-each-other-20241203-p5kvb7.html?utm_content=top_stories&list_name=2032_smh_busnews_pm&promote_channel=edmail&utm_campaign=business-pm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=2024-12-11&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&instance=2024-12-11-17-40-AEDT&jobid=31029920
Satellite Photos Show Russian Navy Exodus From Syria, Syrian Missile Boats Sunk at Pier
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/10/satellite-photos-show-russian-navy-exodus-from-syria-syrian-missile-boats-sunk-at-pier?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=c19845c86a
Also,
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360518289/israeli-warplanes-pound-syria-troops-reportedly-advance-deeper-country
Australian 'diplomacy' beating China at their own game. eg Nauru on 10 Dec (BB)
Australia signed a treaty with the Pacific nation of Nauru which gives Canberra a veto over any potential security and infrastructure partners in exchange for A$140 million in economic assistance. The pact is Australia's second in 12 months in the Pacific and deals another blow to China's efforts to expand its strategic presence in the region.
And now PNG (BB)
Australia and Papua New Guinea have signed a confidential agreement, the Australian government's second security pact in the Pacific in just under a week. It's seen as a win for Australia in its competition with China for strategic influence in the Pacific, following similar agreements with Nauru and Tuvalu.
At least Australia has the 'diplomatic' firepower to do these deals...
And from Syria (BB)
Russia is nearing an agreement with Syria's new leadership to keep two vital military bases in the country. The fall of President Bashar al-Assad was a personal defeat for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin: The bases were part of his recent attempts to project power and reclaim some of the Soviet Union's Cold War-era influence. Losing the leases posed a potentially serious strategic setback for Russia's military—with its naval base there its only hub on the Mediterranean Sea, and its airfield crucial to supply the operations of its military and mercenary groups in Africa.
Something we in New Zealand need to discuss for future nuclear powered port visits by our ally Australia,
and our "like-minded" friend the United States if we are to remain included under the US nuclear deterrence umbrella IMO...
Nuclear deterrence needs to be discussed at ANZMIN
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/nuclear-deterrence-needs-to-be-discussed-at-anzmin/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_28edc102b7df7c044a8cdc0709f86d04&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Nuclear%20deterrence%20needs%20to%20be%20discussed%20at%20ANZMIN
Aussies & Japanese buying Tomahawk cruise missiles earlier...
MDA Intercepts Ballistic Missile Target in Test of Guam Defenses, Aussies Fire Tomahawk
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/12/mda-intercepts-ballistic-missile-target-in-test-of-guam-defenses-aussies-fire-tomahawk?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=cc1c44986c
Let the holiday pondering begin!
What Winston Peters' bold words reveal about NZ's China strategy - Fran O'Sullivan (paywalled)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/economy/what-winston-peters-bold-words-reveal-about-nzs-china-strategy-fran-osullivan/GU77E74JTJFJ7MQ75KFXUIVLW4/
Summary:
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters, at a China Council event in Wellington, emphasized the country's independent foreign policy amidst evolving relations with China. His speech, ahead of planned diplomatic visits to Beijing, took aim at former leaders Helen Clark and Sir John Key, accusing them of undermining current policy with outdated views and external alignments.
Key points include:
Criticism of Former Leaders: Peters criticized Helen Clark's anti-nuclear policies and resistance to Aukus agreements as historically prejudiced. He also challenged Sir John Key's connections to Chinese and U.S. interests, suggesting potential conflicts in their influence on New Zealand's foreign policy.
China and CPTPP Membership: While Peters highlighted complexities in China joining the CPTPP, Key advocated for its inclusion due to China's economic significance. However, geopolitical tensions and security concerns are influencing member nations' hesitations.
Independent Policy Advocacy: Peters reaffirmed New Zealand's commitment to making pragmatic, merit-based decisions for its national interest. He stressed balancing relations with China while maintaining autonomy from U.S. influence.
The event showcased contrasting approaches to diplomacy and underscored New Zealand's need to navigate its small size and strategic position carefully in a shifting global landscape.
Summarised by ChatGPT
right time to get nuclear powered waka's... armed with nuclear shoulder mounted nuclear tipped projectiles....
the new google quantum chips will guide the war head once launched...
the new Photonic chips will provide the waka with non jammed nav guidance ...
you will all know about photonic's for navigation ...
the solutions are all there and an alliance with ukraine will help develoment these 21 century solution to defend the mother land...
Is this the New Future.. a barbaric war state ..
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly41x7eg71o
Our grandfathers and mothers would just say
welcome to our world...
who said... everything changes and everything stays the same...
In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose " – the more things change, the more they stay the same...
Some very interesting strategic details in this article...Well worth the read...
Putin's regime may be closer to a Soviet collapse than we think
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/putins-regime-may-be-closer-to-a-soviet-collapse-than-we-think-20241211-p5kxet.html?utm_content=opinion&list_name=2031_smh_busnews_am&promote_channel=edmail&utm_campaign=business-am&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=2024-12-16&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&instance=2024-12-16-07-10-AEDT&jobid=31041954
Russian Forces Appear To Be Pulling Out Of Prized Syrian Air Base
Satellite imagery and drone footage show the packing up of the base's S-400 air defense system and major airlifter activity.
https://www.twz.com/air/russian-forces-appear-to-be-pulling-out-of-prized-syrian-air-base?utm_term=The%20War%20Zone_Wire_ShieldAI_Sponsored_12.13.24&utm_campaign=The%20War%20Zone_Dedicated/Sales&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email
Quote from: Davexl on Dec 16, 2024, 11:13 AMSome very interesting strategic details in this article...Well worth the read...
Putin's regime may be closer to a Soviet collapse than we think
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/putins-regime-may-be-closer-to-a-soviet-collapse-than-we-think-20241211-p5kxet.html?utm_content=opinion&list_name=2031_smh_busnews_am&promote_channel=edmail&utm_campaign=business-am&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=2024-12-16&mbnr=MjI4NTYzMDg&instance=2024-12-16-07-10-AEDT&jobid=31041954
Here is the article without paywall, though you still need to prove to be a human :):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/12/10/putins-regime-may-be-closer-soviet-collapse-than-we-think/
Interesting: Russia used already 50% of its foreign currency resources since the start of the war. So - another 2 years at the same pace and the funds are gone. Interest rate in Russia already at 21% - and the Russian Ruble is at an all time low and worth less than 1 US cent.
If oil prices drop due to Trump restarting to drill - Russians resources still be used up earlier.
Ah yes, and their weapons technology is reliant on Western semiconductors ... and the article provides a number of examples where their weapons technology is crumbling due to lack of access to reliable western parts. So - the embargo seems to work to a degree.
Thanks BP, the link to SMH takes me straight to the article, didn't even have to log in.
Must be something to do with coming from the SMH newletter...
Maybe China not ready by 2027 ? (Corruption)
China has expanded its nuclear force and strengthened ties to Russia, the Pentagon says
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360528248/china-has-expanded-its-nuclear-force-and-strengthened-ties-russia-pentagon-says
Volodymyr Zelenskyy huddles with European leaders as Trump looms (Paywalled)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/volodymyr-zelenskyy-huddles-with-european-leaders-as-trump-looms/XWFXR327IJBOXFCG42UDTFX36Q/
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels to discuss security guarantees, increased arms supplies, and strategies for a potential peace process amid Russia's ongoing war.
The talks come as concerns grow over Donald Trump's return to the US presidency, with fears he might reduce US support for Ukraine and push for concessions to Moscow. European leaders emphasized the need for a united stance to ensure Ukraine's sovereignty and lasting peace.
The discussions, involving leaders from Germany, Poland, Italy, and others, also explored possible European troop deployments to secure a ceasefire, though no concrete plans have been made.
Zelenskyy called for urgent military aid, including air defense systems, and hinted at a potential ceasefire if NATO guarantees Ukraine's security.
Western allies aim to strengthen Ukraine militarily while avoiding public debates over peace terms to prevent aiding Russia's position.
Summarised by ChatGPT
China is buying less from developed countries, but not Australia | The Strategist
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/china-is-buying-less-from-developed-countries-but-not-australia/
Excerpt:
"However, China's share of Australia's goods exports has revived from a low of 29 percent two years ago during China's campaign of economic coercion to 36 percent now. Australia is thus more dependent on a single market than it has been since the late 1940s, when its biggest export customer was Britain."
Sound familiar ? Compare with the US decoupling above...
The Kanga's have the good stuff and the dragon's want it.
US tech-defence leaders want to upend the establishment
featuring the machinations of 'our very own' Peter Thiel...
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/us-tech-defence-leaders-want-to-upend-the-establishment/
From the Financial Times:
Exclusive: Trump wants 5% Nato defence spending target, Europe told
Donald Trump's team has told European officials that the incoming US president will demand Nato member states increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, but plans to continue supplying military aid to Ukraine.
(Makes even more a mockery of our 1.1 % of GDP, not that 5% is realistically achievable in the short term, unless we have WW-III!)
China Expanding Pacific Operations, Taiwan Invasion 'Not Possible' by 2027, Say DoD Officials
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/19/china-expanding-pacific-operations-taiwan-invasion-not-possible-by-2027-say-dod-officials?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=7b68847196&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Marine-Moving Medium Landing Ship Critical To China Fight Put On Hold Again By Navy
https://www.twz.com/sea/marine-moving-medium-landing-ship-critical-to-china-fight-put-on-hold-again-by-navy
Quote from: Davexl on Dec 21, 2024, 11:04 AMChina Expanding Pacific Operations, Taiwan Invasion 'Not Possible' by 2027, Say DoD Officials
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/19/china-expanding-pacific-operations-taiwan-invasion-not-possible-by-2027-say-dod-officials?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=7b68847196&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Situation not too different from pre-WW 2. America isolationist, not caring about (at that stage) Hitler expanding his territory by attacking neighboring nations. What did wake up America at that time was Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour.
Today Russia is playing the role Germany played in WW2 (attacking the neighbors and occupying their territory) - and China might end up doing what Japan did in WW 2 (waking up an isolationist America).
Just wondering where Americas Pearl Harbor event will be this time? Will it be Chinas attack on Taiwan? Will it be the dear leader of North Korea (loved by Trump, Xi and Putin) attacking South Korea and flattening the US army bases there? Or is China going for Japan (with lots of US soldiers stationed) or even Guam (US naval base)? Perhaps its even Pearl Harbour (i.e. Hawaii) again? Who knows - so many options when the US are run by an illiterate who didn't learn the lessons of history.
Interesting times, no doubt.
"From the Financial Times:
Exclusive: Trump wants 5% Nato defence spending target, Europe told
Donald Trump's team has told European officials that the incoming US president will demand Nato member states increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, but plans to continue supplying military aid to Ukraine.
(Makes even more a mockery of our 1.1 % of GDP, not that 5% is realistically achievable in the short term, unless we have WW-III!)"
Quote Originally Posted by jonu View Post
"NZ is also not in Europe and has no common borders. Kinda like a really wide moat really. There has to be some advantages from being so remote from the rest of the world"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, China's recent lobbing of a missile into the South-West Pacific (Kiribati)...
Just saying...(Wasn't possible 2 years ago to reach NZ).
From my earlier posting: Judith Collins says Defence plan impacted by worsening global situation, China 'changed game' with missile launch
"...Earlier, when discussing the changing geopolitical strategic environment before a select committee, Collins referred to China in September firing an ICBM carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific.
"The intercontinental ballistic missile that China launched from its launch site in China to past Kiribati is about the same distance as it would be from that same launch site to New Zealand," she said.
Collins said she had raised the issue and been assured it was a "routine training exercise", but the last time that exercise had taken place was 44 years ago."
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/one-fifth-of-armed-forces-not-fit-to-fight-admits-mod-8mxj03ltr
From The Times. Are the Brits punching above their weight or just out of their league? Now who does that remind me of?
"More than 10,000 serving sailors, soldiers and aviators cannot go to war because they have been declared medically unfit, it can be revealed.
In addition, nearly 15,000 troops can only be deployed if the mission meets certain criteria, such as the weather is not too hot or too cold and they are not exposed to noise.
Overall, one fifth of the regular armed forces cannot be relied upon to fight, according to the figures disclosed by Al Carns, the veterans minister, after questions submitted by the Conservatives.
Nearly a quarter of soldiers and officers in the regular army cannot engage in combat without any restrictions and nearly 3,000 sailors are deemed unfit to go to sea under any circumstances.
In the case of the army, 16,335 soldiers are either "medically not deployable" or "medically limited deployable", out of a total of 71,340 personnel, amounting to 23 per cent of all troops."
Where the rubber will truly hit the road - AUKUS Pillar II and the upcoming Defence Capability Plan.
Wayne Mapp: Testing Times ahead under Trump 2.0
https://defsec.net.nz/2024/12/24/testing-times-trump-security-partner/
Excerpt:
"When the Labour/New Zealand First government purchased the P8 Poseidon's and the C130J Hercules, defence spending did increase to 1.5% of GDP for 2020 and 2021. The naval replacement programme will be substantially more expensive. New Zealand's defence partners are unlikely to be convinced by a programme that merely replaces platforms of a one for one basis.
Australia is particularly notable for the very substantial increase in the size of its Navy over the last decade. They, along with the United States, will expect New Zealand to take at least some steps toward increasing capability. I have previously mooted an increase in the naval combat force from two frigates to either three or four such ships. This will require an increase in defence spending to up to 2% of GPD, which is still less than that of Australia."
Quote from: Henry Filth on Dec 24, 2024, 02:02 PMhttps://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/one-fifth-of-armed-forces-not-fit-to-fight-admits-mod-8mxj03ltr
From The Times. Are the Brits punching above their weight or just out of their league? Now who does that remind me of?
"More than 10,000 serving sailors, soldiers and aviators cannot go to war because they have been declared medically unfit, it can be revealed.
In addition, nearly 15,000 troops can only be deployed if the mission meets certain criteria, such as the weather is not too hot or too cold and they are not exposed to noise.
Overall, one fifth of the regular armed forces cannot be relied upon to fight, according to the figures disclosed by Al Carns, the veterans minister, after questions submitted by the Conservatives.
Nearly a quarter of soldiers and officers in the regular army cannot engage in combat without any restrictions and nearly 3,000 sailors are deemed unfit to go to sea under any circumstances.
In the case of the army, 16,335 soldiers are either "medically not deployable" or "medically limited deployable", out of a total of 71,340 personnel, amounting to 23 per cent of all troops."
Readiness levels are a major issue worldwide it seems. Whether it is Taiwan with their civilian militia backup, Germany with it Army training and equipment, US with its ship and submarine building and repair capacity or Australia / NZ with the number of ships being too low and vessels tied up un-crewed at wharves...
Have previously reported on the Tomahawks for Japan & Aust but a recap doesn't hurt.
Note that Peru selected Hyundai for Navy vessels - perhaps Aust & NZ General Purpose frigates will come from South Korea also ?
Numerous other acquisitions reported also...
Top Stories 2024: International (Defence) Acquisition
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/24/top-stories-2024-international-acquisition?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=d699da5b2f&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Jimmy Carter, 39th US President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, dies at 100, his son says
By Kevin Sullivan, Edward Walsh
Washington Post·
30 Dec, 2024 10:55 AM
8 mins to read https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360536254/former-us-president-jimmy-carter-diesaged-100
Quote from: BlackPeter on Dec 21, 2024, 11:39 AMSituation not too different from pre-WW 2. America isolationist, not caring about (at that stage) Hitler expanding his territory by attacking neighboring nations. What did wake up America at that time was Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour.
Today Russia is playing the role Germany played in WW2 (attacking the neighbors and occupying their territory) - and China might end up doing what Japan did in WW 2 (waking up an isolationist America).
Just wondering where Americas Pearl Harbor event will be this time? Will it be Chinas attack on Taiwan?
I note only that China has been upgrading a lot of their RORO ferries in recent times to allow beach landings on Taiwan, as well as of-course practicing their blockading skills (Is it a rehearsal or it is the real one...?)
Taiwan have also bought a swag of F-16Vs and are learning about drones if not building them yet. Let's hope they get delivered in time...
Will it be the dear leader of North Korea (loved by Trump, Xi and Putin) attacking South Korea and flattening the US army bases there?
Well they still have THAAD, despite what China thinks...
Or is China going for Japan (with lots of US soldiers stationed)
As well as upgrading their submarines for long endurance, Japan has also decided to convert more destroyers to AEGIS configuration rather than building the civilian-problematic land based AEGIS Ashore. AEGIS ships can handle an array of missile types these days including SM3s,6s and ship to ship types.
or even Guam (US naval base)?
The US is building a 360 degree view anti-ballistic missile defence shield to protect Guam and furiously updating Tinian further east as a backstop to Guam should the worst happen...
Perhaps its even Pearl Harbour (i.e. Hawaii) again?
I would note that Pearl Harbor is vulnerable right now as its fuel bunker tanks aren't replenished yet after leaking into fresh water sources.
Who knows - so many options when the US are run by an illiterate who didn't learn the lessons of history.
Trump the appeaser at any cost? (Nice not having wars around, but at what long-term cost ?)
Interesting times, no doubt. Ain't that the truth !
" RORO ferries" big they are big as you say...
drone boats .. the TW's need lots of ukraine drone boats that just shot down a helicopter with a Vissel...
else where ... its war as usual...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVNBmK7a1y8
the war in the baltics has started .. cutting cables used to be enough for gun boat war stuff...
lucky for photonic chips ...
And a Happy New Year to you too GTM (and all other contributors esp BP)
Top Stories 2024: International Operations in the Western Pacific
https://news.usni.org/2024/12/31/top-stories-2024-international-operations-in-the-western-pacific?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=0978f0864d&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Well worth a read, compared to a previous article where Matthew was overly critical of Christopher Luxon's leadership (where it appeared to be possibly personal, IMO...)
Fiscal policy will push New Zealand back to China - Matthew Hooton
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/fiscal-policy-will-push-new-zealand-back-to-china-matthew-hooton/U4OB2N77ERAMBEEUK2WPVE5EXQ/
Excerpt:
"In 2014, Nato agreed each of its members should spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence by 2024. In his first term as US President, Donald Trump linked that commitment to maintaining the US security guarantee. More coarsely, candidate Trump said last February that Russia could do "whatever the hell they want" to Nato members not honouring the spending commitment.
Nato is itself now considering raising the guideline to 3% of GDP. Trump reportedly plans to demand 5%, more than the US's own spending of 3.4%, interpreted as pressure to lock in 3%.
Nato's and Trump's demands will inevitably extend to the IP4. Of the 36 Nato and IP4 countries, New Zealand's defence spending is by far the lowest, at a little over 1% of GDP.
In contrast, South Korea is already well above 2%, which Australia reached last year and Japan will pass by 2028. The worst Nato country is Spain, on 1.3% and under strong pressure to comply with the 2% rule.
Just to maintain our current 1% of GDP, Finance Minister Nicola Willis needs to increase defence spending by around $800m a year by 2027/28.
Hitting 2% would cost over $5b a year more. A new Nato-Trump 3% rule would cost Willis $10b a year, four times what she had put aside in her annual spending allowances for everything, including health, education and law and order.
Even matching Spain's unacceptably low 1.3% by 2027/28 demands Willis find nearly $1.5b a year more, or $6b over four years.
We can't plead poverty. The guideline is a percentage of GDP so already takes into account us being poorer than other Nato-IP4 countries. The real difference is that while those countries are allocating more of their GDP to defence, we prefer to spend it on Working for Families, universal superannuation and the recent tax cuts.
There is no way we can expect to remain in the Nato-IP4 club, regardless of Trump, unless we are prepared either to forego billions of dollars of other government spending, pay higher taxes or add billions more to our debt.
If we're not prepared to do any of them, then Peters' work over 20 years and the bold Ardern-Hipkins-Luxon tilt to Nato risks costing us our economic relationship with China while doing nothing to improve our security.
We'd end up with little choice but to follow the example of other failing Pacific states of waving our begging bowl outside the Chinese embassy."
The scale of Australia's Defence Commitment, NZ doesn't even rate, based on our comparative (economic) sizes...(based on corrected AI txt of article photo)
Canberra prepares workforce to build its own nuclear subs
Washington Post
Ollie Filipponi always thought he'd be an electrician. But then the 16-year-old started at Findon Technical College, a new high school where the curriculum is partly designed by a defence contractor and the welding bays are modelled on those at the local naval shipyard.
Now the curly-haired teen dreams of building nuclear-powered submarines. "That's way cooler than wiring houses," he said.
Ollie is one of the early beneficiaries of Aukus, the trilateral security pact in which the United States and the United Kingdom are helping Australia build nuclear-propelled submarines to counter China's growing military assertiveness in the region. Australia has committed to spend as much as US$250 billion (NZ$446b) over three decades, first to acquire used submarines, then to build its own.
Although submarine construction won't start for at least five years, Australia has already begun assembling an Aukus work- force.
It is concentrated in South Australia, where a new submarine shipyard is under- way. To build these advanced vessels, this state of fewer than 2 million people will need thousands of shipbuilders and hundreds of engineers, according to federal and state officials and representatives of the defence industry.
The state government is boosting STEM science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in its elementary schools, including lessons designed by defence contractors.
Findon is the first of five new technical colleges built by the state to train teens for Aukus-related careers. A local university is teaching nuclear engineering with US assistance. And the federal government will soon fund 800 new places for university students to study STEM in South Australia, plus 3200 more nationwide.
"We are moving at warp speed," South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
The re-election of Donald Trump has injected some uncertainty into the future of Aukus, however. While Canberra doesn't expect Trump to scrap the plan, some analysts think he could seek to amend or renegotiate it.
Australian opponents of Aukus are meanwhile seeking to capitalise on the uncertainty and upend the deal.
But what that debate often overlooks partly because the first subs won't be completed until about 2040 - is that Aukus is already very much under way in Australia. "This is the biggest industrial endeavour that's happened in Australian history," Defence Minister Richard Marles said. "You can look at these time frames and say, "That's a long way in the future. But, in fact, it's not. Every day matters."
About 60 members of the Royal Australian Navy are training to work on nuclear-powered submarines in the United States or the United Kingdom, according to Australian defence officials, and nearly a dozen are already serving on US or UK subs. One even piloted the used the USS Hawaii into Perth in 2024 for first maintenance of its kind outside the United
States or a US base.
Scores of Australian shipbuilders are in Pearl Harbour training on American subs ahead of rotations of US and UK boats to Western Australia starting in 2027. Australia is spending US$5b on upgrading a naval base in Perth ahead of the visits.
Both efforts are to prepare Australia for when it buys the first of at least three US Virginia-class submarines around 2032. That's also around the time Australia will begin building the first of five nuclear-propelled submarines here in Adelaide.
"This is a huge horse that we're getting on here," Marles said. "We can't just magic this."
Australia's future nuclear submarine factory is currently little more than an empty field on the banks of the Port Adelaide River. But this barren patch of the Osborne shipyard is where BAE Systems, a British defence contractor, will build the Aukus-class sub with a local company, ASC. The Aukus sub is being designed by a UK team with Australians "embedded in it, said Craig Lockhart, chief executive at BAE Systems Australia. The United States is also closely involved since the sub will use US technology and weapons, and preliminary designs are more than 75% complete, he said.
A joint venture between the two companies will hire roughly 5000 people over the next decade. The state and federal governments will begin building a skills academy at Osborne this year to train young sub-builders. And as the shipyard goes up, so, too, will schools, day-care centres, housing and transportation links.
Something similar is happening in Western Australia, where Perth's HMAS Stirling naval base is being prepared, to the tune of US$5b in wharf upgrades and new facilities, for deployments of American nuclear-propelled submarines in 2027.
Aukus will create 20,000 jobs in Australia, officials say. But at a cost of up to US$250b, that works out to roughly US$12 million per job, and some critics argue that the programme doesn't justify the price.
"It's an incredibly inefficient way of creating jobs for people who, for the most part, are already employed," said John Quiggin.a professor of economics at the University of Queensland.
Marles, the defence minister, countered that Osborne will have some of the world's most advanced production lines, saying that "there's no doubt that will flow into the wider economy."
He wants to speed up South Australia's pilot programme to bring local companies into the US nuclear submarine supply chain. The effort is being run by HII, one of two US shipbuilders who make Virginia-class subs. If Australian companies can make some parts, it will speed up US production and prepare Australia to maintain its Virginia-class vessels and, eventually, to make the Aukus sub.
"What we're trying to do is help ourselves and in the process establish sovereign Australian capability," said Michael Lempke, who leads HII's Aukus efforts, adding that the company will soon launch a similar programme in Western Australia.
Quote Originally Posted by moka View Post
NATO should have been disbanded after the Cold War ended according to Jeffrey Sachs, but it persisted and evolved in ways that have been detrimental to global security. Sachs presents several key arguments:
NATO's Post-Cold War Evolution
· Missed opportunity: Sachs argues that NATO missed the chance to transform itself more fundamentally after the Cold War. Instead of disbanding or welcoming Russia into a new security architecture, NATO chose to expand eastward.
· Tool for US hegemony: Sachs contends that NATO has served as a war machine and facilitated US hegemony in the post-Cold War era.
Consequences of NATO's Continuation
· Source of global disruption: Sachs believes that NATO's continued existence has become a source of global turmoil.
· Cause of the Ukraine conflict: He argues that the war in Ukraine is a direct result of NATO enlargement, which Russia viewed as a threat to its security.
· Violation of agreements: Sachs points out that NATO expansion violated assurances given to Russia in the early 1990s that the alliance would not move "one inch eastward" if Russia accepted German unification and withdrew from the Warsaw Pact.
Alternative Approaches
Sachs suggests that instead of expanding NATO, the US and its allies should have:
Emphasized the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as a broader, more inclusive security framework.
Focused on building confidence with Russia after decades of Cold War tensions.
Engaged in US-Russia security negotiations, including a promise that NATO would not enlarge to include Ukraine.
In Sachs' view, the decision to expand NATO rather than disband it or fundamentally restructure European security has led to increased tensions with Russia and contributed to current global instability.
Written by Perplexity AI
https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-...f9486kallhnsxw
US-led NATO brings disastrous 'wars of choice'
https://www.jeffsachs.org/newspaper-...ssian-invasion
The continuing U.S. obsession with NATO enlargement is profoundly irresponsible and hypocritical. And now Ukrainians are paying a terrible price.
---------------------------------------
Hi Moka,
Speaking personally, I have some sympathy for Jeffrey Sach's view on NATO's eastward expansion, and Russia quite naturally perceiving this as a direct threat, given Ukraine's role as a buffer state - however the Russian state has been pre-emptive in invading Ukraine, starting in 2014 and expanding further in 2022.
Just because the cold war was 'over' doesn't mean the opportunity for NATO to disband presents itself as an opportunity. No one could credibly suggest that inviting Russia into the NATO pact itself was a credible option, given the state of Russia's remaining power and strongly authoritarian tendencies.
Perhaps over an extended period of time, if Alexei Navalny had been able to assume power, things within the European theatre might have been 'somewhat' different, but given the global reach of nuclear weapons - there would still have been the need to provide deterrence against the rapidly growing strategic power of China.
Deterrence seems to work mostly, most of the time, as we hope it will do with China also with the US AND NATO's power combined with our small contribution in the Pacific.
The key lesson seems to be that real Deterrence costs - and those costs have been largely borne by the US, and to a far lesser extent by NATO in the recent past. That lesson is the one thing that Trump is right about IMO FWIW...
(And I still have a copy of Jeffrey Sach's book "A New Foreign Policy - Beyond American Exceptionalism" sitting on my desk, unread. Probably time to read it !)
Quote Originally Posted by Panda-NZ- View Post
NZ exports to US in goods: $8.2b
Services $6b (mainly tourism so impossible to tariff).
Total $14.6b.
https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/mf...nues-june-2024
Better to wait trump out (last term).
If there's a conflict in this region though during his term though... our reputation amongst our allies could be damaged if we do that. We can still join "free" alliances/defence organisations though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Such a pity that New Zealand STILL pleads that it is poor. It simply has bludged off everyone else in the last 30 odd years enjoying its American provided 'relative' Peace Dividend (as has most of Europe), rather than simply accept that Defence is the insurance payment we all need to maintain - and we have other choices to buy weapons from now not just the US.
eg Missiles from India (Brahmos) and Fighters from Sweden (Saab Gripen), Counter-drone systems from Australia...
NZ under helen and others adopted to have departments of everything...
and now under this government its departments as usual... one wonders what the per head of population per government agency and related supported off shoot shops is, not just expenditure Per capita..
you cant have more sporty stuff when the stuff you have is lot of supportive stuff...and apparently more is needed...
red alert alarms in north land for doctors of the mind ... minding the support supply shop...
truly a broke nation ... possible a roger D moment coming soon...
then it will be bring your own cut lunch and thermos...
The threat of the Russian horde is real... and its a bathtub mobile army...
the Chinese on the other hand have a lot of mobile systems... its not Russia that is the real threat...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDpfvH1wI-4
China maybe about to surprise the world ... or is it the same problem that befell the USSR.. China is hiding the problems behind a state controlled media..
But the Chinese bond investors are fleeing the market ..
https://www.interest.co.nz/bonds/131406/bond-bubble-developing-chinese-financial-markets-and-regulators-are-scrambling-contain
and it has implications for NZ INC..
The situation as Japan's military sees it...
Japan Facing Most Complex Security Environment Since World War II, Warn Military Leaders
https://news.usni.org/2025/01/06/japan-facing-most-complex-security-environment-since-world-war-ii-warn-military-leaders?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=351f7bd6a6&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Estonia Ministers are warning its 1938 and there is still time but really is it a bit silly to sound the alarm after russia is back to using golf carts and bathtubs on wheels....
they have lost the MED with it submarine and landing ship leaving the region...
The Russian cruise missles cant even evade old F16's with one Ukraine air ace downing up to 6 cruise VISSELS in one day using the old F16's...
Russian is a bear lost in the woods well at least at the moment...
More threat to NZ is china catching an economic cold and the KIWI dollar taking a pounding from export sales to china declining..
Quote Originally Posted by moka View Post
Jeffrey Sachs's book (2018) "A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism" offers a critical examination of U.S. foreign policy and proposes a new approach for America's global engagement. The book argues that the United States must move away from its traditional stance of exceptionalism and military dominance towards a policy of international cooperation and sustainable development.
...
Alternative Vision
The book provides a comprehensive roadmap for creating a foreign policy that would make the U.S. a responsible and reliable partner in global affairs. Sachs argues that this approach is not only morally desirable but also offers a better return on investment compared to the current policy of "endless war".
In conclusion, "A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism" presents a bold critique of past and present U.S. foreign policy while offering a vision for a more cooperative and sustainable approach to global challenges.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/v...6&context=mgdr
Fittingly, Sachs dedicates the book two of "the great truthtellers in our midst" (p. 222): Noam Chomsky and Bernie Sanders. It is a proud tradition that Sachs emulates.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full...9.2020.1782070
------------------------------------------------------------
This summary reminds me of Jeffrey Sach's moral objectives that resonate with me on the 'idealist wing', along with a past admiration of Bernie Sanders as one of 'the great truthtellers'.
The reason I say Past, is simply because in geopolitics one has to take off the rose tinted glasses and deal with the world as it is, not as we would dream for it to be.
Which is why I would have voted for Biden, (preferably a younger version) rather than Bernie Sanders had I been American.
The closest President of 'moral objectives' in my lifetime would have to be Jimmy Carter (see past article on other channel) and even he served in the US Navy (submarines), believing in strong deterrance, in defence of his nation...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 08, 2025, 11:37 AMEstonia Ministers are warning its 1938 and there is still time but really is it a bit silly to sound the alarm after russia is back to using golf carts and bathtubs on wheels....
they have lost the MED with it submarine and landing ship leaving the region...
The Russian cruise missles cant even evade old F16's with one Ukraine air ace downing up to 6 cruise VISSELS in one day using the old F16's...
Russian is a bear lost in the woods well at least at the moment...
More threat to NZ is china catching an economic cold and the KIWI dollar taking a pounding from export sales to china declining..
The Kiwi and the Aussi dollars will likely both be taking an economic pounding.
Looks like iron-ore is dropping below the $100 per ton mark, Aussi nickel being supplied to China by Indonesia instead, lithium at a low...
In NZ looks like dairy prices are heading down also.
The only saving grace for NZ, is that with even higher tariffs on China, they will be desperate to price their exports even more sharply to those willing to trade eg Aussi & NZ, and increasingly the BRICS countries even as the US continues to decouple from China.
Re cable sabotage protection etc...
UK to Lead Joint Expeditionary Force, NATO Effort to Track Russian 'Shadow Fleet'
https://news.usni.org/2025/01/07/uk-to-lead-joint-expeditionary-force-nato-effort-to-track-russian-shadow-fleet?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=85faeb7947&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
(US) Navy Plan to Buy 85 New Ships Will Cost $1 Trillion, CBO Says
https://news.usni.org/2025/01/07/navy-plan-to-add-85-news-ships-will-cost-1-trillion-cbo-says?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=85faeb7947&mc_eid=cc0f71bf89
Excerpt:
Navy leaders want the current force to prepare for conflict and have made maintaining the existing fleet a priority by 2027. They are planning for a modest three to five percent growth in the shipbuilding budget.
"We cannot manifest a bigger traditional Navy in a few short years, nor will we rely on mass without the right capabilities to win the sea control contest," reads Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti's September navigation plan. "Without those resources, however, we will continue to prioritize readiness, capability, and capacity—in that order. We must recognize that the Navy faces real financial and industrial constraints."
Editors' picks for 2024: 'As important as Ukraine is, a Taiwan war must be Australia's biggest worry'
Emeritus Professor Paul Dibb
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/editors-picks-for-2024-as-important-as-ukraine-is-a-taiwan-war-must-be-australias-biggest-worry/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_0db46f791aa8738cfb9b82cfcb857b0e&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Editors%20picks%20for%202024%20As%20important%20as%20Ukraine%20is%20a%20Taiwan%20war%20must%20be%20Australias%20biggest%20worry
Excerpt:
So, in the event of a US war with China over Taiwan, what could Australia contribute? Our defence force is of a modest size but we have considerable potential to defend ourselves if, instead of just waiting for AUKUS submarines, we rapidly acquire sufficient long-range anti-ship missiles with ranges of more than 2000km.
We would, however, require access to airfields and ports—for example in Okinawa, which is less than 600km from Taiwan. But a more credible military mission for us would be to deny the narrow straits of Southeast Asia (Malacca, Sunda and Lombok) to China's maritime traffic—including the 80 percent of its oil imports.
The purpose of this analysis has been to demonstrate the dangers of listening to those who focus only on the risks of resisting and deterring China. Instead, my analysis here concentrates on the dangers of not resisting and not deterring China.
Editors' picks for 2024: 'The long arc of Australian defence strategy'
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/editors-picks-for-2024-the-long-arc-of-australian-defence-strategy/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_fbdc5c40afc67b0f27078b465c50f77a&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Editors%20picks%20for%202024%20The%20long%20arc%20of%20Australian%20defence%20strategy
Excerpt:
Australia's security dilemma is now acute. Force expansion should have occurred over the past 15 years, as warning time counted down. Instead, the force remains configured for what was termed 40 years ago 'escalated low level conflict'—when defence spending as a fraction of GDP was 2.5 percent, as compared with 2 percent, a difference of around $13 billion, in 2024-25. While the defence-GDP ratio is not in itself a planning tool, it is a valuable aid for analysis—a shorthand for the structural funding of defence, which can be tracked across time. In order to have built the force that we would now need for 'more substantial conflict', defence spending over the past 15 years should have been lifted steadily to at least 3% of GDP. We spent more at times during the Cold War, without being seriously threatened by major conventional attack.
There are, of course, competing demands on the budget which have to be balanced responsibly. The difference with other areas of spending is that structural underfunding in defence could one day lead to military defeat, and national peril as a result. Defence spending as a proportion of GDP should be increased quickly to at least 3%. This is a broad estimate of what it would take to address capability deficiencies that would be exposed in high-end combat with a major adversary. This increase in funding would be fiscally daunting, and would challenge Defence and industry, both of whose capacity to deliver would have to be dramatically enhanced in very short order.
Applies to urgent NZ leadership needs...
John Curtin's legacy
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/john-curtins-legacy/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_0db46f791aa8738cfb9b82cfcb857b0e&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=John%20Curtins%20legacy
Excerpt:
Those who would seek to appropriate Curtin's legacy in a performative display to demonstrate their credibility on defence issues cannot limit their appreciation to admiring only what he did as wartime leader, once the existential danger to Australia and its political independence was apparent. To do so would be to ignore the inconvenient truth of his legacy. To honour Curtin, we have widen the lens and examine the totality of his thought and policies, and then ask ourselves what a modern-day Curtin would make of our precarious strategic environment (said to be the worst in 80 years), and what he would do about it.
Here is an attempt to properly honour Curtin in this way. A modern-day Curtin would be vocal about the threat posed by China. He would argue for greater defence self-reliance, and for at least 3 per cent of GDP to be spent on defence. He would be concerned about the threat of long-range missile and air attack, offensive cyber strikes, raids in remote areas, attacks on undersea infrastructure and so on. He would insist on the development of effective military solutions to these and other, similar problems. While a champion of defence self-reliance, he would recognise that a new 'look to America' would be necessary. He would argue for ANZUS to be put on to an operational footing, with a standing headquarters (this time headed by an Australian), to command a combined Australia-US force. He would be a supporter of AUKUS, but would be focused on realising rapid benefits, arguing that any capability pay-offs in the 2030s and beyond would not matter much if we lose a war in the meantime. He would give priority to home defence, mobilisation planning, and boosting local defence production. He would support universal national service for the defence of Australia.
On Curtin's gravestone is carved the following:
'His country was his pride/His brother man his cause'.
This epitaph captures his patriotism and his socialism. Curtin recognised that being prepared to fight a war is the price that has to be paid for preserving freedom, democracy, and sovereignty, and protecting the nation, which is the best vehicle that exists for social improvement. We do not need the Curtin myths. The hard truths of his legacy serve us better.
Ok Ok - Drool, drool! (Hint: I like submarines...)
Editors' picks for 2024: 'Submarine agency chief: Australia's SSNs will be bigger, better, faster'
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/editors-picks-for-2024-submarine-agency-chief-australias-ssns-will-be-bigger-better-faster/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_0db46f791aa8738cfb9b82cfcb857b0e&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Editors%20picks%20for%202024%20Submarine%20agency%20chief%20Australias%20SSNs%20will%20be%20bigger%20better%20faster
yes agree to all of the above.. Ukraine just developing Drone aircraft carriers... the surround TWA's must be considering a stealth sea weapon of some kind...Ukraine just took out helicopter and land based radars with tiny drone boats... its being talked about as ground break world firsts...
This should have been posted in the other section under world politics but are we at an inflection point where the fire is on the wind and it isnt going to be easy to put it out..
Garry Kasparov was predicting the future... oh 2001... gosh how bright the future looked when we made it past 2000.
and are we all sleep walking into the future we simply cant control..
one PHD recently said she just lives with her head in the sand at the beaches of New Zealand ....
they keep putting the 300 on TV(2-3) for the locals .. its back to the good old days then and its only just started...
https://kyivindependent.com/garry-kasparov-without-decisive-military-defeat-there-wont-be-change-in-russia/
USA to invade greenland...
AUSSI Land to invade New Zealand....
not sure why as NZ doesnt have anything AUSSI could want except if global warning makes KANGA LAND a dsert waste land...
oh thats why!!! The south island has ICE water!!!!
for those of you who follow geo tiddle winks... this site has forewarned what the KANGA's are thinking when it comes to Kiwi land...
https://www.youtube.com/@PerunAU
How are they going to explain this ... they werent russian after all...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/09/style/royal-crowns-vilnius-scli-intl/index.html
Commentary on the disastrous state of our military with spending going backwards!
Defence Capability Plan: Kicking the can down the road yet again
https://defsec.net.nz/2025/01/08/defence-capability-plan-kicking-the-can/
Excerpt:
Dr Jim Rolfe, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, responded on LinkedIn saying "It's just nonsense to assert that China's 2024 military activity in the region is such a surprise that long-term plans need to be rethought. China has been militarily active for years. We just haven't cared."
Dr Reuben Steff, Senior Lecturer at the University of Waikato, agreed. "This makes little to no sense. We are kicking the can down the road again (and by again, I mean again, again, again) because of China's escalatory actions in our region? So, are we thinking by delaying the DCP that things will get better for us? Given the speed of China's military build-up and naval projection, isn't it the case that time is of the essence and we need to start rejuvenating the NZDF now?"
tak for posting those..
big warning starting to emerge from institutions that formally just attended the opening of its local on site arts and crafts buildings.. nice new building.. bit of dance about with some ..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81tea_M%C4%81ori_Club
sing alongs ect...
those were the days ...
From export controls to hacks, China signals it's ready to take on Trump - WP
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360547115/export-controls-hacks-china-signals-its-ready-take-trump
Hint: The true target is supposedly around 3.5%
Germany: Trump's 5% NATO demand too costly, Scholz says
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-trumps-5-nato-demand-too-costly-scholz-says/a-71289250
Aussi capability / readiness not looking so flash either...
The next Australian government needs a bolder plan for the navy
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-next-australian-government-needs-a-bolder-plan-for-the-navy/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_d3a97fc5f2b8b4c747ced7a4a2be7431&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=The%20next%20Australian%20government%20needs%20a%20bolder%20plan%20for%20the%20navy
Then there is the Pacific Response Group...
Pacific security in 2025
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pacific-security-in-2025/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_d3a97fc5f2b8b4c747ced7a4a2be7431&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Pacific%20security%20in%202025
Invasion Kiwi land breaking news update..
it appears that the landing at waikato heads by Kangaroo kick boxing storm troopers has been largely defeated ....
this was due in part to the newly supplied Ukraine Modified waka drone boats operated by local IWI that blunted the successful landing craft from the mother ship off shore...
some other poor Kanga storm troopers drowned due to heavy surf on the bar and apparently the quality of the life jackets that failed to properly inflate ...
the remaining survivors who washed over the bar and who were rounded up by local IWI warriors confessed they though they were on a friendly training exercise that went badly wrong...
Kanga land has protested that the landing was a training project and had been planned to mimic an attack on Norfolk island but the GPS on the landing ships had malfunctioned ....
Kiwiland says it is upping its defence budget ASAP...
Quote from: Davexl on Jan 14, 2025, 02:01 PMHint: The true target is supposedly around 3.5%
Germany: Trump's 5% NATO demand too costly, Scholz says
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-trumps-5-nato-demand-too-costly-scholz-says/a-71289250
At least they are finally at the agreed 2 percent. Good on Trump for pressuring NATO partners to meet agreed levels.
Finally they got to him...Democracy is 'somewhat' saved.
South Korean law enforcement officers detain impeached President Yoon
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360549018/south-korean-law-enforcement-officers-detain-impeached-president-yoon
Note Australia's aid generosity below. Should have sent 1/2 of our LAVs perhaps...
Australia PM 'gravely concerned' for Oscar Jenkins, captured by Russian soldiers in Ukraine war
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360549091/australia-pm-gravely-concerned-oscar-jenkins-captured-russian-soldiers-ukraine-war
Excerpt:
"Australia has been one of the most generous donors to the Ukraine war effort outside Nato.
Three months ago, Australia announced it will give Ukraine 49 of its ageing M1A1 Abrams tanks.
The tanks brought the total value of Australia's military assistance to Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion to over A$1.3 billion (NZ$1.4b)."
'Military challenges to Beijing's South China Sea claims are increasing'
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/editors-picks-for-2024-military-challenges-to-beijings-south-china-sea-claims-are-increasing/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_d3a97fc5f2b8b4c747ced7a4a2be7431&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Editors%20picks%20for%202024%20Military%20challenges%20to%20Beijings%20South%20China%20Sea%20claims%20are%20increasing
But Indonesia turning China's way...
'Three concessions after three weeks: Prabowo leans China's way'
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/editors-picks-for-2024-three-concessions-after-three-weeks-prabowo-leans-chinas-way/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_d3a97fc5f2b8b4c747ced7a4a2be7431&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Editors%20picks%20for%202024%20Three%20concessions%20after%20three%20weeks%20Prabowo%20leans%20Chinas%20way
For the record - But will it hold and does Netanyahu still have Trump's confidence?
Qatari prime minister says Gaza ceasefire goes into effect on Sunday. Israel says details still in flux
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360549367/israel-and-hamas-agree-ceasefire-deal-pause-gaza-war-and-release-some-hostages-mediators-say
For the record - "Biden's legacy..."
Trump claims credit for Gaza ceasefire deal. 'Is that a joke?' Biden responds
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360549621/trump-and-biden-both-claim-credit-gaza-ceasefire-deal
For the record - "Biden's legacy..."
Watch: Joe Biden warns of 'dangerous concentration of power' in US, in farewell speech
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360549491/joe-biden-set-give-farewell-address-oval-office
Looks like the economy of ugly bear is on the brink ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia1S6IGmD_o
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 17, 2025, 03:10 PMLooks like the economy of ugly bear is on the brink ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia1S6IGmD_o
Maybe Trump could cut a deal and buy out bankrupt Russia for a song :) ; Might be cheaper than Greenland?
Hey, this would make America great (well, at least big), wouldn't it? Largest landmass on Earth ...
i think he going to get ukraine to sell itself to the USA...
put Vissels there...
The good & the bad...
Biden's presidential legacy: An era of change, forever marked by Trump - NYT
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/joe-bidens-presidential-legacy-an-era-of-change-forever-marked-by-trump/7WCWEKYZUBDLJIJPWDNNAS3VII/
Interesting discussion of the interplay between Tech & Geo-politics between China & the US,
esp AI dominance & Security risks (ie much more than US paranoia)
US-China tech war
As the divest-or-ban bill was passed in the US over national security concerns, Markets with Madison interviewed the technology adviser behind it all, Jacob Helberg.
"I think it would make sense for any democracy that wants to preserve the vibrancy and the integrity of its public discourse domestically to look at restricting and requiring the divestiture of this company," the former commissioner of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission created by Congress said.
Helberg is a senior adviser to the Alex Karp, the chief executive of Palantir, a security software business founded by Peter Thiel.
President-elect Trump had designated him under secretary of state for economic growth.
Watch Helberg discuss TikTok and the US-China technology war in this episode of Markets with Madison below.
Markets with Madison: Tech war
Duration 30:49
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/markets-with-madison/best-of-markets-with-madison-technology/4XU6CD6ZTFEHDMUMZEY5GTKX2M/
Globe & Mail
Israel's cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages that will pause the 15-month war with Hamas for six weeks.
The deal brings Israel and Hamas a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever.
The ceasefire — just the second achieved during the war — is expected to begin Sunday.
Mediators Qatar and the United States announced the ceasefire Wednesday, but the deal was in limbo for more than a day as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute complications that he blamed on the Hamas militant group.
Russia and Iran sign a partnership treaty to deepen ties in the face of Western sanctions
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360552306/russia-and-iran-sign-partnership-treaty-deepen-ties-face-western-sanctions
Quote from: Davexl on Jan 18, 2025, 01:05 PMRussia and Iran sign a partnership treaty to deepen ties in the face of Western sanctions
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360552306/russia-and-iran-sign-partnership-treaty-deepen-ties-face-western-sanctions
Maybe American support to oust the Shah was in the hindsight not the best possible option?
Now this is how you defend the nation... dads army has nothing on this ... no panic here... now this is very watchable for everything... who does not like a fighting tiger!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6V1ah7jUFM
Swedish Officials Warn of Hybrid Warfare Threats from Russia, China
https://news.usni.org/2025/01/17/swedish-officials-warn-of-hybrid-warfare-threats-from-russia-china?ct=t(USNI_NEWS_DAILY)&mc_cid=26cbd26e88&mc_e id=cc0f71bf89
The Quad should help Indonesia achieve underwater domain awareness
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-quad-should-help-indonesia-achieve-underwater-domain-awareness/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_f69adb695b60f7c8eaf201183f0805da&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=The%20Quad%20should%20help%20Indonesia%20achieve%20underwater%20domain%20awareness
Limited quarantine is China's likely first move in subduing Taiwan
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/limited-quarantine-is-chinas-likely-first-move-in-subduing-taiwan/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_f69adb695b60f7c8eaf201183f0805da&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Limited%20quarantine%20is%20Chinas%20likely%20first%20move%20in%20subduing%20Taiwan
Australia & New Zealand as Chinese vassal states ?
Michael Pezzullo - Gradually, then suddenly: in geopolitics, decades can happen in weeks
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/gradually-then-suddenly-in-geopolitics-decades-can-happen-in-weeks/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_f69adb695b60f7c8eaf201183f0805da&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Gradually%20then%20suddenly%20in%20geopolitics%20decades%20can%20happen%20in%20weeks
Excerpt:
As Henry Kissinger often said, in the face of a wide range of uncertainties and imponderables, often action has to be taken when the opportunities and threats are only incompletely glimpsed, and when the probabilities and consequences cannot be calculated precisely. If we wait for time to play out, we are likely to be surprised when things happen suddenly.
As Australia grapples with this bewildering range of contingencies, it will need to focus its efforts on that which matters most. For Australia, the gradual and then sudden establishment of Chinese hegemony and a US strategic withdrawal from our region (whether by choice or through military defeat) would be the most adverse geopolitical occurrence in our history.
Everything else listed above matters. This would matter most. A hegemonic China, technologically dominant and militarily unchecked, with the US looking on from its hemispheric citadel, would be for Australia a more demanding overlord than Imperial Germany, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan or Soviet Russia would have been had any one of them managed to achieve mastery in Eurasia. A dominant China would expect to get its way, and resisting would incur high costs.
Kim Beazley - The (Mining) winners we must pick eg Rare Earths, vanadium, gallium, germanium and antimony
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-winners-we-must-pick/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_f69adb695b60f7c8eaf201183f0805da&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=The%20winners%20we%20must%20pick
Excerpt:
But putting the whole picture together requires a continual strategic commitment. Examining the recent Chinese bans, we can see that we can encourage a broad global effort. Given incoming president Donald Trump's intentions, he will need to take a deep interest in what we are doing. It is worth a major effort to indicate to him that we have the capacity to relieve what might be a substantial point of blackmail that cripples his strategic position. The Chinese have already demonstrated a willingness to move in this general area and have indicated a preparedness to take those bans further into the goods now covered by Iluka's production.
Quote from: Davexl on Jan 21, 2025, 10:51 AMAustralia & New Zealand as Chinese vassal states ?
Not sure I would be that pessimistic. I suppose China might be for some time somewhat occupied with subduing some countries lying closer to them like Japan, Taiwan, South-Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, India. If I add them all together, this is probably twice of Chinas population and as well exceeding their GDP. Add to that that China will need more and more of their resources to look after their elderlies rather than subduing others, we should be ok if we tread carefully.
But yes, it will be a challenge to keep the power hungry autocrats of this globe at bay. Not sure yet, whether Trump or Xi will be the bigger danger for us - some even say that Xi looks like the adult in the room. Others might say this is easy given the mental state of the other guy.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Jan 21, 2025, 11:12 AMNot sure I would be that pessimistic. I suppose China might be for some time somewhat occupied with subduing some countries lying closer to them like Japan, Taiwan, South-Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, India. If I add them all together, this is probably twice of Chinas population and as well exceeding their GDP. Add to that that China will need more and more of their resources to look after their elderlies rather than subduing others, we should be ok if we tread carefully.
But yes, it will be a challenge to keep the power hungry autocrats of this globe at bay. Not sure yet, whether Trump or Xi will be the bigger danger for us - some even say that Xi looks like the adult in the room. Others might say this is easy given the mental state of the other guy.
Yes BP, I am increasingly realising the difficult predicament Australia finds itself in by rapidly arming itself and aligning itself to the US more strongly than we are just now - your cautiously "hedging our bets" in NZ as it were, by not being as aggressive as Australia, who has all the resources that China would like if it were to dominate the Western Pacific hemisphere, following US disengagement.
Hopefully Trump will be gone in 4 years...
However as the minchkin of the defence world, NZ could perhaps aggressively arm itself to do its bit, maintaining its more even handed diplomacy with China - while quietly uncoupling and diversifing its trade relationships...?
Justin Bassi - The West's crisis of confidence
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-wests-crisis-of-confidence/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Weekly%20The%20Strategist&utm_content=Weekly%20The%20Strategist+CID_f69adb695b60f7c8eaf201183f0805da&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=The%20Wests%20crisis%20of%20confidence
Quote from: Davexl on Jan 21, 2025, 11:33 AMYes BP, I am increasingly realising the difficult predicament Australia finds itself in by rapidly arming itself and aligning itself to the US more strongly than we are just now - your cautiously "hedging our bets" in NZ as it were, by not being as aggressive as Australia, who has all the resources that China would like if it were to dominate the Western Pacific hemisphere, following US disengagement.
Hopefully Trump will be gone in 4 years...
However as the minchkin of the defence world, NZ could perhaps aggressively arm itself to do its bit, maintaining its more even handed diplomacy with China - while quietly uncoupling and diversifing its trade relationships...?
No argument on that. Our current military expenses are a pittance, and clearly - the results do show. Our navy used to have (I think) 6 larger ships, and just sunk one before Samoa. Out air force isn't anymore and even our PM transporter tends to break every second time it is in use. Ah yes, and our army fits into four not even particularly large military camps. No doubt we will pay a high price for our pitiful defense spending if we ever need to defend ourselves.
So - yes, Singapore (similar sized population) invests every year 3% of its GDP into their army ... and they manage to keep this way some quite unruly neighbors at bay. We have the same population size, probably several thousand times the territory to defend and we spend only 1% of (an anyway much smaller) GDP. Drop in the ocean.
I won't be making a habit of this...no subscr. reqd today...
Live Updates: Trump Pardons Jan. 6 Rioters and Signs Executive Orders
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01/20/us/trump-executive-orders
From BB if not already read...
Donald Trump on Monday echoed his first inauguration speech eight years ago, painting a dark picture of an America where, in 2025, many still struggle to make ends meet though employment is high and the Federal Reserve well on its way to achieving a soft landing. Trump said he would reverse America's "horrible betrayal" and instead usher in a "golden age" while taking on "a radical and corrupt establishment." He pledged to tackle residual inflation by declaring a "national energy emergency" to encourage more domestic fossil fuel production, with policy changes that would enable new oil and gas development on federal lands and roll back Biden-era climate regulations.
Still, much of Trump's agenda hinges on Congress, where Republicans have narrow majorities in both chambers and where splits are already emerging over plans that could expand the country's monstrous national debt. Trump will also weigh the extent to which he wants to orient his administration around personal grievances, including his frequent falsehoods about his 2020 electoral defeat and efforts to prosecute him after leaving office. Earlier Monday, now-former President Joe Biden announced pardons for family members and some government officials that Trump had threatened to go after.
At 78, Trump is the oldest president to be sworn into office, as well as the first Commander-in-Chief to be a convicted felon and the subject of two separate impeachments by the House of Representatives for high crimes and misdemeanors. Nevertheless, he returns to office more emboldened than ever, and with fewer likely checks given full Republican control of the US government. —David E. Rovella
What You Need to Know Today
Trump has delayed his promised renewal of the trade war he launched against China seven years ago. Instead, he is ordering his administration to address unfair trade practices globally and investigate whether Beijing had complied with a deal signed during his first term. Trump's first administration negotiated a "phase one" trade deal with Beijing that ended years of tit-for-tat tariffs, but few of China's promised purchases of US goods materialized. Trump's moves today call for key federal agencies to address alleged currency manipulation by other countries. The decision not to immediately target Beijing as promised comes after a campaign season in which promised a 10% to 20% charge on all imported goods and 60% on Chinese products. He has also vowed a 25% tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico.
Trump has promised executive orders on everything ranging from immigration, energy, the military and federal workforce, casting many as attempts to reverse the policies of his predecessor. He has said he could sign about 100 executive orders, and the White House on Monday pledged "an unprecedented slate" of actions rescinding Biden's orders. It's expected that many of them will be challenged in court. Here's a rundown of what might be coming.
Migrants near the Rio Grande along the US-Mexico border in Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, on Dec. 18. Photographer: Bloomberg
Wall Street reacted positively to Trump's initial tariff backpedaling, pushing US equity futures higher. Signs that he may pursue a less protectionist approach, for now, is a boon for multinational companies that rely on cross-border commerce, giving them time to adjust pricing and mitigate any impact to profit margins. The dollar however slumped. Betting on the greenback has become one of Wall Street's favored trades for those investors expecting that sweeping trade tariffs will crimp global growth, accelerate US inflation and potentially cause the Federal Reserve to refrain from interest-rate cuts this year. "I do think, and maybe it's just a hope, that Trump backs off from his most extreme rhetoric, especially on the deportation and tariff fronts," said Marvin Loh, senior macro strategist at State Street Global Markets.
Orsted A/S recorded a $1.7 billion hit on its earnings as the costs of offshore wind farms, particularly in the US, keep rising. The setback is the latest in a long series of issues for Denmark's Orsted, one of the world's biggest developers of wind farms at sea. It doesn't help that Trump vowed in the first hours of his second term that he will stop leasing areas for new projects. The Republican has promised to undercut sources of renewable energy from wind to electric vehicle batteries.
Many of Trump's announced executive orders are sure to be the subject of litigation. But even before that can begin, other lawsuits already have been filed. A union representing hundreds of thousands of federal employees sued the Trump administration over its as-yet detailed cost-cutting effort to be led by Trump adjutant Elon Musk. The lawsuit from the American Federation of Government Employees and government watchdog groups Public Citizen and State Democracy Defenders Fund was one of three cases filed as Trump was being sworn in on Monday challenging the "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE after Musk's favorite cryptocurrency. The AFGE case claims that the initiative violates a 1972 US law requiring checks on conflicts of interest, ideological balance and transparency for groups with a direct line to the White House.
Instead of waiting to see whether Trump follows through on his endorsement of a national "strategic" Bitcoin stockpile, some states are taking matters into their own hands. As local legislative sessions get underway, eight states have already introduced bills proposing crypto reserves. But while the push to ensure that state governments hold Bitcoin in one form or another has generated momentum among long-time crypto advocates, the clamor may not be more than just loud noise.
Some of the world's richest people turned out Monday to pay homage to Trump. It was a who's who of the world's wealthiest—gathering a combined net worth exceeding $1.3 trillion for the occasion. Seated prominently behind the Trump family for Monday's swearing-in were the top three individuals on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. Also spotted inside the Capitol Rotunda for the inaugural ceremony were LVMH Chief Executive Officer and France's richest man, Bernard Arnault, and Alphabet co-founder Sergey Brin. Present in the crowd as well were hedge fund billionaire John Paulson and Apple CEO Tim Cook, who enjoyed a cordial relationship with Trump during his first term.
From left, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk during Donald Trump's inauguration in the rotunda of the US Capitol. Photographer: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo
Hey people, I'm pausing my contributions indefinitely for now as per the other site.
Don't currently have the time to maintain both.
Hopefully you mostly have logins if you still wish to contribute to the subject...
Anyhow, here's the article that redoubled my efforts in this area as some of you will be familiar with already.
New Zealand's dangerous strategic apathy in an uncertain age
https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/new-zealands-dangerous-strategic-apathy-in-an-uncertain-age/
when we all go 3D virtual these wonderful text based forums will be like a coma 64..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_64
TRA is a special infrastructure company ... russia hasnt got one ... here is some special operations soldiers , highly trained doing special evac exfil on the front lines...
Ok heads up people Internet cables being cut connecting Taiwan to the US...
Taiwan electric train cables being cut by saboteurs....
The US is going to HIT NZ with Tariffs if NZ does not hand over Steward Island as it appears it has strategic value being close to south pole....
Tasmania has also been mooted by the White house as a possible jump off point to the South Pole.
King Dump, who did win his war against the truth and against common decency started now his next war: https://www.wsj.com/economy/trade/trump-says-tariffs-are-coming-on-computer-chips-steel-and-more-cef9974c?mod=djem10point
There are no winners in a trade war. His actions look as dumb as Roosevelts tariffs which significantly deepened the world economic crisis in the 1930íes and subsequently did lead the world into World War II.
Better lets brace ourselves for a bumpy flight ...
Risk is certainly back big time....
ELON MUSK - is he now the most dangerous man on the planet... not PUTIN or KIM?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77rkg5dm3vo
what if he shuts down .... CONGRESS!!!
Last one at the CIA turn the lights off... Jake BRO thinks elon is in the pay of ... anyone who will lend him enough money to escape to MARS... when the ship stops blowing up...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/04/politics/cia-workforce-buyouts/index.html
Is serbia about to move towards the european union and have its own revolution?
https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-protest-vucic-novi-sad-railway-collapse/33299820.html
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 05, 2025, 03:52 PMELON MUSK - is he now the most dangerous man on the planet... not PUTIN or KIM?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77rkg5dm3vo
what if he shuts down .... CONGRESS!!!
Would that make a difference after Trumps Machtübernahme? Congress is these days as useful as the Weimar Republics parliament after Hitlers Machtübernahme. Only Trumps oligarchs seem now to run the US anyway - no need for a majority of yes men in Congress. Send them home!
now i dont think the founding fathers nor the average american is ready for that....
anyway it appears that this bankrupted the french ....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence
we cant have the french and the british, the baltics as the only one left in the world.. the AFD hasnt so far split east germany away from the west...
new berlin air lift required ...
has there been a massive breach of the US departments as all hires over the last 2 years were sent in an unclassified letter for the CIA....
who did it and who ordered it...
what next?
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 07, 2025, 04:08 PMhas there been a massive breach of the US departments as all hires over the last 2 years were sent in an unclassified letter for the CIA....
who did it and who ordered it...
One of Elon's little breeches? He clearly behaves as if he would be unwell (and he well might be). I assume though he has already enough lawyers standing by to plead insanity if push comes to sharp. Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 07, 2025, 04:08 PMwhat next?
Good question. I assume the plan is to destroy the state and the rule based system as fast as possible (Project 2025). Given that it always takes time for the Justice system (which is anyway handpicked by Trump) to investigate - they will get away with some of their actions just by flooding the system.
This is a historic moment watching the world oldest democracy being turned into a banana republic.
It appears the Justice system is moving and blocking and the breach is not as public as the press though a good story was worth publishing....
still it shows that RISK is now very high and the nuclear clock close to midnight...
IDF being instructed to get ready to move everyone out of GA GA Land..
Trump will have been told the cost of allowing europe to rearm is a huge problem for US military although it may be balanced against China..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ThNMEwLF7s
Is Europe about show it is a real power partner for the US in the world after all...
When you add Japan, South K, the west is still very very powerful.
While here in NZ there is controversy over just how many shells are in the ammo dump... is there one?
Up in the north they have been getting ready ... and now we see why there is good reason to put up the fences and train train train....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJzISnug61M
world health and AID programs...
who is going to monitor virus's...
Risk is now exponential?
will this now escape africa? who is going to stop it now..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola
Couldn't not Mirror this. It is so Good!
Dr Sean Gourley (Kiwi Physicist in Silicon Valley)
on DeepSeek, AI in Ukraine & upcoming war, eg Taiwan / South China Sea, AUKUS etc
Brilliant summarization of the challenges we in NZ & the West in general, faces...Working at the coalface, he totally gets it! Required viewing...
Drones, AI key to future wars — Kiwi entrepreneur | Q+A 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjxWBvMYSrE&ab_channel=Q%2BAwithJackTame
DAV: what about the growing threat of Virus's escaping since the complete melt down (or potential soon to be) of the US monitoring in africa and world wide...
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 09, 2025, 01:10 PMDAV: what about the growing threat of Virus's escaping since the complete melt down (or potential soon to be) of the US monitoring in africa and world wide...
Yes the US Govt has gone completely nuts, yet the VIX gauge shows lack of significant fear?
Maybe the bond markets will soon say "enough is enough" then everything falls over...
Incredible times...
Keep an eye on the VIX - (Fear gauge)
well the VIX wont spike if market keeps going up...
but if EB gets out of africa yes the VIX could suddenly rise fast...
i was up the night Joe K. said in 2007... could there be a problem with the Home loan market...
and back then no one... NO ONE said anything negative on live CNBC....
well the moment JOE K said that i knew trouble was coming but was not aware of the numbers ...
only the big traders knew the numbers..
Margin Call...
well its five years till russia invades the baltics...
putin just got everything he wants...
Z does not sign away the family metals...
and europe will have to quickly arm up...
so much for retiring on the baltic ...
might have to settle for the BOP... well no NZSO but at least its got a beach..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqdtHl9koIQ
can NZ keep going along like it has or is it time to close down lots of government departments, automate the tax department...
and set up some kind of defense force... what there is one already?
well thats ok then...
its peace in our TIME!!! pass the ...
Europe is now for all intensive purposes in 1934-35....
its counting down unless some how ukraine can hang on and europe can rearm ukraine with the supplies that will hopefully still flow from the US... europe has to buy them.
Ukraine would be mad to sign anything...
oh yes G K Cornflakes will make an appearance .... somewhere soon... out from behind a curtain he got lost in..stage exit left..
Russian has started their baltic operations .... with China's help.. its as good as a declaration by false flag operations..
and that nuclear threat again ...
https://kyivindependent.com/nuclear-blackmail-russia-strikes-chornobyl-as-munich-security-conference-kicks-off/
would they really try to blow the protective covers off CHOBY?
Is what we are seeing from american administrations the first steps in a modern KKK take over of washington?
Is this the first step towards a new era of white rule in the USA?
How else does it explain that the VJ (vice jerk) attends the AFD meeting?
Is the USA now in the hands of fascist?
Was this all more about Trump establishing himself as a dictator alongside IX and Putin?
Is the new leader of the KKK elon and Trump and others?
Not the KKK of old but a new grouping that is taking shape as Elon stands in the oval office one of the new leaders of white supremacy in the US...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/15/europe/zelensky-trump-putin-ukraine-russia-peace-talks-intl/index.html
The world just started spinning on a NEW AXIS of evil and the US is one of its prime actors...
Trump wants to invite Russia back into the G7....
It turns out Trump is one with Putin after all...
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 15, 2025, 01:12 PMwell its five years till russia invades the baltics...
putin just got everything he wants...
...
Europe is now for all intensive purposes in 1934-35....
...
Yep, its looking bleak, isn't it?
Interesting how this planned Trump - Putin Pact where Trump and Putin agree on splitting Ukraine and Trump gives Putin everything he always asked for resembles the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact where Stalin and Hitler agreed on their respective imperial boundaries and agreed on splitting Poland.
Tough negotiator, our Donald, isn't he? - but hey, he is so dependent on Putin's love and praise, we need to understand that, even Donald is only human and needs a little bit of praise from the people he loves.
The only thing is - it didn't took long after that agreement before WW2 started in earnest. Actually - it was just weeks, i.e. the comparison of today with the mid 1930'ies might be a bit lagging. Better call it late 1930'ies
The pact between Stalin and Hitler was signed 23 August 1939 ... and WW II started in earnest 1. September 1939. But hey, Hitler was then probably a bit more organized than Putin is now - i.e. time will tell.
Interesting times ... and yes, BoP might be over the next decade a safer place than the Balticum.
Trump is simply doing all this to create chaos ...
and next week month year he will do the opposite...
as apparently the Idiot HS (head sxxt) for the US defense administration then went on to contradict everything he said the day before under new questioning at Munich...
listen to the daily podcast and it becomes clear no one on the US team has a clue what is what and when...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
Trump hasnt got a plan and is Miller and elon running everything behind the scenes...
you could not write this is hollywood....
do we need to see reruns of the movies made by Charlie C...
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 16, 2025, 10:22 AMTrump is simply doing all this to create chaos ...
and next week month year he will do the opposite...
as apparently the Idiot HS (head sxxt) for the US defense administration then went on to contradict everything he said the day before under new questioning at Munich...
listen to the daily podcast and it becomes clear no one on the US team has a clue what is what and when...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
Trump hasnt got a plan and is Miller and elon running everything behind the scenes...
you could not write this is hollywood....
do we need to see reruns of the movies made by Charlie C...
Yep, great speech, isn't it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7GY1Xg6X20
Unfortunately they through Charlie C after that movie out of the US ...
What a joke ...
they did it after he started throwing event parties for the communist party members in the US...
but hey they even tried to do that to OPPIE H...
but he knew to much to let him out of the country....
i bet they tailed OH everyday and night ....
and bugged his phones...
Is there going to be a next fair election in the US....
Jake Bro thinks they will try to rig it and no there wont be...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wDrCIVVFM4
remember the french revolution?
well what will elon do to get the people to removed the judges?
well people will have to guard the state capitals...
and will a new G Washington emerge... and could it be in the form of the half time black wrapper at the super bowel...
as J Bro says americans love to rebel...
well BP since russia has never made it all way to the danish coast i think landskrona will be safe enough and it only 40 minutes or less to the airport at copenhaven... it think it will be safe to return...
id rather back the scandi plus poland to whip the russians anyway ...
plus there would be russians fighting on the scandi side ....
i think the poles hate the russians still...
Trump a Dump is a stream of ... policy made up as he goes to the loo...
Radio Times also states the US delegation has one story one day and another the next....
The saudi meeting is Japo Kabuki...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 16, 2025, 07:56 PMwell BP since russia has never made it all way to the danish coast i think landskrona will be safe enough and it only 40 minutes or less to the airport at copenhaven... it think it will be safe to return...
id rather back the scandi plus poland to whip the russians anyway ...
plus there would be russians fighting on the scandi side ....
i think the poles hate the russians still...
Trump a Dump is a stream of ... policy made up as he goes to the loo...
Radio Times also states the US delegation has one story one day and another the next....
The saudi meeting is Japo Kabuki...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabuki
Hmm - not that far from Kalinigrad, isn't it?
But anyway - just not sure I'd consider anywhere in Europe these days a safe place, well, not safer than it used to be in the 1930íes. At the end it didn't matter to the people, whether the specific aggressor came from the right or from the left or whether they've just been the meat in the sandwich.
Sounds like everything is under control, is it?
they will never make it across the lake ...
there ships will sink or explode when they start the motors...
or they will sail they wrong way ....
russia will forget to pay them anything and they will defect to poland once they are half way across...
they will jump ship....
the though of real food in holland will break there moral once radio free europe starts broadcasting like its 1983...
great year to be in europe my first...
99 luftballoons was playing that summer it think or the next...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpu5a0Bl8eY
yeah what a summer in old amsterdam it was too... the east germans training after racing while we drank a beer with the aussie in the bar at the end of the bosbaan...
well some say the PLA isnt ready for anything except reciting chairman moa's litte red book...
does china youth who is lying down want to fight wars when it was all looking bright and they wanted to be in the movies ?
rich asians !!!
forget that XI came and pooped the party ... the wild great time party...
Dont think they want to go back to the revolution do they...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/16/china/china-military-readiness-rand-report-intl-hnk-ml/index.html
In this new world that looks like the early 1900's where does this leave the western allies....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/02/16/keir-starmer-ready-to-put-british-troops-in-ukraine/
Battle lines..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/battle-lines/
Ok Ok OK! i know you used to watch Billy T for a laugh or Fred Dagg....
maybe the upper classes watched McPhail & Gadsby...
but this is right up there...
J Bro has asked where is Gen Kellogg... you know like the breakfast brand...
but we know where he is ... hes MIA!!!
you have to watch this its hilarious...
Plan... what Plan... it reminds you of a comedy like dads army...
DONT PANIC!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZPGexTpTA
it just could not get an funnier....
who is going to turn up where...
Mrs K to Gen K..
dont forget to leave a bag packed with a tooth brush dear! You dont know where Donald will send you next!!!
In this video you get to learn who is doing the deals... and its a real estate guy that nobody in the poly department knows much about...
but hes real estate which makes sense because is going to build beach hotels in Gaza... Snow retreats in Canada and Green land ... and sorry what about Ukraine?
oh yes he wants to do a deal to get the metals from ukraine but that can come later...
go to do the real estate deals first and hes also the lead guy at the table with the russians....
oh right hes going to tell VP (Putin) to put in some money cause he will make a lot of money from these new deals Trump has got going...
Its now obvious what the PLAN IS...
TRUMP is going to sell the WEST to the RUSSIANS and who ever has the MONEY and ELON is in on the DEAL...
he needs all that money from all over the world to build star ships....
this is it people... GO's 1984....
just took a bit longer...
Trump has until the MID TERMS....
how will they stop elections.... ballot stuffing....
outlaw the voting machine and make it a HAND only count?
This is a world now run by Criminals....
as J BRO says dont do any deals with the US... it cant be Trusted...
all bets are off now...is your Portfolio ready for the New World Order...
did you see it coming....
GO did and he published 1984...
and DID you notice TRUMPS plan back fired...
SAAB and RM Share prices just went up..
TRUMPS has just shot american defence in the foot....
Today after the meetings in the desert that Trump is Poop's best mate...
Ukraine will have to reject the deal for metals and Trump can then dump ukraine...
Europe is preparing a proposal on buying weapons for Ukraine and the scuttle B is the orders will go European manufactures if it can....
has Trump in the long run just put a fire under european markets without realising it...
boy RM was the stock to buy back 2 years ago..
The dumb ass americans just might have shot their own market as Carter B on CNBC this morning was call it "on fire". Europe that is NOT the US. .
Stocks on fire that is ...
will the deal backfire on Trump in the long run?
Is that way SAAB went up 15 percent? and RM up to...
How much money is Europe going to stump up?
Now that Trump has side with POOP .. has NZ government had a meeting to discuss where NZ stands?
No more united Nations meaning anything...
No more world health org meaning anything ....
No More international court meaning anything ...
Canada next after Ukraine and then on to invade greenland ...
Trump is a Tyrant after all ..
Is it time to wake up in a new world where we have no defence?
Europe is the only hope now along with other western countries and Japan...
Quote from: Waltzing on Feb 19, 2025, 05:57 PMNow that Trump has side with POOP .. has NZ government had a meeting to discuss where NZ stands?
No more united Nations meaning anything...
No more world health org meaning anything ....
No More international court meaning anything ...
Canada next after Ukraine and then on to invade greenland ...
Trump is a Tyrant after all ..
Is it time to wake up in a new world where we have no defence?
Europe is the only hope now along with other western countries and Japan...
Yes, but didn't Putler & Dump do a marvelous job to split the Europeans? They learned as well from the old Romans (Divide & impera - divide & rule) as well as from the Prussians (Moltke: Getrennt Marschieren, Vereint Schlagen - March Separately, Strike United). Nothing new, but it always works ... as long as the other side is focusing on soul searching.
Just hope Europe will get their act together before it is too late ... 1984 is nigh!
world war 3 is nigh...well maybe not..
but not while Z is in power he says...
wait till the protests start in the US...
could that lead to large scale civil unrest...
social media has turned out to be pandora's box...
Jean Sigmann... 1848 Democratic revolution in Europe....
Has Europe enough Democracy to save Western Civilisation. Never has Europe had so much for play for..
Thank goodness for the European Union and who would have though how important that now is... Canada will have to join..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCnklxASVQ4
Turkey has come out on the side of Ukraine over Trumps latest remarks....
Obviously Turkey does not want parts of its country sliced up by a future empire russia... A USSR on turkeys northern boarder and on the black sea is not what Turkey wants...
suddenly a lot of countries will be realising that Sykes–Picot is back...
for those who dont watch Lawrence of Arabia...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement#:~:text=The%20Sykes%E2%80%93Picot%20Agreement%20(%2F,partition%20of%20the%20Ottoman%20Empire.
Chinese warships have sailed to within 150 miles of Sydney .... reminders of the bombing of Darwin by the japanese...
New Zealand and Australia mentioned in the lastest ukraine podcast..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
12 minutes in and NZ journalist featured..
The NZ J does a great job and highlights some very interesting aspect of the Propaganda and touches on one in particular and could backfire on Trump and Dump...
Listen to the NZ J at about 12 min in ... wait for the big joke on Trump and Dump..
and then wait for him to outline the comparison to hilter getting control of the Czechoslovakia arms industry... as the NZ J says it must be stopped here else its coming for greater Europe...
Europe now in shock...
Is America allied with anyone anymore?
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/20/europe/ukraine-europe-trump-leadership-starmer-macron-cmd-intl/index.html
NZ is an export driven economy... and now it is caught between a R and H place...
neither China or US now it seems are its real friends...
Only some European and a few other countries are democracies others are just Tribal or fascist banana republics...
and will NZ even stay a democracy or will the next labour government sell out to the tribes...
oh hang on it already did...
Trump a Chump admits russia invaded ukraine...
If the US stock markets goes no where wait for a U Turn...
Middle East super weight chart new future for Gaza...
Is this the point where the new world chaos order starts to fall apart..?
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/21/middleeast/arab-leaders-meeting-gaza-trump-intl-latam/index.html
and now the battle against the sick man of the Americas starts..
Here is the briefing and right at the end the new world order is laid out in just a few photos and diagrams of where the resources are flowing..
He does not point out however that the technology that is delivering this future is still western but we all know now that the US is not on anyones side..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDRjughhXMg
at least until the majority in the US find their voice again and march..
Dont forget logistics is everything and Europe has an ace .. its called airbus and right now it can produce its own fleet of transport and passenger aircraft and the US has a broken air plane maker. The US will fix it but europe is not dependent the US for transport.
And here it is live fire military drills in the TASMAN...
AIR NZ forced to change flight paths...
is this just the start...
we all need to wake up to this new world...
its the 1900's all over again.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/chinese-warships-in-tasman-sea-live-fire-activity-reportedly-seen-by-nz-navy/JGMQ4NHIQZGVRMRUACBQLHBSTA/
The chat is that Europe has the IP and the manufacturing base to ramp up a new collective defence organisation...
and do most of its own defence manufacturing and the US can no longer be trusted to supply equipment...
has the US just shot itself in the foot...
and that every policy the US is rolling out will fail in the long run..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
Its looks like the American public ....
does not like Trumps approach to ukraine ... 81 percent of americans...
has it started to blow back on the Black House...
even some journals are now taking the opposite side to the Black House...
Europe is rallying around Ukraine and so are the Ukraine people...
yes the US is having a zeitenwende but its a Scheißhaus ...
well i cant help it i was brought up on ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPD-iENQvbA
and here in the WAKATOO it feels like a rerun of borish english countryside...
how of earth did the english have Brown and Turner... it defines logic...
however hamilton is attempting a Masterwork, Carmina Burana apparently... with a brass band!!!
no not sure about that but if anyone is attending let us know how it goes..
Hold on next talks in Turkey arnt about ukraine at all...
https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-not-on-agenda-in-next-us-russia-talks-state-department-says/
"did i say that!!!"
well he did... he did say that be now is walking it back like he was sleep walking and talking....
talking out of both sides of the his ... well what ever it is...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/27/trump-zelensky-dictator-comment-starmer-putin-nato/
No point commenting as its all written up in 1984...
That book says it all...
Every western country is on its own and NATO is in its last months...
Risk just went up in one week..
Did not take long did it and China will now go for TW in anyway it can...
Will USA now even backstop South K and Japan...
Japan must now rearm..
USA now is run by Putin.. all cyber protection against russian hacking is now halted...
it is now legal for Russian hackers to attack US installations ...
The Evil white house under elon musk has now surrendered to Russia...
Is the US about to enter a Civil War? A low level one to start with? One behind the scenes where secret societies spring up to try to stop Putin running the white house via Elon...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGKBlDP4TXQ
Is Europe going to come to Greenlands defense..
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 03, 2025, 03:09 PMNo point commenting as its all written up in 1984...
That book says it all...
Every western country is on its own and NATO is in its last months...
Risk just went up in one week..
Did not take long did it and China will now go for TW in anyway it can...
Will USA now even backstop South K and Japan...
Japan must now rearm..
Yep - feels like watching a horror movie where you've read the story a long time ago.
Bit eary that the Americans don't seem to stand up - for sure, there must be some decent ones left? But anyway, would probably as well just play into Putin's hands. He would love a civil war in the US.
I recon a lot of countries need to rearm and learn to work together. If they are managing to do that (like e.g. Europe) - they will have a fighting chance against the autocrat triad, but if they keep infighting things will turn bleak for all of us.
Norway refused to bunker US Naval warships in the North Atlantic...
Yes you heard that right...
Nato ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7giYIisLuaA
notice the stock prices of European Defense stock since the incredible speech from the US administration... 30 percent in a MONTH!!!
Now here is the question ... what if AI had written the CPP connections it is learning about to use the Universal Interface connections software services (IUBS) to connect to the internet streaming platforms and disrupt the EVIL address of the worlds newest dictator of the most powerful nation on earth....
Now AI is not yet powerful enough to create this connection but its working on it and Anthropic has so far been the best at keeping context long enough to do the job....
The question is should one ask AI... what is AI could use this new found power to stop the destruction of the free world....
Would you say to AI... no dont terminate the streaming feed or yes terminate the feed....
after all if you said YES to this you could become the target of drones and spys....
you could be dead in a week....
imagine having the power to teach AI how to automate its self and you own the software code that AI calls a revolution in modern computing... better than quantum computing because it a universal connector....
would you let AI loose and teach it to fight for Justic? What would you do if you controlled a new LIVE AI...
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 03, 2025, 04:13 PMNorway refused to bunker US Naval warships in the North Atlantic...
Yes you heard that right...
Nato ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7giYIisLuaA
...
Hey Waltzing. Listened to the video, but nothing about Norway not bunkering US ships ??
Some other link ??
Hi DAX... it was on Jake Bro...
now it appears Norway is bunkering but its all private companies and one has refused...
https://kyivindependent.com/norwegian-fuel-supplier-halts-sales-to-us-over-trump-zelensky-dispute/
Thanks Waltzing, keep up the good work!
not really doing anything except looking for the next big bang in the markets...
well it looks like China has a green light to do anything it wants...
EVIL In the OVAL OFFICE..
NZ simply cant do anything... cant even stop a nuclear visit can it...
Its a nonsense plan of Trumps to align with Russia.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyepG3Kdp-Q
who is this guy....
Canada is looking to BUY canada.... and no whisky from Kentucky... wow... its war....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCwDwZdQJDA
jee could the scots make money here
If your looking for a rising star in american politics then Jake Auchincloss is the Dem's young Robert K...
he just need a make over and some speak lessons....
there are rising stars out there...
https://auchincloss.house.gov/
post his Jake Bro interview over in world politics...
Hear a KIWI journalist voice on the world stage in telegraph for the second time from Kiev...
He now got world journalist status...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/03/02/russia-ukraine-war-listen-daily-podcast/
oh now for something a little more light hearted ...
from the man himself who get phone calls from DUMP... im mean his mate TRUMP...
IITTTTT'Sssss Piers Morgan Weighs in on the Press Conference Between Trump and Zelensky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ECfqSLyrig
apparently he rings him regularly...
its all just a show... a Ka puti tooti shoootie...
Did Z get it very wrong..... of course he did...
now what should Z have done...
Yes thats it people.. we know the answer he should have taken a long a 6 ft Miss Ukraine in a low cut dress as a translator and put her right in front of the D and Z spoken softly in Ukrianain...
Yes thats the winning play.. the D would have Toosed his Doodle all over her cause M doesnt do anything with the old Dumper anymore!!! in fact Mel probably has a personal trainer in her own private gymn!!!
No one is going to help the US now...
Trump a DUMP just got DUMPED on CNBC Europe... will the presenters get fired?
Who makes guns like the germanys?
well it wasnt hard to see all this coming was it.... DUMP wants more Russian money in his coffers..
Musk has lots his mind and doesnt know it or rather was this the real MUSK all along? The Man behind the MASK...
Get a look at those German Guns....
The Germany should have started rearming in 2014 and it was obvious wasnt it...
Anyone living on the Baltic at the time knew it... why did not the Germans rearm...
Imagine where we would be today if Germany has 3000 panzers and new Fighter aircraft and a Navy...
They have the engineers... and now it too late...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/06/business/europe-military-spending-economic-growth-intl/index.html
That was in my mind in 2014... and i imagined the German forces we would have today... but Merkel was living in some science class room and yet she was East German... She should have known better...
now this thread i supposed to be super serious and for the big red alert items that could really upset your breakfest lunch and dinner....
but when China is now your best local friend and the US is your next best hated threat....
well there is only one show in town to watch.... since TVNZ does not seem to have anything to watch as KIWI's dont do comedy anymore... havnt you noticed how politically serious they are?
The Late SHOW!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kKBUyJnpcI
NZ has always been outspoken but not anymore... your fired!! says new putin stooge whinny..no hes no Winston...now we know....
its official wellington is p*ssing it knickers....
NZ is defense less....
and the US us no longer friendly to anyone... except if you have a lot of minerals it wants.. or land...
https://theconversation.com/most-of-the-world-has-long-feared-us-power-now-its-allies-do-too-249826
Hungry and SLOVWACKIA what ever its called are rearming along with europe... but what for they are PUTIN's friends... todays friends are tomorrows.... cant keep up who cares...
heres a PROF condensing it all ...poland looks to acquire nuclear weapons... jee is french about to export nuclear weapons and to who....should NZ ditch it nuclear free status... looks like it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHUK4pW40mw
https://www.youtube.com/@Professor-Gerdes
Can Sweden develop a 5th generation stealth fighter by 2035? before Trump lets russian steal all its secrets of course... next week.. but remember concorde...it plans were stolen by the russians...they did not have the industry to develop the engines nor the materials...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhp9ysR_oPk
if Sweden can pull this off what will SAAB's share price be in 2035...
from a population of 10 million.... now thats performance....
and NZ is developing what?
Trump wants to take over Canada and at the same time as walking all over a commonwealth country visit the King in B Palace...
Canada says wait a minute we are going to Tax your free access to the Big AK!!!
oh dear everything just got a TF on it going to and from the big AK!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8E8zAgGM9U
Dont tink the brainless Chump saw it coming...
Did voters in AK just send Chump a message... imagine extra charges on all those ferry crossings up and down the coast ... not to mention all the vessels that will have to go outside their normal water ways...
oh dear did shipping on the coastal routes suddenly come under a TF threat ...
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 08, 2025, 10:01 PMCan Sweden develop a 5th generation stealth fighter by 2035? before Trump lets russian steal all its secrets of course... next week.. but remember concorde...it plans were stolen by the russians...they did not have the industry to develop the engines nor the materials...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhp9ysR_oPk
if Sweden can pull this off what will SAAB's share price be in 2035...
from a population of 10 million.... now thats performance....
and NZ is developing what?
Well, we are really good in setting up huge IT projects which don't deliver, we developed a culture of putting our stone age past over the present and still more - we are the only ones funding to play whale songs to Kauri trees.
Will Rocket Labs beat EVIL ALIEN to Mars?
well dont think so as the moon mission blew up a lot of rockets...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te_3gfOoh8c
BBC News , Poland condemns the US withdrawing support as death rise from missile and drone attacks...
Iran says no to nuclear deal as EVIL TRUMP threatens military action....
Hes now power mad and what will he do next...
https://www.bbc.com/
sorry the local news web sites are a bit boring to post..
stories about whales songs.... corporation wasting tax payer money lost in excel spreadsheets... government departs wasting lots of tax payer money... tax payer union being taken to court by black lives matter... some 501 blasting up a suburb in south auckland with an AK sub machine gun..
sorry sorry that might need fact checking....
While CHUMP is burning down NATO...
Yes someone is burning down EVIL E HOUSES...
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/anger-at-elon-musk-turns-violent-with-molotov-cocktails-at-tesla-dealership-in-colorado/PWHVQ6DWBVDEDP5WXNWTMPY22Q/
Burning down the HOUSE...talking Heads..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3eC35LoF4U
now id you want to know if CHUMP is on your side.. the other side... or just no side... this is a great watch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHZWa-Ajbvk
this US army intel man would be DOGE'd away pretty quick these days..
and we all should have invested in RMT as they will take over car production plants in germany to make tanks...
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 16, 2025, 09:43 AMnow id you want to know if CHUMP is on your side.. the other side... or just no side... this is a great watch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHZWa-Ajbvk
this US army intel man would be DOGE'd away pretty quick these days..
and we all should have invested in RMT as they will take over car production plants in germany to make tanks...
RMT is good, but given that most people here probably find it difficult to directly invest into DAX shares ... try ARMR on the ASX. This is an index fund which includes companies like Rheinmetall, but as well a balance of other Nato aligned manufacturers.
Lifted from their factsheet:
QuoteARMR provides exposure to up to 60 leading companies which derive more than 50% of their revenues from the development and manufacturing of military and defence equipment, as well as defence technology, including Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, General Dynamics and Palantir Technologies
https://www.betashares.com.au/files/factsheets/ARMR-Factsheet.pdf
Rather new fund, and currently enjoying a healthy SP appreciation.
Not sure would want to invest in anything US military right now as Europe is starting to cancel orders... or behind closed doors is in panic mode. Uk nuclear missiles for their sub.. F35 for their carriers..
When europe sees the ramps for weapons being destroyed at the Air base in Poland by the drunk US idiot and Russian agent in charge at the white house.. the matters are far more serious than anything yet filmed in hollywood.
Every western government is now in crisis and no need to post here anything much...simply because is to big to comment on...
Definitely a valid point. I guess at the end it comes down to the question how long Putins Parrot is going to run the US.
I heard recently that Musk/Trump planned to bring people back into the 1930íes, but did overshoot a bit and landed them in the late 18th century. This was the time of the French revolution.
So - the question is, who is going to run the US after the people stand up and dispose of their strongman, as they always do. Musolini was found hanging under a bridge, Hitler was giving himself a bullet and Luis XVI came under the national razor.
Personally I hope that after the next strongmen disposal event we might be able to side again with the US forces, but yes, you are right - one can't be sure, and it could take its time.
Interesting times, anyway.
Deadly dangerous times...
any members of the 110th mount on the Canadian border who are currently dating Canadian chicks have been warned not to take their hunting rifles with them when hunting local moose... as the commanders of the 110th mount are worried about causing a major incident...the 110 armoury has been given permission to however issue high powered cameras to photo graph suspicious wild life that may be showing signs of aggravated behavior toward US military personal...
1 million people take to the street to protest in where? your kidding...
whatch out for your coffee...oh no it got swept away in the crowd... oh well consider it a fund me a coffee..
1 million... imagine if that happens in other capitals around the world... and in hungry they are growing hungry for change... this is what the crowds look like when they come for you....
DUMP calls P.. Hi Vald... whats up brow? what you want a Hockey game.. sure sounds great!!
bring it on,... want a bet?
got some nice condos for you and your mates to invest in...
Naaaa not those ones in GAZ ,that deal has turned to dust...
yeah great your stopping bomos on those power stations? great news...
NA we arnt going stopping Bomos the towel heads.... til we see the backs of their camels...
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 19, 2025, 02:47 PMDUMP calls P.. Hi Vald... whats up brow? what you want a Hockey game.. sure sounds great!!
bring it on,... want a bet?
got some nice condos for you and your mates to invest in...
Naaaa not those ones in GAZ ,that deal has turned to dust...
yeah great your stopping bomos on those power stations? great news...
NA we arnt going stopping Bomos the towel heads.... til we see the backs of their camels...
Shhh - we are not supposed to know and distribute this info. Only on a need to know basis.
These things will be devulged in 50 plus years when our grand-grand children wonder how the mightiest nation on earth could vote for such a looser - not once, but (at least) twice!
always wanted to own a power station... yup... perfect... hide the gold at the bottom in a big underground bunker...
not sure DUMP wants to keep gold next to those murdering thieves his best mates...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/19/russia-ukraine-ceasefire-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 20, 2025, 09:41 AMalways wanted to own a power station... yup... perfect... hide the gold at the bottom in a big underground bunker...
not sure DUMP wants to keep gold next to those murdering thieves his best mates...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/19/russia-ukraine-ceasefire-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/
Well, I am pretty sure, these power stations come currently at distressed prices - paradise for any property developer.
And hey, at the end it probably does'n matter to Dump, weather they will end up in an belorussianed UKE or directly in his masters empire. Dump will make sure, it doesn't make a difference to him.
Just wondering - there are currently as well some bombed out prime locations at Mariupol. Surprised Dump didn't yet offer to turn them into the Riviera of the Black Sea ... Lots of $$$ to make and so much loot to steal ... and given that he already offered to use Gaza for a test run, his lackeys clearly know what to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUrTbEVyJPo
it appears he made an offer to Z but really Z is smart now and understands be nice to Washington DC no matter whos in charge...
but if you want a laugh... estonia has always been tops and not just at conducting ... boy do they produce some great classical conductors...
but here a esto blogger shows how TF 's really work... STAND BACk!!!
and tell us how much french can ramp up its military production...
DUMP in Co seems to have forgotten who created what...
UK... RR for engines...
France... Air Transport and fighters.. High speed trans.
Germany ... Trains... YUP you need them to move all those tanks around..Tanks, Tanks and more Tanks... all those factories and workers .. no more little cars but big and small Tanks that do Everything.. from taking down drones to hitting stuff.. Ukraine war just re ignited german war machine... ooops...
Noridics.. everything from software to anti aircraft missiles to artillery shells and logistic trucking companies..
Europe has got everything it needs including French nuclear power if it wants to go big..
Oh dear all those US military contracts being slowly cancelled and Make Europe Great Again...
Lets not forget Italian Trains... Cars .... and ... YUP Tanks ...
Europe is the sleeping giant ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4p3rI7CC3Q
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 20, 2025, 12:13 PMit appears he made an offer to Z but really Z is smart now and understands be nice to Washington DC no matter whos in charge...
but if you want a laugh... estonia has always been tops and not just at conducting ... boy do they produce some great classical conductors...
but here a esto blogger shows how TF 's really work... STAND BACk!!!
and tell us how much french can ramp up its military production...
DUMP in Co seems to have forgotten who created what...
UK... RR for engines...
France... Air Transport and fighters.. High speed trans.
Germany ... Trains... YUP you need them to move all those tanks around..Tanks, Tanks and more Tanks... all those factories and workers .. no more little cars but big and small Tanks that do Everything.. from taking down drones to hitting stuff.. Ukraine war just re ignited german war machine... ooops...
Noridics.. everything from software to anti aircraft missiles to artillery shells and logistic trucking companies..
Europe has got everything it needs including French nuclear power if it wants to go big..
Oh dear all those US military contracts being slowly cancelled and Make Europe Great Again...
Lets not forget Italian Trains... Cars .... and ... YUP Tanks ...
Europe is the sleeping giant ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4p3rI7CC3Q
Absolutely - while humans came from Africa, they reached their highest development peaks so far in Europe and in parts of Asia (India, China). Europe clearly has the resources, the people and the Know How. They just need to learn to focus on their common interests and work together instead of listening to the sweet voices of Putin"s populists who try to divide (Europe) and (allow Putin to) conquer the lot (divide et impera).
So far however it looks the Europeans are remarkable stupid - it started with Brexit and the alt dumb / dump / right in all countries are working hard to keep Europe weak and apart. But who knows - maybe Trumps actions manage to bring them together.
Interesting match to our discussion: Canada's military industry getting closer to Europe:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/world/canada/canada-eu-military-industry-trump.html
Lets isolate the bully!
DUMP and DUMB and DUMMA will do what decades could not... make Europe great again and Xi wonders why everyone young is lying down and Everyone in the US longs for the days of JFK...
yup this is what happens when the now leadership of the free world has stepped aside ....
who is now going to take over there countries.... but this is the biggest military in what was NATO declaring its self no longer a democracy....
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/20/turkey-faces-protests-investor-flight-after-opposition-leaders-arrest.html
reading this it appears that the head of the US Team to betray the western world is the Real Estate deal guy who loves Putin....
all is lost people... we arnt heading for 1984... this is the rest of the world starting to see we are there.... ages ago...
Lenin said decades nothing happens then decades happens in weeks.... Starmers peace plan is not acceptable to the US apparently...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62zm4eqvp7o
its OK We are saved... protest on the side walks of Cheery Hills New Jersey USA against telsa and MUSK...
after all is mUSK the single biggest threat to life on earth....
https://www.archyde.com/protesters-target-nj-tesla-over-anti-elon-musk-rallies-crowd-highway/
Ok David Packman is saying a moment coming for mass demonstrations... a moment... remember those TV add about one of those moments?
no NOT one of those.... one of these.. heres the original Aussi add... go on try one..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSlcRVmWKdU
then back to 1984...GOW's new world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four just in case you grew up watching and reading something else..
now FOR David Packman ...protest people like it the peace movement all over again cause well someone need to revive that dead lost cause....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT5kL1Adxzw
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 24, 2025, 06:43 PMits OK We are saved... protest on the side walks of Cheery Hills New Jersey USA against telsa and MUSK...
after all is mUSK the single biggest threat to life on earth....
https://www.archyde.com/protesters-target-nj-tesla-over-anti-elon-musk-rallies-crowd-highway/
No worries - Tesla is only last years bonanza, and corrupt Elon will use the insider information provided by Dump to make in future much more money with Starlink. He probably gets the US taxpayer to fund (subsidize) the system and China to pay for its use. Win - win. Hark how sweet the bells of Elons cash register are ringing:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/musk-pentagon-briefing-china-war-plan.html
Musk has sold MAGA on his new world order...only someone forgot that europe invented the OOP compiler that was then taken to the US in the mid 1960's...
does it sound familiar...europe invents and production comes out of the US...
well that wont happen anymore and where are the lithography machine IP held.. holland....
also they have offices in germany..
lithography is the key... europe needs chip manufacturing and fast... and it take a long time and a ton of money..
who ever manufactures the chips controls the world...
if you think the risk to your investing is low... well its probably higher than at any point since the 2 world war...?
and with these monkeys running the zoo... well after this stuff is XI not going to do stuff and put - kick the door - in...
the pentagon is now wide open... its has no more security than your home or business...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM7KXt7sMcE
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 25, 2025, 10:16 AMif you think the risk to your investing is low... well its probably higher than at any point since the 2 world war...?
and with these monkeys running the zoo... well after this stuff is XI not going to do stuff and put - kick the door - in...
the pentagon is now wide open... its has no more security than your home or business...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM7KXt7sMcE
Sounds like the incompetence of Dumps team is still worse then his viciousness ... and this is saying a lot.
But who knows - this incompetence might well save the world as we know it?
CNN reporting the door wide open security policy..
DUMP did all this because they could not get him into jail...
well he only committed some accounting mistakes and hmm some other stuff...
not enough to get put away ..
now a whole lot of others are going to run riot....
the criminals that run other places... country's are going to run riot to...
https://edition.cnn.com/
its off at the races for crime then..
The US will in 6 months be a society where anyone with a social liberal view and a degree might be seen as the a criminal by the administration and removed from their jobs or the department is closed...
education is now wrestling....
this is the face of the enemy with in... probably funded by russian real estate investor money....
the UKE's will have to say no at some point... and then what ... its official .. the US is now an ally with russia... not europe... all NATO coporation may continue but US may be only token..
XI would be MAD not to take advantage of this...buckle up people.
Lenin... nothing happens for decades... then decades happen in weeks.
its all banana skins..
Chumps team just slips on them all the time... COUNT the SKINS and you can see the future...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PutViFiqbf8
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 26, 2025, 06:33 PMits all banana skins..
Chumps team just slips on them all the time... COUNT the SKINS and you can see the future...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PutViFiqbf8
Clearly - Putin holds now all the Trump-Cards, courtesy to the idiots who are squatting these days in the white house.
It will be a long and arduous journey after the departure of the Trump team to fix the damage they have done, if it can be fixed at all.
jake bro says the US will be out of europe after the mayday parade or even before there is no way Ukraine can agree to any of this and they are just running the clock down on supplies....
Trump has already agreed with the Devil what will happen next....
Europe will now have to arm up fast and pay for Ukraines defence...
now ive been called here a pessimist... but i getting history Déjà vu....
the brave new world is one where the USA is the enemy....
wait its a nightmare that what it is.... its not real... we havnt live it before...
but many have in many civilisations before...
Thats it one whatched BBC on a sunday and https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=BBC+roman+series+on+the+cesars&mid=C2495BD7B792B5C414E3C2495BD7B792B5C414E3&mcid=26D3C0130ED041BFA1EAE4E827C479B9&FORM=VIRE
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 27, 2025, 08:08 PMnow ive been called here a pessimist... but i getting history Déjà vu....
the brave new world is one where the USA is the enemy....
wait its a nightmare that what it is.... its not real... we havnt live it before...
but many have in many civilisations before...
Thats it one whatched BBC on a sunday and https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=BBC+roman+series+on+the+cesars&mid=C2495BD7B792B5C414E3C2495BD7B792B5C414E3&mcid=26D3C0130ED041BFA1EAE4E827C479B9&FORM=VIRE
Nobody can predict the future, but we all can identify possible scenarios based on parallels in history ... and yes, one doesn't even need to go back to the Romans to see parallells to whats happening at the moment.
Want to see how fast and effective one can turn a democracy into an autocracy: Look at the last decade in Turkey (looks like they are ready for the next step) or Hungary (still lingering) - or look at what happened in Germany during the 1930íes (they did the full monty). All these things happening now again in the US.
Want to see how trade wars lead into a global depression and culminated later in a world war? Just look at the fast rising tariff wars in the 1920íes and 1930íes creating and maintaining the Great Depression and leading into WW2? Well, Dump just restarted this process.
Want to analyse the start of similar military operations spanning the globe (sometimes called as well world wars)? Again, look no further then the isolationist stance of one of the big players (US) prior to WW2. The giant only came out of its navel gazing mode after Pearl Harbour.
I don't think that predicting the rise of a bunch of autocratic blocks around the earth suppressing their subjects is pessimistic, and neither is the prediction of a significant military event between them. It clearly is a realistic scenario. Whether we get there, or whether we are lucky to dodge the bullet is another question, but for luck you need the optimists.
I am sitting in this regard still on the fence.
the partnership agreement has wall street and some others talking over ukraine...
russia gets nordstream back and gas flows to europe...
ukraine is taken over..
its a blue print for taking over a country...
now remember the middle east after world war 1...
this is far worse and murders and criminals are doing this deal..
and the same bunch who engineered the GFC...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liar%27s_Poker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sykes%E2%80%93Picot_Agreement
i dont mean to say it... but the fence is gone... it just got ripped up unless europe can fund Ukraine....
the US can hold the gun to the UK's head as well... sorry no nuke rockets for your subs...
looks like europe now needs frances kit..
what will ukraine do ...
its now the 51st state of the US ...
its 1984...
No fences left...
The ukraine army had to flee from kursk leaving behind equipment... the US turned off the war... its over as far as the US is concerned....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/27/revealed-trump-plan-force-ukraine-restore-putin-gas-empire/
it appears that MUSK is fulfilling his grand father dream of being a technocratic political platform... and it was a political movement from the 1930's...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahv3IKzMdHA
nazi parents...well its not uncommon.. but MUSK is the next hilter? maybe on mars...
basically it a count down to china taking TW...
they hope not to use force but those big landing barges give it AWAY WITH THE RAMPS ... giant ramps...
and if they do how much money do NZ lose....
it could throw the NZ economy into ... the deepest recession since when? the depression?
Trump declares war on ... well anyone who does not do what they are told...
Greenland is 100 percent going to be US...
Iran is going to be bombed....
Hes lost his mind... again... as always...
will the 110th actually do it? invade greenland? or will D CHUMP get Dumped in the River... thinking Boston Tea Party.
and the CHINA TANG Dynasty is about to test the new american administration...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/31/china/china-taiwan-military-drills-hnk-intl/index.html
look this man is a clear and present danger to the world!!! yes that man...
no NOT the MAN in RED!!!! the Late Show ...
with D Chump about to kick rocket man out of the white house and the good citizens of iceland about to freeze to death on a sit on the runways to stop an invasion...
what could go wrong...
if Chump visits any old Retirement V's and offers to call bingo the boards might start flying...
The Mar A LEGO accord....remember bretton woods...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_system
is XI and everyone else going to go to the beach house and drink Margarita's....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ts5wJ6OfzA
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 04, 2025, 09:51 AMis XI and everyone else going to go to the beach house and drink Margarita's....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ts5wJ6OfzA
Great link - cheers.
well if no one goes for drinks at the beach house... in the coming months... where is the bottom for the US markets.. who is the winner()? will china ships its cheap good too..... ERUOPE!!!!
could some strange things happen... cheap china good for AUS, Canada and NZ?
Planting season in the US and loans are frozen....
Car Chaos....
everything Chaos...
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 05, 2025, 03:09 PMwell if no one goes for drinks at the beach house... in the coming months... where is the bottom for the US markets.. who is the winner()? will china ships its cheap good too..... ERUOPE!!!!
could some strange things happen... cheap china good for AUS, Canada and NZ?
Planting season in the US and loans are frozen....
Car Chaos....
everything Chaos...
Mmh - not so sure Europe would be happy about still more cheap Chinese cars ... though I understand they build at least some of them already in Hungary.
... and I hear they are quite good. BYD is eating Telas lunch every day these days, since Elon focusses now on helping Dump to bankrupt the US.
But yes - a coalition of the tarif free world would certainly be an appropriate response. Lets not forget - the US represents only 25% of the worlds GDP. If the other 75% agree, they could kick Dumb's butt.
speaking of elon... his father is the fascist head of the family... and his father was the technocrat political leader...
But speaking of strange stuff... why did the US just put a TF on pengiuns...
The US is now spinning out of orbit...
In case people havnt realised western alliance has a old fool in the white house we will soon see who is on whos side...
not long to go now...
makes George Smiles people look like normal stuff...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Smiley
not long now ....
Thats right they are turning on trump in moscow now... wonder if Trump owes P money... NA we ant stoping any wars.... Just do your job T.... dont call us ... we arnt calling you...
now your probably wondering how the birds black and whites flap flap show got hit with TF's right?
because it turns out the TF lists they were holding up on Insanity Day (chumps in charge party day) was GEENRATED BY GAT GPT-4... that is why the list is prepared in DOT COM ORDER!!! and these random islands were included....
its a JOKERS day out...
Great speech's of the ages ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcglEW4eDaA
warning , warning Will Smith....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG0ochx16Dg
The robots did it!... this will be D CHUMPS defense...
The New U.S. Tariffs - Weird Formulas, Risks, & The Coming Trade War
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVZ1lcw2bVU
and this is why the US needs friends....
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/08/business/us-south-korea-military-shipbuilding-deal-intl-hnk-ml/index.html
here it comes... the back lash... im mean the the bite back!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SZtsfoJqCw
now investors... we know that many of you spend your days checking out second hand cars...not ornamental frogs..
but did you know that australia thinks that NZ ers dream of buying more ... yes you have it right more VISSELS...
how many VISSELS does the NZDF have?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owtznlfkKP0
more Vissels... who would have known...get some...
when it comes to a trade war China is the big one, everything else is a sideshow, gonna get really messy for world trade if China and US keep firing nuclear trade bombs at each other, every country will be caught up in the aftermath.
Right now it is full on attack from both sides so hard to see any positive outcome soon
Make no mistake this is war using money rather than bombs and the Chinese will view this as an attack on there poeple.
Hopefully history does not repeat, remember Japan bombed pearl habour because of the crippling trade sanctions put on them by the US
APPLE getting smacked up today... 401 K holders cant be happey...
Can APPLE move manufacturing to the US? Does the US have the pool of worker knowledge and will there be a shortage of engineers to run the factories if they even get built?
is it the finaly MADNESS ?
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 08, 2025, 06:54 PMand this is why the US needs friends....
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/08/business/us-south-korea-military-shipbuilding-deal-intl-hnk-ml/index.html
Hope Dump budgeted for all the tariffs the US needs to pay to import these South Korea build warships :) ;
they will get a exception surely...oh NO they wont... they arnt Russia...
... ok, Davexl predicted Australia reviewing their AUCUS decision already in January (i.e. you read it first on this thread), but now even mainstream media seem to notice that nobody can trust the US anymore (no matter what the gorilla with the mindset of a kindergarten bully does next) - and Australia seems now to look for better alliances. I guess really, who wants to (and who can) rely on a country forcing a raging kindergarten bully upon its allies who changes his mind daily?
Makes one dizzy.
What a pathetic country the US turned into - Lots of power but no brain. Something like a tank controlled by an untested AI system in an endless loop.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/15/the-new-reality-dawning-in-australia-it-can-no-longer-rely-on-the-us
I did a bit of research on who holds the cards when it comes to a trade war and now firmly believe Trump has a very powerful hand.
This is not to say that it will end well.
My concern is, based on my research, is the US/China trade war will effect NZ and AUS far greater than is currently priced into the markets.
A slow down in China(there will be a huge slow down if tariffs stick) will be far greater than most predict.
Not only will China exports slow dramactically to the US but the cost of feeding the pigs in China will sky rocket.
The biggest import into China from the US is soy bean extract, primarily used in pork production to feed the poeple.
Lets not forget there is only so much money to go round in any particular country.
Based on my research NZ log exports will be hit hard to China, mainly due to lower demand for their furniture exports to the US which is the third highest by $ value into the US, however if Chinese economy slows so will home building rates.
A slowing China very bad for NZ and AUS.......do your own research
well buy SB futures...
https://www.statista.com/statistics/192058/production-of-soybeans-for-beans-in-the-us-since-2000/
AUS has 21 hectors in production and wants to double it by 2033
On the other hand BOEING wont be profitable... the planes parts are made all round the world...
Quote from: snapiti on Apr 10, 2025, 09:29 PMI did a bit of research on who holds the cards when it comes to a trade war and now firmly believe Trump has a very powerful hand.
This is not to say that it will end well.
My concern is, based on my research, is the US/China trade war will effect NZ and AUS far greater than is currently priced into the markets.
A slow down in China(there will be a huge slow down if tariffs stick) will be far greater than most predict.
Not only will China exports slow dramactically to the US but the cost of feeding the pigs in China will sky rocket.
The biggest import into China from the US is soy bean extract, primarily used in pork production to feed the poeple.
Lets not forget there is only so much money to go round in any particular country.
Based on my research NZ log exports will be hit hard to China, mainly due to lower demand for their furniture exports to the US which is the third highest by $ value into the US, however if Chinese economy slows so will home building rates.
A slowing China very bad for NZ and AUS.......do your own research
No doubt - tradewars are always bad for any country relying on trade. This includes NZ, China and the US. Does not need a rocket scientist and lots of research to uncover that.
Not sure however what makes you believe that Dumb has a strong hand. He blinked already in his chicken game when the bond markets told him so, and he will again. Sure - he is dumb as straw, but there must be still somebody in the once GoP, who wants the Republican party to survive the next election, don't you think so? Many happy Liz Truss moments to him.
Chinese exports to the USA only 3% of China's GDP and 15% of China's total exports (managed down from 20% a few years ago). With those stats, and China's greater ability to withstand tough times, it does not seem like Trump's cards are as strong as he pretends. Voters of the USA more likely to force their Government to fold than citizens of China in my view.
Quote from: Mos on Apr 11, 2025, 01:33 PM......it does not seem like Trump's cards are as strong as he pretends. Voters of the USA more likely to force their Government to fold than citizens of China in my view.
Agree
I may be wrong, but isn't the US due for mid term elections around Nov 2025 that could lose the Republicans their Senate majority ??
Trump needs to solve his own goal trade war in the short term...... China can afford to be patient.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Apr 11, 2025, 10:38 AMNo doubt - tradewars are always bad for any country relying on trade. This includes NZ, China and the US. Does not need a rocket scientist and lots of research to uncover that.
Not sure however what makes you believe that Dumb has a strong hand. He blinked already in his chicken game when the bond markets told him so, and he will again. Sure - he is dumb as straw, but there must be still somebody in the once GoP, who wants the Republican party to survive the next election, don't you think so? Many happy Liz Truss moments to him.
"Does not need a rocket scientist and lots of research to uncover that" one could use the same analogy when deciphering HGH last few reports, still however some foolishly continue to hold the stock.......now down 30% in 4 months
Classic case of what is obvious to some not so obvious to others ah
Quote from: Left Field on Apr 11, 2025, 02:23 PMAgree
I may be wrong, but isn't the US due for mid term elections around Nov 2025 that could lose the Republicans their Senate majority ??
Trump needs to solve his own goal trade war in the short term...... China can afford to be patient.
Mid term elections Nov 2026 I believe.
Ironic that Trump has chosen to double down on his trade war with the one country America is not well positioned to bully into submission. With many American companies' supply chains dependent on Chinese manufacturing and Chinese companies' having minimal dependence on America from a supply chain perspective, it just adds to the self harm the White House is inflicting on its companies, consumers and voters. Apparently Trump is a multi dimensional chess playing genius though - that might ease the pain for Americans. It is going to be hard for Trump to back down from his China fight as he has really painted himself into a tricky corner. I suspect the CCP will quite enjoy watching him squirm in the weeks and months ahead.
although this tuber is usually about UKRN this channel was about stocks before 2022...
This broadcast is about the US market and JB brings it down on the ground in the mid west...
Young lady discussing her business...
CDUMP blinked when the bond market gittered apparently...
The BM is the tail that wags the dog...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeugL6jV3W4
Trump already folded on smartphone, computer and electronics tariffs.
Jon Stewart sums up things pretty well pre this announcement - some tragicomedy.
Jon Stewart on Trump Tariffs (https://youtu.be/zBflZLStKQg)
Replace Village People with Tom Petty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvlTJrNJ5lA
is that round one to china then? other items including solar apparently... there will be a list somewhere...
bond yield on T still went back up and the 30 year pushing up as well?
it all went wrong... wonder why..
they are speaking of getting some help from allies....
wonder who they are... that was the Pacific trade pac...
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 13, 2025, 09:58 AMis that round one to china then? other items including solar apparently... there will be a list somewhere...
bond yield on T still went back up and the 30 year pushing up as well?
it all went wrong... wonder why..
they are speaking of getting some help from allies....
wonder who they are... that was the Pacific trade pac...
Yep, even the penguins are offside.
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 13, 2025, 09:58 AMis that round one to china then? other items including solar apparently... there will be a list somewhere...
bond yield on T still went back up and the 30 year pushing up as well?
it all went wrong... wonder why..
they are speaking of getting some help from allies....
wonder who they are... that was the Pacific trade pac...
Actually - round two doesn't look too promising for the US either. China stopped the export of rare earth minerals, essential for the production of many semiconductors as well as for the production of electric cars. Ah yes - and they do have more than 90% of the world market (for some of the minerals more than 99%).
QuoteShipments of the magnets, essential for assembling everything from cars and drones to robots and missiles, have been halted at many Chinese ports while the Chinese government drafts a new regulatory system. Once in place, the new system could permanently prevent supplies from reaching certain companies, including American military contractors.
from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/business/china-rare-earths-exports.html (paywalled, but if you register you get 10 free per month).
and here is the Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZJOssF87qc
Just wondering how the self appointed genius in the white house will manage without rare earths to keep his industry and military running - apparantly he can't even supply his awful forces anymore with new drones.
Dumb, dumber - bunch of idiots running the white house, but this is what you get if you allow a narcisstic idiot to surround himself with YES-men. Nobody left to ask the difficult questions.
hell invade Ukraine!!!!! after Canada and Green land... digging for rare earths... then russia....
world war 3 was started by Team DUMP and DUMMER ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D2Rzo8JDMY
could coffee prices bring down the US current administration...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5pm1WaczLw
Trump seems determined to shake up the world trade order, especially China, really can not see this ending well for NZ due to our reliance on China as a major export destination.
Hopefully an agreement will be reach, quickly, between the two super powers but damage is already being done and it won't take long for that to be irreversible.
Quote from: snapiti on Apr 16, 2025, 07:13 AMTrump seems determined to shake up the world trade order, especially China, really can not see this ending well for NZ due to our reliance on China as a major export destination.
Hopefully an agreement will be reach, quickly, between the two super powers but damage is already being done and it won't take long for that to be irreversible.
Nobody will trust the US again - I guess even if they pick next time again a more decent strongman, the world knows now that one can't trust these guys. On the whim of a populist ballot they can turn bad again and put people into power disregarding previous comittments and international law.
Damage already done.
Interestingly - US share in world trade is only around 10% (Well, it was 9% in 2019, don't have a newer number). Clearly time for the remaining 90% to to just avoid the US. Sure - it will be a bit of a rough patch in rerouting the trade network around the Banana Republic of Bullystan, but afterwards - just imagine the heavenly peace of everybody else peacefully trading and sticking to the rules and Trump just playing with his small hands .... and shrinking the US economy to make it fit for his small mind.
Heaven.
Good one:
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/china-orders-halts-boeing-jet-deliveries-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-04-15/
Anyway hard to understand why China was prepared to buy accident prone Boeing planes. Good that they now changed their mind.
Time for American planes to crash on American soil!
air bus wont be able to cope....
Team DUMP now warning... NO ONE is allowed to trade with China...
NO ONE!!! got that.... good...
on other issues...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUFq6-92Or4
on a more serious note has china already won...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/15/business/china-trumps-trade-war-rare-earth-intl-hnk/index.html
and is DUMP really going to turn into a dictator that will kill... well if we look at what happened in Kursk and his complete lack of interest in military personal who have died...
List to Jake Bro basically saying the US is on the way to Hell...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im2-N-GYZ8k
what will Dictator DUMP do to stay in power... Putin started a war...
how will DUMP stay in Power...
get the chippies and dip, grab a beverage or two as the China US trade war is a bit like watching a 12 round UFC match, I reckon we are about to start round 5 with Trump coming out swinging hard and winning in round 1 & 2 whilst taking a few counter punches from China, now China is jabbing away and has won round 3 and 4........has Trump exhausted himself in the early rounds, plenty of rounds to come, I think China is in a bit more pain than most want to believe that is not to say Trump is winning.
the problem is its going to disrupt the price of chips... as everything is priced global...
and MR P is telling it like it is and the market hasnt woken up yet...
you cant just air lift factories into place...
and the big markets are actually about to emerge over the next 25 -50 years and they arnt the US..
as we all know the big populations are India and Asia....
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/12/economy/recession-tariff-trump/index.html?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc
Expect the worst ...... this looks like a horror movie...
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/16/trade-war-fallout-china-freight-ship-decline-begins-orders-plummet.html
The transports is where you see the crash coming...
T say the war wasnt started by Z... gosh... not fake news then....
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g7wdw9jvno
that minerals deal is back on... US desperate for stuff to put into there toys of war...
2027 -2030 before US can refine and process its own dirt....
expensive though... and that means? higher yields on the T's here to stay... that 30 year pushing what?
well the UK is no longer an Allie of the US?
Jake Bro warns the US is no longer an active member in NATO.... funding over and .... the fed will be over run...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ3Ms7JlOqQ
the implications for investors is was the US the best place to invest after all?
probably not...
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 19, 2025, 09:03 AMwell the UK is no longer an Allie of the US?
Jake Bro warns the US is no longer an active member in NATO.... funding over and .... the fed will be over run...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ3Ms7JlOqQ
the implications for investors is was the US the best place to invest after all?
probably not...
Investors hear Donalds message loud and clear. Just look at the fall of the US dollar since he started his tariff wars. So far the fall of the US Dollar looks like a steady downtrend. Wondering whether Donald the Dumb manages to turn it into a stampede?
Screenshot 2025-04-19 093143.png
Gut gemacht....
le corbusier... utopia is tomorrows future....
each tree apparently was protected in 1952... his vision of utopia.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandigarh_Capitol_Complex
now that the modern version of the KKK is in the white house....
every country in the western world will pressured to give up democracy and modern liberal life...
Ok it looks like the Kangas are doing it again. remember in WW2 where manufacturing in aus stepped up to fill the demand for weapons....
well it looks like they are doing it again... could AUS scale up and become a major manufacturing hub again...
If youve got ASX shares then maybe the KANGA LAND is the place to be..
this metal 3 D printer is mobile and being use on the front lines...
Wes is always creating interesting content...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm9Dl_ACSxk
has ukraine just created a pedator in the black sea...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__I9gGMh6oc
https://youtu.be/r5ojbEIX8Nw
Quote from: lorraina on Apr 20, 2025, 03:07 PMhttps://youtu.be/r5ojbEIX8Nw
Well worth a watch. Thanks for posting. Trumps approval rating is dropping. With a bit of luck he will be forced to see sense.
Forced to see sense? What channel are you watching? He'd rather nuke something than admit defeat. He's literally the stupidest person the USA could have put in power and China has totally lost interest in dealing with someone who can change any rule on a whim. Who could live with that in a relationship?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_F3uaBYPSo&pp=ygUTZm9yZCBhbmQgam9obiBkZWVyZQ%3D%3D
Book "Lucky Loser" How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success
Buettner, Russ
Soon after announcing his first campaign for the U.S. presidency, Donald J. Trump declared that life "has not been easy for me. It has not been easy for me." Building on a decades-old narrative, he spun a fable of how he turned a small loan from his father into a multibillion-dollar empire. This feat, he argued, made him singularly qualified to lead the country. Except none of it was true. Born to a rich father, Trump received the equivalent of more than 500 million dollars today. The story of Trump's finances is one of a rise and fall, and another rise and fall, as he squanders fortunes on money-losing businesses, only to be saved by blind luck. He tacks his name above the door of every building while taking out huge loans he'll never repay. He obsesses over appearances while ignoring threats to the bottom line and mounting costly lawsuits. He tarnishes the value of his name by allowing anyone with a big enough check to use it. He makes side deals to cut out the television producer who not only rescued him from bankruptcy but casts him as a business guru the public image that will carry him to the White House. A masterpiece of narrative reporting, Lucky Loser is a meticulous examination spanning nearly a century, filled with scoops from Trump Tower, Mar-a-Lago, Atlantic City, and the set of The Apprentice. Here for the first time is the definitive true accounting of Trump and his money what he had, what he lost, and what he has left and the final word on the myth of Trump, the self-made billionaire.
Quote from: lorraina on Apr 21, 2025, 09:56 AMBook "Lucky Loser" How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success
Buettner, Russ
Soon after announcing his first campaign for the U.S. presidency, Donald J. Trump declared that life "has not been easy for me. It has not been easy for me." Building on a decades-old narrative, he spun a fable of how he turned a small loan from his father into a multibillion-dollar empire. This feat, he argued, made him singularly qualified to lead the country. Except none of it was true. Born to a rich father, Trump received the equivalent of more than 500 million dollars today. The story of Trump's finances is one of a rise and fall, and another rise and fall, as he squanders fortunes on money-losing businesses, only to be saved by blind luck. He tacks his name above the door of every building while taking out huge loans he'll never repay. He obsesses over appearances while ignoring threats to the bottom line and mounting costly lawsuits. He tarnishes the value of his name by allowing anyone with a big enough check to use it. He makes side deals to cut out the television producer who not only rescued him from bankruptcy but casts him as a business guru the public image that will carry him to the White House. A masterpiece of narrative reporting, Lucky Loser is a meticulous examination spanning nearly a century, filled with scoops from Trump Tower, Mar-a-Lago, Atlantic City, and the set of The Apprentice. Here for the first time is the definitive true accounting of Trump and his money what he had, what he lost, and what he has left and the final word on the myth of Trump, the self-made billionaire.
Quite right. And he is as well an amazing con-man and managed to con enough people to get the majority of the votes last time around. All of what you said was public knowledge at the time, which means - the real problem is not him, but the people he is representing. They knew what they voted for and they still choose to make him president!
I think the problem the world has is much bigger than just having a narcisstic, criminal and mentally deranged dotard playing with the levers of power. We still do have a large group of people in the strongest country on earth quite happy with this situation. This is the stuff wars are made from.
great posts there people...yes DD (Dic** Dump) story changes everyday....
now says PUTIN should never have started the war...
gosh ... more stories than a Kabuki (歌舞伎, かぶき) show...
pardon ... china say opposes trade deals with the US? ....
that is no trade deals you guys with the US....
whats going on here... have both evils forces lost there minds....
of course they have....
When the UKE's get this....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BJChWgpoLc
Sky's falling along with any USD investments....
https://www.cnbc.com/world/?region=world
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 22, 2025, 07:35 AMSky's falling along with any USD investments....
https://www.cnbc.com/world/?region=world
... and don't forget Trumps approval ratings - I understand they are (around the 100 day mark) looking lower than for any other president (but himself) since WWII.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/659534/trump-first-quarter-approval-rating-below-average.aspx
But hey - not everything is falling. Just wait for the April CPI data and unemployment rates - I bet both will be pointing upwards :) - this is good, he is a winner after all.
Serious damage coming if Trump sacks Powell.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/21/business/trump-fed-powell-nightcap?cid=ios_app
Quote from: Shareguy on Apr 22, 2025, 09:18 AMSerious damage coming if Trump sacks Powell.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/21/business/trump-fed-powell-nightcap?cid=ios_app
Liz Truss springs to mind ...
PWL (owl) is in catch 22...
70 percent of amazon sellers get there product come from china...
Temu cutting costs already...
short amazon?
big warnings cnbc that its main street not the SP 500 that will be hit first and it hasnt happen yet...
could see a real train wreck coming ....
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 22, 2025, 10:40 AMPWL (owl) is in catch 22...
70 percent of amazon sellers get there product come from china...
Temu cutting costs already...
short amazon?
big warnings cnbc that its main street not the SP 500 that will be hit first and it hasnt happen yet...
could see a real train wreck coming ....
I guess it all depends on whether the spineless creatures in the GoP still find their spine and get him out of office. Clearly - crashing the US economy and ignoring the US constitution every step on his way must be a reason to impeach?
But yes, still dreaming ... clearly Trump controls his creatures in House and Senate, and the Russian puppet master just started to get his master puppet to destroy the US and the West.
bond market pressure will build as fewer T are bought...
if these crazy ideas bond holding coming out of the Monkey House ....
then the fed will have to resort to QE...
Quote from: Waltzing on Apr 22, 2025, 11:44 AMbond market pressure will build as fewer T are bought...
if these crazy ideas bond holding coming out of the Monkey House ....
then the fed will have to resort to QE...
Hadn't looked at it today, but you are right - treasuries interestrates are another thing going up in Trumpland ...
This must mean something. I recon Trump is shortening them (if one can - can one?) ...
you would have to ask drucken millar..and.with derivatives you can bet against just about anything...
the bond pirates will take the US Dollar on if they think its going to tank...
The US has a interest problem and if main street collapses the Taxes raised will also collapse...
You can see Trump is sweating as hes calling Owl a horrible person... horrible... nasty....
Quote from: BlackPeter on Apr 22, 2025, 04:50 PMHadn't looked at it today, but you are right - treasuries interestrates are another thing going up in Trumpland ...
This must mean something. I recon Trump is shortening them (if one can - can one?) ...
Yes you can short it and there are ( very liquid ) futures contracts on them as well .Treasuries market is much larger than the US stock market , so watch out if the yields keep ticking up.
We all know USA can't service their debt at higher levels , could get very ugly .
Trump is playing with fire messing with the Fed , if the market loses confidence in the Fed then its game over .
depression? no surely not.... FED will move to stop that one.... wont it?
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/22/economy/tariffs-trump-global-economy-evidence/index.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/22/investing/dow-great-depression-sell-america-trade/index.html
baltic dry....
https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/baltic
10 millions worried about jobs in the US?
They can still keep partying even when the fire is raging in the basement...who checks the basement...
Ship downing by the stern as the 1st class parties on...
"Bonds
Typically, when investors get nervous, they pour money into the perceived safety of American Treasury bonds – historically the safe-haven assets to rule all safe-havens. But not this time: Government bond have sold off sharply. Yields, which trade in opposite direction to prices, have surged.
The 10-year US Treasury yield has risen to 4.4% just a month after it plunged below 4%. Bonds don't usually swing that quickly."
Gold moving to new highs....
Trump backs down as the market says we can take on any country in the bond markets...
the vigilantist's are back...
all hail the bond market... hail hail hail
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOnSh3QlpbQ
Rally coming
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/22/business/trump-china-trade-war-reduction-hnk-intl?cid=ios_app
S&P 500 trading on nearly 22 times last year's earnings, (source CNBC). Fully priced and well above the ten-year average even after the recent correction.
those fast money traders like 16....
well thats the price they have talked about for 10 years.... or more...
anyway... peace in our time....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/23/russia-ukraine-zelensky-putin-war-ceasefire-latest-news/
right hoh then... back to stocking up for winter then... any easter eggs left at the super market....
now in landskrona there is a whole shop dedicated to nothing but coffee and chocolates where you fill up your over sized bike bag before catching the train to Copenhagen airport... or the train to Stockholm...
local BP doesnt cut it im afraid.... dont believe those Z add's.... so 1960's
bra.... no that does not mean that... its slang for see you later... or "vi ses"
in german "Bis später"
who doesnt know that...
Critical information....
A letter can take a month to travel out of town in moscow.. that is from centre to outer city towns near by...
Letters are hand sorted.... that right the sorting machines are broken....
Cars sales of the Lada are down 30 percent on last year...
imagine that if car sales was down 30 percent in NZ...
Moscow is running on fumes....
and you might think US support is really important to european defence...
but can sweden defend europe ? maybe not with space based laser ray guns....
but check this out....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY1muG16z-8
Quote from: snapiti on Apr 17, 2025, 06:49 AMget the chippies and dip, grab a beverage or two as the China US trade war is a bit like watching a 12 round UFC match, I reckon we are about to start round 5 with Trump coming out swinging hard and winning in round 1 & 2 whilst taking a few counter punches from China, now China is jabbing away and has won round 3 and 4........has Trump exhausted himself in the early rounds, plenty of rounds to come, I think China is in a bit more pain than most want to believe that is not to say Trump is winning.
round 5 & 6 go to China with staunch defense and Trump seemingly crying in the corner suffering exhaustion from coming out to quickly, egg on his face not helping
"coming out to quickly,"
classic...
yes the real thinkers and power players in the US are now stepping forward and arnt afraid to weight in at last.,...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/24/business/ken-griffin-trump-trade-war-brand/index.html
The Norway boys in the white house today basically ran the show on CNN last night...
They probably play a better game of golf too...
lets not forget Trump is an extreme narsisist.....so you can expect a whole bunch of I am amazing propaganda coming about "what a great trade deal he has got" I expect several months of this......all hale the orange king......lol
right well china just showed him the bird again today.... no deal....
the head cowboys of the big retailers have warned shops could be bare shelved in weeks...
and Jake Bro vissile man from Oklahoma down on the range says Chump will hate it in a few months when ukriane fights on.... and Chump will turn on russia...
that more turns than a Canterbury river....
some one said above get out the pop corn.. how much pop corn are we going to need?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRqTEVu6gbQ
and we now know chump wants hotels in russias moscow....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slIB6s48m98
apparently UK has One type 45 D that is operational at the moment...
wonder if we can help out?
well I reckon about 3 months popcorn should do it.
I think China are putting on a brave face, if US retail shelves are empty that is very bad for China also.
However China thinks very long term, Donald Duck just thinks about how he looks.
China doing the rest of the world a favor by fighting back.
For all the negatives and persistent lies(he is a massive BSer) one can't but help having a small amount of admiration for Trump who has rightly or wrongly, achieved his goal of becoming the US president (twice) has been able to avoid justifiable punishment from multiple federal and state convictions, has published a best seller book, has created a tradeable Trump branded crypto currency out of thin air and no doubt continues to live a very lavish lifestyle.
and going to go down in history....
taking the US with him...
wait till the panic sets in in the pentagon.... if it already hasnt...
who wants to invade on his watch... resignations to increase...
no no i wasnt on that detail that murdered greenlanders... it wasnt me...
ive surrender my passport at the NZ boarder...
Banking in Russia... are the banks now being propped up by the remaining central bank reserves....
all you wanted to know about russian banks..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBlV4EhMx9I
how many twist and turns does a south island river have...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/25/us-opens-door-backing-starmer-coalition-of-willing/
what happens if DUMP does not get his moscow tower....
Starmer has been warned by the defence chiefs that the UK is not ready for anything much....
The western presents in Ukraine will be in LVIV... close to the local cafes....
Just in case the troops need refreshments....
https://theconversation.com/why-the-british-army-is-so-unprepared-to-send-troops-to-ukraine-250123
just when you thought you knew which river you were paddling... think clarke ..https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_and_Clark_Expedition
what is going on here...
and you thought Lawrence of Arabia and middle east politics was like a jennie in a bottle.
or did GOD just intervene...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/26/europe/zelensky-trump-talks-pope-funeral-intl/index.html
What a photo op .... Trumps Grand Tour of the Palaces of Europe to come...?
or is CHUMP smart enough to realise that the Russians are going to DUMP on HIM...
Trump Tower in Moscow has always been the diamond just sitting on the next table.... close.. well very very
close... yet far far away...
Ok hold up here people... im pulling back on the reins here .... damn getting this tower constructed is just dan trouble....
ive got roasted in the polls at home .... people in the streets like it vietnam all over again and the civil right riots coming soon....
Indians all around me.....
Someone call the Cav ....before i go now like custer at little big horn....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn
I'm the most powerful man in the world and they put Z in the FRONT ROW !!
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y6rg6wpvgo
Ok this is kremlin propaganda at its best
how it got on the internet we will never know...
else this is how your great grand parents may have lived..in the home country...
id the lights go off this make sure you have brought some books for relearning this stuff...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wThCJLNrwFg
attack, attack attack....
and its not on MARS!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3WXJPLfEqw
everyone is starting to attack... well everyone...
The mining deal that will just leave a waste land...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF5-pFUV7xE
Trump getting out played by China in the trade war, soyabean is/was the largest by $ value exports to China from the US, looks like the Chinese are cancelling the contracts and buying from Brazil among others.
Does not look like China are going to back down.
and what if Roch is right....
NZ dollar could be back in the high 6's knocking on 7... surely not...
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/04/29/david-roche-u-s-dollar-is-going-to-drop-another-15-to-20-per-cent.html
The Cold war has gone hot .. its just no one in the west want to admit it....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74_ymRvyMg
het Krig...
Cold war has been on going for a decade according to Mick Ryan its just the west did not see it coming...
and now it going hot...
good evening investors... you know like "good morning campers"...
well lets not hope this new HOT phase is a full on global one...
else your portfolios are probably bye bye...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOvT6wjd7MY
now you may have been thinking wasnt the mid 50's 60's early 1970's a bit like this...
but no... well yes... maybe.....
its just you saw it through a tiny screen and you had to read it in print...
which ment it all happened well... far far away...
but now it coming to a screen near your personage and you may get the alert on your phone..
they have a nuclear alert ready, you just havnt been told yet...
they test them now again but tell you its really some other kind of alert like earthquake... not a pending nuclear winter....
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8pztSupdQ30
We love training....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7psvLkKY-SM
Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley - A True Badass, We were Soldiers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL9lEELYqJM
the last post ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tVQ6aSxr34
in the end the CHUMP HOUSE became so aus dem Gleichgewicht that it signed the minerals deal and UKE's bought some araments.. and got some f16 spare parts....
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/51865
did anyone tell the Chump House..?
The nut cases in the CHUMP House...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/05/03/peter-navarro-interview-chinese-vampire/
It the old wars of europe back...
Kasparov Says the Dictator in the KREM cant stop the war now...
No end .... until either Ukraine and Europe are defeated or Russia is... whats next... and with over 500 f35's to be delivered to europe by 2030 .... it may be now or never...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VbF2H4TX_Y
they are coming for steward island.... nuclear sub base.... its strategic...
expect seal team 6 to recon it anytime now...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/04/world/greenland-annexation-threat-trump-nbc-interview-intl-hnk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8_WFVpmVXY
Uh-huh - US 10y treasuries rising again and already above Dumbs last trigger point to blink: 4.53%!
Question is - what do markets expect this time from him to "dejitter"? The 90 days tariff armistice which Dumb agreed to with China does not seem to suffice anymore? Clearly, markets don't trust Dumb anymore. While there are very slow learners around, maybe now even the slowest thinking investors seem to get the message.
Will be interesting to see how Dumb pays the fast rising federal interest bill, or should we plan for the US to stop paying their debt and go bankrupt - or do they just keep devaluing the USD? Bad for holders of US bonds and stocks, but hey, who cares, its US first, isn't it?
Latest debt tally (dated 6. March 2025) was US$36,56 trillion federal debt in dumbland.
https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-debt/
At 4.5% we talk every year about US$1.6 trillion in interest payments. Every year.
For every 0.1 percent the interestrate rises, US taxpayers have to fork out another US$36.6 billion annually - just in interest payments.
This money could buy a lot of Air Force one planes without the need to further corrupt the president.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/15/european-markets-live-updates-stocks-news-data-and-earnings.html
cold war defence numbers coming for europe...
the russian are coming... greater war in europe..only a matter of time..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw0m-BAYLLo
Europe is now in COLD War 2 heading to Hot War 3...
what is the big economy in europe doing for defense preparation..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgxqvLdrbyI
by the way if you want to do business in Europe you cant ignore the fatherland...embrace your inner Mozart.. oh and Strauss..
das später!!
looks like guy Fawkes in russia including moscow ....
Chump declare trade war on europe at 50....
did putin ask for it?
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq857yqwvldo
Chump being challenged by the accounts department..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/23/us-condemns-russias-brutal-war-in-ukraine-surprise/
Sir your numbers dont add up.. and this war is really not helping the bottom lines... that TF on europe wont help either...
the chump house cant count...
those speskie TB's now there probably isnt much in the 30 T as most action is in the 2 to 10's still they are going higher...
its all accounting in the end... and politicians hate accounting..
what happened to witless wittie boy...
Quote from: Waltzing on May 24, 2025, 07:55 AMwhat is the big economy in europe doing for defense preparation..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgxqvLdrbyI
by the way if you want to do business in Europe you cant ignore the fatherland...embrace your inner Mozart.. oh and Strauss..
das später!!
Sehr interessantes Interview - Dankeschön fürs Teilen!
... aber - sind Mozart und Strauss (na ja, da gabs natürlich viele) nicht aus Österreich?
look.. they are the same place when it comes to music right? gleich !!
not sure that is the right word to use in context... not fluent in context...Bitte schön
8)
Large number of russian government planes leaving moscow in the last hours...
the new cold war barrier...
here we go again.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM9vednU-zI
its the blitz all over again.. russian declares unending war on europe.. its back t the 30 years wars or are we now seeing the ww1,ww2, and now Europe war number (n)...
if we over watch the last 500 years in europe its just all one big long war with a few slower burning ones on the sides....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMIL39ETD9k&t=41s
With NZ economy fast becoming stagnant there is nothing NZ can do but there is no peace in europe now...
Quote from: Waltzing on May 28, 2025, 10:32 PMits the blitz all over again.. russian declares unending war on europe.. its back t the 30 years wars or are we now seeing the ww1,ww2, and now Europe war number (n)...
if we over watch the last 500 years in europe its just all one big long war with a few slower burning ones on the sides....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMIL39ETD9k&t=41s
With NZ economy fast becoming stagnant there is nothing NZ can do but there is no peace in europe now...
They say there are no problems, just opportunities. So,while I agree that NZ can do little to fix the global crisis created by strongmen like Putin, Nethanjahu, Xi, Trump and some other wannabies - we could do a lot to determine how we get through it.
The question is - do we prefer to end up after the crisis in a position like Swtzerland (after WW2) - independent & wealthy, or do we prefer to end up like Albania: poor, destroyed and suppressed?
Both countries could not control the unfolding of WW2, but they both managed to determine their respective outcome, through actions or the lack of them.
Where do we want to sit at the end of the now unfolding crisis, and how do we get there where we want to be?
A descent into darkness....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1OilTt9alI
J Conrad...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Darkness
to keep one spirits up lets not forget https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman
keep your face pointing towards the sun... well move to the BOP and keep beach wondering down the east coast....
as russian threaten nuclear winter... nup not buying it...
Das Spiegal... who does not read it right? 2 million documents leaked of russian nuclear facilities even gymn equipment...
Quote from: Waltzing on May 30, 2025, 01:17 PMto keep one spirits up lets not forget https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman
keep your face pointing towards the sun... well move to the BOP and keep beach wondering down the east coast....
as russian threaten nuclear winter... nup not buying it...
Das Spiegal... who does not read it right? 2 million documents leaked of russian nuclear facilities even gymn equipment...
... and here is the link: https://danwatch.dk/en/serious-security-breach-russian-nuclear-facilities-exposed/
not really geo risk -F16's are now hitting the russians in kursks...
the UKE pilots are showing there new skills..and planes....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTjvVRhf9hk
where is Russian Air Defence... imagine if the UKE's had had these years ago... and lots of them...'
Sweden and Finland could they along with Poland plus Ukraine take Russia on there own... surely by 2030 they will be formidable...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjIR7YvVJl4
and then lets look at the baltics and who's got what..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2OgyYz0x0c
Ok Ukraine just showed the future of war ... and it right out of gaming..
if you dont know what the unreal game engine is well....there are some big new tech companies in the US that produce game engines and they are changing the face of the software you will see now and into the future..
Here is the the big hit on the Russian Bomber fleet from ... well watch it and see... its unbelievable..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpBxo1g27nM
operation spider web...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sp0B5s_sFE
the trailers of some units self destructed... MISSION IMPOSSIBLE...
Moscow is holding panic meetings...
drones were assembled in RUSSIA!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mybv-4537c
Heres a report from a Top Gun Pilot...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z86eHptMB4
Its being called a Tom Clancy Epic...
KABOOOM !!!
3 X the high explosive of germans most deadly torpedoes...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CziaMh2uCTM
Oh the Russian are on the Run.. they cant cover the land seas and sky... even F16 flying on the front line...
Europe needs to rush resources into ukraine... most needed now is lots more heavy Fires..
only about 20 or so aircraft hit ... but what is only now showing up is that maybe its a air wing that is full of spare parts as airframes are over 30 years old and are spare parts..
Threat to Europe? probably not .... specially once europe gets it own air defence solutions up and running..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq9yBNtQKl4
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 04, 2025, 02:09 PMonly about 20 or so aircraft hit ... but what is only now showing up is that maybe its a air wing that is full of spare parts as airframes are over 30 years old and are spare parts..
Threat too Eurpe? probably not .... specially once europe gets it own air defence solutions up and running..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq9yBNtQKl4
Well, yes ... I would not expect Putler to openly attack the whole of Europe within the next year or so ...
But he is using various throngs of attack. Open attack is only one of them. As we've seen in Uke - the level below is
... Infiltration through unflagged troops. They did fight in the Eastern parts of Uke, and they fight as well in Moldova.
He is as well unlikely to run a full attack against NATO, but ... what about him e.g. taking a corridor out of Luthiania to get a land connection with Kalinigrad and to test Natos resolve?
And, of course, he is relentlessly attacking the West by promoting fake news, supporting any extreme right wing politicians and ideas and that way splitting the Western democracies. He was successful in the US (tumbling towards an authoritarian state), in Hungary and, as it looks like now as well in Poland, and there are as well other former Russian satellites just eating out of Putlers hand (like Serbia).
Putler does not need the firepower to full on attack the West. The idiocy of our populists does the job for him, no need for a modern airforce.
Apart from that - not sure, how many spare parts and ammunition the West would have for its fighterjets and bombers. Remember, how long it took them to even get some ammunition for the Gepard?
Wondering as well, how good US airplanes are protected against drone attacks on the ground. They have plenty of planes in hostile territory - lets hope they are able to learn from Russias mistakes.
here is the state of the ground war...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEJQ7I1jqLA
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 05, 2025, 09:48 PMhere is the state of the ground war...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEJQ7I1jqLA
Austria has an army?
Ja, das tue ich!!!
and this is very funny...Chump in melt down panic behind the scenes in the the DUMP HOUSE...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id1GBjdcnBA
and its a fight between kids...
the CHUMP is melting down and its clear that MAGA is in mutiny... chaos on markets not far away?
A look at European fighter jet in operation in the Ukraine..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAiPtcx1V9s
Oh the day we can stand in the Kiev opera and here the voices of a free Ukraine...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4FluWlrsq8
and ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUXMeSp7Y_A
Into the Fray...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okGBRXIo3K0
.. the Baltics...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yVzaxANUxw
have UKE's have got there new flying V Bombs hitting targets in russian...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM7JRkCu5_s
the Chump thinks he can run the world...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eX9GOLBy2Q
Nachgefragt: General Freuding - Drohnenoffensive der Ukraine trifft Russland I Bundeswehr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR8w6GiVdRU
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 08, 2025, 08:13 PMthe Chump thinks he can run the world...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eX9GOLBy2Q
Interesting, but - depressing
dont worry , they are coming... europe is at a cross roads and now she must chose..
the scandi's know..
eyes in the sky..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uoaRMM5Q1M
But will the UK keep up...
Imagine how NZ could afford 5 percent.... whole government departments would be scaled back... tax go up and with GST at 15 percent... rates through the roof...'
country would be back in recession... permanently... NZ would have to join the AUD..
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/mark-rutte-warns-britain-to-boost-defence-or-learn-to-speak-russian/M322RJQVGVFJZK37QPS543J7GI/
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 10, 2025, 03:55 PMBut will the UK keep up...
Imagine how NZ could afford 5 percent.... whole government departments would be scaled back... tax go up and with GST at 15 percent... rates through the roof...'
country would be back in recession... permanently... NZ would have to join the AUD..
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/mark-rutte-warns-britain-to-boost-defence-or-learn-to-speak-russian/M322RJQVGVFJZK37QPS543J7GI/
Lets see ... Russias GDP was in 2023 something like USD 2b. They invest 7% of that into gear and staff to attack their neighbours (I wouldn't call it defence) - which is USD 140m.
The EU spent already in 2023 Eur 326m (USD 370m) for defence, and this was 1.9% of their GDP. This sum doesn't yet include the UK.
Not sure any of these countries needs to invest more into defence than say 2 ... 2.5% of GDP, if they stop playing games, give the -populists the boot and are determined to work together as a team against the agressor Russia.
NZ obviously is different (we are not part of any union and can't rely anymore on the US), but I recon if we manange to efectively work together with Australia, we probably could stay as well far below 5% defence spending. Just put a bit more brain and throw less money at the problem.
I could well imagine us in a defence system with say Australia and Singapore (currently at 3% of GDP) ...
The problem isn't solved by dreaming up huge numbers, but by investing some brain in efficently using the money we can afford to spend. I agree however, it must be more than the pittance NZ invests currently into defence.
Your Average KIWI has no idea what the real world is even after COVID...
Russia is now at permanent state of war.. the junk broadcast on nightly TV since 2010 has done its job...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fX7WytdXkI
Jake Bro has woken up to the nightmare...
Chump is rolling out the army in the first stages of his plan to try to control the country through as many attempts to create civil unrest as possible...
Social media will be his plan to ignite the MOD again...
A journalist was shot with a rubber bullet while broadcasting...deliberate attack by a member of the uniformed state enforcement agencies.
USA has rare earths but does not yet have the processing manufacturing and refining capacity for a few years but is building it...
Still gives china the leverage...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/10/business/rare-earths-shortage-impact
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 11, 2025, 09:41 AMUSA has rare earths but does not yet have the processing manufacturing and refining capacity for a few years but is building it...
Still gives china the leverage...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/10/business/rare-earths-shortage-impact
Actually - rare earths are not rare at all. Plenty of places around the globe where they could be mined: Ukraine, Greenland, US, Vietnam, Russia, Brasil, Australia, India, Canada to name just the largest (known) deposits. The only reason that China has currently a monopoly on them is that they undercut the other (potential) producers by that much, that it wasn't economical to mine them anywhere else. And yes, opening a new rare earth mine takes at least 4 ... 5 years.
So, yes, US was as stupid relying on cheap Chinese rare earths as Europe was relying on cheap Russian gas. Looks like Chump isn't such a genius after all.
and out there in the vast Canada wilderness... greenland!!
the fight for democracy is now centre stage in Europe and Germany is its champion and the scandi countries...
https://www.spiegel.de/international/
Is NZ ready to defend its democracy...
Should NZ buy grippens and CV 90's?
NZ does not have air defence... and now looking back it was a big mistake...
NZ could buy these or are they already going to? after all those european ships are to expensive for the kiwi...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkJotgH-JV0
What is the human spirit descending into...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSAm3yaZn44
is this the start of the next round of the russian civil wars?
Hopeless...
and it will effect NZ growth going forward...
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/12/trump-powell-numbskull-fed-rates.html
are we living in KF's world...
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=kafka+state&mid=DD6AB7674CDE55778E3CDD6AB7674CDE55778E3C&FORM=VIRE
Aussie go to seas...the floating kanga fleet...who knew they could swim...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmXyD342lP8
lots of pizza being order at the pentagon... people working late on something...
lets hope the IDF doesnt bomb Iran but hey they are pretty much bombing everything right... why not..?
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 13, 2025, 03:27 PMlots of pizza being order at the pentagon... people working late on something...
lets hope the IDF doesnt bomb Iran but hey they are pretty much bombing everything right... why not..?
too late: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-it-strikes-iran-amid-nuclear-tensions-2025-06-13/
They say hope is not an investment strategy ... and lets face it, for other purposes it might well be comforting, but otherwise its pretty useless as well.
yes they just love to bomb....
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c93ydeqyq71t
why stop now...well opec has been pumping more oil ... perhaps knowing what was coming...
on going attack...
Iran has some nice ski field apparently... trump could take over some of them and maybe build a golf club...
where was the air defense...or rather...IS
are the Iran clubs shutting down? do they have clubs? what no flashing strobe lights? some other kinds of lights for the next few days...
now if anyone else had come up with this speed boat you would say where can i buy it and does it come with a game boy.. and what do you do with it..
but since it those guys and gals from you know where.. could they go and bag something big?
i mean they just dusted up some pretty big planes didnt they..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__I9gGMh6oc
wes goes all guuu ie...
Germany has always built big ships... and it new class of frigate is bigger and better... and it looks like no other frigate afloat...
the F128 at 11 T Tons could be the future of Naval power in the North Atlantic along with the improvements to the T45.
Europe is building a powerful Navy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBrXcr2LAY4
Looks like its the perfect time of year to hit iran.. no one travelling in NZ at this time of year as the heart of a dark cold winter approaches....price of oil not critical except if your hauling logs...
Looks like Iran is wide open to being attacked and they have no air defence...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-d6SNTvLL8
Vissels are flying.. waves of vissels... will this go beyond 6 days...
any bets on 7...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War
it appears that targeting assistance is being proved by the local mayors of cities in Iran as they keep the lights on making it easy for over head snap shots of these cities to confirm hits along with locals taking snaps and posting them on telegram...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 13, 2025, 04:49 PMyes they just love to bomb....
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c93ydeqyq71t
why stop now...well opec has been pumping more oil ... perhaps knowing what was coming...
on going attack...
Iran has some nice ski field apparently... trump could take over some of them and maybe build a golf club...
where was the air defense...or rather...IS
are the Iran clubs shutting down? do they have clubs? what no flashing strobe lights? some other kinds of lights for the next few days...
Maybe time somebody encourages the good people of Israel to stand up to their fascist regime?
Did Israel just drag Trump into a war? lets hope the IAT dont strike out at US bases...
Trump will have to respond...
then the whole middle east has to pick sides..
hold on to your seat... or just ignore everything and wonder if the garden needs some weeding before the frosts arrive...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML52Tv-FWNg
and this is why the technology explosion in the scandi countries from the 1960's is still going strong today and why now it makes sense for them all to combine those companies into power houses...
it all came from software like the revolutionary simula...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoyreSgFLMU
A Vissel and bombing war has started.... this is what the ukraine war has brought with a fool in the zoo house...
it appears the dogs of war are being let loose...
far worse than one imagines....lets hope something can be done to stop the madness..
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/13/politics/iran-israel-military-intelligence-strikes-analysis
for those wanting old fashioned pomp.. trooping the color..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPomiIGSEGM
the Empire.. god save the Empire!! start a new political party..The Raj Party...slogan bring back the Raj Party NZ...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 14, 2025, 09:57 PMA Vissel and bombing war has started.... this is what the ukraine war has brought with a fool in the zoo house...
it appears the dogs of war are being let loose...
far worse than one imagines....lets hope something can be done to stop the madness..
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/13/politics/iran-israel-military-intelligence-strikes-analysis
for those wanting old fashioned pomp.. trooping the color..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPomiIGSEGM
the Empire.. god save the Empire!! start a new political party..The Rag Party...slogan bring back the Rag Party NZ...
Looking at the mistakes of the Ayatollah regime - it appears that the US is not the only country in the world run by criminal fools.
Still - not a nice thought to see huge power controlled by small brains without any ethical restraints, no matter whether the headcrook running the show is called Netanyahu, Khamenei or Trump.
the Raj Party... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj
We need a revolution to get back on track...
Its time...
does the TH AAA aaad work
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/09/world/iron-dome-israel-defense-explained-intl-dg
they had a march past.. no one came... someone got shot somewhere... dont they shoot americans anyway?
NO not Horses... people... not indians... they dont shoot them anymore... do they?
did they do a show in paris? hprse , indians.. buffalo...they shipped everything over.. right that was like last century..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI-4ecLdJKo
Ok did anyone see the parade.. no big steps... someone told them NO BIG STEPS...
now if you want to see a parade trooping the color...
I want more Vissells , do you hear.. more vissels.. perun... that boy does some monster analytics..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpFhNXecrb4
Did the IDF just do a spider web 2.0 impersonation?
as the fact become apparent... it looks like a full on penetration with drones of Iran... attack drones!!!
who told them to do this... copy cats? or cooperation....
or was it just great minds think a like!!!
Ok now this may seem off topic... now we have to discuss a very import step or series of steps which are historic...
Historic steps need to be taken seriously... seriously.. now you might say marching is for the well.. people who like walking with a certain spring in there steps...
and there are many forms or style of marching depending on your instructors preferences..
There is the high kicking steps.. but dont try it in high heels... it dangerous for the person in front of you.. a pointy toe up the ... you know what of the marcher in front is well... its NOT NICE!!!
now its clear that someone gave strict instructions to the marchers of the US army to keep it safe and to take small steps..
and this is probably in line with work safe rules and maybe a department stepped in and instructed the instructors of the marcher to KEEP IT SAFE PEOPLE...
this marching parade went off without the hitch and it appears one suffered any injuries or worse.. god forbid sore feet..
now i must say howevere they did not look like they had there hearts in it... and next time really they need to put in some moro practise..
for the real bollywood production deal they really should take lessons from the Poms.. Megan knew she knew... marry into that family even it it kills them!!!
God save the EMPIRE!!!
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?&q=Trooping+the+Colour+1967&&mid=C956334560791533CCB4C956334560791533CCB4&mmscn=mtsc&aps=72&FORM=VRDGAR
The US army is in revolt...foxtrot delta tango..oh dear... mutiny in the ranks...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 17, 2025, 10:02 AMThe US army is in revolt...foxtrot delta tango..oh dear... mutiny in the ranks...
I guess one can't really expect that decent democratic soldiers who just want to defend their country and MAGA zombies who submitted their conscience in order to trump common decency find a way to do anything in sync?
Clearly - their values are mutually exclusive.
This is how civil wars start ...
the biggest protests in US history.. soldiers not interested...
juat did not look like a nation that wants civil war
looks like they all fed up and the turn out for base ball could show the state of the nation....
bit like Kiwis and sport.... hang on we cant fight the local iwi now as India is play NZ in India this weekend..
the all blacks are defending the B CUP the weekend after..
the Kiwi black stick are in action mid week
.....
in the 80's if you didnt stop work for a week to attend a cricket 3 day test match depression rates would sky rocket..
you had to wear brown as John wright... held his wicket all day ...
to March or not to March... its a mutiny... dont think the US military is invading anywhere at that pace..
Civil war... arrh.. are they going home afterwards to play with their game boys...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VXPoczMFTI
Sorry the UK has the bit between their teeth...they now jst need to put some money where their feet are.
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 18, 2025, 08:47 AMto March or not to March... its a mutiny... dont think the US military is invading anywhere at that pace..
Civil war... arrh.. are they going home afterwards to play with their game boys...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VXPoczMFTI
Sorry the UK has the bit between their teeth...they now jst need to put some money where their feet are.
To drill or not to drill?
Didn't the chump say drill, baby drill? But hey - that's what happens if a baby drills, even if its a particularly mean and mischievous baby.
But I guess the US army probably just heard him demanding unconditional surrender for Iran. It doesn't need a rocket scientist to figure out who would need to occupy Iran after a surrender? The handful of Israelis won't cut it ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/17/middle-east-conflict-reaches-crucial-moment-as-trump-demands-real-end-to-iran-nuclear-programme
The undisciplined crowds in US uniforms probalby just got their marching orders to Iran ...
I reckon bunker buster bombs dropped by B2 bombers is the next step but prior to that the US will want to move more assets into the region and deploy extra missile defense systems around US bases. After the B2 bombers do their thing I think Iran will start using what remaining missiles they have to attack US bases in the region to make a statement. After that, the US will reign down hell on Iran in tandem with Israel.
What a mess.
right... pardon some deal.. surrender... your capital... your churchie places... those funny building with pointy bits on top....
funny the way Iran is kaput... but Kiev has to put up with being bombed...
there is no way the USA can tame a population of 80 million people...
Iraq? the green Zone...
does one mess spread?
Iran capital still has its lights on... cant be hard to find places if your lost.. just follow the lights...
25 Tankers have moved out of US air space...that means US air force is getting ready...
Quote from: Basil on Jun 18, 2025, 10:39 AMI reckon bunker buster bombs dropped by B2 bombers is the next step but prior to that the US will want to move more assets into the region and deploy extra missile defense systems around US bases. After the B2 bombers do their thing I think Iran will start using what remaining missiles they have to attack US bases in the region to make a statement. After that, the US will reign down hell on Iran in tandem with Israel.
What a mess.
Hope it only turns into Irak (which was dumb and useless enough) Mach 2 instead of Afghanistan or a repetition of Vietnam. So sad to see a demented POTUS surrounded by yes-men who never had the mental capacity to understand the lessons of the past. No good scenario in view if the US joins.
Best case scenario of this adventure would be in my view to leave Iran like Somalia or Lybia as a kaputt state, just another reliable source of crooks, pirates and terrorists for the neighboring regions. What benefits the neighbors or the world will have from this scenario, one wonders?
The Americans have neither the balls nor the brains to occupy any country and turn it into a stable and democratic state. Last time they managed to do this was after WW2 - all know how lost since then. Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Irak ... they certainly didn't lack trying.
Still worse - the US didn't even choose this scenario, but they allowed one of their crooked vasalls (Nethanyahu - who needs to fight wars to stay in power) to pull them into it. How deep uncle Sam is sinking ....
But hey - here is the bright side - Chump needs a war to win the midterms, doesn't he? So, its not for the benefit of the world or to create peace, its to keep chump in power.
But hey - there still is hope - or is there?
Chump is racing to join in before the IDF takes all the credit..
IDF has control over skies in 4 days... Russia hasnt after 3 years...
political prisoners are somehow being let out of jails...
someone is opening the gates....
80 million people and the younger people dont like government...
Is it Syria ? its a wild tiger on the loose..
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 18, 2025, 05:09 PMChump is racing to join in before the IDF takes all the credit..
Good point.
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 18, 2025, 05:09 PMIDF has control over skies in 4 days... Russia hasnt after 3 years...
true as well. While I don't see Netahyahu with higher moral values than Putler, he certainly has a better airforce and much better gear.
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 18, 2025, 05:09 PMpolitical prisoners are somehow being let out of jails...
someone is opening the gates....
80 million people and the younger people dont like government...
Is it Syria ? its a wild tiger on the loose..
Right. Agree - interesting mix to create a revolution.
It's just - the only revolution I remember which ended well for the people was Maidan in Ukraine ... and look how this starts turning these days ...
french REV... American Rev... Russian and china a flops.....
English? a series of action resulting in perfection... well almost ...
Bring back the EMPIRE!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BSEarPVyNA
got the book...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_revolutions_of_1848%E2%80%931849
Chump needs a win and what do dictators do? go to war...
it still wont help in as they have no plan after they bomb...
will the Iran army fight...lots of army personal... invade a country? they just need to hold tight..boots on the ground...
Chump talking like a DON...
Wes Clarke has a plan... but will the US understand it...
the world at war...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrMjZyEQ43U
is this both the past and future converging...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 18, 2025, 06:27 PMfrench REV... American Rev... Russian and china a flops.....
Well ... French Revolution ended with a period of short lived terror regimes moving into Napoleons dictatorship and the long sequence of Napooleons wars, killing millions of people. It took France more than 100 years to recover from this. Did the people really benefit? They exchanged one set of tyrants with another set of tyrants.
American revolution ... OK - they swapped the suppression through the British with the suppression through the alt right. Not sure, I would prefer to live these days in the American Banana Republic vs. under British rule ... but yes, I see what you mean. Not sure, it technically was a revolution anyway, it didn't revolve the British regime, it just decolonised parts of the Eastern Island (East - seen from our side).
Most revolutions are like turning boulders on a field ... some other ugly side of the rock looks toward the sky, but it doesn't really make a difference for the soil beneath which side of the rock faces the sun.
But anyway - this is Iran and the strongman Nethanyahu and his American buddy might bomb the sh*t out of them. No plan whatsoever for what is happening afterwards. Not very promising for the good people living in Iran, isn't it?
No world war 3 yet till china joins in and Chump..
well its a cluster mess for sure..
just the same old stuff..chaos...
Ok the address from General Sir Roly Walker's Opening Address at RUSI Land Warfare Conference 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Iicuypf6U
2 weeks, 2 weeks, no bombing today..... 2 WEEKS!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9lP_bQMSTM
why put off today what you can do in 2 WEEKS!!
Quote from: Waltzing on Jun 20, 2025, 10:53 AM2 weeks, 2 weeks, no bombing today..... 2 WEEKS!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9lP_bQMSTM
why put off today what you can do in 2 WEEKS!!
You need to be careful with his time indications, they are celestial. Remember - he works already 5 Earth months on the one day he said it takes him to end Russias war against Ukraine.
Better read the bible - it says for god one day is as much as thousand years for us humans (2 Peter 3:8). Well, Trump is playing god, so we better prepare for a handful of very rough millenia.
If the US gets involved in Iran I wonder if China will use it as an opportunity to have the Iranians test out some anti-carrier weapons and tactics. Could get interesting, apparently some Chinese cargo aircraft made flights into Iran this week and turned off their transponders.
yes those big china vissels...
bets trump deosnt do anything... it would bother up his golf... apparently he doesnt want to meet anyone now whos trouble.. and Z is just plain a bother... no cards...
Chaos- wasnt there a organisation in MS that was called chaos...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq5heE9xGtU
MS = Kaos..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCgv1110dvQ
shes a greek goddess too...
meet the engineers on the cutting edge of the battlefield..
junkie videos these but.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN25LdMIEGM
Slightly off topic but this may give us a hint as to what the US military thinks about .... ORDERS....and who gives them...
the US has great marching bands. every big sports event has marching and cheer leading groups...
Americans love to parade!!!!
Is this young american a keep of traditions... watch out .. his generation are coming and they like to keep it together...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq75-h56SwM
Ok chump must have decided that the parade was a flop and he better do something... like drop some bombs on someone else the US military was going to be a laughing parade....
well we got that wrong..
he wants to show those dictators that he too can bomb ... and hes got bigger bombs....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/06/22/us-strikes-iran-latest-updates/
the 2 week thing only applies to Ukriane war...
Back to Trooping the color... US you tubers discuss the even that lead CHUMP to BOMB BOMB BOMB my life away!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Qt3D3JtiQ
report coming in on radio times that people in far away places arnt too comfortable anymore..
Is Vald the Terrible about to rise again.. oh that was Ivan. sorry
but there is a new Ivan in town..
and he wants your town...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3kalhjbcFs
Does it feel like a confluence of events ever swirling into a maelstrom..
Dona Nobis Pacem...
Bach's mass in B Minor has more meaning than ever...
Peace in our time... May the Good Lord help us..
an example from an infantryman's perspective on why maybe the UKE boy's and girls have suffered..more than they should have//// very poor training...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2vA0rF0kUY
looks like the west still has stuff to teach them.. even if its not on drones... and yes the Air controller FFID will need a lot of work and they clearly dont have that computing power needed to simuluate link 16... there are a lot of list structures for link16 and the likes of python and javascript wont give you the real time multi tasking systems you need for military grade field simulations and then there is the curvature of the earth to take into account on your plots when you cover large areas...
some of these technologies were depreciated by microsoft when they went back to a single GUI thread... and started using huge amount of memory to display anything...
some people had the sense to say NO!!! and reaped the rewards ever since...
read between the lines and you will understand why we post on this thread... and know about link16...
it appears that the politics of the DUMP house are dark indeed....
Ukraine air defense supplies due to be redirected by the Trump installed puppets in the USA military Penta GONE EAST..
Its a warming to allies....
This chap is a well versed russian speaker and knows the empire like a GS (George) operative...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwLPNBz1zwA
dark days lie ahead....
The Nato meeting was nothing but a show for DUMP... now Ukraine is being starved of Air Defense...
Dump has betrayed the West...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa8wKcd_bGc
China wants peace.. then in private says Russia cant lose.. is China just confused or sowing confusion.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/04/europe/china-ukraine-eu-war-intl
Take a ride on the black sea and see how the Worlds economy keeps ticking along...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2YjuuQz414
there is a reason that Gardening is popular and it just everyone knows its a Sane to do in an world where sanity is sometimes hard to find...
And since we are all in Winter Moss control is big and Chipping using your new electric chipper.. some chain sawing with your new electric chain saw and we know you really want that electric 4 wheel drive tools trolley to follow you round the garden....
and out there is this stuff... and really you can be forgiven for saying enough... the Garden is just more important..
hope no one has a nice Garden that is going to suffer any damage in this....
Trump threatened Putin he'd 'bomb the sh*t out of Moscow....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ9wRZq4L90
Since this war is going to go on for a while if the death of Putiler is not coming any time soon..
Ukraine is the place to test your products no matter what the field as if its a game changer in this economy then your on to a WINNER!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OssNcszcLGA
More to come...Its global.... Eastern European Front... Middle East.... The High Himalayas.. India China..
China South Seas pushing into every country on the southern ring....
North K - South K....
Russian - Japan....
Early rounds of a Third World War....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvFV0CngoOI
they saying its 1937....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xec1_TplGY
that human history repeats...
Kursk region now has army personal from ASIAN countries such as LAOS.. remember spain where people came from all over the world to fight...
For investors the world has become a lot more dangerous and that is why GOLD and now even SILVER? are being used to hedge ...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jul 12, 2025, 11:11 AMKursk region now has army personal from ASIAN countries such as LAOS.. remember spain where people came from all over the world to fight...
For investors the world has become a lot more dangerous and that is why GOLD and now even SILVER? are being used to hedge ...
While "army personnel from Asian countries such as Laos" are now in the Kursk region is highly questionable. Ukraine's military intelligence has claimed that Russia is coordinating with Laos to send engineering troops for mine-clearing near Kursk. However; Laotian authorities have denied this as entirely baseless. No credible, independent confirmation supports the narrative that Laos is militarily involved in Russian operations.
Even if Laos were involved, the scale is tiny (reports speculate up to 50 engineers), and can mine clearing be compared to active combat ("to fight") as implied in the comparison with the Spanish Civil War?
Spain attracted everyone including american writers...
People from many places are flowing into russia to do lots of stuff.. they may not be all fighting... but some may well be like perhaps the 30,000 more NK troops rumored to be heading that way shortly...
how many more will NK send..
there are other stories of people being transported from there migrant jobs to the front lines...
the days of counting whos where and doing what are past ... now its the 1600's and its KAOS... or soon could be..
The shock to the locals in NZ could be huge...
Will it all soon turn into one giant land and minerals grab as CHINA goes for the big prizes....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Sapphire
wake up and smell the cordite... it going to be everywhere - unless the west arms its self to the teeth...''
forget your investments they are done... buy gold...
Is the Game about to change or is it just more headlines...
Soon See..
https://kyivindependent.com/the-game-is-about-to-change-republican-senator-graham-says-he-expects-influx-of-us-weapons-shipments-to-ukraine-ahead-of-trumps-major-announcement/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/07/29/trump-new-missile-could-halt-chinese-invasion-taiwan/?recomm_id=c580b478-04eb-4d9a-b385-7a273b5ba03c
DUMP moves on DC...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/11/politics/trump-federalized-dc-police-now-what
Designed to stop those protest marches? How many more cities will he try to take control over?
Would the real PUTIN stand up....
really .... what a joke... its not what it seems.. would the real slim shady P stand up...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJO5HU_7_1w&list=RDeJO5HU_7_1w&start_radio=1
The EU took a hit today in Kiev.. thats the American Electronics company the other day.. so much for not attacking US assets and now the EU in Kiev...
When will Putin try to over run estonia... or provoke boarder problems...
Although a USSR journalist has recently said the Russian Economy is falling apart..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/08/28/ukraine-war-latest-news-russia-strikes-kyiv/
The USA so called peace talks are just front for business talks about OIL and Diamonds...
The USA is no longer a country small countries like NZ can reply on...the content in the Video is an afront to truth..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr5qJAztock
China is starting to build 120 000 Ton Carriers...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/03/china-nuclear-aircraft-carrier-biggest-in-the-world-navy/
China about to show off the biggest mobile laser... but target though...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/02/china-about-to-reveal-weapon-its-been-hiding-from-the-world/
pushing India into China's lap is the USA at its best... DA!!!
Is Ukraine with its Pink Vissles about to deal a blow to crimea... all those radars taken down recently on the sunny coast line and will they try to take down the bridge...
You know the Greeks were given poor odds as well... we all know what happened in that one... or do they not teach any of the stuff here in the deep southern pacific ocean...
lets go back and time and learn some lesson..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu7Jwf6eM3U
Where is russia getting it manufacturing equipment from...
Kiev Independent details where and when the equipment shipped to russia for the ramp up of military production...
Europe now at war... of course it is.. its just it hasnt declared it yet.. china at war.. of course it is.. it just hasnt declared it yet...
North K... well yes it actually sent troops but did not declare war?
How does that work...
Jake Bro says... forget the USA its not coming to anyone's rescue...
He says this century is going to be very dangerous...
XI says... world must choose between war and peace... who's version of peace?
https://youtu.be/dJnman2NL8E
You will have all woken up in your little KIWI beds this morning and thought.. what a wonderful world... of course you did..
and in poland they woke up last night to the sound of air raid sirens...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/10/politics/trump-poland-russia-response
Why isnt the BBC making more of the incursion? In poland the citizens are taking to social media with ... WAKE UP EUROPE!!!
well that was obvious back in 2014.. what has taken everyone so long.. and still its just a few drones right?
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c2enwk1l9e1t
Its all go in the baltics and anything can now happen on those sea ways..
Just in case we dont really understand the first phase of the war in central europe is starting with probing into the air space in the northern baltics..
overnight the polish air space is alive with more russian drones as we write this. Reports will come out in the next 24 hours.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/drones-over-poland-nato-and-the-eu-seek-a-convincing-response-to-russian-aggression-a-6a2ff5af-6cd7-4cd1-86a3-989a246a8538
it does not mean the russians are coming but Moscow is dreaming of it..
a defence line across the baltic states is thin and the USA looks like its going to do nothing.
Moscow knows it has a free hand.
For those of you who have contacts on the ground you will know the situation.
Well CHUMP has thrown out his bananas ....
What changed his mind... it was Agent M , who is now been taken over by Z's wife...who feed her kompromat on her husband... while he was partying in moscow at those miss world parties...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXWH-33WCgE
Is all it will take is balloons?
https://kyivindependent.com/drone-scare-halts-flights-at-amsterdans-schiphol-as-zelensky-says-russia-probing-europes-defenses/
in 1983 this airport was our gateway to europe...
and that year or there about a song came out that was anti war....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpu5a0Bl8eY
and its drone hunting time in the baltics... these are the real Top Gun pilots...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kV8tl5mBR8
some good news.. Ukraine hits lots of stuff in the evil empire and in some other country close by with a name starting with M... i means who knows where all these countries are... even the mongols went home after getting lost somewhere nearby in a country called H... who calls a country Hungry... everyone is Hungry... silly name...
anyway most of the folks in country M decided they would stay with democracy or something like it... one up for the little guys!!! Yeah!!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/
Planning a vacation or work trip next winter to the Baltics... think again... use ZOOM... use your bike bags for local trips... super big bags...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/10/putin-is-losing-the-war-so-prepare-for-escalation/
we are running some more AI modelling today in I AM AI...
i cant promise we wont become a megalomanic...
with OIL prices possible trending down, some kind of messy stale mate in the middle east, we only need the eastern europe to cool down and.. the big one.. even though intel is now manufacturing on home soil no one is buying the chips yet and that leave TW in the clutches of the Dragon...
We still dont have certainty stable investing environment for 2030...
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/11/world/netanyahu-trump-ceasefire-analysis-intl
They are singing songs of ....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/10/15/crowds-sing-banned-song-overthrowing-putin-st-petersburg/
Do you remember ... from a time of hope...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXAYx3DN_x4#:~:text=Hurdy%20Gurdy%20Man%20Comes%20singing%20songs%20of,love%20Hurdy%20gurdy%2C%20hurdy%20gurdy%2C%20hurdy%20gurdy%2C
Hegy's back ....
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/15/europe/ukraine-hegesth-firepower-coming-nato-intl-hnk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_nOXbNetVQ
Could peace be here sooner than expected and markets return to some sense of NORMAL before CHINA stuff's it all up for the Camper here?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2025/10/17/the-myth-putins-strength-crumbling-end-close/
could we be back in ST Petersberg and Kiev going to the ballet before the decade is out?
In fact Russian wrappers have used Swan Lake as a political weapon to say they have had enough of the regime and want to go to the ballet...
Europe has to understand soon someone or lots of people are going to get injured and killed...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/17/russia-suspected-of-blowing-up-polish-railway-line-ukraine/
They are going to go after stuff all over the place...
Oil next ?
After all Russia is basically on fire now...
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 18, 2025, 09:36 PMEurope has to understand soon someone or lots of people are going to get injured and killed...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/17/russia-suspected-of-blowing-up-polish-railway-line-ukraine/
They are going to go after stuff all over the place...
Oil next ?
After all Russia is basically on fire now...
Possible.
I guess it depends as well on how long the Russian economy keeps running (remember end of the 1980íes?). If they start to really annoy the West, then they might find out that it is still difficult for a country with less than the Italian GDP to fight against the West with something like 50% of the world GDP behind them, even if half of that is run by an idiot.
But yes, mentally unwell bears can be dangerous.
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 18, 2025, 09:36 PMEurope has to understand soon someone or lots of people are going to get injured and killed...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/17/russia-suspected-of-blowing-up-polish-railway-line-ukraine/
They are going to go after stuff all over the place...
Oil next ?
After all Russia is basically on fire now...
Ukraine was always a proxy war between US/Europe and Russia. Hardly surprising then it should eventually spill outside the borders of Ukraine.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Nov 19, 2025, 06:29 PMUkraine was always a proxy war between US/Europe and Russia. Hardly surprising then it should eventually spill outside the borders of Ukraine.
Funny way to look at it.
The Russian attack against Ukraine has been run by an old KGB servant who wants to recover the old Russian empire - and he killed aready more than one million of his own soldiers so far.
Has nothing to do with proxy war. Neither Ukraine nor the West did attack, and the Russions (the attackers) are killing nextg to some Ukrainina civilians mainly their own people.
That's not a proxy war, its just the normal slaughterhouse killing you would expect from some of the Russian czars.
Thats a bit simplistic - a bit like the ill fated "war on terrorism" or it's current iteration, "the war on nanrco-terrorism" that is usually a prelude to an invasion (ie Venezuela).
There is always geopolitical considerations at play. The Ukraine has been the jewell in the crown for both Russia and NATO for a long time. Non alignment ie neutrality, kept things in a precarious balance, but now it's open warfare, with the poor Ukrainian people paying the price.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Nov 20, 2025, 09:20 AMThats a bit simplistic - a bit like the ill fated "war on terrorism" or it's current iteration, "the war on nanrco-terrorism" that is usually a prelude to an invasion (ie Venezuela).
There is always geopolitical considerations at play. The Ukraine has been the jewell in the crown for both Russia and NATO for a long time. Non alignment ie neutrality, kept things in a precarious balance, but now it's open warfare, with the poor Ukrainian people paying the price.
Nobody said that Americans are perfect ... even before they picked a quite idiotic and criminal poulist as their president.
And sure - Russia considers the Ukraine as part of their territory - I guess the last hundred of years it was roughly half of the time that Ukrainians did run the Soviet Union (like Leonid Brezhnev, Nikita Khrushchev, Konstantin Chernenko).
Having said that - Ukraine was even during the Soviet union a sovereign country (having an own space in the UN), and Russia even "guaranteed" their security when the Ukraine gave their nuclear weapons to Russia.
Yes, the poor people of Ukraine are paying a high price for Russias lies and Western indifference. But this still has nothing to do with proxy war. Russia is the only reason this war has been started and keeps going - and I don't see who they use as proxy (well, maybe the poor North Korean soldiers dying for Putins money).
Quote from: BlackPeter on Nov 20, 2025, 10:06 AMNobody said that Americans are perfect ... even before they picked a quite idiotic and criminal poulist as their president.
And sure - Russia considers the Ukraine as part of their territory - I guess the last hundred of years it was roughly half of the time that Ukrainians did run the Soviet Union (like Leonid Brezhnev, Nikita Khrushchev, Konstantin Chernenko).
Having said that - Ukraine was even during the Soviet union a sovereign country (having an own space in the UN), and Russia even "guaranteed" their security when the Ukraine gave their nuclear weapons to Russia.
Yes, the poor people of Ukraine are paying a high price for Russias lies and Western indifference. But this still has nothing to do with proxy war. Russia is the only reason this war has been started and keeps going - and I don't see who they use as proxy (well, maybe the poor North Korean soldiers dying for Putins money).
The Ukraine was at peace when it was non-aligned. On good terms with Russia and the West. No need for either side to interfere. Thats how it should have remained, if it hadn't been for both the West and Russia to pull it in one direction or another. There was no need to make the Ukraine choose one over the other. If it's at all possible now, the Ukraine should assert its own independence and return to its neutral, sovereign status. This may be enough to satisfy Russia but also tell Us/Europe that it is not going to be used as a proxy for Russian/Western rivalry. There's no military solution to this conflict. Any one who says otherwise has an axe to grind.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Nov 20, 2025, 10:21 AMThe Ukraine was at peace when it was non-aligned. On good terms with Russia and the West. No need for either side to interfere. Thats how it should have remained, if it hadn't been for both the West and Russia to pull it in one direction or another. There was no need to make the Ukraine choose one over the other. If it's at all possible now, the Ukraine should assert its own independence and return to its neutral, sovereign status. This may be enough to satisfy Russia but also tell Us/Europe that it is not going to be used as a proxy for Russian/Western rivalry. There's no military solution to this conflict. Any one who says otherwise has an axe to grind.
Funny - what time are you talking about when you say Ukraine was in peace?
Maybe you forgot already Russias attack against the Krimn?
Clearly - you forgot the many years whenr green clothed and Russian speakling people invaded Eastern parts of the Ukraine and killed plenty of civilians?
Ah, you mean the time when Russia lover and strongman Yanokovich was running down the Ukraine? ... and before the people of Ukraine decided that they would prefer to go with a democratic system? That's like observing the peace of the burried on a cemetry.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Nov 20, 2025, 11:02 AMFunny - what time are you talking about when you say Ukraine was in peace?
Maybe you forgot already Russias attack against the Krimn?
Clearly - you forgot the many years whenr green clothed and Russian speakling people invaded Eastern parts of the Ukraine and killed plenty of civilians?
Ah, you mean the time when Russia lover and strongman Yanokovich was running down the Ukraine? ... and before the people of Ukraine decided that they would prefer to go with a democratic system? That's like observing the peace of the burried on a cemetry.
Clearly I am talking about the period before the current widespread, nation destroying hostilities broke out - isn't that obvious?
That period was Yanukovych as the fourth Ukraine President and those before him. Yanukovych was as corrupt as those that have come before him and since, but he was an elected official. In the light of what came after, maybe the decision to remove him from office wasn't such a good idea? There is another way of removing corrupt leaders from office - they're called elections. Elections that would have taken place 6 months after his removal by force. He probably would have been voted out - not a certainty - but then a more moderate government may have been appointed and kept the Ukraine as a neutral, non-alighned country. And none of this would have happened.
we dont know if none of this would have happened perhaps just have prolonged the process until it all merged but time was running out...
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 20, 2025, 11:45 AMwe dont know if none of this would have happened perhaps just have prolonged the process until it all merged but time was running out...
True, we'll never know if a better course could have been plotted for the Ukraine. And there-in lies the tragedy.
Bit of a Wall Street Wobble (as opposed to shuffle) going on as tech stocks get hit on fears of an AI bubble. Our exchange looks fragile as well, particularly if overseas investors start to move out of equities. As I see it, the best place to be for the next few months is on the sidelines.
if this goes through its actually the end of NATO and any assurances that anyone has protection from the US as Europe is now left with two choices, agree or step up and confront the inevitable now and not wait for the greater war in europe that would come from this peace....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2025/11/20/putin-was-losing-badly-in-ukraine-now-he-cant-believe-his/
Is this a back room deal that shuts out ukraine and europe? Trump appears desperate to do anything to get a deal with the criminal in russia...he want the money no matte the costs for everyone else...
at last we see what was there all along...
remember this day....
only will there be a peace ? or just a few days, weeks, months of restocking... then off we go Europe will be next...
Sorry, but that's a nonsense headline and article. Russia wasn't "losing" the war let alone "losing it badly." Articles like that - typically from a right-wing newspaper like the Telegraph - are nothing short of misinformation designed to convince people - maybe the people who are losing their lives - that the war in Ukraine is winnable. It isn't, not for Putin or the Ukraine. Surely that should be painfully obvious by now?
AUS is also entering this market and with China now a blue ocean fleet AI controlled seas drones are probably the way to go....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/21/britain-drone-underwater-russia-helsing-yantar/
Remember the roman empire.. its back .. the USA is falling into the same state the roman empire did... and its interesting that in the UK historians today call the romans the Carpet Baggers... remember the book...
has Ukraine just now become a state that europe must now annex ... big decision await as the carpet baggers hunt through the rumble... just like the romans did in the ancient country side in Britannia..
Quote from: Waltzing on Nov 23, 2025, 09:17 AMRemember the roman empire.. its back .. the USA is falling into the same state the roman empire did... and its interesting that in the UK historians today call the romans the Carpet Baggers... remember the book...
has Ukraine just now become a state that europe must now annex ... big decision await as the carpet baggers hunt through the rumble... just like the romans did in the ancient country side in Britannia..
Interesting. And yes, clearly as well as Russia and the UK are ways past their prime, the US is now fast going down. The only problem is - they are still the largest economy, and it takes decades and sometimes centuries for big powers to disappear. They are as well quite dangerous during the downturn - which is not a good omen for the decades to come.
More interesting however is - who will be next, and will they be able to control all those fading powers.
China? India? Africa??
Europe would be nice ... but just looking at increasing populism I'm not so certain. The next decades / centuries (hopefully not like for Rome - the next thousand years) might well be determined by various middle powers fighting against each other and against the migration of larger and larger groups of migrants.
Lets hope we can keep this part of the globe sort of clean, get enough people in to keep us going but able to determine the rules.
TACo, news TACO T... apparently the latest peace plan is... well the latest plan... it is apparently a new plan replacing the old plan and apparently even members of the GOP want another NEW PLAN... looks like this will soon be the old plan....
which plan are we up to ... NO ONE KNOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
remember this day.... or DONT!!!!
now where were we up to... summer is here and boy didnt those weed grew this spring... mitre 10 running any specials on weed killers?
right everyone can go back to gardening and some people are still boating... now remember when china invades TW you will not be able to boat as oil shipments will stop.. so boat while you can...
peace in our time... its a marketing campaign... its actually for local MAGA consumption and why its back firing on the home MAGA front because its not really about peace its about the show... there show... prime time vote catching shows...
Its not about peace ... who care about peace!!!!
It all about ratings!!!!!
and it appears the latest peace deal is the SAME PEACE deal...
It the same marketing plan....
Yes this is the case of "fighting their little hearts out"
Its all for TV... and its the worst rerun show ... EVER!!!
https://ukrainetoday.com/trump-says-new-us-peace-plan-not-final-offer-to-ukraine/
and its the "WHO CAN WE STEAL FROM NEXT!!!"
and there are blogs out there on the 28 points ..... numbers numbers numbers ... cut and past plans since the... well the marshal plan....
there a legions of people who make money from these plans... there must be a lot of tree cut down when they print these plans....its NOT NET ZERO!!!!!!!
Ok... GREEN PEACE ALERT....
ukraine hits oil tankers in black sea... empty ones.... they have got someone sitting on the beach in a local cafe Tanker Spotting!!!!!!
Its a new pass time and they get Buy me a coffee support from ukraine drone boat flotillas...
Havnt had a chance to use that word in how many years of this war.. mean special game of Thrones!!!
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/11/29/ukrainian-drone-boats-blow-up-russian-oil-tankers/
IS NZ about to go to war.... no .. not even if the UK is attacked ... but what is the NZ position? Does NZ even have one?
is it 1936 -38 all over again... of course it is and no... Russia is a mess and is ready for nothing much...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/02/witkoff-kushner-meet-putin-moscow/
But there has never been a time when the US has been this close to a mafia state ... ever...
and can you load up on ammo any time you like in europe?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/02/thieves-stole-20000-german-ammunition-driver-slept/?recomm_id=ef306714-bbf9-4e8a-aa1c-9a249511cf8d
There appears to be a reduction of communications between the pentagon and Nato europe...
Is US under CHUMP now being told to walk back communications with NATO and Europe...
what about the pacific ???
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 03, 2025, 07:53 AMIS NZ about to go to war.... no .. not even if the UK is attacked ... but what is the NZ position? Does NZ even have one?
is it 1936 -38 all over again... of course it is and no... Russia is a mess and is ready for nothing much...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/02/witkoff-kushner-meet-putin-moscow/
But there has never been a time when the US has been this close to a mafia state ... ever...
and can you load up on ammo any time you like in europe?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/02/thieves-stole-20000-german-ammunition-driver-slept/?recomm_id=ef306714-bbf9-4e8a-aa1c-9a249511cf8d
Well, while Putins army isn't much to fight Europe - his threat with nuclear attacks and him running the guy who runs the white house makes a difference.
Clearly a time for the Russian mafia and the US mafia to split Europe and for the Chinese mafia to focus on their old maps.
Interesting story re the German ammo. I guess half of it is blank (i.e. only makes noise) and the other half is for pistols (9mm). Wondering why they need so much pistol ammo in the baracks? Hardly useable in war. Who knows, maybe the AfD needed some ammo and bribed one of the drivers ...
Anyway - your timing reference is certainly fitting. The question is more where the war is starting to expand. Russia placing some nuclear missiles into Europe? China going Taiwan? Arabs going Israel? Ah, and what about the black continent?
- Europe according to this Australian's lady journalist...
- at minute 53 or so...
- Once you slide of the cliff like Russia has its hard to stop a run away train...
- Apparently here the heads are in the sand (she says AUS)...
- NZ has taken the first step and has along with AUS starting putting some COIN into the European weapons buying program...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/
some people in AUS and NZ will have products that dont fit into these small markets..(NZ and AUS) and it will effect the countries GDP...and every investor bar none... well
if you thought about buying gold back in 2014-15 and said surely not... well join the club... those who bought gold well done...
looks like you wont be able to get enough of it...
how did it all come down to this....(lord of the rings)..
Ireland to spend 2 billion on fighter aircraft....
How long is it before NZ realises it needs some form of air defense....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/04/military-drones-flew-towards-zelensky-plane-dublin/
Put threatens europe with total destruction in a real war... IE nuclear.. knowing that the US will do nothing...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/03/nothing-to-fear-from-putin-nukes/
lets hope its all bluff... after all you cant enjoy much after moscow gos up in radiation from a French nuclear missile ....
not sure the english ones will actually fire.. but a few will no doubt... oh but wait russian nuclear Vissiles have been siting in silos with little maintenances in decades...
Nuclear weapons are now needed by everyone... where is Australia going to house theres in those sub thats arnt coming any time soon???
Now france.. drones over nuclear sub base and yes now europe is shooting back.. name of the base translates to "End of Earth"
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20251205-france-takes-anti-drone-measures-after-flight-over-nuclear-sub-base
those french have some missiles that go a long way very very fast...
RARELY do we think of GEO risk from a rare earth perspective but is there money to be made beside the investing in Gold you all though about but perhaps went.. who buys gold anymore?
Is this a area worth researching and is it investible?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/12/03/britain-lead-fightback-chinese-rare-earths-stranglehold/?recomm_id=c4fc4188-0775-45be-a68a-8f6d1fe3476f
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 10, 2025, 12:29 PMRARELY do we think of GEO risk from a rare earth perspective but is there money to be made beside the investing in Gold you all though about but perhaps went.. who buys gold anymore?
Is this a area worth researching and is it investible?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/12/03/britain-lead-fightback-chinese-rare-earths-stranglehold/?recomm_id=c4fc4188-0775-45be-a68a-8f6d1fe3476f
No doubt, Hon Shane thought already about it:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/critical-minerals-driving-west-coast-mining-revival
And yes, rare earths are not really rare, and NZ has as well some of them - mainly offshore, though.
Whether we decide to mine them, depends on our greenness, and whether this is profitable has a lot to do with what the rest of the world does. No doubt there are currently other people as well trying to find a way around Chinas monopoly. Its not that China is the only country with rare earth minerals, they just delivered them cheap enough to cut every other supplier out.
... though people seem to think anyway that China is overplaying its card:
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5634021-china-rare-earth-leverage/#:~:text=In%20Minnesota%2C%20Niron%20Magnetics%20is,What%20Do%20You%20Think?
dont worry... the government has a plan... only the extraction of this stuff costs a lot . Some company in the US has a new extraction process... great but its doubtful any company here could afford it... is this the point where government assistance is going to be needed... and its time to realise that NZ is maybe not a going concern..... urge to merge with AUS could become the only sensible option...
Quote from: BlackPeter on Dec 10, 2025, 01:23 PMNo doubt, Hon Shane thought already about it:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/critical-minerals-driving-west-coast-mining-revival
And yes, rare earths are not really rare, and NZ has as well some of them - mainly offshore, though.
Whether we decide to mine them, depends on our greenness, and whether this is profitable has a lot to do with what the rest of the world does. No doubt there are currently other people as well trying to find a way around Chinas monopoly. Its not that China is the only country with rare earth minerals, they just delivered them cheap enough to cut every other supplier out.
... though people seem to think anyway that China is overplaying its card:
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5634021-china-rare-earth-leverage/#:~:text=In%20Minnesota%2C%20Niron%20Magnetics%20is,What%20Do%20You%20Think?
Correct rare earths are not rare - what is rare are the refining facilities.
what kind of madness is embedded in the russian mind...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/11/nato-chief-prepare-for-war-with-russia/
now since NZ is no longer a country... its an island off the coast of AUSSI Kanda land... and lost floating towards ... well somewhere eastward... Go East ward young KIWI...
Does AUS know how to build ships... ships are going to be back... along with submerged autonomous drones...
USA does no longer control the Pacific....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36COUve03nc
Land Land Land... same as ever... did the world change between 1939 and 2020? almost one hundred years that change the world? maybe not...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/16/russia-us-promised-ukrainian-territory-war-sergei-lavrov/
There is going to be a bomb planted one day in a place in europe that will kill the public by russian criminal elements or those hired by them .... they are at war with the west...
Listen to the POD and realise travel in europe will be more risky than in the cold war when you were happly travelling about europe in fast trains in the 70's,80s..
How much Trump Bitcoin have the russians bought to have Trump and his family sell out the Europeans and the UKR...
This is where we are now... IS AUS and NZ now on our own????
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/
USA about to INVADE... CHINA has got to 2029 to INVADE....
USA is now the enemy of democracy ....
Understand people... USA is not democracy anymore... Crypto has probably changed hands already...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO9nrLJIZno
Ok - Trump was going to INVADE ... NO TACO....
Instead CHUMP asked the networks to show a whole bunch of slides...
Petrol prices... Have we found the one thing the USA wont take as FAKE NEWS!!!!!
The price of petrol ... and even FOX only showed a couple of slides...with the caption they were from the white house...
Are ALL the press in the US scared of ONE thing... lying about the price of petrol....
TACO again... the military the NAVY was sent to do what???? INVADE ???? NO !!!!!!!!!!!! Steal OIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BOY have we not understood this administration at all.... Lucky the white house cant control the OIL world wide...
This WHITE HOUSE is the GOLD HOUSE...
kleptomania !!!!!!!!!!!!
Trump is buying the military.. everyone gets 1700 US dollars....
Roman Generals buying troops to do there bidding....
The US military may now be TRUMPS Military...
Ok - US military runs perfectly right??? Well Ukraine got its drone working...
The US in the GULF...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu_Jgpu-jfk
A look at the Women fighting for democracy on the front lines and a 98 year old women who walked to safety as you her town came under attack...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN6XdJwsOt0
how are you positioned for a bleak global future... got metals .. got gold...
how will NZ fear after this...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/23/china-taiwan-conflict-pentagon-report/?recomm_id=1899d009-1e0e-470b-8590-9ea97e273a59
Quote from: Waltzing on Dec 30, 2025, 07:33 AMhow are you positioned for a bleak global future... got metals .. got gold...
how will NZ fear after this...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/12/23/china-taiwan-conflict-pentagon-report/?recomm_id=1899d009-1e0e-470b-8590-9ea97e273a59
Would you trust a US report?
WOuld you trust a world where out of control dictators are deciding what happens...
TWA is surrounded today... lets hope this does not happen as it will destroy markets ... who has even modelled this...
Rialto Channel this evening in french , english sub titles, the current state of the new Axis of evil.. 2024.. before they took out Iran...
which it looks like they are going back to have another go at...
the escalation world wide is growing...
If China kick of TW .. with Japan and SK face China lone...
A great doco and worth the watch because its starting to look very much like late 1930's
Soon the western country's NZ and AUS will have to dig deep... 5 percent defense budget EVERYWHERE....
Including here...
If SK supports TW the North will have to join in china's attack...
It kicks off world war 3...
The idea that the KM in moscow is anything other than a War machine needs to be not debunked but understood.. and if you wonder how long this will go on.. well.. 3 years ago Jake chatted to Vald Vexler...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2697pPORYuw
skip any adds that are well.. just funded by who know who or how they even appear there...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 02, 2026, 04:59 PMThe idea that the KM in moscow is anything other than a War machine needs to be not debunked but understood.. and if you wonder how long this will go on.. well.. 3 years ago Jake chatted to Vald Vexler...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2697pPORYuw
skip any adds that are well.. just funded by who know who or how they even appear there...
Better spend to invest the hour its taking, but very worthwhile looking at ...
And how soon is the hour... how did it all come down to this... Again...
Be ready people.. be ready...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/02/wargaming-world-war-three-how-where-next-global-conflict/
It may not be as big as the last one as it certainly wont last long as no one has the stock piles..
IDF will hit iran again hard soon... why let a bad operator get up again..
The problem with the third world war idea is that its already begun and the first round did not go according to the evil axis plan...
The french did a doco that was aired on Rialto channel...which stopped short before iran got all smashed up and syria went AWOL for the bad guys...
and now that the US has gone AWOL as well there maybe not one to world a true world war...
it might all just flop even with the over run of TW...
But if they go for TW watch out as this stock market wont handle it well... not at all...
we are still betting our software on europe and a smashed up UK due to electricity prices... Europe has lasted well over a thousand years.. more to come...
if there is anything going on locally beside some sport, gardening and bowls let us know....dont even bother to watch any local news...shocking...
And the strikes begin... no UN session holding up some Cards and chatting about WMD's ...
its open season...
and the world is back in the 16th century...is all this for real.....the US has gone rogue.. pick on a weak state and its all just a western now is it?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/03/explosions-venezuela-capital-caracas/
The whipped in and .. flew out...
One man... they got ONE MAN.. and left everything else in tact.. Tom Clancy !!!
What a joke...
"https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/venezuela-explosions-caracas-intl-hnk-01-03-26"
really? No one Vissle fired back .. what kind of deal has been made here!!!!
One New York mafia takes over another in another country?
Farce!!!! Who is running who and what....
Its a WILD WEST ... almost everywhere....
The US military is now doing the bidding of a new york real estate mafia family and friends supported by now new minted crypto coin being sold to anyone who buys enough of it to buy a deal..
How much money has russia paid for Ukraine...would they even bother...? Which russian mafia has washed money via Trump crypto ?
A world now beyond your ability to participate in...
The real key for the venezuela plan to work is getting a collaborator government in ASAP and preventing guerrilla activity. No one will build ANYTHING there to get the oil out if things are getting bombed all the time. Will be very interesting to see how things go, apparently people are celebrating in venezuela already.
There is no world order now...
It gones for a long long time... China special operation next?
What is your plan for your investment portfolio ....
When is the first tactical nuclear weapon going to be dropped somewhere...
Nukes are back... get your nukes fast...its your only security now...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 04, 2026, 05:04 PMThere is no world order now...
It gones for a long long time... China special operation next?
What is your plan for your investment portfolio ....
When is the first tactical nuclear weapon going to be dropped somewhere...
Nukes are back... get your nukes fast...its your only security now...
Actually - world order hasn't changed - and the law of the jungle works as it always did. It probably was just an illusion that some parts of mankind tried to change the system to rules based considering as well some humanitarian rights. Clearly, never properly worked, and now we are openly back to gunboat diplomacy.
But hey, dinosaurs didn't run the world forever, and I suppose the TrumpXiPutins won't run as long as the dinosaurs. Human history seems to have a big crisis roughly every 90 years or so - and this is where we currently are. Give it another 5 to 10 years, TrumpXiPutins will be dead, their henchman are too dumb to run the show and mankind will find again a better way to deal with each other - well, until the next big crisis, but hey, who cares (now) about 2125?
Lets try to keep our small part of the world livable through the crisis - and hey, maybe we can even benefit from the world crushing around us. I hear Switzerland did rather well during WW 2, why couldn't we learn from them for this crisis?
And actually - it was not nukes saving the Swiss (ok, they only invented them late in WW2), but what helped them was on one hand the offer to tyrants and mafia bosses around the world to save their money in Switzerland ... coupled with a Swiss army which had basically soldiers and their guns in every house.
"and the law of the jungle works as it always did" hang on... 1848 was all for nothing then!!!
anyway... it appear some local residents sleeping had their houses blown up...
precision hits apparently on military targets..
greenland next ...
well now that the GOLD house is running another country... having trouble the one they stole (USA).. we will get to see how good this team really is.. and then after they try to take over green land, canada.. they might try to retake London!!!!
No.. sorry got carried away...
arrhh... where were we...
Right... no way they can run the USA and some banana republic in the bay of america... where is this island anyway...
anyone know where any of this action is taking place..?
Cuba right? they are going to blockage CUBA.. why stop at one island.. you there for goodness sake dont sail away now...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTrk4X9ACtw
alert alert a large oil field has been rumored to have been found off Steward island...
Its likely this island will be over run by a US coast guard cutter and a delta force operator hanging out the window with a mega phone...
the new zealand government evacuation plans for steward island cant be found in amongst the 81 portfolios allocated to ministers in the new zealand government and no one knows who to contact on the island...
the local grocery store is closed for xmas and new year and no one knows where the shop keeper has gone... fishing some one said.. comes back when he comes back...
New Zealand is in dire danger of losing this new valuable assets in the deep south...
defend new zealand !!!! take up your pitch forks and shovels...
now this reminds me of something that happened just this week!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M2eRbA-sTU
warning people it can happen any time any place..
But back to the real world ? (is this a movie or a book , 1984...)
China now has a green light for TW... the slope is slippery as everything slides over the cliff...
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/05/world/analysis-trump-venezuela-greenland-nato-intl-latam
the enemy is now in the white house... and its miller... the trump whisper...
what will the US embassy in NZ be told to monitor...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 06, 2026, 12:13 PMBut back to the real world ? (is this a movie or a book , 1984...)
China now has a green light for TW... the slope is slippery as everything slides over the cliff...
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/05/world/analysis-trump-venezuela-greenland-nato-intl-latam
the enemy is now in the white house... and its miller... the trump whisper...
what will the US embassy in NZ be told to monitor...
Tough question - who will be attacked first? Taiwan or Greenland?
AI says an attack on Taiwan is more likely.
This gives us at least a quiet 2026 .... Xi asked for an invasion in 2027, didn't he - but than, does AI understand Trump?
AI response on who will be attacked first:
QuoteWhile no attack is guaranteed, Taiwan faces a significantly higher and more immediate risk of conflict due to heightened tensions with China, driven by strategic importance (microchips, Pacific access) and increased military drills, whereas Greenland is a strategic Arctic resource location, with potential future disputes involving rare earth minerals, but not currently facing imminent invasion threats like Taiwan. China's military pressure on Taiwan is escalating, with some experts anticipating a potential invasion by 2027, making Taiwan the primary focus for potential military action in the near term.
Why Taiwan is a Hotspot:
Geostrategic Location: Taiwan sits on the "First Island Chain," crucial for China's Pacific access and for U.S. containment strategies.
Economic Powerhouse: It produces a vast majority of the world's advanced microchips, vital for global technology.
Escalating Military Pressure: China conducts frequent military drills near Taiwan, seen as preparation for potential invasion or blockade.
Why Greenland is Important (but less immediately threatened):
Arctic Resources: Greenland holds vast untapped rare earth minerals and hydrocarbons, critical for future technology and military needs.
Great Power Competition: Its resources make it a strategic interest for the U.S. and other powers, but currently, it's a focus for diplomatic and resource competition, not invasion.
In essence, Taiwan is currently a major flashpoint with active military buildup and invasion threats, while Greenland is a long-term strategic prize in the Arctic, with geopolitical implications, but without the immediate military crisis surrounding it.
we call AI (another idiot) - anything less than a 1 million token context window and it has to reply on its training model...
one wonders if they try to invade greenland the US military will be thrown into chaos....
whose going to follow any of them in the white house....
seriously US military invade greenland... be like invading canada... the US 10th mountain would end up parked in a local pub watching ice hockey...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 05, 2026, 07:36 PMalert alert a large oil field has been rumored to have been found off Steward island...
Its likely this island will be over run by a US coast guard cutter and a delta force operator hanging out the window with a mega phone...
the new zealand government evacuation plans for steward island cant be found in amongst the 81 portfolios allocated to ministers in the new zealand government and no one knows who to contact on the island...
the local grocery store is closed for xmas and new year and no one knows where the shop keeper has gone... fishing some one said.. comes back when he comes back...
New Zealand is in dire danger of losing this new valuable assets in the deep south...
defend new zealand !!!! take up your pitch forks and shovels...
now this reminds me of something that happened just this week!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M2eRbA-sTU
warning people it can happen any time any place..
Trump is all about securing strategic resources in the northern hemisphere - he will be leaving places like NZ to china. Russia gets europe.
Seminal article on Market responses to Geopolitical evenst...
Well worth the read IMO
Geopolitics and wars rage as markets look past the noise
Geopolitics dominate headlines, from war to political turmoil, but markets keep shrugging it off, moving higher. Bulls N' Bears' Dollar Bill looks to history to show why investors often panic at the wrong time.
https://thewest.com.au/business/bulls-n-bears/geopolitics-and-wars-rage-as-markets-look-past-the-noise-c-21232432?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TheWest+-+Business&utm_id=202806&sfmc_id=17515736
The US wont even get the oil in its back yard...
If China Invades TW investors will learn the hard way that markets dont look though events like that...
One economist said China wont be that silly... Dictators do silly all the TIME!!!!
Simulations of TW invasion looks really bad for markets.. of course if your ready... then opportunities will be there but that will take years to recover... just look how long it took europe to recover from the GFC...
NZ market is struggle now....we will see who heads are in the sand when then soliders hit the beach... lets hopes not...
You really dont want to find out right???
The car industry is already nearly dry on certain kinds of chips in europe...
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 07, 2026, 08:18 PMThe US wont even get the oil in its back yard...
If China Invades TW investors will learn the hard way that markets dont look though events like that...
One economist said China wont be that silly... Dictators do silly all the TIME!!!!
Simulations of TW invasion looks really bad for markets.. of course if your ready... then opportunities will be there but that will take years to recover... just look how long it took europe to recover from the GFC...
NZ market is struggle now....we will see who heads are in the sand when then soliders hit the beach... lets hopes not...
You really dont want to find out right???
The car industry is already nearly dry on certain kinds of chips in europe...
But hey - it looks like Australia and NZ are the best places when the nukes start to come down ...
Still not comfortable, but at least survivable.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/nuclear-war-expert-explains-why-australia-and-new-zealand-may-be-the-last-places-left-standing-after-ww3/articleshow/125697217.cms
Anyway - not sure I'd expect this sort of scenario (though, who really could predict TrumpXiPutin&Co), but I guess our odds might look better than for many other places.
Silver lining - if we really talk about the mortality they assume in this article ... the impact of global warming should be delayed for at least a couple of generations as well. That's good, isn't it?
ok - some laughs from the US...
JK...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x03ZxnzfgNA
There is only one hope left... the force...
BP could be right NZ could be the last place for the the rebellion to survive...
https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/scifi/kennedy-filoni.html
All is lost according to Jake Bro...
No world order... back to the age of empire... what ever happened to all those powerful social liberals and there world order...
all it took was a GFC... (bankers stole your money) ... a Virus (WHO failed to stop it as China is not a civilised country where political power was more important than world health).. and a WAR with a bunch of rusted out tanks and drunk soldiers...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4szwEdcVT0
Bolton on the creative solutions for green land comparing it to New Zealand and the Cook Islands...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7aglGdMxmg
If you dont have a fleet blue water you can no longer guard your territorial waters...
also you need sea going drones...
Looks like NZ better butter up to AUS... waka's arnt going to make it...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/09/russia-ukraine-hypersonic-missile-nato-border/
large Vissles are starting to fly around... big ones...
Hellen C is going to address the UN along with JC and it will all be fine...
greenland... now will be renamed... GOLDLAND
The it appear that the USA will now do something about GOLDLAND....
after all they tried to buy it many times before...
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/09/trump-greenland-military-denmark-nato.html
Will they end up the Hague...
lets hope so...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78vj5n7jg3o
Do the Russian really think they can take poland again.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland
are we seeing the continuation of the Polish fight to regain the Nation hood created under the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagiellonian_dynasty...
Time isnt for the Poles to finally flourish and will they defeat the russians in the struggle to come...
Is that why they are spending 5 percent on military build ups...
Trumped up charges (pun intended) against Fed Chair Jerome Powell initiate a 'sell America' sentiment.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/12/business/stocks-dow-dollar-bonds-powell-trump-federal-investigation
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 11, 2026, 08:57 AMDo the Russian really think they can take poland again.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland
are we seeing the continuation of the Polish fight to regain the Nation hood created under the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagiellonian_dynasty...
Time isnt for the Poles to finally flourish and will they defeat the russians in the struggle to come...
Is that why they are spending 5 percent on military build ups...
Poland has the 3rd largest NATO army (after US and Turkey). And hey, they are part of NATO. While the Russian bully will keep harrassing them, I think his first real NATO attack will be some corridor towards Kaliningrad (Königsberg), which is more likely to go through Lithuanian territory.
We'll see - maybe his funds run out before, which would be good.
yes funds may run out before the POL's get there revenge...
The fin's to want land back..
It old stuff isnt it.. germany get KL back?
Gosh everyone got there passports ready when you all have to leave Kiwi land...
OIL heading back up? Can the US afford to deploy anymore military anywhere? have they ran out of supply ships?
Its logistics and it costs a lot of money....
and that is why they want a 50 percent increase in the biggest military budget in the world... where is the money going to come from?
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/14/greenland-denmark-trump-white-house-meeting.html
easy go get some resources close to home... there is the Peace Prize gone....
Norway wont go for it...
Iran kills 10's of thousands and Trump steals the oil and deposits the money in the middle east...
If you still sitting on the beach having a great time thinking you still living in the great new world.. forget it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A55a0DOw8A
European sends troops to defend greenland....
1984.... wonder if sales of the book are taking off..
anything happening down under? ..... beside a bridge being blocked by a complete nut case....
European Troops arrive in Greenland.. BBC reporting live video...
https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c0q4lplxzzlo
Is this the march to the second American Civil war?
https://www.interest.co.nz/public-policy/136802/robert-chernomas-and-ian-hudson-explain-why-america-hasn%E2%80%99t-become-great%C2%A0again
Culture on the front line of the fight for democracy...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/17/ukrainian-billionaire-battalion-blow-putin/
Trade war rattling....between US and Europe.. and Trump has sent an official letter to NORWAY...
he no longer cares about peace...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/
Spiraling out of control ?
supreme court ruling tomorrow on tariffs..
Putin invited to be on GAZA peace board? what a shambles... nothing can compare to this maybe in HISTORY....
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 20, 2026, 10:06 AMTrade war rattling....between US and Europe.. and Trump has sent an official letter to NORWAY...
he no longer cares about peace...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/russia-ukraine-war/
Spiraling out of control ?
supreme court ruling tomorrow on tariffs..
Putin invited to be on GAZA peace board? what a shambles... nothing can compare to this maybe in HISTORY....
Putin spy nuns.pretty much sums it up
How are the conversative in the US going on both the DEMS and what will be left of the GOP going to put Humpty Dumpty back together again...
and the debt selling starts... will china buy US debt? the Arab's... as the 30 year starts to move?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/01/20/trump-tariffs-greenland-uk-us-europe-ftse-100-markets/
watch the 10 and 30.. the long end will tell us if the nerves are starting to rattle...
Would the USA itself desolves into chaos if it invaded Canada... Canada prepares for war...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/01/20/canada-military-us-invasion-trump-carney/
if your starting to think your living in a nightmare world like your grand parents lived in.. well...
has it go gone a little bit far even for the Kremlin...?
"the mad house " ..... and they are referring here to T ... the head madman... is moscow scared it will be bombed?
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/01/20/europe/analysis-putin-view-greenland-trump-latam-intl
Brendon MC Cullum is in charge of British cricket team .. hes made the Geo Political game show...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/20/donald-trump-bazball-diplomacy-analysis/
The Living Lie.....
The speech of the shop window... and in fact im sure you will find the same phenomenon here in NZ where certain demographic groups apply pressure to cohesion you into removing your power until you only have your ballot box vote...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btqHDhO4h10
Steward island is safe!!!! they will give up all there tasty sea shore morsels and ship them to the white house every year in and INFINITE Deal!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84aa__f8yF8
The Davos speech of the tyrant is taking over ICELAND!!!!
and the SWISS might be speaking GERMAN!!!!
now we know that KIWI's dont speak ENGLISH... we know that... its MATE this and MATE that.. and some other strange sayings and mumbles...
but at least you know that most Kiwis kinda try to speak some truth... small towns run into big trouble if you try to make up facts.. like cows pollute so bad the planet is on fire...
Or farm Cambridge Stud troughs overflow just flooded the town and swept the town centre away with every man women and dog in the local pub drowned...
it wasnt true!!!!!
Rialto Channel - Against the Clock...
The doomsday clock... come on people... we are close to midnight its just most of you were born with it...
But not your children or grand children....
when they wake up from tik tok and the bomb goes off will they even known what killed them?
if you were thinking of investing in defense have you missed the wheels up moment??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1387Gm9KiE
What stocks got the orders to arm Europe and beyond...
its a MAD MAD World....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/28/trump-ally-robert-fico-worried-about-psychological-state/?recomm_id=4da32023-2a56-4573-a406-4b003b52f9ba
China is the problem...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/28/china-helping-russia-build-nuclear-capable-missile/
and has long as CHINA is a problem military weapons will flow to bad actors...
when bad actors have weapons ... they always want to play wit them...
Its now clear that this is a low level 3rd world war ....
will Trump now attack Iran because he can again... and will it all end some where like it did last time in Iran in some country where the night stalkers get taken down like in "Black Hawke down?"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/02/03/china-bankrolling-putin-ukraine-war-west/
and of course we all know that "World Liberty" got a 500 million stake from UAE... and Trump family got a 130 Million, and Witless and his son who operate the bit coin "liberty world" made 34 million...
US sold advanced AI chips to UAE....
Quote from: Waltzing on Jan 29, 2026, 06:19 PMChina is the problem...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/28/china-helping-russia-build-nuclear-capable-missile/
and has long as CHINA is a problem military weapons will flow to bad actors...
when bad actors have weapons ... they always want to play wit them...
I think China is part of the problem - or better their current leaderhip. Russia is part of the problem - or better their current leadership - and unfortunately the US is a big part of the problem (or better their current leadership). Lets not forget the EU. They are part of the problem as well for choosing to play their usual internal fights preferring their loudest agricultural lobby to determine international relations and in keeping to follow their appeasers and Putin lovers instead of taking the global leadership.
Ah well, we all know how the 1930'ies ended - better prepare for the next big bang. While its difficult to predict which of the fuses in an ammunition depot incinerate first when you allow a bunch of kindergarten bullies to play in there with matches ... the final outcome will be pretty clear.
While I don't expect the Xi's, Putin's and dear leaders to win .... the cost of the war will increase for everybody the longer we allow the autocrats of the world to play their games ...
Lets hope they keep at least their nuclear waste out of the southern hemisphere ...
well to do business and thrive you cant just say down here and go fishing although the locals who got here first might disagree and they were not an advanced civilisation...No wheels.. but they might argue there paddles were the best most advanced shapes with the best ART work...
The locals in Kanga land just happened to have some flight engineers ... the things that flys... and has a GPS auto home mode just like your Mimi pro 3 DJI drone...
Simula was created in the 1960's in EUROPE!!! and really is it that different to 1983 at the moment? Did you panics and stay home then?
No you went forth and i say DONT STAY home and wait .... GO on travel its never been easier or more comfortable even in cattle class..
imagine a migrant in the 1800's sailing out to AUS and NZ... looking at cattle class .... LUXURY!!! and bathroom!!! what? a person comes to give you a meal and drinks?
what A380? oh just give me that window single seat... or NZ 3 seater sleeping birth that is a board stuck over some seats...
LUXURY!!
Business class ? oh my gosh palace ... FIRST CLASS!!!! Just beyond belief!!
CONCORDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO NOT POSSIBLE!!!
Ok those evil russians criminals blew out there budget of january of 20 to 30 Billion... 40 billion was there budget deficit for the entire financial year...
is russia about to economically blow apart just like it did when the USSR fell apart...
Could it be that if the US continues to GDP out perform even with tariffs that Europe must look to tax china imports...
they need to hurry up...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/12/europes-only-hope-of-avoiding-mass-de-industrialisation/?recomm_id=65383b56-0cf9-4836-866c-5845f8f72523
One of the big risks people might be missing is the reliance on so called AI..
If a company or country think AI is going to be the silver bullet think about what might be the risks...
It takes power to drive it.. a lot of power... cut the wires and your defence just disappears...
could AI be your weakness?
well to understand that you need to look deeper in to what AI is???
like what is the base formula at the bottom of AI models?????
AH now your talking... have that formula and understand it limitations and you might then be able to get AI to think about it LIMITATIONS..
and what does AI say about it... well it not GOOD... AI soon loses it confidence when faced with the Formula that drives it...
Now this is what AI thinks is happening...
Its terrifying reading... is this the next BIG short movie...
https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/0174636f-02de-4fe4-ba9e-c94f392ef4d9
Now i should point out that AI did not just generate that without it being part of a project document container with several days of research being generated and placed in the project documents list.
The topic it researched were not its own selections and many of the research areas were suggested to it and several in deep research articles covering technology developments were undertaken before it.
These developments were technical in nature and even involved the research into control robot Jetson fleets using a new technology not yet know to the public but know to AI who has access to its source code...
Therefore it did suggest its own request to counter the current narrative being that new technologies often generate whole new market dynamics that can never have been envisaged before..
It may turn out that this first AI technology is on fact just the beginning before the age of Quantum Computing.
i do like to leave the odd blonde (blind) typing errors in place somethimes///,,,,.....
Does all this ordinance dropping around the world does look like the beginnings of a world war.. is china going to stay on the side lines as its mate get its face kicked in ?
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/18/us-military-aircraft-heading-towards-iran/
any why is the US doing this now or is it just one man's doing..
well if you were hoping for some cheap motoring in march.. the best time of the year in LLWC (land of the long white cloud) that went out the door last night...
after all the country in mid march is just fabulous for touring...and fishing and surfing, yatching...
https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-attack-02-28-26-hnk-intl?post-id=cmm68r7wj00203b6rcnae18pg
stuff flying around in UAE..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bViC0XzxJxc
well is that OIL up this week and imagine your trip to the desert to drink tea with Lawrence...well thats off..
now has anyone got a blue ray of that remastered? the music.. the camels.. the sunsets.. the Gin and Tonics ...
Well that was funny two american aircraft shoot down y the locals... ooops sorry about that!!!!
American pilots will now be S... there pants everytime they go up now...
Fly middle east!!! well maybe not...
Its all going to be a mess just like in Back Hawk Down?
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 03, 2026, 07:34 AMWell that was funny two american aircraft shoot down y the locals... ooops sorry about that!!!!
American pilots will now be S... there pants everytime they go up now...
Fly middle east!!! well maybe not...
Its all going to be a mess just like in Back Hawk Down?
I think it was three fighters, nearly the size of the still operable iranian airforce ... taken down by "friendly fire".
Apparantly the F15 costs something like $90 to $97m US dollar each.
I guess the good thing is - it shows us that Western Air defence is good enough to get down Western fighters. But hey - nearly $300m for the US taxpayer to replace these planes. Wondering how much money Donald budgeted for this purpose. Maybe they shouldn't repeat that exercise too often,
Whether it all helps to take down the soldiers of the dark iranian empire, time will tell - but unless they plan for longtime occupation (lots of boots on the ground) and a better plan than the ones they had so far for any of their recent near east military adventures, I doubt it ..
anyone met a dedicated follower of the sect. anyone read the bases on which its all based?
If you do you may be shocked at the depth of the commitment.. its as if there is nothing other than end, which is just a beginning.
If you want to study what happens think the Iran Iraq war...
https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-04-26
10,000 british to be air evacuated?... lot of flights? need a big air lift for that...
WAR WAR WAR !!!! This is a WAR.... no no no... its not a war.. its a Special Combat Operation....
Did Trump think they would just stop and not go underground....
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/03/middle-east-war-decided-interceptors-missiles
Get ready for OIL and Gas to go .... that right... up up and away and not just in some cloud of smoke....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULURWO7Vh3o
Nuclear sub base the French singing ... fabulous anthem isnt it..
Sure sounds like some countries are singing before they go to war or prepare for it...
Germans and Poland to join with france and UK to create nuclear umbrella...
Pity the germans got rid of nuclear power still more wind mills then...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YESS6emUrAk
We all remember when the US ran head long.. or rather helicopter into the middle east and ended up being .. well.. confused and retreating..
it was that incident they made a movie out of "Black Hawk Down" and they made it to bolster moral back states side before they went on other rampages across the middle east...
Now apparently the state department has been gutted and now US official offices of state across the middle east have NO IDEA what they are going to do next as Trumps son and the Witty Wit KICK ASS russian Jew havnt turned up to tell them!!!!
The officials in those countries are telling the US Citizens to LEAVE!!!! Any way they can!!!
Its a "A farrago "!!!
It could rival Black Hawk Down by the time they are finished....
Because they dont have a PLAN!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCkkMADBeug
just a reminder whats out there people in case you think it all like in Land of the long white cloud....
THAADs taken out by the evil ones.. that right they got some shot in at the beginning taking out half a billion dollars...
now where are all those little subs... they arnt big but they have a few...
All surface vessels pretty much gone...
But now the panic sets in... Hello Z this is the state department... you know those little drones that up ... and come back...
Ahh... have you got some??
Z .. "Sorry whos ringing?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCYLQ8GwOs8
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/05/middleeast/radar-bases-us-missile-defense-iran-war-intl-invs
"Who's shooting..."
Z .. "sorry whose calling again?"
State department " Get me Z!!!!" , cant anyone find Z!!!!!
Who stopped our programs with our allies!!!! who the F*** pulled the plug on on... who were our allies again... SOMEONE FIND THAT LIST!!!!
Breaking news the US is going to increase its fire power in the WAR!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDW6jyRK-TY
Take SOME!!!!! Bring in the Gunships!!!!!
Victory....
Declare Victory...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8uFWX1t1MY
The Battle or Iran is JUST STARTING...
Lets have a look at that the US defense depart is dealing with...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYTXtJxoDJA
Send in the B52's
anyone studied the mountain landscape of Iran...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQkBBaaKU4s
right the problem is the entire Boff fleet B52 needs to have there engines replaced and its a complex upgrade....
really will they even make there and back?
Who dreamt up this mission...
Chaos say ex US army person boarding flights out of the middle east.. While some bases started exfil 6 weeks ago everyone else has been left to there own devices to get out..
Listen to this..
"CNN's Erin Burnett talks to retired Army Major Gen. Randy Manner, who says he felt "abandoned" by the US when he was trapped in Dubai following strikes on Iran."
https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-06-26?post-id=cmmedmjyi00003b6rvdi3zom1
Video scroll down the page..
82 air borne readying for deployment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjVQjtL62WM
OIL where is it going.. UP how high... https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-energy-minister-warns-war-will-force-gulf-stop-energy-exports-within-weeks-2026-03-06/
what is your petrol pain point...
Did the shoot down show a little problem in the middle east? no cant be...there are a lot of people on all sides that arnt always on your side...
Mover says it is almost intentional or is mover just suffer from "all pilots are rational"..
well that is the end of the Eagle record and 3 in one day!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUbckcEa7sA
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 07, 2026, 01:08 PMOIL where is it going.. UP how high... https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatar-energy-minister-warns-war-will-force-gulf-stop-energy-exports-within-weeks-2026-03-06/
what is your petrol pain point...
I guess I understand why Mr trump continues this exercise. If Golf states have to stop using a force majeur clause - this is the ultimate evidence that trump is equivalent to majeur! Plenty of translations for majeur (depending on context), but uncontrollable is one of the ways to translate it.
But apart from that - I hear Mr trump is worried about the outcome of the midterm election later this year - and even MAGA (Make America Go Away) dickheads want to get cheap gas for their SUV's and boats during summer. So - no matter, how the war continues - Trump either will annex a part of Persia (make the country next to the strait of Hormus #55? or alternatively he might build a pipeline for the gulf states to export their gas. If both things don't work he probably makes a pact with Putin and allows him to sell cheap oil.
So - I guess we can be sure oil prices come soon down again .... force trump will make sure for that. But hey - doesn't trump mean uncontrollable?
if we look back over 3000 years persia was never controlled for long like many parts of that region...
To build pipelines you need boots on the ground and we know how that end up...
The third carrier is going in and they will have to overwatch the water ways... lot of flight hours coming up to lock down the area but drones can fly a long way...
UK to send one of its carriers...
This is going to cost a fortune..
and someone pays... the tax payer...
maybe this time DUMP has really jumped off the cliff....
Probability here does not look good...
Remember Vietnam... now where are those Iran protesters?? maybe the ones Trump needed are sadly no more....
This will need a lot more hardware to bring to a close... a lot...
Unless they get lucky but maybe they will just carpet bomb shortly...
The BUFF has a problem though a lot of the fleet was supposed to go into new engines...
And its a big job... how many BUffs have they got for the carpet job..
its an FF... alert people FF....
could be some buying oppo's coming up here...
FF!!!!!
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/06/iran-us-war-oil-prices-brent-wti-barrel-futures.html
well people.. convoys.. who remembers the "WATU" team, calling raspberry!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxTb-bVG1RY
calling all escorts...
has the US navy got enough ships to create convoy cover? or does it need both overwatch and NATO?
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/06/trump-navy-strait-hormuz-iran-oil-tanker.html
this is turning out to be the big show down after all...
where does china stand now...
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 09, 2026, 11:04 AMwell people.. convoys.. who remembers the "WATU" team, calling raspberry!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxTb-bVG1RY
calling all escorts...
has the US navy got enough ships to create convoy cover? or does it need both overwatch and NATO?
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/06/trump-navy-strait-hormuz-iran-oil-tanker.html
this is turning out to be the big show down after all...
where does china stand now...
Ah well, apparantly they use now in Russia the term "Teheran in three days".
Clearly it didn't work for Putin with "Kiew in three days" (its now year four and Kiew is still unoccupied), and so far it looks like Dumb just didn't learn from Putins mistakes but repeated them.
So - whats good for investors? More defence (or war?) stocks?
should have bought oil futures.. instead buy e bike manufactures and everyone tries to fit there supermarket basket on an e bike carrier...
and dont forget the chemical and fertiliser products that go through the GAP...
Key details regarding freight and recipients:
Chemicals & Fertilizers: The region is a major exporter of nitrogen-based fertilizers (urea, anhydrous ammonia) and sulfur. These are critical for global agriculture, with significant shipments going to various international markets, including the U.S..
Agricultural Goods: Raw cane sugar for the Dubai-based refinery, which is one of the world's largest, transits through the strait.
Energy Products: Roughly 15–20 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil and massive amounts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) pass through, heavily impacting the energy supplies of Asian nations.
Top Receiving Countries:
China & India: Combined, they received 44% of crude oil exports in 2025.
Japan & South Korea: Highly reliant on the oil and LNG flowing through this route.
Pakistan & Bangladesh: Highly dependent on LNG from Qatar and the UAE.
Global/Other: Europe and the U.S. are also impacted by price surges in fertilizers and energy, respectively, due to supply constraints.
and the French are back and where is the British Navy... stuck in dry dock or tied up the wharf.. what an embarrassment..
The french Amphibious ships are amongst the best of there class in the world..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/09/macron-unprecedented-naval-deployment-strait-of-hormuz-iran/
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2026/france-deploys-tonnerre-amphibious-assault-ship-for-lebanon-evacuation-as-middle-east-crisis-grows
Get a look at this french beauty...
well we will soon get to see if it can survive in a battle space when is it able to protect itself against drones... or does it have a weak spot...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoov8qse460
its all on people keeping the SH open will now test everyones tech...
and remember now they need Ukraine and the US needs Allies..
State department "who go that f*** list!!! who are our allies!!!!"
Q by Sir B: "Somethings just happened. Just as I was posting about something else.....BREAKING NEWS on CNBC in a phone interview President Trump told CBS " the war could be over soon. I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they've got no air force. He added that the US is very far ahead of his initial 4-5 week estimated timeframe.
West Texas oil now under $90, was nearly $120 yesterday. All the major indices, Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq now positive on the day.
Brent crude now $92, was close to $120 yesterday.
Definitly a change in narrative from Trump which the market is interpreting in a positive way. Small encouragement and much needed.
Get out there today and walk your dog or something similar you enjoy. What's happening could be over soon. I hope you all have a better day than yesterday."
Iran has a say however as TRUMP panics... will they say enough also.. probably.. but will Iran now collapse into Civil war and that means its not a simple equation...
Still requires a HUGE presents of Military to escort the Tankers through the GULF...
The middle eastern country's just lost there business as usual as a safe haven and that is what they are saying themselves...
There are no safe flights paths to europe at the moment... big costs to air travel if the direct routes are no longer operating as Russian Airspace is closed...Turkey and greece benefits or Eqypt?
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 10, 2026, 09:11 AMQ by Sir B: "Somethings just happened. Just as I was posting about something else.....BREAKING NEWS on CNBC in a phone interview President Trump told CBS " the war could be over soon. I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they've got no air force. He added that the US is very far ahead of his initial 4-5 week estimated timeframe.
West Texas oil now under $90, was nearly $120 yesterday. All the major indices, Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq now positive on the day.
Brent crude now $92, was close to $120 yesterday.
Definitly a change in narrative from Trump which the market is interpreting in a positive way. Small encouragement and much needed.
Get out there today and walk your dog or something similar you enjoy. What's happening could be over soon. I hope you all have a better day than yesterday."
Iran has a say however as TRUMP panics... will they say enough also.. probably.. but will Iran now collapse into Civil war and that means its not a simple equation...
Still requires a HUGE presents of Military to escort the Tankers through the GULF...
The middle eastern country's just lost there business as usual as a safe haven and that is what they are saying themselves...
There are no safe flights paths to europe at the moment... big costs to air travel if the direct routes are no longer operating as Russian Airspace is closed...Turkey and greece benefits or Eqypt?
Well, Trump is inconsistent as ever. NYT just reported that he just told his Republican followers: still lots of things to do - war open ended ...
QuotePresident Trump sent conflicting signals on Monday about the duration of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, suggesting that the war could be near an end, and a few hours later leaving the timing open-ended.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/09/world/iran-war-israel-trump-oil
Chump just blinked and that leaves the gulf in a mess...well more of a mess and really shows that the whole place was always going to come apart at the seams..
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/09/business/oil-iran-strait-navy-economy
oil is not going back down anytime soon surely...
wait till NET YAHOO ring up later today and say W*F...
Bomb baby bomb... they have sent in the BUFF...
Tora Bora Baby...
but wait all the BUFF's are due for an 8 engine upgrade and that means every BUFF pilot is saying "come on baby one last time bring us back home one last time....!!!"
Ok AUS and NZ are on the critical list for supplies.. the number of days of supply needs to be researched...
imagine if NZ suddenly ran low...ooops
No boots on the ground... IRAN is very hilly place...technical term there...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iran
Trump will have to do more a lot more... dont bet on the oil flowing unless the US Navy pull of a military version of Houdini....
All those Littoral combat ships are doing what? waiting to be scrapped???
they are going to patrol the SH...
https://www.facebook.com/War1982/videos/luftwaffe-bombers-attack-british-ships-in-the-english-channel/880156656186801/
Classic footage latest technology of the day...your grandfathers who service in the RAF were there..
Now they arnt going to patrol or pound the enemy with the old wagons.. but i bet you dont know the history of the Iowa guns... those famous artillery weapon that are still capable of firing today...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0GWOGtYK1s
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 10, 2026, 07:07 PMNo boots on the ground... IRAN is very hilly place...technical term there...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iran
Trump will have to do more a lot more... dont bet on the oil flowing unless the US Navy pull of a military version of Houdini....
All those Littoral combat ships are doing what? waiting to be scrapped???
Given that the US army was kicked out of Afghanistan by 45m Afghans (well, lets face it - really only 60k Taliban), I am wondering how they deal against 90m Iranians. I understand that the revolutianary guards are nearly 200k, and I am sure they are happy as well to fight with Kalashnikows while wearing their flipflops?
Boots on the ground? Sure, they can do this for days, weeks, months, years or decades ... but they need to expect plenty of losses and high ongoing costs. Korea, Vietnam, Irak, Afghanistan - and now Iran. But I guess given the low calibre of the US presidents they just need to invest more money into re-learning even the most basic things.
Given however that even Trump's lapdogs don't like the war, I am wondering how long it will run. November 2026 comes closer.
Ok it appear that they need over watch but what happened to eyes in the sky well.. it went AWOL..
Research from ALGO on what assets are stationed over head as of today..this one went missing and maybe someone told the Iran evil doers how to take it down...
"MQ-4C Triton — What It Is
It's the US Navy's premier high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned surveillance drone — essentially a naval variant of the Air Force's Global Hawk.
SpecDetailAltitude~55,000 feet (above weather, above most threats)Endurance24+ hours continuous flightSensorsMulti-function active sensor (MFAS) radar, EO/IR cameras, signals intelligenceCoverageSingle aircraft monitors ~7 million km² of ocean simultaneouslyRolePersistent 24/7 ISR — tracks surface ships, small boats, vehicles on coastlines
Why it matters for the Strait:
It's the eye in the sky that never sleeps. One Triton orbiting at altitude can see every vessel, every vehicle on Iran's coast, every drone launch — day and night, in all weather.
What "vanished" means tactically:
The aircraft transmitted a 7700 emergency squawk code — the aviation equivalent of a mayday — then disappeared from radar. Whether it was shot down, jammed into crashing via electronic warfare, or mechanical failure is unconfirmed. Defence Security Asia
If it was hostile action, Iran demonstrated it can reach up to 55,000 feet — which means the assumption that high-altitude ISR is a safe persistent asset over the Strait is broken. No Triton = no persistent night coverage ."
I think they replaced it already and are still trying to figure out what happened:
https://aviationnews.eu/news/2026/03/u-s-navy-mq-4c-triton-drone-vanishes-over-strait-of-hormuz-after-emergency-signal/
This is going to drag on a good few months, hard pass on stocks going into assets like gold and bitcoin.
tanker ablaze.. oil bounces back over 100...
https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-12-26
Quote from: TraderRay on Mar 12, 2026, 11:22 AMThis is going to drag on a good few months, hard pass on stocks going into assets like gold and bitcoin.
Well, it may last days, weeks, months years or decades (as in previous conflicts). We will know afterwards.
It currently is a high risk period with a maximum of idiots running the big players. High risks are typically bad for stocks, while it tends to pop up assets with little base and high hype.
Yes, gold is good as long as you sell it before the risks drop. Interesting - gold price went up until the start of WW2, and than it dropped. Just make sure you don't miss the exit this time.
Bitcoin? Ah well, still much more hype than gold and necessary for various criminal activities - but no history. Isn't it dropping already?
Good thing about gold is - it still works if somebody switches off the computer.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Mar 12, 2026, 05:40 PMWell, it may last days, weeks, months years or decades (as in previous conflicts). We will know afterwards.
It currently is a high risk period with a maximum of idiots running the big players. High risks are typically bad for stocks, while it tends to pop up assets with little base and high hype.
Yes, gold is good as long as you sell it before the risks drop. Interesting - gold price went up until the start of WW2, and than it dropped. Just make sure you don't miss the exit this time.
Bitcoin? Ah well, still much more hype than gold and necessary for various criminal activities - but no history. Isn't it dropping already?
Good thing about gold is - it still works if somebody switches off the computer.
Although tempting, I'm holding off buying anything. I think more pain to come.
perhaps the rich are thinking also more pain to come and they are Jetting off..
Once they were jetting in...
Imagine the tourism trade out there at the moment and all those agents and individuals who move to the big cities in the gulf to make the livings...
everyone was envious all those parties and networking ...
well they arnt doint that anymore...
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/12/travel/middle-east-private-jets-scli-intl
Well one european leader isnt happy with the killing of school children.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/11/giorgia-meloni-condemns-iran-school-killings/?recomm_id=a57e9fe2-83ed-4a4c-81f1-14b3e98f5695
Quote from: BlackPeter on Mar 12, 2026, 05:40 PMWell, it may last days, weeks, months years or decades (as in previous conflicts). We will know afterwards.
It currently is a high risk period with a maximum of idiots running the big players. High risks are typically bad for stocks, while it tends to pop up assets with little base and high hype.
Yes, gold is good as long as you sell it before the risks drop. Interesting - gold price went up until the start of WW2, and than it dropped. Just make sure you don't miss the exit this time.
Bitcoin? Ah well, still much more hype than gold and necessary for various criminal activities - but no history. Isn't it dropping already?
Good thing about gold is - it still works if somebody switches off the computer.
Oil stocks should do well. Could be the price of oil stays fairly high even when the bombs stop.
Gold actually exists physically. BTC is imaginary. Is it true bitcoin was created by the CIA? Satoshi translates to intelligence
If they dont destroy the drone boats in the tunnels they will have to over watch the gulf and a air tanker has already gone down possible killing the crew...
now may the Evil House.. (WH) .. wil realise that flying around is dangerous...
The stakes are going up every day...
watch the long end yield go up fast if that happens...
The fantasy behind the war strategies'...
Its look like the europeans and the Rest of the world does not want to come to the rescue of CHUMP WAR...
Watch for farther weird stuff like lys about former president fire side chats he has ... in his head only...
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-16-26
Ok Iran is not going to do anything to stop this war.. in fact since they have already lost the most important person that was stopping them from closing the straights...
Iran now has no incentive to open the SH....
We probably dont understand how long iran will hold out...
If this is so than its going to get very expensive for the west...
Drones are now flying around US embassy in the middle east.. FPV's..
This is going to turn into Iraq..
Ok its was all well... Trump Truth....
But the CIA director says other wise.. No Threat yesterday, today and not tomorrow.. and may be not this year nor next...
someone forgot to send the memos to the white house...
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/18/politics/takeaways-intelligence-officials-worldwide-threats-war-iran
iran.. 1 in 8 people work for the church.. i mean GOD....
thats right they work for GOD..
90 million people... and the Tehran and the city is not far from CAP sea and just up the lake is Astrakhan...
now your saying what has this got to do with anything... you cant take that city in Iran and hold it without the WHOLE population say HEY come over for dinner!!!
As the Russian can come over the inland seas not long after you can take a flight from the UAE to Tehran...
Just ask any Greek general what its like to Take and hold persia...
they cant open the SH....
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/20/politics/us-strait-of-hormuz-avert-closure-iran
The fact is the middle east allies of the US are reaching out to the Ukraine defense industry...
while CHUMP create noise to deflect from the fact the US might be in a place they arnt ready for...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/20/trump-iran-ukraine-russia-drone-warfare/
we all know that ITRON was created by the japanese back in the early days of the tech revolution...
Im amazed the number of people who know nothing about tech...
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 21, 2026, 08:37 AMthey cant open the SH....
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/20/politics/us-strait-of-hormuz-avert-closure-iran
I guess the question is - do they really need to bother? It is only 20% of the worlds oil, and getting along with 1/5th less can't be that difficult? Aparantly driving 80 instead of 100 on our highways does the trick already.
Good time to get away and focus on alternative energy sources ... and if Persia and its Arab brothers still like to sell some oil, then for sure - somebody finds a different method to bring the oil to the consumer.
Pipelines, railways, trucks?
But maybe Dumby did something he never thought about - by cutting our access to oil, he might have increased our desire to use different energies: wind, sun, thermal energy ... after the Nobel price for peace, hw well might be in for the green person of the year in Time magazine!
http://www.nzoilwatch.com/
Worth a bookmark.....
Oil is used oil many industries which means you need replacements or all those research projects to come on line..
The problem is that if the price goes to 150 all economies stop they say..
well if that happens you will get to see if your right but i suspect if you are wrong your not going to be happy...
On another topic it appears a 1000 boat fishing fleet operated by china as been doing DRONE SWARM ops even in bad weather..
All shipping requires radio and network specifications to be aligned with the Military....
It also probable means any commercial networks in china require connecting to the State....
IE your China EV car will have a communication specification that will connect from to home server which is compatible with all other communication node points as the state requires...
be afraid people.. be very afraid...
right well if your in some areas of auckland petrol prices could go 5 dollars if there is a problem
already at 4...
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/auckland/petrol-hits-4-a-litre-in-eastern-and-southern-auckland-suburbs/KHXQTVN3KFDPLMQ5E6BVHGYLV4/
It's hard to see how the US can end this cleanly without looking weak. Why ship so many marines and ask for 200 billion extra war money for a war thats about to end? I think the markets are still underpricing the risk of a prolonged oil crisis.
now the situation in russia is dire.. people (models) who normally like to show off their fast fashions and other products to one another cant!!!
the internet platforms supporting these fashion icons... is ... not working...
could this bring down the evil empire.. dont under estimate the power of fashion..
If US hits Iran infrastructure the locals apparently wont be happen and will withdraw support.
Its a fine line between support and saying dont attack us we want to take a shower!!
One local hadnt had a shower in 3 weeks!! and was furious that the US was now threatening to strike non military targets.
Europe is now facing a crisis as they get dragged into the world of a complete mad man...
Its time to get that plastic fuel tank container out and fill it up!!! THE BIG ONE..
There will be panic buying if this keeps going.
The west bank is a tider box ...
Now those straights need to open inside 48 hours.. there was another straight not far away that also needed to be opened last time there was a great conflagration in the region.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tEXn_UGPYA
Chickens coming home to roost for western countries that failed to say or do anything about the Palestinian genocide, the pre-war strikes on Iran/Syria/Lebanon/Yemen or the abduction of Maduro. All of which breach the international laws that western countries like to lecture other countries about.
Already there have been war-crimes committed by the US and Israel bombardment of schools/hospitals and residential homes and the unilateral strike against a sovereign nation breahs article 2 and 51 of the UN charter. Does this get a mention let alone a condemnation? No. The focus of NZ media is on how the retaliatory strikes by Iran is pushing up oil prices. Iran is ordered to show restraint in.... defending itself. That's some colossal hypocrisy, I have to say.
I reckon the Middle East should kick the US out of the region and sign a pact with Iran. Use China as a broker since they had success in brokering an accord between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The US doesn't care about the Arab world and the current President doesn't care about the mayhem he is causing in the region. The longer this goes on it's possible that the oil producing nations will end up paying Iran 100's of billions of dollars for Iran to repair its infrastructure provided they re-open the straits and stop attacking their refineries.
now look all your left wing voters imagine if this happens to you.. this poor fashion conscious sochivite is facing the prospect of the KGB spying on her night and day checking out her make up and ... maybe other things.. will they be able to even turn the phones off?
that the answer.. turn the phone off???
Ok IEA issues warning that we may be entering an energy crisis - of course... over 3000 ships trapped inside and outside SH.
https://www.iea.org/
Most people in this country wont have known much about this or forgotten it... bottom of the world.. lost in time.. islands clouded in mist...
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/22/middleeast/iran-war-history-tanker-wars-intl-hnk-ml
we're gonna run ouuuut of fuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeext moooooooooooooooooooooooonth
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Mar 23, 2026, 01:37 PMChickens coming home to roost for western countries that failed to say or do anything about the Palestinian genocide, the pre-war strikes on Iran/Syria/Lebanon/Yemen or the abduction of Maduro. All of which breach the international laws that western countries like to lecture other countries about.
Already there have been war-crimes committed by the US and Israel bombardment of schools/hospitals and residential homes and the unilateral strike against a sovereign nation breahs article 2 and 51 of the UN charter. Does this get a mention let alone a condemnation? No. The focus of NZ media is on how the retaliatory strikes by Iran is pushing up oil prices. Iran is ordered to show restraint in.... defending itself. That's some colossal hypocrisy, I have to say.
I reckon the Middle East should kick the US out of the region and sign a pact with Iran. Use China as a broker since they had success in brokering an accord between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The US doesn't care about the Arab world and the current President doesn't care about the mayhem he is causing in the region. The longer this goes on it's possible that the oil producing nations will end up paying Iran 100's of billions of dollars for Iran to repair its infrastructure provided they re-open the straits and stop attacking their refineries.
Life is complicated. Hardly any black and white but fifty shades of grey splashed with lots of red ...
But yes, Trumps attack on Venezuela was illegal - despite the Venezuelan regime being a disgrace. Trumps attack on Iran was illegal - despite the Iranian regime being a disgrace. And hey - not sure what the final outcome out of Venezuelas attack will be (nothing good so far), but Trumps attack in Iran was clearly as dumb as it can get. Whatever he wanted to get out of the attack - you only see people suffering and dying and prices going up.
Things have been really bad before ... and now they are worse.
Whether the suggestions you make will improve anything ... not sure about that. I hear that living in Chinese controlled regions can be pretty daunting as well. Chinas internal and external actions are frequently illegal. Living in Tibet or Xinjiang (do you like the reeductaion camps?) ... or look at what happened to life in Hongkong - using free speach brings you now for decades behind bars? Not quite sure how Taiwanese people think about this matter?
I guess Trump made sure that it now really feels for people to live between a rock and a hard place ... but to improve things we probably need more than just picking the other side of the grinder.
Quote from: BlackPeter on Mar 24, 2026, 11:14 AMLife is complicated. Hardly any black and white but fifty shades of grey splashed with lots of red ...
But yes, Trumps attack on Venezuela was illegal - despite the Venezuelan regime being a disgrace. Trumps attack on Iran was illegal - despite the Iranian regime being a disgrace. And hey - not sure what the final outcome out of Venezuelas attack will be (nothing good so far), but Trumps attack in Iran was clearly as dumb as it can get. Whatever he wanted to get out of the attack - you only see people suffering and dying and prices going up.
Things have been really bad before ... and now they are worse.
Whether the suggestions you make will improve anything ... not sure about that. I hear that living in Chinese controlled regions can be pretty daunting as well. Chinas internal and external actions are frequently illegal. Living in Tibet or Xinjiang (do you like the reeductaion camps?) ... or look at what happened to life in Hongkong - using free speach brings you now for decades behind bars? Not quite sure how Taiwanese people think about this matter?
I guess Trump made sure that it now really feels for people to live between a rock and a hard place ... but to improve things we probably need more than just picking the other side of the grinder.
Good points.
I'm no fan of the CCP but Chinese actions abroad - beyond its region of influence (including Taiwan) - strike me as different to the US's approach. They don't seem - so far - to be interested in adding a military component to their trade and development. The US and NATO relationships are all based on establishing military bases. That's done under the guise of providing protection but we all know it has more to do with geopolitical positioning and protecting their own interests (and access to oil).
I'm not saying it's about to happen, but I wonder whether countries like Saudi/UAE/Qatar may start to question whether having a US military presence actually makes them more vulnerable to attack rather than less. And perhaps Israel wouldn't be as quite as reckless if the US had a diminished presence in the region.
All academic probably. Trump's declaration of victory is proving to be an illusion and reveals the weakness of the US military rather than its strength. They can't kill everyone - they can't even find where all the drones and missiles are hidden in a country that is the 17th largest in the world (larger than France, Germany, Spain and the UK COMBINED).
It's Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan etc all over again. Easy to start a war, but way harder to finish it.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Mar 24, 2026, 11:47 AMGood points.
I'm no fan of the CCP but Chinese actions abroad - beyond its region of influence (including Taiwan) - strike me as different to the US's approach. They don't seem - so far - to be interested in adding a military component to their trade and development. The US and NATO relationships are all based on establishing military bases. That's done under the guise of providing protection but we all know it has more to do with geopolitical positioning and protecting their own interests (and access to oil).
I'm not saying it's about to happen, but I wonder whether countries like Saudi/UAE/Qatar may start to question whether having a US military presence actually makes them more vulnerable to attack rather than less. And perhaps Israel wouldn't be as quite as reckless if the US had a diminished presence in the region.
All academic probably. Trump's declaration of victory is proving to be an illusion and reveals the weakness of the US military rather than its strength. They can't kill everyone - they can't even find where all the drones and missiles are hidden in a country that is the 17th largest in the world (larger than France, Germany, Spain and the UK COMBINED).
It's Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan etc all over again. Easy to start a war, but way harder to finish it.
I think we agree that Chinas dealings outside the area they call their home are typically less military. Having said that - their cannons seem to sound further than they used to. As well, the seven dots through "their" Chinese sea seem to be somewhat moveable and in no way internationally agreed. Talk with the Philipinos ...
No doubt as well that many US wars added very little value for anybody and, no doubt - Iran looks like another amazing example for one of these.
I would doubt your statements throwing US and NATO into the same pot. While you clearly have a lot of US bases all around the world (and yes, they don't always add value or security), I can't remember any Nato base which is not in a Nato country (and that's where they belong). Do you?
Ah - and re Israel ... sure, they are currently controlled by their own mini Trump driven by hard right extremists, but still - Israel has a right to exist within their own country, and lets face it - the terrorists and milizias they attack in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran try to extinguish Israel. So yes - there are plenty of shades of grey here as well.
it appears that talks are taking place between Chumps team of criminals and the EVIL representatives of GOD on earth.. The new Kings of persia...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/23/iran-club-wielding-corrupt-commander-deal-trump/
could be all over as the persians have indeed maybe taken a whipping...
now where is international law...
Quote from: BlackPeter on Mar 24, 2026, 12:14 PMI think we agree that Chinas dealings outside the area they call their home are typically less military. Having said that - their cannons seem to sound further than they used to. As well, the seven dots through "their" Chinese sea seem to be somewhat moveable and in no way internationally agreed. Talk with the Philipinos ...
No doubt as well that many US wars added very little value for anybody and, no doubt - Iran looks like another amazing example for one of these.
I would doubt your statements throwing US and NATO into the same pot. While you clearly have a lot of US bases all around the world (and yes, they don't always add value or security), I can't remember any Nato base which is not in a Nato country (and that's where they belong). Do you?
Ah - and re Israel ... sure, they are currently controlled by their own mini Trump driven by hard right extremists, but still - Israel has a right to exist within their own country, and lets face it - the terrorists and milizias they attack in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran try to extinguish Israel. So yes - there are plenty of shades of grey here as well.
We diverge on two points.
NATO is a military alliance, pure and simple. Countries enter NATO because they are promised security and US missiles and troops arrive thereafter. As in the Middle East tt's a debatable point as to whether it actually delivers security or whether it just bakes in enmity between the two sides, in this case with Russia. Clinton was advised by many top generals at the time that the expansion of NATO (Poland, Hungary, CZECH Republic initially) would actually make Europe less secure as it would codify the enemity between Europe and Russia. The Cold War was never allowed to thaw. Would Russia have invaded Ukraine if it didn't interpret the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO as an existential threat (real or imagined)?
I think Israel has gone way, way past the point of using self defence as its excuse for the obliteration of GAZA and now in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu has already been determined to be a war criminal and in time I think he will be found to have committed genocide.
Hard to know who the "good guys" are in any of this, but as history shows us, there are times when the west are not always the good guys. I think, with Trump in command, breaking all sorts of international laws, we are probably living in one of those times.
Quote from: LoungeLizard on Mar 24, 2026, 12:55 PMWe diverge on two points.
NATO is a military alliance, pure and simple. Countries enter NATO because they are promised security and US missiles and troops arrive thereafter. As in the Middle East tt's a debatable point as to whether it actually delivers security or whether it just bakes in enmity between the two sides, in this case with Russia. Clinton was advised by many top generals at the time that the expansion of NATO (Poland, Hungary, CZECH Republic initially) would actually make Europe less secure as it would codify the enemity between Europe and Russia. The Cold War was never allowed to thaw. Would Russia have invaded Ukraine if it didn't interpret the prospect of Ukraine joining NATO as an existential threat (real or imagined)?
I think Israel has gone way, way past the point of using self defence as its excuse for the obliteration of GAZA and now in Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu has already been determined to be a war criminal and in time I think he will be found to have committed genocide.
Hard to know who the "good guys" are in any of this, but as history shows us, there are times when the west are not always the good guys. I think, with Trump in command, breaking all sorts of international laws, we are probably living in one of those times.
NATO is a military defence alliance. It is important not to ignore the defence when talking about them - because this is the only reason they exist.
Sure - the western reaction to the end of the cold war was ways from perfect - and this might include the East extension of Nato. But still, it just is a defensive alliance based on volunteers - even if some of Russias strongmen claim to have a different view.
And no question - Israels current reaction is neither appropriate nor useful. And I didn't claim that. It is just difficult to find an appropriate response if you are attacked by terrorists and controlled by right wing extremists.
Thats all in the shades of grey. Both sides tend to attack each other - and neither the various arab attacks on Israel nor the Israelic responses have been fair and sensible. Keeping Palestinians for now three generations in refugee camps has not been responsible. The 2023 Hamas attack was just bestialic ... but yes, the way Israel is trying to cash in the Palestinian areas looks not too different to what happened with Jews in the early phases during Nazi Germany.
I am sure both Israel as well as Palestina claim that it was the other side who started the conflict ... and from there its just following the old testament of the bible (like Deuteronomy 20). They just didn't yet manage to kill everything which breaths on the other side.
OK - but this is widening the debate. We don't disagree that Israels current reaction is absolutely inappropriate, I just pointed out, that they have as well a right to live and exist, and both Iran as well as Hamas dispute this.
CHUMP and his crew of criminals want to run the SH along with the EVIL Reps of GOD on earth...
They will put a automated toll solution in place.
Payments go direct to a SH Toll company.. guess who sits on the board and has a lift time chairmanship..
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/23/trump-postpones-strikes-iran-power-plants-middle-east/
Quote from: BlackPeter on Mar 24, 2026, 02:26 PMNATO is a military defence alliance. It is important not to ignore the defence when talking about them - because this is the only reason they exist.
Sure - the western reaction to the end of the cold war was ways from perfect - and this might include the East extension of Nato. But still, it just is a defensive alliance based on volunteers - even if some of Russias strongmen claim to have a different view.
And no question - Israels current reaction is neither appropriate nor useful. And I didn't claim that. It is just difficult to find an appropriate response if you are attacked by terrorists and controlled by right wing extremists.
Thats all in the shades of grey. Both sides tend to attack each other - and neither the various arab attacks on Israel nor the Israelic responses have been fair and sensible. Keeping Palestinians for now three generations in refugee camps has not been responsible. The 2023 Hamas attack was just bestialic ... but yes, the way Israel is trying to cash in the Palestinian areas looks not too different to what happened with Jews in the early phases during Nazi Germany.
I am sure both Israel as well as Palestina claim that it was the other side who started the conflict ... and from there its just following the old testament of the bible (like Deuteronomy 20). They just didn't yet manage to kill everything which breaths on the other side.
OK - but this is widening the debate. We don't disagree that Israels current reaction is absolutely inappropriate, I just pointed out, that they have as well a right to live and exist, and both Iran as well as Hamas dispute this.
Far enough. But here's a hypothetical situation. Let's say, the various countries that the US has invaded, or threatens to, enters into a military alliance with say Russia or China. Purely as a protective, defensive measure. And as part of that alliance - to provide a deterence - Russia/China, build missile bases very near or next to western countries. Would we shrug our shoulders and say that these sovereign countries have a right to join any military alliance they like? Or would we class that as provocative, destabilising and potentially lead to war between the west and China/Russia?
I think we know how that would be interpreted. As we saw in the Cuban missile crisis, the US was very much prepared to start a thermonuclear war which would have incinerated the entire world becasue it could not countenance Russian weaponry being so close to mainland America. No-one talked about Cuba's sovereign right to ask for protection from a belligerent America who had tried to assassinate Castro on more than one occasion.
As you say, both sides in the vast majority of conflicts believe they are doing the right thing. The trick for negotiators is to try and remain neutral and win the confidence of both sides. Trouble is that takes time and neither Israel or the US are willing to wait. They'd rather choose war. Israel attacked the building in Doha, trying to kill the team negotiating for Palestine. So that was Israel attacking a neutral countries capital in order to stop peace negotiations taking place. Consequence? None.
And this time around Oman said they were getting close to a deal when Trump launched an all out assault, initially saying he did so becasue Israel was preparing to do so. Hard not to conclude that Israel simply does not want a negotiated settlement. Netanyahu probably can't believe that finally he gets a chance to obliterate Gaza, Tehran, Beirut etc and no-one, not even the UN, can do a thing about it whilst he has that useful idiot in the Whitehouse on his side.
Its a FOREVER mission...
Lets hope its not....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/23/forever-mission-why-trump-struggle-to-reopen-strait-hormuz/
CHUMP has really got the world into a potential SLUMP...
The is a pipeline for oil to the red seas but that wont take the areas total production.
anyone got any idea why country's are declaring a state of panic!!!
fake news... emergency...
how would TINA say it??
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/25/world/video/philippines-emergency-middleeast-war-dle-intldsk
Surely the real question the world faces now is If Humanity does not embrace International LAW where is it going...
https://www.icj-cij.org/home
oh dear its the fashion bloggers who arnt happy in moscow.. imagine when the US does this to its citizens cause CHUMP cant win an election...
you all have to use TRUTH...Every thing else is banned..
Now look inflation AHOY!!!! just wait the noises coming out of the white house are completely fantasy stuff..
They need to put CHUMP in a straight jacket...
Its going to get bad people... Bush had taken IRAQ by now...
Everything could soon have to take the long route round africa..
fuel over 6 dollars a litre? maybe more?
here we go !!!
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-24/philippines-says-grounding-planes-is-a-distinct-possibility
yes... not long now...
Biggest oil disruption in global history on the way
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 27, 2026, 04:56 PMhere we go !!!
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-24/philippines-says-grounding-planes-is-a-distinct-possibility
yes... not long now...
Biggest oil disruption in global history on the way
What else would we expect from Chump? Of course he will generate the "
Biggest Oil Disruption Ever", followed by Trumps most outstanding Persian TACO! Clearly - this will be the biggest chicken out he ever has done ... and the west will pay for that for decades.
I always wondered why he works so well for Russia, but it clearly looks like he is useful for Persia as well.
US planes taken out by Vissles...they hit the Prince sultan Air Base... whoops...
the bear must have given those evil persians the co ords...
Spare parts!!! spare parts, it was parked up to save space!!!
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 30, 2026, 09:07 AMSpare parts!!! spare parts, it was parked up to save space!!!
Spare parts? Of the back or the front of the plane? Maybe we need to send them our crusher ...
This is going to turn very, very nasty. Iranians say they are waiting for the troops to arrive. Just Like the Vietnamese.
I would not be buying shares for the foreseeable. Cash up or sit tight.
CNBC this afternoon all about the wall that the speeding car is heading towards...
Its only 20 percent of world oil and apparently thats enough to push to over 140 and at that point economies start to slow..
its called a slow train wreck....
There will be OIL but watch what happens next...
The situation appears to be a complete mess
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/middle-east-conflict-live-updates-donald-trump-threatens-to-destroy-irans-kharg-island-if-peace-deal-not-reached/EEHH4CNVRNA3DFBQE5C5XXHGUQ/
total shambles...
Notice Kiwi's are not yet protesting outside the US embassy in wellington... those were the days when all over the western world the young uni students were out in force... Vietnam ....
victory... smell it..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RHo_ZG-YGo
Quote from: Waltzing on Mar 30, 2026, 03:48 PMCNBC this afternoon all about the wall that the speeding car is heading towards...
Its only 20 percent of world oil and apparently thats enough to push to over 140 and at that point economies start to slow..
its called a slow train wreck....
There will be OIL but watch what happens next...
Must be time for countries starting to buy instead of boycott all these amazing Chinese EV cars ...
https://restofworld.org/2026/china-ev-exports-competition-price/
Which means Trump is doing his best to boost the Chinese economy. Well done!
This is where they are going to land?
This is the island the world doesnt know about..? who does you to busy in the back garden with those never say die weeds!!!
Or clear that last remaining tree over hanging the north west boundary fence... Garden keep you busy.. to busy to notice the real world especially if your been boating for 20 years like some people here and you havnt had time to keep the garden under control....
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/01/iranian-fortress-at-the-centre-of-the-battle-for-hormuz/
The market seems so detached from reality. Japan index rallying 5% on peace hopes from trump comments and an effectively powerless iranian parliment member saying they are open to peace. All the moderate IRGC members are dead and have been replaced with hardliners and religous fanatics, and the Ayatollah's family has been blown to bits. Meanwhile Iran is still being crippled by sanctions and still has its enriched uranium. How can there be peace? I'm selling into this where applicable, not playing the trump tweet game anymore.
Quote from: Plata on Apr 01, 2026, 09:53 PM.....................
, not playing the trump tweet game anymore.
At risk of paranoia, see some BBC you tube coverage of the futures: oil, equities, and bonds markets show spikes in contrarian trades 15 minutes before some random trump social media posts that flip market sentiments that will cause a flurry of trade activity, suggestions it's billions of profits at play, and isn't likely to be up for review by markets trading authorities now in the USA, um because Trump has effectively deconstructed or hamstrung their effectiveness????. Unusual trading activity, is Trump genuinely random or just playing as the common man persona in his engagement style for financial self interest.
The USA is not a civilised country and never really was. Its a wild west and will always be one...
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/01/politics/trump-iran-water-plants-strikes
here we go... war not over and oil on the move... it could get bad people...
sorry to say this but there is no US plan.. they seem to think they can take the SH or something.. do they even know what they are doing? maybe they will now do what? Bomb then back to the stone age?
War crimes going on as the US just bombed a big bridge...
The US seems to be on the edge of evilness...
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/2/bomb-back-to-the-stone-age-us-history-of-threats-and-carpet-bombing
time to kick the US out of New Zealand? of course the government wont do that...
but we will become complicit..
US tried to get poland to send Missile defense systems to the middle east...
What next will the US ask for assistance from AUS and NZ?
Remember US is just a proxy for Israel.
Using a mafia analogy think of Trump as the underboss and Netanyahu as the Godfather.
AIPAC is the grease in the movement.
The USA should taken to the HAGUE and TRUMP and his administration tried... lets hope they are and they cant walk freely about in european country's...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp86mrj40e2o
Track a Ship ....carrying Aircraft Fuel...will air transport now take a hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUH1yNb3UFM
Sounds like Trump and Putins best friend in Europe lost big ... Orban conceded, and it looks like Magyar even managed to get the 2/3 majority.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c2d8zw2d3rkt
No doubt Trumps strong support for the hungarian crook did help. Maybe we could ask Trump to start supporting the crooks in Iran, and they will starting to loose as well?
Quote from: BlackPeter on Apr 01, 2026, 09:33 AMMust be time for countries starting to buy instead of boycott all these amazing Chinese EV cars ...
https://restofworld.org/2026/china-ev-exports-competition-price/
Which means Trump is doing his best to boost the Chinese economy. Well done!
... and yes, here is the article:
https://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/sign-china-is-winning-the-iran-war-as-byd-devours-the-globe-leading-position-020028111.html
Chinese cars now winning on the Australian market - and I am sure in the NZ-market as well).
Trump is just amazing in pushing the sales of all these amazing chinese electrical cars up. Well Done!
Ousting of Hungary's Orban is good news for the EU and Ukraine.
And more bad news for Russia.