Biden Foreign Policy

[Scarlet]

 

It's too early to know if Putin is backing down but if he does it points out the need to remain in solidarity with NATO and not try to undermine it like the last guy did....unless of course you're Putin fanboy.

[NM11046]

I just read that although there was talk today of Russian troops being moved, they're actually being moved CLOSER to Ukraine.  I think he's playing with us.

 

And I agree with you - I think it's amazingly stupid to think that NATO is not an organization worth being a part of and supporting.  I'll let Tucker continue to try and chip away at that market.  I'd like to think folks aren't that stupid, but we are a generation removed from it's creation, so perhaps we really don't learn from history.

[Scarlet]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/media/594276-us-accuses-financial-news-website-of-spreading-kremlin-propaganda%3famp

 

Ooph....Zero Hedge

 

Quote

U.S. intelligence officials are accusing the conservative financial news website Zero Hedge of spreading Russian propaganda. 

 

The officials, who spoke to The Associated Press, pointed to a number of stories published by Zero Hedge that accused the U.S. government of raising exaggerated alarms about the prospects of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. They said the stories originated with Kremlin-controlled media

 

[BigRedBuster]

26 minutes ago, Scarlet said:

 

It's too early to know if Putin is backing down but if he does it points out the need to remain in solidarity with NATO and not try to undermine it like the last guy did....unless of course you're Putin fanboy.

I’ve already started hearing conservative media claim that Putin has never intended to invade and it’s all made up by Washington/Biden. 
 

He’s supposedly just doing training exercises. 

[Scarlet]

10 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

I’ve already started hearing conservative media claim that Putin has never intended to invade and it’s all made up by Washington/Biden. 
 

He’s supposedly just doing training exercises. 

But of course

[NM11046]

Yes, when one is doing "training exercises" they often build field hospitals and move supplies of blood to locations.  Duh.

[ZRod]

On 2/12/2022 at 12:25 AM, nic said:

Is there a freedom convoy discussion? It’s interesting how some in the media hate this protest. The same media that were ok with the “mostly peaceful” protests that resulted in vandalism, arson and occupation of parts of a cities.

it has to do with what the protest is about and whether they agreed with it that makes it justifiable.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/media/bill-maher-canadian-truckers-freedom-convoy

“What's happening this week, it looks like, is people are understanding this is about something more than just the vaccine mandate," Maher said. "It's becoming a big thing. It's happening all over the world now. 

 

Who hates it and didn't hate the riots and arson?  The riots causes billions in damages over months. The convoy is causing hundreds of millions and potentially billions of dollars in losses in days, and it involves trade over an international border. Not to mention they were treated with kid gloves by the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies.

[Archy1221]

14 hours ago, Scarlet said:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/media/594276-us-accuses-financial-news-website-of-spreading-kremlin-propaganda%3famp

 

Ooph....Zero Hedge

 

 

Linking for the article and the response to the government allegations, not the original tweet which I don’t care about.  

[nic]

14 hours ago, ZRod said:

Who hates it and didn't hate the riots and arson?  The riots causes billions in damages over months. The convoy is causing hundreds of millions and potentially billions of dollars in losses in days, and it involves trade over an international border. Not to mention they were treated with kid gloves by the RCMP and other law enforcement agencies.

Depending on what side of the political spectrum the media was on they justified and downplayed the riots or played footage from them on a 24 hour cycle. I believe with the invocation of the emergency act, the truckers bank accounts are being seized among other things, so no more kid gloves. It will be interesting how this plays out in public opinion. Maybe the truckers should have just walked off the job after the first few days of protest, instead. A strike instead of a blockade. Reagan had a similar issue with air traffic controllers. I think he ordered them back or replaced them. I don’t remember whether the controllers ultimately negotiated better deals. In this case, the truckers aren’t looking for money, but to remove mandates. I think many of the protesting truckers are actually vaccinated, too. 

[teachercd]

1.  I love that some people think Putin is trolling and that twitter bots are responsible for this.

2.  Once again we see that Poland is the true power in Europe and the only country that actively reaches out to help the US

3.  Buy your oil stocks now cause if this happens Oil is about to hit 150!  

[Archy1221]

20 minutes ago, nic said:

Depending on what side of the political spectrum the media was on they justified and downplayed the riots or played footage from them on a 24 hour cycle. I believe with the invocation of the emergency act, the truckers bank accounts are being seized among other things, so no more kid gloves. It will be interesting how this plays out in public opinion. Maybe the truckers should have just walked off the job after the first few days of protest, instead. A strike instead of a blockade. Reagan had a similar issue with air traffic controllers. I think he ordered them back or replaced them. I don’t remember whether the controllers ultimately negotiated better deals. In this case, the truckers aren’t looking for money, but to remove mandates. I think many of the protesting truckers are actually vaccinated, too. 

I’m with you on this.  I don’t agree with protests when they block roads and infringe upon other peoples ability to go about their daily lives.  Strike would have been a better option

[ZRod]

2 hours ago, nic said:

Depending on what side of the political spectrum the media was on they justified and downplayed the riots or played footage from them on a 24 hour cycle. I believe with the invocation of the emergency act, the truckers bank accounts are being seized among other things, so no more kid gloves. It will be interesting how this plays out in public opinion. Maybe the truckers should have just walked off the job after the first few days of protest, instead. A strike instead of a blockade. Reagan had a similar issue with air traffic controllers. I think he ordered them back or replaced them. I don’t remember whether the controllers ultimately negotiated better deals. In this case, the truckers aren’t looking for money, but to remove mandates. I think many of the protesting truckers are actually vaccinated, too. 

Kid gloves. Bank accounts being frozen seems pretty tame. They were asked nicely to leave for several days until the RCMP moved in and gently arrested the trespassers. No immediate response by phalanxes of officers in riot gear, no tear gas, no SUVs ramming civilians, no curfews, no hostility towards reporters. An ideal handling of the situation all around, other than waiting a couple days to execute it.

 

The ATC strike was a little different as those were unionized federal employees who were performing a vital job related to commerce and national security. The ones who refused to go back to work were fired and banned from federal jobs for life. Some were eventually rehired, but the actual ban wasn't lifted until Clinton took office, and most never went back.

[knapplc]

A good explainer of an autocrat's motivation. 

 

 

 

 

Here's the thread unwrapped:

 

Faith or Fear Threat – WWPD (What Will Putin Do)
This morning someone asked me, "Is Putin going to back down?" You have likely seen these headlines too. The query inspired me as a teachable moment from my work in Ukraine & worldwide with those fighting autocrats & for democracy. 

 

I told them; "I have no clue what choice Putin will make. But, I know he will do whatever serves his objective of maintaining or gaining power." So, herein lies the lessons. First, all Illiberal forces & autocrats have a singular purpose – to Gain & Maintain power. 

 

They all use the same strategy -- Making themselves appear inevitable & invincible through fear (e.g, 130k troops on Ukraine's borders imposes fear – in Ukraine, Europe & Globally. War is scary. What will happen? Could we face confrontation & Armageddon? All are about fear. 

 

Now let's look at what you see through the tactics illiberal & autocrats use. There are six. Illiberal Autocratic Tactic #1 is Big Ideas, Big Lies. There are many if you think about what we have seen recently relating to Russia & Ukraine. 

 

I will use the idea US hysteria is driving a potential conflict. If you think about it rationally the US & its allies don't have 60% of their armed forces on anyone's borders – not Russia, China, or anyone else. The notion they are surrounding Russia through NATO is folly too. 

 

The purpose of these Big Lies is all about the object & strategy. Domestically for Putin, it provides a rationale for attacking Ukraine if that serves the objective. Internationally it is a point his assets can use, & his useful idiots can amplify. 

 

Autocratic Tactic #2 – Marginalization. Part of his efforts with this tactic relates to Ukraine & Ukrainians – Embassies are closing. You are at my mercy. If you don't do what I want – stay under my thumb -- you will stand alone & be crushed (or can be at any time of I choose). 

 

Internationally, the idea Ukraine or any other nation can aspire to be part of NATO – not just the protection aspect but the values, is now in question. Even if you are Sweden or the Finns you are on notice, according to Putin. Current members in NATO east too. 

 

BTW – Putin's assets & useful idiots in the US will pivot if Putin holds off on invading to a message of "This was hysteria by Biden, democrats, & nations in NATO in the east who hate Russia." They will try & say, look, Putin is a good guy of peace – the others are warmongers. 

 

Illiberal Autocratic Tactic #3 – Dependency. For Ukraine, what is the message of all the troops, artillery, & missiles? What does all the military equipment now in Belarus (which aren't likely leaving, making Belarus a defacto Russian enclave) say to Poles & Baltic States? 

 

Internationally, if Putin invades, there is little we can do to save Ukrainians. We will, of course, impose massive sanctions on Russia & there will be a high cost. Yet remember Putin's objective. If he deems it helps maintain or gain power greater than the costs, he will do it. 

 

Illiberal Autocratic Tactic #4 – Disinformation. There is part of me thinking this one is self-evident. That said, disinformation is often misunderstood. Autocrats use it (even the tomfoolery we are seeing out of the Kremlin right now) as a test of fealty. Who will repeat it? 

 

In the US, I suspect Putin is learning a great deal. You have people who do it nightly on Fox News. I am sure that isn't much of a loyalty test as I think it is expected of them. That said, Putin is learning who are the useful idiots willing to repeat his narratives. 

 

Tactic #5 – Divide & Conquer. If Putin invades, he will install a government loyal to him. On the other hand, if he pulls back, he will actively attempt to push Zelensky out. He will use the eastern areas conquered & all the economic harm done to Ukraine from the current crisis. 

 

Internationally, he will use the pullback to try & divide NATO & the west. To the Germans, it will be, "See, I am a reliable partner, & we should continue with Nord Stream 2." In Poland & the Balts it will be, "I am a threat & you can't count on Germany or the EU." 

 

Here in the US Putin assets & useful idiots will continue deploying. They will say, "Biden, not Putin is the irrational one who tried to lead us into a war over Ukraine." They will y push the idea Biden is so clueless he thought Russia & Putin were bad when China is the threat. 

 

Tactic #6 – threats, repression & violence. Ukraine is seeing this tactic at the moment. Threats – 130K troops on the border. Repression – flights canceled, no embassies open (you are not a real country without embassies), violence – the areas already invaded & occupied. 

 

Internationally, it is the same. You have threats – I will go into Ukraine, and this could escalate. There is also I have hypersonic & nuclear weapons and my trolls, cyber, Tuckers in Canada with mysterious funding from aboard, & all the rest. The threat: I can create chaos. 

 

Ultimately, Putin, like all autocrats, plays a different game – his is zero-sum. For his ilk, compromise (the norm & foundation of our win-win democratic systems of governance) is strategic. Retreat when it serves your objective of power. Push when it aids your strategy of fear. 

 

I can't tell you what Putin will do any more than I can tell you what Donald Trump & his enablers will do. I can only give you an educated guess based on what I have seen and know. The good news? With this understanding, you can make your guess, which will be as good as mine. 
 

[knapplc]

Is it true, then? Are the Russians really standing down? 

 

 

[nic]

I don’t think Trudeau gets another term because of all this. He has made lots of mistakes….and Nazi accusations are getting tiresome.