Best Of

Its funny Topping how during and after Covid you were able to recognise that "but people are dying" isn't a surefire argument winner to take away people's liberties, even temporarily, yet you seem to think "but people are dying" is a surefire argument winner to permanently subjugate people to living under a totalitarian dictatorship.

There are some fates worse than death. If people are willing to fight against dictatorships I respect that, I don't think that people are dying is a reason to end a just war.

That could very well be the most hypocritical and least self-aware comment that anybody has made on PB, ever. Well done to you.

Being a Ukrainian Ultra on pb.com requires a certain level of intellectual incoherence and unending attraction to amor fati. The following two lemmata must be simultaneously upheld:

1. The armed forces of the Russian Federation are so weak that a broken failed state that's a quarter of the size can, if supplied with endless amounts of money and weapons, inflict a stinging defeat of such magnitude that the invaders will be repelled and the Russian military threat will be neutralised in perpetuity.

2. The armed forces of the Russian Federation are so strong that the UK must embark on a socially ruinous program of rearmament or the double headed eagle, twice imperially crowned will be flying over Piccadilly Circus by next (Orthodox) Christmas.

Two straw men, in one post.

Its funny Topping how during and after Covid you were able to recognise that "but people are dying" isn't a surefire argument winner to take away people's liberties, even temporarily, yet you seem to think "but people are dying" is a surefire argument winner to permanently subjugate people to living under a totalitarian dictatorship.

There are some fates worse than death. If people are willing to fight against dictatorships I respect that, I don't think that people are dying is a reason to end a just war.

That could very well be the most hypocritical and least self-aware comment that anybody has made on PB, ever. Well done to you.

Being a Ukrainian Ultra on pb.com requires a certain level of intellectual incoherence and unending attraction to amor fati. The following two lemmata must be simultaneously upheld:

1. The armed forces of the Russian Federation are so weak that a broken failed state that's a quarter of the size can, if supplied with endless amounts of money and weapons, inflict a stinging defeat of such magnitude that the invaders will be repelled and the Russian military threat will be neutralised in perpetuity.

2. The armed forces of the Russian Federation are so strong that the UK must embark on a socially ruinous program of rearmament or the double headed eagle, twice imperially crowned will be flying over Piccadilly Circus by next (Orthodox) Christmas.

Or 2 simultaneously held views that are entirely consistent.

1. Russia is a medium -sized bully that can be defeated if Western nations stand up to it.
2. Failure to stand up to it will see our friends and allies overrun.

Leon banned?

The Vanilla AI add on has detected Leon repeatedly talking about AI in violation of the rules.

AI has recommended a ban of 66 days.

What is the issue with talking about AI. Presumably it's a legitimate topic in and of itself.

Everyone is fine talking about AI, Leon on the other hand ends up spamming the site about the topic.

One day out of 200 comments about 80 of them were Leon posting about AI/photos generated by AI, at his monomaniacal that was a typical day.

He gets even more abusive when it is pointed out he doesn't understand parts of AI and that AI frequents churns out rubbish.

Anyhoo that's enough about moderation.

I am off to enjoy the good weather by going clothes and footwear shopping.

I mean I've only seen the highlights but surely Trump is simply taking a side in one of the oldest and most difficult dilemmas. What is worth giving up to stop the killing.

Why is dealing with that impossible question so reprehensible.

We see it in aid all the time (enable/support the tyrants to get food to the citizens..)

Yes, he’s decided that giving up Ukraine is worth it to stem the expense to the US.
The democratically elected government of Ukraine - along with the opposition, judging by their public comments yesterday, disagree.

Chuck into the mix Europe’s future security, which the US has apparently decided is no longer a matter for them, then a polite no thanks is in order.
No skin in the game, no say.

All that, of course, is predicated on Europe getting its shit together over the next few days and weeks.

Trump is actually more sympathetic to dictators than to democracies.

Here's an interview with Thomas Zimmer a German who is a 20th century American history professor at Georgetown University

"tagesschau24: Some analysts say that Zelenskyj behaved tactically clumsily during the conversation because he started a fundamental debate about US security guarantees and military aid in front of the cameras. What do you think about that?

Zimmer: I think that's completely wrong because it's based on a very fundamental misunderstanding: the idea that Trump's position on this issue can be controlled by tactical skill and diplomatic finesse. That's wishful thinking that continues to cling to the idea that Trump doesn't have a consistent position at all. He's perhaps just a businessman who wants to negotiate a good deal and also someone to whom you can somehow sell anything through flattery.But that completely ignores the fact that Trump has had a very clear stance on this conflict for many years now and a very clear inclination towards Russia and autocratic rulers like Putin. It also completely ignores the fact that the Trumpist forces that are now in power in the USA are pursuing a clear, ideologically defined project. They are really serious about turning away from the liberal world order, from Europe's liberal democracies. They have something completely different in mind. We have to let go of the idea that with a little skill, with a little tact, all of this can somehow be averted."

https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amerika/interview-zimmer-usa-trump-100.html

" I don't think it makes sense to continue to hold out hope that Trump, the Trumpist government or the Republican Party will be able to pursue any policies other than what we have now experienced."

I mean I've only seen the highlights but surely Trump is simply taking a side in one of the oldest and most difficult dilemmas. What is worth giving up to stop the killing.

Why is dealing with that impossible question so reprehensible.

We see it in aid all the time (enable/support the tyrants to get food to the citizens..)

Yes, he’s decided that giving up Ukraine is worth it to stem the expense to the US.
The democratically elected government of Ukraine - along with the opposition, judging by their public comments yesterday, disagree.

Chuck into the mix Europe’s future security, which the US has apparently decided is no longer a matter for them, then a polite no thanks is in order.
No skin in the game, no say.

All that, of course, is predicated on Europe getting its shit together over the next few days and weeks.

I would like to see Europe get its shit together in the next 24 hours.

The billions the UK promised yesterday are a good start.

Lets show the Americans we can help defeat Russia with or without them - but if its without them, they don't get a say in what happens afterwards.

What jobs will guarantee exemption from being called up to fight in this proposed EU war against Russia?
I'll get my lads writing their job applications out ASAP.

Who said anything about the EU? Or war with Russia?

Russia is a small country, it is smaller than Italy economically. It is not some mighty bear that we should be afraid of.

Ukraine is able to defeat Russia with our backing, we have no reason or need to go to war, just continue to support Ukraine.

Do you think what is happening now (what you want to continue with) is going to allow Ukraine to defeat Russia.

Eventually, yes.

And that is a legitimate view, if misguided in my mind. It means thousands more deaths of people that are not you or your family but so be it. Trump's is that he wants the killing to stop. With all the compromises that involves. Why is that view so reprehensible.

Donald Trump’s distaste for killing foreigners has been noted as one of his biggest failings by the PB panzer corps (armchair division) many times before. We are in truly dark times when a US President gets queasy about half a million deaths.

The ending of various USAID programmes is going to kill tens of thousands of foreigners. Trump has not the slightest problem with it.

I mean I've only seen the highlights but surely Trump is simply taking a side in one of the oldest and most difficult dilemmas. What is worth giving up to stop the killing.

Why is dealing with that impossible question so reprehensible.

We see it in aid all the time (enable/support the tyrants to get food to the citizens..)

Yes, he’s decided that giving up Ukraine is worth it to stem the expense to the US.
The democratically elected government of Ukraine - along with the opposition, judging by their public comments yesterday, disagree.

Chuck into the mix Europe’s future security, which the US has apparently decided is no longer a matter for them, then a polite no thanks is in order.
No skin in the game, no say.

All that, of course, is predicated on Europe getting its shit together over the next few days and weeks.

He said that the expense was a long way behind stopping the killing. Great farmland though Ukraine no doubt has, it is bodies, said Trump, that are stopping the bullets.

He says he wants to stop the killing as a primary aim. I have no doubt he also wants to go down in history as the Peacemaker President who touched the world with his hands and, lo, the world reacted. But he said he wanted to stop the killing.

He has no interest in stopping the killing. It doesn't even enter into his mind that it matters if lots of Ukranians, Russians and anyone else dies. He wouldn't even care if lots of Americans died as long as it didn't affect his own prospects, wealth and ego.

This is the lesson that some on here have not yet learnt. Maybe because they don't want to face it. Trump has no interest in helping or protecting Ukraine or Europe. His interests are purely transactional and we don't matter. All these questions about how or whether we will be able to defend against Russia or help Uraine are based on the erroneous assumption that there is a choice, that Trump will be persuaded to change his mind and help in our defence. He won't.

Once you accept that you realise that it is not a quastion of whether we want to rearm and challenge Putin. It is simple fact that we have to. And the best way to ensure my son and daughter don't end up having to fight in Europe is to make sure Putin loses - or at least fails to succeed - in Ukraine.

I mean I've only seen the highlights but surely Trump is simply taking a side in one of the oldest and most difficult dilemmas. What is worth giving up to stop the killing.

Why is dealing with that impossible question so reprehensible.

We see it in aid all the time (enable/support the tyrants to get food to the citizens..)

Yes, he’s decided that giving up Ukraine is worth it to stem the expense to the US.
The democratically elected government of Ukraine - along with the opposition, judging by their public comments yesterday, disagree.

Chuck into the mix Europe’s future security, which the US has apparently decided is no longer a matter for them, then a polite no thanks is in order.
No skin in the game, no say.

All that, of course, is predicated on Europe getting its shit together over the next few days and weeks.

He said that the expense was a long way behind stopping the killing. Great farmland though Ukraine no doubt has, it is bodies, said Trump, that are stopping the bullets.

He says he wants to stop the killing as a primary aim. I have no doubt he also wants to go down in history as the Peacemaker President who touched the world with his hands and, lo, the world reacted. But he said he wanted to stop the killing.

He has no interest in stopping the killing. It doesn't even enter into his mind that it matters if lots of Ukranians, Russians and anyone else dies. He wouldn't even care if lots of Americans died as long as it didn't affect his own prospects, wealth and ego.

This is the lesson that some on here have not yet learnt. Maybe because they don't want to face it. Trump has no interest in helping or protecting Ukraine or Europe. His interests are purely transactional and we don't matter. All these questions about how or whether we will be able to defend against Russia or help Uraine are based on the erroneous assumption that there is a choice, that Trump will be persuaded to change his mind and help in our defence. He won't.

Once you accept that you realise that it is not a quastion of whether we want to rearm and challenge Putin. It is simple fact that we have to. And the best way to ensure my son and daughter don't end up having to fight in Europe is to make sure Putin loses - or at least fails to succeed - in Ukraine.

Given what he is doing to USAID and to various programmes domestically, it's very clear Trump has no concern about stopping people from dying. As you say, he is entirely transactional and has no understanding of the US's interests being in any way separate to his own. This is why he cannot see how withdrawing from a leadership role is going to do so much harm to the American economy.