Independent Leyton Orient Forum

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 4:33 pm

Mistadobalina wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 4:11 pm How is skin that thin holding back so much fat.

Ukraine are gonna get absolutely d*cked aren't they. Trump is just repeating russian lines wholesale.

He's their asset. I wonder who they communicate through.

From Seth Abrahmson

"As detailed in Proof of Destruction—see below—the claims that America has sent hundreds of billions to Ukraine and that half of what America sent is missing were laundered by the Kremlin and the FSB through Tucker Carlson, who Canada calls a Kremlin agent. The actual figures: $56 billion and <2%."

So he's lying, but 56 billion is still a fair old whack.

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 10:56 am So he's lying, but 56 billion is still a fair old whack.

Are you interpreting it as 56 billion is "missing" (they used the work laundered), or <2% (of 56Bn) is missing ?

Agree, 56 Bn is a fair chunk. But under 2% wastage doesn't sound that big compared to other aid programs, does it?

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 10:56 am So he's lying, but 56 billion is still a fair old whack.

I was more focusing on the Tucker Carlsson point after having asked the question yesterday. The numbers are a bit obscure as I'm not sure what the $56b is.

Wonder what he'd do if the North decided to try and invade South Korea again? They've obviously already had - perhaps limited - involvement in Ukraine and are pally with his best mate Vlad, so not exactly his arch enemy. Obviously there's US troops in the South but can imagine him pulling them out and saying "this is a faraway place, not our problem!".

Although once his sworn enemy, King Yong Un is now not so bad - "a real smart guy" accordion to Trump. But then again, who knows what he might say about him tomorrow..

Accordion?

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:46 am Wonder what he'd do if the North decided to try and invade South Korea again? They've obviously already had - perhaps limited - involvement in Ukraine and are pally with his best mate Vlad, so not exactly his arch enemy. Obviously there's US troops in the South but can imagine him pulling them out and saying "this is a faraway place, not our problem!".

If the US was to abandon South Korea, then Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines would all know that they're f*cked and would disengage from their US security agreements. Australia and New Zealand would need to seriously reconsider their options too. Which may be inevitable anyway, but the US is still reliant on trade from the Asia-pacific region, so it will not do so yet.

However, the US's muscle flexing over North, Central and some Southern American countries could make sense if it has already concluded to rapidly on-shore all of its industrial and agricultural needs onto the home continent. If it does this, then it will lose its incentive to maintain dominance in and around the seas of Asia.

And North Korea very much does intend to invade the South. It was at its request, not the Kremlins, that Korean troops were deployed to the battlefront in Ukraine - it's getting them battle experience.

I don't see how that wouldn't cause an enormous amount of harm to American interests though. They can't magic up economies to match the industrial capabilities of places like Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam etc. and that's aside from their huge dependence on Chinese goods. Vast majority of worlds most advanced semiconductors come from Taiwan for example. Losing that would f*ck the American tech sector. El Salvador isn't going to suddenly become an advanced manufacturing economy because America wants to disengage from Asia.

I can't really figure out what their plan is. Everyone loses it they burn all their bridges.

Me neither. But they are looking to establish their own FAB facilities in Texas.

Not that I really understand this stuff but I thought that the rate of innovation in semiconductor manufacturing is such that by the time you've caught up with the latest tech released, they are already onto the next thing which will be miles ahead. There's a reason why something like 90% of most powerful semiconductors are still being produced almost through a single company, located on an island vulnerable to typhoons and earthquakes, right next to Americas biggest strategic enemy. Couldn't really pick a worse place to be dependent on. Losing that would set back Trump's backers by years.

Has anyone considered the possibility he’s just saying stuff, the realities of what’s being discussed behind the scenes and what will ultimately be decided will be different and his pronouncements are just a tactic?

Currywurst and Chips wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:42 pm Has anyone considered the possibility he’s just saying stuff, the realities of what’s being discussed behind the scenes and what will ultimately be decided will be different and his pronouncements are just a tactic?

You saying the realities could actually be worse than what he's banging on about ?

StillSpike wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:56 pm

Currywurst and Chips wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:42 pm Has anyone considered the possibility he’s just saying stuff, the realities of what’s being discussed behind the scenes and what will ultimately be decided will be different and his pronouncements are just a tactic?

You saying the realities could actually be worse than what he's banging on about ?

Not sure he’s committed to anything yet so there isn’t really a benchmark

Saying dramatic sh*t then rowing back considerably and claiming a successful deal seems to be his MO though.

It's the Art of the Deal.

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:11 pm It's the Art of the Deal.

Nah, it's the art of being a complete c*nt.

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:17 am

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 10:56 am So he's lying, but 56 billion is still a fair old whack.

I was more focusing on the Tucker Carlsson point after having asked the question yesterday. The numbers are a bit obscure as I'm not sure what the $56b is.

This clears up the $56b point.

https://bsky.app/profile/sethabramson.b ... kxjswbn22i

Mistadobalina wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:38 pm Not that I really understand this stuff but I thought that the rate of innovation in semiconductor manufacturing is such that by the time you've caught up with the latest tech released, they are already onto the next thing which will be miles ahead. There's a reason why something like 90% of most powerful semiconductors are still being produced almost through a single company, located on an island vulnerable to typhoons and earthquakes, right next to Americas biggest strategic enemy. Couldn't really pick a worse place to be dependent on. Losing that would set back Trump's backers by years.

That's my understanding too. But, if you are dependant upon that vulnerable island, then there's a logic to on-shoring and accepting the inevitable retrograde. It wont be as bad as if they do nothing and then something does go seriously wrong with Taiwan.

BoniO wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:19 pm

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:11 pm It's the Art of the Deal.

Nah, it's the art of being a complete c*nt.

That too, but it's his transactional approach to everything that doesn't help either.

Currywurst and Chips wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:42 pm Has anyone considered the possibility he’s just saying stuff, the realities of what’s being discussed behind the scenes and what will ultimately be decided will be different and his pronouncements are just a tactic?

Yeah, but the personal nature of his attack on Zelenskyy seemed to be much more than that. Also, US traders are now repatriating gold bullion from the Bank of England back to the US at an increasing rate. It feels like we're about to be dumped by a girlfriend who's lost interest.

Dunners wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:34 pm

Currywurst and Chips wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:42 pm Has anyone considered the possibility he’s just saying stuff, the realities of what’s being discussed behind the scenes and what will ultimately be decided will be different and his pronouncements are just a tactic?

Yeah, but the personal nature of his attack on Zelenskyy seemed to be much more than that. Also, US traders are now repatriating gold bullion from the Bank of England back to the US at an increasing rate. It feels like we're about to be dumped by a girlfriend who's lost interest.

Starmer’s Britain

Shambles

By a girlfriend who has gone mental

Dunners wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:34 pm

Currywurst and Chips wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:42 pm Has anyone considered the possibility he’s just saying stuff, the realities of what’s being discussed behind the scenes and what will ultimately be decided will be different and his pronouncements are just a tactic?

Yeah, but the personal nature of his attack on Zelenskyy seemed to be much more than that. Also, US traders are now repatriating gold bullion from the Bank of England back to the US at an increasing rate. It feels like we're about to be dumped by a girlfriend who's lost interest.

Oh well. Back to the EU it is.

An interesting read from an actual journalist driven out of the BBC for trying to do his job properly.

https://goodallandgoodluck.substack.com ... irect=true

Max B Gold wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:57 pm An interesting read from an actual journalist driven out of the BBC for trying to do his job properly.

https://goodallandgoodluck.substack.com ... irect=true

Makes sense. Trump giving Putin what he wants in exchange for him keeping out of any conflict between China and the US seems probable. It also helps Trump to have Europe in turmoil over security from Russian territorial infringements too. Anyone got a second hand Anderson Shelter for sale?