1984Echoes

And... despite all of the current tragedy... China is still taking the position of being OUR Enemy: https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-officials-repeatedly-urged-china-132921273.html

Quickly.

It's hard to say out loud because it is sounds that we are just not used to using in the English language. Although I've been told by my Ukrainian and Russian friends that I no longer sound "American" when I speak my - very limited - Russian. That I now sound, "almost", like a native Russian.

I bought UVXY (ETF on the Volatility Index) prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday, when Russia committed to the invasion and the market dropped, I sold it for a 35% gain and reinvested in a Nasdaq and a Microchip ETF which jumped after the market settled down from the initial invasion (I'm at a 15% initial gain but expect the market to be very frothy while this invasion is ongoing. But it's the Nasdaq, the only important thing to me is getting in near a low point and then just waiting for it to eventually rise again... it always does...). I hate market timing and generally keep it to a minimum because it's just too hard. But I think I got lucky/ did good in this instance.

Hey, don't give them any ideas!!! /joke

That is a very good question. Biden should fire him now. And cancel that contract... now. Why is DeJoy still heading the USPS?

I don't know about the intel, but... I do believe there is a way for Ukraine to win this militarily. Putin committed 200,000 troops to the invasion of Ukraine. These forces are split into at least 4, if not more, arenas: Kiev, Kharkov, Kherson, and Odessa. Possibly split into more forces. Against 40 million Ukrainians in which every Vitaly, Anatoly, and Alexei is arming themselves to the teeth to attack these Russian forces. Putin can't win with tanks, planes and bombs alone. And, tactically, he may have under-committed the forces needed to subdue Ukraine. I mentioned this before, but I believe by about 10x the amount. I think he'll need closer to 2,000,000 than 200,000 ground forces in Ukraine to steal their country. If he doesn't commit that post haste... Losses, domestic unrest, the world against Putin's Fascist Invasion... May add up to a military loss for Putin and he is forced to back off... We'll see.

I think this is the victory we are looking for...

Make it beyond painful for Putin's War Criminal Invasion of Ukraine. I have Ukrainian-American friends, best friends' wives who are from Ukraine, even my ex's father was from Ukraine. I am totally invested, passionately, in Ukraine's cause for freedom and independence. Not even counting I'm a ferocious defender of Democracy over Fascism and Communism.

Ukraine's plan to strip Russia of its U.N. powers: https://www.yahoo.com/news/could-ukraine-strip-russia-u-094842397.html

At some point... If we're talking about expanding Playoffs... The league is going to have to drop us back down to a 154 game regular season schedule. I'm just thinking out loud...

I think Santana and Campos can also make it to the top 100 but they're too young right now and need to prove it on the field enough to warrant that... Which might take another year or two...

Right, but the Ottoman Empire was basically Turkey and all the surrounding territory that it controlled. I don't think you can get around that with a technicality...

I really freaking hate fascists.

An entire country mobilized against Putin's armies. We'll take it. If Putin actually gets his ass whupped, the humiliation will be world-shaking...

All the Russian babushkas and wives and daughters will be wondering where their men disappeared to, never to be heard from again. And they will never find out.

That corridor is Poland to Western Ukraine. If Putin wants to win, he has to commit 10 times the forces he has so far, and take the western region of Ukraine, blocking this corridor. He has Crimea, the Black Sea, Byelorussia, and his own border with Ukraine. He can't outright win if he cannot block the Poland to Ukraine border (~330 miles. Nearly impossible. = almost unwinnable guerilla war against Putin.)

This is what I was really hoping for.... Surely. Work up the numbers: Roughly 200,000 Russian soldiers, split about 10 different ways, against 40 million passionate anti-Russian armed Ukrainian Patriots. I'm not certain how many are actually armed. But Ukraine is not just going to roll over.

Europe still gets I think 40% of their natural gas/ energy from Russia. They use the SWIFT interbank communication codes to pay Russia for their gas. Dropping Russia from SWIFT would be a "nuclear option" against Russia. It would hammer them. But it would also cause major problems in the EU in getting/ paying for their natural Russian gas. That is the crux of the SWIFT problem. The EU cannot let go of their Russian nipple. I'm wondering if he's had much sleep the past two weeks. Making a not-very-good speaker even more not very good.

Those are invalid examples. The United States was a friend or ally to all countries in those years. We weren't a part of any Allied or Axis agreements at the time. We were not beholden to supporting one ally over another in any Security Treaty. We were free to choose our destiny. And we did. Even if it came belatedly. You do NOT have any examples of the U.S. refusing to support or come to the aide of an ally because there are none.

Archie Bunker ALWAYS thought that he was the grownup...

"We choose by action or inaction which world we want to live in."

When did this happen?

Blockade the Bosphorus Straits from all Russian ships. That hits them economically, and restricts their movement militarily. There are several Russian warships hiding in the Mediterranean, waiting to rush in and support the invasion on Ukraine's southern coast. Lock them out of the Black Sea with a naval blockade. It's a little more complicated than that. Turkey committed a genocide against the Armenians. It's difficult to know which side to come down on when considering the Armenian nation.

The United States was attacked by terrorists on 9-11 whose leadership had sanctuary in Afghanistan, who in return refused to hand them over (hence the sanctuary...). The United States convened a NATO Article 5 meeting and multiple (I don't remember if it was every NATO nation, it might have been...) NATO countries supported military operations against Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban. Which meant militarily taking over Afghanistan. If Estonia is attacked, the favor will be returned. I know Russia isn't Afghanistan, but the NATO compact will work the same. Not a full invasion of Russia; but troops on NATO soil attacking Russian troops on NATO soil. Until they are no longer there.