4 ms·

It's worrying when an unpopular president starts banging the war drums. I always have this fear that there is immense incentive to create conflict since wartime

by toolz 5y ago

It's worrying when an unpopular president starts banging the war drums. I always have this fear that there is immense incentive to create conflict since wartime presidents are always reelected in the US.

k8sToGo 5y ago
Isn't "war" a big part of the US economy?
afarrell 5y ago
Bush Sr. was not re-elected after winning the first Iraq war.
- iopq 5y ago
  If you already won the war you're not a wartime president
  - lotsofpulp 5y ago
    Does wartime even mean anything if you occupy a country for 20 years? It is trivial that the US would “win” vs Iraq or Afghanistan. https://www.graphicnews.com/en/pages/41632/military-us-troops-in-iraq https://www.graphicnews.com/en/pages/41632/military-us-troop...
caskstrength 5y ago
Your "unpopular president" said straight up that he will not send troops, so I don't understand what are you suggesting here exactly.
- toolz 5y ago
  We sent warships to practice military war games right off Russia's coast in the black sea. We instructed embassy family in Ukraine to head back to the state to prep for a Russian invasion. How many times has Biden either directly attacked Putin by calling him a killer or saying the US will defend Ukraine if Russia invades? The U.S. has many allies and we don't wake up to a president calling enemy territory leaders killers and reaffirming we're game to go to war every few weeks for any other territory. This is a very obvious political move that I hope doesn't escalate, but Biden appears to be doing plenty to provoke conflict.
  - caskstrength 5y ago
    > We sent warships to practice military war games right off Russia's coast in the black sea. Eastern European NATO members are concerned they could be next (IMO rightfully), so after what Trump had been doing to NATO during his presidency Biden obviously wants to reassure his partners. > We instructed embassy family in Ukraine to head back to the state to prep for a Russian invasion. Yes. And? > saying the US will defend Ukraine if Russia invades Source? He said straight up that US will not send any troops to defend Ukraine. > The U.S. has many allies and we don't wake up to a president calling enemy territory leaders killers and reaffirming we're game to go to war every few weeks for any other territory. This is a very obvious political move that I hope doesn't escalate, but Biden appears to be doing plenty to provoke conflict. Well, yes, countries like US, Russia, China, etc. need to maintain their strongman image for local electorate. IMO there are much simpler and straightforward ways for him to start a war with Russia, if he would be crazy enough to seek such a thing.
    - toolz 5y ago
      It's always bewildering that someone defending Biden always has to bring up Trump. > Eastern European NATO members are concerned they could be next could be next...what? Do you recall what happened in 2008 with Georgia? This is literally straight from Russia's playbook. They stationed war games at Georgia's borders, tensions heightened, shots were fired, Russia claimed they were fired on first. Now Russia occupies parts of Georgia. This is exactly what wargames at their borders threatens. It's disgusting and absolutely should be universally reprimanded to post up warships to do war games outside of high political tension areas. > Source? He said straight up that US will not send any troops to defend Ukraine. Incorrect he said that sending troops to act unilaterally against Russia was not on the table. If you actually listen to the press conference you're referencing then you'd realize this was not a promise to never send troops - quite the opposite. Source for Biden repeatedly saying Russia will pay a price for Ukraine invasion? There are numerous, but here's him proudly admitting to calling Putin a soulless killer to his face and promising he'll pay a price shortly. This is the opposite of diplomacy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPtmXikBWrQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPtmXikBWrQ

by toolz 5y ago

k8sToGo 5y ago

Isn't "war" a big part of the US economy?

afarrell 5y ago

Bush Sr. was not re-elected after winning the first Iraq war.

iopq 5y ago
If you already won the war you're not a wartime president
- lotsofpulp 5y ago
  Does wartime even mean anything if you occupy a country for 20 years? It is trivial that the US would “win” vs Iraq or Afghanistan. https://www.graphicnews.com/en/pages/41632/military-us-troops-in-iraq https://www.graphicnews.com/en/pages/41632/military-us-troop...

caskstrength 5y ago

Your "unpopular president" said straight up that he will not send troops, so I don't understand what are you suggesting here exactly.

toolz 5y ago
We sent warships to practice military war games right off Russia's coast in the black sea. We instructed embassy family in Ukraine to head back to the state to prep for a Russian invasion. How many times has Biden either directly attacked Putin by calling him a killer or saying the US will defend Ukraine if Russia invades? The U.S. has many allies and we don't wake up to a president calling enemy territory leaders killers and reaffirming we're game to go to war every few weeks for any other territory. This is a very obvious political move that I hope doesn't escalate, but Biden appears to be doing plenty to provoke conflict.
- caskstrength 5y ago
  > We sent warships to practice military war games right off Russia's coast in the black sea. Eastern European NATO members are concerned they could be next (IMO rightfully), so after what Trump had been doing to NATO during his presidency Biden obviously wants to reassure his partners. > We instructed embassy family in Ukraine to head back to the state to prep for a Russian invasion. Yes. And? > saying the US will defend Ukraine if Russia invades Source? He said straight up that US will not send any troops to defend Ukraine. > The U.S. has many allies and we don't wake up to a president calling enemy territory leaders killers and reaffirming we're game to go to war every few weeks for any other territory. This is a very obvious political move that I hope doesn't escalate, but Biden appears to be doing plenty to provoke conflict. Well, yes, countries like US, Russia, China, etc. need to maintain their strongman image for local electorate. IMO there are much simpler and straightforward ways for him to start a war with Russia, if he would be crazy enough to seek such a thing.
  - toolz 5y ago
    It's always bewildering that someone defending Biden always has to bring up Trump. > Eastern European NATO members are concerned they could be next could be next...what? Do you recall what happened in 2008 with Georgia? This is literally straight from Russia's playbook. They stationed war games at Georgia's borders, tensions heightened, shots were fired, Russia claimed they were fired on first. Now Russia occupies parts of Georgia. This is exactly what wargames at their borders threatens. It's disgusting and absolutely should be universally reprimanded to post up warships to do war games outside of high political tension areas. > Source? He said straight up that US will not send any troops to defend Ukraine. Incorrect he said that sending troops to act unilaterally against Russia was not on the table. If you actually listen to the press conference you're referencing then you'd realize this was not a promise to never send troops - quite the opposite. Source for Biden repeatedly saying Russia will pay a price for Ukraine invasion? There are numerous, but here's him proudly admitting to calling Putin a soulless killer to his face and promising he'll pay a price shortly. This is the opposite of diplomacy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPtmXikBWrQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPtmXikBWrQ