5 ms·

We've also lifted the veil on the myth that we were a unstoppable military power. We look silly saying, day after day, that the war is over, they're powerless,

We've also lifted the veil on the myth that we were a unstoppable military power. We look silly saying, day after day, that the war is over, they're powerless, etc while the same channel shows that's not true. The folks least impressed right now are China and Russia, who must surely see a new system of regional powers operating in their own spheres, not a single global power which is apparently a historical fiction. The excellent book, Clash of Civilizations predicted this move to regional powers versus the 50's simple East/West divide, along with many other current events we see now. It was written 30 years ago.

stvltvs 6mo ago
The US is relatively weak without its allies. NATO was the real superpower in the west. The current regime got too big for their britches and tried to go it alone.
- SanjayMehta 6mo ago
  [flagged]
  - flowerthoughts 6mo ago
    Rheinmetall stock is up 1,439% and Saab is up 991% since February 2022. European defense materials companies are ramping up just fine.
    - SanjayMehta 6mo ago
      Stock prices are reflection of what speculators expect to happen. So the depleted munitions thanks to Ukraine and the drive to get some independence from an unreliable Trump regime makes this unsurprising.
  - bulbar 6mo ago
    > The only leverage NATO would be able to provide the US today would be political. Not sure what you are saying. NATO provides critical support for the Iran war by allowing the US having military bases in their countries.
    - SanjayMehta 6mo ago
      Spain is showing some spine. Italy and France too. Germany made a statement abhoring the attacks on Iran. Is this not getting reported in your countries? Colour me surprised. More will follow as Trump descends into further insanity.
  - pseudohadamard 6mo ago
    It depends whether you believe the paper strength or actual strength. On paper the Russian army was the second most powerful in the world. In practice it's the second most powerful in Ukraine. On paper the US army is the most powerful in the world. In practice they've been brought to a standstill by a third-rate power in the middle east. Before that in Vietnam, Iraq, and by something that's barely a country, Afghanistan. Some years ago I saw a Vietnamese film about the American War in which an NVA officer told his men "kill them and keep killing them until they stop coming". It doesn't matter how many expensive toys you have if the other side is determined to outlast you. And don't forget who makes up NATO. Would you want to go up against someone like the Finns? Ask any US troops who have trained with them.
    - SanjayMehta 6mo ago
      "How many Oreshniks do the Finns have?" To modernise Stalin. I know this is hard for you to comprehend, but Russia is absolutely wrecking The Ukraine and by extension the NATO vassal states in Europe. It's hard for you to comprehend because your propaganda machines are incredibly effective, and your statements and questions show that you're incapable of looking at the other side and the other side is reality.
smitty1e 6mo ago
[flagged]
- bulbar 6mo ago
  Bejing doesn't care for results of op, they care for the big picture. Trump is splitting the West in half, which is great for China. Also every piece of isolationist politics is good for them, because they try to invade Taiwan and the more isolationist the US becomes, the less resistant will there be when they actually try. For Russia, it's just great the US attacked Iran, because the world needs Oil and now Russian oil is back on the table. The amount of weapons that the US is willed to deliver to the Ukrain on the other hand goes down as well as the political will to continue the support of the defense against Russian imperialism and grab for power. Everything that weakens NATO in any way is great for Russia, so they are quite happy with Trump threatening the alliance.
  - orwin 6mo ago
    I don't think China leadership thinks it needs to invade Taiwan. Competing against an hyper-specialized country is hard, but if they manage to produce chips 90% as good as Taiwan, the later is in for a wild economic ride, which will probably end up as Taiwan as an autonomous Chinese region without firing any guns.
    - Markoff 6mo ago
      exactly, it's very naive some folks fall for this China invading Taiwan narrative, just look what happened with Hong Kong, it had size of like 30% of Chinese economy (when they took over), which is why they agreed with autonomy, now it's down to like what - 3%? basically irelevant ordinary develoepd CN city, same will happen with Taiwan, people will vote with their wallets in the end especially if the other option is support from US gerontocracy ruled by crazies people thinking China needs to invade Taiwan are very short-sighted thinking in western 5 year election cycles, which don't work in China, China has all the time in the world to wait unlike these western marketing products for 1-2 terms they call politicians (and I don't write it as some China admiration, just stating the facts their political system works different way whether you like it or not, but I would for sure prefer EU making deals with China instead of US also regarding security, they are more reliable not abusive partner)
karmakurtisaani 6mo ago
> The excellent book, Clash of Civilizations predicted this move to regional powers versus the 50's simple East/West divide, along with many other current events we see now. It was written 30 years ago. Did it get many predictions wrong? That's also pretty important, no?
- dtagames 6mo ago
  It's very enlightening. It's a book about history and religion, not predictions. If there were ever a good time to have a look, this would be it.

stvltvs 6mo ago

The US is relatively weak without its allies. NATO was the real superpower in the west. The current regime got too big for their britches and tried to go it alone.

SanjayMehta 6mo ago
[flagged]
- flowerthoughts 6mo ago
  Rheinmetall stock is up 1,439% and Saab is up 991% since February 2022. European defense materials companies are ramping up just fine.
  - SanjayMehta 6mo ago
    Stock prices are reflection of what speculators expect to happen. So the depleted munitions thanks to Ukraine and the drive to get some independence from an unreliable Trump regime makes this unsurprising.
- bulbar 6mo ago
  > The only leverage NATO would be able to provide the US today would be political. Not sure what you are saying. NATO provides critical support for the Iran war by allowing the US having military bases in their countries.
  - SanjayMehta 6mo ago
    Spain is showing some spine. Italy and France too. Germany made a statement abhoring the attacks on Iran. Is this not getting reported in your countries? Colour me surprised. More will follow as Trump descends into further insanity.
- pseudohadamard 6mo ago
  It depends whether you believe the paper strength or actual strength. On paper the Russian army was the second most powerful in the world. In practice it's the second most powerful in Ukraine. On paper the US army is the most powerful in the world. In practice they've been brought to a standstill by a third-rate power in the middle east. Before that in Vietnam, Iraq, and by something that's barely a country, Afghanistan. Some years ago I saw a Vietnamese film about the American War in which an NVA officer told his men "kill them and keep killing them until they stop coming". It doesn't matter how many expensive toys you have if the other side is determined to outlast you. And don't forget who makes up NATO. Would you want to go up against someone like the Finns? Ask any US troops who have trained with them.
  - SanjayMehta 6mo ago
    "How many Oreshniks do the Finns have?" To modernise Stalin. I know this is hard for you to comprehend, but Russia is absolutely wrecking The Ukraine and by extension the NATO vassal states in Europe. It's hard for you to comprehend because your propaganda machines are incredibly effective, and your statements and questions show that you're incapable of looking at the other side and the other side is reality.

smitty1e 6mo ago

[flagged]

bulbar 6mo ago
Bejing doesn't care for results of op, they care for the big picture. Trump is splitting the West in half, which is great for China. Also every piece of isolationist politics is good for them, because they try to invade Taiwan and the more isolationist the US becomes, the less resistant will there be when they actually try. For Russia, it's just great the US attacked Iran, because the world needs Oil and now Russian oil is back on the table. The amount of weapons that the US is willed to deliver to the Ukrain on the other hand goes down as well as the political will to continue the support of the defense against Russian imperialism and grab for power. Everything that weakens NATO in any way is great for Russia, so they are quite happy with Trump threatening the alliance.
- orwin 6mo ago
  I don't think China leadership thinks it needs to invade Taiwan. Competing against an hyper-specialized country is hard, but if they manage to produce chips 90% as good as Taiwan, the later is in for a wild economic ride, which will probably end up as Taiwan as an autonomous Chinese region without firing any guns.
  - Markoff 6mo ago
    exactly, it's very naive some folks fall for this China invading Taiwan narrative, just look what happened with Hong Kong, it had size of like 30% of Chinese economy (when they took over), which is why they agreed with autonomy, now it's down to like what - 3%? basically irelevant ordinary develoepd CN city, same will happen with Taiwan, people will vote with their wallets in the end especially if the other option is support from US gerontocracy ruled by crazies people thinking China needs to invade Taiwan are very short-sighted thinking in western 5 year election cycles, which don't work in China, China has all the time in the world to wait unlike these western marketing products for 1-2 terms they call politicians (and I don't write it as some China admiration, just stating the facts their political system works different way whether you like it or not, but I would for sure prefer EU making deals with China instead of US also regarding security, they are more reliable not abusive partner)

karmakurtisaani 6mo ago

> The excellent book, Clash of Civilizations predicted this move to regional powers versus the 50's simple East/West divide, along with many other current events we see now. It was written 30 years ago. Did it get many predictions wrong? That's also pretty important, no?

dtagames 6mo ago
It's very enlightening. It's a book about history and religion, not predictions. If there were ever a good time to have a look, this would be it.