It was an audacious trip almost unheard of for a US president.
Appearing in a war zone under regular attack, White House officials describe Joe Biden's unexpected visit to Ukraine's capital Kyiv as "unprecedented in modern times".
They say previous presidential trips to wartime Iraq and Afghanistan had the back up of a heavy US military presence.-snip
Seems like the first for a US President to visit an active war zone that didn't have a heavy US military presence. Biden has pledged another $500million in military aid.
Wouldn't surprise me, as it wouldn't be the first thread that aged very poorly for KMC Rightist and then they cried to have it erased.
Remember, when Whirly first made the original Russian invasion thread, there were a few pro-Putin KMC posters commenting how Russia is in the right and Ukraine is the villain.
highest probably: accidentally deleted while deleting spam and dolos threads.
"aCcIdEnTaLLy"
__________________ Your Lord knows very well what is in your heart. Your soul suffices this day as a reckoner against you. I need no witnesses. You do not listen to your soul, but listen instead to your anger and your rage.
Last edited by Bashar Teg on Feb 21st, 2023 at 11:39 PM
A year after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, the repercussions continue to reverberate around the world. Not only has the war in Ukraine set off a geopolitical realignment, but it has caused economic hardship far from the epicenter of the fighting.
The Feb. 24, 2022, invasion has touched off a refugee crisis, as Ukrainians flee the conflict in their homeland and many Russian men seek to avoid conscription. Meanwhile, it has spurred a process toward expanding NATO, with Finland and Sweden pursuing membership after decades of official neutrality.
Ukraine and Russia are key exporters of wheat, barley, corn and cooking oil, particularly to African and Middle Eastern countries. Turkey and the United Nations brokered a deal last summer to allow Ukrainian grain to pass through Black Sea ports, but Russia is reportedly still hindering shipments. Russia is also a major producer of fertilizer and petroleum. Disruptions to the flow of these goods are compounding other supply chain and climate challenges, driving up food and gas prices and causing shortages in places such as Chad, Tunisia and Sri Lanka. -snip
Said it before, be really nice if the Russians just took out dictator Putin themselves and elected a half decent leader. It won't happen, but one can pipe dream.
So the sanctions have been a failure, and the Russian war machine has no signs of slowing down.
The very same people who managed Afghanistan are leading the push against Russia. Their record is not encouraging. We also have China to worry about, leading speculation that support for Ukraine may dry up.
An alliance between China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and other Islamic states against a crumbling empire controlled by soft, narcissistic, spoiled children of better men and women. Much like Rome tore itself apart from the inside out, so is this generation of snowflakes and boot lickers doing to Western civilization.
__________________ What CDTM believes;
Never let anyone else define you. Don't be a jerk just to be a jerk, but if you are expressing your true inner feelings and beliefs, or at least trying to express that inner child, and everyone gets pissed off about it, never NEVER apologize for it. Let them think what they want, let them define you in their narrow little minds while they suppress every last piece of them just to keep a friend that never liked them for themselves in the first place.
According to the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 2022 was a bad year for the Russian economy. It is estimated that in 2022, Russia’s gross domestic product (GDP) dropped by at least 2.2% in the best-case scenario and by up to 3.9% in the worst-case scenario.
Russia’s economy may continue to shrink in 2023. Its GDP is forecast to decline by 5.6% in the worst-case scenario (OECD) or by 3.3% according to the World Bank. The IMF expects slight growth in 2023 (0.3%). -snip
"Slight growth in 2023". Amid sanctions, and outpacing the UK and German economy.
Hardly a resounding win for us Rob.
__________________ What CDTM believes;
Never let anyone else define you. Don't be a jerk just to be a jerk, but if you are expressing your true inner feelings and beliefs, or at least trying to express that inner child, and everyone gets pissed off about it, never NEVER apologize for it. Let them think what they want, let them define you in their narrow little minds while they suppress every last piece of them just to keep a friend that never liked them for themselves in the first place.
For no reason. (That said I condemn all violence and racism against any single group, just pointing out a thing.)
__________________ What CDTM believes;
Never let anyone else define you. Don't be a jerk just to be a jerk, but if you are expressing your true inner feelings and beliefs, or at least trying to express that inner child, and everyone gets pissed off about it, never NEVER apologize for it. Let them think what they want, let them define you in their narrow little minds while they suppress every last piece of them just to keep a friend that never liked them for themselves in the first place.
Don't think Ukraine is going to fall anymore, lots and lots more Ukrainians are going to needlessly die while Putin wages his genocide dick-waving campaign. but Putin's not going to be allowed to keep Ukraine, not at least while a Democrat is POTUS. If that switches out in 2024 and the war is still going on, then it's up to the UK and the EU to keep Putin out.
Finland and Sweden need to join NATO asap, both for their own protection and as a 'f**k you!' to Putin.
If Putin openly attacks Poland, then it's Russia Vs the NATO alliance and Russia's not winning that one. Putin loves his money and power too much to do that, imo.
Read this in error, I see you're still at your bath-faith tactics and cherrypicking info, which honesly is of zero surprise. When we apply the whole quote giving it context, the likely outcome is not favorable to Russia:
"Russia’s economy may continue to shrink in 2023. Its GDP is forecast to decline by 5.6% in the worst-case scenario (OECD) or by 3.3% according to the World Bank. The IMF expects slight growth in 2023 (0.3%)."
You realize Europe has poor projections too? And that the sanctions haven't worked as intended?
What happens if the best case for Russia comes in? We already applied all the pressure we can, and China refuses to snub them. We're out of cards to play barring all out war.
__________________ What CDTM believes;
Never let anyone else define you. Don't be a jerk just to be a jerk, but if you are expressing your true inner feelings and beliefs, or at least trying to express that inner child, and everyone gets pissed off about it, never NEVER apologize for it. Let them think what they want, let them define you in their narrow little minds while they suppress every last piece of them just to keep a friend that never liked them for themselves in the first place.
And talking about bad faith, at least I read your post. You flat out ignored my postings, from credible sources.
The IMF is hardly the "last word" on Russia's prospects. They're been wrong before.
__________________ What CDTM believes;
Never let anyone else define you. Don't be a jerk just to be a jerk, but if you are expressing your true inner feelings and beliefs, or at least trying to express that inner child, and everyone gets pissed off about it, never NEVER apologize for it. Let them think what they want, let them define you in their narrow little minds while they suppress every last piece of them just to keep a friend that never liked them for themselves in the first place.