1. You don't have to have U.S. servicemen firing at Russians to be involved. Clearly the U.S. is very involved. They are supplying huge amounts of logistical support, training, supplies of every kind and have sent somewhere in the region of 115 billion dollars to Ukraine. That's "involved" by pretty much anyone's definition of the word. 2. "Global stability" is a pretext to get involved in anything anywhere in the world - the world order and world economy will eventually adjust just fine with or without U.S. involvement in Ukraine. There are wars, genocides and ethnic cleansings going on all around the world, that's tragic but you nor most anyone else is saying anything about it. The U.S. isn't in charge of making sure nothing bad happens to anyone anywhere. Before the American Civil War, cotton produced in the American South had accounted for 77 percent of the 800 million pounds of cotton used in Great Britain - The British textile industry figured it out, they didn't enter the war on the side of the south in the name of economic stability. The hawks go between saying, "lol the Russian military is a joke and is on the brink of collapse" and "We have to stop Russia or they will retake half the world" - which are not logically consistent thoughts. Either the Russians are a joke and on the brink of collapse or they are some competent military force that is about to conquer half the world. I don't want to Russians to win but I would love to see the U.S. military industrial complex reduced and for the U.S. to step back from the world stage and prioritize using its resources on its own citizens. The U.S. will be just fine in such a scenario, we have everything we need in our direct sphere of influence and if we need anything else, we can effectuate trade deals. The U.S. stepping back from being world police would mostly suck for all the ungrateful people free loading countries who mock and hate us and who have gotten a free ride the last 80 years.
America wouldn't likely exist if the French didn't get "involved" Global stability is a real thing. Again, this isn't just about Ukraine, it's about Taiwan, South Korea, and other areas that are under threat. If the US doesn't get involved those other countries will realize they can invade as well - a chaotic world hurts consumers. I in fact have said many things about other wars and genocides. Many many times - you obviously don't read my posts. And in many of them the US once again has gotten involved. You can have the US as a superpower just not do anything about global crisis. If you think that the US can just retreat and not worry about the world, you don't realize how much has to happen to open up markets and ensure jobs back here at home, not to mention security arrangements. This isn't about making sure nothing bad happens in the world, plenty of times as you point out the US does nothing when it doesn't serve it interests. Now that it does, not sure how you can make the argument the US should do nothing because this is about stopping bad people. It's not.
What do you think the I in BRICS stands for? India, Russia and China Lead in Ditching the US Dollar as the Global Currency (eurasiantimes.com) BRICS common currency soon? India, China step up to counter US dollar's dominance - Business & Economy News (wionews.com)
If we wake up tomorrow and the PRC is occupying Taiwan, the world economy will adjust. Life will go on. If we wake up tomorrow and Russia has taken over Ukraine, the world economy will adjust. Life will go on. We aren't about to go back to the dark ages if those events occur. I don't want those events to occur but they also aren't my (the USA's) responsibility or they shouldn't be.
Why? Look no further than your posting history to see why people believe you are sympathetic to the Russians. Also, there were plenty of Democrats that supported some degree of US activities in Asia... including multiple Presidents. It isn't an either/or scenario. I don't see US boots on the ground. Riiight or it could be that Russia would already have taken Ukraine and be targeting other parts for expansion without the USA sending weapons and intelligence to Ukraine. The USA also has made it clear to Russia, and China and Iran that they are willing to support other nations that are invaded. The US has been the closest thing to global police for the last 90 years, and that is because the USA has been the preeminent super power in the world. Some of the basis of the US being a financial and military power is based on relationships around the globe.
This isn't about acronyms, India and China will never share a common currency. Russia and China might want to do so to evade sanctions, but India wants it's only currency to be internationalized. If they are saying Inda and China are looking to create a unified currency, that article is dogshit.
We can agree to disagree in principle without the need to go in circles on this conversation or resort to silly accusations about being a russian sympathizer. I acknowledge the US has taken on the responsibility of being the de facto global police. I also acknowledge it has benefited our consumeristic economy, the country as a whole and all of its allies. These benefits also come at an expense to other countries and its people. Its unsustainable. We have know this for a long time. Our debt-to-GDP continues to trend in the wrong direction. Our education system is deteriorating at a rapid pace. The middle class is getting is being eroded away. Healthcare will continue erode as our country continues to become more and more unhealthy. I am literally regurgitating what the left has been saying for years. We must start funding initiatives that make our country stronger. We can no longer afford to play this global cop.
It seems like we're beyond critical mass and doubling down on profligate debt printing while relying on our military and global economic apparatuses to sustain it. It took 4-5 years of austerity after WW2 for America to pay off a debt:GDP burden close to what we're seeing right now. The West+Japan are also seeing similar growth decay and are also in need of a reset. Regardless, the US is still positioned to bounce back faster, provided we don't tear each other apart with our own ways to "fix things".
You have said things that certainly appeared to be sympathetic to Russia. I am claiming you are anti-American or anything like that. It has benefitted the USA and her allies, and the idea that it is unsustainable really cannot be proven and doesn't mean much. I have heard about the deteriorating USA for over 40 years now........ and if you go read articles and such from 60-100 years ago, they said the same thing then as well.... even in the middle of tremendous growth and wealth there are those that claim the sky is falling. The issues of healthcare, and poor choices in food consumption and the education system all are topics that need to be addressed, but it has very little to do with the USA and Ukraine. The quality of food available, the lifestyle of Americans can all be addressed with very little financial cost. The USA could regulate like the EU does, the USA government has a lot of avenues but the will isn't there. It doesn't matter to me who is calling for it. The USA exiting right on a global scale and relinquishing her influence to China would be a disaster and is incredibly short sighted.
You mean like passing the largest infrastructure bill ever that will repair every bad bridge and provide free reliable internet to every American? Or passing a half a trillion dollar onshoring bill that will bring back critical supply chains back to the usa like chips and batteries? Wouldn't it be great if we could chew gum and walk at the same time? Maybe one day...
I am sympathetic towards Russian people as I am towards any populace who struggles. Sure, there are Russians who are pro-Putin and I would find that a dangerous position to take. I am very sympathetic towards anyone who struggles to get the basic needs met. I am more in the middle of the road on this subject, recovering from the idea America is in great decay and headed for eventual civil war or some far left/right dystopia. I do feel we are too wealthy of a country to have such a large wealth disparity. I do think this country is too conservative and the conservatives spend too much energy fighting progressivism. Its the ultra-right and the ultra-left who are dominating the voice in politics. I not an isolationist however I do think other countries should have 'options' in participating on the global stage. Its ok to have more than one super power and its better for everyone when there is competition.
I'm seeing the idea of BRICS common currency being run again and again as a threat to Dollar fiat among crypto/gold bug crowds, some whom are also against the Ukraine war (not you in particular). Not only is it highly doubtful anything meaningful will arise in the next decade or two, (used in global trade, in global banks or floated on the open markets) this threat would make the US supporting Ukraine even more crucial to the point where you do it without even weighing in the moral and legal attrocities Putin is committing as a reason. Letting Ukraine sink back into a proxy zone would give Putin unfettered control of the Baltics, the gas pipelines in dispute, a stronger keyhold on Central Asian states with competing energy pipelines, and a whole range of things China desires and does not unilaterally want from Russia. Plenty of reasons why the West will back Ukraine until our people start marching on the streets. And as long as Ukraine wins (to justify 100B aid packages) while Russia's reaction isn't painful, that'll continue to last. Also, India has historically straddled between both sides (cold war policy/Pakistan moves/countermoves) though they definitely want to wrest dominance from China. BRICS allows them juicy access and trade deals but I doubt they'd go lockstep with Russia and China at a time when Western companies are shifting their global supply chain from China to them. They've also made more maneuverings to secure their Indian Ocean trade lanes in hopes to blunt or counter China's Silk Road moves. Not exactly BFF
Yes it is logically consistent. Do you think Ukraine would be in the same position without U.S. weapons and support? Had the U.S. and Europe not supported Ukraine this would have been over a long time ago and not to the benefitt of the U.S. Are you really dense enough to belive Putin would stop at Ukraine? He already said he wouldn't. Also, where were you when Dubya and Daddy decided to invade Iraq and then Afghanistan? Sitting on your couch with a Natty Light screaming "Hell yeah kill those Sand Ni****s!"
If we wake up tomorrow and the PRC is occupying Taiwan the World economy will not be just fine. Taiwan is the world's leading supplier of semiconductors and the PRC the leading manufacturer. Taiwan also occupies a very strategic area where many trade routes from Asia to the US are. Just consider how much problems we had with the supply chain during the pandemic. Those will pale in comparison to a PRC invasion of Taiwan. At the minimum it will be a global recession. Most likely a global depression.
There are certainly many in both countries who want to see an alternative to the US dollar but I think it is very unlikely that India and the PRC could agree on a common currency. The two countries have been fighting a low grade war for decades and are strategic and economic competitors in many fields. Just that they don't like the US hegemony doens't mean they will unite to seriously contest it.
Kremlin made it sounds like an assassination attempt but seems clear to me this was more of a symbolic ‘attack’. Putin is holed up so deep somewhere, no way this blast was intended to do any damage other that blow up the flag post…assuming it’s just not some coincidence that the drone was downed and happen to blow up right at the top of the dome
