EPTUS Politics Mega-thread - Page 5537
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Now that we have a new thread, in order to ensure that this thread continues to meet TL standards and follows the proper guidelines, we will be enforcing the rules in the OP more strictly. Be sure to give them a complete and thorough read before posting! NOTE: When providing a source, please provide a very brief summary on what it's about and what purpose it adds to the discussion. The supporting statement should clearly explain why the subject is relevant and needs to be discussed. Please follow this rule especially for tweets. Your supporting statement should always come BEFORE you provide the source. If you have any questions, comments, concern, or feedback regarding the USPMT, then please use this thread: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/website-feedback/510156-us-politics-thread | ||
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PoulsenB
Poland7760 Posts
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Jankisa
Croatia1757 Posts
Trump uses them for everything, but I've never heard about any negotiations with any NATO countries that mentioned tariffs as a response for refusal to spend more on defense. Also, and this is the real kicker, both Jimmy and oBlade like to tout how Trump, as the benevolent leader just wants EU and Canada to be self sufficient on defense so the US "burden" can be reduced, how does that actually work with USA increasing the military budget every year, even as a % of GDP? Wouldn't it be much more efficient to have good relations with NATO countries so they can use this military spending they increased to help out in missions like Iran, instead of just going in after Israel without even notifying anyone? Logical consistency and "centrism", what an iconic duo! | ||
KwarK
United States44353 Posts
In a fair world Europe would say 'fuck it', increase their military spending by destabilizing Central America and triggering a refugee crisis in the US. Then declare that by doing so they're being really good NATO members because all this spending is somehow helping the US. It's tough though because the US already spends so much destabilizing Central America already. NATO is intended to protect the North Atlantic region against the Russian Empire (in whatever incarnation it is). Canada is actively sending equipment and funds to Ukraine to degrade and deplete Russian forces. Spain is participating in EU financial transfers to Ukraine to keep them in the fight. The US has fully pulled out of the conflict with Russia and is now providing diplomatic cover for Russia and spending all its money increasing energy prices and destabilizing the world. Spain and Canada are spending more money on NATO commitments than the US is right now. Military spend as a proportion of GDP is not a good measure of commitment to the security of the North Atlantic. | ||
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Jankisa
Croatia1757 Posts
If this proves to be true, this is starting to seriously smell like Syria, only this time US will be backing any and all sectarian forces who are going to try and challenge IRGC/Iranian military. Senate is voting today, it's going to be interesting. Rand Paul (almost certain) and Thom Tillis might brake with Republicans, perhaps a few more grow a spine as well, we'll see. On Democrats side, I know Fetterman is going to vote yes, can't say enough bad about that dude, other then that, I'm afraid that we might get a triumphant GH post because some of the "Israel first" dems might do the same. | ||
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Gorsameth
Netherlands22630 Posts
What could possibly go wrong. Watching the rerun of Osama Bin Ladens origin story this quickly after the last installment certainly was not on my bingo card. | ||
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Acrofales
Spain18450 Posts
On March 05 2026 08:29 Gorsameth wrote: The Kurds invading Iran with the help of the US after they invaded Syria with the help of the US and were subsequently abandoned to Turkish reprisal. What could possibly go wrong. Watching the rerun of Osama Bin Ladens origin story this quickly after the last installment certainly was not on my bingo card. Sequels are just a much safer bet than original IP. Osama Bin Reladened: Over 9000/11. | ||
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WombaT
Northern Ireland27459 Posts
On March 05 2026 08:29 Gorsameth wrote: The Kurds invading Iran with the help of the US after they invaded Syria with the help of the US and were subsequently abandoned to Turkish reprisal. What could possibly go wrong. Watching the rerun of Osama Bin Ladens origin story this quickly after the last installment certainly was not on my bingo card. Whoever this prophesied individual is, they need to be an Arsenal fan to get that full house. | ||
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WombaT
Northern Ireland27459 Posts
On March 05 2026 07:27 Jankisa wrote: Well, Fox news is reporting Kurds are conducting an offensive against Iranian forces, moving in from Iraq and it's already been going on for a while (since Monday). If this proves to be true, this is starting to seriously smell like Syria, only this time US will be backing any and all sectarian forces who are going to try and challenge IRGC/Iranian military. Senate is voting today, it's going to be interesting. Rand Paul (almost certain) and Thom Tillis might brake with Republicans, perhaps a few more grow a spine as well, we'll see. On Democrats side, I know Fetterman is going to vote yes, can't say enough bad about that dude, other then that, I'm afraid that we might get a triumphant GH post because some of the "Israel first" dems might do the same. Hard to keep track of this, I’m quite time-limited and the likes of the BBC ticker aren’t covering every angle. So merci to yourself and other thread denizens! Especially with this conflict, which seems to me beyond difficult to follow. The messaging being incoherent nonsense doesn’t help. Seems you were pretty much on the money, resolution defeated with two crossing the aisle so to speak, Fetterman and Paul. I’m not massively familiar with Fetterman, I can easily assume they suck but I am somewhat curious. Things are so, so hyper-partisan right now that if I’m a self-serving Democrat, surely the play is just to stay with the caucus. If I’m a principled Dem, and my principles aren’t bomb Iran likewise. To deviate from that, you’re usually talking pork barrel stuff, or indeed legitimately representing constituent interests, but it’s difficult to conceive of some groundswell of political pressure in their state to bomb Iran in this manner. Which I guess leaves friend of Israel? I mean I could have just Googled em but figured may as well show my internal guesswork | ||
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KwarK
United States44353 Posts
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Jankisa
Croatia1757 Posts
On board with most of Trump agenda, including ICE (broke with Dems and voted for reopening government + recent DHS showdown as well), clapped for Trump during SOTU etc. I was thinking that Schumer might do something incredibly stupid with this vote since he recently stated that his top priority is making sure Israel gets all the support it needs, so far, he hasn't but you never know. | ||
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oBlade
United States6540 Posts
On March 05 2026 08:29 Gorsameth wrote: The Kurds invading Iran with the help of the US after they invaded Syria with the help of the US and were subsequently abandoned to Turkish reprisal. What could possibly go wrong. Watching the rerun of Osama Bin Ladens origin story this quickly after the last installment certainly was not on my bingo card. You think the next bin Laden is going to be Kurdish or Iranian? | ||
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Vivax
22415 Posts
On March 05 2026 18:57 oBlade wrote: You think the next bin Laden is going to be Kurdish or Iranian? Anything that billionaires dislike can be Bin Laden if they spend enough money on it. I‘ll think of this military op as ‚operation dessert shawarma‘, since one war wasn‘t enough. | ||
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JimmyJRaynor
Canada17895 Posts
www.youtube.com I disagree. No nuclear bomb has been dropped in 75 years. People were concerned about Trump 'having the nuclear codes' and yet nothing happened. Trump keeps getting into scrape after scrape and the crazy old man who constantly talks like a crazy man yet he has never used a nuclear bomb. In 1991, The Soviet Union collapsed and its sovereignty challenged in many places. Zero nuclear bombs dropped. Bush used the "WMD" threat along with the threat Iraq might be trying to obtain nukes for spending ~20 years in Iraq. "Iraq has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons", Bush October 7, 2002. 20 years later... no nuclear bombs dropped. Captain Obvious Prediction: The USA will continue to use over hyped threats about non existent nuclear bombs as excuses to do whatever it feels like doing. do nuclear bombs even exist? LOL. | ||
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WombaT
Northern Ireland27459 Posts
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misirlou
Portugal3316 Posts
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Jankisa
Croatia1757 Posts
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/trump-bought-netflix-bonds-amid-paramount-warners-fight-1236521512/ Which is funny, because before he made sure that Paramount got the deal, he was also buying their debt, after the deal went through with him very obviously having his tiny thumb on the scale he continued only buying Netflix. Coincidentally, Netflix debt is now highly rated, they got an almost $ 3 billion breakup fee while Paramout is most likely the smallest company with the largest amount of debt ever recorded, at $79 Billion, roughly 6 times more then the company is worth. In other, completely unrelated news it seems like there was a lot of money to be made off of betting on Iran getting bombed: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/prediction-markets-scrutinised-over-iran-bets-2026-03-02/ Thankfully Polymarket pulled the "let's predict the end of the world" bet, maybe because they were worried it might be bad for business if their board member decided to make a quick buck by talking his dad into dropping one to win a bet: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-03-04-2026/card/polymarket-removes-betting-market-on-nuclear-detonation-yL1mTyAiMKUvrBzznQPH | ||
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KwarK
United States44353 Posts
On March 05 2026 18:57 oBlade wrote: You think the next bin Laden is going to be Kurdish or Iranian? You think the last bin Laden was Afghan? | ||
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LightSpectra
United States3271 Posts
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Billyboy
2463 Posts
On March 05 2026 23:24 LightSpectra wrote: Maybe whoever signed the order to bomb Iran was using Trump's autopen, that's why no one in the government seems to know why we started a war or whether we're even at war at all? Really hard to say, what did the leader of the Department of War who is in all the meetings have to say? You know the guy with the extremist crusade tattoo's? Probably something defensive. And I'm sure they have a well thought out exit strategy given how well executed all the evacuations of their personnel in the middle east have been. | ||
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oBlade
United States6540 Posts
Where'd this one come from? Nobody's mentioned Afghans or Afghanistan for 5 pages. | ||
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