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[US Foreign Policy] Peace For Sale

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    BlackDragon480BlackDragon480 Bluster Kerfuffle Master of Windy ImportRegistered User regular
    KetBra wrote: »
    Honk wrote: »
    Where would you test a nuke nowadays? Probably a domestic desert I guess. So Trump really wants to use a nuke and in the end the country he’ll nuke is the USA?

    You could always find a Pacific island to render uninhabitable, that's always been the fallback

    Hawaii's been annoying the Republican party recently.

    Knowing this group they'd pick one of the islands that Japan owns the majority of and cause as huge an international incident as possible.

    No matter where you go...there you are.
    ~ Buckaroo Banzai
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    Metzger MeisterMetzger Meister It Gets Worse before it gets any better.Registered User regular
    He'll pick Utah.

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    NobeardNobeard North Carolina: Failed StateRegistered User regular
    He'll pick Utah.

    Why Utah?

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    KrieghundKrieghund Registered User regular
    Romney is from there.

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    VeeveeVeevee WisconsinRegistered User regular
    I will admit that I would really like to see an above ground nuke with modern video recording and scientific equipment. The spectacle would be amazing. I do find a dread sense of beauty within that mushroom cloud.

    That does not overcome the need to not do this.

    Donny just wants to get his boom boom on, probably for a political ad

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    CaptainPeacockCaptainPeacock Board Game Hoarder Top o' the LakeRegistered User regular
    Dont worry. Vault-Tec Corp has you covered.

    Cluck cluck, gibber gibber, my old man's a mushroom, etc.
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    HevachHevach Registered User regular
    edited May 2020
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-moves-to-strip-hong-kong-of-special-us-relationship/ar-BB14Mjqr

    I was back and forth on what thread for this, decided on this one because it's only COVID adjacent and not related.

    There's more to Trump's divorce from the WHO. To further punish China for the pandemic, the US will be ending its special separate arrangement with Hong Kong.


    Now, adults in the room have already reported to Congress and Trump that Hong Kong's autonomy is already effectively over and it's likely that Beijing would be able to exploit the territory's special arrangement with the US and others, so this is probably the right move, but it's still a sad ending and the US's half hearted thoughts and prayers reaction bodes worryingly for what might follow in India.

    Hevach on
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    GaddezGaddez Registered User regular
    Dont worry. Vault-Tec Corp has you covered.

    Congratulations, you've been selected for VAULT 163, which comes fully stocked with all you'll need to survive, and perpetually playing trump speeches at 105 decibels for all eternity!

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    Commander ZoomCommander Zoom Registered User regular
    Gaddez wrote: »
    Dont worry. Vault-Tec Corp has you covered.

    Congratulations, you've been selected for VAULT 163, which comes fully stocked with all you'll need to survive, and perpetually playing trump speeches at 105 decibels for all eternity!

    Yeah, I'll stand out on my lawn and wait for the bomb, thanks.

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    HonkHonk Honk is this poster. Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
    Hevach wrote: »
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-moves-to-strip-hong-kong-of-special-us-relationship/ar-BB14Mjqr

    I was back and forth on what thread for this, decided on this one because it's only COVID adjacent and not related.

    There's more to Trump's divorce from the WHO. To further punish China for the pandemic, the US will be ending its special separate arrangement with Hong Kong.


    Now, adults in the room have already reported to Congress and Trump that Hong Kong's autonomy is already effectively over and it's likely that Beijing would be able to exploit the territory's special arrangement with the US and others, so this is probably the right move, but it's still a sad ending and the US's half hearted thoughts and prayers reaction bodes worryingly for what might follow in India.

    Isn’t this pretty much rewarding China instead?

    Unless I misunderstand the sentiment of ending the special arrangement reads like saying there’s nothing special about Hong Kong. Isn’t this currently exactly in line with China’s goals?

    PSN: Honkalot
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    HevachHevach Registered User regular
    edited May 2020
    Honk wrote: »
    Hevach wrote: »
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-moves-to-strip-hong-kong-of-special-us-relationship/ar-BB14Mjqr

    I was back and forth on what thread for this, decided on this one because it's only COVID adjacent and not related.

    There's more to Trump's divorce from the WHO. To further punish China for the pandemic, the US will be ending its special separate arrangement with Hong Kong.


    Now, adults in the room have already reported to Congress and Trump that Hong Kong's autonomy is already effectively over and it's likely that Beijing would be able to exploit the territory's special arrangement with the US and others, so this is probably the right move, but it's still a sad ending and the US's half hearted thoughts and prayers reaction bodes worryingly for what might follow in India.

    Isn’t this pretty much rewarding China instead?

    Unless I misunderstand the sentiment of ending the special arrangement reads like saying there’s nothing special about Hong Kong. Isn’t this currently exactly in line with China’s goals?

    I mean... Yeah, it is. At least, any point in the past, it would be 100% rewarding China. Now, it's... less clear. China's now got a stranglehold on Hong Kong's government (replaced elected leaders who were actually willing to pay lip service to compromise with flunkies who have passed China's desired measures without debate or comment) and police (reports from the protests suggest the police have been largely replaced by or subsumed into mainland state forces), the worry is that the special arrangement with Hong Kong becomes a cheat code for Beijing.

    We're absolutely abandoning the people of Hong Kong, but the special arrangements weren't with the people but the government that is now (or inevitably soon will be) a full puppet of the mainland.

    Hevach on
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    thatassemblyguythatassemblyguy Janitor of Technical Debt .Registered User regular
    It’s worth mentioning that also in that same speech, President Donald stated he was going to “cut ties” with the World Health Organization.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/29/trump-says-the-us-will-cut-ties-with-world-health-organization.html

    It’s unclear to me if this is something the President can unilaterally do however since the money is appropriated by Congress.

    If allowed, this continues the erosion and bankruptcy of American global power and influence.

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    HevachHevach Registered User regular
    edited May 2020
    It’s worth mentioning that also in that same speech, President Donald stated he was going to “cut ties” with the World Health Organization.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/29/trump-says-the-us-will-cut-ties-with-world-health-organization.html

    It’s unclear to me if this is something the President can unilaterally do however since the money is appropriated by Congress.

    If allowed, this continues the erosion and bankruptcy of American global power and influence.

    Our recognition of Hong Kong is also codified in law by an act of congress from the 90's. It's even less likely that he can unilaterally cut that cord than the WHO cord, though if the IC and State are correct that HK has become an effective end run for the mainland it's likely Congress will follow suit on that one. That won't happen with the WHO as long as Snorlax is sleeping on route 15 Mitch McConnel's ass is occupying his seat.

    This basically leaves China the main funder of the WHO and magnifies their already disproportionate influence there. So, yeah, Trump sure showed THEM, eh?

    Hevach on
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    honoverehonovere Registered User regular
    Merkel doesn't think holding in person meetings in the US right now is a good idea

    https://m.dw.com/en/angela-merkel-rejects-trumps-g7-summit-invite-report/a-53625373

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    MorganVMorganV Registered User regular
    Hevach wrote: »
    It’s worth mentioning that also in that same speech, President Donald stated he was going to “cut ties” with the World Health Organization.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/29/trump-says-the-us-will-cut-ties-with-world-health-organization.html

    It’s unclear to me if this is something the President can unilaterally do however since the money is appropriated by Congress.

    If allowed, this continues the erosion and bankruptcy of American global power and influence.

    Our recognition of Hong Kong is also codified in law by an act of congress from the 90's. It's even less likely that he can unilaterally cut that cord than the WHO cord, though if the IC and State are correct that HK has become an effective end run for the mainland it's likely Congress will follow suit on that one. That won't happen with the WHO as long as Snorlax is sleeping on route 15 Mitch McConnel's ass is occupying his seat.

    This basically leaves China the main funder of the WHO and magnifies their already disproportionate influence there. So, yeah, Trump sure showed THEM, eh?

    Trump doesn't understand, despite it JUST HAVING HAPPENED AND IS STILL HAPPENING, that pandemic prevention/mitigation/response is a GLOBAL priority.

    Viruses don't stop at borders, unless you're going to lock down borders immediately and completely. Trump did neither (waited despite his claims of being first, and still let people through after, 40K from China alone),

    I know his absolute idiocy shouldn't surprise me, but it does.

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    ProhassProhass Registered User regular
    edited May 2020
    As Ben Rhodes said on pod save the world, when he was talking about pulling out of arms treaties and agreements, Just pulling out doesn’t solve the problem. If your issue is that the WHO is too influenced by China, and doesn’t do what you want, congrats completely pulling out garauntees that will be the case moving forward.

    It would be different if the US did this in conjunction with a large group of allies In a coordinated effort to make another international organisation, essentially to make another WHO led by the US, but there isn’t even that.

    There is no plan, just withdraw from everything then bitch about not having a seat at the table you withdrew from.

    Prohass on
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    Commander ZoomCommander Zoom Registered User regular
    Prohass wrote: »
    There is no plan, just withdraw from everything then bitch about not having a seat at the table you withdrew from.

    See also: Brexit.

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    HevachHevach Registered User regular
    edited May 2020
    Prohass wrote: »
    As Ben Rhodes said on pod save the world, when he was talking about pulling out of arms treaties and agreements, Just pulling out doesn’t solve the problem. If your issue is that the WHO is too influenced by China, and doesn’t do what you want, congrats completely pulling out garauntees that will be the case moving forward.

    It would be different if the US did this in conjunction with a large group of allies In a coordinated effort to make another international organisation, essentially to make another WHO led by the US, but there isn’t even that.

    There is no plan, just withdraw from everything then bitch about not having a seat at the table you withdrew from.

    History never does anything new: Russia learned this lesson after WWII. The allies gave China's seat on the Security Council to the ROC government in exile instead of the PRC. The USSR and it's puppets boycotted the UN in retaliation. The UN was effectively an extension of US global interest at that point, with it's global allies occupying the entire SC and especially the permanent seats.

    Russia ceded full control of the UN to the US in protest of China losing its seat, when in reality they could have stopped the Korean War commanded the flow of history just by occupying the seat and exercising their veto power on everything.

    We are protesting China's influence by withdrawing the only viable opposition and letting them run unchecked.

    Hevach on
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    AngelHedgieAngelHedgie Registered User regular
    In response to the US condemning their actions in Hong Kong, the CCP takes a page out of the USSR manual:



    The author is a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry.

    XBL: Nox Aeternum / PSN: NoxAeternum / NN:NoxAeternum / Steam: noxaeternum
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    ForarForar #432 Toronto, Ontario, CanadaRegistered User regular
    "The USSR manual"? Or just... edgelords and trolls shitposting on Reddit/Twitter?

    (Is joke, no need to go eight layers deep on why X document on counter-intel ops utilize civil instability as a cudgel for psych op blah blah blah)

    First they came for the Muslims, and we said NOT TODAY, MOTHERFUCKER!
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    AngelHedgieAngelHedgie Registered User regular
    Forar wrote: »
    "The USSR manual"? Or just... edgelords and trolls shitposting on Reddit/Twitter?

    (Is joke, no need to go eight layers deep on why X document on counter-intel ops utilize civil instability as a cudgel for psych op blah blah blah)

    No documents - one of the routine responses of the USSR in the 60s to US condemnation was to point out that the US routinely lynched black people. This is the modern incarnation of that.

    XBL: Nox Aeternum / PSN: NoxAeternum / NN:NoxAeternum / Steam: noxaeternum
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    Commander ZoomCommander Zoom Registered User regular
    edited June 2020
    Roughly:
    "Yes, 'leader of the free world', 'shining city on a hill' - shall we ask your black people what they think of those lofty words?"

    tl;dr
    "no u"

    Commander Zoom on
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    HevachHevach Registered User regular
    edited June 2020
    The US does the same thing, but for the domestic audience. "Don't look at us, look over there, look how bad they are."

    Gotta say, this particular instance of it is trolling gold. Probably more persuasive than any argument the US or USSR ever tried, and so simply delivered.

    Hevach on
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    MayabirdMayabird Pecking at the keyboardRegistered User regular
    Any other countries/major international figures condemning the police violence in the US, or is everybody staying quiet so they don't get in trouble with the fascist apartheid state and can keep making money for their wealthy rulers?

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    SolarSolar Registered User regular
    Everyone does it

    the Iranian foreign ministry was saying "I can't breath" like fuck off you cunts you do this all the time as well, how many people have died in your police cells for being gay, or being a Kurd, or daring to criticise the clerics?

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    DiannaoChongDiannaoChong Registered User regular
    a
    Mayabird wrote: »
    Any other countries/major international figures condemning the police violence in the US, or is everybody staying quiet so they don't get in trouble with the fascist apartheid state and can keep making money for their wealthy rulers?

    Germany, the UK,(a lot of europe), Brazil and Canada all had protests over the weekend (mostly at US embassys) to stand in solidarity with those in the US protesting.

    https://abcnews.go.com/International/george-floyd-protests-international-demonstrations-break-world/story?id=70991689

    Iran and China criticized us too, but, well, we've discussed those tactics.

    steam_sig.png
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    honoverehonovere Registered User regular
    Was coming into the thread to post about Trump ordering troops to get out of Germany. Seems kinda unimportant compared to that shitfuckery now.

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    A Dabble Of TheloniusA Dabble Of Thelonius It has been a doozy of a dayRegistered User regular
    Just really hammering home that we're the bad guys.



    Happening today: President @realDonaldTrump is signing an executive order to "authorize economic sanctions on employees of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for pursuing investigations into U.S. military and intelligence personnel at Russia’s behest." https://t.co/qTKEBMjMll

    This is in response to the ICC investigating U# military war crimes in Afghanistan.

    vm8gvf5p7gqi.jpg
    Steam - Talon Valdez :Blizz - Talonious#1860 : Xbox Live & LoL - Talonious Monk @TaloniousMonk Hail Satan
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    Captain InertiaCaptain Inertia Registered User regular
    edited June 2020
    So Russia asked the ICC to investigate the US or the US is targeting employees of the ICC at Russia’s behest?

    Captain Inertia on
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    DocDoc Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited June 2020
    So Russia asked the ICC to investigate the US or the US is targeting employees of the ICC at Russia’s behest?

    The first one. That's the accusation, anyway.

    Doc on
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    FiendishrabbitFiendishrabbit Registered User regular
    That tweet doesn't even reveal the full extent of US attempts to strongarm the ICC.
    The economic sanctions extend to:
    a. All members of the ICC.
    b. All their family members.
    c. Anyone who cooperates with the ICC for the purpose of investigating, arresting or detaining US citizens.

    Given that the US are not a member of the treaty that ratifies the creation of the ICC I could see "Anyone who arrests or detains a US citizen on behalf of the ICC ends up under economic sanctions" being kinda politicly warranted, but economic sanctions just for cooperating with an ICC investigation? "Are we the baddies" indeed.
    The ICC is just as much a truth commission as a warcrimes court.

    "The western world sips from a poisonous cocktail: Polarisation, populism, protectionism and post-truth"
    -Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden
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    HefflingHeffling No Pic EverRegistered User regular
    So Russia asked the ICC to investigate the US or the US is targeting employees of the ICC at Russia’s behest?

    Probably both.

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    GaddezGaddez Registered User regular
    I will never cease to be amazed at how completely trump has rolled over for putin.

    Like you can spin the wheel for the reason why (hero worship, a pee tape, buisness plans etc, etc,etc), but the slavish devotion he has to him is nothing short of stunning.

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    Captain InertiaCaptain Inertia Registered User regular
    edited June 2020
    This is trump pushing back against Putin urging investigation of the US though

    A lovers quarrel that will destroy completely uninvolved people’s lives

    Captain Inertia on
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    PhillisherePhillishere Registered User regular
    This is trump pushing back against Putin urging investigation of the US though

    A lovers quarrel that will destroy completely uninvolved people’s lives

    Trump is too stupid to realize he’s a weapon and not an ally. I also suspect Putin is starting to realize that his big plan to make America more like Russia is starting to backfire badly.

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    MorganVMorganV Registered User regular
    This is trump pushing back against Putin urging investigation of the US though

    A lovers quarrel that will destroy completely uninvolved people’s lives

    But is it Trump pushing back against Putin?

    Seems like it's more Trump pushing back against a third party, with no consequence for Putin, a third part that I would feel pretty confident in assuming Putin hates.

    I mean, where's the consequence for Putin? ICC gets undermined? Bonus for Putin. Trump gets into a shitfight with ICC? Bonus for Putin. ICC goes full investigation, undermining the Trump Presidency? Bonus for Putin.

    It's a Xanatos Gambit, made possible because Trump is a reactionary moron.

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    GaddezGaddez Registered User regular
    This is trump pushing back against Putin urging investigation of the US though

    A lovers quarrel that will destroy completely uninvolved people’s lives

    Trump is too stupid to realize he’s a weapon and not an ally. I also suspect Putin is starting to realize that his big plan to make America more like Russia is starting to backfire badly.

    There was litterally no losing for putin with trump, just a question of how much he was going to win.

    Which as it turns out has been quite a lot; America's standing with most of it's allies is fucked, the economy is borked, no one is in a position to stop russia from doing whatever it wants with it's neighbors, Russia got a pile of free supplies for Covid... This is like cashing out in vegas 150 k ahead of where you were.

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    OrcaOrca Also known as Espressosaurus WrexRegistered User regular
    Hell, Trump has basically fucked NATO.

    For that alone, Trump has succeeded beyond Putin's wildest imaginings I bet.

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    GaddezGaddez Registered User regular
    Orca wrote: »
    Hell, Trump has basically fucked NATO.

    For that alone, Trump has succeeded beyond Putin's wildest imaginings I bet.

    Nato, WHO, countless trade deals... Really it'd be easier to talk about all the people trump hasn't given the shaft to on the international level.

This discussion has been closed.