All Things Russia & Ukraine

[jhu72]

small-Trump-Putin-Pelosi.jpg (26.97 KiB) Viewed 1587 times

[old salt]

Trump's rebuilt our military, made us the world's largest energy producer & put us in a position to deal from strength.

Buffalo bagels. How long does it take to build military equipment? The bill he signed isn't even a year old. If you believe your view that our military was hollowed out-----that problem doesn't get fixed overnight. It will take time. So make your claims AFTER it's been fixed. Because remember----Trump diddled around for a full year and a half before increasing military spending. Odd, neither you nor FoxNation complained.

It's almost as if the military was just fine, and was in no particular hurry.
Full funding for spare parts & increased training & maint time, combined with reduced op tempo, shorter/fewer deployments & more training has an immediate get well impact. Going without a carrier group in the Persian Gulf was a reset pause that rippled throughout the fleet, combined with 2 years of no large scale overseas occupation forces.

And now that the money is allocated----it actually takes years to build all that military crap, does it not? So no, Trump hasn't even begun to rebuild our military. Rome wasn't built in day!

For afan -- here's the smart way to scold Putin. in chorus with our allies.
https://www.nato.int/cps/ra/natohq/topics_50090.htm
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opin ... a-and-nato
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/worl ... ussia.html
http://tass.com/defense/1043554

Nope. That's leading from behind, my friend. And we can't have that. Your biggest complaint of Obama, remember?
You don't want to own up that you're not judging Obama and Putin with the same microscope. I get it. I'm stubborn, too.
Leading from behind was Libya. We agreed with our NATO allies to go in, then stood by & watched while they ran out of smart bombs. We forced the Brits to deploy their Apaches from a container ship, while we kept our Cobras & Harriers on deck on our amphib carrier. Then left the French & Brit pilots strapped their in cockpits, while we backed down from our Syrian red line. Or failed to scramble our F-16's from Italy or kept a Marine FAST team on the runway in Spain, while our people were pinned down in Benghazi, after pulling out the national guard special forces who were begging to stay with our ambassador. Sending 100k troops to Afghanistan, while announcing their pre-election departure date, then firing our best General there, just as we were starting to win, because his staff made off the record jokes with a weasel embedded reporter. Selected targets from the WH & imposed ROE which tied battlefield commanders hands, instead of giving them the freedom necessary to win, in real time.

The fact of the matter is, you're realizing the Obama handled Putin just fine, and had no choice but to levy sanctions---otherwise, Putin gets the message that any non-NATO country in the Soviet shadow is fair game for annexation.
Obama wouldn't sell Ukraine weapons. Trump sold 'em anti-tank missiles (after changing his platform plank) & increased the size & lethality of our rotational forces in Poland.

That's okay, Trump has just been breathtakingly perfect in his dealings with Putin and the rest of our foreign policy. So all of Obama's mistakes have been fixed! ...re-enlistment rates for our units deploying to Poland increased.

[a fan]

Full funding for spare parts & increased training & maint time, combined with reduced op tempo, shorter/fewer deployments & more training has an immediate get well impact.

I don't doubt you. That doesn't nullify my point that Trump took 1 1/2 years to pass a military spending bill, making all those pesky "Obama problems" far worse.

...and you didn't muster a peep of complaint. Again, that's ok. I didn't expect you to.......

[old salt]

Full funding for spare parts & increased training & maint time, combined with reduced op tempo, shorter/fewer deployments & more training has an immediate get well impact.

I don't doubt you. That doesn't nullify my point that Trump took 1 1/2 years to pass a military spending bill, making all those pesky "Obama problems" far worse.

...and you didn't muster a peep of complaint. Again, that's ok. I didn't expect you to.......

Immediately cutting back on op tempo & deployments reduced the pressure & freed up more time & funding for maintenance & training.

Freeing up the ROE finished off ISIS in Syria & W Iraq faster.

What's to complain about ? Trump told us what he intended to do. He made good on what he pledged. Certainty in acquisition & overhaul scheduling returned

https://www.heritage.org/defense/commen ... -big-boost

Recent years have been unkind to our Armed Forces, as all four branches have experienced decline in multiple areas, For example, the Air Force is the smallest it has ever been and possesses the oldest planes since it was formed. At the same time, a rising China, an aggressive Russia, a terror-supporting Iran, and a nuclear-armed North Korea all present new and formidable threats to U.S. interests.

Thankfully, because of Trump’s early push to rebuild the military and his partnership with Congress in passing appropriations in 2017 and 2018, we now have some hopeful indications that the tide has begun to turn. For example, readiness among Army brigade combat teams has improved since 2017.

The newly passed 2019 defense appropriations bill is an important part of the road to recovery. There are many things to applaud in the bill.

First of all, it was signed before the beginning of the new fiscal year. This means that for the first time since 2010, the Pentagon will not have to deal with the negative effects of operating under a continuing resolution. This rare funding constancy at the start of the fiscal year will allow the services to actually use all 12 months of the year to train and rationally spend the money provided for their use.

The bill also provides military personnel with a well-deserved 2.6 percent pay raise. The raise will help to attract new recruits and retain current service members. This is especially critical in a day when fewer and fewer Americans are eligible to serve and the Army in particular is struggling to meet its recruitment goals.

In addition, the bill will fund the Pentagon to increase its forces by over 24,000. It will also begin the process to increasing the size of the Navy’s fleet, investing over $24 billion in the construction of new ships. It also funds 93 new F-35 combat aircraft—the most capable fighter in the world.

The bill also provides more funding for military hardware and research and development efforts that, if sustained, will be of great help to our military.

Notwithstanding these positives and the military’s recent modest gains in readiness, the United States cannot consider the rebuilding of our military completed.

It took years of over-use and budget cuts for our Armed Forces to deteriorate to the degree that they have. It will therefore take years to reverse the decline in readiness and restore our military to serve the nation’s needs, as our national leaders have described.

Rebuilding our military is not a one-year process, and it will require continued investment and care in the coming years. We cannot and should not consider the job done.

[Trinity]

In one move, Trump supports Mohammed Bonesaw and destroys adherence to the Magnitsky Act around the world. It’s now optional, prerogative of the dictator.

[dislaxxic]

ROGER STONE ADOPTS THE RUSSIAN TROLL EVIDENCE-PHISHING TECHNIQUE

..

[dislaxxic]

The Reason There was PLENTY of Collusion

"By September 25, 2015, Felix Sater and Michael Cohen already had a Moscow design study completed for a Trump Tower in Moscow. Days later, Andrey Rozov was promising to build Donald Trump the tallest tower in Europe. In October 2015, Felix Sater (whose actions in brokering this deal seemed designed to ensure that Trump’s willingness to work with Russian military intelligence and sanctioned banks would leave a digital paper trail) started pitching the centrality of Putin to the deal. On October 28, at a time when his presidential bid was meeting unexpected success, Trump signed a Letter of Intent on a deal that stood to make him a fantastic sum of $300 million."

"I have NO deals in RussSHA!"

Bullhockey. Elizabeth Warren may be right AGAIN...

..

[runrussellrun]

Does Warren own any other clothing other than a blue jacket and black tshirt?

[wahoomurf]

Does Warren own any other clothing other than a blue jacket and black tshirt?

Ever the fashionista, eh russell ?

[wahoomurf]

vetus salisTrump's rebuilt our military, made us the world's largest energy producer & put us in a position to deal from strength.

The U.S. has been the world's largest energy producer for 7 years.

[dislaxxic]

"Vast Russia Probe" focusing on money laundering...

Cause it didn't happen under Nunes even a LITTLE bit...

Junior explained previously that "plenty of money" was coming to the family from Russia, when no US bank would touch their syndicate.

Probe expected to last well into 2020. Trey Gowdy, Darrell Issa, Mitch McConnell...they taught us well...

..

[old salt]

Trump's Putin's puppet ? Maybe Frau Merkel is the colluder.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germ ... SKCN1Q509J

Merkel, who made a robust defense of Germany’s foreign trade relations and ties with Russia during her speech, said later it was unreasonable to assume that Russia would be an unreliable energy supplier.

During a question-and-answer session, she added that it would be wrong to exclude Russia politically, but Pence said Washington was “holding Russia accountable” for its 2014 seizure of Ukraine and what the West says are efforts to destabilize it through cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations.

“Geostrategically, Europe can’t have an interest in cutting off all relations with Russia,” Merkel said.

Why should we care more about Crimea than Germany & the EUroburghers do ?

[MDlaxfan76]

Trump's Putin's puppet ? Maybe Frau Merkel is the colluder.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germ ... SKCN1Q509J

Merkel, who made a robust defense of Germany’s foreign trade relations and ties with Russia during her speech, said later it was unreasonable to assume that Russia would be an unreliable energy supplier.

During a question-and-answer session, she added that it would be wrong to exclude Russia politically, but Pence said Washington was “holding Russia accountable” for its 2014 seizure of Ukraine and what the West says are efforts to destabilize it through cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations.

“Geostrategically, Europe can’t have an interest in cutting off all relations with Russia,” Merkel said.

Why should we care more about Crimea than Germany & the EUroburghers do ?

As you well know, Merkel and Germany have to consider economic ties to Russia, including significant energy dependence. The calculation is necessarily quite different.

Less obvious, perhaps, is that Germany would again be on the front lines of a kinetic conflict, if that occurs. They've been there.

But that doesn't mean that they actually "care" less about Crimea, cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations by the Russians, designed to undermine Western democracies.

Merkel says "cutting off all relations" not that they don't care, aren't worried, or even that they won't support sanctions.

[old salt]

Trump's Putin's puppet ? Maybe Frau Merkel is the colluder.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germ ... SKCN1Q509J

Merkel, who made a robust defense of Germany’s foreign trade relations and ties with Russia during her speech, said later it was unreasonable to assume that Russia would be an unreliable energy supplier.

During a question-and-answer session, she added that it would be wrong to exclude Russia politically, but Pence said Washington was “holding Russia accountable” for its 2014 seizure of Ukraine and what the West says are efforts to destabilize it through cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations.

“Geostrategically, Europe can’t have an interest in cutting off all relations with Russia,” Merkel said.

Why should we care more about Crimea than Germany & the EUroburghers do ?

As you well know, Merkel and Germany have to consider economic ties to Russia, including significant energy dependence. The calculation is necessarily quite different.

Less obvious, perhaps, is that Germany would again be on the front lines of a kinetic conflict, if that occurs. They've been there.

But that doesn't mean that they actually "care" less about Crimea, cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations by the Russians, designed to undermine Western democracies.

Merkel says "cutting off all relations" not that they don't care, aren't worried, or even that they won't support sanctions.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germ ... SKCN1P525D

WORLD NEWS, JANUARY 11, 2019 / 1:36 PM / A MONTH AGO

We'll help with Russia sanctions fall-out, German minister tells business

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will try to protect German and European companies from some potentially “massive collateral damage” if Washington levies further sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday.

Maas, speaking on Friday at a new year reception of the German Committee on East European Economic Relations, an industry group, said he expected the newly elected U.S. congress to move swiftly to bring new sanctions against Moscow.

“Our aim is to reach agreement (with the U.S. on sanctions) and protect German and European companies from the in some cases massive collateral damage,” he said.

He did not give further details but his remarks are likely to cheer German exporters hard hit by European Union and U.S. sanctions imposed after Moscow invaded and annexed parts of Ukraine in 2014.

Washington has led the way in demanding tougher measures against Moscow, while Germany, which has deep trade ties with Russia and depends on it for much of its imported gas, has been far more cautious.

“For us sanctions ... only make sense when, as with the EU’s sanctions, they are tied to clear, fulfillable conditions,” said Maas, in an apparent softening of his more hawkish tone on Russia when he took office last year. “Sadly, that is no longer the case for U.S. sanctions.”

Recall the recent domestic political uproar when the Trump admin weakened one sanction in the last round, at the behest of our NATO allies ?
It was used to hammer Trump as more proof of collusion & a quid pro quo.

[cradleandshoot]

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pr ... ORM=VDQVAP Always an oldie but a goodie. Maybe some of our FLP snowflakes here can catch us all up to speed about what it means to have more flexibility when negotiating with the rooskies. If we believe our FLP friends here it can only mean that in a yoga contest that BHO was more limber and flexible than Mr Putin... I vill transmit this information to Mr Putin. Mr Putin would like to see you in a blue dress vith some French perfume and ve can then talk about your flexibility.

[MDlaxfan76]

Trump's Putin's puppet ? Maybe Frau Merkel is the colluder.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germ ... SKCN1Q509J

Merkel, who made a robust defense of Germany’s foreign trade relations and ties with Russia during her speech, said later it was unreasonable to assume that Russia would be an unreliable energy supplier.

During a question-and-answer session, she added that it would be wrong to exclude Russia politically, but Pence said Washington was “holding Russia accountable” for its 2014 seizure of Ukraine and what the West says are efforts to destabilize it through cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations.

“Geostrategically, Europe can’t have an interest in cutting off all relations with Russia,” Merkel said.

Why should we care more about Crimea than Germany & the EUroburghers do ?

As you well know, Merkel and Germany have to consider economic ties to Russia, including significant energy dependence. The calculation is necessarily quite different.

Less obvious, perhaps, is that Germany would again be on the front lines of a kinetic conflict, if that occurs. They've been there.

But that doesn't mean that they actually "care" less about Crimea, cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations by the Russians, designed to undermine Western democracies.

Merkel says "cutting off all relations" not that they don't care, aren't worried, or even that they won't support sanctions.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germ ... SKCN1P525D

WORLD NEWS, JANUARY 11, 2019 / 1:36 PM / A MONTH AGO

We'll help with Russia sanctions fall-out, German minister tells business

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will try to protect German and European companies from some potentially “massive collateral damage” if Washington levies further sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday.

Maas, speaking on Friday at a new year reception of the German Committee on East European Economic Relations, an industry group, said he expected the newly elected U.S. congress to move swiftly to bring new sanctions against Moscow.

“Our aim is to reach agreement (with the U.S. on sanctions) and protect German and European companies from the in some cases massive collateral damage,” he said.

He did not give further details but his remarks are likely to cheer German exporters hard hit by European Union and U.S. sanctions imposed after Moscow invaded and annexed parts of Ukraine in 2014.

Washington has led the way in demanding tougher measures against Moscow, while Germany, which has deep trade ties with Russia and depends on it for much of its imported gas, has been far more cautious.

“For us sanctions ... only make sense when, as with the EU’s sanctions, they are tied to clear, fulfillable conditions,” said Maas, in an apparent softening of his more hawkish tone on Russia when he took office last year. “Sadly, that is no longer the case for U.S. sanctions.”

Recall the recent domestic political uproar when the Trump admin weakened one sanction in the last round, at the behest of our NATO allies ?
It was used to hammer Trump as more proof of collusion & a quid pro quo.

You seemed to be actually asking the question. Sorry if you don't like the answer that the US is in a very different position than Germany.

The firestorm was about who specifically had his sanctions relieved and you know it. Add to that that Admin was caught lying about it, and yup, firestorm.

[Typical Lax Dad]

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=pr ... ORM=VDQVAP Always an oldie but a goodie. Maybe some of our FLP snowflakes here can catch us all up to speed about what it means to have more flexibility when negotiating with the rooskies. If we believe our FLP friends here it can only mean that in a yoga contest that BHO was more limber and flexible than Mr Putin... I vill transmit this information to Mr Putin. Mr Putin would like to see you in a blue dress vith some French perfume and ve can then talk about your flexibility.

Here we go again.

[old salt]

Trump's Putin's puppet ? Maybe Frau Merkel is the colluder.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germ ... SKCN1Q509J

Merkel, who made a robust defense of Germany’s foreign trade relations and ties with Russia during her speech, said later it was unreasonable to assume that Russia would be an unreliable energy supplier.

During a question-and-answer session, she added that it would be wrong to exclude Russia politically, but Pence said Washington was “holding Russia accountable” for its 2014 seizure of Ukraine and what the West says are efforts to destabilize it through cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations.

“Geostrategically, Europe can’t have an interest in cutting off all relations with Russia,” Merkel said.

Why should we care more about Crimea than Germany & the EUroburghers do ?

As you well know, Merkel and Germany have to consider economic ties to Russia, including significant energy dependence. The calculation is necessarily quite different.

Less obvious, perhaps, is that Germany would again be on the front lines of a kinetic conflict, if that occurs. They've been there.

But that doesn't mean that they actually "care" less about Crimea, cyber attacks, disinformation and covert operations by the Russians, designed to undermine Western democracies.

Merkel says "cutting off all relations" not that they don't care, aren't worried, or even that they won't support sanctions.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germ ... SKCN1P525D

WORLD NEWS, JANUARY 11, 2019 / 1:36 PM / A MONTH AGO

We'll help with Russia sanctions fall-out, German minister tells business

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will try to protect German and European companies from some potentially “massive collateral damage” if Washington levies further sanctions against Russia, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday.

Maas, speaking on Friday at a new year reception of the German Committee on East European Economic Relations, an industry group, said he expected the newly elected U.S. congress to move swiftly to bring new sanctions against Moscow.

“Our aim is to reach agreement (with the U.S. on sanctions) and protect German and European companies from the in some cases massive collateral damage,” he said.

He did not give further details but his remarks are likely to cheer German exporters hard hit by European Union and U.S. sanctions imposed after Moscow invaded and annexed parts of Ukraine in 2014.

Washington has led the way in demanding tougher measures against Moscow, while Germany, which has deep trade ties with Russia and depends on it for much of its imported gas, has been far more cautious.

“For us sanctions ... only make sense when, as with the EU’s sanctions, they are tied to clear, fulfillable conditions,” said Maas, in an apparent softening of his more hawkish tone on Russia when he took office last year. “Sadly, that is no longer the case for U.S. sanctions.”

Recall the recent domestic political uproar when the Trump admin weakened one sanction in the last round, at the behest of our NATO allies ?
It was used to hammer Trump as more proof of collusion & a quid pro quo.

You seemed to be actually asking the question. Sorry if you don't like the answer that the US is in a very different position than Germany.
Sorry you're dodging the question, Your TDS blinds you to the reality that we are respecting the requests of our allies when it comes to sanctions on Russia. ...because we are in a different position than Germany, but they are our ally.

The firestorm was about who specifically had his sanctions relieved and you know it. Add to that that Admin was caught lying about it, and yup, firestorm.
The sanctions relieved were the specific ones our EU allies requested. 5 EU ally ambassadors, to be specific. They weren't lying about it. They said why they were relieving the sanctions.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... aska-firms
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-dipl ... ian-firms/

[dislaxxic]

DAN COATS STILL REFUSING TO PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE THAT RUSSIA DIDN’T AFFECT THE ELECTION

Tell you WHAT! Sounds like ALL these lyin, traitorous Deep state types need a trip out to the woodshed...or worse. Why cain't they just do a straight up good job for the USofA??

..

[youthathletics]

Be sure to include McCabe in those that get some wood shampoo.