Are We Witnessing the Start of WWIII

[quote]And all this is happening as we elect Trump and his clown car of cabinet picks who will have their hands on the future of this conflict, not to mention nuclear codes.

The head clown is Joe Biden granting Ukraine permission to use NATO-supplied rockets to attack military targets within Russia

They started it.

Ukraine didn’t start this war.

And the US sure as hell didn’t either.

Ukraine and the US are allowed to defend themselves. Get over it.

Here we go blaming Americans for everything.

Maybe Russia shouldn't be invading other countries, dumbass OP?

It started on 9/11/2001.

Good. I hope Moscow and St. Petersburg get Dresden-bombed.

If I had a god damned dime for every time some asshole has come on here in the last 18 months and predicted the start of WWIII, I'd be a wealthy man.

Give it up, doomsayers. Your bloodlust is getting the better of you.

[quote]Joe Biden granting Ukraine permission to use NATO-supplied rockets to attack military targets within Russia is an escalation of a European conflict now past its 1,000th day

Ukraine should de-escalate by just letting Russia bomb the shit out of them.

I'm morbidly excited to read future history books. Will they call the last 20 years the "Post Terror Wars" or maybe the "Great Fracturing" or perhaps "The Simmering Pot Years"? I'm not very good at naming.

It’s hard to be too reassured when people say, “calm down, WWWIII probably won’t happen.”

Stealth Trumptard thread

R11, but of course. They love Russia so much the MAGAts should move there. Our white trash would fit right in with Russian white trash.

[quote]Are We Witnessing the Start of WWIII

No.

The thing that moved the dial for me into thinking maybe Biden and Zelensky are not acting as they should was their decision to blow up Nordstream 2. That was German infrastructure! Germany has been a key ally for Ukraine and gifted them huge amounts of military and financial aid. Ukraine then blows up their gas pipeline because it ships Russian gas and Ukraine wants to cut off gas profits to Putin. But the attack caused an energy price crisis in Germany and beyond that has destabilised the country and pushed more voters towards the far right. It's just outrageous that Biden would sanction it or that Zelensky would show such arrogance towards a major ally. So no wonder Scholtz speaks with Putin on the phone - what the fuck did Ukraine think Germany would do? Laugh and tell him sure, have some more billions of euros, our citizens don't mind freezing this winter.

^ word salad.

All developed countries are now locked into cycles of debt financing that can only end in war. It's not that food will run out, but that capitalists are more than willing to burn the oranges Steinbeck-style if they can't continually profit from them. Financialization and globalization have destroyed all platonic love man that had for his fellow man. War is just pure competition, and competition is apparently life.

R14, again: Russia has no business in Ukraine.

Biden authorizing use of American weaponry against Russia is the only course of action after the election. Trump is going to let Putin do "whatever the hell he wants" in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and eventually, right into Europe. Putin wants to rule the world and is willing to do whatever it takes. He'll militarily attack his neighbors, he'll use psychological warfare against us, or financial war against even his allies. Unless we want to see WWIII, we must stop Putin... and we're down to about 60 days to get the job done or it's game over for freedom, democracy, or any form of self rule.

Are we witnessing the start of WWIII? No, I think we're about to see it [italic]end[/italic] without realizing it was going on. We've been too occupied fighting over masks, vaccinations, inflation and everything else the oligarchs have ginned up over the last 20 years.

Bread and circus.

If we are, it started with Putin’s invasion, not with Biden’s “escalation.”

Biden should've let Ukraine use NATO-supplied rockets from the get-go.

Biden is trying allow Ukraine to do as much damage as possible before Trump pulls back all funding. Bomb the fuck our of Russia!

If and when Trump pulls all of the US-backed funding and weaponry, what's to stop the European countries from ponying up most of the balance? The war is much closer to their doorsteps.

I'm just trying to think of ways in which Ukraine can continue to defend itself, without US backing.

R22, exactly. The EU needs to do their part now seeing as how we are going to be compromised.

They have MUCH more to lose from a strong-arming, emboldened Russia.

I keep reading on other threads, sites, etc, that this is all leading to all-out war with Iran.

Can someone here either validate that fear or tell me to STFU?

It can all go away Putin just pulls his troops out of the country he invaded. If he leaves Ukraine right now, then this is over. Putin just has to get his rapist troops and take them home and have them not invade any other countries.

Weird how Putin won't do this. Just so weird.

[Quote] the West is effectively now at war with Putin’s forces

That’s nonsense. That’s like saying that the US and Soviet Union were ever at war in Vietnam.

[quote]Can someone here either validate that fear or tell me to STFU?

I have no information to validate or invalidate, but I am more than happy to tell you to STFU.

[Quote] It can all go away Putin just pulls his troops out of the country he invaded

He’s not going to need to do that. Trump is going to pressure Ukraine to cede the conquered areas of Ukraine in exchange for “peace.”

In part this is a function of the arguably anachronistic overly idealistic system of the transfer of power in US Presidential election not happening for over 70 days.

It’s neither anachronistic nor “idealistic.” The president will have a new cabinet when entering office. He or she needs time to form a cabinet.

r30 Well other democracies manage a much shorter transition very effectively.

I hate the phrase THE WEST, that means the US, how about we pull up and leave the most perfect placd on earth, beautiful Europe! Let Putin have it, he already has Britain, half the UK budget is from the Russians. The UK is failing and needs the money, they will collapse completely if the Russians go.

[Quote] [R30] Well other democracies manage a much shorter transition very effectively.

Which other ones with governmental structure like the USA are you referring to?

2 Ws, R10, not 3.

Joe Biden? Or President Joe Biden?

Before this conversation continues why do you think North Korean troops are at the front line in Russia

r33 Erm thats my point that there is a serious design flaw in your structures with regards to this.Just as other democracys have their specific design flaw.

Genocide Joe is trying to start WW3 to make our President look bad.

But even global thermo nuclear war would fail in making this look worse.

HOLD ME DAVID: I'M SCARED!

I could see Russia firing a few Non-Nuke Missiles into California. U.S. won’t respond-Trump will be ok with it and say ‘’Biden shouldn’t have given Ukraine permission to fire inside Russia so we’re even’’

Well I guess California would secede? If there is no United States, which is what no US response would mean, then what's to stop the dissolution of the union?

The good news is that the Scandinavians and Germans will never stand for Russians taking shit over.

Oh, and the Polish hate Russians.

WW3? Russia is a failed third-world nation, with an economy in shambles. The only winners are the oligarchs, with head oligarch Putin.

WW3--Russia? Oh, my sides! Not to mention any nuclear escalation or attack on Russia's part would be an end to Russia and Russians.

Oh no! I'm so scared of Russia

You mean WW4-We lost WW3 last week.

Their nukes may not even be operational anymore but who’s going to chance it?

[Quote] [R33] Erm thats my point that there is a serious design flaw in your structures with regards to this.Just as other democracys have their specific design flaw.

So wait, are you now claiming your argument was that the separate executive branch is a flaw? Because you said no such thing:

[Quote] In part this is a function of the arguably anachronistic overly idealistic system of the transfer of power in US Presidential election not happening for over 70 days.

I love the BLOCK option, r47. You should try it.

I would like to see whatever difference Biden can make in favor of Ukraine happen. He shoud explore executive privilege and the newly minted SCOTUS presidential immunity privilege. If Biden were a Repug prez he would.

R48, I really only use it for the Defacto troll and his many sock puppets and blackface cosplays.

I feel like WW3 is never happening

Sorry, R51.

If Putin/Russia are so tough and scary then why is the war in the Ukraine approaching its 2nd anniversary?

Russia is a joke.

China has all the real global power.

If Moscow fires a missile on London, WW3 will begin as the US will support the UK.

Third anniversary, R53 (February 24, 2022). Anyway, your point stands.

r47 I'm claiming the 70 day plus delay between election and taking office is unnecessary and a design flaw. It was drawn up in a different era and now ill serves the country. Its not beyond the wit of man to draw up an alternative system and timetable for both cabinet appointments ,confirmation hearings and the shortening of time between election and taking office. For instance the presidential candidate could submit their cabinet and appointments list before the election rather than such a protracted process after the election.

Many well functioning democracies with a variety of constitutions manage very well without the necessity of such a big delay.

I want WW3 to start so we can stop getting threads about “This could be the start of world war 3!!”

R53, Russia is now China's bottom-bitch.

The Russia-China connection has always been with Russia being the Alpha, China being the Beta.

That has changed now.

Just wait until Daddy Trump gets in office; he is dead set on Iran's "annihilation".

Will OP be worried about that causing WWII or will she cheer it on?

[Quote] Many well functioning democracies with a variety of constitutions manage very well without the necessity of such a big delay.

The 70 day delay is not a structural issue, it’s more admin/procedural. Your argument is all over the road, but ok now you’re back to a procedural complaint, so … fine.

Please give me an example of a functioning democracy with a separate strong executive branch that has presidential elections and the elected president takes power immediately and smoothly. Because you’ve said they’re out there, chugging along nicely.

Or will you change your argument a third time?

r60 I haven't changed my argument. I am criticising from two angles that are not mutually exclusive. If a person's criticises another person they are not constrained to only criticising them on one front. That is an artifical condition you are putting down . My arguments sit alongside each other and are not contradictory so I am adding to my argument not changing my argument by ditching one point to replace it with any. No democratic system is perfect and I think the big wait between election time and fully forming a new administration is a fair criticism of the US system.

[quote]Please give me an example of a functioning democracy with a separate strong executive branch that has presidential elections and the elected president takes power immediately and smoothly. Because you’ve said they’re out there, chugging along nicely.

Many countries, particularly across Europe, rather than having a two-party system, can have as many as 20 parties to choose from, and it's impossible for any one party to gain a majority. So, it can take many months for a coalition to be formed--sometimes it takes as long as a year for a new government to assume office. Two-party systems are *not* the norm worldwide.

Yes you have changed your argument.

First you said that the 70 day period was too long a transition period, and other democracies make the transition more quickly with no problems.

When I asked you what other democracies with the same structure do so, you weren’t able to think of any, so claimed the structure was what you were criticizing all along.

When I pointed out that you made no mention of the structure, but only the length of the transition, we landed back here.

So let me ask you, again, what other country with a similar governmental structure has an immediate and smooth transition of power? No word salad this time, just a straight answer.

R62 you realize those are parliamentary democracies by land large, correct?

R59, that’s ridiculous. Trump had the opportunity to attack Iran in his first term, he made a big show to tearing up the nuclear agreement with them, but he didn’t do anything else. Besides, he would never act against Russia and Russia needs Iranian weapons.

While many democracies swap in new leaders in a sprint, the U.S. ambles along with a transition period of 11 weeks.

But slow as that might seem, it’s shorter than the four months the Constitution originally left for the handoff of power from an incumbent to a new president.

Picking up the pace The original November-March period between presidents was designed in the 18th century, when moving information and people around the country was a slow process. Unlike in many parliamentary democracies where cabinet members are often drawn from parliament, whose members live and work in the capital, political talent in the U.S. is spread across a vast country.

The difficulties the United States felt during the Great Depression helped convince leaders to swear in any newly elected president more quickly, shortening the original four-month “lame duck” period to less than three months. (The term “lame duck” refers to an elected official whose successor has already been elected. Such an individual is in a weakened position politically.)

The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, set the new inauguration date at January 20. Presidential elections are still held in early November.

“It does take time to pull together a cabinet and entire top tier of government,” said Jeffrey A. Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University. “Every time a new presidential administration comes in, you have to apply frosting to the cake. The cake is the permanent bureaucracy, [and the frosting is the new appointees and Cabinet members]. As any baker knows, you can put frosting on in 30 seconds, but it doesn’t look great.”

America’s unique democracy Another reason for the U.S. retaining a nearly three-month transition period between presidents is that instead of the election being decided by the winning party in parliamentary elections, the U.S. president is officially chosen by the Electoral College weeks after a popular election. While this means that presidents cannot take office right away, the declared winner can receive funds for the transition and briefings from the outgoing administration.

Americans themselves appreciate transition time because the Thanksgiving holiday falls soon after the election and is followed quickly by Christmas, Hanukkah and other winter holidays, said Elizabeth B. Goldsmith, professor emerita at Florida State University.

The U.S. also is different in that the president is both the head of government and the head of state. (Imagine replacing both the British prime minister and queen at the same time.)

As leisurely as the power transition may seem, the switchover at the White House is so fast on January 20 that it requires a tactical team of government employees. The exiting president usually leaves his White House home for the inauguration and the new president moves in a few hours later. Goldsmith said hundreds of employees start working at the crack of dawn so that the 132 rooms of private residence and public spaces are ready for the incoming president.

It took Trump a full year to appoint an ambassador to Ireland the first time around.

Joe got Americans killed by pulling out of Afghanistan, against his advisors decision. Buys oil from foreign countries when we have it here, did nothing to curb Inflation and now this . Joe and Company screwing us is why Trump got elected.

Of course, R65. Trump would never threaten Iran. And he's known to ignore slights, insults, and such. He's emotionally stable and would never through a tantrum or act out.

How silly of me!

"Iran tied to assassination attempts, issues blunt warning

He threatened he would blow Iranian cities to "smithereens.""

*throw a tantrum

You're full of shit, R68.

When you're old, you're old 👴

Ukraine already lost and Biden insists on delivering the taxpayers money to the weapons industry.

They should shorten the transition by a few weeks. Maybe make it January 3rd or something. It is a weird period but Biden and Trump seem to be handling it well. I haven’t heard much criticism of Biden’s actions including the Mideast truce etc.

[quote]Joe got Americans killed by pulling out of Afghanistan, against his advisors decision.

Nope. Trump surrendered to the Taliban (remember when he invited them to Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11?) and locked in our departure, dumping the mess in Biden's lap on his way out. 100% Trump's fault.

[quote]Buys oil from foreign countries when we have it here,

Nope. Under Biden's administration, the US has produced more fossil fuels at home than ever before and is a net exporter.

[quote]did nothing to curb Inflation

Nope. See The Inflation Reduction Act and the ensuing decline to the ~3% economists believe is the optimal level for an expanding economy.

[quote]and now this .

Does "now" include Biden's negotiation of the Israel/Hezbollah 60-day ceasefire presently in place?

[quote]Joe and Company screwing us is why Trump got elected.

You're right, just not the way you think.

r68 How to prove that FOX news is your only news source without needing to say it.

Trump made the Oct 7th attack on Israel happen.

Trump made sure a ceasefire DIDN'T HAPPEN before the election.

Trump made inflation happen by sabotaging our pandemic response

Trump made sure our Afghanistan withdrawal was a disaster.

And once Trump gives Ukraine to Putin, the Quid Pro Quo will be complete.

Ukraine is the breadbasket of the world, producing enough food to feed 400 million people. Trump will hand Ukraine to Putin, and Trump's trade war w/Mexico and Canada could conceivably make us dependent on Putin-controlled Ukraine food production. Especially after he deports migrant ag workers.

You forgot to mention that Trump killed the bipartisan border bill

R76, The Truth Only Hurts If It Ought To. The Dems admit they screwed themselves in the campaign with cackling Kamala. Pelosi and Obama didn't want her.

R79 you forgot that Biden opened the border after Trump closed it in his last administration, so you can't blame Donald.

Putin is always talking about nukes. He's another one who needs to disappear.

Trump will fix it, don't worry. He will make everything better. That's what everyone who voted for him tells me. Idiots.

All this posturing and talk, study history guys. Nothing to see here.

Nothing bad can happen now that my president Trump has been elected! We will have world peace soon, libtards. You'll see. You'll all see.

Of course we'll have World Peace. The whole world will be dead!!

^^Dee Plorable Unum

That was a smart move Zelensky pulled today, claiming that Putin's latest moves were specifically designed to thwart Trump's plans to deliver peace.

Maybe they are. Either way, setting P's and T's egos against each other is totally the way to go.

OP is Putin

I don’t know if this is getting much play, but things are taking a turn in Syria. For many years Russia troops have been there keeping Assad in power but Putin has had to redirect resources to Ukraine. Syrian rebel forces have now attacked Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city; a Russian bombing campaign failed to stop them. Embarrassingly, Russia’s defense minister was in North Korea, presumably asking for more cannon fodder, when this happened.

Quite a staggering confluence of global events happening in the world at the moment.

Starmer basically just called British immigration policies "a failed experiment", and pledged to lower numbers after blaming the Tories and Brexit. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made similar statements this week and promised to deport 80,000 non-nationals in a new anti-immigration program. It sounds like they are gearing up for a potential war economy, and perhaps the possibility of rationing and singling out non-assimilating cultures.

R91, that’s because it’s all on purpose. They are using war to stay in power, control the global military complex, and use terrorism to control the people. Shit, I even read on more than one platform that Nentenyahu staged the October massacre. And I could believe that he’s capable of doing that. Just like I believe Dump could stage a shooting for the media coverage and keeping their base locked in, even though people died. Just like Putin shoots his own soldiers on crutches if they refuse to march or kill other injured Russians. He shoots them by drone.

They all have one thing in common— a willingness to do anything to gain more power.