BruceVC

Well you asked why is there so much fuss and I am answering why, the optics and the perception it creates. Now that doesnt change anything including how UNSC veto work but thats not what you were asking And Im sure people also complained\fussed when the US got the chair during the invasion of Iraq? But the UNSC does have values but it cant always implement them because of the veto

"I don't know why there's such a fuss over it " Sometimes you really make me laugh, good one There is no way to stop Russia legally getting the rotational chair because its by design and its only for 1 month as you said But its a massive deal because of the optics and the reality. Russia invaded a sovereign country and the region has become destabilized apart from the long list of war crimes. And there President is facing war crimes. The UNSC function is about ensuring international peace and security. So its about the optics, its a massive contradiction to the values of the UNSC but its only for a month

This is true to certain degree but I also dont think white collar criminals, like insider traders, shouldn't end up amongst gang bangers and mass murderers. Thats why you have different types of prisons in the US One of my uncles ended up serving 7 years in prison that was for people who commit financial fraud and similar crimes in the US. He wasnt amongst hardcore criminals

Thats the allegation but its depends on the crime. Even the best lawyer cant get you off real evidence. Look at rich people like Harvey Weinstein or Bernie Madoff. Despite there wealth they going to spend the rest of there lives in jail so it depends on the crime and evidence

Sure but before anyone can go to jail they need to be found guilty in a court of law, being found guilty in the court of public opinion isnt enough I dont want Trump running for president, he is divisive and brings a level toxicity to politics that is contagious for both parties But this is a mistake and a distraction. Like I asked earlier do you really think he would be charged if he wasn't running for president ? Thats the difference between a political prosecution and a legitimate one

I think charging Trump for the hush money payment is a bad legal and political strategy because its going add to the hyperbole and unify his base around " Trump is being unfairly targeted, its a political prosecution. The US is controlled by the deep state ...you see" and other rhetoric I understand the Dems dont want him to be a candidate but then beat him the normal way, through the ballot box. This is a weak attempt at backdoor political wrangling even though its a "legal " outcome Is there anyone on this forum who honestly believes the Manhattan D.A would be charging Trump if he wasnt running as a presidential candidate?

I have followed several informed views about this topic and what China experts were saying is exactly what you posting in the sense Xi was hoping for a quick Russian victory and then a lackluster and disunited Western response But the reality has been very different. Russia has failed to achieve a quick or significant military victory and the invasion has united the West in unprecedented ways So Xi is re-strategizing the entire China approach to Taiwan and the most effective way to achieve Chinas geopolitical aspirations But they were hoping for a quick and decisive Russian military victory in Ukraine

States have limited budgets and priorities have to be set, at least you spending money on reparations for slavery. Thats more important than a decent transport system ?

Yes this has become the most divisive and unpopular legislation ever proposed in the history of Israel. The right wing has gone too far and what it wants to achieve could literally tear Israel apart and its understandable the anger because in essence the biggest problem is it allows a simple majority of 51% in the Knesset\Parliament to override SC decisions which translates to " we dont want politicians to be accountable to the law " Its the most absurd reality to think anyone would believe politicians should be above the law and the SC should no longer have judicial authority over them So Netanyahu had to pause but he needs to pause it permanently or you will see unprecedented civil unrest in Israel especially with soldiers refusing to do there military service

I wonder if this is true, @Gfted1 you sneaky Americans and your pesky microchips in vaccines

http://www.cbr.ru/press/event/?id=14668 https://vk.com/wall-45439398_22717?lang=en I cant access the first link but the second link is the same information. The Ruskie Central Bank for 2022 recorded losses of 720 billion rubles compared to previous year of 26 billion !!! No wonder they started classifying economic data for the country. Thank goodness Western sanctions arent working....oh wait

I heard an interesting opinion that prolonging the war in Ukraine is in the interests of China because then the West wont be focused on Chinas global aspirations like Taiwan and the South China Sea Im not sure if it true but its interesting?

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, its outrageous I tell you. Absolutely outrageous The world we know is being swept away by the radical left and Neo-Nazis. What can we do? What can any of us do? I say we protest...and we dont stop until this collapse of our societies ends !!!

Sure and I think we all in agreement that this war will continue while Putin is president because his political future and survival is inextricably connected to the war now But the reality can change if for whatever reason he is no longer president

The war could end relatively quickly because it was caused by the nationalist views and influence of one man, Putin. If Putin dies tomorrow and you see new leadership they could literally end the direction that Russia is going in Ukraine and at least immediately withdraw the Russian army back to Russia borders There are lots of examples in history about wars ending when you see leadership change like the end of the USSR under Gorbachev or the end of the Vietnam war Im not convinced at all that this is a " forever " war because historical and current precedent around wars doesnt support that. You can often see change in countries ideological stance based on new leadership Another relevant example, 45 years of Apartheid ended in SA under the direction of a single man and his views. FW De Klerk took over from the previous PM and the ideological direction of SA changed

I have been gaming for 20 years and historically we dont have the fast internet access you guys have and I also can only recall 3-4 times where " always on " has negatively impacted my gaming experience?

Like everyone he has accurate insights on certain topics and particularly Ukraine. Here is one of his posts from Codex about the invasion. You just have to excuse the normal typos but its true and funny ( he was responding to some post about a politician saying the invasion was Ukraine fault ) "Lol Ukraine us at fault because it didn't just bend over and let nazi Russia genocide them and steal their country. How about nazi Russia. This is a war if choice fie them. Ukraine was no threat ro nazi russia. That politician is bull**** attacking Ukraine whose fighting fir uts country. Probably a putrid bootlicker "

Yes Volo is on Codex, he makes posts fairly regularly and he is as hilarious as ever with his accurate insights and typos He is on the side of Ukraine and often refers to Russia and Putin as Nazi

Iranian foreign minister criticizing France for being " intolerant to protestors" Can you get anymore cringe

Yes I saw this on CNN, one of criticisms is San Francisco wasn't part of slavery so why should they be paying reparations?

Bill Maher at his finest this time around Rupert Murdochs latest marriage @Gorth I imagine you taking a days leave to be part of the event?

Here is really interesting view about why the British shouldnt pay reparations for Colonialism and slavery, I have raised some of these points before that include the reality of slavery and how basically every empire of man practiced slavery yet there is no focus on those reparations like the Ottomans I disagree with some of things Rafe mentions but I agree with much of it

Some spirited words in support of Ukraine from Georgia Meloni the Italian PM I remember when she was elected and how Vatniks thought this will lead to less support for Ukraine from the EU

Its a historical reality and problem in France how people protest and how most of these protests turn violent. But over the last 20 years anarchists, anti-establishment groups and radical left ideologues infiltrate these protests and cause much more mayhem in the interest of destabilizing the state. Similar to the Yellow Vest protests in France Like violence you see in BLM protests they dont represent the majority of people protesting but they are a constant reason for violence And they dont care about the damage they cause to the country or the future of France. Its all about " lets destroy what exists and somehow we can rebuild something better " or similar rhetoric and grandstanding And yet some people still deny the radical left exists or they " not really violent "