Russia

[GORDON]

As soon as Russia attacked, the world became surreal. We may literally be in the opening days of WW3. The chances of a nuke flying at any moment is, in my opinion, at the highest level in 30 years.

[Troy]

As soon as Russia attacked, the world became surreal. We may literally be in the opening days of WW3. The chances of a nuke flying at any moment is, in my opinion, at the highest level in 30 years.

Remains the concern I don't talk about. I think we have done enough to de-escalate to stay un-crispy over here, but absolutely worry what will happen when it becomes obvious that Putin can't have the "toys" he wants.

[Leisher]

I think that's why the world is secretly crossing their fingers that someone within Russia shoots him first.

[Cakedaddy]

. . . China has invested a lot in African countries, getting a foothold for some purpose.

If China did what the USA will not.... enforce a no-fly zone.... Ukraine should rightly be closer to CHina, after that. SOmething to consider.

And if Russia shot down a Chinese plane, a whole new eastern front opens for Russia.

Interesting times.

They are locking down their resources. They are loaning them tons of money to develop their cities, etc. When they can't pay it back, China says "That's ok. We'll just take your resources as collateral on all the new money we'll loan you as a bail out. And when you can't pay that back, we'll take more resources."

[GORDON]

. . . China has invested a lot in African countries, getting a foothold for some purpose.

Interesting times.

They are locking down their resources. They are loaning them tons of money to develop their cities, etc. When they can't pay it back, China says "That's ok. We'll just take your resources as collateral on all the new money we'll loan you as a bail out. And when you can't pay that back, we'll take more resources."

If China could establish a tradition of private property rights, it would be good for Africa overall. "What have the chinese ever done for us?"

"Well besides the investment in infrastructure so they can mine and move our resources, clean drinking water and public schooling so we are a better educated workforce, a stable government that will stay bought, an end to frequent violent coups and machete genocides, and a non-corrupt police force so their mines don't get robbed every day, the Chinese haven't done a god damned thing for us."

[Troy]

There was a straight up evacuation from Moscow overnight - a dozen+ Russian Air Force passenger planes left Moscow around the same time and scattered - most to the areas in Siberia associated with military bunkers. Some to Dubai.

This is bad juju.

Either an internal purge is about to take place in Russia - which is most likely - Putin said as much in his speech yesterday - or … well you connect the dots.


Speech btw

[Troy]

“Necessary self purification of our society”

Fucking 1939 shit right here.

[GORDON]

Is there a transcript? 30 seconds is my limit for videos.

A man's got to have a code.

[Leisher]

“Necessary self purification of our society”

Fucking 1939 shit right here.

Agree.

Is there a transcript? 30 seconds is my limit for videos.

A man's got to have a code.

Disagree.

[Troy]

Yikes.



Africa is going to get fucked by this war.

NGL, I want to try some of the famous Ukrainian bread though.

[Leisher]

Africa gets fucked by everything.

This will probably drive U.S. wheat prices through the roof too.

[TheCatt]

Wheat's already up 25% since the war started. It peaked at 50% though, so 25% is "good" news.

https://tradingeconomics.com/commodity/wheat

[Leisher]

This feels like it belongs here and not in the Biden thread.

Just like Koch industries, who is giving everyone else the middle finger when all reasonable companies have shut down their Russian operation, if possible.

CNN does have an article up discussing this very thing right now.

Please look at not just Koch's explanation and then the rebuttal, make sure you stick around for the stuff at the bottom of the article. You know, the section research has proven people rarely read.

It's not terrible logic. Remember when the world sanctioned Saddam's Iraq? You know who suffered? The Iraqi people. You know who didn't? The despot in charge.

Not saying they're right or wrong, but their take is not without logic and historical precedence.

[Troy]

Ok you posted the "this is was the statement from Koch" article.

Seems to be bit different from what is being posted on other sites ABOUT Koch industries and their businesses.

Koch Industries—which Forbes ranks as the second-largest private company in the United States—said in a statement Wednesday that its Guardian Industries will continue to operate two glass manufacturing facilities in Russia that employ around 600 people.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakim/20 ... 3ffa0027c2

[Troy]

Another.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/koch-ind ... 43482.html

“While Guardian’s business in Russia is a very small part of Koch, we will not walk away from our employees there or hand over these manufacturing facilities to the Russian government so it can operate and benefit from them,” Robertson said.

Bet they do just that, eventually. Backlash will be severe.

[Leisher]

Ok you posted the "this is was the statement from Koch" article.

It's the third paragraph?

"While Guardian's business in Russia is a very small part of Koch, we will not walk away from our employees there or hand over these manufacturing facilities to the Russian government so it can operate and benefit from them," Koch Industries President Dave Robertson said in the statement. "Doing so would only put our employees there at greater risk and do more harm than good."

Also, here's the key stuff buried in the article:

Koch Industries said it is complying with all sanctions, laws and regulations within all countries it operates in.
The company condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
"The horrific and abhorrent aggression against Ukraine is an affront to humanity," Robertson said.
Koch Industries said it has provided financial assistance to employees and their families from Ukraine and humanitarian aid to those impacted in neighboring countries.

Again, not saying their take is right or wrong, that's for other experts to determine, just pointing out it has logic and historical precedent.

[Troy]

I just wouldn't be the first person to step up to believe Koch is speaking truth with:

• We are continuing operations largely to support our people in Russia
  We just don't want to lose our plant to Russia
  We are operating our businesses in Russia compliant with sanctions
  We condemn Russia for the invasion of Ukraine "horrific and abhorrent aggression"

Some of those seem to conflict, logically.

[Troy]

Meanwhile, on the Koch funded think-tank front:

A similar message comes from Will Ruger, president of another Charles Koch-backed group, the American Institute for Economic Research, or AIER, according to Popular Information's reporting. "The United States can and should do very little for Ukraine," Ruger said in a March 2 podcast with Reason Magazine, a libertarian publication also supported by Charles Koch. "Ukraine simply doesn't matter to America's security or our prosperity."

Advancing that view, Ruger also shared on social media a Reason video entitled "Why Russian sanctions will fail."

Another Charles Koch-backed group, Concerned Veterans for America, is also cautioning against sanctions against Russia. In a petition letter, the group urges "restraint as America responds to Russia's immoral invasion of Ukraine. ... We should avoid actions that may aggravate the situation further or have damaging repercussions to American prosperity."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/koch-indus ... sanctions/

[Troy]

To Koch Industries - fuck you, AND your people IN Russia.

[Troy]

There is a danger if we let the position be there are "good people on both sides" that they will not fix themselves, even post Putin-coup. And then we repeat this shit in Georgia, or Moldova, or Finland 10 years after they get their conscript core back up.