@Picklebobble2 Do you belief that the US military is ready? Ready for what? Our men and women of the armed forces are working at their jobs for a good living and pension like the firemen and police officers. The last thing on their minds is risking their lives going to war.

@sree251 They're military personnel they don't think anything. That's the point. It's trained out of them so they'll be compliant in doing anything they're ordered to do.

Which is why Trump and co were so hacked off when conditions aboard a ship that hadn't been home in 18 months were 'leaked' online a few weeks ago.

Clogged toilets.
Washing that couldn't be done due to a lack of water aboard.
Poor quality food because fresh ingredients ran out weeks earlier etc.

Hegseth called them 'traitors' for 'leaking military operational information' in a speech he gave shortly afterwards.

So ....doesn't sound like it does it.

@Picklebobble2
No, it doesn't. Even back in the days of the Vietnam war, the US Military was not ready. Americans are never ready for war. No one is when there is no reason to risk one's life trying to kill another human being who is not willing to let you kill him or his family. The US Government is the aggressor looking for people to kill and using American citizens to do the dirty job.

@DogMan
I know that, and that's my point in this thread. The nation is burning up cash just keeping our military in its present state. Imagine you having a lifestyle keeping 10,000 RAM trucks in every model and kept running at your beck and call all over the country. The US military is an expense we cannot afford, and for what purpose? To be able to blow up the world at a moment's notice?

@sree251 Sorry sree, but I don't see it that way. We need to stay the worlds super power.

We would easily be taken over with the timid people we have in the U.S. Only our strong
military keeps us from harm. And our 2nd amendment keeps dictators away.

@DogMan
Ok, I understand your your need to stay tough and dominating even if it means roughing up other guys. It is an expensive way-of-life and, in my opinion, a testament to our belief that we can't trust anyone. This is only the belief of US politicians and military types who need to suck off the system at our expense. My grandfather was a colonel in the US Army. I remember going for lunch at his military base. It was much better than going to lunch with God in Heaven. The top brass live in a world of their own. The power to kill is intoxicating.

[media=https://youtu.be/jS5WBBDtwXA]

@sree251 And all that ordnance being pissed away for Netanyahu's war with Iran.

@Crazywaterspring Don't personalize this. War is everybody's business.

@DangerGirl Whose button?

@sree251 All this is reported, examined, discussed by people who are paid to find these things. I don't
rely on pocket-opinions on Facebook, Twitter or TikTok.

That you don't like it being reported, won't make it go away. Why do you want the knowledge suppressed though?

@ArishMell
I listen to Professor Mersheimmer even though he is a Jew. His geopolitical report and views sound objective and reasonable. American business is also objective and reasonable if it wants to thrive and survive. They are all in China for reasons of value to me. The Chinese make life easy and inexpensive for me. Russia, to me, is a dark hole. I neither eat caviar nor drink vodka.

@sree251 I'm not sure why "even though he is a Jew". That's not relevant, surely, unless he is commenting on Jewish or Israeli affairs.

I'd never heard of Professor Mersheimmer, but looked him up to find he is basically a political philosopher whose primary message is that nations act in their own interests. Well, they've always done that; but I see he warns of the potential for conflict between China and the USA. Ii read he also considers Israel has too much influence on the USA; but if it does, I think that is because the US government has let it have that.

So are you based in China, or have connections to China? It is easier to understand why people think as they do when you know where they are.

I'm sure most American businesses are objective and reasonable in their own ways, but I'd not describe the likes of Musk as that.

I doubt many Russians have ever eaten caviar! I think it's an expensive luxury even there.

@Justanothername
China is doing it right. Chinese factories manufacture everything for use by others. They don't sell arms and munitions. They make the ingredients and the parts for dual use. Make war or peace, it's up to you.

@sree251 Make peace. Vote Blue.
Racism and war are expensive.

@Justanothername Vote blue?! Are you nuts? Blue or Red, it's the same thing: American greed.

@Thevy29 The Epstein files are NOT going away