Sammy

Iraq wasnt a democracy. It was run by a brutal dictator and murderer that in ways was worse than Putin. So really it wasnt an example they, nor you, should have used. In any case, the majority of people didnt buy the weapons of mass destruction arguments beyond his well known and documented use of chemical weapons. I didnt. Dont know if you did at the time but my guess is no. So chemical weapons of mass destruction, certainly. And he killed 1000's of men, women and children with them (unlike Ukraine). But nukes? The case made for them was not solid. Thus the senate vote for war was divided and mostly party line. Democrats 50/50. Republicans, only one of them said 'nay'. For info, Biden said 'yay'. As did Clinton and several other high profile democratic senators. But even then, there was exactly that. A vote. Bush couldnt unilaterally decide to go and had to get senate approval. Unlike Putin having all the power and a rubber stamp of a legislature under his thumb. Ours has no problem telling presidents 'no' and they often do exactly that. Now, if you want to go back in American history somewhere that shows this country invading a democracy with the stated goal of regime change please post it instead as your example. A good one I figure would be what this country did to native americans. And it would be a fair argument. It is also one of the darkest stains on this countries history and also not something to compare yourself to in order to justify your actions.

Not a good way to start a post if you want anyone to take it seriously. As Yoda said, I sense much anger in you.

2 + 2 != 4 anymore. These days, for many 2 + 2 = brick. Meaning, it makes no sense whatsoever.

Blame who or what you want but that is the free market. All businesses charge whatever the market will bear. Economics 101.

Rock and a hard place, isnt it. Here is a compromise. Finish the pipeline. In return, none of the oil that goes through it may be exported. National security for domestic oil production for North America.

Not sure your intent on posting that. That its the truth? Or that its a lie?

An interesting comment by Putin when asked about the martial law rumors. "We don't plan to introduce any kind of special regime on Russian territory - there is currently no need," First, 'special regime'? Is that like 'special military operation'? And then, 'currently' no need? Are both of those meant as threats to the people of Russia? He already made it a crime, with prison time, to say 'invasion' or 'war' with Ukraine instead of 'special military operation'. Of course that would make saying 'martial law' instead of 'special regime' a crime. This is what dictators do and he got a law rubber stamped to boot. I dont think anyone in Canada has gotten a law passed making it a crime for calling their leader a dictator. Perhaps I am wrong and some people have been arrested for doing so?

He also likely doesnt want the people to know, and especially see, that they are shelling cities... like the Nazis did. I do have to say that for all my comments about how bad the Internet is and social media in general, there are times like this when it shows its worth. It allows communication that dictators such as Putin dont want us to do and to show things they dont want us to see. Of course you have to be careful of propaganda, since as they say the truth is the first casualty of war, but in the end thats on us. Not for others to tell us. So much for all that 'censorship' political bullshit. Enough already. If people in Russia and Ukraine can get past REAL censors or widespread blackouts, potentially at great personal cost (you can now get sent to prison for uploading 'fake news'), people here in the west have no problem at all. Maybe the politically based censorship people here that get on cable and the internet are just weak. So great kudos to the people in Russia and Ukraine for taking risks to finding a way to bypass Putin.

And people complain that gas in California is expensive. I find the mere existence of this video the most important thing not the gas prices. In Russia of all places they were able to not only film it but get it out of the country when access to so much of the internet is simply shut down. This is just a guy driving around. Fortunately Putin hasnt made such things a crime... unless he wants to say its 'fake news' with that new law of his. I wouldnt put it past him. But it also makes you wonder what all the well trained intelligence assets in Russia, and Ukraine, are sending back that we dont and will never know about. Also, supporting a military on the move takes a LOT of fuel. So that also is likely causing big shortages. Makes the move away from gas dependence by the US military seem like a pretty good idea and its not some environment thing. edit: It also begs the question. Not only whats getting out by average people. But what is getting in for average people to see?

He has used a few methods and threats to try and at least frighten away some of the smaller countries. To him, hopefully those that would not allow support to Ukraine across their borders or would not take part in the various non-military reprisals. Sanctions, asset seizures, multi-faceted embargoes and such. But that wont work when they (meaning anyone in the west with nukes) have far more advanced systems than he does and everyone knows it. Maybe he gambled on a large pro-Russian and anti-European sentiment in the US?

Based on Putins rhetoric and threats the last few days it suggests that he didnt expect the united front against him and that perhaps its beginning to hurt his ability to control things.

Seems that they are going after another plant. This time an active one and a facility was hit by shelling and on fire. Who in their right mind fires on a nuclear power plant? Is Putin really that stupid that he thinks the world will buy his bullshit and let him get away with it?

Still dont quite get that one. Whats the point in 'taking' it? I'm sure whatever forces that were sent there were asking the same question.

The problem for Putin is that Ukraine has no reason to give up any territory now that it has the backing of every NATO nation as well as the United States to support it with anything it needs short of military forces. Besides, I am sure Ukraine knows that the west can do much much more putting on the economic, supply and financial squeeze while they fight back. That said, Ukraine might throw him those pro-Russian areas with the Putin backed insurgencies anyway since they are a pretty big headache. *If* Putin breaks out his wallet and pays up for all the damage he has done the last week and then some. And not in Rubles.

Of course it was designed to be a not so subtle jab at Putins idiot foreign minister who keeps bringing up their nuclear forces. Gotta admit it was a pretty good way of sending a message without having to say a word making our own threats about our own forces or raising alerts. Which I am sure we have anyways, we just dont get on TV and advertise it. Unfortunately it hearkens back to M.A.D. and that is not a good thing after all the progress that has been made. But when one side starts behaving this way the other has no other choice.

I want to see a state of the union speech where all a president does, after all the usual entry bullshit ("mr speaker!" etc), all he says is "Thank you all for coming. The state of the union is good. That is all. Good night." and left.

One of the more interesting things I see on modern concert footage is how almost everybody has their smart phones out taking video. When its dark, all those little screens create a pretty interesting visual effect from a cinematography standpoint. Of course back in the day such things were pretty frowned upon. Hate to say it but never knew about the Barn Jams and had to look it up. Its a shame there isnt a dedicated album(s) devoted to them all.

In video games, no. Each particular weapon in a class is meant to fulfill a specific role and the design of the weapon itself is just for looks.

Its a console command. I think its +activate. Never used it myself since I found it kind of annoying. To turn it off it would be -activate. This is cod4. I have never tried it in cod5 but it is worth checking out. It would act as if you were physically holding the button down at all times.

All stats such as RoF and mag size are pretty easy to change in cod games. So thats not an issue. As for separating the keys. Yes it would cause an uproar because a lot of people have their use key set to 'always on' so to speak. So they dont have to push a button.

Really shocking that here in the US there are still some real die hard 'America First' people that dont see Putin and his invasion as our concern, that its a European problem (which sounds historically familiar), and that America should do little or nothing. This is a %100 geopolitical comment and not a humanitarian one nor about simply doing what is right. But Russia winning means he has control of direct borders with several NATO members and would likely line them with all manner of weapons like the USSR did. This is not some surprise revelation and has been talked about for years. Ukraine is on the front line, for lack of a better word. I dont know if this didnt register with these people, they thought Putin was a good guy and wouldnt invade (despite him already having done so), or they simply didnt care what happens to Europe. They also seem to think he was afraid of Trump for some strange reason. It all leaves me pretty speechless. So kudos to Musk for stepping up when they wont.

I havent really seen anything but I'm curious how the Russian people are with all of this. Despite state run media and its propaganda the actual truth does get into the country. Do they buy all of his 'nazi' bullshit? Russia attacked Ukraine not the other way around so their country is the invader.

He knows there are six US ballistic missile submarines roaming the oceans at all times. Putin is many things, most of them bad, but he is not suicidal.

Strictly speaking with all the arms the western nations has been sending Ukraine the past year, and more are on the way, it was a big gamble on Putins part that it wont turn into a protracted mess for him. Thus far it is seems that over time it is a gamble he is going to lose.