SABRES 0311

From a 2021 Government Accountability Office Report: ”According to data obtained from DOD, Japan provided $12.6 billion and South Korea provided $5.8 billion from 2016 through 2019 in cash payments and in-kind financial support. This direct financial support paid for certain costs, such as labor, construction, and utilities. In addition to direct financial support, Japan and South Korea provided indirect support, such as forgone rents on land and facilities used by U.S. forces, as well as waived taxes, according to DOD officials.” https://www.gao.gov/product These bases exist as a deterrent against NK and Chinese aggression and provide for the defense of those nations. Both NK and China are aggressors in the Pacific and Russia in Europe. NK with threats to the U.S. and its allies, pursuit of nuclear capabilities, and intermittent rocket launches. The U.S. is still in a state of war with NK. China continues to harass civilian vessels and claiming territory beyond the nine dash line. They present an ongoing concern of military invasion into Taiwan. The U.S. receiving forms of compensation for supporting the defense of other nations is not a new thing. According to Zelenskyy the U.S. has provided $100 Billion in aid. Compensation on the back end would neither be a reparation or penalty. I guarantee if Biden brokered a deal for Ukraine to compensate the U.S. post war, leftists would praise his efforts as a way of strengthening economic ties and mutual defense with an ally.

The fact you don’t understand what reparations are but use it to back up an insult is funny 😂 You seem to also lack an understanding that the U.S. maintains economic and diplomatic ties with another adversary, China. If you did you would see that relationships with near peer countries isn’t simping. It’s holding some balance while still maintaining/establishing dominance in politics, economics, and multiple domains of military capabilities. Points get lost on someone who doesn’t have the knowledge and/or experience to understand them. Other posters and I have a large gap in perceptions of geopolitics and there impacts on military application but at least it’s an exchange of relevant information.

Ok so its not a ****** choice of words which means its all good and you agree 😆

It is a ****** choice of words. Weird that you dispute that but ok. I believe you are referring to the Doha Accord unless I am wrong. Not going to disagree with you. I will disagree with the idea it is singlehandedly responsible for the collapse of the Afghan Government. Not saying that is what you are saying but I think it is an idea that exists.

$h!tty choice of words. I’ll give you that. As you disagree with me on the potential for foreign fighters to enter a (potential) future U.S./Russia war, I disagree on Russia invading a NATO member country. Unless Putin is beyond stupid which is a possibility.

I don’t think you understand what reparations are. Reparations are payments made as a result of damage. Leveraging $69 Billion spent supporting another country’s war effort to strike a deal for access to rare earth metals is a trade agreement. It’s funny how you delete the other half of my quoted post to support your claim I support Russia. By your apparent definition the U.S. has been “simping” for China for decades. We maintain diplomatic and economic ties with the country who intends on supplanting the U.S. But I guess leaving that in doesn’t help your false narrative on me. 😂

It’s not the European citizens that would produce an insurgency. Russia maintains strong ties with Iran who is a state sponsor of extremist organizations such Hezbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood. If anyone thinks Russia wouldn’t leverage that when things go south against the west then I believe they’re wrong.

That is 100% incorrect. Once the U.S. puts ground forces in Ukraine foreign fighters will make their way there.

Germany paid the bulk of reparations. Not seeing where you are going with that. If you think my take on the Ukraine war is wrong, try explaining it. BTW, following WWII the west split Germany with Russia/Soviet Union who became our Cold War adversary. Today we maintain trade and diplomatic relations with China who is literally moving to supplant the U.S. as the world's superpower. They are also claiming land that is not theirs (sound familiar), dangerously harassing civilian vessels, and present a threat of invasion to Taiwan.

All I am saying is that there is more to the situation than simply saying Russia needs to get out of Ukraine. The areas where Russia has focused their operations has a bit of pro-Russian populace. If a third country goes in we are introducing a new variable. In Iraq/Afghanistan, foreign fighters from all over flocked into those countries to fight us. The U.S. is a magnet for state and non-state sponsored entities who want to fight. If the war in Ukraine gets to the point where the U.S. has to send in forces, especially on a large scale, I think we end up with an insurgency made up of foreign and Ukranian people. On top of that, Russia would probably mass their forces. Ukranian forces would likely be fighting against their own pro-Russian countrymen. Essentially you have a civil war, insurgency, and increased threat of nuclear war. The preferable option is Russia leaves Ukraine and returns all of the land they took but does anyone think Putin will do that. That DOES NOT mean we bow down to Putin. This country has a proud history of taking the fight to guys like him. If after all else fails, there is no other option then at least we know we tried to resolve this conflict and are using military force as it should be. Keep in mind it would be our children/grandchildren going into the aforementioned. So, if initial talks are not to our liking now that doesn't mean a final agreement will be that.

Nobody is simping for Putin. A deeper understanding of the situation is required to see that.

What do you want Trump to do? Continue funding a losing war and authorizing ATTACMs and similar weapons to be fired into Russia. It’s Ukraine’s land so they should be part of the conversations. I’m not disputing that. The U.S. has given a lot money and arms and they’re still reportedly losing ground. Putin doesn’t look like he will back down and give everything back. I believe what you are saying the conflict should continue and at some point progress into full war with U.S. forces. BYW, Poland is a NATO country and Ukraine is not. If Putin is that dumb then we’ll be having a very different conversation. Until then the idea Russia will invade a NATO country knowing it will result in Article 5 invocation seems like a stretch. But if he is that dumb then he learns FAFO. To answer the question I want Trump to mediate a peace deal that results in Crimea and eastern Ukraine returned to Ukraine. Then, I want Trump to get a deal where the U.S. can make back some of that $68 Billion. I doubt all of that happens.

Ukraine never got back Crimea after Russia annexed it during the Obama administration. Not saying Russia should be rewarded for what they have done but recent history indicates they are not getting that land back. The previous administration didn't do a whole lot diplomatically. For the most part it was supply money and weapons. I would like to have seen more of a push for peaceful resolution. Aside from Japan's unconditional surrender after dropping nukes, I can't remember the last time the U.S. received an unconditional surrender, especially from an adversary like Russia. I get the feeling the Biden administration just wanted to get through the term without having to do anything requiring effort.

Yes, the U.S. is positioning itself to reap post war benefits after providing $69 Billion supporting Ukraine. I think Ukraine needs to be a part of future peace talks. With Ukraine losing ground Zelensky’s bargaining position is probably not strong. With the previous U.S. administration not doing much of anything diplomatically, these talks are at ground zero.

A member of the squad doing something stupid? How dare anyone question her. They must be racist. 😂

More like KA disappointed he has a guy who actually earned a bigger contract compared to Power and Cozens. This means to keep Byram he has less money to woefully overpay talent to come to Buffalo. Tertiary effect is without that money his job security diminished. Just my conspiracy theory with no evidence.

Bad I would assume. Similarly we sell lots of weapons to Mid East countries to counter Iran. We also have U.S. forces in Kuwait and Bahrain. Like you said we have forces in South Korea too. The difference is though, Iran and NK are not Russia.

To date I think Russia has been using its “B Squad” of forces. IMO their intent is to wear down not only Ukrainian resolve but that of NATO. The other option would be full scale assault which would more than likely result in multinational ground and air forces getting involved. The correct term for what Russia is doing is Low Intensity Conflict. Like Biden authorizing ATACMs, U.S. forces in Ukraine would be an escalation.

Meh, would be an even better tournament with Russia.

Now you got something to boo, pansies 😂

Marchand looks like absolute garbage.

That’s a loss for the tournament and fans. The Soviets were committing war crimes in Afghanistan and still played in international competitions.

Mecca

The passing in this game is clinical. Can’t wait for the Olympics.

Team physicality is important. Doesn’t have to be crushing hits but separating player from puck and making them feel less comfortable. Precision passing with creative playmaking is a must. Play away from the puck is just as important.