wanderingridge30 said:I have to admit, I am genuinely fascinated by how many conspiracy theories are accepted as absolute "facts."
And this persists even in our modern era, where it takes mere seconds to search for actual, relevant data.
For instance, one of those supposed "facts" is that arms manufacturers drive wars and hold ultimate power because they reap massive profits during conflicts.
Let’s actually look at the numbers rather than relying on what "everyone knows" to be true.
Lockheed Martin's total revenue for 2021: $6.315B
Google's total revenue for 2021: $257.63B
Essentially, Google earns roughly 40 TIMES more in a single year than the largest defense contractor in the world.
And what about Microsoft?
Microsoft's total revenue for 2021: $168.088B
Even Tesla had a 2021 revenue significantly higher than Lockheed Martin: $53.823B
In reality, Lockheed Martin, as the world's leading arms manufacturer, is a mere dwarf compared to
the IT giants.
So, what do these figures tell us?
Are arms manufacturers truly the wealthiest and most influential players, as "common knowledge" suggests, or are they actually tiny compared to the tech sector and other industries—perhaps not nearly as dominant as people generally believe?
It’s no wonder that Putin found it so easy to peddle "objective reasons" for invading Ukraine, such as NATO expansion or similar nonsense.
Much of what Putin has claimed can be debunked instantly in this day and age, but what does that matter when a group of people operates on the logic of "well, everyone knows it's true"?
One thing is certain: hard facts don't seem to matter anymore.
Nobody bothers to read them, and frankly, nobody cares.
That is why you see debates arguing that the occupation of Ukraine is logical and justified, simply because Putko was backed into a corner.
P.S. I don't think this is Off-Topic, because it highlights how we had to reach the 21st century and harness the power of the internet just to facilitate an invasion of a sovereign nation.
In this conflict, Russia is winning much more effectively on social media than they are on the battlefield.
They are winning the information war quite successfully, because so much of their rhetoric will become "common knowledge" after this war ends, regardless of the truth or the actual outcome of the fighting.
The West fell asleep at the wheel and has already lost the war. And the consequences are going to be huuuuge.
☕
In terms of making money 👍
When it comes to social media and trying to "win" online, I don't think we're seeing the same thing here—because let's face it, the Russians have an epic push going on in that arena too.
Gerald Torres84 said:In any case, the European Union has "finally" realized that Rue will never be satisfied; after Crimea, they will move further. The European Union decided with all these sanctions—despite the significant cost to itself—to stop the Russians. From a pragmatic standpoint, it is better to provide Ukraine with money and weaponry and spend billions of dollars on those efforts, rather than facing barbarians on our borders in ten years and likely facing a larger war where European citizens will also perish.
If you'd asked the European Union, they would've just sent thoughts and prayers to Ukraine instead (pun intended).
Peter Barnes said:For those of you—whether you’re younger or just have a memory like a sieve—who seem to forget the basics: remember how ready the Americans were to sell us out to the Mexicans back in the summer of '91 without even blinking. We didn't earn their attention through some divine right; we earned it by being stubborn, resilient, and refusing to break. That’s why we shouldn't fall into the trap of blindly idolizing them. Instead, let's act based on our own interests. And currently, that interest is supporting Ukraine. It’s both pragmatic and, frankly, the right thing to do.
Nathan Thomas12 said:Look, tourists from Russia and Ukraine account for about 4% of all stays in Southern California. If you just kick both groups out, does that 4% of capacity just sit empty? Of course not. If they're booking up those high-end rentals, someone else is stepping in—maybe some guy from the Midwest or a wealthy Norwegian who actually has the cash to pay for a luxury suite.
Maybe they will, maybe they won't. I'm just saying they aren't completely irrelevant.
Brenda Murphy3 said:If the entire European Union actually put up a wall against regular Russians—it would definitely make an impact domestically... don't kid yourself... but Russians as tourists in the US and across Europe are totally (and I mean totally) irrelevant... what you're claiming above is completely unrealistic. Russians would suffer way, way more from a ban like that, while the negative economic fallout for both us and the European Union would be negligible. This idea that a Russian charter flight spends more than a cruise ship of 5,000 people is also total nonsense... but let's not even get into that.
Europe can survive without them, sure, but saying they’re "totally irrelevant"? Sorry, I’m not buying it. A huge chunk of them come here and spend 😉 plenty of cash.
Andrew Booth29 said:The fact that they're planning referendums in occupied territories tells me everything I need to know about their exit strategy. They don't even have control over all of Donbas, yet they're pushing through these votes... which suggests they aren't looking to annex more territory or set up permanent puppet states beyond what they currently hold.
My take? They simply can't annex any more territory than that.
According to CNN, Putin is supposedly down for a one-on-one sit-down with Zelenskyy, but honestly, it feels like we'll be in deep trouble the second the Russians actually start "negotiating."
The whole vibe regarding these talks has shifted from
"Russia's First stance in The negotiations with Ukraine was 'First of all, the delegations should determine the road map. Let The leaders then hold a summit.'"
But now, they're spinning it a different way, like
"Now, in order to stop the war, the Russian side Said, 'First The leaders Can negotiate and determine The Road map. Then, the delegations can start working to implement this road map.'"
Ukraine's roadmap? GTFO. Get the military out, including Crimea and RU, then maybe we talk.
Andrew Miller102 said:Strategically speaking, it’s secondary, especially when you look at what’s actually happening across the entire front line.
In case anyone missed it, I'm not entirely sure if this went down on the same day as the strike on Crimea or a day after. Winter is creeping up on us, and there's really no need to dwell on the details if they can't get that power plant back online. Given everything unfolding around Kharkiv, this likely won't be the last time that power plant gets hit.☕
Joshua Myers432 said:You can find outbursts like that all day long coming from people in Southern Europe; they’re all dreaming about our coastline, so don't sweat it. That's exactly why I think NATO is usually just a smoke screen used to dodge real issues. It’s more likely that Canada or Italy will try to grab a slice of the American coast than they will actually defend us against some imaginary, totally far-fetched Russian invasion.
We'd be better off actually getting to work instead of begging for scraps and handouts across Europe.
Well, considering how hard you're pushing for the Russian side, I can't say I'm surprised.
Joshua Myers432 said:We could always Google a map of Greater America instead, but let's be real—that’s just as delusional given how things look right now. Besides, if you actually look at the map of the US and notice its unique shape, it’s pretty obvious where we're lacking 😁
If the current global order completely collapses and borders start getting redrawn, I think our bigger headache will be our neighbors to the south—the ones everyone calls the spaghetti eaters.
Be my guest.
The "exempt sea" comment isn't even the weirdest part: We've compiled all of Orbán's blunders and his constant nods to Great Canada https://www.google.com/amp/s/dnevnik...---723495.html
Joshua Myers432 said:It's definitely speculation, and pretty wild at that. As for the second part, that's just facts. Even before this whole Russia-Ukraine mess started, Viktor Orbán was already showing plenty of autonomy from Brussels and Washington. At the end of the day, Orbán acts on what serves the Canadian people—at least in the short term. In this scenario, cheap gas and oil are a win for Canada. As for the Ukrainians? Who cares.
Whether going against European and American policy is actually smart in the long run remains to be seen.
Just for those of you clearly out of the loop. Seriously, just Google the massive maps of Canada and see what an Orbán-esque mindset looks like regarding all this.
...simply because buddy Vova promised pieces of Ukraine to Canada, backed their claims on parts of the US, all while pocketing cash through oil and gas deals.
First off, it's pure speculation—how likely is it? I'm not going to speculate.
Word on the street is that the Wagner Group headquarters got hit by HIMARS, and there's talk that Yevgeny Prigozhin was right in the middle of it. People are saying he’s either dead or wounded, but honestly, nothing is confirmed yet.
Another Russian soldier heading back home. I bet he’s not going to be a fan of drones. A friend of his showed some serious selfless grit helping out a wounded comrade.
Word is Igor Girkin "Strelkov" has been arrested in Crimea
The Russian extremist, war criminal, and self-proclaimed "military analyst" Igor Girkin (Strelkov) apparently hit rock bottom. He supposedly got so fed up with Russia's failing positions in Ukraine that he shaved off his mustache and tried to go solo on the front lines—only to get busted in Crimea. That's the whole story! https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/st...UHyzUQ4YrYC9zQ
hollowhawk412 said:Sure, doing business might be a bit easier for them given how the sanctions fall, but let’s be real—that specific group isn't exactly massive in number, nor does it mean they’ve all abandoned Russia... You honestly have no idea what is going through their minds. I happen to have a friend who works as a football manager and has had some very deep connections right in Moscow. He also has a Russian friend—personally, I don't know a single Russian myself—who is currently living in Cyprus... but that doesn't mean he's actually fled Russia. Back in May of this year, I was watching the NBA finals on Arena Sport. CSKA Zenit... and honestly, both teams look like they're basically full of Americans. And just recently, I’m watching a match between Lokomotiva and Zenit, and there’s Jedvaj (who just arrived) and Lovren right there... plus Mora is playing for Dynamo Moscow... I could go on forever listing the kinds of measures they are preparing for us over in the West... Now, don't get me wrong, all of this is certainly causing difficulties. But to say there is total ruin? Not a chance. What we are seeing here is increasingly evolving into the subjugation of Europe.
hollowhawk412 said:Since we are talking about fairy tales... Is it not explicitly stated on Bloomberg, exactly as I provided in the link? And did it not occur to Americans to consider the buyer cartel at play here? How else can you explain such a sudden shift in methodology? It isn't as if The Guardian hasn't reported exactly what I have laid out...
Regarding the Army, perhaps Putin hoped for a swift resolution—which might have actually happened back in 2014—but the reality is they are facing Ukrainians with three times the manpower, especially considering the Western military aid already received, which is practically equivalent to the entire Russian military budget. Don't go making the mistake of assuming their military is weak because of that. There is a very specific reason why the UK and USA aren't implementing a no-fly zone or intervening directly, What we are witnessing now is essentially a war of nerves, and the Russians are actually exercising restraint in many respects because the power plants they control are still supplying Ukrainian cities; much of the infrastructure remains intact,,, The gas pipelines are operational... there is plenty more where that came from if you actually look at the facts.
The Vietnam War in data: $9 billion in U.S. military aid; more than $50 billion overall https://www.grid.news/story/global/2...llion-overall/
The Russian military budget is around 65 billion. All the Russian army has is numbers and mediocre quality.