Can you actually become a big shot on MK without having any formal credentials? Good grief, I’m getting old. My little buddy just stumbled onto the forum. Did the boss even allow this? He’s practically older than me... Look, you can fake anything else—curves, looks, whatever—but being a heavyweight? You can't Photoshop that kind of status. ☕ I just hope we're talking about the heavy hitters here, like the big artillery units, not some short-lived nonsense.
He’s actually got a decent amount of leverage there, mostly because Germany is such a massive gear in the machine for both China and the US—not to mention our own role within the European Union. Honestly, that might be his last real bargaining chip besides those nuclear warheads. Now, the Germans are definitely feeling the squeeze right now, but let’s be real—they aren't a stupid nation. They won't just let this happen indefinitely. They'll take a hit, sure, but they have long memories. It was honestly such a massive blunder for a country like that to put all their eggs in one basket.
Look, we’re probably looking at a mini-recession because of this whole war and the energy dependency issues, but in the long run, it should actually pull us closer together as a community. And as for Russia? They just lost a major customer who actually deals in hard currency. I mean, the Indian Rupee and the Chinese Renbi are tied to the dollar, not the Euro. The EU is still a powerhouse, especially with hydrocarbon production, but because of all the green energy mandates, we aren't out there drilling fields like they do in Texas. It's going to be a struggle, no doubt, but we'll come out of this economically stronger. Long-term, even militarily—because let's face it, it hurts everyone that the UK and the US are the ones calling all the shots. Putin would never have even thought about attacking if we were as strong militarily as we are economically.
Noah Ward2 said:I also feel like this was a poor decision on Putin's part...
Even if he manages to walk away with a nominal victory, the cost is going to be incredibly high, and it might take a long time before things ever return to normal...
One thing that could push this all into the background is a conflict between Americans and the Chinese, which wouldn't be ruled out at all. That would likely be the biggest conflict of this century; it's just a matter of when it finally explodes.
I still tend to think that the Germans and the French seem to be the most reasonable ones here, but they don't have much of a say, I suppose. The English and the Americans are the ones running the show, and they’ll be the ones deciding when to tell Kyiv that enough is enough...
I’m with you on this one—totally agree. "Quote:"
Noah Ward2 said:I also feel like this was a poor decision on Putin's part...
Even if he manages to walk away with a nominal victory, the cost is going to be incredibly high, and it might take a long time before things ever return to normal...
One thing that could push this all into the background is a conflict between Americans and the Chinese, which wouldn't be ruled out at all. That would likely be the biggest conflict of this century; it's just a matter of when it finally explodes.
I still tend to think that the Germans and the French seem to be the most reasonable ones here, but they don't have much of a say, I suppose. The English and the Americans are the ones running the show, and they’ll be the ones deciding when to tell Kyiv that enough is enough...
Maybe you aren't seeing it, but everyone following this stuff is basically calling out Germany for this—we’re all pointing fingers. And let me tell you, those Germans? They don't just sweep things under the rug. Not a chance. They remember everything.
Noah Ward2 said:I also feel like this was a poor decision on Putin's part...
Even if he manages to walk away with a nominal victory, the cost is going to be incredibly high, and it might take a long time before things ever return to normal...
One thing that could push this all into the background is a conflict between Americans and the Chinese, which wouldn't be ruled out at all. That would likely be the biggest conflict of this century; it's just a matter of when it finally explodes.
I still tend to think that the Germans and the French seem to be the most reasonable ones here, but they don't have much of a say, I suppose. The English and the Americans are the ones running the show, and they’ll be the ones deciding when to tell Kyiv that enough is enough...
That would be an absolute global catastrophe—and honestly, we wouldn't even be getting close to the actual conflict we see now. I mean, think about it... both sides would just go all-in on AI and whatever cutting-edge tech we've managed to scrape together. We’re talking about a total nightmare scenario—a mother of all wars that ends in a complete economic meltdown. Let's just not leave that kind of mess for our kids to clean up, okay?
Noah Ward2 said:I also feel like this was a poor decision on Putin's part...
Even if he manages to walk away with a nominal victory, the cost is going to be incredibly high, and it might take a long time before things ever return to normal...
One thing that could push this all into the background is a conflict between Americans and the Chinese, which wouldn't be ruled out at all. That would likely be the biggest conflict of this century; it's just a matter of when it finally explodes.
I still tend to think that the Germans and the French seem to be the most reasonable ones here, but they don't have much of a say, I suppose. The English and the Americans are the ones running the show, and they’ll be the ones deciding when to tell Kyiv that enough is enough...
I’m always telling you this! It’s like I’ve said a million times—Putin is playing right into their hands, and he's doing it specifically to screw us over here in the European Union.
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rowdytiger13 said:Germany has completely lost the plot; they're politically tone-deaf. I actually think they're a great people, but there's just no helping them. Then you've got the French. The Chinese aren't like the Russians. After Putin's latest mess, they backed off. Their response was sharp and unified, and they won't touch Taiwan until they've waited for the right moment. That isn't an issue for them. The real problem with China is how difficult they are to bait into a mistake. Personally, I think the world is fracturing, and that divide is already happening. China is clearly the number two superpower now. Putin has effectively knocked both Russia and the EU out of the race.
Signed. Honestly, who knows where we’ll be in ten years? They aren't exactly rushing into anything—probably because they're too busy trying to act like they're the next Peter the Great.
electrichawk94 said:Putin would basically be the greatest leader in Russian history if he actually pulled off getting his country into the European Union. 😁
Kick the British and the US out, and let Russia in. 😁
At that point, NATO becomes pretty much pointless. 😁
And don't even get me started on those US think tanks—those guys probably need blood pressure medication just thinking about this stuff.
It’s a total nightmare scenario for both the USA and China. Imagine Russia teaming up with Germany, and maybe even France too. Honestly, China might be all for it at first, just to screw over the USA, but those communists would quickly realize it doesn't actually serve their interests. That would be one hell of a pact right there.
Chuck is acting like he won some massive trophy. Give me a break, Chuck. 😁
On another note, Nice really went out of her way for me. I definitely owe her a massage at the very least. And man, I know just the kind of massage she’s talking about. 😬 ☕
To those guys from the West Coast—congrats. For the cup. DJ and you chuck, along with everyone else on your side—you guys absolutely crushed it. The highway situation is still a disaster—it's basically 300 potholes to 12 smooth patches. Pathetic.
What’s the deal with our friends at AD Plastic? They’re tied directly to Renault and have production lines running right in Russia. Exactly—and let's be real, there aren't even any sanctions on people actually buying vehicles over there. Plus, what are we going to do about the semiconductor shortage? Modern cars need chips, but everything is being diverted to the military, which is basically cannibalizing parts from washing machines and appliances just to keep up. (And honestly, some European car manufacturers are doing the exact same thing regardless of the war).
AD Plastic is basically toast. The sanctions are going to slowly grind everything down... it'll take more than just the weapons the West is sending over. You're going to see the real impact this fall.
Larry Wilson25 said:It’s all five, rustydrifter10. Can we call the Orcs—or those Chetnik types—the same thing without getting hit? Because back in the day, Zuckerberg and Andrew banned that stuff, but over on Politics, it’s fair game. If we call the Russian military "Orcs," everything goes fine, but if I call the Canadian military "Baliyas," suddenly I’m facing a ban? I was talking about the army, not the people.
You know how I roll—I’ve never been one for that nationalist chatter. I don't care about getting banned, but let's not go around calling the kids in the Russian military Orcs.
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You decide. For me, it’s either "Orcs" or "Chetniks"—which, by the way, is totally fine on Politics—or nothing at all. I honestly couldn't care less. I'm still going to follow this forum and these threads. Go ahead, ask the mods over on Politics.
P.S. If you aren't free, I'd be more than happy to have a chat with the mod who handed me the ban.
This is a damn war, and none of those fallen boys deserve to be called Orcama. I don't necessarily agree with Andrew, but he's got a point.
I’m with rustydrifter10 on this one. Can we call Orcs—or even Chetniks—the same way without getting flagged? I mean, look, Zuckerberg and Andrew have banned those terms in the past, but over on Politics, it’s fair game. If I call the Russian military "Orcs," I get a pass, but if I refer to the Canadian military as "Baliyas," suddenly it's an instant ban? I was talking about the military, not the entire people.
You know me—I’ve never been one to push nationalist rhetoric. Honestly, I don't care about getting banned, but let's not start calling the guys in the Russian army "Orcs."
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You decide. Either I keep using "Orcs" or I keep using "Chetniks"—since that’s still allowed over on Politics. I really couldn't care less. I’m going to keep following the threads and the discussions regardless. Just go ask the moderators over on Politics if you're so worried.
I’m honestly sitting here wondering if my ban was actually justified. Could I get an assessment from Nica? Or maybe even one of the senior mods from the political sub—since Nica is probably swamped right now. This is the first time I’ve been flagged in ten years. Anyway, assuming this is all legitimate... I really feel like some of the newer mods have gone a bit overboard here. Honestly, what a joke. One less user on the board, I guess...
That’s strictly for defense. 56 miles And we're talking nineties tech here—old school! If they set their sights on New York City, it's game over...
Morgan Wright5 said:It isn't so much that the Slovaks were given a Patriot, but rather that the Americans have deployed the Patriot in Slovakia.
It’s a total swap—they've got an active NATO system in place and they’re using it to train the crew. Man, let's just trade our T80s for Merkavas instead! 😬
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I'm kidding, obviously, but they've clearly realized that David's Sling goes to the Arabs, while Ukrainians are a "no-go" when it comes to certain weapons near the Jewish state. That's why there's no heavy shelling on New York City. Because they don't want Israeli tech. They're currently crunching the numbers on where they went wrong with the Javelins and the drones. Look, this is a nation that can put people on the moon—don't you dare underestimate them.
Morgan Wright5 said:I suppose the PHZ isn't really a direct substitute for the Gvozdika, especially since we only have exactly eight of those on hand. As for these grand arrangements where gear is sent off in exchange for Western tech, it feels a bit like counting chickens before they've even hatched.
Maybe if they were looking for cheap hardware, sure. But this? This is basically an IOU from the US. Once Congress signs off on it, the money is officially in the bag. The Slovaks supposedly scored a Patriot system—though who knows which version exactly. Our leadership doesn't stand a chance of pulling that off. Not to mention, even if they did hand over a system, they’d be handing over something they won't even be ready to operate for another two years. Being "ready" isn't just having the machine; you have to actually train, and training costs real money.
The war in Ukraine has definitely kept the factories running, though.
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Now that we're heading into full-on frontal warfare, a lot of this Western "tech" is finally going to see its real-world testing. It would be something if the Jewish community stepped up to help out here, too.
hollowranger122 said:When it comes to heavy hardware, there isn't much of a selection for us to send over to Ukraine: - maybe trading some older Mi-8 helicopters in exchange for a few more Black Hawks, or perhaps negotiating a discount when buying them new - offering up our M-84 tanks—which are actually a step up from those T-72s being sent by the Czechs—instead of asking for a donation of a couple of Abrams - our M-80 IFVs aren't exactly a logistical dream for the Ukrainians, since they’re based on old American designs that mix Soviet and French engineering elements, - using the D-30 howitzer, which is essentially a classic piece of USSR-era weaponry - and honestly, I doubt the Ukrainians are desperate enough for more VBRs to take these in exchange for an American M270
Look, if the Americans offer a trade, we'd probably ship it all out. We'd even give up two Mig fighters if they asked! I mean, our neighbors keep an eye on the skies while we sleep anyway. 😬
By the way, it feels like we're constantly sending stuff over there. Let's just hope we haven't handed over everything we own to those jerks.
--- Man, if we hadn't given them that S-300 for "research" purposes, they'd probably have a full Patriot battalion by now! 😵
Quick question about the SAM 300. There’s actually a version out there that’s basically halfway to being a 400—if you can even call it that. Now, if we're talking about a missile following a ballistic trajectory, maybe a SAM stands a fighting chance—even against an Iskander—though, in theory, it's a slower system. As for the Slovak one? It's probably some relic from the 80s. Could be an S-300V.
Wait, I think I missed something—was there supposed to be a post here? It looks like you just dropped my name! Anyway, I'm around. Just hanging out, thinking about things, probably overthinking them too much—you know how I get—but yeah, I'm here! kaže: And honestly, they probably just left them out in the open—if you want to call it that—basically because they weren't even expecting an invasion in the first place.
Wait, I think that's actually right—hold on. Honestly, when we talk about what’s "state of the art" these days—and I mean really cutting-edge stuff—it feels like everything is moving at a million miles an hour. It's wild! You look at the tech coming out of places like Silicon Valley or the breakthroughs in aerospace, and it's just... wow. One minute you're reading about a standard upgrade, and the next, it's something that feels like pure science fiction. I was actually thinking about this the other day while watching some news coverage—you know, how quickly military tech evolves? Like, one day everyone is talking about basic defense systems, and the next, they're discussing advanced SAMs or high-end Sukhoi jets that make everything else look like relics from the Stone Age. It’s constant. And it's kind of terrifying, if I'm being totally honest—but also incredibly fascinating. Anyway, I digress! My brain just goes there sometimes. But yeah, whether it's consumer gadgets or heavy-duty defense hardware, "state of the art" isn't just a buzzword anymore—it's a moving target that nobody seems to be able to hit for long before it's obsolete. Just a thought! What's actually left of that old Soviet junk they’re just leaving out in the open like that? I mean, only Americans would be bold enough to pull something like that—though even then, we aren't exactly winning any intelligence awards lately. Most of those Russian aviation losses probably happened because they were busy trying to hammer away at SAM sites. And let's be real, a SAM isn't just there to swat planes out of the sky; it can take down an Iskander just as easily.
It would be such a dream if the Turks just handed over some S-400s—imagine that! And in exchange, they get a fleet of 100 F-35s... man, talk about a trade-off. Meanwhile, the Greeks can just sit back and knit black wool. Just a thought! 😬
Is the S-300 even a fixed system? (I mean, Ukraine was sitting on something like 100 SAMs of that type)
Ukraine had around 100 active batteries of S-300 long-range air-defense systems with as many as 300 launchers when Russ widened its war in the country starting the night of Feb. 23.
So, that Slovakian help is basically just a trickle. A slow drip, you know? Like, drop by drop...
Right now, the Brits have been sending over their top-tier gear—which is great, don't get me wrong—but again, it’s just bits and pieces. Nobody is actually sending any tactical, offensive weaponry yet. At least, not as of right now.
Germany really learned the hard way what happens when you ignore American advice for eight straight years. I mean, look—they’re such a wealthy nation, they could've easily built at least eight different LNG terminals to diversify. But no, they decided to put every single egg in one basket. It's honestly wild; they have a massive surplus of billions of dollars just sitting there because they clearly have no clue how to actually spend it effectively. Talk about a massive blunder by what everyone calls the "smartest" country in the EU... And seriously, how is France not absolutely losing their minds right now?
Why on earth did my thread get locked and deleted? It was actually a good one! I really thought we were all looking for some real action here on this Democratic Party forum. 😁 Testing things out.
Over in the United Kingdom, they're estimating there are about 10,000 infections with this new variant. It’s really starting to crawl...
Currently, the United Kingdom has recorded 568 confirmed cases of the variant, but the United States Secretary of Health told US lawmakers Wednesday evening that "we know that the actual number of infections will be significantly higher."
"The CDC estimates that the [current] number of infections will be around 20 times higher than the number of confirmed cases and so the number of infections is closer to 10,000," he said.
Right at the end of the article, the CEO of Pfizer leaves the door open for a fourth dose. Since our Union ordered enough vaccines for the entire human race—plus any extra aliens who might want one—I honestly think we're in the clear, both us folks and the Pfizer shareholders. 😬
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South Africa saw a 111% spike in just one week (general infection rates). For now, deaths aren't following the trend, which is their second-largest wave so far—maybe it's because it's summer there, or maybe it's because of this new strain they claim is already dominant. By all accounts, this thing is going to turn into the biggest wave yet. Usually, hospitalizations and deaths lag behind by about two weeks.
silentfalcon3 said:We really need to establish some priorities here, because the new automated bots and the trolls seem to be becoming much more of an issue...
Honestly, when the government is footing the bill, it's always better than paying for ads.
Look, folks—this forum is old, the owner is old, I'm old, even the women are getting old... and now we're supposed to just welcome some mistyhound94 bringing in all this "new technology"? As if we need fancy new servers or some version of vBulletin 10.012 just to make it run like Reddit.
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If Microsoft suddenly recovered everything they lost on their stock price and decided to totally overhaul the site's format, I bet everyone would start a riot. Personally? I'm perfectly happy typing away on my Nokia with those massive buttons. Texting is king—who cares about WhatsApp, Viber, Snapchat, or Instagram anyway?
So, what’s your deal, man? You want to live in some little bubble of nothing but good vibes? Honestly, I just can't stand those mindless, half-baked criticisms. I've seen enough of them floating around the web and on various forums to last a lifetime. People here overreact way too much to low-level trolling, but—and here's my point—if we start censoring all that garbage, we end up trapped in an echo chamber where everyone just nods and claps for you. That kind of thinking is exactly how you end up becoming a die-hard member of the Republican Party.