Comments by "" (@craigkdillon) on "VisualPolitik EN" channel.

  1.  @ArawnOfAnnwn  You need to update yourself on Japan's military -- especially its navy and air force.
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  2.  @komangpandehariyadi7918  ? you have no idea what you are talking about, do you??
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  3. Taking money from oligarchs is NOT taking it from Russia. The oligarchs already did that. Therefore, it would not have the same effect as the post WW1 reparations imposed on Germany. Russia would benefit from having their oligarchs diminished.
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  4.  @4l.vi.  Not true. Our borders end at the International Date Line to the West, and then the International Date Line to the East. I think that about covers it. Any questions??
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  5.  @Go4Broke247  Russia was going to take Crimea, no matter what. Putin needed Crimea for the naval base at Sevastopol. And he needs Donbass to link to Crimea.
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  6.  @Go4Broke247  Some NATO member countries were involved --- BUT -- those actions were NOT done under the auspices of NATO. The US does NOT need NATO do be a dick.
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  7. If you knew anything of Vietnam's history with China, you would NEVER expect them to be allies, or even close friends. Our war with Vietnam was based on stupidity, ignorance, and some really stupid assumptions about nations, and how they become 'communist". Vietnam and China have been enemies for 2000 years. It won't change soon.
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  8. Another huge source of funds to rebuild Ukraine will come from businesses setting up shop in Ukraine. They will build factories, roads, and homes. In some cases, I would expect them to build the schools and hospitals their workers will need.
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  9.  @LuisRomeroLopez  He is smart. And, within his world view, he is making great decisions. HOWEVER, I don't think Putin's world view is correct. Putin thinks power comes from a gun. Putin thinks wealth comes from resources. Putin thinks in 19th Century terms of "spheres of influence", and mercantilistic trade. He is out of date in his thinking by about 150 years.
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  10.  @bebochek8909  ? 150,000 troops on border is leaving it alone? threatening war is leaving it alone? Making demands that Ukraine cannot fulfill is leaving it alone? What alternate universe do you live in?
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  11.  @bebochek8909  Oh, so this is what a Putin disinformationist sounds like. Have they fixed that water leak in your sub-basement cubicle? BTW.. I heard Putin is going to bring back the names Leningrad and Stalingrad back to their cities.
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  12.  @bebochek8909  Ahh, Utopia. Of course.
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  13.  Vivid3322  That thinking is so 18th century. Putin is thinking like Peter the Great. An out of date world view. Ports don't guarantee trade. Now, trade is guaranteed by GATT, the WTO, and UN Law of the Sea. Now, Russia's ability to trade will be hampered, not by blockade, but by sanctioning Russia's banks and finances. Putin just doesn't get it. The 21st Century is different.
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  14. Nice, but old news. More cutting edge is the developing military relationships between US, Philippines, and Vietnam. In fact, the US might be working on Malaysia and Indonesia since they, too, are threatened by China over the SCS. ASEAN might be looking for military security to protect their developing trade. The next important bit is the future US/Indian relationships. India is buying more arms from US, and US takes part joint naval exercises with India.
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  15.  @lesscringeymapperdude  We are barely involved in India.
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  16. It's terrible. I know everything about the Middle East. Not those other bums. Listen to me, not them. My motto: I never let total ignorance, stop me from being an expert.
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  17. Xi is taking China down a rabbit hole. It seems no one in the CCP can tell him he is making a mistake. Ma tried, and look what happened to him. The decline of China is accelerating. China as the essential hub of global manufacturing and capital is declining. As it declines, that becomes the old China, soon to be in the history books. In a few years, people will be asking what happening to that economic powerhouse?
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  18. One more point about CSIS and war simulations..... US has a history, a long history, of fear mongering to increase defense spending. In the 50's and 60's, we had the missile gap, the bomber gap, and the tank gap. Billions had to be spent on new weapons IN A HURRY, because the Soviet Union was so far ahead of us -- we were told. Well, in actuality, there were no bomber, missile, or tank gaps. It is probably good that we developed the B-52, the Minuteman, and the Abrams tanks. But, we didn't need the lies. The US government does not trust the American people to support the military unless they are scared out of their wits. The current Taiwan and SCS situation with China is the same. China is being built up as a giant, when in reality, it is no such thing. China has many problems with its military.
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  19. Xi does not understand the true power does NOT come from an army or navy. America's power does NOT come from its military. Our power comes from the international organizations, treaties, and partnerships we have around the world. Our military is an expression of that true power. Xi is taking China down a road to disaster. Xi thinks power comes from the gun. Xi has destroyed trade relations with Japan, Australia, India, and others. China needed those countries and their trade. They are leaving China to fend alone. China will become poorer. CCP's heavy boot will make life miserable. China's growing middle class will begin to shrink. Their hopes for wealth and security will be gone.
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  20. Just as Christianity adapted to the modern world, I think the Islam will also adapt -- in time. It took Christianity hundreds of years to adapt. I hope that Islam can do it faster.
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  21. That will happen in a few years, I expect.
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  22. You cannot just snap your fingers and change the culture of a nation. Since Arabians don't have a history of owning their own homes, how will they get that desire to own one?? Americans got it from our agrarian past where people owned their own farms, or wanted to. I doubt this will work.
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  23. China's navy cannot operate continuously on-station around Australia. So, China cannot blockade it. Oh, yeah, that is an act of war, and AUKUS would be activated. China will NOT do that. They are not THAT stupid. I don't think.
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  24.  @testphone8379  I have no clue what your point is. I have no clue what you are saying.
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  25. You look very different with hair. Different voice, too. And, you changed your shirt. Amazing transformation. Much better looking. One could almost think you are not the same person.
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  26. The Ukraine War changed everything. For decades, Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran have been threatening other countries. All this time, those threats were regarded as mere rhetoric being used for domestic propaganda. That is, the threats were not taken as real. Even as Russia gathered troops on Ukraine's border, everyone, including Ukraine, did not believe Russia would actually attack. NOW -- the rhetoric of China and North Korea can no longer be dismissed. Russia is seen as a present and real danger. SO, everyone is arming up. European countries and Asian countries are all buying lots of new stuff. Tanks, jets, helicopters, ships, subs, missiles, artillery, rifles, etc. and etc. are all being acquired.
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  27. Are you serious??
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  28. You act like you never heard of Taiwan's HF2 and HF3 missiles. Taiwan has thousands - on mobile launchers, too. IF China was stupid enough to attempt an invasion, the invasion fleet would be sent to the bottom of the sea before it ever reached Taiwan.
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  29. The future backup of renewable energy will not be fossil fuel plants, but batteries --- I hope. Huge efforts and money is being poured into battery technology. Both charging times and capacity are being worked on. Charging time reduction to make EV's more practical. Capacity to make power plant backup cost effective and practical.
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  30.  @danadurnfordkevinblanchdebunk  Huh? You haven't heard of NiCad batteries then? or, of LiFePo4 batteries? Even the great lead acid battery doesn't go back 200 years. Why don't you check your facts before you post??
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  31.  @danadurnfordkevinblanchdebunk  Then you should know better than to say that there have been no advancements in batteries for 200 years. From your statement, I had concluded that you knew absolutely nothing about them. But, I now see that you are quite familiar. So, I don't see why you would say anything so patently wrong. Why did you say that?
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  32.  @danadurnfordkevinblanchdebunk  BTW..I sell PV systems. You are right about one thing, lead acid batteries can handle surge demand much better than LioN. So, they are used for sump pump backup here in the Midwest --- even if you have solar and batter backup.
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  33.  @danadurnfordkevinblanchdebunk  You make broad and wrong assertions. Your statement that rooftop solar can bring down the grid is just silly. When people are producing their own electricity, and only using the grid as a supplement - that REDUCES load on the grid. How can you not see that? Regarding longevity -- solar panels last DECADES with no maintenance. Don't you know that?? The industry is too young to have developed a reverse supply chain like the car industry now has. It will happen when it becomes necessary.
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  34.  @fukkami6204  Research on batteries using cheaper and less toxic chemicals is happening. Hopefully, it will bring results.
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  35.  @danadurnfordkevinblanchdebunk  Sounds like you have a pitiful system. Being connected to the grid is just like any connection to the grid -- it is simple and nothing to break. Millions of homes across the US never have any problem with grid interconnection. The fact that you have solar is not an issue. As for cleaning snow -- that normally does not have to be done here in Chicago. Yes, we get snow, but we just let nature take care of it. The solar calculations for annual production take into account weather patterns. Now, in the southwest, they have dust, and that is a bigger issue than snow and ice.
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  36.  @danadurnfordkevinblanchdebunk  One more thing, the reason you are tied to the grid is to use grid electricity when you are not producing - like at night, or in winter when you have snow. This should have been explained to you when you bought your system.
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  37.  @danadurnfordkevinblanchdebunk  Actually no. Your system produces excess power during the day, which goes on the grid. Your meter should run backward --- if you have net metering. Then, at night, you use the electricity that you put out on the grid during the day. You sell during the day, and buy it back at night. In IL we have one-to-one net metering, which means the sell and buy prices are the same. So, the utility uses the solar electricity from its customers to help supply daytime peak demand for A/C, etc. I will agree with you on one thing --- you think you know what you are talking about.
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  38. The first question should be === What is the history of China & Russia in Central Asia? What factors contributed to their past conflicts? How have those factors changed? How will those factors develop in the future? Are China & Russia natural enemies, or natural allies?? AFTER you answer those questions, THEN you can put the Shanghai Cooperation Organization into context.
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  39. Unlike Philippines, Vietnam will defend itself.
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  40. So, VisualPolitik supports the right wing agenda. When did VP become a supporter of anti-democratic autocratic parties? The statement "most unpopular president in history" is patently wrong, and stupidly false. Try Herbert Hoover who twiddled while the Great Depression happened. Or, try Richard Nixon who resigned, rather than run again. If polling had been around, I am sure many of the presidents in the 1800's were very unpopular. John Adams was VERY unpopular. But, then, since you know nothing of American History, you would not know that. One thing I cannot stand is insular, pompous, parochial, know-it-all Brit gits, who don't read history of the world making judgements. You don't know what you are talking about . You used to be good. WTF happened to you guys?
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  41. As oil prices permanently drop as Peak Oil Demand happens, the oil rich countries will not be able to maintain their subsidized economies. Saudi Arabia, for instance, produces nothing other countries want, besides oil. When oil demand disappears, what will they do? What can they do? They will be F**KED!! As for their wealth -- I expect the Saudis will squander it, as they currently are with wars in Yemen, and vanity projects that cost billions.
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  42. You forget, the Mongols invaded Russia during the winter, using the frozen rivers like highways for their horses. They succeeded.
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  43.  @ROCnotforsale  How is it a death sentence. I think being very clear to China that any invasion will involve war with US will stop China from being stupid. Besides, IMO, Taiwan already has enough anti-ship missiles to utterly destroy any invasion fleet. Taiwan could easily sink 300 to 500 ships without any help from US or anybody. Taiwan is making 1000 anti-ship missiles per year, BTW.
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  44.  @georgiaguardian4696  yep. We should encourage that.
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  45.  @ROCnotforsale  You don't know Texas or Texans very well, do you?? Texas already dominates the US. Why would it give up the gravy train??
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  46.  @ROCnotforsale  Your attitude.
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  47.  @baurdt  You want a reason for the US to have a base in Taiwan?? With over 1000 bases worldwide, I have no fear that our military and politicians can come up with several reasons for bases in Taiwan. We need forces to protect our trade. We need forces to perform reconnaissance and surveillance. We need forces there to train your forces. We need forces there to protect our forces there. We need forces there to protect our other forces coming there for R&R. I am just getting started --- need I go on??
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  48.  @davidrichards1741  Nah. We took it. Fair and square.
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  49. BTW folks, if China & India have nuclear war -- the whole planet loses. Nuclear winter would make the planet inhospitable. Crops would fail for several years -- globally. Radiation would go worldwide. The global population would plummet -- from 9 Billion to ??? Billions would die -- not just the people in India and China. People in Africa, South American, North America, and Europe would die, too. However, I don't see how any of us can stop India and China from going to war, if they want it.
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  50.  @jacobl5488  Be realistic. How else can the US keep the world safe?? The world needs our bases. It's the least we can do. No need to thank us. Glad to do it. You're welcome.
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