Comments by "Halfdan Ingolfsson" (@Halli50) on "DW News" channel.

  1. Recessions and even full depressions come and go, they seem to be an integral part of modern living, more's the pity. All that most of us have to do is live a bit more frugally for some years. Unfortunately, that does not apply to all of us. Some people will be hit much harder than others, especially the displaced. For example, I imagine the Ukrainians have worse things to worry about than a pesky little recession...
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  2. The irony: The US is now "on par" with Africa, a continent of developing nations. The US, formerly a developed nation, is fast progressing from being a flawed democracy to being an outright Banana Republic.
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  3. What boggles my mind is why the Chinese ship that "mysteriously" switched off it's position reporting equipment when it crossed these cables was not forcibly detained and a forensic investigation of it's anchors made to determine if there were any trace materials from the cables to be found on them. If found, the ship's officers and owners would be in for a world of hurt! Ships from that shipping line should be banned from European waters for at least a decade! Frankly, ships from China passing through European waters should have to pay the expense of an escort vessel that ensures they cannot get away with this kind of sabotage.
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  4. By all accounts, Olaf Scholz is "speaking with a forked tongue".
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  5. The real irony is the fact that Mother Earth has undergone massive climate changes for millions of years, changes that make what we are facing now seem like child's play. We may (or may not) be instrumental in causing the current changes but, when all is said and done, we are just along for the ride. Just about the only certainty we face now is the fact that whatever our influence on the current changes can NOT be changed by us - we are too greedy and superficial to be able to undo our actions.
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  6. Question: Where are the vaunted long-range artillery pieces, the loads of artillery rounds and the counter-battery artillery radar equipment promised to Ukraine "on-air"? Really meaningful weapons support from the west that is useful in deed but useless in speech only. Strangely, the normally dragging-their-feet German Chancellor Scholtz was blunt when he stated that, in effect, Russia cannot be allowed to win this war. If that happens, Putin (or his successor) will be on the doorsteps of the Baltic countries or Poland within a decade, with a much more efficient and dangerous military force. Russia must be stopped and neutralized NOW! There is no point in invading Russia, all we need to do is to isolate it and starve it until the endemic corruption is gone forever.
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  7. Yep, a really, REALLY smart move! Brazil went from being a non-player to being second-to-none in just a few weeks. Just about the only positive part of this nonsense is the fact that Bolsanero is actually performing slow and painful Hara-Kiri politically. He cannot possibly survive the disaster he refused to allow the nation to properly prepare for.
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  8. I think the Aussie/Kiwi relationship is very much like the relationship between the Nordic countries. Mutual trust and acceptance. Hard work and discipline have allowed this - virtually Covid-free bubbles. Make no mistake: The Kiwis and Aussies will come down HARD at the first sign of infections coming from abroad! In a few months, when a sufficient proportion of the population has been vaccinated, restrictions can be relaxed. There are a few blocks of idiotic regimes that think the time for relaxing restrictions is NOW - notably the US, the EU and the UK. They are currently suffering the consequences.
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  9. Celebrating Christmas twice is a good idea, a double feel-good celebration cannot go amiss in Ukraine. Future attendance will drift in either direction, the direction the Ukrainian people will eventually want to go, and older people can enjoy their lifelong traditions as long as they want to.
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  10. While someone experienced from the Netherlands would be a good and trusted candidate, having a woman from a former Soviet-oppressed country is REALLY tempting. Women are mankind's nest-makers, and they are also the most fierce defenders of the nest!
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  11. Various countries have their own local/traditional names for other countries. So far, no one has minded - until juvenile tantrum-thrower Dictator Erdogan (a.k.a. Gollrur) needed a distraction from the disaster his policies are visiting on the country he rules with an iron fist: The most important issue of all issues is the fact that the modern name for Türkiye in English is Turkey - which happens to be the English name for the large chicken species Meleagris that e.g. Nordic nations call "Kalkun". To my knowledge, the people of Turkey/Türkiye/Tyrkland or whatever people call this particular nation do not really care - the only Turk that seems the have his knickers in a twist is Dictator Erdogan - but,then again, he is in dire need of something, ANYTHING that will distract his countrymen from the fact that his economic and religious policies are ruining Turkey/Türkiye/Tyrkland. Erdogan is becoming openly ridiculous! In my country (Iceland), Turkey/Türkiye has always been called "Tyrkland", and the old Norse name for Istanbul has always been "Mikligarður" (lit. Great Garden). Is juvenile Erdogan about to throw a tantrum over local naming conventions for his ancient country, one of the cradles of civilization? Methinks you Turks (NOT Turkeys!) need to start thinking about electing a more rational leader... The funny thing: Turkey (Türkiye) as a nation has been doing fine - it is mostly on the ridiculous Erdogan political and economic front that the country has been floundering.
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  12. Supplying western fighters and the training/logistics necessary to Ukraine: Better late than never! It may be so late already the the impact will not be immediate in kicking Russia out of Ukraine, but it will definitely be an important factor in the aftermath, because the Russian monster will have to be kept at bay for years to come.
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  13. Al the nations bordering the Baltic sea and around Europe in general (except the culprits, Russia and China, of course) should establish laws that impose harsh punishments for vessels and officers that cause "accidental" damage to undersea cables anywhere. The minimum would be the instant confiscation of the vessel in question and harsh punishment for ALL officers of said vessels. Add to that harsh punishments to the owners of the vessels as well by, say, banning ALL vessels owned by them from operating in European waters for a long time (a decade?).
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  14. For Ukrainians to temporarily "celebrate" western Christmas as an act of defiance is understandable, but it is very unlikely they will permanently ditch centuries of orthodox traditions just because they are Russian traditions as well. Ukrainians may be learning to hate Russia and anything Russian, but old traditions are resilient and have little to do with contemporary disputes.
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  15. We Icelanders are pretty chill about this as it is, after all, what we are used to. Educated interpretations of our volcanic history indicate the we are in for some interesting times for the next 2-3 centuries, the last time something similar happened was 800 years ago, and that one lased more than a couple of centuries. I seem to recall that there were over 30 eruptions recorded then (eruption rate of approximately one eruption every 8-12 years). We have now had 4 eruptions in 3 years, so this round seems to be starting with a bang. There is always the possibility of an eruption & associated lava flows popping up REALLY close to densely populated areas. Places like Hafnafjörður (just south of Reykjavik) is literally built on an extensive old lava field. I live in the West Fjords and over 25 years ago the people in the Reykjavik area were rightly ridiculing us for the idiocy of building our towns in avalanche-risk areas, but we are having the last laugh: Now we can ridicule them for building their towns on top of an active volcano!
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  16. This will be interesting. Macron has been very decisive regarding the Russia/Europe dilemma and, by what little Merz has said, he seems to of a similar mindset. By all appearances, Putin and his minion, Trump, appear to be in for a rude awakening...
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  17. DW, get your facts straight! Today (Oct.12 JH data) Portugal has vaccinated 157 329 pr. 100 000. Iceland has vaccinated 163 658 pr. 100 000. Portugal has certainly done well, but they are NOT the world leader in vaccinations against Covid.
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  18. Har, har - Austria, the country that allowed the Ischgl super-infecting event to happen is turning it's nose up at German visitors? Talk about hipocracy! The current problem: The slavery being practiced in establishments like these meat plants (in Germany, the US and elsewhere) has to be brought under control. The simple fact that this is exists in Germany AT ALL only tells us that political corruption is alive and well, even in Germany.
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  19. Latvia's President is a diplomat, using very gentle words for Olaf the Waffle. If it were up to me, I would come straight out and ask Olaf the Waffle: What kind of "Compromat" does Putin have on you or is what he is paying you really worth it? Good job the European leaders are diplomats and I am just an opinionated nutjob with no influence, grumbling in my own corner. I would no doubt have started WW3 a long time ago if I had any influence. If anything, I wonder how much Putin is paying this DW interviewer for the loaded questions he is asking! He is certainly doing a good job emphasizing the seeds of uncertainty Putin is trying to sow. This begs yet another question: Are there many more Germans (other than Olaf the Waffle and this DW interviewer) that are plugging for Russia?
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  20. The Turkish people are now reaping as they sowed when they elected Erdogan. We can feel sorry for the part of the Turkish nation that did not, but as for the rest...
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  21. The UK is hardly the world leader in sequencing if they only sequence 10% of all positive Covid cases. Iceland sequences ALL positive Covid cases, 100%!
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  22. I have seen at least one other DW clip where this same "reporter" (Juri Rescheto) is doing what he is doing here: Unashamedly pushing Putin's talking points! By all appearances, DW is becoming Putin's lapdog, at least Juri Rescheto comes across as a Russian agent.
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  23. The Vice-Clown of the United States has spoken - and was NOT impressive! Then again, he is just echoing the nonsense the Main Clown of the United States has been spouting. A speech like this, given to a collection of the most serious politicians and diplomats on the globe is actually, at best, a mediocre piece of stand-up comedy, where the comedian (the Vice-Clown) makes an absolute fool of himself. 'Murica just earned itself a major setback - how can we respect a nation led by clowns like this?
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  24. I have gone skiing in Italy for years, in the Selva and Madonna regions (where the virus eventually found fertile grounds for spreading), and it was only by blind luck that I was there some weeks before the outbreak started. I hope all the lovely Italians I have met during my many and pleasant visits to this ebullient country are doing reasonably well, and I am looking forward to visiting them again once this is over.
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  25. What is worrying is the fact that the US is a country that managed to elect someone like Trump to it's highest office. The US is hardly what we can call a "stable partner" these days, with the madcap political system they have.
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  26. Germany's reluctance to engage in military conflict is to be respected and honored, given their history, but the current situation is apparently blowing that stance out of the water. Germany is now facing the current reality, and I am sure they will make sensible decisions that will be based on democratic and humanitarian principles.
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  27. ...and here I was, thinking the road to corruption was paved with GOLD! Deutsche Bank is the worst KNOWN offender, and NONE of their executives will be held accountable. Or will they, eventually...? Icelandic Banksters were held accountable in a small way, maybe some of the Big Boys will end up in jail, but the chances are small. After all, a LOT of politicians all over the world are implicated and they will make damned sure that any potential whistle-blowers will go the way of Jeffery Epstein. Making money by assassinating people is illegal and will not be tolerated by corrupt politicians in ANY country - after all, they themselves could be the next target. Making profits by laundering money is just as illegal but the burden of proof is high and sentences are minor - all thanks to the politicians that are part of the whole spiel.
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  28. Finland certainly has the balls to stand up to Putin's Russia's bullying when legally warranted. Unfortunately, other western countries are proving to be yellow chickens in that regard.
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  29. Turkey's and Hungary's resistance certainly delayed Finland's and Sweden's accession. Erdogan and Orban may have gained so "bribes" in the process, but I believe that they have ruined their own credibility within NATO and Western cooperation in general. They are now, at worst, suspected Putin collaborators or, at best, proved themselves to be corrupt and petty dictators that are like square pegs trying to fit into a round hole. Unfortunately, NATO's most important member is ALSO in a similar position, the US is tethering on the edge of an abyss: Democracy, Fascism or Theocracy - or going outright to Authoritarianism, i.e. follow Putin's Russia into total corruption and dictatorship.
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  30. It is becoming increasingly clear which western leader is Putin's most important ally: Olaf "the Waffle" Scholtz and the German "ruling elite". I am sure that a thorough investigation into their collective finances would turn up interesting money coming from the east...
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  31. The lunatics have taken over the US of A asylum.
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  32. The irony of Waffle Scholtz: Lots of assistance, assuredly just too little, too late (someone had better look into Scholtz's history and finances, there is something very fishy going on with that guy). I predict that Europe and NATO will have to meet a better-prepared Russia again on some other European battlefield within a decade if Putin gains even an inch in this conflict. The only remedy is to ensure that Putin's Russia is defeated soundly this time around. When Putin is dead and gone, Russia must be kept isolated and sanctioned to the hilt while his successors bash themselves to bankruptcy and death. Russia will only be fit to rejoin the community of nations when it has become a genuine democracy - and THAT will take generation or two (25-50 years).
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  33. The "minerals deal" was a blatant attempt to steal the resources of an embattled country. A typical extortion racket, as can only be expected by a mobster like Trump. What ensued was a so-called superpower trying to bully Ukraine into a "deal" only rotten individuals like Toddler Trump and Vance could dream of. This was a showdown that forces everyone to face the facts: NATO now has only 31 member nations. It will take a moment for the remaining nations to tool up to face Putin's Russia, but they WILL!
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  34. I find it ironic how US Generals are willing to play "Backseat Generals" in the Ukrainian struggle, while at the same time the US has been dragging it's feet supplying really meaningful weapons like longer-range guided/precision munitions and even allowing other NATO members supplying equipment for proper air support (F-16s and associated infrastructure). Whatever the reason for US reluctance, the end result could still be "too little, too late". Even a layman like me can guess what the Ukrainians are trying to do: Cut off the land bridge between Russia and Crimea before the muddy season sets in.
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  35. The Nordstream pipeline destruction was beneficial to Ukraine, no mistake about that, but Ukraine is extremely unlikely to have had the capabilities and resources to execute it. You also have to be brain-dead o miss the fact that before this conflict started, there was one nation that was strenuously opposed to Nordstream 2: The US! They therefore clearly had a motivation and, more important, the capabilities to do it. In fact, the most unlikely suspect, at least motivation-wise, would be Russia. If, however, this turns out to be true, even partly, it would be an impressive feat to pull it of with only 6 persons and a yacht. Wealthy Ukrainians or the Ukrainian government? Does really matter?
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  36. Boeing, once the standard-bearer for good engineering and aviation safety, have rather obviously become a "profits first, screw everything else" company. They keep getting more egg on their faces at every iteration.
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  37. Ukraine and ISIS are EXTREMELY unlikely bedfellows. Well, if any nation was likely to be ready to facilitate the escape of a group terrorizing Russians within Russia's borders, it would be Ukraine. Did Ukraine take an active role in facilitating this terrorist attack? Not likely but not unlikely either, seeing that Ukraine is fighting a war for it's survival against Putin's Russian aggression. At this stage, ANYTHING (except outright war crimes) is allowed for Ukraine in their fight for survival. Personally, I think Russia is effed for decades to come, very few civilized nations will just want them OUT OF HERE! The combination of apathy and cruelty of the Russian nation is only matched by 'Murican apathy and cruelty.
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  38. Many everyday Russians are delusional due to no fault of their own, they have been treated like mushrooms: Kept in the dark and fed on bullshite. When Russia has lost this war and Putin is history, those everyday Russians will finally be able to access actual facts about the devastation Putin has visited on the Ukrainian nation AND the well-documented war crimes committed in Russian-held areas. I have a sneaky suspicion that the Russian nation will have some nasty surprises sprung on them, much like the German nation had to face some nasty surprises following WW2. I doubt the Russians will face it as squarely as the Germans did (and still do).
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  39. If anyone thinks the US has been the main Global Bully in recent decades, they are absolutely correct - BUT, they ain't seen nothing yet! China is fast taking over as the main Global Bully. The US's bullying will be seen as a picnic whin China really gets into it's bullying stride. China is genuinely autocratic, while the US has only been wannabe autocratic so far.
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  40. And 'Muricans actually still DARE call the US the greatest country that ever was? The US is obviously the most broken and mismanaged country in the last few centuries, and US elites are about to pay the price when the whole scam finally explodes in their face - in other words, there is a national uprising. We're just seeing the beginning of that. The police and even the military will be powerless if this ends up a French-revolution-scale uprising.
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  41. Should "the West" be worried? Nah, China know on which side it's bread is buttered. While a massive country like China is understandably not content with the dominant role the US has been playing for almost a century, their near future prosperity does NOT lie in supporting Putin at any cost. The "West" has a combined population of around 1 billion citizen and are the most developed countries in the world, with the greatest purchasing power and technical know-how.
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  42. One has to wonder how many former US allies have be made into disgusted skeptics, if not outright enemies before this is all over.
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  43.  @yaxl , the unwilling Russians being drafted have the same dilemma as the Ukrainians, they will forced into trying to kill each other. No good will come from that.
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  44. We should all be relieved that the corruption and infighting within the Russian ruling class virtually ensures that Russia as we know it now will collapse fairly soon. The bad news: Whatever might rise from the ashes will be no improvement! Russia is so beyond salvation, it will take generations to even begin to establish a Russian society that just might, eventually, be fit to be considered a civilized nation. The 'Murican Brigadier General interviewed here is scary: All he seems to care about is how an authoritarian could/should shore up his grip on power. This guy would be a shoe-in for whatever fascist leader the 'Murican conservatives hope to install.
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  45. Looks like Trump is now reaping as he has sowed...
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  46. What a relief, one wishes Nigeria would close off all internet connections immediately! That would cut down the global internet crime by a really significant amount!
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  47. What further proof is needed to show how dysfunctional the right-wing loonies in 'Murica have become? This is likely to cause the end of the US experiment, and the process will be slow and painful for the entire world. An example; The Soviet Union fell apart and died over 30 years ago, but Russia is still convulsing in the death throes of the USSR, much to the detriment of the entire world. The fall of the USA will take even longer and be more painful that that.
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  48. he 787 upset is most likely due to severe CAT (Clear Air Turbulence) that cannot be blamed on the aircraft. Let this be a lesson to the passengers that were injured: ALWAYS keep your seat belt on while seated! Regarding the quality issues that are about to dismantle Boeing: Whatever they do is likely a case of Too Little, Too Late!
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  49.  @pedromartins8665 , this is not a pissing contest I want to have. Iceland and Portugal (and many other European nations) have done well regarding Covid vaccinations. Exactly who is at the top of the pile at any given moment is irrelevant! I left a comment here with a link to the official Icelandic Covid website to boast about our 88% vaccination rate for citizens 12 and older (but only 75% when you also count in those not yet eligible for vaccination, i.e. children younger than 12), but apparently YouTube is now deleting all and any comments containing internet links. Screw them. Again, this is not a pissing contest worth having.
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  50.  @pedromartins8665 , right -I'm all pissed out. Cheers!
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  51. This red-jacketed NATO spokesperson just confirmed that NATO is a useless paper tiger - it will not stand by any of it's declared promises. As a native of a founding NATO member, I find this a chilling realization! This particular NATO spokesperson came across as a Putin advocate: Appeasing Putin is the main, possibly the only goal of NATO! Apparently, Putin has succeeded in dividing NATO...
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  52. Bild actually has a point, if China had been up front and clear about the outbreak the moment they came out of denial, the pandemic MIGHT have been handled better in e.g. Italy and the US. Chances are, however, that early transparency on behalf of China would have changed nothing at all. Criticizing China for this is one thing and probably necessary, but expecting anything more is completely unrealistic.
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  53. What is striking is that, following a go-around, the crew apparently decided ignore the standard procedure of entering a holding pattern, troubleshoot and carefully prepare for a landing with whatever problems they had mitigated to the extent possible. Instead, they attempted a rushed landing in a clean configuration, which is incomprehensible - unless they were watching the hydraulic pressure on all 3 systems bleeding off, which would soon deprive them of all flight controls... The tail section was more or less intact, so the CVR and FDR will be able to tell the real story in a couple of weeks.
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  54. The German "historical concerns" would only make sense in a direct confrontation between Germany and Russia. German support of Ukraine fighting off the Russians only serves to delay, even prevent such direct confrontation which will become inevitable if Russia is not stopped dead in Ukraine. Olaf "the Waffle" Scholtz's reticience make one wonder if he is just a chicken or if he is in some way beholden to Putin.
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  55. Every vessel entering he Baltic Sea has to pass through narrow Danish territorial channels, Storebælte and Öresund. It seem like a no-brainer to stop every suspicious vessel passing through and check their insurance and seaworthiness - apparently most of the Shadow Fleet will be unable to pass even a cursory inspection, and should not be allowed to proceed into the Baltic Sea unless all seaworthiness issues are corrected. That would put a crimp on Russian and Chinese hybrid warfare.
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  56. Watch this Chinese face carefully: This is the face of a Chinese Liar! He talks "with a forked tongue". A "face" never to be regained. China intends to follow Putin by conquering Taiwan (let's see how that goes) and then go on to further territorial conquests. Putin was premature and I believe China will also be premature in it's global conquest.
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  57. Ironic - "Turkovac" is the SECOND Covid vaccine invented by Turks! The so-called "Pfizer" vaccine was developed by Turkish emigrants to Germany, only to be taken over my 'Murican Big Pharma. Let's hope Turkey's own personal leaders (Gollum's) judgement regarding virological issues is not as hopeless as his economic judgement.
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  58. One has to wonder what it will take for the EU to kick Orban's Hungary out of the European Union.
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  59. The grievances within the US population is decades old. The difference now is the simple fact that now there are tens of millions of citizens without a job, without health insurance and, most important, without any realistic hope for a better future, given the current situation. The conditions are approaching pre-1790 France (let them eat cake!), something that led to most of the French aristocracy literally losing their heads - in a Guillotine. It is only a question of time when the elite/billionaires start losing their heads - figuratively, in a country awash with assault-style weapons, Guillotines are relics of the past, who needs them with all the guns and ammo available at your fingertips? The Billionaire Elites better make a run for it NOW! Their time is nigh, and where can they run to?
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  60. Join the EU? A silly idea - but a good beginning would be to start cutting reliance on a madcap nation like 'Murica and reinforcing trade relations with reliable and consistent partner nations, the other NATO nations being a good beginning. Europe will welcome trade with a sensible nation like Canada.
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  61. ​ @朱佳鑫-i4w  China is an East Asian country that is covertly supporting Putin's European war efforts, thus directly meddling in European affairs! What was the nationality of the vessel that "accidentally" dropped it's anchor on some undersea cables and dragged it until the cables snapped? It was CHINESE! Don't even TRY to play the innocent here!
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  62. Apparently Russian military planners have screwed up big-time: Tanks that have penetrated "enemy" territory but are now out of fuel and out of ammunition are simply sitting ducks. The teenagers manning them can only abandon them before the local Ukrainians blow them up. The question remains: This has vast economic consequences! Will the International Community eventually make Russia pay for the damage they have done! Lives lost, equipment damaged, resources obliterated. The reclamation of everythin that was damaged by Russia will HAVE to compensated for! The best bet is to have the Russian Kleptocrats do the initial payments, at least until their assets are exhausted.
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  63. True, the unprovoked war in Ukraine cannot be blamed on ALL Russians, but the fact remains that ALL Russians will be tarred with the same brush as their government. The Russian nation failed to hang on to their democracy somewhere along the line, and are now stuck with having enabled Putin, whether they liked it or not. Russia has Putin and 'Murica had Trump, Hungary has Orban and Turkey has Erdogan. One wonder where this whole mess will end.
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  64. What the entire assembly SHOULD have done was to stand up and walk away... The problem: They were probably too shocked to react in any meaningful manner! Now these serious politicians and diplomats will have had time to digest what the Vice-Clown of 'Murica said AND to formulate appropriate responses, I think tomorrow (15.feb.'25) be a bleak day for Main-Clown Trump and 'Murica as a nation on the international arena. A nation obviously led by clowns, a nation no one can take seriously. Hats off for the German Defense Minister for not hiding his disdain for the nonsense the Vice-Clown of 'Murica was spouting!
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  65. 30 years ago I personally saw the UN "in action" in a country in severe need of relief (South Sudan in late 19809 and Angola in the early 1990s). My conclusion: The UN is a useless bureaucracy that rarely, if ever, gets anything right. The individuals may mean well, but thy cannot help it: The older an organization gets, the more corrupt it becomes. The UN is currently a quagmire of corruption and should go the way of The League of Nations, i.e. be put down. Something useful can be organized in it's place, but care should be taken to ensure the reorganization of such an entity at least every 50 years.
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  66. 'Murica is failing miserably as a reliable NATO member but, fortunately, Europe is stepping into the breach. Regardless, 'Murica's image is severely tarnished among the other western nations.
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  67. I still believe that Scholz's supplication to Putin's Russia is just as suspicious as Trump's supplication at the time. Does Putin have some "compromat" to control Trump and Scholz or did he have other means of control? The stink is pervasive. It is hard to believe that the M1 Abrams is limited to kerosene only - a turbine will happily run on just about anything that produces a flame, it will be the fuel feed system that has to be adapted, from pre-heaters (cruder fuels) through pumps, fuel control units and injection nozzles. I find it hard to believe that the M1 is unable to run on diesel or, in a pinch, gasoline for some limited amount of time. The venerated PT6 turboprop aircraft engine, normally run on kerosene (Jet-A1) will happily run on AVGAS (gasoline), but the fuel pumps will need maintenance every 50 hours.
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  68. The Ukrainian MP is hardly ungrateful to the West, but she is clearly disappointed - and justifiably so. Most western leaders seem too timid and unwilling to face the fact that if Putin gains anything from this instead of paying the consequences for his actions, he (or his successors) will regroup, fix their military and be back attacking their former vassal states within a decade. The leaders of the Baltic countries certainly realize this. The Russian leaders and their military are turning out to be absolute monsters, with no regard for human life.
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  69. Chucking the Trump Chaos Regime might be a step in the right direction regarding the US's relations to it's former allies, but there is a long-term problem: Trump ascending to power in 2016 AND the fact that the 2020 elections were a close call is driving home the realization that the US is leaning heavily toward Fascism! Trump was a symptom, not the disease, and unless there are massive and structural changes in the US (unlikely under Biden) it is only a question of time until another despot comes along and manages to "Make America Alone Again".
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  70. What status do Russian-born inhabitants of the Baltic countries have there? Are they Baltic state citizens or Russian citizens? I ask because I don't know. If they are Russian citizens, not Baltic, they will turn out to be a great danger to the Baltic states, willingly or unwillingly, because Putin WILL eventually use them as an excuse to invade the Baltic countries if he is not stopped now. I think the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) should NOW start thinking about how to peacefully eliminate this problem. Have ethnic Russian Baltic citizens swear allegiance to their Baltic country or else move to Russia? That would be a rather brutal approach, but we are now watching the consequences of NOT tackling the problem now in some way right now.
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  71. All this bruhaha about future events are drowning out the major CURRENT issues: Turkey has proven itself to be an unreliable and untrustworthy partner of the Western nations - or rather, ERDOGAN is now a "leader" that his allies cannot trust, a mini-dictator that has no future in the European context. That, however, pales in comparison to Hungary's Orban! Is he a Putin puppet or just a blatant extortionist? Either way, his credibility is now in the gutter.
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  72. Sadly the 'Murican Media as well as the 'Murican Public has the attention span of a Gnat. The result of a trial in this case will not be clear for at least more than a year. Fortunately there are at least two more investigations into far more serious crimes that are well along, and hopefully both indictments and specially the trials in those cases will be more expedient.
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  73. Being ignorant in military matters (but not technical stuff) my understanding is that the tricky part about the British cruise missiles, seeing that they are air-launched, would be to adapt them to being launched from Russian-built aircraft. Providing/updating targeting information to the missiles, not to mention the hard point attachment must have been a challenge, but the Ukrainians have proved a long time ago that they are wizards at such challenges - especially in wartime when bureaucratic issues can simply be ignored. If it works, go for it! Just consider the use they have made of everyday, ordinary commercial quad-copter drones! I would be VERY surprised if some Ukrainian pilots have not already been training on various western fighters (F16, Euro-Fighter, Rafael etc.) for the inevitable eventuality that these aircraft will be made available to Ukraine.
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  74.  @specialK319319 , you are not the only one to be biased. I think almost the entire West is rooting for Ukraine!
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  75. True or not, this makes some sense, at least regarding motive. If true and if this was actually done using a small yacht, there was probably a lot of improvisation and ingenuity involved.
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  76. While the security problems with Europe's dependence on Russian gas are clear, it has not been clear why the 'Muricans (of all interested entities) are losing their marbles over Nordstream 2. One would think that would be a worry for Germany, not 'Murica. Has there perhaps been a business issue, would the US be wanting to sell LNG to Europe? Well, this discussion is moot now, anyway. The hazards of becoming dependent on Putin's Russia for just about ANYTHING has now become crystal clear.
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  77. Isn't Davos a meeting of the greediest and richest people in the world? Why should we take anything coming from it seriously?
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  78. As a retired airline pilot, I am astounded that Russia has the cheek to fly unannounced into international airspace, without a flight plan and transponders turned off. They are a grave danger to international air traffic everywhere and should be treated as a terrorist act by a terrorist nation - Russia! Given recent developments, such illegal flights could plausibly be either forced to land and confiscated or, alternatively, be simply shot down! Russia has become a global threat and should be dealt with as such. The NATO nations may be woefully unprepared for WW3, but plucky little Ukraine has already staggered the previously assumed-to-be-mighty Russia! Putin's Russia is already on it's hind feet, mainly due to it's inbred corruption, and there is no doubt which side will be quicker to ramp up military production when politicians finally face the fact that Putin actually sowed the seeds for WW3 in 2014, and arrogantly assumed he had the EU by it's "energy needs" balls in 2022. The whole thing has now exploded in his face, and it is up to Putin and Russia to call off WW3 - or bring it on to it's full conclusion, with Russia's abject defeat and total isolation. Even crazed Putin must realize that he cannot prevail against virtually the entire developed world!
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  79.  @mariaeriksson1635 , there are no doubt a number of other countries that are willing and able and willing to do this.
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  80. A relatively new vessel, registered/owned by Bulgaria? Initial evidence screams "guilty"! The EU has to nail Bulgarian officials to the wall and issue warrants for the owners of the vessel - not to mention confiscating the vessel as insurance against the damage caused by their sabotage. The main export of Bulgaria has always been organized crime as left behind by the USSR. The EU would be criminally negligent not factoring in the destructive intent of chronically corrupt countries like Hungary and Bulgaria.
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  81. The only time the "one for all" NATO decree was invoked was when puny 'Murica got a bloody nose - and the other NATO nations did their duty. 'Murica is clearly stating that they will NOT honor their obligations, so the obvious next step is for all the former NATO allied nations to close down any and all 'Murican military bases in Europe.
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  82. Erdogan is trying to use the Sweden/Finland NATO application for his own petty and dictatorial gain regarding the Kurds. Sweden and Finland can easily reciprocate by promising to block Turkey's EU application, primarily due to Erdogan's suppression of genuine democracy in Turkey. But, bottom line: The UK has already assured defensive support for Sweden during the no-brainer application process. If the other main nations (The US, Germany, France etc.) were to promise the same guarantees, Erdogan's shenanigans would be moot, anyway. While NATO is stuck in a rut regarding this issue, the EU is unlikely to tolerate dictatorial countries like Erdogan's Turkey and Orban's Hungary. The EU probably has no issue with the NATIONS of Turkey and Hungary, it's just the current regimes that have no future within an alliance like the EU and NATO.
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  83. Macron already put forward a plan regarding the MAD situation: Seeing that European nuclear weapons are not long-range standoff (not counting the UK submarines), they should all be moved much closer to Russia, to Germany or Poland, not to mention the Baltics. That way, Putin's constant nuclear sabre-rattling is countered: If Putin does ANYTHING with his nuclear weapons, Russia is toast - without the useless 'Muricans being involved at all! Who needs 2000 megaton nukes when just 5 small ones (kiloton range) will do the job?
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  84. Isn't this a case of "Good riddance to bad rubbish"?
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  85. By now we all know what a "Russian Training Mission" is all about. Best to blow it out of the water before it can fire a single missile, preferably before it gets anywhere near the Mediterranean.
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  86. I am convinced that Olaf Scholtz is like Trump: He is either a Putin-wannabe OR Putin has some serious "compromat" on both of them. If Scholtz is giving in recently, it is likely because he would otherwise be pissing into tornado-level wind that would only get him wet with his own piss. Only time will tell if I am wrong or if Scholtz (and Trump) were Putin "assets".
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  87. Watching the atrocities committed by the Russians in Ukraine makes it very easy to start hating ANYTHING Russian, even ordinary Russians that are innocent of all this. Anything Russian will be tainted by this for decades to come.
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  88. Minimum washing temperature of 60°C? Here I thought that if you wash your homemade, inefficient mask it was the detergent (soap) that killed any potential virus contamination, not the heat. If washing your hands for >20 seconds is sufficient to kill most viruses, one would think that a washing machine cycle of >30 minutes would do the same job, regardless of the temperature. After all, you are supposedly practicing perfect virus hygiene by washing your hands thoroughly for more than 20 seconds, using water between 20-40°C (60°C would scald you!).
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  89. There is no way around it: 'Murica has been an increasingly unreliable partner for decades, and what happened after Trump came to power in 2016 took it to another level. The NATO nations simply have to prepare to go without 'Murica within the next 4 years, and the western world will never be the same. Even worse: Germany has also been dragging it's feet, and it looks as even if Putin's Ukraine gambit blew up in his face and NATO is stronger than ever, Putin still appears to be in a position to drive a wedge between the NATO countries after all - by using Trump, his overt operative.
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  90. Western politicians are slowly beginning to admit that their support to Ukraine has been barely sufficient to prevent defeat, something like "as little as possible, as late as we can get away with". They seem to be starting to realize that if the West does not properly and timely support Ukraine to WIN this fight and totally repel Putin's Russia, they will have to do a "Take 2" within a decade, this time against a reorganized, less corrupt and stronger Russian military. Defeating, repealing and humiliating Putin's Russia now is the cost-effective option, having to fight a full-blown WW3 in a decade will be infinitely more costly.
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  91. The Ukrainians have already shown that they take to new and complex western weapon systems like fish to water. Those that trot out the "too complicated for the Ukrainians" card are pissing into the wind and can, in fact, be suspected of pulling Putin's wagon. A quiet look into their finances is quite likely to turn up some Russian money... On the flip side, Ukraine suffers from being a former Soviet state - rampant corruption that was still going strong even after Yanukovych, the last Putin Puppet was deposed. Corruption is a generation-spanning problem and whoever becomes the leader of Ukraine after the war will have his/her job cut out: To join the EU, at least the most overt corruption must be rooted out. As for the more covert corruption, the EU itself is the leader of THAT particular game.
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  92. Apparently US voters are like a herd of sheep: Mindless, ignorant, apprehensive and always on the verge of stampeding at the least provocation.
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