International Politics Thread

[Volphied]

so don’t expect any antagonism.

Tell that to this crazy GOP lady:

as well as the power to investigate where the money is used and any possible corruption in the use of that money.

Speaking of corrupt money...

 

[Volphied]

President Zelenskiy is in the White House, meeting President Biden.



Compare it to three years ago, when Zelenskiy was visibly dying inside as he watched Trump spewing horseshit from his mouth.



It's simply incredible how much of a colossal clown Trump was. It goes without saying that the Ukrainian people are extremely lucky that Putin's useful idiot lost to Biden in 2020.

 

[Volphied]

Incredibly speech by President Zelenskiy in Congress

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has given a defiant address to a joint session of the US Congress in which he vowed that his country would never abandon its resistance to Russian aggression – but said that Washington’s continued support is key to ultimate victory.

Zelenskiy was received with a standing ovation as he arrived to speak wearing his now trademark green military-style trousers and shirt. The Ukrainian leader was repeatedly met with long bursts of applause as he invoked US battles against Nazi Germany and President Franklin Roosevelt’s wartime commitments in a bid to keep American weapons supplies flowing for the war against Russia.

“Our two nations are allies in this battle and next year will be a turning point. I know it. The point when Ukrainian courage and American resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom. The freedom of people who stand for their values,” he said.

The Ukrainian president left his country for the first time since Russia invaded 300 days ago, crossing into Poland earlier in the day and then flying to Washington, to make a direct appeal to Congress for continued military aid amid concern that the incoming Republican leadership of the House of Representatives might oppose proposals for an additional $45bn in weapons and other assistance next year.

Zelenskiy invokes fight against Nazi Germany in speech to US Congress

Ukrainian president’s first foreign trip since Russia invaded was made amid concern that Republicans might oppose future funding proposals

www.theguardian.com

Naturally, Putin's favorite news station in America is having a meltdown right now.

 

[Big Lutz]

A handy graph detailing how much each nation has sent so far.

 

[Volphied]

Full list of Republicans who sat during Zelensky's speech

Seven House Republicans "repeatedly remained seated" during standing ovations for President Volodymyr Zelensky.

www.newsweek.com

Not surprising. Trump opened the door to allow Putinism to infest the GOP. And then he pardoned Putin's agent, Manafort.

Ukraine language in GOP platform underscores Trump tensions

The absence of an updated Republican party platform for the 2020 election is allowing President Trump to avoid hard commitments on the sensitive foreign policy issue of Ukraine, where his withholdi…

thehill.com

The GOP’s decision to preserve the 2016 platform keeps in place toned down language related to Ukraine that was negotiated at the time by Trump’s then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who is serving a seven and a half year prison sentence on charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the U.S. elections.

Manafort, who was found by the Senate Intelligence Committee to have had direct contacts with Russian intelligence officials during the 2016 campaign, successfully removed any commitments to lethal military assistance to Kyiv as part of efforts to soften language towards Moscow.

 

[zoroarctic]

Not surprising. Trump opened the door to allow Putinism to infest the GOP.

Trump certainly normalized it, but conservatives’ admiration for Putin predates him.
From 2013: Vladimir Putin, Conservative Icon

It also picked up steam leading up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi when Russia’s laws against “gay propaganda” started getting international attention.

In hindsight, what we’re seeing from the GOP today probably shouldn’t have been a surprise.

 

[Volphied]

Trump certainly normalized it, but conservatives’ admiration for Putin predates him.
From 2013: Vladimir Putin, Conservative Icon

It also picked up steam leading up to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi when Russia’s laws against “gay propaganda” started getting international attention.

In hindsight, what we’re seeing from the GOP today probably shouldn’t have been a surprise.

Yeah, Putin has been pushing right-wing culture wars really hard for years now. He's still going at it even as he's waging war on Ukraine:

Putin declares holy war on Western 'satanism'

Russian president Vladimir Putin invoked Jesus, Satan, and transsexual bogeymen in a Kremlin ceremony for carving up Ukraine on Friday.

euobserver.com

Using startling rhetoric, Putin portrayed the annexation as a holy war against the West, which is helping Ukraine to defend itself.

"They [the West] are moving toward open satanism," he said in a speech broadcast to millions online.

Western elites were teaching "sexual deviation" to children who changed their gender, he said. "We're fighting for historical Russia, to protect our children and grandchildren from this experiment to change their souls," he added.

I've earlier poked fun in here about how Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lost his mind at the sight of gender-neutral bathrooms in Sweden. The less fun part of this incident is the fact that his meltdown has its origin in the way transphobes in the US weaponized public bathrooms. There is an obvious relationship between MAGA Trumpism and Putinism, where Russians absorb "anti-woke" talking points, while the "America First" crowd is learning how to gradually morph a democracy into authoritarianism.

‘Key to white survival’: how Putin has morphed into a far-right savior

The Russian president’s ‘strong man’ image and disdain for liberals has turned him into a hero for white nationalists

www.theguardian.com

Can we get a round of applause for Russia?” asked Nick Fuentes, on stage last week at a white nationalist event. Amid a roar of applause for the Russian president, just days after he invaded Ukraine, many attendees responded by shouting: “Putin! Putin!”

It would be easy to dismiss the America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC) in Orlando, Florida, as a radical fringe. But speeches by two Republican members of Congress – one in person, the other via video – guaranteed national attention and controversy.

The backlash showed how the war in Ukraine has exposed the American far right’s affinity with Putin. That affinity is complicated by the tortured relationship between Russia and former president Donald Trump, whose rise Moscow supported with a covert operation to undermine US democracy.

 

[Big Lutz]

Just curious which administration was it that bowed to Putin by removing a missile defense system in Europe that would be extremely useful right now to protect against Russian aggression?

Obama abandons missile defence shield in Europe | Obama administration | The Guardian

US president shelves scheme in Poland and Czech Republic, citing new intelligence on threat from Iran

amp.theguardian.com

This would also be the same administration at a similar time that gifted Russia a “reset” button in the hopes of improving ties with Putin.

Clinton, Lavrov push wrong reset button on ties

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with a red "reset button" to symbolise improved ties, but the gift drew smiles as the word "reset" was mistranslated into the Russian for "overcharge."

www.reuters.com

Oh and of course which administration was it again that in 2012 when presented with the threats of Putin and Russia retorted with “The 1980s called, they want their foreign policy back.”

Obama: The '80s called, they want their foreign policy back

Obama zings Romney for calling Russia America's biggest geopolitical threat

www.salon.com

Which administration was it that told the Russian President to convey to Putin that he would be “more flexible after the election”. On issues such as missile defense?

Obama tells Russia's Medvedev more flexibility after election

President Barack Obama was caught on camera on Monday assuring outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he will have "more flexibility" to deal with contentious issues like missile defense after the U.S. presidential election.

www.reuters.com

Sorry I can’t remember which administration was all of this? Trump? I think the vice president for that administration is now in the White House.

 

[zoroarctic]

In other news from here in the States: House GOP holds breath for elusive speaker deal as it heads into 10th vote

 

[There Is No Arceus]

ah, infighting in the GOP. isn't it beautiful?

 

[zoroarctic]

ah, infighting in the GOP. isn't it beautiful?

Brings to mind a quote from the late P.J. O’Rourke: “Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work, and then they get elected and prove it.”

 

[Volphied]

ah, infighting in the GOP. isn't it beautiful?

This is gonna be a regular occurrence at least until the next elections. The GOP allowed crazies to enter their party. Now they'll be endlessly blackmailed by them to push forward extremist and unpopular policies.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/06/mccarthy-house-speaker-vote-insurrection-by-other-means/

This is what happens when a political party, year after year, systematically destroys the norms and institutions of democracy. This is what happens when those expert at tearing things down are put in charge of governing. The dysfunction has been building over years of government shutdowns, debt-default showdowns and other fabricated crises, and now anti-government Republicans used their new majority to bring the House itself to a halt.

This is insurrection by other means: Two years to the day since the Jan. 6 invasion of the Capitol, Republicans are still attacking the functioning of government. McCarthy opened the door to the chaos by excusing Donald Trump’s fomenting of the attack and welcoming a new class of election deniers to his caucus. Now he’s trying to save his own political ambitions by agreeing to institutionalize the chaos — not just for the next two years but for future congresses as well.

On Thursday, the day McCarthy failed on an 11th consecutive ballot to secure the speakership, he formally surrendered to the 21 GOP extremists denying him the job. He agreed to allow any member of the House to force a vote at will to “vacate” his speakership — essentially agreeing to be in permanent jeopardy of losing his job. He agreed to put rebels on the Rules Committee, giving them sway over what gets a vote on the House floor, and in key committee leadership posts. He agreed to unlimited amendments to spending bills, inviting two years of mayhem. He agreed to other changes that make future government shutdowns and a default on the national debt more likely, if not probable.

Perhaps worst of all, the McCarthy-aligned super PAC, the Conservative Leadership Fund, agreed that it would no longer work against far-right extremists in the vast majority of Republican primaries — a move sure to increase the number of bomb throwers in Congress. Essentially, McCarthy placated the crazies in his caucus by giving up every tool he (or anybody) had to maintain order in the House.

Finally, on the 15th ballot early Saturday morning, McCarthy’s abject surrender secured him the speakership, at least temporarily. But it was the most pyrrhic of victories. To save himself, he sacrificed the Congress itself. The saboteurs won.

 

[Big Lutz]

This is gonna be a regular occurrence at least until the next elections. The GOP allowed crazies to enter their party. Now they'll be endlessly blackmailed by them to push forward extremist and unpopular policies.

So a GOP version of the squad, the crazies the Democrats allowed to enter the party 4 years ago and pushed extremist and unpopular policies.

In actual international news, Iran has executed two more protesters today engaging what best could be described as a Kangaroo court in their sentencing.

Heavily edited footage aired on state television showed Karami speaking before a Revolutionary Court about the attack, which also showed a reenactment of the attack, according to prosecutors’ claims. Iran’s Revolutionary Courts handed down the two other death sentences already carried out.

The tribunals don’t allow those on trial to pick their own lawyers or even see the evidence against them. Amnesty International has said the trials “bore no resemblance to a meaningful judicial proceeding.”

Iran executes 2 more men detained amid nationwide protests

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran said it executed two men Saturday convicted of allegedly killing a paramilitary volunteer during a demonstration, the latest executions aimed at halting the nationwide protests now challenging the country's theocracy.

apnews.com

 

[zoroarctic]

This is gonna be a regular occurrence at least until the next elections. The GOP allowed crazies to enter their party. Now they'll be endlessly blackmailed by them to push forward extremist and unpopular policies.

Don't forget the endless hearings about Hunter Biden's sex life. It's going to be a long 2 years.

 

[Big Lutz]

Don't forget the endless hearings about Hunter Biden's sex life. It's going to be a long 2 years.

Is there a problem having a hearings about a corrupt individual that potentially sold access and collected money for the President of the United States by countries such as Ukraine, Russia, and China?

I couldn’t care less about Hunter’s sex life, outside the potential pedophillic instances he had with his niece, but his worldwide corrupt business nature must be investigated.

In International News, Germany has detained an Iranian National who was attempting to engage in a biological terror attack.

The authorities in Germany said early Sunday that they had taken into custody a 32-year-old Iranian citizen suspected of procuring cyanide and ricin in an effort “to commit an Islamist-motivated attack.”

In a brief statement released by the police in Münster, Germany, the authorities said that investigators had searched the suspect’s home in the city of Castrop-Rauxel for toxins and other evidence.

German Police Detain Iranian on Suspicion of Planning Chemical Attack

A 32-year-old Iranian citizen had procured cyanide and ricin in an effort “to commit an Islamist-motivated attack,” the authorities said.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Volphied]

Don't forget the endless hearings about Hunter Biden's sex life. It's going to be a long 2 years.

It's kinda funny how obsessively Republicans are talking about Hunter's giant dong.

Instead, they should be working on getting rid of all the Pro-Russian traitors that infest the GOP, but that would require dumping the MAGA crazies.

 

[There Is No Arceus]

ah yes, the ukrainian nazis who happen to rally behind a jewish president. how can anyone take these republican clowns seriously?

 

[Volphied]

ah yes, the ukrainian nazis who happen to rally behind a jewish president. how can anyone take these republican clowns seriously?

The Ukrainian transgender Satanic Nazis who are pushing woke ideologies and are globalist puppets.

It would be funny, except these people are serious in their fawning over Putin. They love how he turned Russia into an arch-conservative country by cracking down on homosexuals, transgender people, women and ethnic minorities. They want the same thing in the US.

 

[Big Lutz]

It's kinda funny how obsessively Republicans are talking about Hunter's giant dong.

Instead, they should be working on getting rid of all the Pro-Russian traitors that infest the GOP, but that would require dumping the MAGA crazies.

View attachment 166978

It seems many of these quotes have nothing to do with Putin, and instead either do not want excessive spending going to Ukraine, or talking about Zelenski's corruption.

Are you saying both topics are not able to be debated? Zelenski is above reproach now despite being leader of one of the most corrupt countries in Europe, and the US should allow a blank check to Ukraine?

 

[zoroarctic]

Bolsonaro supporters breach security barriers, break into Brazilian Congress and presidential palace | CNN

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro breached security barriers set up by the Armed Forces on Sunday and gained access to the country's congressional building, the Supreme Court and the Planalto Presidential Palace, according to images shown in Brazilian media.

www.cnn.com

This is really bad. Fortunately, Congress isn't in session and Lula's making a trip to Sao Paulo.