Azeem

A reminder that Palestine was not the first choice place to create Israel. Earlier it was Texas then East Africa Palestine was like the fifth choice. Europe just needed a place to 'dump' the Jews given its own bloody history with them.

If I'm not mistaken, Balfour the guy after whose name is the declaration to allow Jews to settle in Palestine said or wrote something in the footnote that creation of Israel will solve a dilemma of Europe. Sadly it came at the cost of Palestinians. 

I see this becoming a regional war. If Israel doesn't take back territories in coming weeks US would get involved and so would Iran and its militias. 

P.S Aren't there theories Middle Eastern Jews being forced to flee their original homelands to Israel were targetings done Israeli operatives themselves to make them flee. Israel had deep penetrations into Arab hierarchies in the 50s 60s, the senior most candidate for Syrian defense minister turned out to be an Israeli spy lol 

This is the last serious ODI World Cup. De Cock Stokes and many more to retire from this format after this. It won't be seen as the biggest competition anymore, the T20 Championship will be as big or even more for next generation. The T20 WC will now have 20 teams means small teams will have more incentive to play in it. 

In

Shows the German efficiency that you never hear of German duds being found in Britain always the other way around. 

Justice for @MUFC

It will last all the way to next elections

He may not assimilate well in Bayern given he comes from a trophy less culture. 

Stuart Broad was the one to start the rally to ban Ajmal after he played a whole season in England. 

His most career defining moment is getting hit for 6 sixes by Yuvraj. 

On the other hand this guy is the David Alaba of cricket. Can play any role in all formats with both bat and ball. 

So much overhype around this bandwagon.

BRICS: Even as an economic alliance its a motley. Fact that Putin couldn't go to the summit in South Africa over fears of arrest is enough to say about this 'alliance' 

SCO: Has great potential if it includes a military action like article 5 

de-dollarization: It has started to take hits but still a long way to go. Some currencies like UAE dirham are pegged to dollar as well so doesn't matter if they trade in their own currencies. 

France in Africa: Agreed, China Russia Turkey are all increasing their footprint in Africa so France is retreating a bit

Saudi dumping US: They are not. MBS is only showing muscles because Biden tried to prosecute him over Kashoghi murder, if some friendly POTUS like Trump comes, back to normal relations. As I said before Gulf states and West are like couple who divorce, bitch about each other but still keep dating secretly. 

Turkey buying Russian weapons: Turkey enjoys great geopolitical flexibility due to geography. Nothing new. They can piss off both Russia and West if they want. 

India siding with Russia: Too much capital and personal connections of Indian elite and regular people in UK US to let go of them. Military they always had good relations with Russia. 

Coup successful in Niger. I lost the count of my attempted coups around the world since Biden took office but it was around 16 I think and now we've had in Niger, twice in some African country and the Wagner revolt which makes it around 19. 

Wasn't one time someone called for ripping Australian team ffrom their citizenship for losing the ashes ? lol

31 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

What's plausible about it? No way someone can cross Putin like that and escape with his life without cutting some sort of deal, I don't for a second believe that Putin would allow this group of mercenaries that by all accounts is a far more effective fighting force than the actual Russian military fuck off to Belarus if they didn't have some kind of weird plan. Then there's Putin making his own comments about Poland and their involvement in Ukraine. It just seems we're at the next step of Russia escalating things because they've backed themselves into a corner but can't afford to make themselves appear weaker than they already have.

But the last time Wagner forces encountered NATO forces in Syria, it was an absolute slaughter for the Wagner soldiers. Do they really want to take on Poland, who can probably wipe the floor with them without having the remaining NATO allies? Is Russia trying to take the world to the brink of WW3 and then back down from it and claim they saved humanity from nuclear Armageddon? Is Putin trying to retire but he knows dictators can't really retire, so he's trying to end up with his own St. Helena Napoleon scenario where he can live in exile without worry of the next Russian autocrat coming after his wealth?

That is all correct we all know Wagner is under Russian umbrella but invoking NATO article against Russia or Belarus for actions of a private military which doesn't exist on paper technically is tricky. 

I think Wagner would do hit and run border raids in Poland if any. 

Ok I'll be honest. I'm starting to have a crush on Maria Zakharova

3 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Lukashenko ‘struggling to keep Wagner troops from attacking Poland’

what are these morons up to now?

Plausible deniability. 

2 minutes ago, Spike said:

I don’t know about that, mate. The Americans in general have had a very negative view of Russia for a long time. Anti-USSR red scare, ‘election fraud’, Putin, the war in Ukraine, the cultural mindset towards Russia has always been a bit xenophobic and negative and I haven’t seen that change outwardly or inwardly.

I would say the xenophobia is not just America but Europe as well. I can understand it for countries that historically faced Russian revanchism but some of the racist caricatures of Russians in aftermath of this war 'orcs' and @nudge telling her own experience of her friends being racist towards Russians at least hints me that there is some 'Russophobia' which is a hindrance in Europe-Russia integration. 

28 minutes ago, Spike said:

I only see universal Ukraine support. Yellow and blue everywhere, cars, t-shirts, hats, badges, pins, and so on. I don’t know where you are seeing it mate but in my day to day, Ukraine gets its arse kissed, and people talk about Russia like the evil empire ‘how could they just invade’ - well mate, you’re American how are you not familiar with this? 

Obviously the public space is occupied by pro-Ukraine but they are a vocal minority. 

It's not just left I'm seeing a lot of American right wingers also supporting Russia because they see Russia as the last standing traditional 'homogeneous' white nation. 

The blockade of Black Sea will be a serious thing to show who is boss. Ukraine has given a similar statement that they will consider any ship going to Russian ports potential military cargo.
 

So far the boss is Turkey courtesy having control over the straits leading to the Black Sea. 

Tiktok is now bigger than YouTube

24 minutes ago, Spike said:

I’m an assholeic

Agreed

Why can't we just get along ?

9 hours ago, 6666 said:

The US preparing to send cluster bombs to help escalat.. I mean solve the problem.

I hate these guys.

Russia doesn't prohibit their usage either. The real reason behind this decision allegedly is that U.S is short on conventional ammunition so they are going for a stopgap solution. Which is crazy considering the $$$$$$$$$$ US spends upon weapons. 

The biggest revelation of this war has been that none of these 'superpower' militaries are actually what they show on paper. 

https://twitter.com/guardiannews/status/1676646256758902784