Recruiting….

[grapplefan]

was thinking ribs tonight, anyone have any tips

Ribs or tips? Here in New England, tips (steak tips) are a cookout favorite.
Tip on tips: Keep the ribs low and slow, but keep the tips medium rare in the center.

 

[grapplefan]

Eh. Not post Stalin and not Gorbachev.

Putin? FOR SURE. The problem is, as Americans, we make everything a zero sum game, as if we don't have the same intentions when it comes to influence and resources. Especially after the fall of Communist Russia/Soviet Union - we really had the chance to make them an ally. But we refused to out of both fear and hubris. The world would certainly be in a better place and we likely don't make enemies out of China as well.

After the Cold War, Russia was in a very unstable place, and never very comfortable with the Western influences. Not so sure that we could have stopped the rise of the oligarchs or the takeover by Putin.

The idea that we (or anyone) can sprout democracies in places with little or no democratic experience (China, Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, whatever) is starting to look like wishful thinking. We can sponsor free markets, but creating democracies is much harder. It's challenging enough just to try to hang on to our own democracy.

 

[Corby2]

 

[VakAttack]

The geopolitical ramifications of Iowa recruiting is truly staggering!

 

[Sabula]

The geopolitical ramifications of Iowa recruiting is truly staggering!

If if this was straight up politics...people would be crying and screaming to stop it, knock it off, take it somewhere else. So maybe the same holds here.

 

[vhsalum]

After the Cold War, Russia was in a very unstable place, and never very comfortable with the Western influences. Not so sure that we could have stopped the rise of the oligarchs or the takeover by Putin.

The idea that we (or anyone) can sprout democracies in places with little or no democratic experience (China, Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, whatever) is starting to look like wishful thinking. We can sponsor free markets, but creating democracies is much harder. It's challenging enough just to try to hang on to our own democracy.

A-fugging-greed.

Which is why had we just welcomed them with open arms after the fall - We'd at least be allies in whatever their version of capitalism would be. Expecting an exact replica of our representative democracy was an idiotic belief to have from the start.

 

[bnicolls]

Eh. Not post Stalin and not Gorbachev.

Putin? FOR SURE. The problem is, as Americans, we make everything a zero sum game, as if we don't have the same intentions when it comes to influence and resources. Especially after the fall of Communist Russia/Soviet Union - we really had the chance to make them an ally. But we refused to out of both fear and hubris. The world would certainly be in a better place and we likely don't make enemies out of China as well.

We'll have to agree to disagree on Russia.

The US is walking a tight line with China. We need Rare Earths and Chips, they need Chips and Oil. Yes, placate and work together as best we can, but make no mistake what their objective is......to be #1 Power in the World. That said, their window is closing with an awful demographic problem. This will make them more aggressive in the short term

And too yet, if they have a wrestler who can help us,,,,take em

 

[grapplefan]

And too yet, if they have a wrestler who can help us,,,,take em

We can even take Willie back if they send us a really good wrestler. If not, Willie can report from Siberia for the next 5-10 years, with time off for good behavior.

 

[Greenheadhawk]

We can even take Willie back if they send us a really good wrestler. If not, Willie can report from Siberia for the next 5-10 years, with time off for good behavior.

We wouldn't have a Putin problem is George Patton would of had his way.

 

[Wilbur Kookmeyer]

Part 2:

So NATO is expanding eastward, but they have Belarus and Ukraine they had Yanukovych who was the leader of Ukraine until 2014 - He's pro-Russian he crushes NATO/EU membership for Ukraine in 2014. Then there's a color revolution and the American intelligence agencies overthrow Yanukovych in Kiev. They sponsor these protests (like they did in many Eastern European countries) and they installed Poroshenko who's a Pro-NATO/Pro-EU leader. And this opens the door for Ukraine to join NATO/EU.

This is unacceptable for Russia because Ukraine becoming part of NATO puts NATO’s border right up against Russia's and it puts NATO a hundred kilometers from Moscow - which is just an unacceptable posture. It strips Russia of its ports, strips them of the Black Sea fleet, they can't access the Black Sea in winter… To give you an idea, this is like if Russia invaded Mexico or Cuba or Canada. Like that's the equivalent threat. So Russia then, in 2014 invades Crimea to secure their port, And by the way, Crimea is ethnically Russian. They speak Russian, they’re historically part of Russia, and they also sponsored the separatists in Donbass in Eastern Ukraine. They did this because as long as there's a war going on, investment companies can't come in and invest in shale oil in Ukraine. Also Ukraine can't become part of NATO and EU (too unstable). So they're destabilizing Ukraine, and then finally Putin makes these demands here in 2022.

Putin says “look just promise that Ukraine will never become part of NATO, stop doing drills in Eastern Europe, and stop expanding - freeze NATO membership where it is. You're trying to destroy Russia”. Remember what happened? USA would not even come to the negotiating table. So Russia invaded. I think that, all things considered, when you look at it with that longer view of history, it’s clear NATO is the aggressor here. NATO will not allow Russia to have a reasonable security posture. Russia doesn’t want world domination like we do. They want to defend their borders. They want to have a reasonable sphere of influence. Frankly it's just not statesmen like what we've been doing. It's like this hubris - we're trying to keep control of the world like we had 30 years ago but it's not 30 years ago. America's not as strong (relatively) in the world as we once were and so we need to negotiate with China and Russia and India and Brazil. Things are moving towards a more multi-polar world order. That's the direction the world is going in. If we are going to try to defend every last inch of land that we thought we controlled after the Cold War ended, we're going to cause World War 3. That American unipolar moment where we controlled everything was an anomaly. NATO has been the aggressor when it comes to Russia.

Now this meatgrinder of a conflict has been going on for four years and here we are. It would’ve been over a while ago if he hadn’t poured so much money into it and continued down this path. And now half of you midwits sit around and talk about Russia or sanctions without realizing what led us here.

Wait... it's "unacceptable" for Russians to allow another country to determine their own foreign policy? Think about what you're trying to say. The correct response is not an all out invasion of a sovereign nation. If Ukraine, like so many other nations that suffered under Russian brutality, want to flock to NATO, that indicates a problem on the Russian side with how they were, and are still, managing their relationships with said neighbors.

 

[el dub]

Wait... it's "unacceptable" for Russians to allow another country to determine their own foreign policy? Think about what you're trying to say. The correct response is not an all out invasion of a sovereign nation. If Ukraine, like so many other nations that suffered under Russian brutality, want to flock to NATO, that indicates a problem on the Russian side with how they were, and are still, managing their relationships with said neighbors.

They’re talking the straight line, Russian apologist argument. From Putins lips to our ears. Unprovoked aggression against a sovereign nation isn’t ok, imo.

 

[Wilbur Kookmeyer]

They’re talking the straight line, Russian apologist argument. From Putins lips to our ears. Unprovoked aggression against a sovereign nation isn’t ok, imo.

The position that Russia somehow deserves to dictate the behavior of it's neighbors is ridiculous. If they hate and fear you so much that they turn to NATO, then that's an epic failure on your part already. Russia needs to mend the wounds they have directly caused, but they only seem to understand putting their boots on other people's necks.

 

[Rick Honcho]

We wouldn't have a Putin problem is George Patton would have had his way.

Corporate never listens to a red-azz

 

[Sir Pin Alot]

We wouldn't have a Putin problem is George Patton would of had his way.

Patton was a great movie...

 

[grasshawk40]

wtf is going on??

 

[BasketballRufugee]

I think we can all agree we'd be open to take a couple of strong Russian recruits, am I right?

 

[T8KUDWN]

I believe this whole Russia conversation happened because Spooner was butt hurt because RAF held an event in Russia.
I have no problem with RAF holding an event there. The more wrestling we see around the world the better, especially when it gives American wrestlers more opportunities.

Outside of the wrestling part, F Russia & F Ukraine, they are both crap.

 

[Natchrlman2]

b

wtf is going on??

BAU

 

[WS_Cop]

Wait... it's "unacceptable" for Russians to allow another country to determine their own foreign policy? Think about what you're trying to say. The correct response is not an all out invasion of a sovereign nation. If Ukraine, like so many other nations that suffered under Russian brutality, want to flock to NATO, that indicates a problem on the Russian side with how they were, and are still, managing their relationships with said neighbors.

What I explained to you was that its an unacceptable defensive position for Russia. That's not my opinion, it's theirs. Most of you seem to oversimplify geopolitical posturing and try to make "good" and "bad" sides. Russia wants a reasonable (their standard) sphere of influence in the baltics and east Europe. NATO sharing borders with them doesn't allow for that.

 

[WS_Cop]

I believe this whole Russia conversation happened because Spooner was butt hurt because RAF held an event in Russia.
I have no problem with RAF holding an event there. The more wrestling we see around the world the better, especially when it gives American wrestlers more opportunities.

Outside of the wrestling part, F Russia & F Ukraine, they are both crap.

you are correct. That's where my "this is your brain on NATO" came from. Whoever said the "God complex" thing - chill. I don't think I'm that smart. I just don't like the oversimplified dialectics flying around. And sometimes I sperg out and type a bunch of **** like I did. Work gets slow yknow....

 

[bnicolls]

What I explained to you was that its an unacceptable defensive position for Russia. That's not my opinion, it's theirs. Most of you seem to oversimplify geopolitical posturing and try to make "good" and "bad" sides. Russia wants a reasonable (their standard) sphere of influence in the baltics and east Europe. NATO sharing borders with them doesn't allow for that.

False

Putin = Russia. He has stated that the collapse of the USSR was a disaster. He wants to put the "band" back together. It has nothing to do with defense of Russia. It has everything to do with control and exploitation of those former USSR countries. Any blather out of Russia in regard to defense is a smoke screen.

Yes, Geopolitics are complicated, but what Russia seeks to do is transparent.

 

[Wilbur Kookmeyer]

What I explained to you was that its an unacceptable defensive position for Russia. That's not my opinion, it's theirs. Most of you seem to oversimplify geopolitical posturing and try to make "good" and "bad" sides. Russia wants a reasonable (their standard) sphere of influence in the baltics and east Europe. NATO sharing borders with them doesn't allow for that.

And I demand to be dating a Laker Girl. It's a ridiculous claim, not rooted in reality, and again does little more than illustrate the collasal failure of Russia's own foreign policy and worldview. Eventually reality asserts itself. It's slapping Putin upside the head as we speak.

 

[WS_Cop]

And I demand to be dating a Laker Girl. It's a ridiculous claim, not rooted in reality, and again does little more than illustrate the collasal failure of Russia's own foreign policy and worldview. Eventually reality asserts itself. It's slapping Putin upside the head as we speak.

So explain to me then, in your infinite wisdom, what the Russian homeland defense policy is, and what it ought to be, and why it ought to be what you think.

Because you didn't prove anything I said wrong. you just said "nu uh". that's not an argument.

 

[WS_Cop]

False

Putin = Russia. He has stated that the collapse of the USSR was a disaster. He wants to put the "band" back together. It has nothing to do with defense of Russia. It has everything to do with control and exploitation of those former USSR countries. Any blather out of Russia in regard to defense is a smoke screen.

Yes, Geopolitics are complicated, but what Russia seeks to do is transparent.

Do you NOT think that NATO, the organization that was formed to combat the Soviet Union expansion and spy on it's satellite states, is a threat to Russia's regional power? Whether or not you agree with it, are you so obtuse that you don't see why that's a problem for Russia?

This is one of the times you have to step outside of what you think and look at it from the side you might disagree with.

 

[Wilbur Kookmeyer]

So explain to me then, in your infinite wisdom, what the Russian homeland defense policy is, and what it ought to be, and why it ought to be what you think.

Because you didn't prove anything I said wrong. you just said "nu uh". that's not an argument.

I didn't have to prove it wrong... reality is doing that for me, "comrade". Care to disprove that? Furthermore, how is a wholesale invasion of a sovereign nation an appropriate "defense policy" response in this instance?

 

[WS_Cop]

Eh. Not post Stalin and not Gorbachev.

Putin? FOR SURE. The problem is, as Americans, we make everything a zero sum game, as if we don't have the same intentions when it comes to influence and resources. Especially after the fall of Communist Russia/Soviet Union - we really had the chance to make them an ally. But we refused to out of both fear and hubris. The world would certainly be in a better place and we likely don't make enemies out of China as well.

Must've missed this. Somebody else gets it.

 

[WS_Cop]

I didn't have to prove it wrong... reality is doing that for me, "comrade". Care to disprove that? Furthermore, how is a wholesale invasion of a sovereign nation an appropriate "defense policy" response in this instance?

So your argument that what I said is wrong and that Russia's foreign policy ought to be different is you saying "reality"? You can't seriously be this dumb dude. The burden is on you to show why their standard of reason is unreasonable. Because you're the one who made the claim.

Do you know what fallacies are?

 

[Natchrlman2]

 

[Wilbur Kookmeyer]

So your argument that what I said is wrong and that Russia's foreign policy ought to be different is you saying "reality"? You can't seriously be this dumb dude. The burden is on you to show why their standard of reason is unreasonable. Because you're the one who made the claim.

Do you know what fallacies are?

Oh, so it's not "unreasonable"? How is it working out for them? Their policy has made their neighbors rush to NATO. Has it not? It has turned a neighbor whose very name meant "neutral" against them, and opened up a new border of several hundred miles that they now must guard, has it not? Look up "Finlandization", if you want to learn a little bit. It made the Baltic a NATO lake. It made them dependant on China, instead of the equals they thought themselves to be. It's caused nearly an entire generation of young Russian men to be killed or flee. 1.5 million casualties. Hyper inflation. Country wide gas shortages. And on, and on.
Doesn't sound like the fruits of a "reasonable" policy to me, "comrade". Do you disagree?
The irony is that in attempting to undermine NATO, Putin has accidentally strengthened it in ways he didn't consider.

 

[FanInBlack]

Iowa should recruit Russia. The US NIL dollar is worth more than the ruble. and Perm St and Orenburg St wont sign all the good ones.

 

[Trapper85]

Sibir' prekrasna, kak i nekotoryye goryachiye zhenshchiny v Rossii.

 

[lrtbahawk]

Any Fu##ing recruiting news?

 

[bnicolls]

Do you NOT think that NATO, the organization that was formed to combat the Soviet Union expansion and spy on it's satellite states, is a threat to Russia's regional power? Whether or not you agree with it, are you so obtuse that you don't see why that's a problem for Russia?

This is one of the times you have to step outside of what you think and look at it from the side you might disagree with.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

Why would those European countries NOT want to create an organization to DEFEND themselves from Russia? Using the same logic, why is there no North American (or any in the World) organization to defend against the US.

Are you so obtuse to not realize what Russia's intentions are? The good news for everyone except bordering countries is that Russia's military/economy are pathetic as evidenced by their results in Ukraine. If not for them possessing the bomb, they'd be a third rate power.

Nyet on your version of Russia

 

[MSU158]

Thanks for the enlightenment.

Why would those European countries NOT want to create an organization to DEFEND themselves from Russia? Using the same logic, why is there no North American (or any in the World) organization to defend against the US.

Are you so obtuse to not realize what Russia's intentions are? The good news for everyone except bordering countries is that Russia's military/economy are pathetic as evidenced by their results in Ukraine. If not for them possessing the bomb, they'd be a third rate power.

Nyet on your version of Russia

Although I don’t disagree with much of what you said, bagging on Russian military might simply isn’t accurate. If it was JUST Russia vs. Ukraine they would have SMASHED them long ago. Mind you, at the start of all this Ukraine was considered a top 20ish military power in their own right.

Now, attrition has taken a heavy toll and Russia isn’t near what it was at the start, but it is next to impossible for ANY army to win a war if the US is giving military aide to the other side, let alone all the others that have been…

 

[bnicolls]

Although I don’t disagree with much of what you said, bagging on Russian military might simply isn’t accurate. If it was JUST Russia vs. Ukraine they would have SMASHED them long ago. Mind you, at the start of all this Ukraine was considered a top 20ish military power in their own right.

Now, attrition has taken a heavy toll and Russia isn’t near what it was at the start, but it is next to impossible for ANY army to win a war if the US is giving military aide to the other side, let alone all the others that have been…

Think back

As the war started, Russian columns were wiped out. No real aid flowed for a year. Yes, Ukraine has received much help since then, but they suffer today as Europe and the US have lost interest and the will to provide what Ukraine needs. If the US wanted to take Canada or Mexico, would it take more than 24 hours?

 

[el dub]

Although I don’t disagree with much of what you said, bagging on Russian military might simply isn’t accurate. If it was JUST Russia vs. Ukraine they would have SMASHED them long ago. Mind you, at the start of all this Ukraine was considered a top 20ish military power in their own right.

Now, attrition has taken a heavy toll and Russia isn’t near what it was at the start, but it is next to impossible for ANY army to win a war if the US is giving military aide to the other side, let alone all the others that have been…

The U$ has been an unreliable ally to Ukraine, imo. China and N Korea have been sending troops and munitions to Russia. Btw, Russia is lucky that the US forbade Ukraine from attacking Russian cities from the get go. Russia was allowed to be totally offensive with no need to keep military resources closer to home.

 

[Wilbur Kookmeyer]

Although I don’t disagree with much of what you said, bagging on Russian military might simply isn’t accurate. If it was JUST Russia vs. Ukraine they would have SMASHED them long ago. Mind you, at the start of all this Ukraine was considered a top 20ish military power in their own right.

Now, attrition has taken a heavy toll and Russia isn’t near what it was at the start, but it is next to impossible for ANY army to win a war if the US is giving military aide to the other side, let alone all the others that have been…

Not sure I agree with this take, but let's say that Russia was able to sweep in and oust the Ukrainian government.
Putin was, by all accounts, misled by his intelligence agencies about the Ukrainian people. It's a failing of dictatorships, they end up with yes men, not facts. He believed they would welcome the Russians with flowers and appreciation. That clearly didn't happen.
So, using the example I described above, he would be facing a massive insurgency. This would probably make Iraq and Ireland's look tame in comparison.
Remember Chechnya? They were tiny, yet still committed some serious terrorist attacks. They are under Russia's thumb now, but it took two costly wars, and a brutal warlord to do so. And, when he dies, it's likely to revert back to chaos.

 

[MSU158]

The U$ has been an unreliable ally to Ukraine, imo. China and N Korea have been sending troops and munitions to Russia. Btw, Russia is lucky that the US forbade Ukraine from attacking Russian cities from the get go. Russia was allowed to be totally offensive with no need to keep military resources closer to home.

We obviously weren’t boots on the ground but we sent them TONS of money and military equipment almost immediately. Trust me we supplemented them VERY well.

 

[MSU158]

Think back

As the war started, Russian columns were wiped out. No real aid flowed for a year. Yes, Ukraine has received much help since then, but they suffer today as Europe and the US have lost interest and the will to provide what Ukraine needs. If the US wanted to take Canada or Mexico, would it take more than 24 hours?

I paid attention VERY much early on. Russia pounded them early on and the World’s reaction held them back from using the force they were capable of to take them to heel quickly. Make NO mistake, Russia was the 2nd most powerful military when this all started. It is just simply extremely difficult to win the war in a way to keep in tact what they actually were going after in Ukraine, mind you they weren’t just trying to beat them they wanted to TAKE large parts of it over.

Even we were never truly able to take over a country. Korea sucked. Vietnam was a disaster and EVERYTHING in the Middle East has backfired on us at some point.

Smashing a country into oblivion is vastly different than trying to take permanent control…

 

[MSU158]

Not sure I agree with this take, but let's say that Russia was able to sweep in and oust the Ukrainian government.
Putin was, by all accounts, misled by his intelligence agencies about the Ukrainian people. It's a failing of dictatorships, they end up with yes men, not facts. He believed they would welcome the Russians with flowers and appreciation. That clearly didn't happen.
So, using the example I described above, he would be facing a massive insurgency. This would probably make Iraq and Ireland's look tame in comparison.
Remember Chechnya? They were tiny, yet still committed some serious terrorist attacks. They are under Russia's thumb now, but it took two costly wars, and a brutal warlord to do so. And, when he dies, it's likely to revert back to chaos.

Not what I am arguing. I don’t disagree with you at all. All my point was is that Russia’s military might was legitimately ahead of everyone but the US. They just were trying to do something even the US has failed to do in many wars, permanently taking over a whole country or even parts comes down to way more than just pure military might…