The Junk Drawer

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
The Ukraine crisis blew up that placidity, leaving it internally fraught on how to respond and at what cost. Last week, a newspaper leak revealed that a pledge by Scholz to supply a fully equipped army division to Nato in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine by 2025 is coming unstuck. A memo from the head of the army cast doubt on whether his forces could “hold its own in high-intensity combat”, saying it will only be able to “fulfil its obligations to Nato to a limited extent” (a masterful understatement in the context).

Germany won’t be able to meet the new demands of manpower to meet rising expectations from Nato without a return to a degree of conscription, abolished in the Merkel era, and a row politicians would rather avoid.

A recent Forsa opinion poll on “whether the problems of Ukraine matters for Germany and if it should get involved” shows only 43% agreeing (down 11 points from this time last year).

 

Lucky Luke

Well-Known Member
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/14/imf-gleneagles-moment-debt-relief-aid-package-africa-funding-squeeze

Why is it America's fault that these countries can't support themselves? Why is it America's responsibility to support them like children returning home after failing on their own?
The United States doesn't control the world economy. We do have influence, but no authority to enforce anything on anyone who doesn't want to comply. I am in favor of humanitarian aid, i don't want people to starve to death, or freeze, or die of heat prostration...But their economic problems are theirs to deal with. These countries have resources, manpower, communication with the rest of the world...they've been given considerable financial aid already, are they to be supported for their entire existence?
We already give a LOT...What more should we be expected to do?
https://www.foreignassistance.gov/cd
Not sure Roger. Its not something i know enough about to comment much on but i do find it interesting. Part of trade/banking using the US dollar is/was because of stability, thats gone.
US does control a huge amount of the International economy as we have seen with the monetary sanctions and seizing of property and cash ect in regard to Russia and yes forcing countries to comply. Remember when America needed The Coalition of the Willing and the willing who signed on got trade concessions?
 
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DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver lost its place as the nation’s marijuana mecca, according to an analysis from Clever Real Estate. The new king of kush is Portland, Oregon.

Oregon was two years behind Colorado in legalizing recreational cannabis. Washington and Colorado legalized it in 2012, while Alaska and Oregon legalized it in 2014.

To be the nation’s top hash hub, cities had to score highly in a handful of categories including legality, number of dispensaries and cannabis doctors, dispensaries’ customer ratings, pot prices, Google search trends for marijuana-related terms, public perception and the number of hiking trails, concert venues, and – most importantly – Taco Bells.
 
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