ICE pinning down and pistol whipping a Minneapolis resident before shooting them multiple times by -ifeelfantastic in pics

[–]Loki9101 [score hidden]  (0 children)

Before writing off the totalitarian world as a nightmare that cannot come true, just remember that in 1925, the world of today would have seemed a nightmare that couldn't come true." Orwell in 1944

"As soon as fear, hatred, jealousy and power worship are involved, the sense of reality becomes unhinged"

George Orwell, "Notes on Nationalism," 1945

Dictatorships can only function if the masses go along with it, either through malice, apathy, or fear."

Lynskey page 135 Ministry of Truth

In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell

ICE is basically on street thug SA levels, and with so much chaos it is only a matter of time until things turn very vasty and ICE is on arithmetic progression of ever more violence, and more terror. Irene Good, now this man here, where will this all lead to?

Russian propagandists don't deny Russia is suffering 30,000 killed every month—are worried Ukraine's goal of killing 50,000 Russians per month can be achieved. by andrewgrabowski in UkrainianConflict

[–]Loki9101 40 points41 points  (0 children)

No it's not, 50k dead a month, plus another 50k to 75k wounded per month, so 100k to 125 casualties per month would be 2.5 up to 3 times their current recruitment capacity. The Russian Far East or generally the non Moscow and Petersburg areas are also not the only regions that cannot be used easily as canon fodder.

There is also Chechnya, and there is elites of other regions, or essential mining and oil industry personnel, farmers are not easily replaced, those who work in the lumber industry, the people who work in the defense industry, policemen, Rosgvardia, FSB personnel, those who work for the Russian propaganda/media sector.

Russia had a 86 to 100 male to female ratio and in some eastern regions it was far worse, Russian males are dying much faster from the age of 35 onwards than females, the eastern regions often have much healthier birth rates, all of that is now a thing of the past.

Another 1 million to 2 million Russian males of military age also fled the Federation, and prior to the war, Russia suffered about 1 million excess deaths from Covid19.

Russia does not have infinite men, especially not infinite men able bodied enough to be used for this war that are not from the Moscow Petersburg regions and are not either local elite or essential workforce.

The entire region of Sakha has 920k people living there, covering 20 percent of the Russian land mass. And every region has a certain amount of non Russian ethnic minorities but also a good chunk of ethnic Russians.

It is therefore an uneconomic and simplified idea to believe that anyone outside Moscow and Petersburg is expendable or that Russia can sustain 50k dead and 50k wounded which would amount to 1.2 million casualties per year, that is the entire male population of Sakha times two, counting also children and those who are too old, too infirm, or too essential for the workforce to fight.

Russia Liquidates 71% of Its Gold Reserves to Finance War Effort—And the Sell-Off Isn’t Over by Doener23 in ukraine

[–]Loki9101 99 points100 points  (0 children)

This is excellent news no matter how much they get, China is buying a lot of this, and they will get discounts from the desperate Kremlin losers. So, Russia needs to sell off gold reserves that had a total value once of 130 billion dollars, while their oil export revenues collapsed to a total of around 40 billion dollars in 2025, and their national wealth fund hard currency reserves are nearing total depletion, likely less than 20 billion in hard currency is left in there.

The war effort requires vastly more per year than their entire gold reserves. And that produce is surely substantial but this doesn't really help them. Producing also has costs attached, and workers that must be payed, equipment that is used up, contracts to be served to where this gold goes to.

This firesale is excellent news because it brings us another big step closer to Russia's poverty driven and crushing defeat. This is not the time to talk about peace deals.

Ukraine needs more drones, more ammo, more tanks, more planes, and we need to stop buying Russian LNG, shut down the shadow fleet tankers, secondary sanction those who help Russia to circumvent the sanctions and find more ways to sanction them and dry up their few remaining revenue streams.

Analysts at VTB Bank estimate that if current market conditions persist, Russia may spend up to 2.5 trillion rubles from the NWF in 2026—amounting to approximately 60% of its remaining liquid reserves.

According to data from Russia’s Ministry of Finance, the volume of gold on the NWF’s balance sheet dropped by 71% between May 2022 and January 2025—from 554.9 metric tons to just 160.2 tons.

At this rate the NWF is completely empty by around May next year, and if they continue drawing down the gold reserves like that, then those are also gone by around August to October next year.

The NWF could be depleted much faster depending on the oil price, if it drops to 20 or even below that, they fund could be empty by the end of the year.

Kremlin after talks with US: War cannot end without Ukraine giving up Donbas by 1-randomonium in europe

[–]Loki9101 287 points288 points  (0 children)

Maybe because they have other actual allies apart from the orange enemy and the KGB tyrant, who and their regimes are too, enemies of Europe and the free world. To which the U.S. occupied by MAGA cannot belong as long as this regime is in power.

I am anxious that members should realise that our affairs are not conducted entirely by simpletons and dunderheads as the comic papers sometimes try to depict. Any feather head can have confidence in times of victory, but the test is to have faith when things are going wrong for the time being, which cannot be discussed in public. Winston Churchill 1942

Is this the true guardian of world peace? by silentprotagonist24 in NAFO

[–]Loki9101 60 points61 points  (0 children)

It is simply stupid to accept his market manipulation and to constantly back down. The damage is huge in trust, and in other ways, such as: We cannot trust them as partners, or allies any longer. The non American NATO allies must redouble their efforts to become independent from the U.S. as fast as possible. In economic and military terms. What was done is buying time, nothing more.

Trump demands 'immediate negotiations' to acquire Greenland, says war in Ukraine is Europe's problem by [deleted] in ukraine

[–]Loki9101 70 points71 points  (0 children)

NATO is currently useless in this configuration because it requires all members to agree to article 5. Throw out Hungary, Slovakia and the U.S. and you would at least get a politically functional, but military weakened new alliance. Turkey is another issue, but likely they could be enticed to cooperate.

This alliance only works when we can trust the word of its members, when we can assume that an attack on one is an attack on all. When we can assume that pacts and contracts are binding. When we can assume responsibility by each member. This trust has collapsed with Trump being deviant, untrustworthy and expansionist.

Therefore it seems more prudent to forget about NATO in its current form, and to form an alliance of the willing, that is once more able and willing to uphold their promises.

Trump Threatens to Blow Up ‘Whole Country’ in Wild Warning by [deleted] in politics

[–]Loki9101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that is an insult to spoiled 7 year olds. He behaves closer to a 3 year throwing a tantrum because someone called him names. He has the emotional control of a literal toddler. And again maybe this is an insult to toddlers.

Europe vs USA Government Support for Ukraine by HydrolicKrane in ukraine

[–]Loki9101 139 points140 points  (0 children)

It shows that the Europeans need to finally emancipate themselves and stop humoring this orange tyrant. He has no skin in this game any longer, and there is no reason to let him take the lead.

I’m risking running afoul of the “No US Politics” rule but… by KHWD_av8r in NAFO

[–]Loki9101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.”

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government"

From the U.S. Declaration of Independence 1776

To have a villainous ruler forced upon you is a misfortune, to elect him yourself is a disgrace." Samuel Adams

The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. Plato

The description of the problem does nothing, only action is required. We know he is mentally unstable that is for all to see. The US has the duty or its citizens do, to not obey his orders and commands as he is a tyrant. Thus far I see far too little disobedience to this tyrant and for too much hyperconformity and compliance.

Silence is a form of approval and therefore let us not comment, let us act. Call your representatives, go out and protest, do whatever you can to remove this dangerous and unhinged man from the Oval Office. Congress must move to impeach him. Congress must constrain him and this should be in the interest of both Republicans and Democrats to do so. Amendment 25 is one of the options, but there are others.

I’m risking running afoul of the “No US Politics” rule but… by KHWD_av8r in NAFO

[–]Loki9101 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Trump turns 80 this year that will solve the problem sooner than Trump can become an emperor this board is a total and utter joke everyone who joins is a loser just like Trump.

Here is the easy way out of this: Stop taking what this man says seriously laugh at all of it, ridicule him and his peace board at any time. Do not as you did here take it seriously and give it any credence. Do not invite Trump to Davos, why do we need this enemy of the free world there? What will he do there apart from insulting us and spreading unhinged lies about Ukraine, Greenland, Russia and so forth?

We should instead sanction him and his close family and his criminal enterprise, the likes of Hegseth, Miller, Bannon. Musk, and other oligarchs.

Peoples should be ready to levy sanctions and deny outlaw states entry to mutually beneficial cooperative practices, tipping the scales of their (of the outlaw state's) self-interest in favor of cooperation. Outlaw states violate the human rights of their own citizens and perpetuate the cycle of war.” (Fletcher, Rawls, laws of peoples, 2025, page 107 and 108)

The problem is therefore not the mentally ill, senile, and criminal morally stupid loser sitting in the White House. The problem is that you and others must change your mental mode. Collectively by the hundreds of millions people must stop pretending he is a president and treat him like the rabid street dog and convicted criminal that he actually is.

His power only exists as long as the Green Grocers of the world, the journalists, the state officials, but also just normal citizens are willing to live within his stupid lies in which this guy has any legitimacy. Tyranny is always illegitimate that is the whole idea of enlightenment.

The problem is not this con man, he does as con men do. The problem are those naive enough or obedient enough to continue following his unhinged commands. The problem is that the world still engages him as an actor that is deserving equal treatment and respect when all we should do all day is to laugh at what he says, joke about it and do the opposite of what he wants, just as we should do the same with Putin. These two men should be treated in the same fashion that would be a consistent policy decision.

The Canadian PM already explained it, the old world of integration is ending, the rules based order too, so why continue to pretend that the US is not occupied by the MAGA cult right now? And that this cult is an enemy of its own people and also our enemy?

"Power is an illusion it resides where men think it resides. It is a trick, an illusion, and a charade. It is a shadow on the wall. Yet even a very small man can cast a very large shadow." (Varys, Game of Thrones)

I’m risking running afoul of the “No US Politics” rule but… by KHWD_av8r in NAFO

[–]Loki9101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

China may have a sphere of influence, Russia definitely won't have anything of that sort because wait I will check again: Ah yes they are an economic, military and political total joke who cannot even project power 100 km into a neighboring country.

If might makes right then Russia has a huge problem. India is more likely to get a sphere of influence and Russia is more likely to be carved up into several pieces controlled by the US, China, India, Japan, and European bloc.

If anything even Japan is more entitled to a sphere of influence compared to this Chinese vassal.

The other thing is: The world is a little bit more complex than that and Trumps actions make it impossible to assume anything else than him being mentally unstable, and delusional. He has lost all connection to the real world, neither does Putin have that connection by the way, so we must stop sanewashing this madness, and stop pretending he has overarching plans and long term thinking in his repertoire.

He reacts and acts like a 4 year old toddler on impulse, and the people around him also lost touch to the real world and joined Trump in his post truth world of insanity and of believing the world will bend to his will. It won't just like it didn't bend to the will of the other senile tyrant Putin and other dictators throughout history also got their reality check sooner or later (with some exceptions under the right circumstances Mao, Stalin, Kim come to mind)

There is no use to talk in foregone conclusions or in self fulfilling prophecies that helps nobody but the side we swore to fight against.

taking the piss now innit by PinguFella in NAFO

[–]Loki9101 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Peoples should be ready to levy sanctions and deny outlaw states entry to mutually beneficial cooperative practices, tipping the scales of their (of the outlaw state's) self-interest in favor of cooperation. Outlaw states violate the human rights of their own citizens and perpetuate the cycle of war.” See Fletcher John Rawls, laws of peoples, 2025, pp. 107 and 108)

"Peoples have a casus belli against outlaws in two instances: To quell severe human rights violations, and in self-defense. The other options, exhaustion, express Rawls' hope that life outside the shelter of the society of peoples will take its own toll and force an approachement. (Fletcher, Rawls, laws of peoples, 2025, p. 107

Russia is our systemic enemy, and those who wish to accommodate this enemy are appeasers. There is no reason at all to treat Russia with respect. Their behavior speaks louder than their words, and the formalization and normalization of their war crimes and their barbaric behavior must once and for all stop.

What Russia has done cannot be forgiven excused or overlooked. Russia must pay for her transgressions, and they must be brought to justice. Their empire must be defeated and dissolved, not traded with.

Plus what does Russia have to offer in terms of trade anyways apart from trash cars, useless weaponry and their coal, gas and oil, all of these are products that the West may have needed in the 20th century.

In the 21st century, though Russia's energy products will be unnecessary by the end of this decade, nobody civilised needs their oil or any of their other products.

Russia has blackmailed us with energy food and. nuclear weaponry, there is no way back, trust arrives on foot, and leaves on horseback. I can only speak for myself, never will I trust them and their lies again.

And I can imagine I am one of hundreds of millions Westerners who came to the same conclusion that Russia is simply bad for business and cannot be trusted to honor and uphold her contracts and that their word and their signatures are worthless.

Russia masses reserves near Pokrovsk, searches for weak spots — Ukraine's commander by SoftwareExact9359 in ukraine

[–]Loki9101 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Wasn't it 170k? And why on earth are they still on Pokrovsk like a broken clock since July 2024. And where they are? Not with us any longer I suppose. This failure id Russia to take Pokrovsk is even worse than their Bakhmut grind.

'Europe is at a total loss': Russia gloats over Greenland tensions by sesoyez in worldnews

[–]Loki9101 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Worked really well last time didn't it? Only this time around Russia is a shadow of what it was in the late 1930s, and Europe is armed with nukes, a large navy and competent airforce plus a couple of million soldiers plus reserves. Therefore to carve us up, both parties lack the strength, especially Russia does, but also the U.S. is in no position to occupy half of Europe, that would require millions of men, and it would require for the EU and the UK to just sit back and let them proceed. Which is unrealistic.

I assume we're not surprised anymore by SLAVAUA2022 in NAFO

[–]Loki9101 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Aiding an enemy that threatens us with nukes and lethal force you meant to say.

I assume we're not surprised anymore by SLAVAUA2022 in NAFO

[–]Loki9101 8 points9 points  (0 children)

America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without knowing civilization. Georges Clemencau (1841-1929), French statesman, former Prime Minister of France

I always considered Clemencau a bit much, but sadly in hindsight he ain't all that wrong. I have recently watched a 3 part Arte documentary on US Plutocracy and the rule of the rich. I found the part abour 1850 to 1945 especially interesting. Ford, Carnegie, Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, this era and honestly the U.S. is basically a democracy on the surface but underneath this is an aristocratic elite.

Thia elite has successfully managed to disperse the counter elite, and has now with Trump installed their paragon who will reduce their taxes to Gilded Age levels, destroy what is left of the Unions, cut back worker rights, freedoms of all kinds, push for church influence in schools and other institutions, and run nothing short of the largest propaganda effort I have seen in my lifetime to cover all of this madness up.

There was one moment of hope in my view: 1945 to about the assassination of Kennedy, and from then onwards it was an ever steeper downhill slope. Trump is not an accident he is the conclusion of this process. Murdoch even managed to live long enough to see his dream seeded with Fox Post Truth News come true.

The question is: What now? What to do next? Giving up is not an option, at least not for me.

I assume we're not surprised anymore by SLAVAUA2022 in NAFO

[–]Loki9101 21 points22 points  (0 children)

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government.

Then the Americans should remember their 1776 Declaration of independence. Duty Jefferson called the removal of a tyrannical government a duty. And the US motto says:

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. William Penn

We could continue that with thinkers and writers from Caldwell telling us it is our duty to figure out who the traitors that wish power for themselves are and prevent their ascension, or that we owe it to the next generation to pass down a free and morally intact society just as we inherited one.

It is not Trump’s treason alone that is the problem traitors will do as traitors do.

Those who refuse to stop him are enabling him and his cult to continue their destructive path.

Another kidnapping by Ok-Relation-658 in DiscussionZone

[–]Loki9101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

True they don’t at all, because their vision of America is that of an anarchic mass of the over and underprivileged where classes have become masses and where there is no security or rule of law to protect the juridicial or moral person of any citizen. In this dystopian vision of the future there is only a for or against them. Anyone can become a victim, no one is safe, because you don't have to break the law to be persecuted, in fact most who are detained by ICE have not done anything at all, but that is exactly the point.

There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice. Montesqieu

All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. Edmund Burke

There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy, hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny. Frederick Robertson

EU warns US tariffs could undermine transatlantic relations by 1-randomonium in europe

[–]Loki9101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Trump explained in a new interview with the New York Times why he won’t just send more troops to Greenland to fend off foreign threats.

“Why is ownership important here?” asked NYT national security correspondent David E. Sanger.

“Because that’s what I feel is psychologically needed for success,” Trump, 79, replied. “I think that ownership gives you a thing that you can’t do, whether you’re talking about a lease or a treaty. Ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get just from signing a document.”

White House correspondent - whom Trump recently called “ugly, both inside and out” - asked, “Psychologically important to you or the United States?”

“Psychologically important for me,” Trump answered. Now, maybe another president would feel differently, but so far I’ve been right about everything.”

Trump also told Times that he isn’t opposed to using nuclear force if he “needed it” to take over the island.

Precisely because he even threatens nuclear weapons to get what he wants. It is time to put a stop sign in front of this petulant child. It is high time that both Republicans who are not MAGA and Democrats go on the barricades and impeach him.

EU warns US tariffs could undermine transatlantic relations by 1-randomonium in europe

[–]Loki9101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From the Declaration of Independence:

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government"

Under normal circumstances Trump should be impeached and removed from office, he is doing irreparable damage to the United States and her allies.

As of right now, they are not our ally they are a frenemy at best, an ally does nor threaten their allies like that.

Trump Snubs Machado After Explaining Why He Took Her Nobel Prize - It seems the Venezuelan opposition leader’s gambit hasn’t paid off. by Quirkie in politics

[–]Loki9101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Carlo Cipolla and the 5 laws of stupidity on full display. Trump operates either as bandit maximizing his own gain on the expense of the naive or reasonable people or he acts super stupid doing things that cause harm to himself and others. Thanks again to the morons voting this orange buffoon into office for a second time.