John Stone

Greenland be like a San Juan whore - sitting on a fortune!

Indeed - but politics is about Main Street - what is their perception, it is what really matters. CNN would have you think citizens are eating put of dumpsters and living in cardboard boxes. Domestic politics makes "United States" a misnomer............... had to laugh at Iran's Ayatollah statement directed at Trump tho, 'he (should) get his house together' OMG, reminds me of Baghdad Bob.

............ what is amazing is that post WWII the royal 'they' got it right - won the peace and ruled the World for 70 years. As you implied, changes are approaching apace - when Giants Fall. Economics will determine the winner in terms of global influence.

........this is a good political move (knight errant notwithstanding) - provides a good personal image and keeps the story alive (pun). State vs Fed? Winner doesn't really matter - politics is about perception.

........... a good strategy would be to wear 'white face' while waiting to vote. lol But ur point is well taken - it will affect turnout.

................ I prefer stability. When the Supreme leader's ghost reports to Allah for his ration of virgins? Standby! The rumor is that the demonstrations are to restore the shah's son(???) to power - currently residing in Europe.

Brownshirts would have no problem throwing another jew on the fire. Germany at that time was pure RAGE Those Versailles a$$holes were akin to the crew that sacrificed 20k troops, KIA on the Somme, the first day! OLD men deciding the fate of young men. Pompous, arrogant, self righteous. ......... the rumor is that the Black Shirts were envious of the Brown Shirts.

Kind of ironic that all that destruction made the U.S. the most economically powerful country in the World - the US rebuilt Europe and Japan but a workman must draw a fair wage for his toil? My fav is the 'Berlin Airlift' - epic, defined determination.

........... yeah, what country has the Global reserve for Lithium?

Good point, the US can process rare earth elements, but it currently lacks the extensive refining infrastructure needed to do so - ergo relying heavily on imports, particularly from China. The U.S. with its focus on fossil fuels is getting farther away from possessing that refining capability and it's moot anyway, China has the lion's portion of Global reserve and baby, they're driving hard $$.

Canada - the 'dead man' of North America? Might harken back to the Ottoman empire - U.N. mandates? Def need to redraw the provincial borders, jerrymandering would need to be seriously considered. Internationally it would be a huge strategic move - China / Russia would demand a piece of the pie.

Russia is most definitely interested in the Arctic - specifically the continental shelf. In 2021 they filed a submission to the U.N. to extend a claim to the Arctic seabed. The new submission would push Russia's claim all the way up to Canada's exclusive economic zone, an area 200 nautical miles from the coastline, in which Canadians have sole rights to fish, drill and pursue other economic activities. A situation where Russia is claiming the entire Canadian and Danish continental shelf as part of THEIR continental shelf. Holy South China Sea - 9 dash line debate, Batman! The North West Passage (contested) will increasingly become more strategic ........... esp for China. ? What other routes? Panama Canal / Suez Both Greenland and Panama would be strategic moves - Global leverage aside - Greenland provides a huge reserve of Rare Earth.

SCOTUS? .............. someone please tell me that they're not political. On the other hand, depending, rule the court, rule the land - legitimately. And we are going to find out! Can't wait.

I always find it amusing to compare Versailles with the Marshal Plan.

China will lead the world in EV within 5-7 years. Speculation is that over 70 percent of the World's EV will be manufactured and exported from China. To accomplish this China needs raw materials - specifically rare earth elements - crucial to critical components in the manufacture of E.V. China has over 40 percent (?) of the Globes reserves in rare earth elements. The US. has 4 percent. China is surging ahead in every aspect of manufacturing - the idea that any western nation is going to be competitive is laughable. China's consumption of energy (oil) drives demand - the problem is that they're expected to flatline in consumption within 5 years - the drive towards renewable energy has to be seen to be believed. Might be a good idea to brush up on some version of Chinese............... press 1 for Chinese? lol Political firestorm? How about another depression.

While ICE could be considered mercenaries , the Brown Shirts were ideologically driven and as you say, extremely important in the rise of the 'National Socialist German Workers' Party' (NAZI), party. Germany, post WWI became a republic (Weimar). This happened basically overnight and a consequence there was an explosion of political parties - by extension it was difficult to get a majority - coalitions were popular (ya think?). Ernst Rohm was the ranking member of the Brown Shirts. The Brown Shirts eventually became the militant wing of the NAZI party. With the political opposition so stiff the opposition ranks needed to be thinned out - by any means. Opposition rallies were disrupted with prejudice and intimidation by any means was the method of choice. The Brown Shirts were paramilitary organization - veterans of WWI, brutal and used to using violence. They were ideologically driven - to a fault -highly regimented. ICE is nothing like that - they're poorly trained, unprofessional- no discipline and likely doing the 'job' for the signing bonus. I don't say that as a pejorative - but just look at them. To compare them to regular cops, regular army or NG is laughable - however to see ICE as comparable to Brown Shirts? Not in my opinion.

Let it come - indeed - but in someone else backyard. The cops are not apolitical - not to mention the fact they're not anonymous by any means.

.............. arguably it wouldn't be like that ........... more quasi random organized acts at (National) destabilization ........ actually NOEM put her finger on it quoting 'domestic terrorism'. As far as the Military goes I'm sure you understand that it is a cross section of domestic society. .... although touted as apolitical - follow the Constitution, yada ............ it only takes one (foreign national in particular) behind the controls of a specific platform to make J6 look like a garden party in comparison. I'd also add that today so-called suicide drones will become not only the weapon of choice on the battlefield - AI will make them completely unguided - immune to jamming. Home grown (domestic) terrorism is a viable threat - and likely far more so going forward. Winter is coming.

Canadian beaver are def fun ........ they can gnaw on my wood anytime.

The 2nd Amendment was ratified to ensure the right to keep and bear arms, primarily to provide a check against a tyrannical government. Both the black and white cats are leaning towards this argument - basically justifying violence. Whatever the outcome, let's hope the military remains apolitical - them platforms carry some fun toys? Something like 500 million privately owned firearms in the U.S. and generally the owners are very proficient.

Some would argue that they were both stupid? They both played the bluff game and were called on it.

....... arguably there is some parallel to Ashli Babbitt. Of course Ashli was a Trump supporter. ..........martyr

Looks like the strategy was not regime change - depending on Delcy's compliance. haha If the dumb beotch has a modicum of sense she'll deal. Corruption in Venezuela is essential for a stable government. Bolivar must be turning in his urn. Still don't get the strategic gain here tho............... a shit hole country not worth the squeeze. A minor speed bump for China and Russia would be happy to see production cut completely. Cuba is likely fk'd - suppose Mexico is an option for oil - but that has likely been negotiated.

Greenland is extremely strategic to any global power - but especially so for those superpowers hoping to dominate EV. The thing is, Greenland is a treasure trove of rare earth minerals possessing some of the World's largest untapped reserves - critical for modern tech and clean energy transitions. As of 2025 Greenland's reserves in REE are est. at 1.5 million metric tons - making it a strategic alternative to China's dominance in global supply. Strategically, I'd agree that the Venezuela gambit in pursuit of oil is a loser (global leverage notwithstanding). It will take years for Venezuela's oil infrastructure to be rebuilt - and security would have to be a nightmare ....... extending the timeline. Trump has provided incentives for U.S. big oil to invest in Venezuela but I'd say the risk in terms of political stability makes it a bridge too far. If I was eyeing geo-conquest I'd def be eyeing Greenland - it represents the future - oil the past.

....... arguably there is some parallel to Ashli Babbitt. Of course Ashli was a Trump supporter. ..........martyr