Stylistillusional [none/use name]

i don’t believe Iran has avoided getting weapons out of a faith in the west or flawed understanding of what they would do to protect them, but because other priorities have been more pressing in recent years

In that regard being close to having nukes already gives you much of the leverage of having them. Countries don’t build nukes because they plan on actually using them. It’s about the threat, which still exists to a large extent if you are close to getting the bomb. But without the cost of maintaining nukes.

Investing in missile and nuclear technology is worth it because that tech can be used for other applications. Actual nukes just sit in a warehouse until they have to be replaced.

The only good ska punk artist

Thinking about it a bit more and I don’t see a direct value in taking Kharkiv considering the inevitable costs of urban warfare. The only thing Russia needs to continue doing is not overextend themselves. As longs as they do that, they won’t loose the initiative. Getting caught in a grinding fight in the city might be inadvisable.

Kharkiv oblast was not among those officially annexed by Russia so it is not as politically important as capturing the whole of Donbass. There is a political and military value in creating a buffer zone for the Belgorod region, but that goal does not necessitate the capture of Kharkiv city.

But ofcourse you’re right that the calculation changes when there’s very little resistance.

I keep hearing (in Western media) that Russia doesn’t have enough reserves to take Kharkiv. I guess we’ll find out if that’s cope, or if Russia is just trying to spread the Ukrainians out, especially in light of new ammunition deliveries from the US. Spreading the front will make it harder for Ukraine to use that ammunition to concentrate firepower and create tactical advantages.

I will say it is funny to me how typically Dutch it is to take offence to something like not having to answer a question because it might be a sensitive topic.

The question has to be what Hezbollah going ‘all in’ would achieve. Will it stop the genocide of Palestinians? Or will it intensify if there’s an all-out war?

At the end of the day, Israel is a nuclear state with full ideological support from the US. There is no scenario where the US stays on the sidelines if actual war breaks out. Yes, the axis of resistance could inflict massive damage to the US and Israel but the same can be said the other way around.

Imo the only way to end the genocide without spelling disaster for the whole region, is for Israeli society to become politically untenable. For the Zionist project to collapse in on itself. Atm, that goal is best pursued through anything up to, but not including, all-out war.

Yeah, I’m not going to pretend to know the daily reality of companies in China but we do have something similar in my country for companies with over 50 employees and I wouldn’t say it is that significant in terms of workplace democracy. The least charitable reading would be that China is doing something similar but a bit broader.

Still all good things, but to pretend that this is basically China pressing the communism button is silly.

You can use a cotton swab to put something like a tiger balm under your nose to relieve a runny nose.

What I’ll sometimes also do is take an antihistamine. It’ll dry out your nose as well. It supresses the immuno response so it’s probably not the best idea. But it can help with your sleep if you take one before bed.

Mr. Bocelli it’s time to say goodbye

Let me save you the disappointment: they’re not going to be coming up with any substantial plan for de-dollarization. Even if they did, it would take decades to negotiate the terms between their members.