Meanwhile in Ukraine

[Smitty-48]

where is this going ?

how can you predict ?

we are in free fall for the first time since 1941

[DrYouth]

If the west passes the test...

Then maybe Pax Americana returns for a second round.

Perhaps better than ever.


If the west fails the test - then who knows?

Nightmare scenarios aren't hard to imagine....

Hard to see any good scenarios.


Either Humpty Dumpty wins or it loses.


So - let's pray the west gets their shit together.

Putin is making the west look pretty good right now...

And China if makes a move - then that doubles down on the villain narrative.


We are the good guys again.

Let's not fuck this up.

[Martin Hash]

where is this going ?

how can you predict ?

we are in free fall for the first time since 1941

Russia takes Ukraine then China waits to see if anybody is going to do anything about it: takes Taiwan if not.

[DrYouth]

There is only the west and the rest.

The west is American.

Who else is going to replace them?

[DrYouth]

I just don't see Putin winning here...

Even with China.

Those two countries aren't going to cooperate.

They aren't going to beat the entire western world.

The best they can do is tie for last place in a nuclear armageddon.

[Smitty-48]

where is this going ?

how can you predict ?

we are in free fall for the first time since 1941

Russia takes Ukraine then China waits to see if anybody is going to do anything about it: takes Taiwan if not.

I don't know

but if Putin would do this ?

and Xi is okay with it ?

then Pax Americana is over

and we are in free fall

[C-Mag]

[SuburbanFarmer]

where is this going ?

how can you predict ?

we are in free fall for the first time since 1941

Russia takes Ukraine then China waits to see if anybody is going to do anything about it: takes Taiwan if not.

Agree. This isn’t actually the full-on confrontation, just Putin drawing his red line that NATO crossed.

He takes the eastern Ukraine, and Xi waits to watch the reaction. Like sending in a pawn before making his move. Testing the defenses of Castle West.

This isn’t at least intended as WW3, even though it may turn out that way.

Essentially, this is the real war before all the following pieces fall into place. Russia as Recce Troop B for China.

If the West responds in a scary enough manner and backs Putin down, Xi sits on his thumbs for another generation.

[Smitty-48]

seems very plausible to me

because what the Chinese did in Hong Kong ?

the Canadian government has just done that to me

so this was already feeling like the Chinese making their move

before the other shoe fell with Putin making his move

[Smitty-48]

Taiwan is not the prize

the Chinese are operating above that level now

they are going for Washington

they are taking the whole Hegemony down

at which point Taiwan will fall inevitably as a result