Sir Dude

The usual pro-Hamas nonsense article that sits well with the Asean Now far-left China supporting members... facepalm

The irony is so thicK you could choke on it in this forum. There are so many far-left, pro-China, anti-US/UK biased posters that it makes no sense... think about it. How can you be far-left, anti-western and pro-China? Unless of course it's like on Youtude where the CCP is paying foreign influences to be positive about China etc., which I could easily believe.

Facepalm.

Whilst war can't be completely ruled out, as there has always been and will be again in the future... the question is on what scale it will be. Any large-scale war would be the end for most countries as they are no so interconnected through things like trade, business, and co-reliance on each other... even if they all have tantrums and hissy-fits with each other. There is plenty of brinksmanship going on to see who blinks first on topics so that they can get what they can, but if it actually came down to it, then I'm not so sure, as everyone knows there are plenty enough nukes on both side to destroy everyone everywhere... along with public opinion outrage in a lot of places would be huge with a massive backlash, as people are not now as supportive of such destruction/wars, as it would interject with their insular comfortable lives and social media addictions.

There is also the point that China could easily be a paper tiger when it comes to war... looks good on paper but China has a history of, well, lying blatantly about pretty much everything, from youth unemployment to trade figures to all sorts. That is before we even talk about corruption in their military and society at large... not to mention the PLA has absolutely no battle experience, as the last time they fought a war it was with Vietnam and China soundly had their backsides handed to them.

Any conflict with anyone is extremely risky for Beijing and the CCP, as if it doesn't go exactly how they want it and thus exposes themselves as incompetent, then it's game over for the CCP as the loss of face would be too big whilst also they would lose what is called "the heavenly mandate" to rule, and it is taken very seriously in China. 

People often forget that China does things differently from everyone else (e.g. Beijing decides how much GDP will be and then tasks local government to make it happen) and the military is no exception. A clear example is they are very top-down with orders and junior officers are not allowed to take the initiative on their own and make real-time battlefield decisions, they have to wait for orders to come down from above, not to mention most officers have to literally spend 50% of their time studying nonsense like "Xi Jinping Thought" and CCP propaganda rather than study sound military tactics... that just wouldn't wash against a rival like the US, China would be swept aside quickly... no contest, and I think Beijing knows that, hence why it hasn't gone too aggressive on things, just likes to inch by inch it to their objectives.

There is much at play on this and the risks are very high. Also, as an aside, it seems at the moment that there is much internal turmoil going on in China right now, not just with economic malaise, property market crashes, tofu-dreg projects everywhere, youth unemployment, ghost cities, kids "lying flat" because they have given up on the future, but political changes too as many top officials are being investigated and arrested/disappeared, even Xi loyalists. Chinese politics is extremely complicated and subtle in its messaging, and the two main factions (‘Princelings’ and ‘Tuanpai’ with Xi being a 'Princeling whereas Hu Jintao and Zhang Zemin are/were Tuanpai) are always fighting to place "their guys" in positions of power... it is noticable that Xi Jinping has become more quiet and less visable in the last few months, something is definitely up behind the scenes in China. In regard to all this, I would surmise it to be unlikely that Beijing would take any really big risks until the internal situation is stabilized properly and positions are cemented for the foreseeable future. 

Just my observations and I welcome any comments or input, as it is an interesting topic.

That guy in the photo looks like he's a real killjoy... announcing a mandate from Grinch. I mean, wow, jail time for posting pictures of people having fun and a few beer... bit extreme.

57 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I did. You lied. You posted total garbage about Thailand tariffs. End of.

Looks like I pushed a button in you.... hmm, maybe you shouldn't post on such emotional topics for you. And BTW... what you call "lies" are just subjective and your point of view.... which are like <deleted>, everyone has one.

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

BULL!

Are you that misinformed and so deeply in the maga cult that you actually believe that Thailand tariffs 72 percent on U.S. goods? Amazing! Again -- lies. Anyone that posts such blatant garbage as you posted presented as fact doesn't deserve anything more than a reply saying LIES.

No need for personal attacks... attack the post content with a sound retort, not the person, or I'll flag that post as it rightly deserves.

Just now, BLMFem said:

Screw up for the West?? Oh no, this is all on Trump and the US. He's been screwing friends, foes and penguins with equal vigor. His little orange appendage has been inserted into every hole available, and he only stopped when he started pi****g barbed wire.

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Indeed, just have to see how it shakes out, for good or ill... I'm just grabbing the popcorn rather than bitching about it, time will tell.

As an aside, Trump has bet the farm on this, so it's make or break... if it fails, then all his critics will have all the ammo they need to get rid of him and consign him to the dustbin of history, but if he's right and it works, then there will be much denial and blubbing that would be able to be heard on the moon.

All the doubters should feel good about it, it's a do or die move by Trump and few politicians ever do this... all the haters may get exactly what they want and revel in their glee at some point, or be completely horrified and do a stockbroker off the nearest building. 

As I said, only time will tell and we will all see how it shakes out... for good or ill, haha. You all should be looking forward to the endgame regardless of what side you are on.

4 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

What he has achieved is total chaos in the world economy in pursuit of economic theories born in the befuddled mind of convict peter Navarro, theories the vast majority of the world's economists see as downright stupid.

And the chief clown just found out that the US can not screw everyone without serious economic consequences for the US economy. Hence the 180...or 270....or 485. It's impossible to know with this troupe of clowns. The Trump s**t show 2.0 is in full swing.

That is yet to be seen and I don't think we can have it all squared away just yet... the dust needs to settle and see if the trading relationships change for the better or worse for the US and the rest of the world. Too early to call, you could be right, but hey... no crystal balls are available. We will all need to see where the dust settles... if it's a screw up for the West, then fine, many will get their mandate to brag, if not, then many will look very silly and go very quiet. Only time will tell as history is a harsh judge.

Strong is the lefty hatred on Asean Now... impressive, give you that.

Well, Trumps methods can be argued about, but he has got over 70 countries to the negotiating table regarding their own tariffs and lack of free trade attitudes etc... so far enough.

What he has done is a means to an end, as the US can screw everyone over if it wants, but would rather not, hence the pause in tariffs other than for China (who full deserves it). 

The US has leverage and it looks like Trump is using it, even if the US will negotiate better terms from all these countries for itself that want to continue to do business with the US market. There is a lot of lefty entitled misguided hysteria... Trump just wants a better deal for the US, and isn't scared to wave a threatening stick at other countries. 

It looks like the Trump administration will get at least some of what it wants, even if not everything... as there will be new trade deals negotiated soon to avoid the worst of the tariffs. Smart move really on behalf of the US as the piss has been taken by so many for a long time... how can you be like Thailand that levies a 72% tax on US goods and then get the hump when the US says it will put a 36% reciprocal tax on Thai goods? No, doesn't work like that unless in Far-Far-away Land.

Clearly discrimination and likely illegal... isn't this what Americans call "affirmative action" before the woke label came along? Some real vindictive idiots are now in control of the UK.

This sort of stuff is just ludicrous and getting way out of control. Why can't you call and orange an orange... erm no, because it's a deviant banana. Never heard such rubbish. So glad I bailed from the UK because saw the writing on the wall... awful place to live now.

Oh dear, oh dear... pretty messy, looks like lunchtime or early afternoon too. When it gets to the point where you get all fisty-cuffs and start running down the road after someone, only to collaspe on the road in a alcoholic mess, then time to go sleep it off muppet.

Blame Noel Webster, he's the one who led Americans away from how to speak English properly... in favour of "American" English, as there is no such thing as "British" English, it's just English.

The left wants to destroy everything that all western countries once stood for, and turn them into an amorphous blob of a characterless soup that resembles a weak and valueless entity. The biggest lie you have been told is "Diverity is our strength"... if you believe that, then you are a lost cause that has drank far too much lefty Kool-aid. The West was strong in the 90s... should go back to that before the BS took over.

If you can be bothered and want to be organised, then I'd say go to the Laos consulate in Khon Kaen on the the way up there, and get your paperwork etc. done before you reach the border, which makes things smoother on arrival. Also, Khon Kaen is a good city to spend a night in and has a huge university, so that means plenty of hotel and nightlife options.

5 hours ago, Yagoda said:

https://www.foxnews.com/us/trump-assassination-attempt-suspect-ryan-routh-sought-rocket-launcher-ukraine-docs

 

We already know about their actions in the effort to interfere in our elections. What did they have to do with this? Could it be like a bit of Apis/Gavrilo type action?

Lol... sounds legit.

Maybe you have had too many Thai sticks or purple haze buds today, getting late. Also, quoting from Fox news is about as fair and balanced as Tucker Carlson's visit to Moscow to interview Putler. In the UK, it would be akin to asking the Guardian to do a balanced article on the rights and wrongs of the immigration and benefits issue... with recommendation to the Labour Party for action.