[the broken]

So that means you're going to DM BK and apologise for taking out your frustrations with the general media landscape on a random man that has nothing to do with it, then?

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Trump on Truth Social:

Quote

He has been fixating, again, on what he sees as vulnerabilities along Canada's northern border that could be exploited by U.S. adversaries, two U.S. officials, a senior administration official, and three former senior U.S. officials told NBC News.

Trump Sets Sights on Bigger Takeover Target in Taunting Post

... fixating on them as rationalizations...

Trump on why he wants Greenland, from an interview in 2021:

Quote

"You take a look at a map. I'm a real estate developer. I look at a corner, I say, 'I've got to get that store for the building that I'm building,' etc. It's not that different.

He added: "I love maps. And I always said: 'Look at the size of this. It's massive. That should be part of the United States.'"

Cosmetics Billionaire Convinced Trump That the U.S. Should Buy Greenland - The New York Times

Of course he's almost certainly being partly influenced by the Mercator projection, even though I'm sure his aides have explained it to him...

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 20 January 2026 - 02:06 PM

[QuickTidal]

This kind of shit is why I come down so hard in this thread these days....this kind of shit from ANY other world leader would be seen as completely unhinged behaviour...but we accept it from Trump because why?

EDIT: And if this even gets tried, we will make the VietCong look like the Teletubbies...we look like you, we act like you, we consume the same media as you...and we have the longest undefended border in the world and a MONSTROUS amount of space much of it tundra and wilderness that we've all learned to live in...want to bankrupt yourselves trying to hold us while the worst insurgency the world has ever seen keeps sending your MAGA-soldiers back to you until you leave us alone....go for it. There is no world in which the US annexes Canada easily or at all...a military strike or invasion? Sure...but occupation? LOL, not a chance.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 20 January 2026 - 04:40 PM

[Macros]

the broken, on 20 January 2026 - 10:40 AM, said:

So that means you're going to DM BK and apologise for taking out your frustrations with the general media landscape on a random man that has nothing to do with it, then?

Actually on my to do list for this evening.
Qll joking aside.

BK took a call from me and talked when I was dealing with other stuff and yes my tone was overly aggressive to him. I should have asked questions instead of pillorising him

[QuickTidal]

I think my issue with this thread is that we know BK voted for Trump the first time, which was forgivable, but we don't know if he did a second time (where it's much less forgivable since you can't pretend you don't know who he is by that point), which would change the dynamics completely of the discussion in the discussion threads...because he's never told us one way or the other as I recall.

If I don't know if you supported Jan 6 and Epstein files and 34 Felony convictions by voting for that man...then how are we meant to discuss American politics with a noted Republican (who restated that he is indeed a Republican in his most recent post) from any kind of honest angle? We kind of end up playing "well you must have" and going from there.

Because a 2024 vote for Trump is VASTLY different than a 2016 vote for Trump. That's not nothing. And it would be interesting to learn from him why he might have done that, and why he feels that Trump was the better option...and if he gives Right wing talking point platitudes that could be safely and factually debunked, we should do that.

Like he once referred to Bernie Sanders (One of the USA's most left politicians; but would be considered Center Right in any other western country) as "Comrade" unironically. The conflation of "communism" by the right wing media sphere with "anything left of hard right" is a piece of propaganda that can easily be debunked, but when I asked why he called him that, he didn't reply. So getting a bead on his political bend in 2026 is difficult.

I have for the most part gotten along with BK over the years, and consider him a decent dude all told, before my life got too busy I gamed with him a time or two and he was kind as could be and funny too...so I think many people are trying to reconcile that with the fact that he may likely have voted Trump in '24 and thus supports and endorses the things he did or were found out between his terms...and personally I've always chalked that up to the propaganda the right wing media feeds him in his State, so it's hard for him to see outside that media bubble like we can. And he's been absent for a lot of time the last few years, but you can always kind of tell when he might show up and talk about "Trans people in Bud commercials", or "won't people be nicer about Charlie Kirk" because those are very much the things that get railed about in that very right wing media as talking points, even though they are deeply social war stuff meant to keep the people down and arguing and not noticing the ruling class has them locked up with Bread in the Circus, which speaks to how hard that media hammers these points, and how difficult it must be to step out of that miasma as a voter in a red state.

I want more than anything to have fruitful conversations with him, even if his viewpoints may confuddle me on many topics...so I perhaps have come down hard in a few instances (I can be a real dick sometimes, I acknowledge this)...but that most recently is coloured by his presidents threats to annex my country. I'd love to understand where he's coming from in a fuller way, and if there is anything I feel like could expand or rebut talking points that the US propaganda machine feeds him, all the better.

My two cents.

[Lady Bliss]

I think as long as we all keep from calling each other idiots we are ok to discuss freely. We’re all friends here and this isn’t mafia. Frankly I’m surprised this thread has never devolved into telling each other to go eat a bag of dicks yet. We are all friends and that’s just my two cents worth. I think all in all we keep it professional.

[Abyss]

fart_noise.wav

[QuickTidal]

If the US invades Greenland, it will be the end of NATO, and the end of the US dollar as the worlds reserve currency. No one will buy and subsidize their military equipment and their (already outdated) military will become unsustainable. The US bond market would experience a price collapse and yield surge as foreign countries dump US treasuries. The US government would face much higher borrowing costs and risk debt default. Retail interest rates will soar to levels never seen before. The dollar would collapse which would make foreign products too prohibit to buy even if you pulled Trump's tantrum tariffs. And finally, say goodbye to your Social Security and your Medicare, forever. This will play out over one to two decades, but it would happen and it would be permanent.

They will become even more a country of have's and have nots. And the rich won't care. The rich in the US are already independent of the swings in the US economy. Their fortunes literally and figuratively are no longer tied to the average citizen. And Europe won't care. And Asia won't care. And Canada won't care. And all the "third world" countries won't care. Why should they? The USA doesn't give a shit anymore about anything or anyone beyond their selfish interests as an entity. Their former allies and trade partners will all experience the purest form of schadenfreude as the US collapses inward. Because of US greed, their shallow nationalism and their native bigotry. They will deserve what's coming because they are a nation of narcissists, gluttons, bigots and myopes.

Hard cheese, but I don't think enough MAGAts or regular American citizens really truly realize what invading Greenland would signify...I hope it's worth the complete inward collapse of your country for the whims of a demented madman.

Sidenote: The only time Article 5 of NATO has been called, was after 9/11, when Canada and the rest of the NATO allies came to help, to defend, and to support the USA in their most drastic time of need...so the way the rest of the world is being treated now...yeah, we're not about it. We came for you all when you needed us, and 25 years later and you've abandoned us (again, as an entity, not as individuals obvs) while your petulant President runs roughshod over 80 years of alliance, over petty bullshit.

[the broken]

In the Ukraine thread, a country actually has been invaded, a real war, not an imaginary one that might happen in the future, where thousands of people are dead, and in THAT thread, people are more measured. That's no excuse.

And taking offence because someone MIGHT have voted a way you don't like (you're not even sure!) and holding them responsible for policy of that government, including ones they've said they disagree with? Come on.

[Primateus]

the broken, on 20 January 2026 - 06:55 PM, said:

In the Ukraine thread, a country actually has been invaded, a real war, not an imaginary one that might happen in the future, where thousands of people are dead, and in THAT thread, people are more measured. That's no excuse.

And taking offence because someone MIGHT have voted a way you don't like (you're not even sure!) and holding them responsible for policy of that government, including ones they've said they disagree with? Come on.

I think the difference is that the Russia-Ukraine war is a war between a hostile actor and a semi-friend.

The current situation between the US and my country, Denmark and Greenland, is a potential betrayal of a steadfast ally of the United States, and what it is an obviously disingeneous reason.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

From Navy War College professor emeritus Tom Nichols:

Quote

The Military Is Being Forced to Plan for an Unthinkable Betrayal

Some military officers will shrug at Trump's ravings and say that orders are orders, and that yesterday's friends are today's enemies. Every defense organization has people in it, uniformed and civilian, who are morally hollow and see only figures on a map that must be targeted for elimination. But most Americans, and the members of the military that serves them, are decent people. They know that attacking your friends is evil and mad. I am certain that the men and women of the armed forces will be conflicted and disturbed as they try to turn Trump's unhinged obsessions into a coherent military plan.

In the end, however, if senior officers—starting with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the heads of each service—follow Trump down this dark road, the officers and enlisted people below them will likely obey the chain of command. Such an outcome would be a tragedy, and potentially a global catastrophe.

It is not up to the armed forces to put a stop to Trump's ghastly ideas.

https://www.theatlan...eenland/685677/

But fortunately I don't think Putin has many officers to spare... though North Korea might. (Kidding---I hope... I'd imagine NK's military isn't comparable enough for that to be worthwhile. Plus I'd imagine that MAGA is too bigoted.)

It's been pointed out that, if the new "spheres of influence" limit the United States to the Americas and grant Russia Europe and China Asia... that might seem like a "bad deal" for the United States. But I suspect that MAGA plans (over the long-term) to give Russia dominion over Eastern and Central Europe and parts of Asia while splitting Western Europe between MAGA and Russia, with any occupation being primarily via automated surveillance and drone enforcers, and more of a focus on forced tribute (including taxation), resource extraction, and in most cases largely nominal ownership, with the main focus of surveillance being the crushing of any military resistance and trying to stop people from evading their tribute payments / tax evasion and from hiding or redirecting resources designated for their subjugator(s). China's sphere of influence or imperial control would encompass most of Asia and Africa.

Trump and a significant portion of MAGA don't want to stop with the Sudetenland Moravia Bohemia Venezuela Greenland... at least enough significant MAGA figures to continue Trump's "legacy" in a post-democratic United States.

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 20 January 2026 - 09:05 PM

[Maark Abbott]

Primateus, on 20 January 2026 - 08:11 PM, said:

the broken, on 20 January 2026 - 06:55 PM, said:

In the Ukraine thread, a country actually has been invaded, a real war, not an imaginary one that might happen in the future, where thousands of people are dead, and in THAT thread, people are more measured. That's no excuse.

And taking offence because someone MIGHT have voted a way you don't like (you're not even sure!) and holding them responsible for policy of that government, including ones they've said they disagree with? Come on.

I think the difference is that the Russia-Ukraine war is a war between a hostile actor and a semi-friend.

The current situation between the US and my country, Denmark and Greenland, is a potential betrayal of a steadfast ally of the United States, and what it is an obviously disingeneous reason.

We're feeling this in the UK as well, although obviously to a much lesser degree. That 'special relationship' has been shown as being utterly worthless when one fuckass nazi can take power in the US and shit all over everyone and everything on the international stage.

And yeah, I'll be calling him that because he has literal gestapo on the streets disappearing and spot executing people.

The only good I can see coming from this is that the UK might seek to re-integrate with Europe, although the Reform Ltd brainrot is strong in the right wing here so I am pessimistic that it'd happen without the gammons kicking off.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Trump backs down (for now) at Davos on using military force to annex Greenland, but still demands its annexation:

Quote

Trump steps up demand to annex Greenland but rules out using force

"I don't want to use force. I won't use force. All the US is asking for is a place called Greenland," he said. "You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember."

[...] At several points Trump appeared to confuse Greenland with Iceland, claiming "Iceland" had caused a drop in stock prices on Tuesday – when markets fell as a result of his threat to impose new tariffs on eight European countries.

[...] Trump took direct aim at Carney in his speech, claiming that Canada had had "a lot of freebies" from the US. "Canada lives because of the US: remember that, Mark, next time you make your statements."

Trump steps up demand to annex Greenland but rules out using force | Davos | The Guardian

He's so fixated on annexing Greenland that he can't remember the difference between Greenland and Iceland while giving an important prepared speech.

And saying that "Canada lives because of the US"? What? He thinks Canada will "die" if he withdraws US support? Or Canada would have "died" during WWII?

Of course, Trump is mercurial, so who knows whether he'll change his mind or not. And he lies prolifically. If he's planning on actually invading Greenland, he might want to say he's not going to do it, then launch a sneak attack. Perhaps he's hoping that the "symbolic troops" sent by other nations will be withdrawn so he won't have to deal with the mess of slaughtering troops from other nations. Maybe even that Denmark---perhaps as a "show of good will"---would withdraw some of its defenses and allow more of a US military presence. Making the invasion easier.

Overall though, I'd say this does decrease the probability of Trump invading Greenland substantially, at least in the near term.

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 21 January 2026 - 03:54 PM

[Tapper]

Let’s be realistic. The EU is never going to be wholly conquered by Russia. Nor are 450 million Europeans going to answer to Russia (population 150 million or so?). But there are regions that are at risk and Russia’s hybrid warfare is dangerous.

Now, *If* Russia can run fast enough through the Baltic states, there is a significant risk that the US will not come to their aid and I don’t think the rest of Europe will go and plan amphibious landings or cut through Kaliningrad overland. Poland, Finland or Rumania though? Pretty safe. Orban is many things, but I really don’t think he will try and send the Hungarian military to Russia’s help.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Tapper, on 21 January 2026 - 04:18 PM, said:

Let's be realistic. The EU is never going to be wholly conquered by Russia. Nor are 450 million Europeans going to answer to Russia (population 150 million or so?). But there are regions that are at risk and Russia's hybrid warfare is dangerous.

Assuming the EU would not capitulate to attempted nuclear blackmail or other threats (missiles, bioweapons, etc.), Russia would almost certainly need to rely heavily on major advances in automation (so probably at least 10 to 15 years before Russia could plausibly develop---or purchase, if they were willing to risk that---such capabilities at scale), and probably on overt US support as well. But Ukraine seems to be outpacing Russia in technological development and its effective deployment.

With full MAGA support, and MAGA having Putin-like control over the US, it could plausibly become feasible in 10 to 20 years, particularly if MAGA allows or mandates the sharing of the relevant military technologies with Russia, and Putin or his successors aren't too paranoid to accept it.

However, if the rest of Europe starts ramping up its military preparations now, it has ample opportunity to outpace Russia over that timeframe and at least provide major deterrents for a prospective US-Russia-China alliance.

In a partition of Europe between the United States and Russia, in addition to Central and Eastern Europe, Russia would most likely demand Denmark in order to control the exit from the Baltic Sea. They'd probably also be granted dominion over most of the rest of the countries along the Baltic coast, including Sweden and Finland, and at least northeastern Germany.

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 21 January 2026 - 04:54 PM

[QuickTidal]

Trump saying that NATO has never done anything for the USA in his stupid speech is wild considering that the ONLY time Article 5 has EVER been called was after 9/11 when the NATO countries al stepped up to help and defend the USA.

He also had a go at us again after Carney's speech...

This fucking guy.

I wish every news channel did like a pop-up video to debunk his lies in real time on live TV. That he's allowed to just blatantly lie like that annoys me to a degree I can't explain.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 21 January 2026 - 05:00 PM

[Tapper]

Azath Vitr (D, on 21 January 2026 - 04:53 PM, said:

Tapper, on 21 January 2026 - 04:18 PM, said:

Let's be realistic. The EU is never going to be wholly conquered by Russia. Nor are 450 million Europeans going to answer to Russia (population 150 million or so?). But there are regions that are at risk and Russia's hybrid warfare is dangerous.

Assuming the EU would not capitulate to attempted nuclear blackmail or other threats (missiles, bioweapons, etc.), Russia would almost certainly need to rely heavily on major advances in automation (so probably at least 10 to 15 years before Russia could plausibly develop---or purchase, if they were willing to risk that---such capabilities at scale), and probably on overt US support as well. But Ukraine seems to be outpacing Russia in technological development and its effective deployment.

With full MAGA support, and MAGA having Putin-like control over the US, it could plausibly become feasible in 10 to 20 years, particularly if MAGA allows or mandates the sharing of the relevant military technologies with Russia, and Putin or his successors aren't too paranoid to accept it.

However, if the rest of Europe starts ramping up its military preparations now, it has ample opportunity to outpace Russia over that timeframe and at least provide major deterrents for a prospective US-Russia-China alliance.

In a partition of Europe between the United States and Russia, in addition to Central and Eastern Europe, Russia would most likely demand Denmark in order to control the exit from the Baltic Sea. They'd probably also be granted dominion over most of the rest of the countries along the Baltic coast, including Sweden and Finland, and at least northeastern Germany.

I honestly don’t know how you see a Russia/China/US alliance appearing. If anything, the US pivot away from NATO is to put the emphasis on China over Russia as the US’ main enemy. I also don’t see the bromance of Putin and Trump survive past either of them. Trump is nearing 80 and Putin will hold on for as long as he can, but who knows until when, and who comes after him and how long that power consolidation takes?

As for MAGA, let’s see how long it lasts. I highly doubt more than 3 years, even though the damage will take decades to undo. MAGA will (eventually) eat itself.

I also don’t see how the split in influence spheres you see would work. My wife is Polish. Every single Polish person I talk to hates the Russians with a passion. Every Fin says the same. Even the Russia sympathisers in Hungary and elsewhere don’t want direct Russian rule, and there is nothing Russia has to offer that would keep a country in Russia’s orbit for long. Victor Orban can do what he does in Hungary because the EU was, despite everything, up until 2025 a net investor in Hungary and is loathe to truly slap his hand because it wants its members to cooperate. He won’t have such leeway or such funding with Russia. Russia meanwhile, whatever they conquer, their oligarchy sucks dry; it’s not used to accelerate their economy. So,

Finally, most anti-EU sentiment in the EU is because people feel the EU is expensive and makes life complicated and bureaucratic. That does not mean they want more Russian/US influence, or are open to it.

[QuickTidal]

MAGA is a cult, and like all other cults before it will not survive once he's gone. Cults do not head-change easily, if at all. The only example you MIGHT pull is Scientology, but that shift happened before Hubbard was the cult leader that Miscavige has become in his wake, so it's a special case. Every other studied cult dissolved with their leaders death or incarceration.

[Tiste Simeon]

And they still haven't released the full Epstein files. They're constantly distracting from it. Basically the republicans are full on pedi protectors. Anyone who still supports them knows this and is ok with it.

[Cause]

QuickTidal, on 21 January 2026 - 04:59 PM, said:

Trump saying that NATO has never done anything for the USA in his stupid speech is wild considering that the ONLY time Article 5 has EVER been called was after 9/11 when the NATO countries al stepped up to help and defend the USA.

He also had a go at us again after Carney's speech...

This fucking guy.

I wish every news channel did like a pop-up video to debunk his lies in real time on live TV. That he's allowed to just blatantly lie like that annoys me to a degree I can't explain.

Trump is not a history buff, you want him to remember something that happened in his own lifetime, that he wasn't personally involved in? Your asking a lot. Then again he was involved, his building became the tallest in NYC after 9/11. He was quite excited. It was also a lie.

The man is mentally damaged. I'm not an expert in mental health but I often wonder if his obsession with Putin is because he can remember the importance of the cold war and Putin has been in charge of Russia since 2000. He has staying power in trumps mind. A lot of his obsessions seem to be rooted in the past. Im not sure if newer memories dont have the same staying power for him. He doesn't seem to realize America is the number 1 oil producer int he world. Globalization has changed supply lines forever. He is fighting the cold war but thinks he can make peace.

He also cant appreciate Subtly. NATO hasn't fought a full blown world war 3 so he thinks its pointless. He cant fathom that the alliance itself prevents ww3 from taking place.

If we needed Greenland for security NATO/Denmark would have let any missile defense or military bases we wanted. They already do. America, Canada, UK, Europe, Greenland were all already one big alliance and they were ramping up their militaries since Ukraine anyway. This Bloc + Japan+ S Korea + Australia are the ultimate bulwark against Russia and China. Also realistically Russia shouldn't even be uttered in the same breath as this bloc (Nuclear power is their only threat against that might). Everyone knows this but him. The emperor has no clothes, we are waiting to see if their is a Republican who has the courage of a child to tell him.

This post has been edited by Cause: 21 January 2026 - 07:46 PM