But, before we get to the Niger front, a brief note from Poland: Max Abrahms @MaxAbrahms A senior Polish official has suggested Ukraine should be more grateful for the support it has been receiving from Poland since the start of Russia’s invasion last year.
Reached out to a friend who’s wife is polish, (she a green card resident) I ask what her family is saying about the Ukraine and Polands involvement. She said her father is livid with the government, trying to provoke a war with Russia and that the refugees are a burden and not welcome. Nobody but our government wants them here and they do nothing to feed or house them and it is taking away from what they have made of a better life for themselves and their families. Wow, imagine that people being unhappy about unwanted invaders from their southern border.
People don't read Mearsheimer correctly!!!! He is not wrong about "no winner" only because he's talking about a nuclear war type escalation, not about the cold war style brinkmanship and incremental gains. Mearsheimer is pretty clear about Russia becoming the winner of the Ukraine War on the ground in Ukraine.
This all reminds me of that board game called "Risk" that we used to play as kids. Mearsheimer is wrong about there being no winners. Russia and China have the neocons over a barrel, not only economically and militarily, but also in the quality of their leadership. I think Nuland and Co are going to regret provoking Russia. They have no idea what they've unleashed.
I have a colleague from Cameroon and it was from him that I first learned about France's ongoing exploitation of their former colonies. The terms of their "liberation" were pretty extreme, ranging from French first right of refusal to natural resources to a requirement that the colonies keep the overwhelming majority of their income in the French central bank to go with other obligations. No way France could fund their social programs without the ongoing exploitation of their colonies.
The whole French post-colonial thing is very interesting. We Brits were just as horrible as the rest, but after WW2, we knew that the imperial game was over. However, the French, fresh on the back of the humiliation of 1940 wanted to rebuild their world status by hanging on to their empire as long as possible. Hence the horrible debacles of Dien Bien Phu and Algeria. Even today, when I listen to French radio, is very noticeable how colonial mind they still are. They talk about places like Martinique and La Reunion, as well as Chad and Mali, as if they are just other French places.
Tom Luongo wrote a while back how France uses control of the currency in their former colonies as a way to keep financial control and help France Financially.
Apparently their systems of control extend much further than the currency.
I've also heard that French legionaires were implicated in the majority of assassinations of African heads of state over the years, so they do not slack on enforcement.
The birdseed specifically for Goldfinches and Pine Siskins was for years known as Niger seed. Around 2001 some PC jackass decided that might be racist so the name of the seed was changed to Nyger. Wonder if the country known as Niger contemplating a name change, as well?
I didn't start seeing or thinking abt goldfinches until I moved to rural Virginia ~17 yrs ago. I thought they ate thistle seeds, which a search just indicated are indeed niger/nyjer seeds - no thistle involved at all!
There is nothing more beautiful up here during the summer than when a huge flock of goldfinches whiz by.
Funny, Niger and Nigeria both obviously mean black, but apparently Sudan is Arabic for black as well. Apparently it's a descriptive name or something...
Reached out to a friend who’s wife is polish, (she a green card resident) I ask what her family is saying about the Ukraine and Polands involvement. She said her father is livid with the government, trying to provoke a war with Russia and that the refugees are a burden and not welcome. Nobody but our government wants them here and they do nothing to feed or house them and it is taking away from what they have made of a better life for themselves and their families. Wow, imagine that people being unhappy about unwanted invaders from their southern border.
People don't read Mearsheimer correctly!!!! He is not wrong about "no winner" only because he's talking about a nuclear war type escalation, not about the cold war style brinkmanship and incremental gains. Mearsheimer is pretty clear about Russia becoming the winner of the Ukraine War on the ground in Ukraine.
This all reminds me of that board game called "Risk" that we used to play as kids. Mearsheimer is wrong about there being no winners. Russia and China have the neocons over a barrel, not only economically and militarily, but also in the quality of their leadership. I think Nuland and Co are going to regret provoking Russia. They have no idea what they've unleashed.
Mearsheimer is not wrong.
He's 90% right, but on there being no winners, he is wrong.
I have a colleague from Cameroon and it was from him that I first learned about France's ongoing exploitation of their former colonies. The terms of their "liberation" were pretty extreme, ranging from French first right of refusal to natural resources to a requirement that the colonies keep the overwhelming majority of their income in the French central bank to go with other obligations. No way France could fund their social programs without the ongoing exploitation of their colonies.
The whole French post-colonial thing is very interesting. We Brits were just as horrible as the rest, but after WW2, we knew that the imperial game was over. However, the French, fresh on the back of the humiliation of 1940 wanted to rebuild their world status by hanging on to their empire as long as possible. Hence the horrible debacles of Dien Bien Phu and Algeria. Even today, when I listen to French radio, is very noticeable how colonial mind they still are. They talk about places like Martinique and La Reunion, as well as Chad and Mali, as if they are just other French places.
Tom Luongo wrote a while back how France uses control of the currency in their former colonies as a way to keep financial control and help France Financially.
Tweet I found of his:
https://twitter.com/TFL1728/status/1655989664073777168
Yep, reminds me of when Meloni hit back at Macron by talking about - Niger! That was fun...
https://twitter.com/daddyhope/status/1574831040501321728
True, but I bet Meloni will be accepting a lot of NIger refugees in the near future. What a turncoat!
My guess is Meloni got an offer she could not refuse.
Pretty probably play“nice” on Ukraine and immigration, or Italy’s economy will be crushed. And we will allow you freedom in other areas.
See my comment above.
Apparently their systems of control extend much further than the currency.
I've also heard that French legionaires were implicated in the majority of assassinations of African heads of state over the years, so they do not slack on enforcement.
A bit off-topic:
The birdseed specifically for Goldfinches and Pine Siskins was for years known as Niger seed. Around 2001 some PC jackass decided that might be racist so the name of the seed was changed to Nyger. Wonder if the country known as Niger contemplating a name change, as well?
I didn't start seeing or thinking abt goldfinches until I moved to rural Virginia ~17 yrs ago. I thought they ate thistle seeds, which a search just indicated are indeed niger/nyjer seeds - no thistle involved at all!
There is nothing more beautiful up here during the summer than when a huge flock of goldfinches whiz by.
For me, seeing one (or two) is kind of special.
Try using the word "niggardly" and see where you get!
Funny, Niger and Nigeria both obviously mean black, but apparently Sudan is Arabic for black as well. Apparently it's a descriptive name or something...
I saw two goldfinches on my walk yesterday. That always makes my day.
They always fly in pairs, right?
Saw three at the bird feeder this morning.