re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

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Billions a year for world security isn’t a lot when you realize that we are spending trillions a year on social programs

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Sure but we are spending billions on world security and Russia has still invaded and seized a large chunk of a sovereign country, and China will likely be doing the same with Taiwan at some point in the near future.

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I’d rather see several billion go to Israel than to line the pockets of Dems in Minn., NYC, Phillis or LA

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Well yeah but the latter shouldn't be an option. The question should be "Israel or improve _____ in the US". I know thats not the reality currently but that is what we should be striving for and the standard we should hold our elected officials to.

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The fact that Maduro got drug out of his bed in pajamas and Kim is still the Supreme Leader of NK says otherwise

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That makes North Korea a First World country?

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I’d rather see several billion go to Israel than to line the pockets of Dems in Minn., NYC, Phillis or LA.

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Dumb

I see what you were saying now, and no

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We can't fix Venezuela... Chávez was not the beginning of their problems, he arguably bought them some time from social revolt, but you can't have a country with most of the population near starving and not have either violence or a brutal government that crushes the population. The new appointed leader did an about face and wants to talk to the U.S. She's smart... if the the U.S. controls Venezuela then the shitshow is all our fault, not hers... and there's no preventing/quickly fixing the shitshow... itr will take billions and decades.

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We can help Venezuelans fix Venezuela. Millions of the 8 million who fled it actually want to return. These are not gang members or low educated people. Many of them are engineers and administrators along with other professionals. Yes it will take time.

Venezuela's wealth is not only its oil but its aluminum, gold, silver and other resources it has in spades. A lot of repair will be needed for long idles facilities but the bones ae there to build on.

For the clueless who think that Venezuelan crude is dirty, think again. It takes less energy in the crude unit to process and 10% higher throughput than intermediate crude, easily 30% higher throughput than very light tight shale crude. Additionally, the residual is good for making asphalt and desirable petroleum coke. Someone might want to buy recently shuttered Houston Refining which even has a petcoke fueled cogen unit. It's the perfect refinery for very heavy crude oil.

The new leader is just another crony who is weak and the power is already shared among several. Meh on her ability.

Venezuela had slums but it was a quite wealthy nation with a high level of education.

Here is a good description of what happened. Chavez totally screwed the nation.

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It could have. For one you're fine with the resources spent on Ukraine so that's not a good metric, and secondly we should expect better results or we won't ever get better results.

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You are putting words in my mouth again.
I wasn’t find with the how Biden provided resources and the results he got.

Yes, we should demand better, and not just from out foreign “investments”, but also from the money spent here at home.

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I wasn’t find with the how Biden provided resources and the results he got.

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You are fine with the prospect of spending on Ukraine in general though. We weren't talking about specific allocations, just the general idea.

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Trillions wasted and why I don't trust any candidate whose primary financial backing is Silicon Valley

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So no JD Vance for you?

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You are fine with the prospect of spending on Ukraine in general though. We weren't talking about specific allocations, just the general idea.

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Yes, and you posted that I was satisfied when I’m not.

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You are fine with the prospect of spending on Ukraine in general though

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The security of Ukraine can be directly related to the security of Europe as a whole. A belligerent and aggressive Russia threatens the security of Europe, which, as a bloc, is the USA’s largest trade partner. The interests of Western Europe are very closely aligned with the interests of the USA.

Anyone who suggests that US interests are better served by cozying up to Slavic Russia is a misguided fool. Russia has never aligned with US interests.

The situation with Ukraine is more than just spending money on Ukraine. It is about keeping Russia from sending its army into Europe, containing Russian belligerence. That is a US interest.