International Politics Thread - Disease and Disaster

[Joe Molotov]

Who the hell runs this account for him?

Wrath

[Madrun Badrun]

Persian Wrath AKA The Pomegranate Exodust

[curly]

American mercs carrying out assassinations for the UAE in Yemen

Come for the terrifying vision of the future of warfare, stay for the affirmation that elite military operatives are doofuses:

When it was time to go, they convinced the hotel staff to give them the US flag flying outside, Gilmore said. In a makeshift ceremony, they folded it up into a small triangle and took it with them.

It’s unclear exactly what went wrong.

Right before the mercenary reached the front door, carrying the explosive charge meant to kill Mayo, one of his fellow fighters at the back of the SUV opened fire, shooting along the backstreet.

There was a drone high overhead, and the video, obtained by BuzzFeed News, shows gunfire but not what the American is shooting at. The drone video doesn’t show anyone shooting back at the mercenaries.

Mayo seems to have reemerged in Yemeni politics. In May he was nominated to a post by the president of Yemen, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, according to Charles Schmitz, a specialist on the Middle East and Yemen at Towson University in Maryland. Schmitz said he found a recent photo of Mayo standing in a group with the UN envoy to Yemen.

Golan maintains that, at the very least, Mayo was neutralized for a time. “For me it’s a success,” he said, “as long as the guy disappeared.”

[curly]

https://twitter.com/BenjaminFogel/status/1052286634912305152

[Nintex]

American mercs carrying out assassinations for the UAE in Yemen

Come for the terrifying vision of the future of warfare, stay for the affirmation that elite military operatives are doofuses:

When it was time to go, they convinced the hotel staff to give them the US flag flying outside, Gilmore said. In a makeshift ceremony, they folded it up into a small triangle and took it with them.

It’s unclear exactly what went wrong.

Right before the mercenary reached the front door, carrying the explosive charge meant to kill Mayo, one of his fellow fighters at the back of the SUV opened fire, shooting along the backstreet.

There was a drone high overhead, and the video, obtained by BuzzFeed News, shows gunfire but not what the American is shooting at. The drone video doesn’t show anyone shooting back at the mercenaries.

Mayo seems to have reemerged in Yemeni politics. In May he was nominated to a post by the president of Yemen, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, according to Charles Schmitz, a specialist on the Middle East and Yemen at Towson University in Maryland. Schmitz said he found a recent photo of Mayo standing in a group with the UN envoy to Yemen.

Golan maintains that, at the very least, Mayo was neutralized for a time. “For me it’s a success,” he said, “as long as the guy disappeared.”

The best part is the shitty business cards that make it look like a COD clan and the target card that is lifted straight from a 90's action movie.

[shosta]

Omfg, how did I miss the WSJ endorsing Bolsonaro

[Kara]

Omfg, how did I miss the WSJ endorsing Bolsonaro

I didn't post it here when I saw it, sorry.

[Assimilate]

He's pretty much going to win. The dollar keeps dropping, I'm not even sure I'm happy about this

[Brehvolution]

Omfg, how did I miss the WSJ endorsing Bolsonaro

American industry has wanted to loot the rain forests for decades. This clown will probably let them do it. Much to the detriment of the earth.

[Assimilate]

Omfg, how did I miss the WSJ endorsing Bolsonaro

American industry has wanted to loot the rain forests for decades. This clown will probably let them do it. Much to the detriment of the earth.

Loot the rain forests? Brazil can't produce much fucking food if it doesn't manage to plow pieces of land for crops. This isn't about big bad American industry bro.

Or do you believe the rest of the world is goin to feed one of the biggest populations for free??

[Brehvolution]

Maybe, maybe not. It's not just Americans that want a piece either.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Cant we just annex saudi arabia?

[shosta]

That's what they tried to do on Dune, and look what happened.

[Kara]

Brazil is the biggest coffee exporter in the world. If hunger is a growing concern maybe they should consider cutting back on the cash cropping first.

[shosta]

Cut off the nose to spite the face? Brazil is facing a lack of investment and industry, no need to get rid of an important revenue source, especially when coffee is one of the few luxury goods where local farmers have a lot more control over profit margins than we've seen historically in these exploited areas.

[Nabbis]

Cant we just annex saudi arabia?

Could just stop buying their oil.

[agrajag]

Cut off the nose to spite the face? Brazil is facing a lack of investment and industry, no need to get rid of an important revenue source, especially when coffee is one of the few luxury goods where local farmers have a lot more control over profit margins than we've seen historically in these exploited areas.

Narrator: Kara is a communist.

[shosta]

That doesn't mean he's immune to arguments of fact

[curly]

I think Kara's point is that the rainforests aren't being chopped down to increase the food supply but for commodity production.

[Kara]

Assimilate presented a false dilemma to impeach a (specious) argument that the Wall Street Journal endorsed a candidate in Brazil's election because he will open up the country to being peripheralized. That false dilemma was either Brazil engages in (more) deforestation or it faces food insecurity. Brazil has plenty of existing arable land; it's generally classified as a breadbasket. That was the point in bringing up coffee.

The country exports food (it might be the largest after the U.S. and E.U., even) while having hunger issues, btw.

A top ten national economy facing a lack of investment and industry is sort of a prima facie absurd claim too, but that's going on a tangent from a tangent.

[shosta]

I understand what Kara's argument is, but
1) the issue isn't the price of commodities but widespread impoverishment, like many people resorting to selling used garbage and
2) plummetting commodities prices is one of the things that actually ended the long boom and caused a deep recession in the first place, eliminating economic gains that the poor had exerienced over a fairly short period. Creating a food glut would not only not actually solve the hunger crisis but actually make the situation much worse. Compounded with an irrational shift away from coffee, it's like... no, don't do that

[shosta]

Ok well I don't read assimilates posts so I didn't have any of this context

[curly]

I'm sure people realize this but it should be said that cutting down the rain forest is a suicidal act that will make it much more difficult to keep the planet habitable

[shosta]

Since this is a good segue, frankly I don't understand how any of you still have any kind of optimism left regarding climate and have not adopted a pessimistic fatalism

[curly]

because while things will certainly be bad the degree of badness is uncertain and depends on the actions we take now

[Assimilate]

Assimilate presented a false dilemma to impeach a (specious) argument that the Wall Street Journal endorsed a candidate in Brazil's election because he will open up the country to being peripheralized.

There's many reasons to endorse him over the party responsible for a massive corruption scandal that left the country in it's current situation. How anyone can even begin to defend Lula, and the PT party in general is absolutely fucking crazy.

That false dilemma was either Brazil engages in (more) deforestation or it faces food insecurity. Brazil has plenty of existing arable land; it's generally classified as a breadbasket. That was the point in bringing up coffee.

The country exports food (it might be the largest after the U.S. and E.U., even) while having hunger issues, btw.

This is recent thing. Maybe in the last 10-15 years once they figured out how to make the soil more fertile . But it's actually not that big a piece of land that is used for farming. Not enough to sustain a country of this size. You've never been to a supermarket here have you?

The biggest exports are currently soy and chicken.

A top ten national economy facing a lack of investment and industry is sort of a prima facie absurd claim too, but that's going on a tangent from a tangent.

Facing a lack of investment? Yes, people are scared to do business here. Do you know anything at all about this situation or are you just spitting socialist bullshit out of your mouth?

Brazil is one of the toughest places to do business, add in the lack of faith now because of corruptions in all levels of government and you have less investment coming into the country than ever before. It's a big economy because there are a lot of people here. That's not going to mean anything to people when there's unemployment levels of 13-20 million.

[Brehvolution]

Since this is a good segue, frankly I don't understand how any of you still have any kind of optimism left regarding climate and have not adopted a pessimistic fatalism

Because Jesus will come save us before shit gets too bad. 

[Nintex]

because while things will certainly be bad the degree of badness is uncertain and depends on the actions we take now

India and China are opening more and more coal plants.

The only action we can take now is kill half the planet or hope that someone figures something out before doomsday as always.
We're way past the point of no return in terms of industrialization and environmental pollution.

[Mandark]

India and China are opening more and more coal plants.

The US emits roughly ten times as much CO2 per capita as India does. The EU about five times as much. The Netherlands six times as much.

Fucking up basic, obvious truths so you can blame swarthy foreigners? At least the post is on brand.

[Propagandhim]

India and China are opening more and more coal plants.

The US emits roughly ten times as much CO2 per capita as India does. The EU about five times as much. The Netherlands six times as much.

Fucking up basic, obvious truths so you can blame swarthy foreigners? At least the post is on brand.

don't listen to anyone who misquotes me and makes me look like i made a mistake (Mandark)

[Mandark]

Asia comprises 75% of all CO2 emissions and Europe and the US combined comprises 15%.  Who cares about the per capita emissions of Luxembourg if it's not going to ameliorate the large-scale problem.

to start with this is literally not true

[Propagandhim]

Asia comprises 75% of all CO2 emissions and Europe and the US combined comprises 15%.  Who cares about the per capita emissions of Luxembourg if it's not going to ameliorate the large-scale problem.

to start with this is literally not true

    oops.

[Mandark]

Thanks for posting a graph to prove my point?

[Propagandhim]

Thanks for posting a graph to prove my point?

So, it is.

[Nintex]

India and China are opening more and more coal plants.

The US emits roughly ten times as much CO2 per capita as India does. The EU about five times as much. The Netherlands six times as much.

Fucking up basic, obvious truths so you can blame swarthy foreigners? At least the post is on brand.

The point is that if we put up a windmill someone else puts down a coal plant.

In fact, the 'Energiewende' that the Germans enacted completely failed. They shuttered their nuclear and coal plants too soon and are now more dependent on Russian energy and gas.
Which is produced pretty much without any regard for environmental regulations.

The Netherlands is unique when it comes to geography because our country is so damn small. The population density is about 500/600 people per km2
For India that number is ~200 per km2 for China ~150. The United States 36 km2.

That's also why our CO2 emissions are so damn high. Even though the most commonly used method of transportation is a bicycle.

Also a huge chunk of our nation is just water or lands that are designated to be flooded by water in case of rising tides.

Not to mention that historically developing nations have higher levels of pollution. Until a certain point when the citizens are more concerned with their well being than economic growth. 
China and India or large parts of it still care more about economic growth than the environment. And the environmentalists overall are losing the battle.
Other nations such as Russia and now even the United States have prioritized economic growth above all else.

As a planet we depend too much on our energy, gas and way of living to really make a turn in terms of global warming and the environment.
It's kinda like the prisoners dilemma. After all, the first one who goes 'green' likely loses the economic battle. Germany's energy market is a prime example.

[Mandark]

the problem is that you're a dumb person generally and also clearly know nothing about this subject

[Nintex]

I can give you another example.
We've shut down nearly all our nuclear power. There's one generator left which is mainly used for medical research purposes.

The Belgians have an old reactor that has overheated and leaked a couple of times right on our border and they're not shutting it down.

There's no benefit to kneecapping your own economy by enacting strict environmental regulations and producing clean energy.
Countries that produce clean energy focus on it because there's an economic incentive or because they don't want to rely on natural resources or energy resources from abroad.

[shosta]

I hope I live to see time travel so I can go back in time and use your posts to convince your mom to abort you.

[Assimilate]

I hope I live to see time travel so I can go back in time and use your posts to convince your mom to abort you.

This was funny, I was going to give you a like for this, but then I realized you're aids.

[remy]

I can give you another example.
We've shut down nearly all our nuclear power. There's one generator left which is mainly used for medical research purposes.

The Belgians have an old reactor that has overheated and leaked a couple of times right on our border and they're not shutting it down.

There's no benefit to kneecapping your own economy by enacting strict environmental regulations and producing clean energy.
Countries that produce clean energy focus on it because there's an economic incentive or because they don't want to rely on natural resources or energy resources from abroad.

Literally whenever I read these well even if I do something good someone else is doing something BAD so i better not do anything GOOD type posts my brain leaks out of my ears

not the mention nuclear fearmongering, is it the 50s? I'd take more nuclear, the 8000x more efficient method with no greenhouse gas over more fucking coal any day of the week.

[Cerveza mas fina]

Is Nintex dutch?

Because thats the fucking Dutch mentality.

I wont do the right thing as long as someone else is doing something bad. Every time I talk to Dutch people it boils down to this.

Or Dutch people opposing wind energy because it will ruin the view LOL.

Fucking cop outs.

[Raist]

On the plus side whenever sea levels rise they'll be the first to go

[Cerveza mas fina]

I litteraly have friends who live on the coast, in one of the most endangered streches, well below sea level, who opposed building a wind farm of the coast because it will ruin the view from the beach.

[benjipwns]

  remembering a better time with our middle east allies

https://www.si.com/vault/1967/05/08/609343/his-majesty-the-leadfoot

HIS MAJESTY, THE LEADFOOT

A THOROUGHLY MODERN SPORTSMAN-MONARCH, KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN HOPES TO LEAD BACKWARD ELEMENTS OF HIS COUNTRY INTO THE PRESENT BY THE FORCE OF HIS EXAMPLE. THE KING'S ATHLETIC RANGE IS UNUSUALLY WIDE, AND HIS SKILLS ARE IMPRESSIVE

original layout: https://www.si.com/vault/issue/42942/46

[seagrams hotsauce]

I litteraly have friends who live on the coast, in one of the most endangered streches, well below sea level, who opposed building a wind farm of the coast because it will ruin the view from the beach.

you wouldn't happen to be talking about CapeWind by any chance

[Rufus]

Or Dutch people opposing wind energy because it will ruin the view LOL.

Same in Germany. We've got problems efficiently distributing electricity from renewables, but some people are against new grid infrastructure (and before that, windmills) for exactly this reason.

Yay, renewables, but not in MY backyard.

[Cerveza mas fina]

And people say the left has become snobby, its because the general public is dumb af

I litteraly have friends who live on the coast, in one of the most endangered streches, well below sea level, who opposed building a wind farm of the coast because it will ruin the view from the beach.

you wouldn't happen to be talking about CapeWind by any chance

Nope, but reading up on it its a bit the same scenario but in our case it wasnt millionaires battling against it just regular folks

[Crash Dummy]

this reminds of a lucifer episode where a lady murders some people for going on a public beach because it spoiled the view from her kitchen or something

[Nintex]

The IDF is moving their forces towards Gaza. One Reuters reporter spotted 60 vehicles at a staging site.

[Mandark]

The Netherlands is unique when it comes to geography because our country is so damn small. The population density is about 500/600 people per km2
For India that number is ~200 per km2 for China ~150. The United States 36 km2.

That's also why our CO2 emissions are so damn high.

This is completely backwards. Higher population density makes lower GHG emissions per person easier (see average of NYC residents vs. rural Americans).

[curly]

This Jamal Khashoggi thing has gone on a lot longer than I expeted

[Mandark]

You and MBS both, buddy.

[curly]

It's really surreal. The Sauds keep floating new stories for what happened to see which one Washington will accept and when one gets shot down they come back with something slightly more credible and with a slightly greater admission of guilt, going from outright denial to rogue killers to accident during interrogation to now pinning it on a general acting on his own. It's such obvious pageantry and everybody knows what really happened but I guess as long as the important players maintain kayfabe then it works out?

[shosta]

There's no consequence if the Saudis simply never admit to doing it so that's how it'll die out: one week from now after a few days of no developments.

[curly]

right now it seems like they're going to say that a Saudi official ordered it but MBS was unaware, which is at least a partial admission in guilt.

Also the potential fall guy isn't somebody anonymous, he was promoted by MBS and is the public face of the war on Yemen

[Nintex]

Not sure about the Saudi thing. Some commentators rightly pointed out that the alternative to MBS might be even worse.
And that dropping him like we once dropped the Shah of Iran didn't exactly bring about a better situation for the parties involved.

Even though this is causing him some trouble, MBS also knows that it'll be forgotten and forgiven in time.
Just like with Putin who casually murdered and silenced all of his critics but happens to be a big energy supplier

The US can't just break ties with KSA without a big geo political shift. They know this and take advantage of it, much like Israel does.

[Mandark]

if only there were some third option besides overthrowing their government and selling them unlimited weapons with a carte blanche to kill whoever they want

if only

[Nintex]

if only there were some third option besides overthrowing their government and selling them unlimited weapons with a carte blanche to kill whoever they want

if only

We bascially tried all the options over the years.

1. Iraq -> Invade and remove -> Insurgency + big failure
2. Libya -> Assist and guide -> Sodomized -> Clusterfuck + biggest migration crisis in modern history
3. Egypt -> You people deserve freedom! -> people pick zealots -> Fuck the people, get back the military -> Military murders zealots
4. Iran -> Deal and appease -> Continues to develop nukes and fund terrorists -> End deal -> Continues to develop nukes and fund terrorists
5. Saudi -> Send Kushner with intel to prevent palace coup -> Reform agenda -> Starts murdering journalists
6. Syria -> Send guns -> Send more guns -> Send even more guns -> Fuck it, let the Russians handle it -> Goddamn you Russians

The only thing that seems to work somewhat is the meetings, hand shaking and summits with those despots as it distracts them from doing evil shit.

[Mandark]

4. Iran -> Deal and appease -> Continues to develop nukes

This is just a lie.

Why are you lying?

[Nintex]

4. Iran -> Deal and appease -> Continues to develop nukes

This is just a lie.

Why are you lying?

That is no lie. They're still developing those weapons. They would be stupid not to.
Same with North Korea.

In fact the deal only stalled development for a time. This has been acknowledged by Obama administration officials who basically said the deal was just an opening to get Iran back into international diplomacy so further progress could be made.