United States Defense Thread

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KipPotapych

Well-Known Member
Nothing to do with defense or geostrategic issues, so my apologies. I just felt like posting this on this day and this is the most logical place for it.

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There is an old article in the New Yorker about the man that everyone should read (use archive or whatever if behind a paywall):


My dad was driving me to McMaster University (the first university I attended). Not sure why, I think I missed the bus and was late and he happened to be home. We were standing at the intersection (Longwood and Main, turning left, towards the university), waiting for the light to turn green. That was the moment they announced on the radio that a plane hit the first tower. I was already at the student centre when the second plane hit the south tower. I remember sitting in the vehicle at that intersection pretty vividly. It is something that will probably stay with me as long as my brain can function properly.
 
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swerve

Super Moderator
KipPotapych said:
Nothing to do with defense or geostrategic issues, so my apologies. I just felt like posting this on this day and this is the most logical place for it.


View attachment 53489

There is an old article in the New Yorker about the man that everyone should read (use archive or whatever if behind a paywall):


My dad was driving me to McMaster University (the first university I attended). Not sure why, I think I missed the bus and was late and he happened to be home. We were standing at the intersection (Longwood and Main, turning left, towards the university), waiting for the light to turn green. That was the moment they announced on the radio that a plane hit the first tower. I was already at the student centre when the second plane hit the south tower. I remember sitting in the vehicle at that intersection pretty vividly. It is something that will probably stay with me as long as my brain can function properly.
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I was a few hours ahead, in England. I'd been on a First Aid course & finished that morning. Went home & switched on the radio, & the wrong programme was on: there appeared to be news about something in New York, although it wasn't time for news on that channel. So I switched on the TV, & watched in horrified fascination while the second airliner flew into the second tower, broadcast live.
 
FormerDirtDart

FormerDirtDart

Well-Known Member
John Fedup said:
The drunk running the DoW has a new idea, controlling all discussions by service members with Congress. Should work wonders for speeding up congressional approval of defence budgets. What a moron.

EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon clamps down on military interactions with Congress - Breaking Defense
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Requiring prior approval for communication with Congress is absurd. Requiring prior approval for interaction with state elected officials is embarrassing laughable. Every military installation in the country communicates with state and local officials practically daily. Can you imagine an installation Provost Marshal having to get approval from the Pentagon for every daily interaction with the local elected Sheriff?
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
FormerDirtDart said:
Requiring prior approval for communication with Congress is absurd. Requiring prior approval for interaction with state elected officials is embarrassing laughable. Every military installation in the country communicates with state and local officials practically daily. Can you imagine an installation Provost Marshal having to get approval from the Pentagon for every daily interaction with the local elected Sheriff?
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Agree totally. Hegseth must be overwhelmed by now by the serious concerns expressed in and out of the Pentagon. I guess he can continue sipping bourbon as his master likely feels this is a great concept to maintain power over the military when he eventually orders them to make him President for life.
 
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Stampede

Well-Known Member
What’s the update on invading Canada and Iceland.
Is that before or after invading Venezuela and Panama?
Or do they have to conquer those evil lawless cities within the USA first.

Is this administration still just a comedy act or should we be concerned at this point of time?

Cheers S
 
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John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Stampede said:
What’s the update on invading Canada and Iceland.
Is that before or after invading Venezuela and Panama?
Or do they have to conquer those evil lawless cities within the USA first.

Is this administration still just a comedy act or should we be concerned at this point of time?

Cheers S
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Canada and Greenland, not Iceland. The "Ice" part in Iceland makes this country unsuitable for golf courses (along with all the volcanoes). The Trump administration is no comedy act, it is a $hitshow which may result in a civil war.
 
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SolarisKenzo

Well-Known Member
The fact that Trump seems to be perfectly fine with Putin doing what he wants but is constantly yelling at Europe (the trade war, tariffs, Greenland, the threats on Canada after the Canada-EU trade deal, and so on) is actually quite undestandable.

One can certainly question, when talking about the current US administration, the "how" but not really the "why".
Everything kind of makes sense if you look at the big picture.
And defense is stricly connected to this "view" of the world that they have.

We could add that the current POTUS and his friends, but I'm not sure we are allowed to analize it here. To put it simple, they are really working to "modify" american democracy. But I won't go further.

Anyway, what is the main reason for their concerns?

1) Dedollarisation

The USD is gradually loosing its role as the world's reserve currency. Why? Because the other powers dont want to be dependent on US policies when talking about their own money and they dont want to share their priceless datas to US companies.
This is basically what led to the EU creating the Euro 20 years ago.
Anyway, this is no "breaking news"...

1761223904303.png

If you look at exchange reserves figures, you will see it even more clearly...
1761223975438.png

So, if you look at it from a US perspective, the Euro is a major threat to the dollar's role.
Which means you have to hit Europe.
This unfortunately is not working, but is eventually leading to an even more independent EU monetary policy (digital euro, data act,...) and also led to the 2023 european payment system being disconnected from SWIFT.

So, you now have an answer to why the US is more hostile towards allies than enemies.

Dedollarisation also means weaker US abilty to repay the debt, and so on...
 
John Fedup

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
SolarisKenzo said:
The fact that Trump seems to be perfectly fine with Putin doing what he wants but is constantly yelling at Europe (the trade war, tariffs, Greenland, the threats on Canada after the Canada-EU trade deal, and so on) is actually quite undestandable.

One can certainly question, when talking about the current US administration, the "how" but not really the "why".
Everything kind of makes sense if you look at the big picture.
And defense is stricly connected to this "view" of the world that they have.

We could add that the current POTUS and his friends, but I'm not sure we are allowed to analize it here. To put it simple, they are really working to "modify" american democracy. But I won't go further.

Anyway, what is the main reason for their concerns?

1) Dedollarisation

The USD is gradually loosing its role as the world's reserve currency. Why? Because the other powers dont want to be dependent on US policies when talking about their own money and they dont want to share their priceless datas to US companies.
This is basically what led to the EU creating the Euro 20 years ago.
Anyway, this is no "breaking news"...

View attachment 53692

If you look at exchange reserves figures, you will see it even more clearly...
View attachment 53693

So, if you look at it from a US perspective, the Euro is a major threat to the dollar's role.
Which means you have to hit Europe.
This unfortunately is not working, but is eventually leading to an even more independent EU monetary policy (digital euro, data act,...) and also led to the 2023 european payment system being disconnected from SWIFT.

So, you now have an answer to why the US is more hostile towards allies than enemies.

Dedollarisation also means weaker US abilty to repay the debt, and so on...
Click to expand...
The US debt is now at $38 trillion and rising. It will be paid in the usual way, future governments will inflate it away with a printing press.
 
S

Stampede

Well-Known Member
John Fedup said:
Canada and Greenland, not Iceland. The "Ice" part in Iceland makes this country unsuitable for golf courses (along with all the volcanoes). The Trump administration is no comedy act, it is a $hitshow which may result in a civil war.
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Sadly true

Iceland not Greenland.
I’m the idiot

Our PM survived his recent meeting with Trump this week.
I should be pleased, but still not sure if the outcome is a good or bad thing.

Good luck with you’re southern neighbour.

Cheers S
 
Ananda

Ananda

The Bunker Group
www.ecb.europa.eu

Turning openness into strength: the moment of the euro

The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank of the European Union countries which have adopted the euro. Our main task is to maintain price stability in the euro area and so preserve the purchasing power of the single currency.
www.ecb.europa.eu www.ecb.europa.eu

The combined AAA and AA-rated sovereign bond market in the euro area amounts to just €6.6 trillion – just one-fifth the size of the US Treasury bond market. Our equity markets are less than half the size of those in the United States, and they allocate capital less efficiently: since 2009, they have generated returns that are five times lower.
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Consider the United States. When the dollar receives safe-haven inflows, the unrivalled depth of US financial markets both limits the extent of appreciation and channels those inflows in ways which offset their contractionary effects.
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This two quote from ECB President on comparison between Euro and USD. Even Euro now consider as second global currency, however it is still far to can make proper challange to USD, let alone other consider safe heaven currencies like Swiss Francs and Japanese Yen.

What is safe heaven currencies ? There are several explanations on that, however simplicities definition is currency from a country that you hold even you are not using it to trade with that particullar country. For that Chinese Yuan/Rennimbi still not yet consider as save heaven currency. As FI and Central Banks hold Yuan more as reserve to finance direct trade with China.

SolarisKenzo said:
Dedollarisation also means weaker US abilty to repay the debt, and so on...
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Yes, but it is still far from that. The main culprits is no other currencies that can rival the financial market depth of USD. At most they can hit some dent on that depth. People mostly still hold Euro, Francs, Yen or Yuan to handle direct trade to the currency users as primary reason and wealth reserve as secondary. While USD being hold because abundance instruments available for Investment, Trade and Reserve that can be use to anyone and everywhere, even have no direct relationship with US market.

So Yes, Trump talk tough against anyone that move to try dedolarisation or put dents on USD usage. However he is being tough with EU also more relate to easiers on 'bullying' someone that close to you and less likely to go all out against you (ie you have strong leverage against them), then to someone that has much less leverage that you can play on.
 
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