Colors of Blue and Gold

[Richard Smith]

It’s Syrians and Iraqis attacking our troops in Syria and Iraq. The insurgents or militias may be linked to Iran but it’s misleading to portray it as Iran ordering the attacks.

The reality is, there are lots of local militias in Syria and Iraq that want our troops out of their country. Trump was right to attempt to withdraw our troops from Syria but his own party and the pentagon blocked him…

Tell it to Old Joe since he is striking Iran-linked targets in response.  The US has no business or purpose having a military presence there.  It only serves as a potential target for terrorists.  They could perform the same functions from other, safer locations in the region.  This is mostly a corrupt politician driven result.  It takes an enormous expenditure of money to maintain a base in a hostile region.  That money goes to companies that contribute to the campaigns of those who approve it.   A vicious cycle.   Reagan learned this lesson in Lebanon.  After the Marines were killed there, he pulled out.  It's a disaster waiting to happen. 

[Jon Banks]

Tell it to Old Joe since he is striking Iran-linked targets in response.  The US has no business or purpose having a military presence there.  It only serves as a potential target for terrorists.  They could perform the same functions from other, safer locations in the region.  This is mostly a corrupt politician driven result.  It takes an enormous expenditure of money to maintain a base in a hostile region.  That money goes to companies that contribute to the campaigns of those who approve it.   A vicious cycle.  Reagan learned this lesson in Lebanon.  After the Marines were killed there, he pulled out.  It's a disaster waiting to happen.

I agree. It's not clear what our military objectives are in Syria. Yes, ISIS still exists there but they're not nearly as strong as they were a decade ago.

If the real objective is to counter Iran's influence in Syria, President Biden needs to clarify that so Americans understand why he's putting US forces in harms way.

I was just noting that it's a dangerous neighborhood where the locals don't like our troops being there regardless of our relations with Iran.

[Richard Smith]

I agree. It's not clear what our military objectives are in Syria. Yes, ISIS still exists there but they're not nearly as strong as they were a decade ago.

If the real objective is to counter Iran's influence in Syria, President Biden needs to clarify that so Americans understand why he's putting US forces in harms way.

I was just noting that it's a dangerous neighborhood where the locals don't like our troops being there regardless of our relations with Iran.

Trump wanted to pull out of Syria but was thwarted by the corrupt politicians who went into hysterics.  Lindsey Graham chief among them.   You would think that the US would insist that other countries that are more directly impacted by these conflicts would pay most of the cost, but the politicians actually want the US to pay for these undertakings.  That allows them to control the money.  So "Europe" is off the hook for Ukraine even though the narrative is protecting "Europe" from future Russia aggression.   A fairy tale packaged as an emotional appeal to the American public the same way fighting Communism and weapons of mass destruction were used to justify prior wars.

[Richard Smith]

Why aren't the leftists celebrating the recent leaker of classified documents as a hero?  Like Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers. 

[Jon Banks]

Why aren't the leftists celebrating the recent leaker of classified documents as a hero?  Like Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers.

Seems like some rightwingers from Tucker Carlson to Marjorie Taylor Greene are defending the leaker. No one on the Left appears to be defending the leaker at this time.

The leaks paint a very dire picture of the current situation for the Ukrainian military. The Pentagon both privately and publicly is more pessimistic about Ukraine's chances of successfully defeating Russia militarily than the White House and the news media are.

[Richard Smith]

Seems like some rightwingers from Tucker Carlson to Marjorie Taylor Greene are defending the leaker. No one on the Left appears to be defending the leaker at this time.

The leaks paint a very dire picture of the current situation for the Ukrainian military. The Pentagon both privately and publicly is more pessimistic about Ukraine's chances of successfully defeating Russia militarily than the White House and the news media are.

Yes, the media is glossing over the apparent content of the leaked material.  Ukraine is FUBAR with no end in sight.  America is carrying the bulk of the cost while "Europe" is turning to China and checking out in light of Old Joe's bungling.  Isn't a war more important than how some kid gained access to the documents due to the incompetence of Old Joe's clown show?  Not to the leftist media.  I agree that the leak should be investigated but the lies and futility of the ongoing war are the story.

[Joe Elliott]

It helps if one envisions Kramer as being Putin contemplating the impeding invasion of Ukraine.

Like Putin, Kramer was never able to take Ukraine.

Ukraine is Not Weak!

Note: The actor who played the Ukrainian, Wayne Grace, died last August at the age of 82. But not before learning that he had become something of the image of Ukrainian resistance.

[Rick Plant]

So if the Ukranians offered no resistance and simply let the Russians cross their border (and even escorted them to their desired location) it would not be an invasion?  That is what Ukraine Joe has done in America.  He has disregarded immigration laws and opened our borders to millions of unknown people flooding through.  More Americans have died from the drugs coming across the open southern border than have died in any war in which America was ever involved.  Over 100K just last year.  More people than are dying in Ukraine.

Not true at all. There is no "open border". Drugs are being seized in record numbers and deportations are up. That means there is no open border.

Criminal Donald left President Biden with a broken border and a total disaster.

Yes, There’s a Crisis on the Border. And It’s Trump’s Fault.
April 5, 2019
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/04/05/border-crisis-donald-trump-226573/

Trump administration struggles to confront fentanyl crisis
May 22, 2019
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/national/fentanyl-epidemic-trump-administration/

Opioid Crisis: Critics Say Trump Fumbled Response To Another Deadly Epidemic
October 29, 2020
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/29/927859091/opioid-crisis-critics-say-trump-fumbled-response-to-another-deadly-epidemic