Russia Invades Ukraine AND Chinese Aircraft Enter Taiwan Airspace

[Julian]

I don't care about what happens in other countries. Putin is democratocally elected, and while their elections may be crap, ours aren't perfect either. Xi in China is a literal dictator whose party's goal is to eliminate our way of life, bigger fish to fry than Putin IMO.

Ukraine has been using civilian structures and people as defensive positions, destroyed non combat civilian assets, and a variety of other things. War sucks, and reality is, in a modern conflict, it's virtually impossible to not commit war crimes unless your two armies go find a field somewhere to fight in. In a war where control of cities and infrastructure is key, that won't happen.

Zelensky refuses to talk peace. He refuses the idea unless Putin is gone, which isn't gonna happen. So he continues to expose his people to death and destruction while he plays himself as some sort of savior, safely protected from it all. IMO, if he truly cared about his people, he would be looking for the quickest end to this all. If inwas him, I'd turn over those areas that were effectively independent already anyways and have not gotten into this ego trip in the first place.

It really isn't hard to find a whole host of articles that say that Russian elections are far from democratic:

Why we must not recognize Russia’s fraudulent election

Russia's parliamentary elections failed to meet even the most basic democratic standards and served to illustrate the country's slide into dictatorship under Vladimir Putin, says Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko

www.atlanticcouncil.org

https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-heading-for-least-free-elections-in-20-years-say-opposition-leaders-/6219574.html

Thousands protest for fair elections in Moscow, largest in 8 years

A mass demonstration in Moscow on Saturday drew tens of thousands of protesters to denounce the exclusion of opposition candidates from next month’s local election.

www.foxnews.com

Seems you've drunk the "Putin isn't a bad guy, let him have what he wants" juice. Saying this, and then pointing to China as worse is not credible logic. They are both dangerous. Yes, China is worse, but they've not invaded another country (yet). If we show them that we will allow Russia to get away with it....they sure will!

 

[BlkGS]

It really isn't hard to find a whole host of articles that say that Russian elections are far from democratic:

Why we must not recognize Russia’s fraudulent election

Russia's parliamentary elections failed to meet even the most basic democratic standards and served to illustrate the country's slide into dictatorship under Vladimir Putin, says Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko

www.atlanticcouncil.org

https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-heading-for-least-free-elections-in-20-years-say-opposition-leaders-/6219574.html

Thousands protest for fair elections in Moscow, largest in 8 years

A mass demonstration in Moscow on Saturday drew tens of thousands of protesters to denounce the exclusion of opposition candidates from next month’s local election.

www.foxnews.com

Seems you've drunk the "Putin isn't a bad guy, let him have what he wants" juice. Saying this, and then pointing to China as worse is not credible logic. They are both dangerous. Yes, China is worse, but they've not invaded another country (yet). If we show them that we will allow Russia to get away with it....they sure will!

Putin isn't the good guy, but he's also not building islands in the ocean to create false territorial claims, dumping product to ensure that foreign competition goes out of business, embedding themselves deeply into all of our, and the rest of the world's critical infrastructure, and buying the subservience of our leaders.

Russia is a local threat that has little importance to us. China is a global threat that we should have dealt with decades ago, not bent the knee to.

Russia is unimportant on a global level. We don't intervene in the other conflicts going on in the world, why should we intervene here? We don't worry about Pakistan and India. We don't worry about Armenia or Azerbaijan or any other former soviet nations. We don't care about any of that. The US should not be the police of the world. Let the UN handle that. If it isn't our problem, then it's not our problem, it's the UNs problem. The US should only intervene if it's beneficial for us, or it affects us. We have bigger fish tonfry than a local power that used to be a world power having a temper tantrum.

 

[Julian]

Putin isn't the good guy, but he's also not building islands in the ocean to create false territorial claims, dumping product to ensure that foreign competition goes out of business, embedding themselves deeply into all of our, and the rest of the world's critical infrastructure, and buying the subservience of our leaders.

Russia is a local threat that has little importance to us. China is a global threat that we should have dealt with decades ago, not bent the knee to.

Russia is unimportant on a global level. We don't intervene in the other conflicts going on in the world, why should we intervene here? We don't worry about Pakistan and India. We don't worry about Armenia or Azerbaijan or any other former soviet nations. We don't care about any of that. The US should not be the police of the world. Let the UN handle that. If it isn't our problem, then it's not our problem, it's the UNs problem. The US should only intervene if it's beneficial for us, or it affects us. We have bigger fish tonfry than a local power that used to be a world power having a temper tantrum.

Do you have ANY idea how many companies, hospitals, offices etc get attacked by Russian hackers on a daily basis, have their systems encrypted, and have to pay a randsom to get their data back? At least one major hospital per WEEK is attacked and encrypted (I know this as this is what I used to do for a living) and they pay the randsom because they can't afford the time offline with patient care at risk. If you think this is no threat you have a strange definition....

Again, just because China is a bigger threat doesn't mean we ignore the Russians! To suggest Russia is unimportant on a global level is ludicrous and absurd. Do you like the gas prices right now? Your view and understanding of the world political, economic and security situation is terribly flawed/lacking. For example, the list of the top oil producing countries in the world....do you know what they are?

Oil Production (top 3)
US - 11 billion barrels/day
Russia - 10 Billion barrels/day
Saudi Arabia - 9 Billion barrels/day

Natural Gas (top 3):
US: 32
Russia: 22
Iran: 9

Iron Ore: Russia is 6th, US is 9th.

I could go on, but not sure it would sink in....but suffice to say stating that "Russia is unimportant on a global level" is laughable.

 

[zpaul]

It is interesting that no one is asking question WHY it is all happening?
Don't get me wrong my great grandparents are Ukrainians and I hate this invasion to the fullest.

But the country to blame is - United States.
US screwed the deal when the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine got hosed by giving up all nukes without guarantee of their border sovereignty. And they had the most nukes then any former Soviet Republic!

US had a goal to dismantle Soviet Union at all cost and break it into multiple countries. So the whole infrastructure is toast.
Imagine US without TX or PA or CA!

United States achieved it and Russia went into ruins with tons of debt it took over from Soviet Union, no other republics/new countries inherited this debt only Russia. Ukraine was still leaching off Russia for very long time since economies intermingle.
US clearly didn't like it. Went in and started Democratic movement in totally corrupt former Soviet Union country. Why do you need to do that when whole Europe is on your side? There was no more Warsaw Pact to stay against NATO! Why US accepted so many new members into NATO? Why did US promise Ukraine to get into NATO?!?!

Putin warned US multiple times not to mess around. Georgia was the first warning when he rolled there on tanks and stoped all pro US movement. Annexing Crimea was the strongest warning. Totally wrong and illegal, but he got away with it.
But no US corrupt politicians were pushing for more Democracy. There is no Democracy in Ukraine when Zelensky jails political opponents and shutting down outlets that criticize him.

US clearly didn't like when Soviet Union was messing with Cuba.
Why do you think Putin would like US messing around in Georgia, Ukraine? May be because US has some interest there? Like bio labs, like controlling the transit of Russian oil and gas? Natural resources? Just tell me WHY United States need to be in Ukraine? What is the reason? Too much power for Putin? What is it?

It is not a clear cut situation in Ukraine and US media is garbage pushing political agenda.
Worst part is a ton of population on both sides is dying - civilian Ukrainians, Ukrainians fighting for freedom, Russian men, who do not even want to fight that war?!?!
None of that would happen if US who has nothing to do with Ukraine went in there with their agenda. Russia was playing just fine till US started to stir it and US is very good at doing that all over the world.

And now China is playing on Russia's side. That is a garbage situation too. Russia will get hosed by China pretty soon. China is already taking over Russian land. Chinese cross the border take over land, forest, Russian women. So Putin may be enjoying it for now, but just wait and see.

 

[BlkGS]

Do you have ANY idea how many companies, hospitals, offices etc get attacked by Russian hackers on a daily basis, have their systems encrypted, and have to pay a randsom to get their data back? At least one major hospital per WEEK is attacked and encrypted (I know this as this is what I used to do for a living) and they pay the randsom because they can't afford the time offline with patient care at risk. If you think this is no threat you have a strange definition....

Again, just because China is a bigger threat doesn't mean we ignore the Russians! To suggest Russia is unimportant on a global level is ludicrous and absurd. Do you like the gas prices right now? Your view and understanding of the world political, economic and security situation is terribly flawed/lacking. For example, the list of the top oil producing countries in the world....do you know what they are?

Oil Production (top 3)
US - 11 billion barrels/day
Russia - 10 Billion barrels/day
Saudi Arabia - 9 Billion barrels/day

Natural Gas (top 3):
US: 32
Russia: 22
Iran: 9

Iron Ore: Russia is 6th, US is 9th.

I could go on, but not sure it would sink in....but suffice to say stating that "Russia is unimportant on a global level" is laughable.

China has more state sponsored hackers than Russia, and while there are certainly Russians that are holding companies ransom via hacking, China does it too, China has made it clear they're also using devices to spy on Americans, and China has goals of being the dominant superpower of the world. Russia wishes it had dominance in its sphere of influence still.

Russia is a mineral powerhouse, but that doesn't make it a global power. That makes it an exporter of lots of resources, like Australia or much of Africa. And attempting to blame Russia for gas prices right now ignores a lot ofntruths like WE sanctioned THEM, and our current administration has done everything it can to make fossil fuels unprofitable and disincentivize any growth in the sector to meet demand. Our gas prices right now are due to our leaders, not Russia.

 

[Julian]

It is interesting that no one is asking question WHY it is all happening?
Don't get me wrong my great grandparents are Ukrainians and I hate this invasion to the fullest.

But the country to blame is - United States.
US screwed the deal when the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine got hosed by giving up all nukes without guarantee of their border sovereignty. And they had the most nukes then any former Soviet Republic!

US had a goal to dismantle Soviet Union at all cost and break it into multiple countries. So the whole infrastructure is toast.
Imagine US without TX or PA or CA!

United States achieved it and Russia went into ruins with tons of debt it took over from Soviet Union, no other republics/new countries inherited this debt only Russia. Ukraine was still leaching off Russia for very long time since economies intermingle.
US clearly didn't like it. Went in and started Democratic movement in totally corrupt former Soviet Union country. Why do you need to do that when whole Europe is on your side? There was no more Warsaw Pact to stay against NATO! Why US accepted so many new members into NATO? Why did US promise Ukraine to get into NATO?!?!

Putin warned US multiple times not to mess around. Georgia was the first warning when he rolled there on tanks and stoped all pro US movement. Annexing Crimea was the strongest warning. Totally wrong and illegal, but he got away with it.
But no US corrupt politicians were pushing for more Democracy. There is no Democracy in Ukraine when Zelensky jails political opponents and shutting down outlets that criticize him.

US clearly didn't like when Soviet Union was messing with Cuba.
Why do you think Putin would like US messing around in Georgia, Ukraine? May be because US has some interest there? Like bio labs, like controlling the transit of Russian oil and gas? Natural resources? Just tell me WHY United States need to be in Ukraine? What is the reason? Too much power for Putin? What is it?

It is not a clear cut situation in Ukraine and US media is garbage pushing political agenda.
Worst part is a ton of population on both sides is dying - civilian Ukrainians, Ukrainians fighting for freedom, Russian men, who do not even want to fight that war?!?!
None of that would happen if US who has nothing to do with Ukraine went in there with their agenda. Russia was playing just fine till US started to stir it and US is very good at doing that all over the world.

And now China is playing on Russia's side. That is a garbage situation too. Russia will get hosed by China pretty soon. China is already taking over Russian land. Chinese cross the border take over land, forest, Russian women. So Putin may be enjoying it for now, but just wait and see.

Lots of history behind the situation in the Ukraine. Yes, the US supports democracy creation the world over as it is the best form of government (far from perfect). Corruption exists is many democracies (including ours). Here is a good article on the history:

Has Putin's war failed and what does Russia want from Ukraine?

A year into Russia's war, he has little to show for it but there is no sign of an end.

www.bbc.com

 

[Julian]

Our gas prices right now are due to our leaders, not Russia

While technically true (taking Russian oil off the world market by the use of sanctions), are you actually suggesting we shouldn't have sanctioned Russia for invading Ukraine? If you are, you are in a very small minority. The latest sanctions including removing their favored nation status and not buying their oil:

"The House passed the bill in an overwhelming 420-3 vote, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk. The Senate approved the same version of the legislation in a unanimous 100-0 vote."​

​

Or are you really trying to say that something else drove up our prices? The only other item experts have pointed to is oil company massive profits (I think it was Exxon who had 19 Billion profit in one quarter!), but it's really supply and demand that caused this. I guess you need to vote for someone other than Democrats or Republicans!

 

[zpaul]

Lots of history behind the situation in the Ukraine. Yes, the US supports democracy creation the world over as it is the best form of government (far from perfect). Corruption exists is many democracies (including ours). Here is a good article on the history:

Has Putin's war failed and what does Russia want from Ukraine?

A year into Russia's war, he has little to show for it but there is no sign of an end.

www.bbc.com

Agree, US promotes it and Democracy is the best form of Government. Tons of good stuff like free speech, opportunities, getting rewarded for hard work so you can finally buy Yamaha jet boat and more other good stuff.
Big problem when United States does it selectively, meaning goes in certain countries and certain regimes. But even bigger problem when Unites States do not understand the history, traditions, and a bunch of other stuff related to the countries they are messing with.
China is a good example - not a democracy at all, they are still putting people in camps for Covid but US is fine since they are dependent on it and China hold a ton of US debt. Now we are suddenly warming up to Iran and Argentina, because we need cheaper oil. All BS politics.

US has interests in everything they do. Nothing is free or in good fate or promoting democracy. US are opportunistic capitalists.

If people cared about regular Ukrainians or Russians - Putin and Zelensky would be sitting and negotiating. But in the interest of US military machine we keep killing these people.
As a separate fact - Russian/Ukranian population is dominated by females because a ton of men got killed during WWII. And now Putin killing a bunch more young and not young man for his personal ambitions and Zelensky is doing the same on his side. So the effects of this war will be very long lasting for generations to come. And guess what Russian or Ukrainian oligarchs that stole a ton of money do not care at all.

 

[zpaul]

While technically true (taking Russian oil off the world market by the use of sanctions), are you actually suggesting we shouldn't have sanctioned Russia for invading Ukraine? If you are, you are in a very small minority. The latest sanctions including removing their favored nation status and not buying their oil:

"The House passed the bill in an overwhelming 420-3 vote, sending it to President Joe Biden's desk. The Senate approved the same version of the legislation in a unanimous 100-0 vote."​

​

Or are you really trying to say that something else drove up our prices? The only other item experts have pointed to is oil company massive profits (I think it was Exxon who had 19 Billion profit in one quarter!), but it's really supply and demand that caused this. I guess you need to vote for someone other than Democrats or Republicans!

Sadly Putin is making more money than he was making before war.
During Obama's office oil hit $100 a barrel and Russia was making $30 a barrel since it is more expensive to produce it in Siberia.
But when it dropped to $50 a barrel during Trump, Putin devaluated Russian ruble and cut the cost to produce in half, technically stole wages from people.
Today he is just swimming in profits it is still cheap to produce and he gets almost double in profits compared to Trump prices.
And natural gas prices are through the roof in Europe.
So sanctions backfired on US and Europe, but not on Russian Oligarchs, plus Putin took over all shared oil and gas projects from US or European companies.
Sanctions also made Russia focus on self reliance, now they are trying to produce everything themselves, and US and Europe invested a ton of resources and knowledge share since collapse of Soviet Union. So it just makes Russia stronger and keep Russians employed.
On the opposite side everything you buy in US is from China. Pretty sad.

 

[seanmclean]

It is interesting that no one is asking question WHY it is all happening?
Don't get me wrong my great grandparents are Ukrainians and I hate this invasion to the fullest.

But the country to blame is - United States.
US screwed the deal when the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine got hosed by giving up all nukes without guarantee of their border sovereignty. And they had the most nukes then any former Soviet Republic!

US had a goal to dismantle Soviet Union at all cost and break it into multiple countries. So the whole infrastructure is toast.
Imagine US without TX or PA or CA!

United States achieved it and Russia went into ruins with tons of debt it took over from Soviet Union, no other republics/new countries inherited this debt only Russia. Ukraine was still leaching off Russia for very long time since economies intermingle.
US clearly didn't like it. Went in and started Democratic movement in totally corrupt former Soviet Union country. Why do you need to do that when whole Europe is on your side? There was no more Warsaw Pact to stay against NATO! Why US accepted so many new members into NATO? Why did US promise Ukraine to get into NATO?!?!

Putin warned US multiple times not to mess around. Georgia was the first warning when he rolled there on tanks and stoped all pro US movement. Annexing Crimea was the strongest warning. Totally wrong and illegal, but he got away with it.
But no US corrupt politicians were pushing for more Democracy. There is no Democracy in Ukraine when Zelensky jails political opponents and shutting down outlets that criticize him.

US clearly didn't like when Soviet Union was messing with Cuba.
Why do you think Putin would like US messing around in Georgia, Ukraine? May be because US has some interest there? Like bio labs, like controlling the transit of Russian oil and gas? Natural resources? Just tell me WHY United States need to be in Ukraine? What is the reason? Too much power for Putin? What is it?

It is not a clear cut situation in Ukraine and US media is garbage pushing political agenda.
Worst part is a ton of population on both sides is dying - civilian Ukrainians, Ukrainians fighting for freedom, Russian men, who do not even want to fight that war?!?!
None of that would happen if US who has nothing to do with Ukraine went in there with their agenda. Russia was playing just fine till US started to stir it and US is very good at doing that all over the world.

And now China is playing on Russia's side. That is a garbage situation too. Russia will get hosed by China pretty soon. China is already taking over Russian land. Chinese cross the border take over land, forest, Russian women. So Putin may be enjoying it for now, but just wait and see.

LOL.

 

[Jim_in_Delaware]

Anyone who thinks the higher price of oil is due to our (US) leadership doesn't not understand how oil prices are set by world-wide market forces. Oil demand is up as the world has come out of low demand during Covid. Oil prices had been on a downward slope, until OPEC (our friends (?) in the Middle East) decided to cut supply to drive prices back upwards. Russia is still selling lots of oil, maybe not to Europe, but it is going to China, India, and other countries.

Its laughable to say that the US is responsible for Russia's situation and Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. The Soviet Union collapsed, in part, because both the Soviets and the US were involved in a cold-war arms race. Then the oligarchs (along with Putin) stole the most profitable state industries and left the crap industries to the state. Bottom line is that Crimea and the other annexed areas gives the Russia Navy a more secured access to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Jim

 

[zpaul]

It’s laughable to say that the US is responsible for Russia's situation and Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. The Soviet Union collapsed, in part, because both the Soviets and the US were involved in a cold-war arms race. Then the oligarchs (along with Putin) stole the most profitable state industries and left the crap industries to the state. Bottom line is that Crimea and the other annexed areas gives the Russia Navy a more secured access to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Jim

Laughable or not, but US spent a ton of money on Gorbachev and crippled Russia for decades in debt.
Still no explanation for NATO expansion after collapse of Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact being dissolved in 1991!!! No explanation on the need to add Ukraine to NATO and what US was doing in Ukraine and Georgia. Both US friendly because US was pumping cash there. Yugoslavia war of 1999 another example where winners and losers were picked by US. Ton of people died, similar situation like Ukraine and Russia, families live across borders and don’t want any fight.

Putin meddling US election is a horrible thing. But US doing same thing all over the world is fine.
And another problem people don’t understand that Putin is ruling Russia for the past 20 years, he has his own private army and everyone who goes against him decides to kill their own family and commit suicide. And with state propaganda he is still the guy they vote for. He has his own ambitions to rebuild Soviet Union at least some of it. Still remember Time naming him person of the year. What a disgrace!
There will be no winner in this war. US and Europe need to step up and stop that massacre.

 

[BlkGS]

Anyone who thinks the higher price of oil is due to our (US) leadership doesn't not understand how oil prices are set by world-wide market forces. Oil demand is up as the world has come out of low demand during Covid. Oil prices had been on a downward slope, until OPEC (our friends (?) in the Middle East) decided to cut supply to drive prices back upwards. Russia is still selling lots of oil, maybe not to Europe, but it is going to China, India, and other countries.

Its laughable to say that the US is responsible for Russia's situation and Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. The Soviet Union collapsed, in part, because both the Soviets and the US were involved in a cold-war arms race. Then the oligarchs (along with Putin) stole the most profitable state industries and left the crap industries to the state. Bottom line is that Crimea and the other annexed areas gives the Russia Navy a more secured access to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Jim

I don't think it's laughable that if NATO had rebuked Ukraine's advances there would be no war. It's like if Mexico suddenly started an alliance with China that would let them put long range missiles, airfields, and large military bases along the southern US border. Imagine how THAT would go over with the US. That's basocally what Ukraine joining NATO is to them, except they're wiser to the threat NATO poses to them than the US is to the threat of China.

Not saying it justifies it, but the US could have prevented it.

 

[BlkGS]

Anyone who thinks the higher price of oil is due to our (US) leadership doesn't not understand how oil prices are set by world-wide market forces. Oil demand is up as the world has come out of low demand during Covid. Oil prices had been on a downward slope, until OPEC (our friends (?) in the Middle East) decided to cut supply to drive prices back upwards. Russia is still selling lots of oil, maybe not to Europe, but it is going to China, India, and other countries.

Its laughable to say that the US is responsible for Russia's situation and Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. The Soviet Union collapsed, in part, because both the Soviets and the US were involved in a cold-war arms race. Then the oligarchs (along with Putin) stole the most profitable state industries and left the crap industries to the state. Bottom line is that Crimea and the other annexed areas gives the Russia Navy a more secured access to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

Jim

This is commonly repeated and factually misleading. Our leadership has disincentivized the oil and gas industry from operating in the US or expanding to meet a growing supply need. Via outright harassment, threats, dragging their feet on everything, pricing, regulations... the list is literally endless, the US go t has effectively ensured there will be no further invesent in fossil fuel capacity under this administration, possibly even ever again. And what business would spend the billions to increase their capacity when you have a hostile government saying how badly they want to shut you down in favor of their investments in renewable made with dirty coal power in China? Any leader that would look at that iceberg and sail full speed at it wouldn't be leading that company very long.

It's like having a buddy you make fun of relentlessly for working out all day and being a lover without a girlfriend. You do it enough, he's not gonna come hang out anymore. You might need him to help you move one day, but why would he come help when you make fun of him for the very skill you need?

Global markets are great and all, but you still have to have refinement and distribution capacity in your own country, and that's what we don't have now.

 

[zipper]

China has more state sponsored hackers than Russia, and while there are certainly Russians that are holding companies ransom via hacking, China does it too, China has made it clear they're also using devices to spy on Americans, and China has goals of being the dominant superpower of the world. Russia wishes it had dominance in its sphere of influence still.

Russia is a mineral powerhouse, but that doesn't make it a global power. That makes it an exporter of lots of resources, like Australia or much of Africa. And attempting to blame Russia for gas prices right now ignores a lot ofntruths like WE sanctioned THEM, and our current administration has done everything it can to make fossil fuels unprofitable and disincentivize any growth in the sector to meet demand. Our gas prices right now are due to our leaders, not Russia.

Sorry I dusted this thread off. That may be true...but while you guys were pointing out all the facts last night, the only new member I have had to spam clean from the forum list in a while was trying to join, from Moscow. Most of the fake accounts that have been found/cleaned are Russian. We used to get a lot of spam from India, but very little from China. These are my observations since I was asked to join the staff last Spring. The two incidents of acct. hacking on this forum were Russian based. Some partial screen shots from last night.

 

[the MfM]

Can I have my reporting button reinstated?

 

[Jim_in_Delaware]

This is commonly repeated and factually misleading. Our leadership has disincentivized the oil and gas industry from operating in the US or expanding to meet a growing supply need. Via outright harassment, threats, dragging their feet on everything, pricing, regulations... the list is literally endless, the US go t has effectively ensured there will be no further invesent in fossil fuel capacity under this administration, possibly even ever again. And what business would spend the billions to increase their capacity when you have a hostile government saying how badly they want to shut you down in favor of their investments in renewable made with dirty coal power in China? Any leader that would look at that iceberg and sail full speed at it wouldn't be leading that company very long.

It's like having a buddy you make fun of relentlessly for working out all day and being a lover without a girlfriend. You do it enough, he's not gonna come hang out anymore. You might need him to help you move one day, but why would he come help when you make fun of him for the very skill you need?

Global markets are great and all, but you still have to have refinement and distribution capacity in your own country, and that's what we don't have now.

You can believe what you want, but once again the U.S. is the world's largest oil producer. In addition, our oil companies have posted record profits. As just one example, Exxon reported a profit of nearly $20 billion for the July-September period was a record for any quarter, and 10 percent higher than the previous record, set the quarter before.

Jim

 

[BlkGS]

Sorry I dusted this thread off. That may be true...but while you guys were pointing out all the facts last night, the only new member I have had to spam clean from the forum list in a while was trying to join, from Moscow. Most of the fake accounts that have been found/cleaned are Russian. We used to get a lot of spam from India, but very little from China. These are my observations since I was asked to join the staff last Spring. The two incidents of acct. hacking on this forum were Russian based. Some partial screen shots from last night.

View attachment 191049

View attachment 191050

Interesting. One would think that someone trying to spam would also be savvy enough to VPN a fake location...

 

[BlkGS]

You can believe what you want, but once again the U.S. is the world's largest oil producer. In addition, our oil companies have posted record profits. As just one example, Exxon reported a profit of nearly $20 billion for the July-September period was a record for any quarter, and 10 percent higher than the previous record, set the quarter before.

Jim

They should be setting record profits. The USD is worth less than last year, so if your profits aren't going up, you're seeing negative growth. Also, they've been pushed to not expand capacity, so when you're not spending on expansion or future capacity, of course you'll set record profits. It's the definition of short term gains and long term consequences.

 

[zipper]

Interesting. One would think that someone trying to spam would also be savvy enough to VPN a fake location...

Yep, we get them all over the place too. There are ways to sort the wheat from the chaffe and separate these nefarious actors from honest members