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By my reckoning, Poland and Czechia are the countries that got the most out of EU enlargement (not counting Germany 😉), but others (see my post above) are suffering from a watering down of the EU pressure on them to reform... It isn't just that, of course, there's a multitude of factors, but none of that is looking all that rosy for Ukraine, which suffers with all the problems of the "worst" new members + is much bigger. And all of that is without even mentioning the Russian elephants in the room.

Ukraine, a Kleptocracy that has introduced limited reforms that have upset Ukraines Oligarchs, as opposed to Russia, which regularly jails or murders people that call for reforms and introduced no bloody reforms at all. Only the terminally deluded could conclude Ukraine and Russia are equals. The reason Russia invaded Ukraine was, at least in part, to ensure there would be no reforms that could succeed, creating a successful template for reform in Russia. Now, that certainly is worth fighting for, whether you want the best for Ukraine, or the best possible outcome for Russians. If Russians would apply themselves to the task of losing wholeheartedly, the sooner it will happen.

A country has to do A LOT in that regard even during the accession process, to even think about admitted into the EU. 90s in ex-Soviet Bloc was a wild west. Sure, there are still differences even between countries like Poland and Czechia, to the advantage of the former, as they are somewhat more 'oligarchized' which translates to politics as well, but it's incomparable to what was happening back then.

I have to amend my earlier statement, I wasn't aware that Biden granted a pardon for convictions and immunity for crimes real or imagined that Hunter may or may not have committed from 2014 through 2024. I suppose the upside to this would be that Hunter Biden could be compelled to testify about anything and everything that took place during those years as no jeopardy would be attached, thus no 5th amendment protection. Do we next see Joe Biden granting pardons/immunity to his extended family as well. Irony, Trump was impeached for looking into possible crimes Biden has just pardoned Hunter of having committed but not yet convicted. Two or three times over the last four years I thought and predicted the Democrats would force Joe Biden out of office or prevent him running for reelection to save 2024. And they did, at the 11th hour, with the most incompetent drunk they could find.

Yes, it is still "different"*. Not an issue for 99% of application, but when doing very fine blending on faces can become one. *In the gross territory human saliva is one of the best acrylic mediums...

That's true and most systems on a train are already semi-automated, but to attract and retain a new generation of workers to this and other vital professions adequate-high pay and benefits have to be offered, through government coercion towards the rail companies if need be, national security is at stake.

I wish that I was so infused with delight at the EU's transformative power, but I think that ended with the Baltics... Romania and Bulgaria (and, to a lesser extent, Croatia and Hungary) are having a hard time transforming. And Ukraine is a much bigger headache (and the EU is a much weakened force). Not that membership is really on the cards in the next 20-30 years anyway. Even if magically accelerated by the EU for political reasons, accepting a Ukraine that isn't EU-ready would probably kill the bloc.

Well, you're probably right, whenever the war ends, both sides will try to extract as much from the settlement and the subsequent peace as possible. However, whatever strategic advantage Ukraine gets from a peace, it will still be quite a job for Zelensky (or any future Ukrainian leader) convincing the people of Ukraine to go to war against Russia again... And for what? To get back territories populated (if not now, then certainly in the future) by people who don't want to be ruled from Kiev? At what cost? I would argue it wouldn't be worth the life of a single Ukrainian soldier or for a single Russian missile to again target a Ukrainian power plant. Anyway, I for one am hoping this latest news is the beginning of the end of this war.

Except Russkiy Mir means they'll stay a kleptocracy (and worse) forever, the alternative is European integration - which I must say did wonders to limit the corruption in ex-Soviet bloc states. It's no coincidence that Maidan started right after Yanu decided not to sign an association agreement (and he was widely expected to do so, it was basically regarded to be a done deal) with the EU and that current Georgian protests began after the government decided to suspend European integration process. People can tolerate quite a lot up to a point, but they know where they want to end up - within Western institutions, as that's the best shield against Russkiy Mir.

Very true. Those who neglect conventional wisdoms and think they can buy their military through Ali Express, should not be surprised when their enemy buys the countermeasures from Ali Express as well.

The games are all connected. https://stalker.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline Google-fu says that Stalker 2 takes place in the alternative 2022.

Oh, its kind like Rainbow 6 then? Its a franchise, not a sequel.

I was listening to something interesting on 'the Eastern Border.' Vatniks are pointing out that it was Putin's brilliant idea to freeze the conflict that allowed the rebels of Syria to go away, rearm and sort themselves out, and come back and clobber the Syrian forces. And that if he does the same in Ukraine, its highly unlikely to be to Russia's advantage, but very distinctly to Ukraines advantage. My own speculation here. Even forcing them to remain outside of NATO is risky, because they could come back, launch an offensive and take back their old territories, whilst Russia, charitably, begins to collapse because they are not getting the income they calculated from stripping Ukraine bare, and is locked into garrisoning Eastern Ukraine and Crimea for evermore. Anyway, I point this out, because Christophe says that it may be Zelensky has figured this out. If he freezes the conflict, he can put people back to work, start to rebuild the nation. Whereas Putin is probably stuck with maintaining the conflict, and is less likely to be able to unlock some of those resources he needs to rebuild. Basically, a frozen conflict is more likely to end up killing putin, and helping Ukraine. So Zelensky being enthusiastic about Trumps method is seemingly very clever. As long as he can resist being locked out of NATO forever, and having to demilitarize, which would seem to be Putin's intent. And if Putin doesnt accept? Zelensky can look the reasonable one, applauding Trumps genius that is not appreciated by Russia, and maybe, just maybe, Trump will keep arming him for a win. After all, the quickest way to get on Trumps bad side is treating him like an idiot, and they did that by showing Melania's tits on Russian TV. Just something to think about.

When two kleptocracies clash and go to war, the best outcome for the peoples ruled by them is the shortest war possible, I think.

Light at the end of the tunnel? https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/12/2b04e9c88c84-urgent-n-korean-troops-in-russia-killed-zelenskyy-tells-kyodo-news.html Zelensky says diplomacy might be only way to regain lost territory. Could there be a stronger signal that they're ready to make a deal?

And yet, that's what you are doing. Your protestations that Ukrainians are dying for a kleptocracy sound hollow when you fail to acknowledge that the exact same thing can be said, with more weight, for the Russians who are dying and for the people of Luhansk and Donetsk who have been manipulated into dying for Russia. I'll believe you have a genuine care for the humanity of the situation when you become more even handed, but I doubt that you will ever criticise the man you seem to have decided is the (other) saviour of Christianity.

Some 40 years ago I had orthodontic work done by the NHS, although even then I got the impression they were just trying to speed it through. It was a lot better, but it was hardly hollywood standard. That was fun, having 5 teeth taken out in one day, just so they could create room for the other teeth to move. And then having my upper gum operated on to wrap a wire around a tooth that was growing along my gum, and turn it through 90 degrees. I shudder to think what the kids must be going through today that need to have that done, there probably isnt anyone for them without going private.

NHS dentistry doesn't really cover cosmetic work, unless it's reconstructive. You're not going to get veneers and all that Osmond/Kennedy work done for free.

Not as much 'Stalker 1' as first three Stalker games. Stalker 2 is a fourth game in the franchise.

Did not know this. Thank you.

Some Scottish military humor https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc84245/m2/1/high_res_d/thesis.pdf

Saved for future reference. I am sure it will age well with further filings. The large payment to Oprah aside of course.

Hang on. Kamala’s husband knocked up the Nanny. And Walz is the definition of weirdo.

Pursuit for peaceful Korean unification under RoK should be alive and ongoing and only cautioned if its going to be use to trigger a war on the peninsula. Honestly, I prefer 2 island for 2 island deal with Russia. It's just that current situation makes it untenable. So it'll have to wait. About ＜spooky＞ "Japanese politician ambitious that need to be throttled".. for every Japanese flag flying in the country, there's probably 500 US flags flying in the US. Y'all don't understand the chasm the exists before reaching that point.