Ukraine War... How much will S&P drop this week?

[fatlittlepig]

It seems to me, we’ve helped Ukraine just enough where they are not losing but not enough where they could win. We’ve tried to split the baby and the result has been to prolong the war.

[CordMcNally]

If the alternative is nuclear war, I would rather see Putin get enough to save face and have an exit plan. I understand the decision is ultimately Ukraine's, but we are bankrolling them. As physicians we often ask our patients to choose the least bad option, that's the way I look at this. Is it fair - no but i don't see that expecting Putin to just march back out is realistic.

Before anybody brings up Neville Chamberlain, the difference here is nuclear weapons.

We don’t know what the least bad option is. This is a scenario where we won’t know until after. Will Russia actually use a nuclear weapon if they don’t get their way? I don’t know and I don’t think many of the Russian higher ups know, either.

[Tim]

I doubt we will do anything substantial until after nov 8th. Do not want to rock the boat this close to election day. Maybe next week. Maybe...

Anything is possible. The Afghanistan pullout was accomplished by the 9/11 anniversary, that was a big win I guess. Complete and orderly with all objectives accomplished. PR is very important.

"The odd thing about this situation, and I haven't quite figured it out, is why support for Ukraine has morphed into a situation where discussion of diplomacy or increased oversight of funding has become off limits."
Easy, politics and PR.

[Kamban]

I consider myself in the liberal/progressive camp and the letter that was drafted was on point, it was disappointing to see the lack of courage to stand up for what they wrote. Blaming an underling, and claiming the letter was released inappropriately is the height of cowardice, although that was not entirely unexpected given her reputation for mistreatment of her workers. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article...taff-treatment

It was a letter that they all signed and now they say it was not their idea or intention? I just don't know what to say.

All the letter said was to seek a diplomatic solution along with military and economic support. We do that with Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq and N.Korea. Why is Ukraine different?

[fatlittlepig]

It was a letter that they all signed and now they say it was not their idea or intention? I just don't know what to say.

All the letter said was to seek a diplomatic solution along with military and economic support. We do that with Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq and N.Korea. Why is Ukraine different?

it’s a good question.

[jacoavlu]

I consider myself in the liberal/progressive camp and the letter that was drafted was on point, it was disappointing to see the lack of courage to stand up for what they wrote. Blaming an underling, and claiming the letter was released inappropriately is the height of cowardice, although that was not entirely unexpected given her reputation for mistreatment of her workers. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article...taff-treatment

this is common practice now in politics, corporate messaging, etc. Float an idea and if response is bad then institute the campaign to shift blame. See recent Paypal policy changes. Probably also what we're now starting to see with US approach to Ukraine and Zelenskyy, like the recent story about Biden getting upset with Zelenskyy on the phone.

[fatlittlepig]

this is common practice now in politics, corporate messaging, etc. Float an idea and if response is bad then institute the campaign to shift blame. See recent Paypal policy changes. Probably also what we're now starting to see with US approach to Ukraine and Zelenskyy, like the recent story about Biden getting upset with Zelenskyy on the phone.

Recent Friedman column in NYTimes reported that there is a high level of mistrust between the White House and Zelenskyy.

[CordMcNally]

Recent Friedman column in NYTimes reported that there is a high level of mistrust between the White House and Zelenskyy.

There should probably be a baseline high level of mistrust with the heads of most of these countries.

[Kamban]

There should probably be a baseline high level of mistrust with the heads of most of these countries.

True dat. Each one does not trust the other two.

[Kamban]

Recent Friedman column in NYTimes reported that there is a high level of mistrust between the White House and Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy is milking Biden like a cow for every last drop of milk he can get.

[Tim]

(insert anything) is milking Biden like a cow for every last drop of milk he/she/they can get.

I do not mean this politically, I'll just say there appears to be a vacuum. Knock, knock. Anyone home?

[Panscan]

this is common practice now in politics, corporate messaging, etc. Float an idea and if response is bad then institute the campaign to shift blame. See recent Paypal policy changes. Probably also what we're now starting to see with US approach to Ukraine and Zelenskyy, like the recent story about Biden getting upset with Zelenskyy on the phone.

Literally the only reason consulting firms like McKinsey exist. Fall guys

[nephron]

If I were in charge, I would just give Ukraine a bunch of missiles that could reach Moscow and let them do whatever they wanted to do. It seems ridiculous to have a policy where you can punch us but we can't punch you. Even though this war may seem expensive, I still think that it is pennies compared to the amount that we spent in Iraq/Afghanistan. Probably more of a moral justification to spend for people trying to stay alive vs finding weapons of mass destruction that didn't really exist.

[jacoavlu]

If I were in charge, I would just give Ukraine a bunch of missiles that could reach Moscow and let them do whatever they wanted to do. It seems ridiculous to have a policy where you can punch us but we can't punch you. Even though this war may seem expensive, I still think that it is pennies compared to the amount that we spent in Iraq/Afghanistan. Probably more of a moral justification to spend for people trying to stay alive vs finding weapons of mass destruction that didn't really exist.

yes, let's escalate. heck, maybe we should just bomb moscow ourselves.

[nephron]

yes, let's escalate. heck, maybe we should just bomb moscow ourselves.

I'm not saying we should get involved. It just seems ridiculous to tell someone that they can bomb whatever city they want, but don't try to bomb their cities because they might get mad.