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Sheng-Ji Yang
Mar 5, 2014


https://twitter.com/Seamus_Malek/status/1252035709436694528

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Real hurthling!
Sep 11, 2001




nothing matterhorns

gradenko_2000
Oct 5, 2010

HELL SERPENT
Lipstick Apathy
https://twitter.com/Seamus_Malek/status/1253064160885137408

nature is healing etc

OhFunny
Jun 26, 2013

EXTREMELY PISSED AT THE DNC
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1252932181447630848?s=19

Time to push the Iranians around some more to look strong.

TeenageArchipelago
Jul 23, 2013


OhFunny posted:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1252932181447630848?s=19

Time to push the Iranians around some more to look strong.

Every once in a while I imagine what it would be like if we had actually gotten in to a war with Iran back in January, given Corona and all

wisconsingreg
Jan 13, 2019

Darkman Fanpage
Jul 4, 2012

OhFunny posted:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1252932181447630848?s=19

Time to push the Iranians around some more to look strong.

it's to jack up oil prices after they cratered due to the combination of saudi stupidity anf the coronavirus causing demand to go down.

OhFunny
Jun 26, 2013

EXTREMELY PISSED AT THE DNC
https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1255615811621924870?s=20

Between this, the Netanyahu-Gantz coalition government, and the plan to approve the annexation of the West Bank on July 1st. The Palestinian state is lost.

taqueso
Mar 8, 2004


:911:
:wookie: :thermidor: :wookie:
:dehumanize:

:pirate::hf::tinfoil:

he didn't say if the embassy would be in palestine or isreal, just that it'd be in jerusalem :eng99:

Egg Moron
Jul 21, 2003

the dreams of the delighting void


total self own

taqueso
Mar 8, 2004


:911:
:wookie: :thermidor: :wookie:
:dehumanize:

:pirate::hf::tinfoil:

I don't think I've ever heard of water being used for mine clearing, I wonder if anyone does that

lobotomy molo
May 7, 2007

by Jeffrey of YOSPOS

taqueso posted:

I don't think I've ever heard of water being used for mine clearing, I wonder if anyone does that

2 issues immediately stand out:
1. it probably takes a lot of water to move mines, especially if they're not just sitting on the surface. if you don't get a lucky rainstorm, you'd need to diverting a creek or river in order to clear a tiny area, or haul a lot of very heavy water to clear an even smaller area
2. this doesn't defuse the mines, it just... relocates them. instead of somebody blowing off their leg in a field, it's somebody at the edge of the river stepping on a mud-covered mine who's blowing off their leg.

And it looks like, historically speaking, water + mine fields = bigger headaches for everyone, though again that's uncontrolled flooding and not deliberate mine clearing:
https://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/arms/mines-moz.htm
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/articles/2014/05/20/undp-flooding-unearths-landmine-danger-.html

taqueso
Mar 8, 2004


:911:
:wookie: :thermidor: :wookie:
:dehumanize:

:pirate::hf::tinfoil:

I figured the clearing party would only need a path through for war, rather than clearing in peacetime, but that is a good point

Atrocious Joe
Sep 2, 2011

https://twitter.com/usembassybeirut/status/1255176420248170498?s=20
USA is asking Lebanese people to not hurt any banks

Darkman Fanpage
Jul 4, 2012
please dont destroy the banks thats where the money lives :(

Atrocious Joe
Sep 2, 2011

some weird poo poo going on in Qatar? or maybe just Saudi shitposting?
https://twitter.com/IntelDoge/status/1257172728844517377?s=20
https://twitter.com/Aldanimarki/status/1257155379353567237?s=20

Throatwarbler
Nov 17, 2008

by vyelkin
the current emir of Qatar seized power in a coup so it’s not exactly unheard of

Some Guy TT
Aug 30, 2011

whats that guy in the replies mean by drinking donkey milk ive never heard that expression before

gh0stpinballa
Mar 5, 2019

bashar got cussed out by his cousin remi on facebook cos he's having to send police after remi to make him pay his taxes.

gradenko_2000
Oct 5, 2010

HELL SERPENT
Lipstick Apathy
Our very special boy

https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1259621541001793537?s=19

OhFunny
Jun 26, 2013

EXTREMELY PISSED AT THE DNC
https://twitter.com/business/status/1259674286920552448?s=19

From al-jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/uk-opts-cautious-easing-coronavirus-lockdown-live-updates-200510231409890.html

quote:

Saudi Arabia will triple its Value Added Tax (VAT) and halt monthly handout payments to citizens in tough new austerity measures amid record low oil prices and a coronavirus-led economic slump.

The measures, which could stir public resentment with the cost of living rising, come as the country steps up emergency plans to slash government spending to deal with the twin economic blow.

"It has been decided the cost of living allowance will be halted from June 2020 and VAT will be raised from 5 percent to 15 percent from July 1," Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said in a statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Feels like a perfect way to cause unrest in the country.

Al-Saqr
Nov 11, 2007

One Day I Will Return To Your Side.

OhFunny posted:

https://twitter.com/business/status/1259674286920552448?s=19


Feels like a perfect way to cause unrest in the country.

I think this is an insane thing that will absolutely be the start of unrest in the country, the only reason why saudi arabia has been internally stable for so long was primarily that in general peoples material lives was OK, with these moves the government has actually severely undercut people's standard of living, add on top of that is that the small businesses are being collectively wiped out, and that essentially Vision 2030 is dead beyond saving. The triple threat of losing the war in yemen, the internal collapse of the saudi economy and the end of Vision 2030 essentially means that all of the main pillars of MBS's support (beyond social reforms) has been destroyed, I genuinely think that now several princes will start making moves and that MBS will go on a paranoia murder spree and that people will genuinely start boiling.

Or maybe nothing happens and we all just suffer quietly lol.

Anyways, interesting times ahead.

Jose
Jul 24, 2007

Adrian Chiles is a broadcaster and writer
so ignoring everything else about the war in yemen being a massive war crime aren't land mines a war crime and banned? like i know it doesn't matter because the US and UK back saudi arabia doing whatever

gradenko_2000
Oct 5, 2010

HELL SERPENT
Lipstick Apathy

Jose posted:

so ignoring everything else about the war in yemen being a massive war crime aren't land mines a war crime and banned? like i know it doesn't matter because the US and UK back saudi arabia doing whatever

The Ottawa Treaty bans anti-personnel mines, but allows for the use of anti-vehicle mines, mines that only detonate on command, and mines that have self-destruct/self-deactivation features.

The UK is party to the Ottawa Treaty, and the US is not, and Saudi Arabia is not.

In 2014, the US under Barack Obama began implementing its own internal policy that would have made it compliant with the Ottawa Treaty even if it never ratified the treaty itself (with an exception for the use of land mines in the Korean Peninsula). That policy was rescinded by Donald Trump in January 2020.

comedyblissoption
Mar 15, 2006

according to the commentary i've seen on a VAT from american liberals, this will surely usher in a socialist welfare state unparalleled in the world

cool dance moves
Aug 27, 2018



does this mean they'll cut funding for all those terrorist groups :ohdear:

OhFunny
Jun 26, 2013

EXTREMELY PISSED AT THE DNC
U.S. to Remove Patriot Missile Batteries From Saudi Arabia



quote:

The U.S. is removing two Patriot missile batteries from Saudi Arabia and two others from the Middle East, along with dozens of military personnel who were deployed to the region following a series of attacks on the Saudi oil facilities last year, according to several U.S. officials. The attacks were part of hostilities the U.S. has blamed on Iran that took place over several months.

Two U.S. jet fighter squadrons also have left the region, and U.S. officials also will consider a reduction in the U.S. Navy presence in the Persian Gulf, the officials said. The redeployment of the Patriot systems, which now is under way, hadn’t been previously disclosed.

Hmm interesting... The stated reason is with Qassem Soleimani dead and COVID-19 wrecking the country the threat from Iran is reduced.

Vernii
Dec 7, 2006

With the Patriots removed the Houthis will have an easier time taking out Saudi refining capacity again, which means oil prices can go back up in a V shaped recovery.

4D CHESS

animist
Aug 28, 2018

Vernii posted:

With the Patriots removed the Houthis will have an easier time taking out Saudi refining capacity again, which means oil prices can go back up in a V shaped recovery.

4D CHESS

*mbs, flirtatiously* oh nooo i hope nobody blows up these incredibly exposed refineries giving me an excuse to raise prices

Atrocious Joe
Sep 2, 2011

https://twitter.com/blowbackpod/status/1259880734325604356?s=20

OhFunny
Jun 26, 2013

EXTREMELY PISSED AT THE DNC
https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1259831953769054209?s=19

Embarrassing incident for Iran yesterday when a missile fired from a destroyer hit the support ship instead of the target during a live fire exercise.

Spergin Morlock
Aug 8, 2009

Fun Shoe

OhFunny posted:

https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1259831953769054209?s=19

Embarrassing incident for Iran yesterday when a missile fired from a destroyer hit the support ship instead of the target during a live fire exercise.

I'm going to laugh when we eventually learn a sub launched a nulka and lured it over

Egg Moron
Jul 21, 2003

the dreams of the delighting void


Every face in that painting is david Petraeus' face


Also lol that intelligence ghoul shitlibs wanted to make him the president once upon a tie

OhFunny
Jun 26, 2013

EXTREMELY PISSED AT THE DNC
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1259981647396691968?s=19

General Abdul Jalil Bakhtawar, the former police chief of Farah province and leader of a pro-government militia after his retirement has defected to the Taliban.

Some Guy TT
Aug 30, 2011

Egg Moron posted:

Also lol that intelligence ghoul shitlibs wanted to make him the president once upon a tie

its also funny that he would probably be an unambiguous improvement over who were stuck with now

gradenko_2000
Oct 5, 2010

HELL SERPENT
Lipstick Apathy

Egg Moron posted:

Every face in that painting is david Petraeus' face


Also lol that intelligence ghoul shitlibs wanted to make him the president once upon a tie

COD BLOPS 2 had him as Defense Secretary under Hillary Clinton

Mister Bates
Aug 4, 2010

Egg Moron posted:

Every face in that painting is david Petraeus' face


Also lol that intelligence ghoul shitlibs wanted to make him the president once upon a tie

Pictured shortly before throwing that kid down a well

Big Dick Cheney
Mar 30, 2007
Friendship ended with puppet government, now jihad is my best friend

Fuligin
Oct 27, 2010

wait what the fuck??


Looks like a coen brothers prop

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etalian
Mar 20, 2006

OhFunny posted:

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1259981647396691968?s=19

General Abdul Jalil Bakhtawar, the former police chief of Farah province and leader of a pro-government militia after his retirement has defected to the Taliban.

The virgin failed nation building vs the chad Pashtun insurgency

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