From: blockedofcourse@foo.invalid   
      
   On 1/29/2026 4:29 AM, albert@spenarnc.xs4all.nl wrote:   
   > In article <10lbvso$440f$1@dont-email.me>,   
   > Don Y   wrote:   
   >> On 1/27/2026 5:13 PM, bitrex wrote:   
   >>> On 1/27/2026 5:55 PM, Don Y wrote:   
   >>>>>> Suddenly, "players" without deep pockets can become significant   
   adversaries!   
   >>>>>   
   >>>>> Players without deep pockets have proved significant adversaries (of the   
   US   
   >>>>> at least) for 70 damn years!   
   >>>>   
   >>>> But the military doesn't learn!  (It seems to be part of their mindset.)   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Note the Brits "learned" during the Revolutionary War 250 years ago...   
   >>>> We have this belief that MORE technology is ALWAYS the solution   
   >>>> ("We need drone jammers!!  That evolve to adapt to a rapidly   
   >>>> evolving drone ecosystem...")   
   >>>   
   >>> Sounds like they've invented a very slow cruise missile which would have   
   >>> difficulty penetrating mosquito netting   
   >>   
   >> "Enough" of anything (sticks and stones) can overwhelm any offense/defense.   
   >>   
   >> If you can coerce (because they have no other devices in their arsenal)   
   >> your enemy to expending lots of treasure, you can defeat them "on a budget".   
   >>   
   >> Ukraine has got to be a HUGE embarassment for Russia.  Even hiring   
   >> mercenaries and "convicts" has led to a very limited "success".   
   >> Hardly what one would expect of a "world power".   
   >>   
   >> Putin is lucky that someone hasn't taken the opportunity to nibble   
   >> at other borders (and that Trump hasn't been smart enough to capitalize   
   >> on Putin's weaknesses to "defeat Russia" -- "when no other american   
   >> president could"!)   
   >   
   > The CIA wages all out war on all fronts, are you kidding?   
   > Tchechanian rebels were on one time disrupting Russia.   
   > Now they are fighting in Ukraine alongside Russia.   
      
   I suspect part of the CIA's /raison d'etre/ is to foment instability.   
      
   However, had Trump wanted to claim the mantle of having "defeated"   
   Russia, he could have flooded the zone with US (and allies -- when we   
   had them) support for Ukraine, effectively boxing Putin into a corner   
   where he either resorts to the nuclear option (and worries about any   
   global retaliation that might ensue) *or* backs down.   
      
   See below.   
      
   >> [Trump always picks the wrong way to be remembered.  As he has,   
   historically,   
   >> with his other ventures (maybe he's just not very smart?)]   
      
   He'll now find himself the exemplar of The Wrong Way of doing things   
   (even things that people claim to have wanted).   
      
   He could have one-upped "Obamacare"; instead, folks will quickly label   
   whatever mess he comes up with as "Trumpcare", setting himself up for a   
   direct comparison with his predecessor's "product" (likely unfavorably).   
      
   [It must eat away at him, constantly, that A Black Man is more revered   
   than *his* (cough) accomplishments!]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)