When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, thousands of nuclear arms were left in Ukraine. The country was, in fact, the third-largest nuclear power in the world at the time.Do you seriously expect a Democrat to live up to a commitment? Especially one made by another Democrat?
In 1994, Ukraine made the decision to completely denuclearize - based on an agreement known as the Budapest Memorandum, in which the U.S., the U.K. and Russia guaranteed the country's security.
Does the word integrity mean anything to you? If you lived somewhere else, would the word of this spineless administration have any value?
Just asking for a friend ...
Dennis
In 1994, Ukraine made the decision to completely denuclearize - based on an agreement known as the Budapest Memorandum, in which the U.S., the U.K. and Russia guaranteed the country's security.
Dennis
Let's get some facts straight.
According to the Budapest Memorandum, the U.S., the UK and Russia have agreed: (1) to respect Belarusian, Kazakh and Ukrainian independence and sovereignty in the existing borders [in exchange for them giving up nuclear weapons], (2) refrain from the threat or the use of force against Belarus, Kazakhstan or Ukraine, (3-6) etc. See full document for details. Or simply look up "Budapest Memorandum" in Wikipedia.
So your statement that the US, UK and Russia "guaranteed the country's security" is misleading at least. Which makes your later insinuation about the inaction of the US or its lack of integrity a moot point. There is NO explicit document or agreement where the US has promised to defend Ukraine using military means (in the same way as, say, Article 5 of NATO).
The only signatory to the Budapest Memorandum which has breached it in a major way is Russia - first by annexing Crimea in 2014, then in 2018 by firing on Ukrainian ships in the Strait of Kerch, and finally by staging a full blown invasion in 2022.
So if you have some unkind words to say about this conflict, address them to Russia who started this aggression in the first place. If, on the other hand, you are just looking for an opportunity to twist a couple of facts and take a cheap shot at your own country's government, just say so, it won't be the first time.
Now, I have donated to the Ukrainian refugee charity. What have you done to help?
BTW. Anyone want to buy a horse? We'll give him away if we cannot sell him. ;D
The "bad" which has been done to this Country cannot be fixed.
Without a DOJ and a balanced system for those who commit crimes, we rely on prosecutors for this, you have no country.
The Obama years, those in power, really expedited these problems.
And it gets worse now that they eliminated honest voting.
Charles, I don't want to agree with you - hope never dies. But I really cry for what I've seen our country become. And you hit a nerve.
In his book Things That Matter, Charles Krauthammer titles a section on the Obama Era "The Lawless Presidency" - and lists a couple of pages of illegal actions Obama and his Administration took. Like directing a 70+ percent subsidy for the insurance premiums paid by congressmen and their personal staffs. Under a law that prohibits subsidies for anyone at their income level.
Can anyone here spell SWAMP?
Obama himself stated publicly, on at least 11 occasions, that his Executive Order on young illegals was likely unconstitutional - and it is. Congress failed to pass the Dream Act, so Obama just made it "law" - all by himself.
And the Department of Justice has become a political weapon with no relationship to "justice".
We can only hope that enough of us "deplorables" put on our big boy pants and change the course of the country.
... My view is that we should ...
One fact is certain.
Russia did not take Ukrainian land under President Trump.
Russia DID take Ukrainian land under Obama and Biden.
Aviojet, If you think that the situation is so bad in the US that merits moving to the Azores, go ahead and do it, I doubt anybody really cares. The US is not a communist country but it is at risk of becoming a Fascist one however.
To be clear I did not call anyone names until you posted this: 'controlled by Liberal Democrat Communists'. Figured it was only fair.
At any rate, I have been to both Portugal and Spain and although I am a fluent Spanish speaker I found the Portuguese to be extremely approachable and friendly, maybe more so than the Spaniards. If the same holds true for the Azores it should be a nice place to live in.
...
IQ45. This Tells me everything I need to know about you.
s.Could be both. Just curious, who brought up politics when you flew? I have been flying over 60 years and I don't have a clue, nor do I give a rats a** what the politics are of the people I fly with.
So you probably think that I am idiot, snow flake, etc. but I really do not give a damn. Part of the reason of flying C/L is that it can be done alone; I was getting tired of hearing about politics every time I went flying; I just wanted to fly.
Could be both. Just curious, who brought up politics when you flew? I have been flying over 60 years and I don't have a clue, nor do I give a rats a** what the politics are of the people I fly with.
Ken
"One parting comment. My opinion on President Trump is that he is probably guilty of about half of the things he is accused of which would make him one of the most ethical Presidents in my lifetime. Pass on the cute names. It shuts down meaningful debate which means that you now have a zero chance of making YOUR point."Ditto's - Ken y1
y1 The thing to remember about Trump is that he's not a lawyer and hasn't been a career politician. He may not have understood about the legalities of some of the stuff that he's accused of, and may not have gotten good information from his advisors...perhaps because most of them were also businessmen/women and not part of the swamp. Then too, remember that Trump WAS A DEMOCRAT until he hung around them quite awhile and learned what snakes and back-biters they are.
Personally, I think Trump is a jerk, but a jerk that tried to do as much as he could to get America back on track, despite the constant distractions of the demorats (sic). H^^ Steve
Let's get some facts straight.
According to the Budapest Memorandum, the U.S., the UK and Russia have agreed: (1) to respect Belarusian, Kazakh and Ukrainian independence and sovereignty in the existing borders [in exchange for them giving up nuclear weapons], (2) refrain from the threat or the use of force against Belarus, Kazakhstan or Ukraine, (3-6) etc. See full document for details. Or simply look up "Budapest Memorandum" in Wikipedia.
So your statement that the US, UK and Russia "guaranteed the country's security" is misleading at least. Which makes your later insinuation about the inaction of the US or its lack of integrity a moot point. There is NO explicit document or agreement where the US has promised to defend Ukraine using military means (in the same way as, say, Article 5 of NATO).
The only signatory to the Budapest Memorandum which has breached it in a major way is Russia - first by annexing Crimea in 2014, then in 2018 by firing on Ukrainian ships in the Strait of Kerch, and finally by staging a full blown invasion in 2022.
So if you have some unkind words to say about this conflict, address them to Russia who started this aggression in the first place. If, on the other hand, you are just looking for an opportunity to twist a couple of facts and take a cheap shot at your own country's government, just say so, it won't be the first time.
Now, I have donated to the Ukrainian refugee charity. What have you done to help?
Thank you Mike! I applaud your research and clarification. It really gets frustrating when facts and intents get twisted for self-serving purposes or cheap soundbites.
The US is not a communist country but it is at risk of becoming a Fascist one however.
There are other reasons as well but in this forum I am basically the minority and it is just not worth the hassle.
If you are confident in your views then there is no point in debating them when you are in the majority. That is nothing more than an echo chamber. As long as you can keep it on point and avoid the name calling you will find most here eager to engage.
This is a crappy and stupid war and sure hope that the Ukrainians prevail.
All wars are crappy and stupid in my opinion. They are rarely started by the people that actually have to fight them.
Ken