The first period had me thinking we had it in the bag, but Europe was really playing in the second. 

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On the flip side, it is interesting how a developing country like Russia can raise millions of men in arms and crush the Chechens and other enemies of their government in a ruthless manner.  And then occupy the Crimea with broad-based support. They inherited Soviet military operational art, which puts a great primacy on infantry and armor field strength/territorial security while American inherited a fetishism for technology, firepower, and small numbers elite troops to overcome their democratic limitations of raising armies.

More importantly, Ukraine is right at Russia's doorstep, so their knowledge of enemy terrain, landscape, Ukrainian society was inevitably superior than US in Iraq. So the idea that Russians possess superior military discipline compared to US, or that US troops are unprofessional in any way ( I think you imply that) is not valid.

Secondly, I highly doubt if US troops had any idea what the invasion was about, what the long term goals were. Surely they werent so naive as to believe that bringing a democratic goverment in Iraq was the real objective. Or that Iraq posed a direct threat to US national security Heck its not just them, even political experts to this day are no closer to finding out the real reason WHY US invaded Iraq  Nobody knows.  All we  know is the 'how' the 'who' and thats it.

Eye strain  

4 minutes ago, Prettyphile said:

Eye strain  

 Is a pain in the ass I know, feel better you.

 

Time to sleep for me, 3 hours then working all day does not mix well  

13 hours ago, gotportugal said:

The US is fucked either way.. Trump gave a voice to all of the racists, xenophobes, idiots of America, and the worst part is that they won't shut up.

 

 

I don't think you understand Trump.  While what you say is true, Trump's claimed policies largely appeals to working people, blue collar, military, construction, miners, factory workers, entrepreneurs etc.  that either benefit directly or were left behind due to globalization.  The US Democratic party is very corporatist and do not have answers for a lot of problems except "suck it up". 

How is that even possible that I'm having allergy during fall time?

5 minutes ago, lostdiadem said:

How is that even possible that I'm having allergy during fall time?

 

Not sure abt where you live but where I am it is ragweed season and a lot of ppl are allergic to its pollen. Mold could also cause allergies.

15 minutes ago, PinkCouture said:

Not sure abt where you live but where I am it is ragweed season and a lot of ppl are allergic to its pollen. Mold could also cause allergies.

I live in Italy and I'm allergic to all kind of pollen but knowing about flowers and plants "dying" during fall time, I find it weird.

But maybe you're right. Or maybe it's the dust I have in my room

36 minutes ago, lostdiadem said:

How is that even possible that I'm having allergy during fall time?

Weak immune system

Just now, elfstone said:

Weak immune system

Yeah, aware of that unfortunately

No big deal hun. Pollen allergy+asthma game me hell when I was in adolescence cause I was a thin kid

But then I grew bigger  and stronger. And all was well

It's not about having a "weak" immune system. It's about an immune system that's "hypersensitive" and reacts to stuff it shouldn't. Getting stronger doesn't solve the problem.

In my context, I was allergic not only to pollen but coffee, cinnamon, among other things. Hypersensitive or whatever you may choose to call it, but surely indicative of weak immune system? AND I have no idea what you inferred from 'stronger' but it merely referred to natural development, like adolescence=>adulthood.

I inferred nothing from "stronger". Just what the word says.

But it's not an indicative of a weak immune system; unless we get into a semantic discussion on what "weak" represents.

That would be the case of someone who gets sick a lot, from the weirdest and most unusual stuff that pretty much no else gets sick from and takes ages to get better.

Certainly allergies don't indicate an optimal immune system, but a "weak" one is way different the way I see it.

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That would be the case of someone who gets sick a lot, from the weirdest and most unusual stuff that pretty much no else gets sick from and takes ages to get better.

Not unreasonable, but you use an extremecase to make your point.

 Immune system weakness could make a person frequently fall sick to seasonal changes or the most common viral diseases such as the most common types of viral flu, while staying safe from the   "weirdest and most unusual stuf" as you put it

Yeah, I may have gone to extreme for the example. But still the point stands: those who, for example, get several colds or flus every year, every winter as you say have indeed a weaker immune system. Which is not the case for someone who has seasonal allergies.

I have many other allergies as well concerning food, clothes tissues and metal, so..

19 hours ago, Cult Icon said:

 

... And then occupy the Crimea with broad-based support. ...

 

 

FYI: It was a referendum, and the residents (Russian majority) voted for join to Russia.

Btw Crimea was part of Russia ever since the the end of the XVIII. century. In 1954 Krushchev gave it to Ukraine, but it was a meaningless symbolic act at that time cause Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.

22 minutes ago, 17 Moments of Spring said:

 

FYI: It was a referendum, and the residents (Russian majority) voted for join to Russia.

Btw Crimea was part of Russia ever since the the end of the XVIII. century. In 1954 Krushchev gave it to Ukraine, but it was a meaningless symbolic act at that time cause Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.

 

The referendum is questionable.  The historical line is meaningless.  Ultimately it was state-sanctioned act of aggression to alter the status quo- that occurred on a wave of nationalistic propaganda. 

Just now, Cult Icon said:

 

The referendum is questionable.

 

There was a similar referendum on the independence of Montenegro, and another one on the independence of Kosovo a few years ago. Both Kosovo and Montenegro are independent states now.

 

Blatant double standards.