The “government support” was paying me to go where the government wanted me to go and to do what the government wanted me to do. And as a retired Regular officer, I am subject to recall pretty much as much as long as they want me.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/688

So don’t start that “you didn’t build that” cr@p. I paid my dues and will still serve if called. Which is more than you can say for 93% of my fellow citizens who have never served at all.

i hope it's left up.
Good to see what is accepted as factual etc.

no one is going to invade anyone when they have thousands of nukes. Can the adults in the room please at least not pretend that russia was under threat. Its just utterly ridiculous to spout that RU propaganda. At least be honest with yourself, wheat and a deep water port

argue about budget all you want lol.

for less than 10% of our annual dod budget, we’ve facilitated the utter destruction of the RUs mechanized systems, artillery, and modern armor. With no boots on the ground. Best money we’ve spent in forever

Yes, RU's problem with NATO has to do with impediment to their visions of empire renewed, and on a more practical level the migration of former soviet block subject states out of the RU economic sphere. Too much NATO impairs their ability to do what they need to retain those in their economic orbit... they need a market where they don't have to compete with the west.

Looking at the numbers, it appears RU equipment is dwindling down low. As an example, tanks they are using to backfill are 60 + year old. They have very limited new manufacturing capabilities.

This will start having more of an impact on their fighting capabilities.

You seem to be very easily manipulated if you believe that. Heard the same nonsense with iraq war and afghanistan.

See above.

no matter how you cut it, you have to give credit to the Russian propaganda apparatus, and its ability to infiltrate our right wing extremist population.

Gotta love the projection from people like you.

the Truth is "propaganda" in your eyes.

I thought we were beyond the "I know you are, but what am I?" defense.

And yet, here it is.

And yet sometimes it actually IS apropos. This may well be one of those times.