Post Armf8901uFVXfNlMP2 by Banur@metalhead.club
(DIR) More posts by Banur@metalhead.club
(DIR) Post #ArmZd0vTNEu1sYy4wa by EUCommission@ec.social-network.europa.eu
2025-03-06T15:32:38Z
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A pivotal moment for Europe is here. And we are ready to step up and mobilise up to €800 billion for European defence by: 🛡️ Allowing EU countries to increase defence spending within budgetary rules 🇪🇺 Offering €150 billion in loans for defence investments 🏗️ Using cohesion funds for defence 📈 Boosting private investment We will present these proposals to EU leaders at today's European Council meeting. Europe is ready to assume its responsibilities.
(DIR) Post #ArmZd1yhSj4v8rUAc4 by chjara@akko.wtf
2025-03-06T15:45:29.653076Z
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@EUCommission austerity fascistsalso nice image
(DIR) Post #Armaj0fdKvJ2mJyxaC by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:01:41Z
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@EUCommission how do you even pretend like this is a good thing
(DIR) Post #Armak7SDbIZe6hEiki by per_sonne@ciberlandia.pt
2025-03-06T15:41:43Z
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@EUCommission Here comes the usual "There Is No Alternative". When we wanted funding for good public services, healthcare, housing, education, energy and transportation: "there is no money, the budget deficit doesn't allow it, sorry".When it's about profits for weapon manufacturers: "No problem. Here's a boatload of money, forget the deficit, it doesn't matter".
(DIR) Post #Armak8U1m3cDIb5gDA by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:01:52Z
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@per_sonne this exactly
(DIR) Post #Armaun7tWFfKFMopyy by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:03:52Z
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Hey @EUCommission, remember when Europe was armed? How did that turn out?How do you look back to World War 2 or the Cold War and think “yup, I want exactly that!”That shouldn't be the takeaway from those ages. Learn from our history.
(DIR) Post #ArmbHrypdfgvxeaJ1s by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:08:02Z
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Suddenly after the U.S. becomes this way, which was always foreseeable and warned by many, everyone understands the criticism and dependency of NATO.Yet the takeaway shouldn't be that more weapons and arms make us feel safe, but rather that an atlanticist, U.S. led world order and dictation of diplomacy, was always wrong to begin with.If the cold war has taught us one thing, then that there's no profiter from rearment.
(DIR) Post #ArmbWIKiSKObkPhPG4 by eliasp@mastodon.social
2025-03-06T16:10:33Z
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@ErikUden neither do I want that, but what's the alternative?Given the current state of the world, I don't see one 😩@EUCommission
(DIR) Post #ArmbY5EW8GOLhKeWVU by richlv@mastodon.social
2025-03-06T16:10:51Z
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@ErikUden @EUCommission Remember when russia rolled over half of Europe and occupied it for many decades, while plundering those countries for resources and using the spoils to destabilise the rest?Yeah, it is on the road to do that again, and yeah, if Europe does not defend itself, it is done for.
(DIR) Post #ArmbbqD9vQkYGaoEEq by Banur@metalhead.club
2025-03-06T16:11:36Z
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@ErikUdenAnd then what? Hoping Ukraine will hold forever and make the "dirt Work", so we can say "we don't need Arms"? Hoping that Trump will be a nice guy and don't stop protecting us?I mean, the EU shouldn't go to war, but the reality is, that a ideology standing on our doors, who wants the EU and liberal democracy dead. And being safe is better than sorry @EUCommission
(DIR) Post #Armbwf3Yat9tkfFI0W by jramskov@helvede.net
2025-03-06T16:15:22Z
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@ErikUden @per_sonne While I certainly agree in regards to the other things mentioned, I also think the EU is doing the right thing here. We need to be prepared to fight against Putin - we need to help Ukraine win the war, Putin needs to be kicked out. We have relied heavily on USA, but we can’t anymore.
(DIR) Post #Armc2TQijXapQkqs5o by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:16:28Z
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@eliasp When you believe that there is no alternative, then they've already won in not only ruining your current life, but robbing it of any good future.World War one Germany social democrats also agreed that there's simply no alternative to the war credits. In hindsight it's a mistake they never want to be confronted with and that lies in the past.Yesterday, they've done so again and agreed to the next war time credits.There are many alternatives, just with the arms lobby being as large as it is, they won't ever be considered by our representatives.
(DIR) Post #ArmcSIyQEUpyWtvtOi by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:21:08Z
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@richlv I remember when the Soviet Union fought off the Nazis which emerged from across the continent majorly in Germany. I don't recall a “Russia” doing the things you're describing. The Russian Federation of today is currently on path to losing to one (1) country 28 times smaller than itself.I also recall the USA wanting a claim on Ukrainian's resources feeling entitled to them after delivering weapons.Europe is defending itself through the defense agreement the EU has. But any further rearment will simply lead to the same cold war mutual assured annihilation mentality which brought us almost brought us to a nuclear holocaust (Stanislav Petrov).
(DIR) Post #Armcge98JGdKFYmV16 by MEGA@mastouille.fr
2025-03-06T16:23:29Z
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@ErikUden @EUCommission In WW2 and the cold war the US of A were our ally and reliable friend...
(DIR) Post #ArmckKObgQU69Zm4n2 by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:24:24Z
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@Banur the reality is that the EU has its own protection agreements similar to NATO's article 5. If "we" are attacked, then that'd cause an immediate response.The Russian Federation is currently struggling to defeat Ukraine, a country 28 times smaller.Remember what the cold war lead to? The Stanislav Petrov incident? We were one general's command away from a global nuclear holocaust and have since developed away from those arms.The cold war wasted how much money? For nothing? Why would anyone want that, and that cold war mentality, back, when peace is achieved the opposite way.
(DIR) Post #Armcz0BH7mWhnkXHLk by eliasp@mastodon.social
2025-03-06T16:27:00Z
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@ErikUden I agree, that our arms lobby is just as greedy for more money as any other... But what are the actual alternatives?Sure, we shoukd stop buying gas from Russia to finance its war machine, but that's not what solves the problem - neither when it comes to immediate short-term needs, nor fundamentally in the long-term.What are the viable and effective alternatives?
(DIR) Post #Armd4nWz4MCeJ2SBWq by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:28:06Z
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@MEGA whose ally? The ally of the Taliban / Mujahideen? The ally of the contras in Vietnam? The ally of military dictatorships?I don't recall a moment in history past World War Two where the U.S. could've been presumed an “ally”.
(DIR) Post #ArmdE952JqTPkJq3UW by thericofactor@toot.community
2025-03-06T16:29:43Z
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@ErikUden so what is your solution to agression then? Roll over and surrender?You need to learn that bullies only respond to strong action.
(DIR) Post #ArmdlYceNIugWIUdua by MEGA@mastouille.fr
2025-03-06T16:35:37Z
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@ErikUden During the cold war, I used to pass the iron curtain many times. I saw very ugly things in Poland and east Germany. At that time, America guaranteed our freedom. It was a great country. I studied there, got married there...before the Berlin wall fell.
(DIR) Post #ArmduG5KfL7XdL3ewy by Unknowable@troet.cafe
2025-03-06T16:37:20Z
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@ErikUden @EUCommission Eric, with all respect, but let's step away from WWII analogies for a second. The inherent problem is different, and I am not talking about Trumputin and all related.The real problem is the intangible network of lobbyists now pressing forward, as you know yourself, Rheinmetall/Blackrock etc., it is a kindergarten against what is really happening now behind the curtains.The cycle drawn towards war was a logical next step, and it is kinda final chapter rich vs. poor.
(DIR) Post #ArmeT296U1C8XNP79k by Banur@metalhead.club
2025-03-06T16:43:37Z
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@ErikUden and If the Clause is Happening, with what should we defeat them? With the Power of Love and friendship? Or should we throw people against them with inedaquet material?Srlsy: russia is struggling because we and the Ukraine invested a shitload of Money in defenses since the annexion of crimea.They struggling because they had the old sovjet strategy throwing everything against the Enemy will make him surrender. And i'm pretty sure, they will learn their lesson about that
(DIR) Post #ArmetUnYZo0qvkwZto by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T16:48:27Z
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@eliasp thank you for taking the time to respond. First of all I think it's important to discuss the historical alternatives, of course one can always make the argument that there's no point in talking about the past, since political action needs to be taken today with today's circumstances. That is true, though, whatever happened in the past lead to where we are today. If we, truly, do not wish to cause situations in the future where we are left “without” alternative, then our actions today should reflect that.For starters, what's up with Russia today? Who is Putin?The short answer is that the Russian Federation emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union, caused put into law by Mikhail Gorbachev against the democratic will of the people. Now, you can think of the Soviet Union what you will, the point is that the modern “conflict” between Russia and Ukraine (the Russian invasion) as we have it would not exist with a Soviet Union as we know it or as the reform plans by the democratic decision would've planned. We can have a discussion about whether living under many of the tyrannical laws of the Soviet Union are preferable to the current war or wage peace under oppression against war in “freedom” (or our current definition of it) but that's not my point.However, that's not fully true. Many people blame the current war not just on the fact that Russia and Ukraine are separate countries now, but on Putin himself. It's a bit too short of an analysis, but to a very important degree it's true: Putin faced many internal political struggles prior to the war, and as we've learned within our lifetime from George W. Bush, such disagreement can be fixed by launching an illegal invasion which will unite the country behind you, allowing you to ride a new wave of patriotism and nationalism.So, what brought Putin to power? There we need to analyze the Russian oligarchs and how they were created. The too short explanation is that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the second largest economy in the world, a figure known as Boris Yeltsin had a handful of his friends buy up those state owned companies, which made these few people immeasurably rich. The shock therapy of capitalism shortened people's life expectancy and their standard of living by an immense amount. Such economic policies were reckless and should've always been avoided.We know that the material conditions to create terrorists or extremists movements are always rooted in poverty and unfair wealth distribution. If the entirety of East Germany votes for a fascist party due to "slightly" increasing rent and cost of living prices, imagine what happened in Russia?We have the political turmoil, the circumstances, the nationalist movements, which all result in the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the war in 2022.The trade agreements with Russia should've never been continued from the beginning until specific circumstances are met. NATO should've not divided the world, but long term peace solution like OSZE should've been strengthened. The U.N. security council should've never given a handful countries veto rights and so on.What can be done as an alternative today? First of all, take in Russian deserters more easily and grant them asylum. Weakens the Russian military with no blood being spilled and allows for information to spill over more easily. Second of all, don't ally with nations who have ulterior motives. If the US sees Ukraine as a means to an end for more resources, then they're not interested in peace, and would prolong this war indefinitely until it means they seize control and power. Third of all, fight far right movements within your own borders. What happened in Russia can happen anywhere, if you ignore social services and spend it all on weapons, you may see more opposition within than outside.
(DIR) Post #Armeub4EknlAfBGrL6 by urwumpe@hessen.social
2025-03-06T16:48:37Z
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@ErikUden Thats a rather poor diagnosis and even more false conclusion if you consider that we are the anomaly on a brutal planet. All countries to disarm or to replace military with a police force (thats better armed than the military before), had always bound themselves to a stronger regional or global power to protect them.
(DIR) Post #Armf4AorCMOy9Udxpo by Meowki@mastodon.world
2025-03-06T16:50:19Z
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@ErikUden @richlv let's try not to sow division here. It's the last thing we need. But know this: The Soviet union may have helped defeat the nazis after first aligning with them and getting betrayed, but... did anyone ask post Nazi Germany Eastern Europeans who suffered for years under Russian occupation how they felt about being put into that situation? We need deterrence. Please don't block this with what I can only describe as naive pacifism.
(DIR) Post #Armf8901uFVXfNlMP2 by Banur@metalhead.club
2025-03-06T16:51:03Z
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@ErikUdenRussia is the successor of the sovjet union. Even Putin sees this way.And the sovjet union saw themself as successor from the monarchy.And also you should learn History: russia Had a bloody war in Chechnya in the 90'shttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechnya?wprov=sfla1 @richlv
(DIR) Post #Armf9IusWMAUiFuGMy by Natanox@chaos.social
2025-03-06T16:51:16Z
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@ErikUden @Banur - NATO's article 5 is not a guarantee. It merely requires every party to look at it and consider how to help; and in case of Trump he could even outright say that "NATO country X did something first" and refuse to help entirely.- The reason Russia struggles with Ukraine is, to a huge degree, that we're massively supporting it. Russia by now ironed out its own flaws that caused the beginning of the war to "fail" so massively.
(DIR) Post #ArmgamVsgkhIHKsdf6 by Meowki@mastodon.world
2025-03-06T16:52:59Z
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@ErikUden @richlv deterrence not only against a faltering Russia, but also those helping them stay afloat: China, and now likely also USA
(DIR) Post #ArmganS1CbCZBe54HQ by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T17:07:28Z
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@Meowki deterrence against China? Doing what exactly?Additionally, this:https://mastodon.de/@ErikUden/112039192594551826What point does this “deterrence” bring?
(DIR) Post #Armgr8NRAQRaimjDHM by Oytis@mastodon.social
2025-03-06T17:10:24Z
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@ErikUden I think you misunderstand Sagan. He didn't argue Cold War military spending was wasted - it was very necessary. It was an argument in favour of taking climate change seriously.
(DIR) Post #ArmhRiPefFp8uRD0c4 by Meowki@mastodon.world
2025-03-06T17:17:02Z
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@ErikUden It caused the Soviet union to dissolve because they could not keep up. It freed half of Europe. It discourages others from using force instead of diplomacy.
(DIR) Post #ArmjC7Stx6vBsnQ0HY by richlv@mastodon.social
2025-03-06T17:36:37Z
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@ErikUden "Soviet Union" was russia, just rebranded - and with a bunch of colonies.Also, it sent a lot of people from the colonies to fight. A lot of Ukrainians, Latvians and others perished under the SU umbrella, and many, many more outside the war, under the occupation.The modern russia has managed to spread as an international criminal organisation, seemingly controlling Belarus, Hungary, Slovakia and more - and now also USA.Don't tell people who border russia how benign it is.
(DIR) Post #ArmsCkrwLhSdgAVYLw by adiz@mtl.jinxian.casa
2025-03-06T19:17:37.726914Z
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@EUCommission Goatse?
(DIR) Post #Armx3x5m2AI4kkbHW4 by DePemig@social.coop
2025-03-06T15:35:26Z
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@EUCommission OK, this is damn serious, but I saw #goatse
(DIR) Post #Armx3yJzSnFyZ8G9JY by selea@social.linux.pizza
2025-03-06T20:11:57Z
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@DePemig gEUtse@EUCommission
(DIR) Post #Armx44kRZLywUugMNc by DePemig@social.coop
2025-03-06T16:01:40Z
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@EUCommission I just realize this may be a deeply impressionistic illustration of "deterrence".
(DIR) Post #Arn1QdC4a6trW4cHGC by dragonsidedd@sciencemastodon.com
2025-03-06T21:00:53Z
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@ErikUden @eliasp That's all real nice but I don't see how it stops Russian troops from raping Poland and/or the Baltics next
(DIR) Post #Arn2Y69rOJH3KRhpGy by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T21:13:31Z
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@dragonsidedd Being thankful for taking the time to respond is the nice way of asking for the replies to also taking that time.
(DIR) Post #Arn2sKtcIyyopUl4gy by dragonsidedd@sciencemastodon.com
2025-03-06T21:17:06Z
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@ErikUden brevity is the soul of wit
(DIR) Post #Arn5fWVS7vyyw62Ops by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-06T21:48:28Z
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@dragonsidedd I've already answered your questions.
(DIR) Post #Arn7uf1cw58ZbpQtZg by dragonsidedd@sciencemastodon.com
2025-03-06T22:13:35Z
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@ErikUden I have no disagreement with any of your suggestions. Deserters/dissidents should be welcomed. Disengage from USA. Oppose political reactionaries locally.None of those are going to stop Russia from the military advances on Europe that are absolutely "in the cards" over the Trump term.NATO has never attacked and has *no incentive* to attack Russia. In contrast, Russia violently violates treaty after treaty.An armed rapist sometimes continues until they meet an armed target.
(DIR) Post #ArnBzZQbZZtnVxiFRA by LiquidParasyte@pawb.fun
2025-03-06T22:59:17Z
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@ErikUden @EUCommission I wouldn't call this a "good" thing. But if they do not react to their circumstances they will risk a return of the Axis powers they faced last century (in spirit), with 1 less ally and much stronger enemies.
(DIR) Post #ArnfdU3tqCQX7qTcuW by KasperNicolaisen@uddannelse.social
2025-03-07T04:31:24Z
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@ErikUden @EUCommission How did that turn out? It turned out great! Because britain had invested in their military the nazies failed to subjugate all europe and Germany was liberated. Because the west invested in defense soviet did not invade and eventually collapsed. Thats why George Orwell wrote against pacifism in ww2.
(DIR) Post #ArtWKBvxHd3QlFFKfg by viq@social.hackerspace.pl
2025-03-10T00:15:21Z
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@ErikUden one side is already armed, flaunts this fact, has shown no regard for treaties and agreements, and has expansionist claims. Now it's up to the other side to decide what it wants to do in regards to the above.Also, cold war is one thing, but there's currently happening a very much hot war in Europe for a few years now.
(DIR) Post #Aru5qtvakL4yrvPPUm by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-10T06:53:30Z
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@viq one side? You mean to tell me the US (largest army in the world) or the EU (with Nato, 2% GDP going to military spending etc.) isn't?The “one side” which is currently struggling to defeat a country 18 times smaller?
(DIR) Post #Aru8A2wrdGT0FvGF8a by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-10T07:19:14Z
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@fasnix @viq weird why military experts often with ties to weapon manufacturers would suggest this. I recall when they made the same suggestions in Afghanistan for useless drone wars.https://youtu.be/V3eOjRhihLU
(DIR) Post #AruATzI193s8bln94S by fasnix@iceshrimp.de
2025-03-10T07:38:24.816Z
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@ErikUden Ok, great, then we just sing Kumbaya and do nothing. @viq
(DIR) Post #AruAU0TOkEZOHM7kRs by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-10T07:45:20Z
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@fasnix if in your mind any action that isn't war or rearment and hence the same mentality that almost lead to extinction during the cold war, then sure
(DIR) Post #AruBFRFwz2IsxJS2Ii by fasnix@iceshrimp.de
2025-03-10T07:51:38.070Z
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@ErikUden Well, diplomacy? Cyberwar? Puting testing what kind of "edge case" he can take that NATO "Bündnisfall" does not occur? I suppose you would think otherwise, if you lived e.g. in Lithuania, which Putin would love to take over.
(DIR) Post #AruBFRxuLbSv9e18oi by ErikUden@mastodon.de
2025-03-10T07:53:53Z
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@fasnix Says one German to the other. Don't use voices that you cannot represent for your own political ideals.
(DIR) Post #AruRvbr7YzpXG5y532 by viq@social.hackerspace.pl
2025-03-10T11:00:50Z
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@ErikUdenUS just declared themselves not relevant to this conversation. Which leaves maybe 2% of GDP for EU, considerable part of which is in US equipment which can be turned off, versus Russia spending at least 10% GDP, and eager to use it offensively. And failing only due to huge help from outside, at which help it keeps waving the threat of nuclear weapons.