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https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1096121922876788737?s=19 Since we don't have an India thread I'll post this here. India has removed Pakistan from its Most Favored Nation trade status. I think India launching strikes across the Line of Control like in 2016 is likely. Edit: spelling OhFunny fucked around with this message at 14:46 on Feb 16, 2019 |
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Feb 15, 2019 20:53
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We really could use a South Asia thread.
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Feb 16, 2019 06:39
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Grouchio posted:We really could use a South Asia thread. 
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Feb 16, 2019 06:42
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Grouchio posted:We really could use a South Asia thread. we used to have one but some of the most prolific posters either moved to CSPAM, fell in the Great November 2016 Purge, or most crucially whatever the hell happened to ReindeerF (executed when Rama X ascended to the Thai throne? is actually Rama X and is too busy to post here now?) edit: it was admittedly more SE Asia, but it's where I stowed my occasional Sri Lanka posts
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Feb 16, 2019 07:37
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MiddleOne posted:Definitely feems like Trump is angling for some kind of war with all these weird feelers going around with Venezuela and Iran. Need some weapons of mass distraction in the run-up to the presidential.
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Feb 16, 2019 10:26
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Conspiratiorist posted:Need some weapons of mass distraction in the run-up to the presidential. Username checks out. IMO the simplest explanation is just that the US foreign policy establishment is always looking for wars to start or join. I mean most of us have never lived in a time when a US president has left office without starting a new intervention somewhere, and Iran in particular has been in the crosshairs (with varying levels of intensity) for decades. Trump himself seems to mostly downplay Iran's strength and influence in the region when he talks about them, which suggests to me that he's not personally beating the war drums too hard.
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Feb 16, 2019 14:39
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OhFunny posted:India has removed Pakistan from its Most Favored Nation trade status. I think India luanching strikes across the Line of Control like in 2016 is likely. may wanna check the numbers too
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Feb 16, 2019 14:43
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Sinteres posted:Username checks out. IMO the simplest explanation is just that the US foreign policy establishment is always looking for wars to start or join. I mean most of us have never lived in a time when a US president has left office without starting a new intervention somewhere, and Iran in particular has been in the crosshairs (with varying levels of intensity) for decades. Trump himself seems to mostly downplay Iran's strength and influence in the region when he talks about them, which suggests to me that he's not personally beating the war drums too hard. Trump just doesn't loving care, and the State Dept has been gutted, so ultimately it's going to be a tug-o-war with his laziness and unwillingness to commit on one side, and warhawks like Bolton trying to pull at his strings on the other.
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Feb 16, 2019 15:07
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If Pakistan is one of India's "Most Favoured Nations" then what the hell do they call the countries that they aren't constantly at the throat of?
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Feb 16, 2019 15:34
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BattleMaster posted:If Pakistan is one of India's "Most Favoured Nations" then what the hell do they call the countries that they aren't constantly at the throat of? It actually makes a lot of sense. When missiles start flying the last thing you want to be worried about is if you payed the export tax.
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Feb 16, 2019 15:40
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OhFunny posted:https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1096121922876788737?s=19 Spelling isn't what needed to be edited in this post.
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Feb 16, 2019 15:41
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BattleMaster posted:If Pakistan is one of India's "Most Favoured Nations" then what the hell do they call the countries that they aren't constantly at the throat of? i say swears online posted:may wanna check the numbers too HootTheOwl posted:Spelling isn't what needed to be edited in this post. I don't follow. What needs correcting?
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Feb 16, 2019 17:01
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OhFunny posted:That's just the term as per WTO rules I believe. I don't recall a war three years ago.
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Feb 16, 2019 18:07
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HootTheOwl posted:I don't recall a war three years ago. https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-...GazDzAnVsM.html https://indianexpress.com/article/i...n-army-5236452/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Indian_Line_of_Control_strike https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/India%E2%80%93Pakistan_border_skirmishes_ Full scale war may not have broken out, but low intensity fighting lasted until June 2018. OhFunny fucked around with this message at 18:24 on Feb 16, 2019 |
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Feb 16, 2019 18:20
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OhFunny posted:That's just the term as per WTO rules I believe. Which are there to establish what to treat as the baseline. In effect, every nation in the world must be treated like your most favored nation. The only way to have exceptions allowing more advantageous trade conditions for some countries than for the rest is through free-trade agreements or common market areas.
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Feb 16, 2019 19:20
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Egypt update: Sisi amended the constitution to make himself president till 2034. Just 2034, pinky swear!
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Feb 17, 2019 01:49
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Ham posted:Egypt update: Sisi amended the constitution to make himself president till 2034. Just 2034, pinky swear! I don't get why these guys feel they have to be forever dictators. I mean Sisi is 64, why not retire at some point? I'd rather not be worrying about coup d'etats in my seventies I guess I just don't get the appeal of dying in office.
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Feb 17, 2019 01:59
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I don't get it either but I guess that's why I'm not a dictator.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:03
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Squalid posted:I don't get why these guys feel they have to be forever dictators. I mean Sisi is 64, why not retire at some point? I'd rather not be worrying about coup d'etats in my seventies I guess I just don't get the appeal of dying in office. Some dictators are just in it for the money and power, like Ben Ali in Tunisia. When it was clear the gig was up or things would get violent? He peaced out with his spoils. Then some dictators are megalomaniacs, like Gaddafi, who was so stubborn at letting go he ended up being stabbed in the butt after being pulled out of a pipe lol. Guess Sisi is more the latter.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:07
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Ham posted:Egypt update: Sisi amended the constitution to make himself president till 2034. Just 2034, pinky swear! He would be like 80 then so it's not unlikely that he just croaks before that time. That still wouldn't fix much though, unless it was by a bomb that took out the rest of the generals at the same time.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:13
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Ham posted:Egypt update: Sisi amended the constitution to make himself president till 2034. Just 2034, pinky swear! How is the rule structured? Like is it straight up "Article 420: Sisi is president until 2034" or a more general "starting now the new term limit is x years per term and y terms in a lifetime" and it's totally a coincidence that would mean he gets extra time in power, we promise.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:14
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fishmech posted:How is the rule structured? Like is it straight up "Article 420: Sisi is president until 2034" or a more general "starting now the new term limit is x years per term and y terms in a lifetime" and it's totally a coincidence that would mean he gets extra time in power, we promise. An Egyptian is restricted to two consecutive 6-year terms as president, the rule is only applicable starting from the next election in 2022 and doesn't take into account previous terms since Sisi is beloved leader.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:43
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Squalid posted:I don't get why these guys feel they have to be forever dictators. I mean Sisi is 64, why not retire at some point? I'd rather not be worrying about coup d'etats in my seventies I guess I just don't get the appeal of dying in office. They're afraid of dying in prison. Also it avoids lame duck issues and internal fights, or at least limits them, which helps with regime survival overall, so people around him who depend on him to retain their own power and influence (and money) likely want him to signal that he'll be around for quite some time too. Also you probably don't become a military dictator in the first place if you aren't extremely ambitious and power hungry, so it's hard to let go even without the risks. Dr Kool-AIDS fucked around with this message at 02:58 on Feb 17, 2019 |
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Feb 17, 2019 02:51
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Zudgemud posted:He would be like 80 then so it's not unlikely that he just croaks before that time. That still wouldn't fix much though, unless it was by a bomb that took out the rest of the generals at the same time. I've passed the point of believing anything could be fixed or changed for the better in this place. What they're fostering now is a pervasive cultural, social and economic decline in every fabric of this society; and an exodus of talent and skill at unprecedented levels. Living under Sisi these past 3 years makes me actually pine for Mubarak's 2000s, where even that semblance of civil society, and that sense of universal opposition existed. Squalid posted:I don't get why these guys feel they have to be forever dictators. I mean Sisi is 64, why not retire at some point? I'd rather not be worrying about coup d'etats in my seventies I guess I just don't get the appeal of dying in office. Strong dash of megalomania. Don't really think Sisi's afraid of consequences.
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Feb 17, 2019 02:58
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Sinteres posted:They're afraid of dying in prison. Also it avoids lame duck issues and internal fights, or at least limits them, which helps with regime survival overall, so people around him who depend on him to retain their own power and influence (and money) likely want him to signal that he'll be around for quite some time too. Also you probably don't become a military dictator in the first place if you aren't extremely ambitious and power hungry, so it's hard to let go even without the risks. It also reassures the cronyphants that the money train will keep rolling into the future. Pour Les encourager Les autres and all
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Feb 17, 2019 03:53
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fishmech posted:How is the rule structured? Like is it straight up "Article 420: Sisi is president until 2034" or a more general "starting now the new term limit is x years per term and y terms in a lifetime" and it's totally a coincidence that would mean he gets extra time in power, we promise. It's the latter, except it also specifies that the current president's terms so far don't count against the new limit.
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Feb 17, 2019 08:09
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Squalid posted:I don't get why these guys feel they have to be forever dictators. I mean Sisi is 64, why not retire at some point? I'd rather not be worrying about coup d'etats in my seventies I guess I just don't get the appeal of dying in office. I guess when you retire you have to start worrying about your successors purging you / putting you on trial instead
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Feb 17, 2019 10:24
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loving over other people when you're in power means you're riding the tiger, and getting off might be inadvisable.
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Feb 17, 2019 18:37
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OhFunny posted:https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1096121922876788737?s=19 Anyone else think Kashmir is going to explode if/when the US withdraws from Afghanistan? With a Pak friendly Taliban regime in place they can focus all their attention on firing up the insurgency in Kashmit.
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Feb 17, 2019 19:46
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I just remembered that Hosni Mubarak is still kicking at 90.
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Feb 17, 2019 20:16
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Grouchio posted:I just remembered that Hosni Mubarak is still kicking at 90. there is no justice
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Feb 18, 2019 00:42
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The Global Public Policy Institute just released a new report, Nowhere to Hide: The Logic of Chemical Weapons Use in Syria, taking a detailed look at the use of chemical weapons in Syria. It reports they've identified 336 confirmed attack, 300+ of those by Syrian government forces, and the vast majority taking place after Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention. Nearly all of the attacks involve the use of chlorine, using chlorine barrel bombs and chlorine filled IRAMs. Most interestingly, it ties the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon to the activities of the Tiger Forces, who are also believed to be the group that developed the use of barrel bombs, making use of transport helicopters it had access too. It also states that there are only about 10-15 active transport helicopters being used by the Syrian Air Force.
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Feb 18, 2019 11:17
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V. Illych L. posted:there is no justice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_8X8tbjqjg
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Feb 18, 2019 16:23
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I just finished watching Assad Victory speech. He basically told the Kurd to go and stuff it. Any federation dream or state decentralisation will not happen and the authority will remain centralised to protect the state. He called on the Kurdish militias to join the SAA (lol) and the state will be able to protect them when it resumes control over those Kurdish regions. Basically a return of the status quo pre 2011 as if nothing has happened. heh
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Feb 19, 2019 08:39
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Savy Saracen salad posted:He basically told the Kurd to go and stuff it. Which Kurd? How about the other ones?
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Feb 19, 2019 21:05
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Frond posted:Which Kurd? How about the other ones? it's a synecdoche for the Kurdish people in and near Syria, particularly the YPG.
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Feb 19, 2019 21:10
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Yes I am aware of what the Al-Qaeda apologist meant.
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Feb 19, 2019 21:30
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Speaking of apologists https://twitter.com/Underground_RT/status/1097917932913479683
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Feb 19, 2019 23:33
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Brown Moses posted:Speaking of apologists This is propaganda...right?
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Feb 19, 2019 23:43
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She's previously also claimed to have seen a video of rebels tearing a pregnant woman in half between two cars, but like this, there seems to be scant evidence to support her claims. Doesn't stop RT broadcasting it though.
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Feb 19, 2019 23:52
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