[Mideast + Africa] Getting rid of Bongo- but at what Brice?

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > C-SPAM > [Mideast + Africa] Getting rid of Bongo- but at what Brice?

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Oglethorpe: Aug 8, 2005; Avatar blanked by Admin request.

the french love scatalogical humour

also austrians

# ? Sep 17, 2023 13:22

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Jun 3, 2024 10:20

Oglethorpe: Aug 8, 2005; Avatar blanked by Admin request.

benjamin franklin upon hearing of rear end: I must visit this place.

# ? Sep 17, 2023 13:23

Neurolimal: Nov 3, 2012

Rumors surfacing that Comrade Lulu will offer rear end a free BBL (Brazillian ballistics liason)

# ? Sep 17, 2023 13:26

Toplowtech: Aug 31, 2004

Oglethorpe posted:

the french love scatalogical humour

also austrians

You would love austrians if they gifted you the croissant as an apology for two centuries of wars. Still waiting for the WW2 viennoiserie apology, Austria, no don't point toward Germany...

FrancisFukyomama posted:

doesn�t France have those really fancy mres

Current ones contain:
Thai soup
Box of eight packs of biscuits, standard, sweet (chocolate), and salty
Arabica instant coffee, tea (black and green), hot chocolate
Museli mix energy breakfast, oats with chocolate chunks
Isotonic powder drink, mango flavor
Nougat, various fruits
Fruit jelly, two pear jellies covered in sugar
Energy bar, mixed berry flavor
Chocolate bar, 65% dark chocolate
Jam, plum flavor
Cassoulet of sausages and duck confit
Pork, rice, and pineapple entree
Deer p�t�
Blue cheese in a can
Packet of tissues
Salt and pepper packets
Sugar packets
Heating kit
Water purifying tablets (pack of six)

I hope that poor poor ambasador did get his blue cheese.
I think only the Italian ones are bigger. They also have like 6 main variations.

Comrade Koba posted:

a french mre consists of half a pack of gauloises and some red wine in a juice box.

That too i guess.

Toplowtech has issued a correction as of 14:36 on Sep 17, 2023

# ? Sep 17, 2023 14:33

crepeface: Nov 5, 2004; r*p*f*c*

lol deer pate and duck confit. :nice:

instead of bullets and tanks, armies should have to fight in iron chef style challenges

# ? Sep 17, 2023 15:24

Officer Sandvich: Feb 14, 2010

crepeface posted:

lol deer pate and duck confit.

instead of bullets and tanks, armies should have to fight in iron chef style challenges

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCqzRAYwJr4

# ? Sep 17, 2023 15:38

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013; by Jeffrey of YOSPOS
(and can't post for 25 days!)

uh oh.

https://twitter.com/gunterfehlinger/status/1703467718081442141?s=46&t=UyfxoSAUKW7QZlR_GhkuYA

# ? Sep 17, 2023 20:57

i say swears online: Mar 4, 2005

gunther no! think of your family!!

# ? Sep 17, 2023 21:21

i say swears online: Mar 4, 2005

lmao

https://twitter.com/_liquid_w/status/1703484083550986528

edit

https://twitter.com/red_spekter/status/1703504605517148338

i say swears online has issued a correction as of 21:28 on Sep 17, 2023

# ? Sep 17, 2023 21:23

Slavvy: Dec 11, 2012

Well, it was fun while it lasted but Gunther is finished now

# ? Sep 17, 2023 21:46

Some Guy TT: Aug 30, 2011

DiscountDildos posted:

https://twitter.com/BBCAfrica/status/1702006009009463457?s=20

lol
lmao

# ? Sep 17, 2023 22:14

PoontifexMacksimus: Feb 14, 2012

Slavvy posted:

Well, it was fun while it lasted but Gunther is finished now

No... no yet... not until he can see his dream come true...!

Plutonis posted:

https://twitter.com/GunterFehlinger/status/1698752664253628789

# ? Sep 17, 2023 22:29

VoicesCanBe: Jul 1, 2023; "Cóż, wygląda na to, że zostaliśmy łaskawie oszczędzeni trudu decydowania o własnym losie. Jakże uprzejme z ich strony, że przearanżowali Europę bez kłopotu naszego zdania!"

Pener Kropoopkin posted:

uh oh.

https://twitter.com/gunterfehlinger/status/1703467718081442141?s=46&t=UyfxoSAUKW7QZlR_GhkuYA

No!! GUNTHER!!

# ? Sep 17, 2023 22:43

FrancisFukyomama: Feb 4, 2019

it�s all ogre now

# ? Sep 17, 2023 22:46

i say swears online: Mar 4, 2005

NEOM update!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbHNULTKBSI

this one's a pro-click lol. you can feel the scope-creep

# ? Sep 17, 2023 23:25

Zedhe Khoja: Nov 10, 2017; sürgünden selamlar
yıkıcılar ulusuna

so do you think the astronaut scene was inspired by Starfield or Star Citizen

# ? Sep 17, 2023 23:56

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013; by Jeffrey of YOSPOS
(and can't post for 25 days!)

NEOM has way too many pledge goals now. They're going to be stuck in development Hell forever.

# ? Sep 18, 2023 01:06

PawParole: Nov 16, 2019

https://twitter.com/PDWilliamsGWU/status/1703347262619869423

Somali government expels ATMIS Head and orders AU to withdraw all the 851 ATMIS/AMISOM Police in Somalia this month, and the army completely by next year.

# ? Sep 18, 2023 01:58

Cpt_Obvious: Jun 18, 2007

community notes rock.

# ? Sep 18, 2023 02:07

OhFunny: Jun 26, 2013; EXTREMELY PISSED AT THE DNC

Middle East�s Mandarin push sets the tone for �convergence� with China on trade

Saudi Arabia has made Mandarin compulsory for public and private secondary schools to teach.

Iran and Egypt are moving forward with introducing Mandarin as an optional subject in their middle schools.

# ? Sep 18, 2023 04:54

crepeface: Nov 5, 2004; r*p*f*c*

OhFunny posted:

Middle East’s Mandarin push sets the tone for ‘convergence’ with China on trade

Saudi Arabia has made Mandarin compulsory for public and private secondary schools to teach.

Iran and Egypt are moving forward with introducing Mandarin as an optional subject in their middle schools.

I assume English and Arabic are already mandatory, is there anything else?

# ? Sep 18, 2023 05:18

crepeface: Nov 5, 2004; r*p*f*c*

Officer Sandvich posted:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DCqzRAYwJr4

lollin' at the russia officer sipping soup with an intense look of concentration on his face

# ? Sep 18, 2023 05:28

PawParole: Nov 16, 2019

https://twitter.com/sajid_nadeem78/status/1703800317282844711

https://twitter.com/sajid_nadeem78/status/1703875686841352461

# ? Sep 19, 2023 03:20

Lostconfused: Oct 1, 2008

https://twitter.com/NeilPHauer/status/1704074437975331119

# ? Sep 19, 2023 11:26

Al-Saqr: Nov 11, 2007; One Day I Will Return To Your Side.

whats azerbaijans military objectives with this new war?

# ? Sep 19, 2023 11:34

i say swears online: Mar 4, 2005

Al-Saqr posted:

whats azerbaijans military objectives with this new war?

mostly land. landbridge to turkey, cut Armenia off from Iran

# ? Sep 19, 2023 12:59

Lostconfused: Oct 1, 2008

https://twitter.com/Caucasuswar/status/1704112414801707017
https://twitter.com/Caucasuswar/status/1704102413911629859

# ? Sep 19, 2023 13:51

Zedhe Khoja: Nov 10, 2017; sürgünden selamlar
yıkıcılar ulusuna

Lostconfused posted:

https://twitter.com/Caucasuswar/status/1704112414801707017
https://twitter.com/Caucasuswar/status/1704102413911629859

dude is like an android programmed to make the worst decisions about everything

# ? Sep 19, 2023 13:59

Frosted Flake: Sep 13, 2011; Semper Shitpost Ubique

Lostconfused posted:

https://twitter.com/Caucasuswar/status/1704112414801707017
https://twitter.com/Caucasuswar/status/1704102413911629859

Absolutely bitchmade

# ? Sep 19, 2023 14:11

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013; by Jeffrey of YOSPOS
(and can't post for 25 days!)

The Armenian army trying to go toe to toe with Azerbaijan using Soviet era equipment would be like the US army versus Iraq in Kuwait.

# ? Sep 19, 2023 14:50

HallelujahLee: May 3, 2009

didnt azerbaijan make vague threats towards iran as well

# ? Sep 19, 2023 14:52

Plutonis: Mar 25, 2011

Pener Kropoopkin posted:

The Armenian army trying to go toe to toe with Azerbaijan using Soviet era equipment would be like the US army versus Iraq in Kuwait.

Yeah, it sucks but there is literally nothing they can do, they are outmatched in population, foreign backing and military technology (especially since an actual war might result in a possible Turkish intervention).

# ? Sep 19, 2023 14:53

ThatBasqueGuy: Feb 14, 2013; someone introduce jojo to lazyb

I'd doubt that armenia has even recovered from the last thrashing, actually fighting back here just seems like a great way to lose whatever recovery progress has been made and get some sort of punative reparations slapped on top

# ? Sep 19, 2023 15:16

Frosted Flake: Sep 13, 2011; Semper Shitpost Ubique

Maybe they should've have tried to kick out the Russian peacekeepers

Oh wait

Armenia and Azerbaijan: Anatomy of a Rivalry

Analyses the 30-year conflict for control over the contested territory of Nagorny Karabakh

Provides a complete overview of historical, territorial, domestic, strategic, international and mediation perspectives
Moves beyond chronological narrative and comparative analysis of post-Soviet conflicts
Draws on the author's experience of over a decade as a practitioner of Armenian�Azerbaijani peace-building efforts
Informed by fieldwork conducted in 2014�16 across the conflict and interviews with political and societal actors
Uses theoretical frameworks to draw comparisons with other international, long-term rivalries, such as India�Pakistan and Arab states�Israel

The Armenian�Azerbaijani conflict for control of the mountainous territory of Nagorny Karabakh is the longest-running dispute in post-Soviet Eurasia. Laurence Broers shows how decades of dynamic territorial politics, shifting power relations, international diffusion and unsuccessful mediation efforts have contributed to the resilience of this stubbornly unresolved dispute.

Armenia�s Velvet Revolution: Authoritarian Decline and Civil Resistance in a Multipolar World

In April 2018, Armenia experienced a remarkable popular uprising leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and his replacement by protest leader Nikol Pashinyan. Evoking Czechoslovakia's similarly peaceful overthrow of communism 30 years previously, the uprising came to be known as Armenia's 'Velvet Revolution': a broad-based movement calling for clean government, democracy and economic reform.

This volume examines how a popular protest movement, showcasing civil disobedience as a mass strategy for the first time in the post-Soviet space, overcame these unpromising circumstances. Situating the events in Armenia in their national, regional and global contexts, different contributions evaluate the causes driving Armenia's unexpected democratic turn, the reasons for regime vulnerability and the factors mediating a non-violent outcome. Drawing on comparative perspectives with democratic transitions across the world, this book will be essential reading for those interested in the regime dynamics, social movements and contested politics of contemporary Eurasia, as well as policy-makers and practitioners in the fields of democracy assistance and human rights in an increasingly multipolar world.

The Karabakh Conflict Between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Causes & Consequences

This book focuses on Post-Soviet ethnic conflicts and Russia's involvement in them. In light of its significant importance for general ethnic conflict, specifically the post-Soviet Caucasus, along with the most recent war just fought over the area from September-November 2020, this book appropriately argues that it is time to reconsider Karabakh.

This project deals with the historical, social and political aspects of the Karabakh issue regarding its origins, development and the current status of the conflict subsequent to the war in the autumn of 2020. Thus, the main themes will stress these points, as well as the importance of the Karabakh issue for the future, by considering its precedents and implications for other secessionist wars. This book also explores how such wars begin and end, the international legal precedents of self-determination versus territorial integrity, its implications for post-Soviet developments and conflicts, and the latest successful weapons developments lessons from the recent war involving drones, among others such as Azerbaijan�s rich oil reserves.

Russia�s Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts: The Case of Armenia and Azerbaijan

This book explores the thirty-year border conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, specifically around the former autonomous republic of Nagorno Karabakh, and shows how Russia is the only winner in this conflict: fighting on both sides, supplying arms to both sides, and acting as the arbiter between the two sides. The author looks at Armenia, Azerbaijan and the separatists from military, political, economic and diplomatic perspectives, and offers insights on how the fighting has influenced society, and vice versa. The book provides an update to the history of the war to include major fighting in 2020, and examines how Russia obtained three military bases and most economic assets in Armenia, while becoming Azerbaijan's major weapons supplier to the tune of six billion dollars. It shows how Russia has tried to sideline the internationally-supported Minsk negotiations in favor of Russia assuming the sole role of arbiter, and argues that even though Russia has submitted a number of ceasefire proposals, it does little to encourage the sides to implement them.

The book includes a discussion of international law, United Nations Resolutions, and rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.

RAND Corporation, Extending Russia posted:

Measure 4: Exploit Tensions in the South Caucasus

Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia were part of the Soviet Union, and Russia still maintains significant sway over the region today. In August 2008, after peace agreements with separatists broke down, Georgia fought a brief war over the South Ossetia and Abkhazia enclaves, two semi-independent pro-Russia provinces of Georgia. The war proved disastrous for Georgia. Russia quickly intervened and eventually occupied both regions and, briefly, other parts of Georgia as well. Georgia signed a cease-fire agreement on August 14, 2008, only eight days after the Russian intervention. However, Russian forces remain in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of which have since declared their independence.

Today, Russia recognizes both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as separate countries (one of the few governments to do so) and is committed to their defense. Russia's Foreign Policy Concept states that assisting the establishment of the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia as modern democratic states, strengthening their international positions, and ensuring reliable security and socio-economic recovery remains a priority for Russia.

Russia also maintains an active military presence in the region. In September 2016, 4,000 Russian troops participated in a military exercise in South Ossetia. On January 25, 2018, the Russian Duma approved a military agreement that allowed for the "inclusion of separate units of the armed forces of the Republic of South Ossetia into the armed forces of the Russian Federation.

Russia also plays a key role with Azerbaijan and Armenia, particularly over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Ethnically Armenian but geographically located within Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh's bid to join the Armenia Soviet Socialist Republic during the latter years of the Soviet Union was denied by the Soviet Politburo because of the risk of encouraging secessionist movements elsewhere. In 1992, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence and fought a war over this enclave. The war ended with Armenian forces controlling Nagorno-Karabakh and some surrounding provinces, and Russia brokered a cease-fire in May 1994. Armenia and Azerbaijan never reached a final peace agreement and armed clashes continue to this day.

The United States could extend Russia in the Caucasus in two ways. First, the United States could push for a closer NATO relationship with Georgia and Azerbaijan, likely leading Russia to strengthen its military presence in South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia, and southern Russia. Alternatively, the United States could try to induce Armenia to break with Russia. Although a long-standing Russian partner, Armenia has also developed ties with the West: It provides troops to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and is a member of NATO�s Partnership for Peace, and it also recently agreed to strengthen its political ties with the EU. The United States might try to encourage Armenia to move fully into the NATO orbit. If the United States were to succeed in this policy, then Russia might be forced to withdraw from its army base at Gyumri and an army and air base near Yerevan (currently leased until 2044), and divert even more resources to its Southern Military District.

The United States might also renew efforts to bring Georgia into NATO. Georgia has long sought NATO membership; it joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1992 shortly after becoming independent and joined the Partnership for Peace program in 1994. In theory, the Allies put Georgia on a path to membership, but the 2008 Russo-Georgia war put this effort on indefinite hold. Georgia, however, has never given up on its NATO ambitions, participating in NATO operations in the Mediterranean, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. If European opposition prevents Georgia�s accession into the Alliance, the United States could establish bilateral security ties.

The United States could also do the same for Armenia and Azerbaijan, although both countries have shown less interest in joining NATO. Like Georgia, both countries are members of the Partnership for Peace program and have contributed to NATO operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan over the years as well, albeit to lesser extents.

Benefits

While the principal aim of these policies would be to extend Russia, closer relationships with Georgia, Azerbaijan, or Armenia might yield important secondary benefits for the United States. The geographic position of Azerbaijan makes it a prime location for both intelligence-gathering and deterrence measures relating to Iran, especially because many of Iran�s Kurdish and Iranian populations are concentrated near the Azeri-Iranian border. Stronger ties with Georgia, hailed by the conservative Heritage Foundation as �one of America�s best allies in Europe� for providing one the largest contributions of troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, could pay strategic dividends in the future.

Increased U.S. involvement in the region could produce additional economic benefits as well. The Caspian Sea remains a key producer of both oil and natural gas. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that there are �48 billion barrels of oil and 292 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in proved and probable reserves in the Caspian basins. Almost 75 percent of oil reserves and 67 percent of natural gas reserves are located within 100 miles of the coast.� A closer political relationship with Azerbaijan would help secure continued access to these resources for the United States and�perhaps more important�for its allies in the future.

Risks

Azerbaijan�an authoritarian country often cited by nongovernmental organizations for its poor political and civil rights record�has shown no interest in a closer relationship with the West or with Russia. Moving it from this comfortably neutral stance would be difficult. Given the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, any effort to strengthen ties with one would likely antagonize the other. If either country turned westward for its security, the other would likely turn toward Moscow. Finally, increased U.S. or NATO commitments in this region would be more likely to extend the West�s resources than Russia�s; as with the Baltic States, geography makes these countries more difficult for the West to defend than for Russia to threaten. All three countries are militarily inferior to Russia and geographically closer to it than to Western Europe, let alone the United States. As a result, these countries would be far more likely to be consumers than producers of NATO security, assuming such a guarantee were ever offered.

Russia views this region as part of its traditional sphere of influence and, unsurprisingly, has concerns about NATO forces on its border. Historically, Russia has been willing to fight to prevent the region from developing too close a relationship with the West. Indeed, analysts point to a desire to stop Georgia�s aspiration to join NATO and restore Russia�s sphere of influence as one of the underlying factors behind the 2008 Russo-Georgia War. Faced with the prospect of closer Georgian ties with NATO or the United States, Russia might well intervene again. This would impose military, economic, and political costs on Russia, but also be viewed as a setback for U.S. policy.

Likelihood of Success

None of these initiatives offers much hope of success. Attempts to develop closer relationships with Azerbaijan or flipping Armenia likely would encounter serious obstacles. To be sure, Russia actively supports Armenia, and Russia and Azerbaijan have had several diplomatic and economic disputes, including the freezing of Azeri oil through the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline. However, Azerbaijan also has historically courted Russian support. Indeed, in August 2016, Russia and Azerbaijan agreed to a strategic partnership with a goal of increasing economic ties and military aid.

Georgia is theoretically slated for NATO membership sometime in the distant future. It is hard to see this occurring for a variety of reasons, particularly as long as two pieces of its territory are occupied by Russia and claim to be independent states. Major European governments are opposed to any early move toward membership. Any effort to bolster the Western orientation of states in the South Caucasus would require the support of Turkey, which provides these countries with their only outlet to the West. But Turkey�s relationship with the United States remains shaky at best�particularly after the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, and Turkey�s recent announcement that it would procure the Russian S-400 air defense system.

Armenia also has several reasons why it might be unwilling to break with Russian patronage. Russia has protected Armenia from Azerbaijan for decades, and Armenia might be reluctant to part with long-standing support, especially as long as the Nagorno-Karabakh region remains in dispute. Moreover, Russia is already Armenia�s largest trading partner and has a $500 million investment in a railroad to provide that economic link, but the tracks must pass through either Georgia or Azerbaijan. If Armenia were to strengthen its relationships with the West, Russia could retaliate against Armenia with sanctions, placing this trade at risk.

Finally, resolving Nagorno-Karabakh is likely a prerequisite to Armenia breaking with Russia, but it is unclear precisely how the United States or NATO could resolve the decades-old conflict without privileging one side and antagonizing the other. NATO has encour-aged both parties to resolve the conflict through the Minsk Group�led by the Russians.

Conclusion

European allies are not likely to extend defense commitments into the South Caucasus in the foreseeable future. Short of that happening, there is only limited scope for more Western economic and political ties to the region, although even small changes could continue to stoke Russian anxieties and divert Russian resources in a minor way.

"Finally, resolving Nagorno-Karabakh is likely a prerequisite to Armenia breaking with Russia, but it is unclear precisely how the United States or NATO could resolve the decades-old conflict without privileging one side and antagonizing the other..."

:thunk:

# ? Sep 19, 2023 15:22

guidoanselmi: Feb 6, 2008; I thought my ideas were so clear. I wanted to make an honest post. No lies whatsoever.

HallelujahLee posted:

didnt azerbaijan make vague threats towards iran as well

Iran would support Armenia on the condition that Azerbaijan seeks to change borders.

Azerbaijan doesn�t like that but that doesn�t appear to be what they�re doing now.

# ? Sep 19, 2023 15:58

HallelujahLee: May 3, 2009

guidoanselmi posted:

Iran would support Armenia on the condition that Azerbaijan seeks to change borders.

Azerbaijan doesn�t like that but that doesn�t appear to be what they�re doing now.

i see im assuming if they actually invade armenia proper that would trigger something from iran

# ? Sep 19, 2023 16:44

ThatBasqueGuy: Feb 14, 2013; someone introduce jojo to lazyb

regional war in the south caucauses lfgggg

# ? Sep 19, 2023 16:48

guidoanselmi: Feb 6, 2008; I thought my ideas were so clear. I wanted to make an honest post. No lies whatsoever.

Persia vs Rum has been beaten to death. Hope we don't have a repeat

# ? Sep 19, 2023 17:50

SplitSoul: Dec 31, 2000

It appears Danish soldiers in Helmand complained to their superiors that their Afghan allies were doing summary executions and raping kids within earshot of them and the response was, "We've discussed it with the Brits and decided to ignore it". Just in case anyone had briefly forgotten that NATO is a democratizing force for good.

# ? Sep 19, 2023 20:00

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? Jun 3, 2024 10:20

Frosted Flake: Sep 13, 2011; Semper Shitpost Ubique

SplitSoul posted:

It appears ISAF soldiers in every province complained to their superiors that their Afghan allies were doing summary executions and raping kids within earshot of them and the response was, "We've decided to ignore it". Just in case anyone had briefly forgotten that NATO is a democratizing force for good.

ftfy

# ? Sep 19, 2023 20:21

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > C-SPAM > [Mideast + Africa] Getting rid of Bongo- but at what Brice?

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